#making clockwork even more op

[mynameisjag]

For @ace-in-disgrace and their prompt: Danny gets mistaken as the love child of the disasters known as Wolverine and Deadpool.

Okay, it was not Danny's fault, he swears!

He was just experimenting with his ice, playing around with some of the younger yetis in the Far Frozen for fun. So shaping his ice to cover his hands to copy the paws of the others and seeing how well he could cut through solid hard frozen ice was just a game. The rough housing was to be expected, everyone tossing each other to see how far they could be thrown was fun.

Being picked up and tossed at the right exact moment a portal opened up was not fun or expected and he blamed Clockwork. The entity had to be responsible somehow for him not being able to enjoy a day of hanging out with Frostbite and the others.

Landing right in the middle of a what looked like a swat happening in an abandoned warehouse, armored people instantly aiming their rifles at him as he stood up wasn’t even surprising given his luck.

Fair though, he was currently looking more on the feral side to match his playmates then his normal ghost form.

“Hey, what’s with hostility? Can’t someone just pop in somewhere without-“, and he was shot in the shoulder, cutting his sentence off, “rude.”

It was just a regular bullet, so it was easy for his form to just…push it out and heal the hole up.

One of the men reached up to touch a device attached on his ear, “Unknown possible mutant has breached the facilities, age around 12-15, regeneration showed, animal like features-“

“You know it’s really rude to talk about someone like that to their face, no manners at all.”

“Unfortunately satirical.”

There was a crash from above as red and yellow forms busted through the glass, the guns swinging their aim at the two men landed.

“Sassiness is always welcomed!”, the red man had his own guns out and was already firing as he talked.

Danny had decided to dodge over to a pile of crates as all the attention was on the new intruders, eyes wide as an arc blood barely missed him as the one in yellow unsheathed long blades from his knuckles.

He glanced at his own hands, he couldn’t make a working gun from ice but…concentrating…he slowly watched as ice built up into copies, looking very much like it was growing from his skin.

An armored body was flung his way and he instinctual reacted…there were now two halves of a one man and he was covered in the viscera.

He froze…did he…oh…oh no…he had to go, he had to go now.

“Ope, looks like someone's first kill! Look at you Jack Frost,” the red guy with guns was now standing above him on a bigger crate, waving down at the teen, “awe, tiny puppy claws!”

Danny took a swing at the crate, watching as it collapsed and the man fell, laughing the entire time he went down.

He quickly turned to run, only to run into a wide chest where he promptly bounced off and landed ass first on the floor, “What in the-I have literally ran into steel walls softer then you.”

Claw man snorted as he reached down and picked Danny up by the scruff, “You alright kid?”

Said kid just hissed at him.

Claws was chuckling, “Cute, now put back your claws, I think it’s time for a chat.”

“Is it finally our turn for the found family and misunderstandings trope,” the red man was back and had swaggered up to the other two, an arm being thrown over his partners shoulders, “Hi, there and welcome, I’m Deadpool and this is Wolverine and we’re your new dads.”

“No.”

“No?”

Danny smiled, all sharp teeth, “No,” and promptly went invisible and intangible, escaping out of the warehouse while he could, leaving the other two behind.

He had to find a portal home.

Wade went limp, using Logan as a brace, “But I wanted to pull a ‘Batman’…”

The response was a snort and Wolverine sniffing his own hand, growling as he took the child’s scent in, “Don’t know what your talking about but, I can track him down, we probably need to before more of these fucks show up and get their hands on him.”

Hope you enjoyed it!

[op-sys-chaos]

@stealingyourbones mentioned in a post I just saw that Booster Gold could be used in a DPxDC fic related to Clockwork bc they’re both invoked in time travel stuff and omg yES I have ideas now

Feel free to use any/all of these, just tag me!

1. Booster Gold being in the present is good for the timeline, but he wants to go back to the future. Clockwork sends Danny to sabotage the time machine. Shenanigans ensue. The JL thinks Danny’s a villain until a massive attack happens, Booster Gold is very much crucial to saving the day, and afterwards Danny shows up with a perfectly intact time machine (he fixed all the damages he caused while they were fighting the villain) and goes “ok now you can go home! :)” and the JL is so confused. Dealer’s choice if they get an explanation and maybe even ask Phantom to join the JL or if Danny just vanishes, never to be seen again

2. Booster Gold wants to change something in the timeline. Clockwork needs it to stay the same. Danny and BG go back and forth trapping each other in various situations (maybe it’s comedic what they end up trapped in) until one of them gives up

3. BG and Danny actually know each other in the future. Knowing how OP Danny is and knowing he’s an active hero rn, BG keeps trying to get the JL to recruit Phantom. The JL keeps refusing (“that’s a KID Booster we can’t put a kid in the JL”) until like Vortex or someone shows up and wreaks havoc and the JL is floundering and barley hanging in there and Danny shows up and beats him in like two seconds flat. The JL just kinda goes “ok, maybe Booster had a point”

4. BG, being a time cop, and Danny, being Clockwork’s personal equivalent of a time cop, keep running into each other in various situations (usually bc Clockwork sends Danny to help BG whenever he’s in over his head). But they keep meeting out of order, not even realizing that Danny’s from the time BG ends up staying in until they run into each other on a normal, non-time related mission. Spider-man meme pointing at each other, “what are YOU doing here???”, “is there some time-related issue on top of this?”, JL confused why Booster and a random overpowered teen they just met today seem to know each other. (Their meeting in their normal time is after all the meeting out of order shenanigans. After that point, they stay together for time missions that Clockwork sends Danny to join BG on; he makes sure they meet in the right order this time.)

5. Booster and Clockwork hate each other. Danny is a big fan of BG. Shenanigans ensue

6. Danny and BG hate each other. Clockwork needs them to get along for the sake of the timeline. He keeps sending Danny to BG’s time cop missions. Will they ever make up?

7. Danny and BG are the same age and start dating. Clockwork sends them on fancy fun time travel dates

8. BG keeps running into this random kid in various places in the time stream. He only ever tells BG that “Clockwork sent me” and BG is getting more and more determined to find whoever Clockwork is and kick his ass for putting this poor precious kid in harm’s way. Hell, BG might just end up adopting this poor kid himself if that’s what it takes to save him… which is exactly what Clockwork wants

9. BG is incredibly surprised when his time mentor, Clockwork, reaches out and asks him to adopt a kid, Danny

10. BG and Clockwork are dating. Clockwork asks BG if he’s okay with adopting Danny

I can come up with more if y’all want! Please tag me if you use these I wanna see what you create :)

[ann-atar]

Another observation re Sauron and Celebrimbor in ep. 7. (Yes, more. Op is a teacher and is posting while grading today.)

While Celebrimbor slowly, painfully made his way back to the tower, what did Sauron do? He stayed there.

He was tearing the place apart, pacing and fuming, but he stayed put for some time, almost as if he was waiting for Celebrimbor.

As if the fact that Celebrimbor escaped, even for a short time, was momentarily beyond his comprehension.

Like, where is he, where are the nine, I left him right here!?!

He was panicked and enraged, but when Celebrimbor returns, there is still this sense that Sauron expects him.

And then instead of killing everyone immediately and dragging Celebrimbor out to take him to the nine he pauses, makes a show of killing the guards, continues their back-and-forth, says, "you will place them in my hands."

It's showy and theatrical, such a performance of intimidation, is what I'm saying.

Now, maybe there is something essential to the creation of the rings that requires Celebrimbor to surrender them in their finished form to Sauron willingly, because even though the rings incorporate Sauron's blood they are still Celebrimbor's creation and until he gives them away, he remains their master, at least while he's alive. (Which is cool if true and I approve!)

But I think there's something psychological at work too. For months and weeks Sauron and Celebrimbor have been cohabitating in that tower. It's their enclosure, their habitat, their little dysfunctional home. And by leaving (and then returning as expected), from Sauron's perspective Celebrimbor is still playing by most of the rules that govern their relationship.

They're even at the stage where the abuser starts scrambling to justify their choices and tries to win over their victim again ("this too shall pass"). Sauron feels solidly in control of Celebrimbor and now that he knows his identity, Sauron is basking in the heady feeling of being known.

So their codependence is still very much a thing and even though Celebrimbor won this round the game is still very much on, and Sauron expects him to come back, to continue the battle of wills until the next round is settled, and the one after that, and the one after that.

Sauron expects to win, to have Celebrimbor place the finished rings in his hands, because the nine belong to him and so does Celebrimbor.

What Sauron doesn't quite get is that Celebrimbor understands all of this because he can see the pattern now. He went back to that tower not because, as Sauron might have thought, he was compelled by the guards or by fear or by his own complicity, but because he understands the clockwork horror of Sauron's mind.

Despite his show of emotion about their time together ending, Sauron still expects to be in control because he's fighting with might, but now that the veil has been lifted Celebrimbor is fighting with light.

We know that Celebrimbor doesn't have long to live, but if I had to make a prediction about how, exactly, he meets his end it would be this: after drawing out their game by provoking Sauron and slowly "breaking" under torture, he finds a way to end his own life. (Yeah.)

At which point Sauron's rage will be enormous, and destructive, and his version of grief might cause him to display Celebrimbor's body in the way we're all dreading.

Sauron is super powerful and like Celebrimbor told Galadriel there might be no one in Middle-earth who could resist him, but Sauron is not all-powerful. There are flaws in his design, weak points in his facade and Celebrimbor can see them now, he knows where to apply pressure so that cracks form, little by little. He might not deliver the killing blow but I believe he will weaken the form of Sauron's mind, so Sauron will not be in the right headspace to kill Galadriel during their inevitable confrontation.

[bvnneyrabbet]

Ok so I just thought of something.

So about Clockwork in Forsaken...

Clockwork is confirmed to be added to Forsaken in the near future after Guest 666 releases, expected to release with or more likely around the same time as Stickmasterluke and Doombringer.

Stickmasterluke's ability kit isn't known yet and is heavily speculated on, but everyone's own rendition of his kit is very similar to eachother. Balloon, apple, compass. I've also seen a custom ability that has him use his wings to lunge forward, which I think is pretty cool. I NEED this man to be a survivalist.

Doombringer's ability kit is already being worked on, and we have gotten glimpses onto what it could be. The only thing we know is that he's likely going to be akin to a trapper of some sorts, (sorry if it isn't true my memory is a bit wack) and that he's gonna be able to apply a state to a survivor called :Jail. And we also got a glimpse of an unnamed ability of his, which is this:

Why is he double cheeked up?

This leaves Clockwork to have no ability kit to be known so far, even speculated he has none. The only hint we have gotten to Clockwork's moveset is from a tweet by Soul that said:

"i have a cool moveset in mind that i might work on after two time's rework & noli come out"

The only thing we get from this is that Clockwork's moveset is likely very unique to him.

And so I decided to theorize on what one of his abilities may be!

The most likely ability of his that he'll probably have would be the one and only Teapot Turret.

-

The Teapot Turret is a hat that was originally made by Clockwork and prior to the removal of scripts, the Teapot Turret had 4 abilities/tools: Fire Shield, Katon Goukakyou No Jutsu, Spinfire, and Gravity Hammer.

Fire Shield would create a shield of explosions around the user, only the explosions would damage a player so being near a player wouldn't kill them.

Katon Goukakyou No Jutsu (very awesome name clockwork) would create a line of explosions that would kill a player. The name is obviously from Naruto.

Spinfire is a broken ability, the broken version creating a single explosion above a player's(or the user's, I can't tell) head. The fixed version would create 2 explosions the users head that would swirl around eachother and would kill other players.

Gravity Hammer spawns seperately from the Teapot Turret and has the ability to launch players far away. Trying to obtain the Gravity Hammer without the Teapot Turret would kill the player.

-

His kit may be themed around the Teapot Turret, but I find it more likely for the Teapot Turret to just be one of his abilities and be able to switch from what tool to use, a kind of like 007n7's Clone and Inject abilities.

Now for the forsaken versions of the Teapot Turret's tools, they'll definitely change a lot from the actual unobtainable and unusable Teapot Turret's abilities. I also feel that Clockwork would be a support character.

For Clockwork's Teapot Turret's tools, the Fire Shield would be a defensive tool that would be similar to the OG Fire Shield, summoning a circle of explosions that will surround him, harming the killer in some way if they got to close, such as slowing them down or damaging the killer. The active time this ability works for would be short to avoid abuse of the ability.

Katon Goukakyou No Jutsu would summon a line of explosions that would harm the killer in some way, kind of working a bit like an instant version of Taph's subspace tripmine.

I believe Spinfire would be the broken version of it, summoning an explosion above Clockwork's or the killer's head, damaging them. I'm not sure what this ability could be used for as this is just my own predictions and speculations.

Gravity Hammer will probably work just like the original, minus the killing someone if they don't have the teapot turret feature.

-

My speculated Teapot Turret ability makes him seem more like an OP sentinel rather than a support, so these concepted tools of the Teapot Turret would definitely be weakened down a lot to make it fair. Also pray for him that he doesn't get the Dusekkar day 1 treatment.

With the speculated Teapot Turret ability, I find it likely for Clockwork to have an ability related to his game, Dodge the Teapots of Doom.

Also this is just mere speculation for fun, as we don't know jackshit about what Clockwork's moveset could be other than it's "cool." Feel free to take inspiration from it when coming up for your own speculated ability kit as mine is just a single ability concept with 4 different tools.

No beta we die like men.

[briebysabs]

Since I am such a normal individual I’ve decided to attempt breaking down vanoé’s character song “Le Formidable”. I don’t hear much talk about it but the lyrics are just as cryptic and wild as the OP/ED.

Before we get into it, in terms of translation, I could only find one on YouTube that thankfully color-coded the lyrics so I could decipher who sings what. If anyone has any other translations, I’d love to know please. So a bunch of the lines you can kinda figure out who’s singing but here’s how it’s gonna be:

Vanitas =💙

Noé =💜

Vanoe= 💙💜

Simple enough let’s get into it :)

💜: /I want to stay in bed feeling the warmth of the sun and drift in and out of this sweet dream/

Already we’ve mentioned dreaming, a running theme in this song. There is the well-known line Teacher says in chapter 55...

Sleeping, specifically in regards to Noé, is something mochijun makes the audience take note. He can’t sleep without holding something. When he can’t fall asleep, it is highlighted like the night Vanitas rejected Noé drinking his blood. He doesn’t want Vanitas to disappear and I personally like how in the recent chapter, Vanitas stays by his side for a while. Almost like callback to that moment on the train but I’m getting carried away. You get the correlation I’m making, it’ll get very important later on.

We also have those warmth and sun connections to Noé, a large part of his character and Vanitas’ gravitation towards him.

💙: /With this grey weather today, this day will go by without any harmony/

We see Vanitas’ pessimistic outlook on life; grey, cloudy, devoid of color. Devoid of comfort and obviously these two contrasting people will clash but mix together throughout the song.

💜: /Tarte Tatin, Altus Paris! Endless interesting things!/

💙: /It’s always like this! Here and there, endlessly losing sight./

This seems pretty straightforward, Noé is getting distracted by all the wonderful things as usual and Vanitas chastises him. But let’s frame this another way, Noé is choosing to not focus. It’s simpler that way. He’s turning his focus elsewhere to better things, more pleasant things. And Vanitas is trying to wake him up. I’ll explain more in my theory soon.

💜: /What to look for today from this city/

💙: /Ah with all these things/

💙💜: /There is no time to rest/

Simple lyrics here. No comment.

💙💜: /Le formidable! Le formidable! It’s really easy. Just colliding, rolling down, and repeating again/

Here we are entering the chorus. There’s a common thread of repetition in every OP and ED in VnC. Like clockwork, these two have fallen into this pattern.

Colliding- Vanoé meeting, two worlds learning how to come together, joining as one

Rolling down- their downfall, incoming despair and tragedy

Repeating again- they find themselves back where they started, fated to be born and to die

Let me say the first part of my theory and keep this in the back of your head while remembering the lyrics: VnC is not a time loop in the traditional sense but rather a loop of memories. Also keep in mind the first ED Zero: “Now I remember, oh I have never lived a day without you. Untie the layer of memories...”

💙: /This worthless-/

💜: /wonderful-/

💙💜: /world we are walking on. Even not knowing is sometimes nice, right?/

Again, vanoé with different outlooks on life meet each other. But more importantly, we see the display of ignorance or blissful unawareness. We the audience have a vague idea on how this story ends and in a way, so do they. Vanitas knows very well he is doomed and has already entrusted Noé to end his life if it comes to it. But we also don’t know the specifics of their downfall and neither do they.

So this line has a double meaning that refers to the characters and the reader. As yeah it is nice to read vnc and enjoy the happy moments without knowing the painful details of what’s to come.

💜: /Over there something is flapping their wings/

💙: /And these uncountable days pass by. It’s not worth worrying about. So many unknown things, without meaning/

💜: /Escalier! I want to see the bright colors beyond!/

Noé, again giving his attention to supposedly insignificant things as Vanitas tends to see the larger picture, not caring for the mundane. Uncountable days can be matched with the grey weather mentioned earlier. But that also means things are murky, blur together, cloudy. They don’t make sense to Vanitas (such as love, his self-worth, the nature within people) while Noé wants to experience all the brightness of the world.

💙: /I told you to be quiet today, yet here we are!/

💜: /Now you loud person!/

💙💜: /I told you I hardly have time to breathe/

So, hypothetical scenario if we take this song literal: Vanoé is exploring the city because Noe wanted to Vanitas couldn’t say no. Vanitas is fed up and Noé thinks his complaints are aggravating. But this part shows a lack of understanding. They’re yelling about their own hardships but don’t see the other’s perspective.

💙💜: /Le formidable! Le formidable! It’s a simple thing. It’s just finding, losing sight and repeating again/

💜: /I want to dream/

💙: /It’s just a dream/

💙💜: /The world keep walking while not knowing the truth at this point/

Ok there’s a lot to dig our teeth in here. First of all, the finding, losing sight, repeating is another way of describing the colliding and rolling down said prior. Vanoe find each other, they lose each other, it’s fated to happen all over again. Now the big piece here, I want to dream/It’s just a dream. Surface-level interpretation > another instance of their differences. Noé wants be surrounded by dreams and wonder. While Vanitas looks at that beauty and scoff at it, since it isn’t real therefore not worth caring for. But if we read into this carefully, Noé wants to dream. He wants to stay in these memories, he doesn’t want to live in a world without Vanitas.

Let’s go back to OP 1: “I love this world and the light only you give me.”

We know OP 1 is Noe’s POV so let’s ask ourselves why would the Noé we are seeing, the one smiling at all the colors of the world say Vanitas is the only light he has (emphasis on “only”). Because the Noé singing the first OP is operating with far more knowledge and despair. We don’t know the truth at this point. “This world” is not real.

Allow me to offer what I think is happening. Noé and Vanitas meet, they go on this journey of understanding, trust, and love, Vanitas reaches his end and is killed by Noé. Noé lives on. We can tell the Noé writing this story is full of regret and sadness. But why is he writing this all down? He’s retelling the memories, putting them down physically on paper. Two things happened:

a) He exchanged his name with Naenia, wishing to remain in a world with Vanitas in it. Because that wish is still very present, Naenia has great interest in Noé. She mentions seeing him before in Louis but it could be a classic mochijun misdirect and it’s actually from receiving his name in a different iteration. There is that official art with Noé wearing Vanitas’ coat with that goat entity he saw in Gevaudan, pinned to his vest.

However this can only work if Naenia is still around and isn’t resolved/defeated in the memoirs.

b) This is more likely in my opinion. Noé uses the Books and the memoirs act as a catalyst for him to have the world become his memories or for him to live in them. I know only those with blue blood or something can use the books.

Which is why Dr. Moreau had those experiments with Vanitas and Misha. Don’t worry, I already have a theory that Archivistes are some form of blue moon vampires but that is a whole other discussion. Point is, I think the Books of Vanitas are like an Elliot sword situation. Yes, Elliot owns the Nightray sword and carries it around but you don’t know its true purpose in the story until Leo wields it.

Noé causes these memories to replay, perhaps to save Vanitas or simply to dream again. Go back to when he was last happy. But here’s the thing, the Noé in this memory is unaware or ignorant of this, sees his present world as the real one and undergoes the events of the series. Vanitas dies, he lives on, and creates a memory world for himself. Rinse, recycle, repeat. Essentially, the first ED gave it away. The entirety of VnC is a layer of memories. Even the narrator Noé we are hearing is a memory that is trying to manifest a world of his own.

Reality and dreams are all intertwined now and Noé got lost in it. There are leaks in the cracks, for example when Vanitas cries and tells Luna his mother died at childbirth why would he call to her. Initially, you can read this as he’s just missing what he never had. But what if Vanitas’ mother was present in his life 9 memory loops ago but because these memories get further from the truth the more it happens, Noé simply forgot that detail when making the memoirs at some point in time. So now, in the memory layer #52 Vanitas has no mother.

💜: /We will see what we “cannot see”/

💙: /We will know what we “don’t know”/

💙💜: /The final stop of this world that seems to be changing, seems only further ahead/

Noe’s line possibly goes into his Archiviste nature and how he experiences reading memories. It can as well build back into the dream/memory loop thing, he’s seeing things he can no longer “see.”

Vanitas’ line can be drawn to what Noé said during their fight.

Vanitas acts like he has the final word and has a full grasp of how this world/himself works. But he really doesn’t and Noé is living proof of that, proving him wrong on several occasions that there’s still hope, they can’t give up yet, he won’t leave him etc. The final stop of this world is changing, but it’s further ahead. This is a story, a preserved section of time from the past. We gotta ask ourselves... why would the last stop be changing? Again, Vanitas’ death is the final stop but it’s changing, perhaps from the countless iterations we’ve gone through Noé writes the memoirs in a way that delays the ending. So he could remain just a little longer…

💙💜: /Le formidable! Le formidable! Everything is fine. While forgetting, hiding, and repeating it/

💙: /This worthless/

💜: /wonderful/

💙💜: /world we are walking on/

💙: /I don’t know but even so/

💜: /If it can make you smile.../

After this, it ends the song by repeating the first chorus with the colliding-rolling down part so I’ll make this the cutting point. The “everything is fine” totally doesn’t stick out in a story where we know everything will not be fine. The forgetting and hiding goes back to my dream-memory theory, Noé is hiding from the truth in these stacks upon stacks of memories and is possibly forgetting things as they really happened as a result. We already know he isn’t the most reliable narrator. But Noé wants to see Vanitas’ smile.

If it can make you smile again, if it can replay your laughter, why would I ever leave this wonderful lie? In OP 1: “Your laughing was reflected by a daydream”.

I’ll conclude this by saying two things. If you want to get even deeper, you can interpret Vanitas in this song as the voice in the back of Noé’s head. Its just a dream, this world is actually worthless, and Noé is trying to drown out those thoughts. Because yeah they sing lines together but the only time they’re directly speaking to each other is when Vanitas scolds Noé and Noé shouts back, calling him loud. Finally, I could be wrong in all this. I am aware how crazy I may look and I'm so thankful if you read this far.

But yeah if this is anywhere near canon, mochijun must be the most unhinged, absolutely cracked author I’ve ever seen. We’re going into Pandora Hearts levels of intricacy here. I hope you enjoyed my insanity 👍🏼

[sharp-silver4795]

Creepypasta 💰

How much bag the creeps bring in

Here’s the thing- Zalgo doesn’t pay his folks and just makes them rely fully on him…….. so this is just the mansion :P

General

Most people in the Mansion are paid either a fixed income or an hourly wage and then get extra money per casualty.

Hour - hr

Casualty - cas

Proxy - px

Medical service - md

Other - op

All amounts are in USD

If there is no set time or “per [__]” assume the amount is given bi weekly

Inner and Mid Mansion

They get a fixed income. They get paid a certain amount bi-weekly and get extra money every time they find and kill someone. The mid mansion makes different amounts depending on where they are.

Inner Mansion:

$1200

$100-250 per casualty

Mid Mansion:

$500 (Game Freaks)

$800 (Circus Freaks)

$200 per casualty

General Rebellion

These are the ones that get payed by the hour.

The north sides of the rebellion tend to make less by the hour, but they make more per casualty.

Overview

What it means

Since the Inner and Mid Mansion are paid fixed, they don’t have a limit to how long they can/can’t stay out to work cuz they don’t patrol.

The northern rebellion(s) have less time that they’re allowed out since not many people will wander in there.

There’s a highway directly south of the mansion, so the southern rebellion(s) need to be out longer.

Even though this pic only shows the limits, there are minimums as well.

Defensive Rebellion

Raw Pay:

~South~

Clockwork $150/hr

X-Virus $130/hr

Puppeteer $120/hr

~North~

Jane the Killer $95/hr

Nina the Killer $90/hr

Nathan the Nobody $90/hr

Casualty Pay:

~South~

Clockwork $95

X-Virus $90

Puppeteer $90

~North~

Jane the Killer $130

Nina the Killer $220

Nathan the Nobody $220

All Pay:

Clockwork ($150/hr + $95/cas)

Jane ($95/hr + $130/cas)

Nina ($90/hr + $220/cas)

Nathan ($90/hr + $220/cas)

Puppeteer ($120/hr + $90/cas)

X-Virus ($130/hr $90/cas $900px)

Hour Limits:

Maximums

South ~ 18hrs

North ~ 14hr

Minimums

South ~ 12hrs

North ~ 9hrs

Offensive Rebellion

I am too lazy to separate north and south again- just remember that Liu and EJ are in the South and Toby and Jeff are in the North

Raw Pay:

Jeff the Killer $80/hr

Ticci Toby $90/hr

Liu Words $275/hr

Eyeless Jack $335/hr

Casualty Pay:

Jeff the Killer $250

Ticci Toby $250

Liu Woods $80

Eyeless Jack $0

All Pay:

Jeff ($80/hr $250/cas)

Toby ($90/hr $250/cas $900/px)

Liu ($275/hr $80/cas $60/ot)

EJ ($335/hr $90/ot $800/md)

Hour Limits:

Maximums

Jeff & Toby - 16hr

Liu - 20hr

EJ - 12hr (4hr for each meal)

Minimums

Jeff - 8hr

Toby - 10hr

Liu - 12hr

EJ - 6hr

I know it’s a long one- thanks for hanging in if ya made it this far!!!

Diver Creds: Sister-Lucifer

Header Creds: Me~

[neoyi-backstreetback]

Thankfully, there hasn't been any drastic changes in the new introduction. It is exactly as Sabotage Studio said: the flashback portion is cut, so instead of starting off as current Zale and Valere in the mountain trail, it immediately opens up with them as children in their hide out. Some other mild changes I noticed:

Zale and Valere have already decided what kind of weapons they want to use, as seen when they practice with Garl. I feel this adds a bit more context when Brugaves hands the two their training weapons later on since he knows why these kids specifically picked a sword and staff respectively.

Naturally, Resh'an's dialogue at the start changes just a tad to accommodate this. Honestly, you could make an arguable in-game justification that he's just altering his words because this verse is slightly different from the other verse. ;D

You can skip the ENTIRE Forbidden Cave and training montage sequence once you exit their hideout even on a brand new game play (so, it's not, like, game plus exclusive or anything.)

The only change I recall if you still play it normally is that Zale, Valere, and Garl feebly try to fight the snail monsters in the cave. Garl uses a coffee mug for a weapon! ;_;

There's a small piece of new dialogue shortly after Erlina trains Zale and Valere, one I feel adds a lot of weight:

The Erlina dialogue above was always in the original, but the text Valere says below is, as far as I'm concerned, new (I had to check an older YT playthrough just to confirm), one where Erlina warns the two that they will "regret entering this place", a foreboding thing to tell these children...

Naturally, with the mountain trail no longer being the first thing you see, you do not fight any of the beasts there prior to Garl joining. Least, I didn't encounter any (I took the left trail path.)

DIALOGUE IS IMMEDIATELY SKIPPABLE HOLY SHIT THANK YOU. Look, man, if you're replaying a fucking RPG for the third time, I will take the button that can move on to the next dang part of the game!

Basically, my biggest fear was that the new introduction would alter the red herring. When SoS first introduces the Acolytes, neither Zale or Valere had reunited with Garl yet. They reminiscence and wonder if he's doing alright before the game cuts to the main baddies scheming, giving the illusion that perhaps Garl had gone to the dark side, only for the game to fake us out and show, no, he's totally a cool person. But that scene is still there left is, as it should.

Speaking of Acolytes, their theme song has been replaced by the Clockwork Castle theme for some reason during that scene.

Co-op Stuff

While each player controls a specific character, they can be interchangeable if, say, Player 1 wanted to play as Zale while Player 2 previously was.

Battle mode, however, is not relegated to the character you individually picked. Each player takes turn in combat and they can control any of the characters onscreen provided they are not grayed out.

You cannot save, open locks and doors/pull levers, or rest in campfire unless you have everyone's consent. I think that's a smart move; that way you're not wandering around until someone interrupts by cooking or something like that.

That's all I've dug through with the new update so far. More coming as I play and mess around.

[cr33pz-mck3nna]

heyy i love your headcanons!!

do you have any for liu?

Homicidal Liu generalized headcanons

Warning: Non canon as I write for my versions of the Creepypastas (credits for the art to the OPs on Pinterest)

Hostility: 5/10

• He only gets 5 hostility bc of Sully, Liu himself is an angel

• Liu has more alternate personalities then Sully including a child named Nico and a woman named Trudy

• Liu is half Hispanic and has mainly his mother's features including her borderline curly hair and bright green eyes

• Liu gained his different personalities at different points in his life, Trudy when his mom passed away, Nico after he was sent to juvie and Sully after Jeff's attack

• Liu is very unlikely to fall in love as his first and in his words "only" lover passed away from Cancer, his nurse after Jeff's attack, Charlene

• Liu is borderline obsessed with Jeff, imagine how badly Sully wants to kill Jeff and then change the "kill" to "shelter and protect" and there you have Liu-

• Liu wants to blindly protect Jeff bcs he's his little brother, Trudy empathizes with Jeff and is honestly the only one of Liu's personalities who gets Jeff, Nico is terrified of Jeff and as always Sully wants Jeff dead

• As far as Liu knows Jeff also killed their baby sister(if you read my Jeff headcanons you would know this is not the case)

• Liu is NOT one of the crps, he only hangs around them once he finds his brother, in fact he doesn't even like killing, that's Sully

• The first time Sully killed someone Liu came back to front early and immediately threw up at the sight, now he just doesn't take front when Sully's there until he knows he's done

• Liu at this point in time barely remembers his family, especially his sister, because the past years it's always been "Jeff"

• Liu started hanging out with Toby and Clockwork alot, the "totally not crps gang" as the crps liked to make fun of them call them, he gets along quite well with them and did find it funny just how similar he and Clockwork were physically

• Liu is chronically online so yes he knows about the legends...and the fanbase...yes I'm looking at you freaks, HE KNOWS.

• If you ever hope to get with this man you best hope BEN ain't able to dig up sum stupidly horny u said about Liu five years ago or you don't stand a chance-

• If this man was a yandere(face it, he probably is) he would definitely be the obsessive lovebombing stalker yandere type

• Has a weekly dance battle with Jeff in front of the crps while dirty drunk to....idk assert dominance?- He always wins bc Jeff is a fucking horrible dancer and even worse while drunk

• Now THIS MAN is the one you wanna offer waffles to in hopes of survival, or just any breakfast food, this man is a sucker for food and especially breakfast food(get this man an egg and sausage burrito and this man will get you a ring-)

• Unlike his brother Liu CANNOT STAND BEN, even worse when it comes to Sully

• When he met Sally she started crying bcs Liu looked alot like her father whom she tried to convince herself she didn't miss, she also considers Liu a brother like she does Jeff

• Liu/Sully is one of the only of the crps(honorary or official) besides ones like Hoodie or E.J. who doesn't fear Slenderman

THIS WAS FUN :D Let me know if you want any more or maybe relationship headcanons and as always my requests are ALWAYS open! Tata for now my lovely little gremlins! -Creepz

[sukaitsuriarchive]

Shin Megami Tensei III livetweet thread (2/3)

excuse me??

she drags them by the ass!!!!! a pervert is what she is!!!!

~

(artist)

bro i wonder how that pointy thing tastes like, my brain keeps only associating it to a piece of plastic

~

okay so from what i'm understanding

isamu = individuality chiaki = only for the strong and that benefit society hikawa = no emotions, everyone turns into gods, no suffering, only silent vibes hits the bong

isamu definitely is chaos but i'm kinda unsure how to label chiaki bc while she's like 'society is for the strong, fuck weak people', the way she's close to angels and would discard anyone not corresponding to her standards is very law-aligned.

it's like she got the meanest parts of both law and chaos ideologies and mashed it together. scary shit

hikawa……….. hikawa is so disconnected to the plot and is more like a generic bad guy that you really don't feel like putting too much thought into what he's preaching

~

the teacher is neutral right?…. everyone is so goddamn bonkers in this game that trying to give hard labels to them feels misleading. i mean, the teacher is the one that put everyone into this shit in the first place but she regrets it later. hmm. a lot of how she's expressing herself to demifiend feels very… manipulative to say the least.

i haven't fully understood but the manikins are sorta like homunculus? and are considered "furniture" for others, be it humans or demons, which is why chiaki considers them "unable" to have a reason, as if even thinking of such thing would be a sin [[[AGAIN, very law-aligned]]]

but anyway if i could try to summarize the meaning behind their reasons at least as of now… isamu is an angsty teen (was probably bullied or ostracized) that only wants to be left alone, hikawa is a sociopath ceo guy that is used to get whatever he wants and wishes for everyone to have the same (lack of) emotional level as him, and chiaki is…. uh. chiaki is downright evil lmfao

~

it would be so hilarious if walking like this would make enemies attack exclusively from behind

demifiend like... pukes and swallows the same magatamas nonstop... no wonder fans hc him feral af

feelin weak rn, maybe a lil vulnerable in this cursed status, perhaps breedable

~

so uhhh are you gonna come down or is your dick stuck there forever

thor was such a wimp compared to isamu as a boss... why didn't this dumbass fight him instead of ME huh

like clockwork

~

this masakados bug must taste specifically like a cheeto

~

got the teacher ending (by accident) aint bad but i wanted demon from the straight go tbh

glorious 2003

the final boss bgm is the best fucking thing i've listened in a long while... i legit got shocked like WOW.... they went and gave us that

now it's demon route by all costs

~

he looks actually handsome with this jacket. if he wanted to impress the teacher he should've gone with this before

pixie striked me as something you could hide in your hand in the pixel games but here she's as big as a cat which is *remembers gouto* well. it can work that way too

if you try to summon raidou through the compendium the old man refuses and says this (apparently with dante too but fuck it, dante doesn't exist for me)

~

the real frustrating thing about nocturne is that you go through so much hard work to get special items/abilities only for you to barely use them (or not at all) because 1. the point you get them is very nearly endgame (you're already too op) 2. the items don't get carried over in ng+ 🙉

insanely mad about the masakados magatama, all that fucking money... those 17 hours wasted playing that puzzle minigame... Gone

makes you reflect on how much smtiv spoiled us... i could speedrun that whole shit in ng+ in less than 9 hours

~

smt3 is an amazing case of how much it aged well graphically to the point you really can't tell how dated other things are... every now and then i get shocked because i thought certain demons would've already gotten redesigns such as lilim or garuda

that punch in the gut whenever you remember that the older smt ps2 titles are older and looked 5437593487953x better than p3~p4 and the latter are what sold the most

you clearly can tell they were proud of how smt3 looked in 2003 because of the many, many MANY camera angles like yeah you like that ass? wanna see it closer? how about from below? huh???

~

imo isamu's reason is the most relatable one but well he being an incel-ish emo kid is still the gist of his character arc 🤣 in the end they're all hypocrites anyway so yeah. they all deserve to be beaten up

"if you go yosuga demifiend will kill futomimi himself" OH MANNN LMAO THIS JUST SUCKS

i'd like chiaki more if her reason wasn't sorta connected to law aspects tbh... her boss form is just so dull compared to what she's transformed into when she gets gozutennoh's powers

i had no idea you could revive futomimi by fusing him too lol definitely making my man on this run to make up for the fact you can't join the manikin

~

the thing abt chiaki is that you can't even blame her unhingedness on the fact the world turned like this, she had this borderline fascist mentality even in her normal life but just kept it to herself

idk i really can't get over it. they mixed the most evil & self-destructive aspects of an alignment and put on her. there's absolutely zero sense anyone would agree with going yosuga except they find chiaki hot. she's to a T a very depiction of a japanese bully

demifiend choosing yosuga: 'oh i can fix her'

me: ppl would follow chiaki only bc she's hot me: me: oh god walter would totally join yosuga

walter is a hypocritical idiot on the same level as her as in would 100% betray his own peers by doing the same caste/social class bullshit he was vulnerable to but also pretty much this

~

man sakahagi has absolutely no business randomly exposing these nice shaved legs of his

~

okay it took 30 hours to be finished with the main story this time... been leaving to explore amala until the very end so i wouldn't get the paths mixed up

they weren't SUPER vague about what you were supposed to do but this sure didn't convey 'if you step into the tower all your amala progress is going down the drain'

prob just me but tbh the amala labyrinth as a final dungeon would have been much more impactful and less ass to play instead of a side task you have to constantly go back and forth while doing the main story

the triangle will soon be completed

[f4nd0m-fun]

@puppetmaster13u @hallowsden

Insanity under the cut, it gets rambly, way too many fandoms, and an AU that started just under a decade ago, whoops 😅

Have you ever seen the Ghostbusters? I have an entire Halfa!Egon AU to explain some of that shit his cartoon version got up to 😂

I threw that AU at Jill too when she showed up since she's basically the Egon of her group. Although I also have a sub au of that where they're twins, both Deities of life and death but her more death and animals and him more life and plants, and that's why they're halfas.

Honestly tho, I give EVERYTHING a cryptid AU Even if it's already a fucked world. For instance, Janine is a Naga (shifter) in one iteration 🤣

I also have a stupid crossover au where it turns out Kevin is Thor and Jill is Jane and at this point they've just been universe hopping for a while against will/intent and such.

Which, thinking of my Loki!Bruce stuff, now I'm just laughing about some massive DP DC GB MVL crossover. Catwoman and Talia are Sigyn and Angrboda from myths tho but I've no idea which is who 😅

It's even worse tho when you add Loki = James and Sigyn = Lily (I think I read every freaking fanfic that had that plot). Which, maybe Talia is Sigyn which makes Damien poor Harry. Also, half Indian James/quarter Indian Harry please and thank you very much.

But also you get into the craziness of which Joker and Harley are Loki/Sigyn too because I adored the version of Joker who was a non abusive crazy in the cartoon and wasn't yet in my loving Bruce era. Which adds even more to the whole 'two halves of a coin' bats and jokes has going on. 😅

And if we go with my age old Pariah Thomas, Gotham Martha, and Clockwork Alfred... yeah, Bruce might be a lil OP, or at the very least scare ol Connie with the number of seals on him to keep his powers locked away.

What's worse is that the Deity AU for Ghostbusters has Jill and Egon as twin children of alternate godhoods/godformes of Loki and Sigyn because OTP forever but also CHAOS (this deity au started when I was in high school and it's the one AU that never stops digging it's claws in, halp 😅)

But also Sam is the daughter of Hades and Persephone, and Danny is like... a mini Hela who Sigyn went to check on and, whoops, her soul got tethered to a too weak body so not only is she her own step great granddaughter but also the vessel is dying and that sucks.

I also had a PJO au where Tucker was a son of Hephaestus, which, I guess WW and Vandal get to fight over him? 😅

Yes I love chaos, and yes I might be a lil crazy, but it's fun. Also, I make a Cryptid AU and a Deity AU for pretty much every fandom I'm in even if I don't voice it.

[daxieoclock]

Tactica Impressions Part 6, No Plot Spoilers

Toshiro continues to bring the entire plot down. I need him to stop being here. Please. Please, I'm dying and the only cure is No More Adult Man Party Member In Persona Game.

Erina is a fantastic character and her development is fantastic but it DRAGS that she's so fixated on being nice to Toshiro and sucking up to him and giving him unearned authority over her rebellion and the Phantom Thieves.

They've even co-oped Futaba into buddying up to Toshiro and it sucks so bad. Futaba. Futaba, cyber criminal and prodigal hacker, compares her being autistic and talented to Toshiro's...having experience deescalating cabinet battles. It's SUCH mischaracterization.

Complaining aside. All The Girls (And Ryuji) Love Erina's Flag and I feel like that's very gay of them. Everyone likes the cool girl.

RYUHARU SIDE QUEST with bonus Futaba and Haru sister moments, and Ryuji calls Haru "senpai." It's fucking amazing. Haru fans keep winning.

Even though Yusuke and Makoto are my least fav Thieves on average, I do love how they're animated this game. They both have fantastic poses, and there's even some good bits of characterization, though Makoto gets really robbed by most of the big planning stuff being handed over to Toshiro instead so he can show off. Stolen valor tbh.

There's one random moment where it looks like Haru and Makoto are holding hands. Yay! :)

The marriage fantasy scenes kinda sucked on average? The Makoto and Yusuke scenes were deeply unfunny jokes, the Ann scene felt like it was copy-pasted from Lovers 10, and the Ryuji scene was surprisingly earnest even through the attempt to play it off as a joke. Like...it felt like yet another case where Atlus accidentally wrote them into genuine bi subtext, as opposed to the "my friend is a weirdo" of the Yusuke scene.

The Haru scene almost made me tear up. Yes I'm a Harufan, yes I'm biased towards Shuharu. Don't care, it was so fucking genuine and played into her themes of overcoming romantic/sexual abuse and it was just AGHHGG I LOVE THESE STUPID KIDS.

How does Joker STILL have the grappling hook from Royal, what the fuck. We're playing X-Com over here, you didn't think that would have been useful EARLIER???

Anyway Erina continues to be an absolute badass, it's unreal how cool she is.

...I wrote most of these points as I experienced them, and now I may need to take a step back. Because the projection room scene in the castle has left me genuinely reeling. I'm not sure what to say beyond...that I am taking another look at Toshiro as a character. Because I might be starting to appreciate him. Metatextually, his role as a pseudo-party member is a fucking nightmare, and his writing is so inconsistent and uncharismatic that the most entertaining parts of his presence so far has been other characters dunking on him. His personality sucks and I don't like WHY Atlus put him in this game. But as a character, as a foil to the Thieves and an individual narrative...I am starting to be compelled. There is absolutely an opportunity for Atlus to absolutely dumpster this good faith they've got from me, but...I said "if they want to make Toshiro compelling, they need to do these things" and like fucking clockwork, they did. So now I'm putting my money where my mouth is. I don't have to LIKE Toshiro, but I will give his arc the benefit of the doubt. (Also if people want to read my specific thoughts on the scene, let me know, I'll definitely write them up if there's interest.)

Anyway pls look at this meme from @lilyhoshikawa

Haru / Ann Close Read Lines: 21 (and boy fucking howdy what a handful of good ones we got this time)

[linuxgamenews]

Elemental War Clash: Unleash Your Strategy Skills

Elemental War Clash is tower defense game with roguelite and RPG mechanics coming to Linux, Mac, and Windows PC. Thanks to the creative minds at Clockwork Origins, who are packing in fresh ideas and epic moments. Due to make its debut on Steam soon. Big news from the team here at Clockwork Origins – our next title is officially on the way! Say hello to Elemental War Clash, the newest entry in our fantasy tower defense series that a lot of you already know and like. If you’re into fast-paced strategy, intense boss fights, and customizing your game style with loot and upgrades – you’re going to like this one. Clockwork Origins have taken the best parts of Elemental War 1 and 2 and mixed them into one epic package. Expect classic tower defense gameplay mixed with deep RPG mechanics – we’re talking quests, items, and even cross-platform co-op and PvP modes so you can jump in with friends (or crush your enemies on other platforms). What’s New in Elemental War Clash?

Three game modes in singleplayer – and yes, you can play all of them in online co-op!

A full-blown PvP mode, because let’s be honest, flexing your tower skills against real players is way more satisfying.

A map editor, so you can build your own battlegrounds or try out community-made chaos.

Elemental War Clash | Announcement Trailer

We’ve pulled inspiration from some classics to make this release hit hard. If you ever played the Warcraft 3 mod Element TD, you’ll feel right at home. We also took cues from The Binding of Isaac for our loot system and Gothic for the handcrafted maps and quests. Here’s how it works: every five waves, you earn element crystals. Use them to summon tough-as-nails bosses called Elementals. Beat them, and you’ll unlock their element – which opens up all kinds of new tower upgrades and combos. You can mix up to three elements for even more unique builds in Elemental War Clash. But the real fun? It’s in the items and quests. Complete quests to unlock new items – and those items drop during your runs. Some give you passive bonuses, some let you blast enemies with abilities, and some let you gear up your towers in wild ways. No two runs are ever the same. You’ll fight through all kinds of enemies with powers like Gold Rush or even Invincibility. And the maps? Stunning. Think deserts, icy wastelands, and more – each with its own vibe and challenges. You can even try the Free Elemental War Clash Linux Demo on Steam. Elemental War Clash with its tower defense with roguelite and RPG mechanics releases in May 2025 – exact date coming soon. So get ready to squad up, level up, blow stuff up on Linux, Mac, and Windows PC. So Wishlist it now on Steam.

[copyqueer]

Albannon in a nutshell is stereotypical theme park Victorian England.

To go into more detail, it's technically the Great Albannon Empire which is one of the larger political entities that can contend with the World Government and is not (currently) in the territory of any Emperors of the Sea. Albannon is known for their very impressive navy and technology as well as their success in conquering and colonizing other nearby islands which is where the bulk of their wealth comes from. They're also currently the only world power with an air force which is what's kept entities like the World Government from trying something historically. Their range is also expanding which is likely going to force them into true conflict with the World Government soon.

The capitol is Big-Clock-On-Time and yes it's basically Weird London. Time is the name of the major river and Big Clock is the city that's sprung up next to it. As I mentioned before Albannon is extremely steampunk and while yes there is a Big Ben expy the Big Clock comes from all the clockwork that makes up the city. It's a very twisty complex multi-leveled place where the richer you are the higher off the ground you live and elements of the city will move according to the time.

The poorest tend to live on the ground itself where there's less natural light and poorer conditions. They rarely can go even a few levels above the one they live on and overall society is VERY stratified and conservative, for example, there are places women can't go with out a male chaperone and what you can wear is dictated entirely by your social status. One of the only ways that the poor can have a chance at upward mobility is via the military.

Something I get into more with Ileana but not Bentham (who leaves Albannon completely to pursue his dreams) is the military and intelligence sectors of Albannon as after she managed to convince Whitebeard to take out Jack and almost dies she pretends to be a boy and joins the army. The warfare is in many ways reminiscent of World War 1 just a little more One piece-y and is utterly ghastly. A fun example of how much Albannon sucks is that during the war she was apart of they used chemical weapons on their own people (her squad) so they could claim the enemy did it and use chemical weapons against them. So that's fun!

They do also have their own intelligence/black ops organization similar to Cipher Pol which she's recruited into. They're much more James Bond-y than Cipher Pol with lots of gadgets and shit. They're all naturally very ruthless, nationalistic, and look down on everyone else. Most of their solo agents like Ileana tend to get their own private small subs which they can stealthily travel in and also live in. It's basically like having a traveling studio apartment.

[dondon-patapon]

Observation Log 5: 1/15 10:52 PM

Temp: 26 deg.

Weather: Brisk, light wind.

Obs: Thin layer of frost forming on the windows, meteor shower setting in.

This cold front refuses to break, to my frustration. Another day, another struggle to get the lamp lit. Again, my hands numb to the point where strength fails me. So I sit and seethe by the light to warm my bones and think.

There’s change in the air, of this I’m sure. The longest cold snap I can remember, far later than is normal to boot. Don’t know what this means, but combined with all the other oddities 

I’d best keep my eyes sharp, I can hear the rushing of meteors starting to

Observation Log 6: 1/16 8:17 PM

Temp: 23 deg.

Weather: Unbearably cold

Obs: Unnatural lights off in the distance interfering with ops.

I never did get to finish my entry last night. A meteor shower is stressful at the best of times, certainly. But to have it come so close? Another concerning entry to make note of here. Something odd is brewing, and I’m growing more concerned by the day.

Two ships out in the storm. Two. It’s rare enough to see one having taken such a wrong turn. All my focus and prayers towards keeping them intact and seeing them through the mess. The rest of the night I’ll admit was taken up by a haze of tension and uncertainty. Panic, I must admit. It’s been so long since I’ve felt so close to true panic.

Now, after having surveyed the damage from the prior night, I can sit and reflect on everything. My bones ache. Rest has been difficult to come by of late, and it is catching up with me. Weighing heavier and heavier by the day. How much longer can I handle this?

Has this place really ground me so thin to the point where my composure begins to fail me? How truly far I’ve fallen.

A bright rush of daylight singes my eyes; I recoil, blinking rapidly. My eyes struggle to adjust to the sudden change, and back to the darkness. Lights, round-ish, float in the space outside. Emanating various colors, they seem to be full of gases and other indistinct shapes. Like mini worlds of their own, these massive fireflies flit about in odd but intentional patterns. Giving off light so bright it casts shadows of daylight across my little island. A mesmerizing sight-

And then, beyond it all, I see it. It’s looking directly at me.

Observation Log 7: 1/17 8:17 PM

Temp: 23 deg.

Weather: Unbearably cold

Obs: Another meteor shower has begun.

The remainder of last night I will admit I can scarcely remember. As I set about to start my day, I found everything in order from the night before. And yet my memory of the latter part of last night is an indistinct blur, normally reserved for ancient memories. Unusual, really. I can remember these odd firefly-like lights nearby last night, and yet beyond that… nothing.

Whatever the case, I slept better than I have in some time. Even started the lamp on my first try, to boot. My strength has, to some degree, returned. Were it not for the entries I had started from the last two nights, I would have chalked them up to some kind of fatigue fever dream.

But alas, my word is proof enough.

That, and the mess left behind from two nights ago. With that out of the way, I could actually focus on the night before me. Funny thing about a bit of rest, it has such a knack for jogging corners of the brain you’ve thought long buried. In my case, I found myself wondering when the last time I gave this lamp and its associated mechanisms the proper maintenance it so needed.

Between my notes and my memories, I concluded it had been entirely too long. Old gears needing oiled, lantern oil and wick needing topped up and trimmed properly - clockwork tasks my hands automatically walked me through, like old times. Comforting, familiar, most welcome. But most importantly, in control. The most productive day I’ve had in some time. It’s no wonder I’ve had so much trouble of late getting this old thing lit, I’ve let it go for entirely too long.

Heh. Not necessarily the most noble of epiphanies to have had, but it makes me feel a bit better. I’m not falling apart at the seams, not quite yet. There’s always a simple explanation to be found.

Tomorrow I may try and organize those notes and documents I salvaged from the beach. For now, though, a little more rest couldn’t hurt. This has been the most productive day I’ve had in some time.

[gertlushgaming]

Trine 5 A Clockwork Conspiracy Review (PlayStation 5)

For this Trine 5 A Clockwork Conspiracy Review, The Trine series is back with its biggest adventure! In their fifth outing, the Heroes of Trine are pitted against dastardly and duplicitous villains, who will stop at nothing to seize control of the kingdom. The clock is ticking to save the world of Trine!

Trine 5 A Clockwork Conspiracy Review Pros:

- Gorgeous graphics. - 15.05GB download size. - Platinum trophy. - You get the PlayStation 4 and the PlayStation 5 versions of the game. - Puzzle platformer gameplay. - Can rebind controls. - Accessibility options include - subtitles, letterbox for subtitles, letterbox opacity, and speaker name. - Can set levitate to hold or toggle. - Collectibles - letters, tidbits, and fashion. - Supports both online and offline Co-op. - Two ways to play - unlimited (any combo of heroes including dupes) or classic (only 1 of each character). - Four difficulties - Easy, normal, hard, and custom. - Custom difficulty lets you tweak puzzle difficulty (normal/hard), resurrection cost (free to lose everything), and damage (enemy health/enemy damage). - Customizable characters - name color, outfit color, clothing accessory, and hat. - Fast loading times. - Excellent narration that is once again performed by the same voice guy. - The game is presented like a storybook. - Cutscenes are a mix of in-game and rendered scenes. - The bow settings - aim assist strength, firing method, and use of the unmodified right stick. - Some of the best lighting in the business. - A 2D side scroller with fully animated 3D backdrops amd animated foregrounds. - A real visual treat. - Brilliant soundtrack. - Familiar controls. - Solo play has just one character on screen at a time. - When playing solo you can swap between characters with a button press. - Headphone mode option. - Can turn the audio to mono. - Constant checkpoints. - The movement is tight and fluid, the best it has felt in the series. - Much more in-depth and clever traversal tricks at play. - Physics at work and feel realistic whether it be a cube falling on a plank or cutting a piece of rope and momentum taking over. - There will be parts where a scene is playing out and you are in the background moving around. - Emote/quick chat wheel. - Can customize any character in the pause menu. - You can use your hooks to swing around but also pull crates and even tether objects together. - Finally feels like they have nailed the bow feel and usage as it's really quick and accurate. - Quick selection option to make tethering and selecting a target a lot easier, it's just a button press. - You can skip cutscenes. - Full voice work for each character. - Despite all being 2D the game does an amazing job of making it look and feel like a 3D game. - The whole game loop is that you have a band of characters each with unique abilities Amadeus is a wizard so he can levitate objects and conjure up blocks and planks. Pontius can use a shield to block projectiles and break crates, whereas Zoya has a bow and can jump high. - Postcard quality vistas. - Boss-like encounters. - Pontius has abilities making him more versatile like being able to charge and slam the ground. - Amadeus can conjure items with a button press. (In the older games you had to draw the shape) - So many different ways to solve a puzzle. - There are five acts to play though. - You can replay levels and each one shows how many exp potions you have left to collect. - So much fun to play. - Hard to put down. - The main menu has a space where you can practice with characters and just mess around. - Grand checkpoints let you transfer all earned exp potions and turn them into skill points. - Each character has their own skill tree, abilities are unlocked through progress but all can be upgraded. - The combat initially is very hack-and-slash but later on, you can get abilities to add more spice and variety including making other characters able to hold their own. Trine 5 A Clockwork Conspiracy Review Cons: - In Single Player, I couldn't edit each character individually. - No colorblind support. - The font can be hard to make out and there is no setting to change it. - Re uses a lot of puzzles from previous games. - Starts the same as all the other games in that you are introduced to each character one by one. - Tedious little sections that feel like filler. - The camera is not always ideal, especially with out-of-sight Collectibles. Related Post: The Texas Chain Saw Massacre Review (Steam) Trine 5 A Clockwork Conspiracy: Official website. Developer: Frozenbyte Publisher: THQ Nordic Store Links -  PlayStation Read the full article

[phantomphangphucker]

Time’s A Game That Plays Us All

ClockWork sees all the plays that can be taken, then substitutes their own. And Danny’s always been their king.

Using the tropes: Play-Along Prisoner and Take A Third Option

There’s a legend of old, from a long time ago. Something you could find if you flipped through a ghost hunters book selection. Having been written about in the first incarnation of the Hunter’s Wisdom Essentials Guide Book, still remaining largely unchanged outside of language from this original copy, in every subsequent edition. This legend so vital that the creature behind it was listed as a co-author in the book itself. If you asked any ghost hunter why, they’d say it was obvious, much of the information came from this creature. Their work, their profession, was spurred by the very same creature.

See back in the day, before ghost hunting, before any knowledge of ghosts, there had always been stories and rumours of strange glowing creatures. Some humanoid, some animalistic. They caused havoc or skittishly avoided the humans, though most wrote them off as visions or the ravings of the mad/ill. That is except for a select few, eventually anyway. The select few who knew, came to know, when a small little creature who held age in their eyes yet the form of a small buck-toothed child made their presence known to these select few. The first being Galvion Ingride Whitefoot, Adrian G. Groove -ever followed by an albino tiger-, Exterian Slav Break, and Josephine D. Fetonightingal. Of course they had all known each other, to some degree. Met on occasions, even if their respective families grew apart to the point where eventual modern relatives were unawares. But together they had written the first edition of the Hunter’s Wisdom Essentials Guide Book, after the glowing floating child -with no legs to speak of- had offered their hand and words. Had spoken of another world, filled with creatures of wonder and horror much the same as the creature themselves. Had told them of the nature of these creatures' existence, the dead yet given ‘life’ anew. How they had pointed where they needed to go to find such similar creatures in their living world. Allowed them to witness the power these creatures could wield and how to protect against it.

At first all had questioned the small, well-spoken and mild-mannered creature; and of course they contained/trapped it as best they could. Why would they tell them such things? Give them tools to fight or defend? But they learned that this one, who used their dark purple cloak to hide, instead of invisibility. How they floated around not through things. How they never fired off one of those ecto-blasts, as they said they were called. They all came to realise that this creature did not possess the abilities of the others. And not only that, but none of the other creatures seemed to know the child-like ones’ name; yet they often knew each other’s. These four also noted how every creature they encountered seemed to represent something: sleep, plants, weather, water, electricity, and so on.

Leaving them all to come to the conclusion that this blue-skinned one, with their words of guidance, represented humanity's defence against these creatures. That they were nature’s way of defending her living children and revealing, through the presence of this weak yet wise creature, who would do it best. It was also decided that the strange ticking thing in the ghost's chest represented the growth and time needed to develop and guide a new ghost hunter. Every human who saw this creature, captured it, came to these very same conclusions; and as the story goes, as soon as they did, that very creature would appear with their soft smile and crimson eyes and tell them the name of these creatures they were to fight ‘ghosts’. Then they’d be seen no more. This final appearance came to be seen as the universes seal of approval for the ghost hunter. Their graduation from a young apprentice, learning their role in the world, to ghost hunter in true; and every single one would go on to be masters of their craft, pioneers.

Of course, in the many years that followed, not every ghost hunter saw and caught this small wise ghost, but every single one that did went on to be influential. Those that didn’t, regardless of drive, never seemed to stick with the field, never excelled at creating their own weapons, never made any new discoveries. So it was something of an understood truth that this ghost knew who would make a good true ghost hunter, and simply did not waste their time with any others.

For Jack Fenton, he had seen the ghost in his early youth, had learned everything with wild abandon. Of course his family had always known of ghosts and of the legend, to say they had been ecstatic when Jack claimed to have captured the ghost, would be an understatement.

Maddie Fenton, on the other hand, met this ghost only shortly before meeting Jack. But the knowledge the small ghost gave seemed so obvious to her, so right. Meeting Jack had been easy and obvious after that. The two lovers had felt a little bad for their friend Vlad, having never seen or heard of this ghost. But they knew even those not chosen could be good ghost hunters, and who were they to reject someone’s passion? Though neither was truly surprised when he seemingly dropped out of the ecto-field all together, especially with the accident. Though Maddie’s pretty sure she saw him flipping through a Hunter’s Wisdom Essentials Guide Book and scoffing at the small ghost, muttering that clearly this little ghost was nothing but a silly myth.

And now, Jack finds himself flipping through his Fenton family edition of the Hunter’s Wisdom Essentials Guide Book, smiling fondly and reminiscing slightly over the sketch of the old wise ghost. Though frowning slightly as he traces the scar on the ghosts face. He remembers asking how that happened, after all it was known that he did not use to have it. The only answer he had ever gotten was ‘such is the marks of old beasts that watch, the foolish and power-mad who can not tolerate what they can not control’. Jack gathers it was from another ghost, one who somehow knew of and how to find the small ghost that no others seemed to.

He turns his head and smiles as his wife sits down. Maddie looking at the book and smiling herself, speaking quietly, “wonder if either of the kids will see him”.

Jack chuckles, “surely one will! At least one Fenton child always does. Heck! Both me and my brother did”.

Maddie giggles slightly and nods before frowning a little, “I do worry though Jack dear. Neither seem to have any interest. In fact, they almost seem put-off”.

“I wouldn’t give up faith yet Mads. You certainly had no interest when you were their age after all!”.

Maddie giggles and nods, silently joining her husband in flipping trough the heirlooms pages.  

ClockWork watches the interaction through one of many viewing portals, smiling ever so slightly. Turning their head to another, watching Daniel teasing and insulting Walker before flying lazily home.

Everything had worked out as it should. Everyone was where and who they needed to be. And yet there was a roadblock. A problem. Daniel’s skill at lying and hiding was a much-needed one, a true necessity. But even a fool could see the rift it caused and how it blocked the future of progress.

Ghost hunters, though needed for their purposes, had become advanced enough to pose threats. Not just to single ghosts, but every ghost, the world even. Such a level of advancement was needed of course, had resulted in Phantom. But now, the Observants were nervous, many ghosts were. Enough so that the Zone itself was being affected by all the negative emotions. That wouldn’t change if change didn’t happen. ClockWork chuckles over such phrasing, they had a plan of course, always did. Ghost hunters needed to change, their opinions needed to change. It had to come from the influential of course, not from ClockWork themselves, that wasn’t their purpose. They were a guider not a symbol of change. No, that was Phantom’s place, Daniel’s place.

Phantom couldn’t be exposed yet, not quite, but the forming rift with his parents would cause issues if it continues to grow before the day came for them to know exactly who and what Daniel was.  

Looking back to the portal with the two parents, this provided an opportunity of sorts. ClockWork knows that while they look at this scene, the book, with a slight smile the Observants instead frown. More than a little displeased with ClockWork’s past decision.

See ClockWork always has some plan or another, some idea for the future. That was part of their purpose after all. So of course they did back when humans had first come into existence in genuine, started making the world their bitch so to speak. All the other ghosts at the time, ClockWork’s fellow Ancients, firmly refused the idea that these weak fleshy creatures would ever pose any kind of threat to them. They existed in two different dimensions, sure there were occasionally natural portals between the two planes but all the other mortal creatures never paid any mind to any ghosts causing mischief or hanging about; why would these ‘humans’ be any different.

ClockWork knew better, saw better; so they acted better. Humans would know of ghosts, of course they would, there was no possible future where they would not. And humans were egotistical creatures, things that would steamroll over all other species they could. They also would grow to have a never-ending love for knowledge, that was something ClockWork could appreciate; feel fond of.

So while the other ghosts dismissed these humans ClockWork made plans, made themselves known to the humans. The other ghosts that even knew of ClockWork were uneasy with this but even back then no one questioned ClockWork, well...besides those foolish Observants; who thankfully did not yet exist.

ClockWork appeared to them with careful forethought, let the human capture them, and the knowledge that there really was only two options. Neither of which ClockWork paid any mind. Though fine, technically humans could be blocked out from knowing about ghosts, eliminate any who truly became knowledgable; ClockWork could certainly do that, but that would be far less interesting.

So either humans would know and live in fear, or they would know and come to make it impossible for new earth ghosts to be formed. Both options would make halfas impossible, coexistence impossible. So ClockWork hardly considered them actual options.

Instead letting humans know ghosts, but with the added effect of appealing to their pride. The human belief that they where the top species. That they could crush anything. Simply by showing them weaker ghosts, by altering natural ghost portals, by appearing to them as a guiding hand and without their staff visible, by allowing themselves to be seen as ‘trapped’. And so ClockWork became the stuff of legends to them, and an utter unknown to ghosts; excluding those eyeballs of course.

And why did they exist? The Observants? Well, because their fellow Ancients felt there needed to be overseers, never knowing they already had one in ClockWork. Leaving them with more decisions to make, plans to enact. Of course these knew ghosts would know of ClockWork, be insulted and fearful of the master of time’s power. All beings fear the powerful that they can not control. So these new ghosts would try to control ClockWork, try to force their hand, try to remove or alter them. The Observants, like all creatures, would have motives of their own; would lack objectivity. So either ClockWork was to find a way to hide from them or accept their future actions towards them. Or ClockWork could interfere, alter them to ClockWork’s own design. Bar them from being able to act, from being able to harm. They would be watchers and watchers only. The ghosts would get what they want, and ClockWork would do as ClockWork pleases. Sure ClockWork could just stop them from successfully creating the Observants at all, but where’s the fun in that? Plus, annoying them would become a beloved past time.

So ClockWork lets the other ghosts see these Observants as all powerful overseers; as judge, jury and executioner. Let the Observants fool themselves too. Sure they had enough power to lock up any ghosts that ClockWork, unknowingly to them, let them lock up. But ClockWork would stand as the only executioner, and they knew that.

This decision also helped ClockWork remain an unknown to other ghosts, the Observants didn’t want their lack of power, lack of ability to act, known; and ClockWork was the proof of that. But since ClockWork exists in every different possible future there was, the Observants could never truly control who knew and who didn’t. Only ClockWork could, simply manipulate toward the future they wanted in such a way that the Observants couldn’t so much as object beyond complaining pointlessly.

Smirking at the viewing portal as the two parents head to the lab, it was showtime. ClockWork never appeared to ghost hunters after they finished their apprenticeship, humans need to bloom and blossom of their own accord; else you hurt their egos. But rules were there to be broken and rules couldn’t hold ClockWork. In short, they were a dirty little cheater.  

Jack’s leaning over a microscope while Maddie jerks up and gapes, absentmindedly pushing the button to activate the ghost containment cell right where the familiar purple-cloaked ghost floated. She knew shapeshifting ghosts existed and both her and Jack’s time with him was long past. This couldn’t possibly be? Could it? She speaks softly while the ghost just floats there with a soft smirk, “Jack dear, I think you should look at this”.

Jack looks up, a bit caught off guard by his wife’s cautious but awed tone. He promptly drops the slide he was holding, it shattering as it hits the ground, “you? but it can’t be. Why?”.

ClockWork grins, and gives their typical half-truths, “oh I’m not here to play guide for you. I’ve merely made use of the weakened veil here”, gesturing to the Fenton portal, “that is why you find me here”.

Maddie tilts her head, this was clearly not a fake, “we always just thought you stayed in the mortal world somehow or travelled through natural portals”.

“Not all means bare the same outcomes”, ClockWork glances at the stairs, “and maybe you ought research through more wandering means. You might find something interesting”.

Maddie squints slightly, “and what are you going to do. You never need to go through such indirect means to get to new hunters”.

ClockWork smiles, of course this confrontation was completely avoidable but they had a test to give, “you’ll understand in time. There are plenty of paths one could take. Most often the path I point along is walked with me alone. But every so often that road must open to accommodate fellow travellers”.

Maddie and Jack exchange a look before Jack gets up, asking with barely contained excitement, “are you saying we get to help who your guiding! Oh this is so awesome Mads!”.

ClockWork smiles as the two head up the stairs, “we’ll see how the road forks. They’ll find me, no worries about the shield”. Maddie squints back at them, clearly wondering how whoever was going to find them but deciding that they hardly could do harm in the shield and were trustable enough to leave alone. Unaware they could simply teleport out.

Ten minutes later Danny comes home and phases through the ceiling invisibly to empty his thermos, only to pause and gape slightly before chuckling and shaking his head at spotting ClockWork inside the ghost containment cell. Emptying the thermos as he speaks, “hey CW, um why? Not that I’m questioning your ways, but I’m questioning your ways”.

ClockWork floats towards him, separated only by the shield while Danny transforms back human. ClockWork speaking with a slight smile, “you’re mortal guardians are as paranoid as expected to the appearance of ghosts, even those they think fondly of”.

Danny blinks and jerks slightly, “wait, my parents know you? ‘Think fondly’ of you?”, Danny’s not surprised his folks would trap some ghost in the containment cell, that was literally the point. And it’s not like ClockWork actually needed help getting out.

ClockWork gives a slow nod, “but of course. Many ghost hunters do”.

“Why???”.

“The same reason I involve myself in anyone’s existence, to guide them on their path”.

Danny shakes his head, this was a little absurd, “so you’ve been responsible for people becoming hunters? Why would you do that? Wouldn’t it be better for the people that want to obliterate and tear apart molecule by molecule, every ghost, not to know things?”.

ClockWork holds up a hand and gestures around, “dealing with such things, with antagonism, strengthens us and our defences. Of course, only to so many degrees. With humans, we’ve always had two options, bar the mortals from knowing of ghosts or have them know but fear our power. I merely ensured they’d instead believed they could face us in might”.

Danny snorts and rolls his eyes a little, “so you let them believe a lie?”, shrugging, “and fine, if anyone knows that fighting and experiencing all the ways people can come up to hurt you, can make you stronger; then it’s me”.

ClockWork sticks up a finger, “indeed you do, and I let you believe your family would die; lies have their benefits”.

Danny glares slightly, “that was low”.

ClockWork completely dismisses his displeasure, “good truths are always low blows”, smiling slightly, “besides, how better to control who gets to be a hunter and harvest a collection of apprentices”.

Danny blinks at that, “wait, what?”.

ClockWork smirks, Danny could be hard to really surprise or confuse nowadays, “how do you think any of them know anything about ghosts? I’m a wise fellow”, ClockWork gestures to the ghost shield.

Danny blinks at them, “oh my Ancients. Do you just let hunters capture you to teach them random things?”, sure Danny had done the dumbshit and let his folks capture him but they were his parents, family, it was different.

ClockWork just responds like this was perfectly reasonable and expected. “precisely”.

Danny facepalms, speaking with slight humour though, “my guardian is an idiot”.

ClockWork waves him off, “oh hardly, I always know the outcomes. Plus it’s high time your family knows your guardian”, Danny instantly looks rather panicked and disbelieving, so ClockWork continues, “they won’t be bothered, in fact, they’ll find it quite the good sign. A sign you’ll be a ‘helpful’ spector, seeing as they believe you’ll be a ghost”.

Now Danny’s gaping again, “excuse?”.

“Daniel, you set off their detectors and literally can’t be de-ecto-contaminated. Of course, they think you’re going to become a ghost”.

Danny throws his hands out to the side and walks in a little circle, “well that’s news to me”.

“They don’t mention it because they don’t want to scare you”, floating to follow Danny as he walks around the room a little and holding up a finger, “but now you can get them to open up through revealing you at least know the same, without giving away that you know because you already are”, smirking, “thanks to a helpful guardian”.

Danny blinks, realising this’ll pretty much get him off the hook for tons of weird ghostly shit, “you sneaky bastard”. ClockWork gives a devilish grin just before Maddie and Jack come down the stairs.

Jack beams, thinking back on the earlier words of the tiny ghost, “Danny-boy! So you’ve seen the little guy!”, walking up and patting Danny on the shoulder, who just looks confused and a bit freaked out. While Jack keeps talking, hopefully explaining this particular ghost will make his rather ghost fearing son less seemingly freaked, “this one’s the spirit of hunters! Our profession! Always appears before and guides those destined to be hunters! This is great!”, wiping a tear from his eye, “my boy’s gonna be a fine hunter”.

Danny has to hold back a laugh at calling ClockWork ‘the spirit of hunters’ while also deciding to not jump the gun on what his parents actually know about ClockWork, “er and what do you call them?”, Danny deadpanning, “if you say ‘Hunter’ I will be deeply disappointed”.

Maddie shakes her head with a smile, “don't be silly sweetie, this is an important day in your destiny of being a ghost hunter”, smiling at the tiny spirit, “we call him Herne”. Jack butts in, “which is why the name means mythical hunter!”, smiling some, “even if he’s a tiny thing with no abilities to actually hurt anyone with”.

Danny looks at ClockWork, firmly realising humans know goddamn nothing about them. Maybe they weren’t too much of an idiot. Flicking his eyes back to his parents, “no abilities?”.

Jack nods, surely this ghost being weaker will ease his son up some, “being able to form and float is really all he can do”, smiling at the little ghost, “not that that matters, he’s a wise little guy”.

ClockWork chuckles, “yes, foresight and a keen mind makes up for much. Doesn’t it”, holding up a hand, “but I am here for a different reason of sorts”.

Danny’s instantly nervous as his parents look ClockWork with confusion and slight caution.

Jack and Maddie exchange a glance, surely this explained the strange way the little ghost had appeared. Why they caught the ghost and not Danny. Maddie asking, “his paths a little different, isn’t it?”. While Jack frowns slightly, “is he not going to be a hunter?”.

ClockWork smiles softly, “to you I am but a giver of wisdom and guidance, a mentor of sorts and a hand to point in the right direction”, turning to Danny and smiling, while Danny just looks nervous as ClockWork continues, “but to him I am guardian. A mentor in truth and spiritual parent of sorts, for a young little ghost”. Danny does his damnedest to not outwardly cringe over being point-blank called a ghost by a ghost, in front of his parents.

Jack and Maddie go a little wide-eyed before smiling again, Jack beaming at ClockWork, “that’s great! So he’ll be like you then!?! A guiding spirit, rather than like all those malicious ghosts!”, Jack taps his chin, “though that still doesn’t explain why we needed to be seeing you again”.

While Maddie looks more softly at Danny and holds her hands to her chest then, picking up that he seemed a bit nervous but not exactly surprised, “and you’re alright knowing this? That you’ll be a ghost some day? You don’t seem all that surprised”.

Danny rubs his neck, “heh, well I mean, half your stuff already calls me one and all that”. ClockWork thankfully takes mercy on him and adds in, “and after all, we have met before”.

Maddie and Jack both blink at Danny, Jack instantly asking, “well why didn’t you say so Danny-boy?!?”. Though Maddie clues in that Danny not telling them about this was exactly why Herne showed up to them. He decided that they needed to know about this, likely for Danny’s future development. Which means that Danny likely wouldn’t have told them on his own.

Danny glances at ClockWork and gives them the stink-eye, officially not very thankful. Before looking back to his parents, “well, you’ve never actually talked nice about any ghost. And I didn’t want to get into an argument about them”, rubbing his neck a bit and knowing his folks will be a little more than not happy about this in one regard anyway, “they saved my life after all, so it would bug me someone talking bad about them”.

Both of them instantly look to ClockWork, practically beaming at the ghost though fretting over their son even needing his life saved. Maddie nodding at them, “thank you. If we weren’t already on good terms, we would be now”.

Jack throwing an arm around Danny and hugging him a bit protectively, “but what could have put his life in danger? Especially in a way for you to be saving him?”.

Maddie nods and looks a little sheepish, “you’re not exactly a powerful one”.

Danny sends ClockWork a bit of a pleading look because his folks calling basically the strongest ghost ever 'weak', was too absurd and funny for him to not eventually break down laughing over.

ClockWork eyes the ghost shield they’re ‘trapped’ behind, wondering which path the two will take. Trust them and let the shield down or hold on to their ghost bigotry and keep it up. Be the first to really be around them without them being captured in some device or shield. Smirking slightly as Jack, noticing ClockWork’s eyeballing of the shield, promptly deactivates it. ClockWork floats over to pat Danny’s head before turning to the two parents, ClockWork speaking while Danny’s a bit in shock from his parents actually smiling over a ghost touching him, “indeed, there are some ghosts who fear other ghosts with influence. Seek to get rid of them before they can gain said influence”.

Danny knows damn well ‘influence’ is just a subtle way to say ‘powerful’. And he’s also feeling a slightly renewed distaste for the Observants.

Maddie scoffs, “of course those spooks would dislike any ghost,”, glancing at Danny, “or ghosts, that help humans”.

Jack taps his chin, looking to ClockWork, “I imagine these ghosts can’t destroy ones like you?”, looking at Maddie before looking back to ClockWork, “we always thought you avoided being harmed or bothered by other ghosts by simply being unknown to them”.

ClockWork chuckles, “most don’t know of me. But there are other reasons”, looking to Danny, “and they’re welcome to really know me, Daniel. It would be rather mean to have your mortal family not know your ghostly one”.

Danny tilts his head back, “oh thank Ancients”, though he knows damn well ClockWork isn’t fine with them knowing because it would be ‘mean’ otherwise.

ClockWork smirks, “no need to thank me”, Danny makes a face at them for that before chuckling.

Jack smiles, “well I’m glad you have similar humour!”, looking at the little spirit and tilting his head some, “are you saying we don’t know everything about you? That we’re missing a lot?”.

Maddie smiles sweetly at Jack, “Jack dear, he’s never so much as told us if he has a real name. It is expected”.

Danny shakes his head, “I'm kind of amazed you trust them at all then”.

Maddie ruffles Danny’s hair, “well, he is why we are hunters really and he’s harmless”.

Danny chuckles and eyes ClockWork, who nods, “you can tell them much of what you know of me”, smirking mischievously, “I encourage it in fact”.

Danny squints at them and chuckles, “you just want to enjoy causing confusion and startling them”.

ClockWork nods with a slight smile, speaking almost cruelly, “and piss off the Observants, of course”.

Danny blinks and turns fully to them, “you really did just name drop them huh?”, turning back to his parents and rubbing his neck, “Observants, those are the ghosts that tried to ‘get rid of me’”.

Jack scowls, “well we hate them then”.

ClockWork nods, “good, now you’ll never help them”. ClockWork doesn’t need their viewing portals to see the Observants shrieking in annoyance and trashing five different plots to restrict multiple different ghosts.

Danny squints at them, “do you always have to have five different reasons for doing things?”, shaking his head and looking back to his parents and gesturing his arms out to ClockWork, “this is weird but, um, this is ClockWork and they are not even kind of close to the definition of weak or harmless”.

Maddie tilts her head at ClockWork then Danny, “but we’ve scanned him, them, nothing but floating really”. While Jack beams and tries out the name ‘ClockWork’ a few times before asking, “does your name have any meaning?!? Ghost’s names often do”.

Danny squints at ClockWork, Danny knows how he himself tricked their scanners but ClockWork was a full ghost, “how did you even pull that off?”, Danny squints more and really looks ClockWork over before facepalming, “your staff?”. ClockWork’s power was focused in their staff after all.

ClockWork grins and summons their staff, making Maddie blink and get slightly closer to look the staff over quickly; though never actually touching it, “oh! You do actually have some kind of weapon”.

While ClockWork nods at Maddie, “yes and no, this is much more a conduit than a weapon. I do have a scythe as well though”, Danny can’t help but chuckle at that a little; full well knowing that weapon was used exclusively for reaping ghosts that needed to be removed, which was a bit hilarious. While ClockWork promptly startles both of the parents by suddenly changing into their adult form, speaking while they gape at the ghost they only ever knew as a small child-like ghost, “as for my name, it indeed holds plenty meaning. It is, after all, my job and purpose to ensure that the hands on the universe's clock go round and round, until oblivion can no longer be chased off”.

Danny chuckles and shakes his head at ClockWork, who changes to the form of an old man. Danny speaking to his parents, “they mean time control, guys. The very fabric of time is basically theirs to bend and alter”, rolling his hand, “add in being able to see all of the past, present, and every future possible”, looking at ClockWork, “they’re arguably one of the most powerful ghosts there is, not to mention oldest”.  

The two adults raise their eyebrows a bit at ClockWork who nods ever so slightly, “I’ve been around since the beginning, guiding the universe along on its most lengthy path. Watching everything grow along exactly as its supposed to be. Of course that also means I plan when each being eventually stops and falls, guide them to when it is best they be destroyed”.  

Maddie mutters a bit startled and less than pleased, “so you’re more neutral than good, less altruistic and more manipulative”.

Danny instantly shakes his head, “no, they’re just more altruistic on a universal scale, the bigger picture kind of thing. A true neutral, completely objective, I guess”.

ClockWork nods and speaks while patting Danny’s head, “precisely”, sending the parents a small smile, “I have no interests towards ghosts, nor humans, nor earth; but rather existence and time itself”, chuckling a little and side-eyeing Danny slightly, “and I must say, I’ve certainly pushed and pulled many a thing to ensure Daniel exists precisely as he does and will”.

Jack blinks at Danny and pats him on the shoulder, “is he really going to be that important?”, chuckling at Danny, “no pressure son”.

Danny barely stops himself for muttering ‘too late’ and instead just nods slightly. While Maddie’s releasing that this ghost can’t truly be trusted, humans were not where their priorities lay. But that they absolutely did have her son's survival? benefit? well-being? happiness? -well, maybe not that last one. Something tells her that ClockWork would harm or traumatise anyone for the sake of the universe- at their metaphorical heart.

ClockWork smirks, “that is for time to know and the world to see. But if you must know, him simply existing as he does has saved the world more than once”. Danny has to resist cringing at that, seeing as they were pretty effectively leaving out him causing it once.

Jack beams at that, his boy was already doing good! Somehow. Promptly hugging Danny, “good for you Danny-boy! Though I wonder how you managed that?”.

Everyone looks to ClockWork then, full well knowing they know exactly how. They simply smirk, “now that would be telling, wouldn’t it. The simplest of things can change everything, even picking up a rock verses not, could alter everything. Even how much someone knows or doesn’t, can”.

Danny chuckles a little fondly, which his parents definitely pick up on, while Danny speaks, “you’re always an enigma huh”.

Jack and Maddie smile a little fondly, though feeling like outsiders a bit as the two seem to one-up each other in sounding confusing. They both knew their boy was a bit odd, an enigma, so clearly they were two of a kind. That makes it clear Danny’s future lied with this ghost, rather than their profession; whatever that actually meant. Maddie decides to push that, he’s their boy, they should know what his job/future was/would be. Looking at ClockWork, “you’ve still got a way with words, but what are you even guiding Danny with?”.

ClockWork gives both the honest answer and the most confusing one, “everything and nothing. The same as that which you do, except with less restraints and a finger in every pie”, smiling at Danny, “a Guardian has the role of parent when dealing with ghosts”.

Jack’s a bit confused but that’s pretty come-by, “but ghosts don’t need to be taught how to ghost?”.

Maddie shakes her head slightly and tilts her head, “But what is he going to be doing?”.

ClockWork pats Danny’s head, they were not wrong, even with a halfa. Though no ghost just knew how the Zone’s politics worked. But the existence of many levels of law and government within the Zone was not for them to know, not yet. “But of course, ghosts know themselves well, but not so much other ghosts. After all, have you met any who know of me? And”, holding up a finger and smirking at Maddie, “everything. He’ll find there’s little he won’t do”.

Maddie blinks and mutters, “are you trying to say he’s going to be all powerful or control ghosts”.

Danny makes a damn point not to react, considering the whole High Ghost Prince thing, meaning his mom was absolutely right. Though he then gapes at ClockWork and throws his hands out to the side as they promptly teleport away with a twirl of their staff and a wink. Danny groans at the thin air where they used to be, “seriously time-pants?”.

Jack and Maddie both can’t help but laugh while Danny grumbles more while looking at them, “they always make their timing dramatic”.

Jack nods a little, “I did nearly face-plant into them when they showed up for me”. Maddie giggles a little but nods, “they startled me enough that I set my original college application on fire”.

Danny snorts, “tossed through a time portal and slammed my face into a giant bell, five times”. Jack chuckles, “that’s way more silly”.

Maddie nods but looks Danny over, “do you know what that wink meant?”.

“Probably five different things. One part is definitely just to cause mischief and drama. Could be referring to a possible future or just wants to let someone think that’s the case”, is Danny lying a little? Yeah. Is he just going to out the whole prince/future king thing? Ancients no.

Maddie shakes her head and mutters, “now I'm questioning everything to do with them“.

Danny snorts and goes to walk upstairs, “either question everything or accept everything. Both at the same time? I go with that”.

Jack mutters as Danny leaves fully, “I don’t think you can do that really”.

ClockWork watches through a viewing portal, the questions were in place and, watching with a slight smirk as pissed off Observants inadvertently knock a very particular book from the future through a strategically placed portal and lands on the Fenton lab floor, said questions would be answered.

While Jack spots the glowing book and gets a little excited, the two instantly start flipping through to find it’s a storybook, a book telling the tale of a legend.

A king of youth in a castle of dark brick, lording over a word of mythical creatures of the dead persuasion. Spoken of as kind and just, yet powerful and resolute. A black and white dragon, with eyes that see every shade. Who proved his strength through countless battles, and a battered body that moved with pride. Who proved his mind through quick-witted wordplay, and hiding amongst the enemy.

But what really caught the parents’ eyes were the black and gray pictures, the sketches. Largely of landscapes, the castle of course and the flora filled land surrounding it. But also some of a blazing crown and extravagant cape, a sword of ice carved with flowers and skulls. Though they trace their fingers over the silhouette drawing of this king, swinging the sword at another figure with a near-identical physique but flaming hair and snake tongue. It’s titled ‘First Trial’. The king could easily be an older Danny, but they couldn’t be certain.

But what really makes them pause and share a glance is a landscape piece, where a strange clocktower could be seen in the background. Surrounded by floating gears, much the same as the one ClockWork wore for a clasp.

Maddie squints down at the image and runs off looking for a microscope, coming back and hovering it over one of the windows in the clocktower to see ClockWork -in child form- winking right at her with a circular something showing the image of her and Jack leaning over this very book. Maddie jerking back and whispering, “Zone that cheeky bastard”, before flipping to the last page. Both parents blinking down at a familiar-sounding quote signed with a fanciful yet nearly illegible ‘CW’.

“Existence is a story we weave, but a story unread is a story yet to be solidified. What we know can change everything, and once knowledge is written and known, it becomes something to last forevermore”.

Jack scratches his head and mutters, “did we just ensure Danny would become a king or something, or a paradox would happen?”.

Maddie knits her fingers together and speaks into her hands, “I think we did”.

Neither parent’s sure whether they should scream and be pissed or be proud.

ClockWork simply smiles while two Observants float in demanding, “ClockWork, what did you do”.

“My job”.

“It’s your job to watch time, not play favourites. He will destroy us”.

ClockWork turns and levels them with an unreadable gaze, “you mean further restrict and take your power? Precisely. Just because I am not a player on the field doesn’t mean I’m not in control. Time is the field board, and I tilt as I please. You’re simply referees, you are nothing without the players and you’ve been betting on the wrong ones. All in the name of your search for dominance. For those you could control or who lacked the strength to ever stand against you. But in the end”, ClockWork floats to be closer to them almost menacingly, “this game is played in a grandiose casino, and the house always wins in time”.

End.