#prologue redux

[redux-iterum]

Charred Legacy: Prologue

(AO3 counterpart here.)

The thing Russetfur hated about the Aulmir was how overwhelming it was.

She was grateful for its bounty, of course, and the blessed kindness of the occasional human bringing out fresh scraps, but it all came with an undercurrent of noise—buzzing worse than an angered wasp’s nest, clicks and clacks and incoherent shouts, all clashing into each other to create a uniquely irritating cacophony that grated on Russetfur’s sensitive ears. That was to say nothing of the scents, crammed into each other’s trails and knotting together so thickly there was no chance of picking out a specific smell; and that still ignored the lights, those awful miniature suns of cars and houses and streets that created shadows in useless places and lit up what could be perfect paths to sneak around on. And forget the deluge of humans, and dogs, and loners, and…

It was all just so much.

But, she reflected as she crouched with her nose just behind the edge of a flat rooftop, tolerable or not, she had her title as deputy for a reason, and it certainly wasn’t for whining about scouting missions in the Aulmir. This was her first outing since coming back to the position after having her kits forced her to take a break and let her father replace her, and she wasn’t about to disappoint him or Blackstar with a bad attitude and an early departure because she wasn’t comfortable.

Then again, by the prickling hair along the backs of two of her followers and the slitted pupils of the third, perhaps she could find some comradery in a complaint.

Focus. She returned her attention to the grey, flat ground beneath their low roof, currently host to a small cluster of loners that had just turned into the alleyway and were approaching a broad-shouldered and broad-bellied tom, mostly white with some black scattered on his back and head, reclined on a box. The loners still spoke to each other, just loud enough for a ShadowClanner’s broad ears to pick up.

“It’s just from so far away, y’know?” a tabby said, his good eye darting back and forth while the other pointed lazily down. “Rumors swell up real fast the further they get from their old source. And it could be fake.”

“Kemerain* don’t make things up for fun,” the tortoiseshell he was speaking to said curtly. “I trust their word more than I trust some of my neighbors.”

A blue-grey cat just behind the tortoiseshell shook their head. “You’re crazy. Any moron that flits about having games with foxes and crows isn’t a reliable source.”

They’d come within a body-length of the big tom at this point, and conversation stopped so that the tortoiseshell could crouch; less like a bow of respect and more like an animal bunching up its body, afraid to be hit.

The tom grunted and hauled himself up into a sitting position. His voice was rough and deep. “They’re right this time. We’ve seen them.”

The tabby jolted in place. “No fooling?”

“No fooling,” said the tom. Somehow, the words were much more dangerous coming out of his mouth. “Ain’t close, but they’re around.”

The tortoiseshell’s torn ears perked up about as well as they could. “What’s that mean for us, then? What’s our move?”

“Our move,” the tom said slowly, “is nothing. We stay put, let them do their thing. They ain’t our problem.” His green eyes narrowed just a fraction. “Yet.”

“Don’t like that ‘yet’,” the tabby mumbled. “Don’t like it.”

The blue cat came up to his shoulder and nudged him a little harder than they had to. “Easy. They’ve got plenty of things to keep them busy out there. We can just sit back and wait.” They looked to the big tom. “That’s about our plan of action, yeah?”

The tom nodded once.

Above the group, now chattering to each other in surprise and intrigue, Russetfur’s ears were pinned back against her head. She flicked her tail and carefully crawled backwards, her Clanmates following suit. Once they were a good nine steps away from the edge of the roof, she turned to them.

“What do they speak of?” Fernshade, a brown tabby, whispered. “We ought to listen more…”

“We will.” Russetfur gave her a reassuring blink. “I want you and Volewhisker to check the other side of this roof. See if there are more loners who can tell us more as we listen in.” At her and Volewhisker’s nods, she now turned to the largest by far of the patrol, a big grey tom. “Bouldernose, do they speak sense to you?”

The former loner drew in a breath, shut his eyes, and opened them again on the exhale, the pupils still slits. “Frankly, ma’am, I don’t know what they’re talking about, but that big one… I know him, and he’s got keen whiskers for things all the way on the far side of town. If he’s saying this…” His mouth twitched sideways. “…whatever it is, is true, I believe him. He’s not a liar.”

Russetfur hummed and gave a firm nod to her patrol. “We continue to eavesdrop, then. Bouldernose, with me.”

Volewhisker and Fernshade immediately turned and trotted off for different sides of the building. Russetfur gestured for Bouldernose to follow her, and together they resumed their position above the alleyway, where conversation was still going on, though quieter.

“I can tell you this,” Bouldernose muttered to his deputy. “Whatever’s got their attention, it is not a good thing.”

Russetfur said nothing, but her tail’s bristling fur agreed with him.

---

Far across the land, in the hollow atop the moorland, Rookstar sat with his eyes shut, forcibly keeping them from screwing up tightly.

Ryenose and Rushtail were in the center of camp, huddled over remains that had brought nausea to even the experienced leader’s set-in-stone gut. The apprentices whispered together in a disturbed hush, clustered into one side of camp, occasionally being gently reminded to keep their voices down when one spoke too loudly. The hollow was unsettled and uneasily quiet otherwise; a few murmurs of apology to the family and well-wishes to the tattered corpse’s departed soul dotted the night, and that was it.

Uneven pawsteps alerted Rookstar to open his eyes, taking care to look directly at his limping deputy as he approached.

“Think the foxes will take him?” The black tom sat down beside Rookstar, looking squat and stout compared to his overstretched and bony leader. “Body’s rather in a poor state.”

Holding his breath for a moment, Rookstar turned his gaze to the mess in the center of camp. He managed to push past the wave of ill in his gut and responded calmly. “They will. Meat is meat.”

Deadfoot grunted.

Rookstar took the opportunity to look away and back to Deadfoot. “Getting it to the carrefour will be rough.”

Deadfoot grunted again.

Things fell silent for some time. Even the apprentices had quieted down, now leaning against each other and, like Rookstar, turning their attention anywhere but the body.

The old molly currently staring down at her son’s remains finally turned her head up and looked to Rookstar and Deadfoot. Croaking a bit with emotion, she asked, “Can we take him now? I don’t…” She shook her head ever-so-slightly. “I don’t want to see this anymore. Him.”

Her living kit, Rushtail, gently placed his broad paw on hers. “Stay here. We’ll handle it.”

Steeling his stomach, Rookstar stood up and nodded once. Ryenose’s eyes went to her living son, her dead son, and her leader before she shut them and rose to her feet, backing a few steps away. Rushtail twisted around to touch his nose to her forehead when she stopped.

“I’ll help.” Thrushwing, a grey-brown molly, approached the remains. “That fine, sir?”

“Fine and well,” Rookstar said. He and Deadfoot joined the younger warriors. Deadfoot and Rushtail maneuvered to take the front half, while the broader Thrushwing hoisted up the back and Rookstar stood beside her, ready to catch their end by the tail if it started to fall.

Ryenose said nothing as they left, but when Rookstar glanced back, her faded eyes were wet and dim.

They were out of sight of camp before one of the patrol spoke, and it was Thrushwing who broke the silence.

“Tell you what,” she said. “That scent on him makes sense. Explains the missing prey.”

“And the shreds where food’s buried.” Rushtail tilted his head. “How many d’you think there are?”

Rookstar didn’t respond. His ears, usually facing backwards, were now perked, and his eyes were narrowed as he considered this.

“Blended scents and mud mixed in,” Deadfoot said, as the patrol went at a slow pace to let him keep up. “Could be one, could be nine.”

“However many, with respect,” Thrushwing said, “we ought to tell the other Clans.”

Rookstar looked back at her, his voice low. “Next Gathering is soon. We will.”

Thrushwing hummed shortly.

Silence fell over the patrol. They continued on their way, the hedge-line of the Barn steadily approaching. Rookstar could practically hear everyone’s minds storming as they thought over the events of the early evening – the discovery, the grisly return to camp, the mourning.

The implications.

Rookstar’s stomach was taut with the effort to acknowledge their grim load without being ill. Even in all his years of experience, this was a bit beyond him. And to think that it could happen again, to anyone, not just WindClan…

They all had to know. The Gathering was a few nights away.

Hopefully it could wait that long.

*"Kemerain": Plural for “kemera”, meaning “a neutral colony of cats”. Can mean a stationary or traveling group.

[nixynebula]

"Reunite"

Art based off a scene from a lovely fanfiction called "Lost Time". My rendition of Kaden's outfit was inspired by Gashu-Monsata's reference sheet.

Mini spoiler-free review below to see if you'd be interested in reading!

The story is as much about Kaden as it is about Ratchet and Clank. It starts off during when Tachyon attacked, and fast forwards twenty years later where he's in the new dimension with the rest of the Lombaxes.

The way the author portrayed Kaden's suffering after surviving "The Exodus" and with a reason that actually makes sense as to why he didn't go back for Ratchet in the original dimension was very believable. I really related to Kaden in this story for personal reasons.

The only thing I'd have liked to see is to have had spent a bit more time with Ratchet and Clank before they went to the Lombax dimension and to have fleshed out their prologue a little more.

Overall good pacing with a solid, cohesive story. I highly recommend it!

Read the story here: Lost Time: Redux - Chapter 1 - ACleverName8 - Ratchet & Clank [Archive of Our Own]

[jenna12381]

Let's now go over all the change Bentley goes through in Thieves In Time Redux... I don't think I need to say who he's referring to...

Bentley during the prologue: Please tell me you're still in one piece! (During Penelope's segment)

Bentley during the prologue (again): I'm glad you made it back. And thank you for saving me from that guard's wrath. Am I worrying too much? (After Penelope's segment)

Bentley during Episode 1: Stay behind me and Murray. This place is dangerous. Did those guards back there hurt you? (During Something's Fishy)

Bentley during Episode 1 (again): I hope you learned your lesson. You nearly gave me a heart attack when you ran off! Then again, we might have lost Sly if you hadn't done that... (After Altitude Sickness)

Bentley during Episode 2: You really didn't have to jump in there and take those stings for me… but thank you. Let's get your injuries patched up. (After Cooper For Hire)

Bentley during Episode 2 (again): The way you broke me out of that prison was incredible! I was wrong to underestimate you! (After Jail Break)

Bentley during Episode 3: If only you'd told me sooner… Why didn't you say you were sick? (After Getting Stronger)

Bentley during Episode 3 (again): I'm positively speechless. You and Murray worked so well together against The Grizz! Feel free to go back hom-- Wait, you're staying? (After OP: Jurassic Thievery)

Bentley during Episode 4: You want to help Murray tear that tavern apart? The one that's loaded with those massive guards? You know what? Go for it! (During Short Supply)

Bentley during Episode 4 (again): Breaking yourself out of a tower and striking down the Black Knight?! Is there nothing you can't do?! (After OP: Frog Trap)

Bentley during Episode 5: Your services will definitely be required in this perilous structure. I'll have tea and cheesecake ready for you when you get back. (During Copy Cats)

Bentley during Episode 5 (again) This whole mess was your doing?! Young lady, you are in big trouble! (After All Rolled Up)

Bentley during Episode 6: I'm willing to wipe your slate clean if you put an end to what you started and-- You want to lead us to victory? I hope you don't let us down. (Before the final mission)

Bentley during Episode 6 (again): When I said "put an end to what you started", I didn't mean "fight Le Paradox all by yourself"! Please come back safely... (During the final mission)

Bentley during the epilogue: I knew you wouldn't let us down! Of course you can stay with us! Just never betray us again! (After the final mission)

So yeah. Thieves In Time Redux through the eyes of Bentley.

[rockinlibrarian]

ANSWER POST for The Lyric Game Redux Redux Part 2!

I have a free day! I don't even have household chores to catch up on this weekend because we almost had people over yesterday and I wanted the house to be marginally presentable in that case! Someone I gave birth to is now a high school graduate!

(thanks to @dannypageoflight for this photo, because although it's blurry, it's still better than any of the pictures I took).

So finally I'm getting around to giving you the results of the last round of the Lyric Game Redux Redux!

The making-sure-I-have-10-"mainstream"-songs plan apparently worked, because I had a lot more players and those players got a lot more songs, too. Even a few in the "Advanced" round! Giving two points for getting the song AND artist (although I fudged that for a few of you who only listed song titles, when I was pretty sure you also KNEW the artist, you were just listing titles), one point for just the artist and one point for just the song when you admitted you didn't know the artist (and had named other artists), and partial points for ALMOST getting it:

We have a new winner, @vovat, who didn't play last round (maybe he should have!) with 13 points total! Right behind him with 9ish-10ish are last round's winner Tracie (playing on the Facebook link) and @shadsasaur, who clicked through from the notes of a @doyoulikethissong-poll post to play, which is awesome!

Rounding out the crew are @heartlandsoul (7), @alihahdnaid (6), @stephsageek and @uniasus (4 each)!

Nice work, everyone!

Now here are the answers, with links and fun facts!

MAIN LIST:

1: "And here's to you, [Title of Song], Jesus loves you more than you will know." —"Mrs. Robinson," by Simon & Garfunkel. This was the most well-known song on the list, got by last round's winner Tracie (on Facebook), @vovat, @shadsasaur, @stephsageek, @alihahdnaid, and of course @heartlandsoul, who is the biggest Paul Simon fan I know (we actually saw him in concert together!) That is almost everyone who played!

2: "[Title of Song] out of the bearded barley…" —"Kiss Me," by Sixpence None the Richer. @vovat and @shadsasaur got this one, and it was on the tip of Tracie's tongue— she's going "OHH!" now.

3: "[Title of Song], won't you come out to play?" —"Dear Prudence," by the Beatles OF COURSE, off their self-titled album The Beatles better known as The White Album. Hence, people know it even though it's a psychedelic album track. For recognizing that of COURSE I was talking about the Beatles— and also recognizing the song— Tracie, @vovat, @heartlandsoul, and @stephsageek get to keep their Friends With Me cards! (Appropriately, the first three are the only people who played that actually ARE my friends in Real Life!)

4: "There's a little black spot on the sun today" —"King of Pain," by the Police. @vovat and @shadsasaur got it, Tracie got the artist, and @heartlandsoul is the one going "I KNOW I KNOW it, AGH!"

5: "Standing there alone, the ship is waiting…" —"Major Tom," by Peter Shilling— nobody named the artist, but @shadsasaur and @uniasus (who despite me calling them out as a TUA ficwriter because this was in S2 of TUA, admits she actually knows it from a car commercial. Hey, whatever works!) knew the song at least!

6: "See the people walking down the street, fall in line just watching all their feet"—"We Got the Beat," by the Go Go's. Surprisingly to me, no one got this one. But maybe everyone's going "OHHH!" now.

7: "Little town, it's a quiet village…" —"Belle," from Beauty and the Beast, ie the opening (post-prologue) number. I'm just going to take this opportunity to publicly call out @dannypageoflight for ignoring this game, because he did not play even though, when he was in high school, he was IN the school's production of Beauty and the Beast— which he tried out for BECAUSE he was already a fan!— and they had him sitting on the edge of the stage with a fishing pole when the lights came up for this song. HE WAS THE FIRST PERSON ON STAGE. HE WAS PRESENT FOR THIS LINE, OVER AND OVER AGAIN. Anyway. The people who actually DID get this one were @vovat, @uniasus, and Tracie (and as one of the first things I learned about her, in the exchanging-letters-with-future-roommate days, was that she was a huge Disney geek, I definitely knew she'd get it!)— although curiously no one was exactly sure what the song was actually called.

8: "[Title of Song], falling on my head like a memory…" —"Here Comes the Rain Again," by the Eurythmics. As recognized by @vovat, @shadsasaur, and @alihahdnaid!

9: "[Title] eleison…" —"Kyrie," by Mr. Mister. Tracie, @vovat, @shadsasaur, @uniasus, and @heartlandsoul all got the song— or are they just Catholic? (kidding— the three I do know personally I also know are not Catholic. Tracie and Angie do know the Mass parts from singing in choirs, though). Nobody did get the artist, despite me dropping that dang "Hey Soul Sister" song into later clues. Side note, the fourth chapter of "New World Symphony" is called "Kyrie in 5/7" (after the actual Mass part, not the '80s pop song) and I can't wait to share it with you all, if I ever finish the THIRD chapter…!

10: "Cold late night so long ago, when I was not so strong, you know…" --"Magic Man," by Heart. Surprised no one got this one (@shadsasaur did admit to looking up some answers afterward and groaning because they'd seen Heart in concert, and still not recognized it— so I'll give the rest of you a pass too), even if I hadn't kept making insistent references to "The Magic Man of Oz" every time the clues came around. Okay, for people who don't know Legion: David (and several other characters, most notably in his S3 cult) often calls himself "the Magic Man," which is where that fic title comes from, but seriously, like I said, he starts a cult full of susceptible young women just like this song's narrator, and the lyrics? "…never seen eyes so blue…I could not run away, it seemed, we'd seen each other in a dream/Seemed like he knew me, he looked right through me." THAT IS SO DAVID. It HAD to have been a rights issue, that's the only reason they didn't use it in the show!

And the ADVANCED LIST, which does have some correct answers in it!

1: "Link it to the world, link it to yourself…" —"New Born," by Muse. My newest favorite podcast, Strong Songs, (which is not a NEW podcast at all, but I only started listening to it a couple of months ago), covered this and "Micro Cuts" (and briefly discussed "Hyper Music" on an earlier episode) from the album Origin of Symmetry, and there was no other episode covering a previously unknown to me song that made me immediately decide, "okay, I'm buying this album now." I do have a long list of songs and albums to explore further from listening to this podcast, but this one was pretty well decided right away. Possibly because it reminds me a little of the Legion soundtrack, speaking of which.

2: "All the lonely nights I spend alone, never around to love me, you're always gone" —"Black Cat," by Janet Jackson, off her hit album Rhythm Nation 1814. I remember making my Barbies dance to this song, but admittedly I don't think I actually KNEW the first line until I looked it up for this game! This is an important album in my life because previously all the albums I'd owned for myself had been like "A couple hit songs and a bunch of filler!" which is kind of annoying when all the albums you own are on cassette tape. But this was like, a complete album. I could listen to the whole thing without getting bored! (except sometimes during "Living in a World they didn't Make," which was long and slow and slow and long and I was 11 or 12). I could barely tell which were supposed to be the "hit songs" after awhile! I mean, since then I've found MANY albums that are actually good AS ALBUMS, but it was a learning experience for me at the time.

3: "If you want my lovin', If you really do"—"Baby I Love You," by Aretha Franklin. Even the title is unbelievably generic! But if this had been a MUSIC recognizing game, everyone would have been like, "Oh THAT'S Aretha Franklin. The lyrics are going right in one ear and out the other so I can't even tell you what the song is called, but the ARTIST I'm sure about."

4: "You jump in front of my car when you, you know all the time that ninety miles an hour, girl, is the speed I drive" —"Crosstown Traffic," by, for the second round in a row, the Jimi Hendrix Experience. I feel like this is more well-known than "Long Hot Summer Night," but nobody got this one, either.

5: "You don't need no love-in, You don't need no bed pan, You don't need a horoscope or a microscope to see the mess that you're in" —"Awaiting on you All," by George Harrison, off my favorite non-Abbey Road album in the world, All Things Must Pass. (@heartlandsoul did get the artist after I pointed out that I'd given them this album). Listen. Music Appreciation Lesson time again. Just listen to it. This song is a perfect encapsulation of how this whole album makes me feel— it just scoops you up and flies you away with the friggin' angels in its glorious Wall of Sound (this album was produced by Phil Spector, which is always my first thought when the question of "great art by terrible people" comes up. This violent abusive murderer mixed together in his own signature style this glorious spiritual manifesto unto heaven? Why YES! Granted it was WRITTEN and PREFORMED by a gentle and very meditative guy, but still).

6: "Invoke the light to shelter you, cause everybody wants a piece of you" —"Lost in a Crowd," by Pittsburgh-based band Rusted Root— who indeed my college roommate Tracie and high-school/college BFF @heartlandsoul did recognize from the clues, though admittedly the song itself is one of the less identifiable songs on their one big commercial album When I Woke (I myself guessed "Laugh as the Sun?" when it first started playing, which is the very similar song that comes on AFTER it). It's not "Ecstasy"— its second-biggest hit (which may have only really gotten radio play around here anyway?)—or something like "Rain"— which I dare you to click on and not start dancing—(and to be fair it's hard to parse the lyrics of the musically-recognizable songs too). But for those of you who were NOT teenagers in Western Pennsylvania in the 1990s, who did not hear this album at basically every party and event of your adolescence (I first heard the album in the make-up room during one of the high school musicals, and actually hated it—it is VERY jam-band—but over time I grew to associate it so much with happy things that now it's pure sunshine to me)— if YOU, other people, have heard any Rusted Root at ALL, it's THIS SONG— of which I'd once noted to my friends, "I always think he's singing 'Simeon the Whale'," and they've not been able to un-hear it since, either.

7: "Someone's gone out fishing, someone's high and dry"—"Beautiful Night," Paul McCartney, off his lovely 90's album Flaming Pie, which @heartlandsoul recognized— the album if not the song. And tbh I have a clear memory of them talking about this album in their college dorm room and saying, "You know, Paul McCartney really IS a genius," which is the sort of thing I WOULD remember, wouldn't I.

8: "[title of song slightly altered] this time, to get myself in shape" --"It's Going to Take Some Time," by the Carpenters. Karen, the single most gorgeous female singing voice in the history of music! (Not her emotionally abusive brother who effectively killed her by stressing her out so much she got anorexia, NOT THAT JERK, JUST KAREN! KAREN, MY LOVE, WHOSE VOICE ALONE TAKES ME ONE HALF-CLICK UP THE KINSEY SCALE! SHE MUST BE REVERED ALONE!) 9: "[Title of song], sing us a song of a love that once belonged" —"Nightingale," by Norah Jones, off her album Come Away With Me, which I feel was a decent-sized hit album around the turn of the century? At least my mom raved about it, and my yoga teacher loved it enough to play it during our lessons. This was around the time when I was seriously rewriting-with-intention-of-publication the book my favorite OC Billy 'Arrison is in, so he was on my mind a lot, and Norah Jones has a somewhat similar voice to @heartlandsoul, who was the inspiration for the character in the book that Billy has a massive crush on, so I decided that if Billy was around right now for the height of this album then he would ALSO have a massive celebrity crush on Norah Jones. And I can't not think of that since.

10: "Well I told you once and I told you twice, but you never listen to my advice" —"The Last Time," by the Rolling Stones. Which isn't really obscure, it's just slightly less known than the stuff that made the main list. Tracie recognized it but couldn't name the specifics.

11: "Now I'm not like this, I'm really kind of shy, but I get this feeling whenever you walk by." —"Let me take you home tonight," by Boston, off their self-titled debut album. Probably like the least-well-known song on the album.

12: "You were the sweetest thing that I ever knew. But I don't care for sugar honey if I can't have you." —"Walking on Broken Glass," by Annie Lennox, and yeah, I wasn't sure if "Here Comes the Rain Again" was really more well-known than this, but considering three people got that one and only @alihahdnaid got this one, I guess I picked right. Unless I psyched you out by picking one of them to be "more mainstream" in the first place.

Anyway, that was fun! I think doing such a long list this time got it out of my system, and I'm willing to wait a bit before I pull another round out on you. Thanks to everyone who played this time though!

[lucy-the-cat]

Progress

Red Ruse Climax 3: 381 words

Red Ruse Climax 4: 894 words

Red Ruse Climax 5: 0 words

new Lover's Curse draft: hard to measure, but on chapter six

Jon POV of canon: 417 words

Daughter of Zeus chapter five: 638 words

Hera poem 2: 307 words

Sword of Truth chapter 2: 165 words

Please Please Please (Agaphie fic based on the Sabrina Carpenter song): 312 words

God's Cursed chapter nine: 489 words

Across Dimensions chapter two: 267 words

Maven POV of Canon: 659 words

Red School Redux chapter 3: 536 words

Lady Haven chapter four: 344 words

Newblood Queen chapter eighteen: 826 words

The Groans of Our Bones prologue: 142 words

[casie-mod]

Master track list for all my 'Cyberpunk Versus Post Cyberpunk' Mixes

By request and because YT sucks for playlists

PART 1:

(Not available on YT or Mixcloud)

//-Intro Vangelis - Main Titles And Prologue 0edit (Ed Harrison) - Prabhava

//-HQ Michael McCann - Sarif Industries The Enigma TNG - 2027 Ambiance

//-City Exploration Synæsthesia - Intelligence Dream Michael McCann - Detroit Marketplace Trifonic - Parks on Fire

//-New Objectives 1 Haujobb - Sub Unit Three

//-Investigation 1 Michael McCann - Detroit City Ambient Part 1 The Enigma TNG - Genesis End.user - Interruption 3

//-Combat Ginormous - Welcome Vacuum

//-Boss Fight 1 Gridlock - III Autechre - Second Bad Vilbel

Pendulum - Comprachicos Haujobb - Rising Sun

//- Betrayal Silence - Efface Michael McCann - Everybody Lies Haujobb - Lost End.user - Fallen 0edit (Ed Harrison) - Scrap I/O Maduro - Situational Mythos

//-Downtime 1 Gridlock - Untitled 2 0edit (Ed Harrison) - Radius Michael McCann - Home

//-Love interest 1 01:54:50 Haujobb - New World March 01:59:50 Bassnectar - Underwater

PART 2:

Mixcloud link

//-New Objectives 2 Health - Shells

//-On Route Haujobb - Anti/Matter

//-Hacker 1 Michael McCann - Hacking theme III T.Wilton - Fluid Autechre - Beaumonthannanttwomx

//-Stealth 1 Kenji Kawai - Access Newt - White Sun T.Wilton - Diplom 1 Hpm Pgdcwm Rmx

//-Tracking the Target Silence - Pollution Michael McCann - Highland Park Cutscene

//-The Chase Juno Reactor - Conga Fury Enduser - Not So Distant Drums

//-On Route - Red Light District Haujobb - Sub Unit One

//-Nightclub Atmosphere 1 Velvet Acid Christ - Slut Michael McCann - The Hive Android Lust - Spine

//-Nightclub combat 1 HMB - Return Joe-E & KloneZ - Virus Attack (BeXta Remix) Enduser - On Point

//-Hacker 2 The Enigma TNG - Silent Hacker Newt - Abyss Parallel Worlds - Compulsive Mechanics

//-Stealth 2 Integral - Moonwalk Vangelis - On The Trail of Nexus 6 Atiq & Enk - Moonlit Tea Party

PART 3:

Mixcloud link

//-New Objectives 3 0edit (Ed Harrison) - Reboot

//-On Route Hybrid - Keep it in the Family

//-Infiltration Silence - Cellule Atiq & Enk - My Obligation

//-Boss Fight 2 Aslan Osiris - The Secret of Woman The Enigma TNG - Voice of the Storm

//-Aftermath Astradyne - Still Leben

//-Love interest 2 Trifonic - Transgenic The Glitch Mob - Between Two Points End.user - Keep Telling

//-Downtime 2 Ed Harrison - Out Ensemble Nipponia - Blimpvert

//-Investigation 2 Haujobb - Skull Fission XXX

//-Ambush White Nois Statis - Abyssmalescent (Reflxx)

//-Escape 0edit (Ed Harrison) - Imbrium

//-The Underground Gridlock - V Michael McCann - Maneuver in the Dark Hyetal - Ritual Integral - Rise Aslan Osiris - The Story of you

//- Confrontation Erode - Annoy (edit) Atticus Ross - The Passenger

Gridlock - XIII (edit)

//-Underground Combat Teleoptyk - Dark Room Current Value -Dark Rain

//-On Route - Return to the Streets Haujobb - Crossfire

//-Nightclub Atmosphere 2 Astradyne - Darshan Collide – Wings of Steel

//-Nightclub combat 2 Claire Voyant - Love the Giver (Covenant Remix) Joe-E & KloneZ - Virus Attack (Shu Remix)

//-Investigation 3 - Unraveling the conspiracy Kenji Kawaii - Type 2052 Hadaly Josh Randall/Ramin Djawadi/Eric Brosius - Med Sci 2 Parallel Worlds - Frightening Frontiers Trifonic - Inflitration Alexander Brandon - Unatco (Lawine redux)

PART 4:

Mixcloud link

YT link

//- Interrogation Josh Randall/Ramin Djawadi/Eric Brosius - Command 3 

//- Released Freeze Etch - Slight Rite (Edit)

//- Stealth 1 Loss - Watching You Crumble (edit) Access to Arasaka - “-- -“ (Track 2 on écrasez l'infâme) - Access to Arasaka Michael McCann - Hangar (edit)

//- Mysterious Ally Hybrid - The Choke (no vocals)

//- Hacker 1 Ex-Tension - Desert (Access to Arasaka Remix) Michael McCann - Hacking ambient II Access to Arasaka - Term/Echo

//- Biometrics Black Lung - Meat Manager

//- Rendezvous Holon - Machine Intelligence

//- Stealth 2 Psilonaut - Third from the Sun Josh Randall/Ramin Djawadi/Eric Brosius - Ops 1 Black Lung - The Dawn of Love (edit)

//- Prisoners Subheim - Hollow

//- Hacker 2 Ex-Tension - Aura Diaphane - Metastable Black Rain - Endourban Michael McCann - Hangar (edit)

//- Underwater lab Access to Arasaka - Optlist Access to Arasaka - Syslog_ident (Edit)

// - Witness Michael McCann - Restricted Area

//- Interception Obsidian Kingdom - Last of the Light (Subheim vs Poordream Remix)

//- Under Pressure Plastic Eulogy - Hollow

//- Combat Michael McCann - Lockdown Juno Reactor - The Tempest Michael McCann - Cargo part 2

//- Gearing up Holon - Exit Strategy

//- Challenge Paper Sound - Constructor

//- Boss Fight Michael McCann - Burke Boss Fight Näo - The Dart

//- Double Agent Johan Althoff/Gustaf Grefberg - Wakeup Call (The Enigma TNG remix)

PART 5

Mixcloud link

//-Safe house Aslan Osiris - The Will of Destiny Kenji Kawaii - Nightstalker Vangelis - Blade Runner Blues Ginormous - Skye

//-Upper City Exploration 0edit (Ed Harrison) - Rebuild Michael McCann - Zhao Yun Rhu's Penthouse The Enigma TNG - Beyond the World Kenji Kawaii - Floating Museum Gridlock - Edit 364

//-Stealth 3 Integral - Back Here Alone Michael McCann - Pangu, City Above The City Zentriert ins Antlitz - Silence Diary Architect - Stairway (Mekotam Remix)

//-Hacker 3 Haujobb - Sub Unit Two Scar Tissue - Lattice (Edit) Mentallo and the Fixer - Battered States of Euphoria

//-Upper City Combat Hybrid - Last Man Standing Haujobb - Deviation

//-Gearing up TomandAndy - Racer Head Hybrid - Empire

//-On Route Michael McCann - And Away We Go

//- At the Edge of the World PG Lost - The Day Shift (edit) Pentaphobe - Jerk Like old Raven Gridlock - Pulvis Et Umbra Sumus Michael McCann - Eerie Silence Converter - Nightmare Machine (Edit) Gridlock - Wound Erode - Disengage (edit) Michael McCann - After the Crash

//- Confrontation and Revelation Haujobb - Sensor

//-Final Boss Fight Download - Possession Kenji Kawaii - Attack The Wakabayashi Michael McCann - The Hyron Core

//-Self-Destruct Sequence Haujobb - Kilo-Cycle Respirator

//-Aftermath Erode - Horizon (Kadrage rmx)

//-Roll Credits Alexander Brandon - Deus Ex Main Theme (Orchestral) Michael McCann - Deus Ex Human Revolution Icarus Theme (Justin Armada remix)

[inaconstantstateofchange]

finirà bene - an Astarion/Dark Urge/Halsin time travel redux

Summary: At the very moment of the Absolute's defeat, Astarion opens his eyes to find himself amidst familiar burning wreckage, face-to-face with a Shadowheart who has no knowledge of their companion, the dragonborn Kelis. Stuck in this familiar-unfamiliar situation, Astarion will have to reforge alliances alone as he seeks to make his way out of this nightmare, and find his missing partner(s).

Pairing: endgame Astarion/Dark Urge/Halsin, with a primary in-fic focus on Astarion/Halsin (as Kelis is busy haunting the narrative).

Reposting because I'm very proud of the new banner - Kelis artwork done by @somespareserotonin-please - and because I haven't had a proper masterpost up yet.

Prologue and Chapter 1 are up on AO3, and I'll put them here for anyone who prefers to read that way. Chapter 2 is finished - 5k words! - and in the process of final editing and formatting to post here and on AO3, probably tomorrow at the latest.

I'd love to hear your thoughts, and hope you enjoy the journey as much as I do! ^^

Prologue: alone in the world

The din of battle fades out in patches, his ears ringing as the world swims before his eyes, dizzying colors erupting and obscuring the pitted surface of the nautiloid around him. Staggering to the side, he focuses on catching his balance, running his gloved hand along the gaps in his armor, looking for any puncture wounds carrying poison he didn’t notice.

Not now, not like this. The thought whispers through his mind like the frenzied beat of a drum. After everything they have battled through to reach this point, to survive it together, surely this cannot be the end, not when their true enemy is so close to defeat.

Through the spots encroaching further into his vision, and the strangely warped perspective the world around him is taking on, he casts about for Kelis, separated from him by the tide of battle for some time now.

At last, he sees them, far too close to the Brain for any comfort, near death though it is beginning to seem. Perhaps that is only wishful thinking, but — surely, surely it must be nearly defeated.

Their owlbear form seems somehow larger than he’s ever seen it, magnificent and ferocious. With a resonant shriek that builds from their chest and erupts into the air around them, they jump up toward the stormy sky above, body tilting down gracefully at the apex of their leap in preparation to bring the full force of gravity down with them on the target of their final strike — that wretched, hateful Crown.

He bares his teeth in wild, bloodsoaked joy, ready for this months-long nightmare to be over, but the world will not allow him more than this moment. As Kelis’s claws make contact with the sickening glow of the Crown’s gems, the warping that had faded into the background, holding its breath like everyone else in the battle, rushes to life with redoubled intent, now eating through not only his vision, but seemingly the world itself.

The last image he has before all is overtaken by crackling brilliance is Kelis blinking out of existence — present one moment, and gone without a single discernible trace of a spell’s effect the next.

His unbeating heart twists in his chest, nausea filling his entire body.

Not now, not like this.

“Kelis! Ke-”

His words disappear in the space between breaths, and he himself follows suit.

For a moment, an empty crown glints in the waning sunlight, before it too fractures, cracks, and splinters away.

Across a starlit sky, a burning nautiloid hurtles toward the ground, its trajectory cut short by its impact with the riverbank.

Numerous eyes track its passage, and a multitude of forces and individuals set to devising their responses to this unexpected incursion.

On a grassy outcropping, one pod is ejected at a sharp angle, its surface breaking open and its captive launched forward against the grass.

A white-haired elf lies still among the rocks and silt, unbreathing, as the sun’s rays climb over the horizon, inching closer and closer to his unresponsive form.

“-lis! Kelis?” The world filters back in in discordant jumps and starts — but something isn’t right. Blinking his unaccountably heavy eyelids open against the blinding sun, many somethings are not right.

Behind him lies the burning wreckage of an all-too-recognizable nautiloid, flames still crackling hungrily amidst the ruins.

Dumbly, he springs to his feet and spins around as quickly as the vertigo wracking his body will allow, knowing what he is searching for even as a horrible certainty grows in him that he will not find it.

To the left: the sharp drop to the Chionthar, its brilliant blue water belying the nightmare he must be inhabiting.

To the right: more wreckage, an extremely distressed boar, and — a familiar figure, albeit with a hair color he is no longer used to. His mind catches on this detail for a moment before abandoning it for more pressing matters.

“Shadowheart! What things have come to that the sight of your dour visage brings me relief, of all things. Will wonders never cease!” His voice is overly cheery, perhaps a touch manic, but no one who truly matters is around to mention it, so he’ll grant himself a temporary allowance.

“Now, is this an illusion spell of some form? Do you know of any way to break it? As patient as I would love to be, time is very much of the essence, so a bit of alacrity would be greatly appreciated!”

Alright, perhaps a slightly less temporary allowance.

Unexpectedly, the cleric’s response is to take a sharp step backward, expression growing even more wary.

“How do you know my name? We have certainly not yet been introduced, to my knowledge.” Her voice is icy and biting, without even the edge of begrudging fondness that had begun growing there in the past weeks.

His face slackens for a moment, thoughts whirring through his mind almost faster than he can note them. Something is far more awry here even than he originally considered.

As quickly as he can, he runs through what he knows of spells that could achieve an effect as encompassing as this appears to be. There are not a great many, but of course a creature as unprecedented as the Nether Brain could have access to a multitude of unknown magics.

None of his senses are telling him that anything around him is untrue or fabricated, despite his mind screaming very much the opposite. The wind coming from the water carries with it the expected smells, and the creaks and groans of organic machinery breaking down into the flames is as he remembers from his first day of freedom.

Most damningly of all — everything about Shadowheart is exactly as he recalls from their first meeting, down to the very smell of her, in his experience the most difficult sense for any illusion spell to accurately replicate.

He switches tacks as smoothly as he can, pushing as far down as it will go the part of him that wants to start screaming, and perhaps never stop.

Pasting on the smile that charmed hundreds of Baldur’s Gate’s finest to their deaths, he draws himself up into a less alarming pose, that perhaps screams an iota less ‘I am about to break down and begin stabbing every thing in sight.’

“My deepest apologies; I have had some… dealings, shall we say, with your cohort in Baldur’s Gate before, and was pleased to encounter a familiar face in an area this… desolate.” The sneer on his face as he peers around theatrically is not at all difficult to manufacture.

“I had no idea you were on one of your Lady’s more sensitive missions. Rest assured I will abide by all due secrecy in the future.”

He closes his speech – marvelously tailored under so short a time constraint, as far as he is concerned – with a hand flourish and a tip of his head, telegraphing foppish carelessness with all his might, but in truth desperate for the opportunity to hide his face away, even for a moment. The battle to keep that part of him that wants to break down – in tears or in murder, it is impossible to say – in check is becoming more difficult by the moment.

After an artful pause, he casts his eyes up through his fringe, checking for the success of his fabrication.

Shadowheart’s frown deepens visibly for a moment, discomfited by something about his statement, before the tension lines in her face smooth out and she shifts into a more neutral, although still readied, position.

“Apology accepted, although you would certainly benefit from greater discretion in the future —particularly if you intend to continue your dealings. The Mother Superior does not tolerate failure, as you must know.”

He inclines his head once more before returning upright, smile coming much more naturally now as he submerges himself in his role.

“Of course! My deepest thanks for your helpful reminder and concern for my person.”

A dismissive scoff is her only response as she turns to survey the wreckage herself.

Seeing an opportunity, he ventures a question. “I saw you on the ship, I’m fairly certain. However did you escape from those wretched pods?”

“There was someone else up there, who helped free m-,” Her answer comes without hesitation at first, only to cut off abruptly as her brow furrows.

With furious and feral hope clawing its way up his chest, he interjects as intently as he dares, “There was someone else loose up there? Who? What did they look like?!”

After a moment, he tacks on a weak justification, attempting to play off his intensity, “They must have been impressive indeed, to free you from such a fate.”

She doesn’t pay his inconsistency any mind, eyes clouded as she continues looking over the wreckage, seemingly in search of something in particular.

After another long moment, she turns away with a firm shake of her head. “No… no, there was no one. My pod broke when the ship crashed, just as yours did, I presume.”

He barely keeps himself from pressing her, biting back the words trying to escape him as he marshals the increasing urge to grab her shoulders and shake her, demanding to know if she had seen a red Dragonborn with bottomless black eyes.

At this point in his ongoing nightmare, he is becoming sickly certain that hearing her answer would be even worse than the creeping dread that is slowly overtaking him.

“Well, all’s well that ends well, I suppose!” With a false laugh and a bright grin he doesn’t feel even a fraction of, he commits to the course he’s set for himself.

Stay alive.

Don’t drive off one of your least useless comrades, in the event that this ends up not being some illusory nightmare realm.

Find a camp or similarly secluded place of respite.

Have a breakdown that will rank in at least the top ten of your very long life.

Make a plan.

Find Kelis.

[therealgchu]

To the Shore Chapter 2 Constellation Redux

i have 1.1 version of Chapter 2 Constellation up. the prologue wasn't radically changed very much; going forward the rest of the chapters will be very different. structurally, they'll remain the same; however, it'll just have a lot more detail, backstory, and character info.

version 1.1 is here on ao3.

some new stuff

Hwa was correct in her initial assessment of the blond woman, Sarah Morgan, in her meeting at the Lodge. The older woman was the head of Constellation, ostensibly an explorers organization. The artifact that Barrett had commissioned Argos to dig up was the most recent acquisition for the group. Hwa listened attentively, but impassively as Sarah explained Constellation and its members. “You should take some time to get settled in,” Sarah suggested, offering a room in the Lodge to Hwa. Her eyes widened, shocked at the offer, it was so unexpected. It was the first time since she arrived that she allowed any emotion to appear, and Sarah paused, looking intently. Hwa quickly regained her composure, regretting the moment of weakness. “Some of our other members aren’t here, but you’ll meet them soon,” Sarah finished.

Hwa nodded noncommittally. She was highly suspicious of any organization that would open their doors and offer a room to a stranger without even doing a simple background check. She could be a thief, or a murderer, or a highly trained assassin on the run from a criminal syndicate, after all. The naivete of this organization made her uneasy and, while her expression remained neutral, she had serious reservations as to what she was getting herself into.

She was thinking about their offer as she watched the mercs take out the last Spacer in the cafeteria of the shipyard. Well, ruminations on jejune organizations could wait, time to work. She snuck out past the cover of the table, signaled to Sarah that there were two unfriendlies past the stairwell, and started moving silently from cover to cover, flowing like gray smoke. Two quick pops and the mercs were down. She motioned to Sarah to move forward onto the stairwell.

Sarah tried to take cover, but as a much taller woman, didn’t succeed very well. She was also as loud as the dock workers trying to land a giant chasmbass. Hwa tried to shut her out as she crept, taking careful aim. Two more spacers never knew what hit them. Sarah popped up and started blasting, taking out two more, clearing the way. Hwa stood up and looked appraisingly at the older woman. She was impressed that such a posh woman could be so effective. And, that mouth! She knew some warehouse workers at the Syndicate who would have blushed at that accomplished level of swearing. That lady was surprising. Hwa would have to re-evaluate her opinion of her.

[pico-digital-studios]

Into, Across and Beyond!: Rivals' Madness Song List

DISCLAIMER: This is just the general structure of the concept, and will NOT be becoming a mod under any circumstances.

(Unless mentioned otherwise in the list, Benjamin is the playable character in a stated song. Anything in italics is a song idea original to this concept, and anything different to the originals will be linked.)

Prologue (Old Timeline)

Pico (Middle Area)

Why Not Die (IHY Luigi)

Forbidden Star (Wario Apparition)

Seven Coins (GB)

Caution (MX)

Death Cipher (Victim #1)

Role in the Play (Comedy and Tragedy)

Failure (Pico alone) (Only available after beating Fruitless Stand)

Boyfriend (Top Area)

Fruitless Stand (Rotten Smoothie cover) (Ultra M and GX)

Existence Deal (Non-Existent)

Minus World (Bottom Area)

Minus (??? vs. Pico)

Story Mode

Tutorial

2Torial (Sonic the Hedgehog) (from Sonic Legacy/RodentRap)

Lazy Day (Grace vs. Benjamin)

Week 1: Mushroom Kingdom

It's-A Me (Super Horror Mario)

Starman Slaughter (Super Horror Mario, John Dick, Super Horror Peach and Yoshi.exe)

Week 2: Devil's Wasteland

Marble Heights (Flicky vs. Benjamin) (from Blood Moon)

Crimson Eyes (Sonic.exe/Xenophanes vs. Benjamin) (from Sonic.exe Redux)

??? (Xenophanes vs. Grace)

Overworld Zone

(All map asset credits go to Askywalker from The Spriters' Resource)

All bold entries are the area's climax boss encounter. For the Sonic side, you only need to beat 3 foes tops in each area to reach the climax boss.

Cosmic Awareness (KiloByte) (secret anti-cheat boss)

Rosalina's Storybook (Rosalina) (available post-Finale Act I)

Mario World 1 - Irregularity Isle (Mario Memes and Parodies)

So Cool (Chris Pratt)

Lower Route

Mr. Alopecia (Mark)

SORETRO (Retro Mario)

Upper Route

Nourishing Blood (Grand Dad)

MARIO SING AND GAME RYTHM 9 (Somari vs. Pikafriend)

End Path

0-Star Run (Speedrunner Mario and the Speed Demon) (from FNF: Antiverse - VS Mario)

Secret Levels

Irregular Fighters (Somari vs. Grand Dad) (clear the Toad House)

??? (Water Daniel) (clear the Toad House)

Mario World 2 - Woodland of Lies (Mostly Legacy Creepypastas)

Main Levels

A Former Conclusion

Alone (Beta Luigi)

Terrors in the Woods

Oh God No (IHY Luigi vs. IHY Mario)

Retaliation (IHY Luigi vs. IHY Mario) (at the same point as OGN)

I Hate You (IHY Luigi)

Repentance (Music Box Mario/Alice vs. Music Box Luigi) (from SMB: Refunked)

Last Course (Turmoil vs. Galoombafriend)

Victims of Pain

Your Hell ("Luigi" vs. Mario) (Mario World pre-remake)

Victimised (Endgame/Inferno's Victim #1) (from MMNM)

...Again?

Dark Forest (Coronation Day Peach / Forest Demon)

Secret Levels

Move Dem Fingers (Scripulous Fingore) (clear the Toad House)

Apples of Sin (_____ vs. Peach, Yoshi and Luigi) (Super World post-remake) (move off the bridge leading to Dark Forest)

Mario World 3 - Content Cosmos (YouTube Plumbers)

Main Songs

Left Route (Marios / dudes who are pricks)

Bad Bay (Super Bad Mario) / Ever-Complaining (Mad Mad Mario)

Bloopers (SMG4 Mario) (unlocks Ssenmodnar Square upon completion) / Building Bricks (Engineer)

Day Out (Day Out Mario vs. Boyfriend and Day Out Luigi) / Burger (Mario's Restaurant Luigi vs. MR Mario)

Right Route (Marios who are murderous)

Dictator (Secret History Mario)

Rampage (Berserk Mario) (from FNF: Antiverse - VS Mario)

Race Traitors (Racist Mario)

The Last Path

No Hope (Devil Mario)

Secret Songs

Top Secret (Laser Suit Mario) (Mario Mix) (clear the Toad House)

Mario World 3.3 - Lovely Levels (optional; Level UP)

Main Songs

Entry Island

Summer-mation (Level UP)

Maze Mayhem (Pac-Man)

Basics (Baldi) (from Baldi's Basics in Funkin')

Arc Welding Island

Mario's Singing Challenge (Level UP Mario)

Friendly Heir (Princess Plum) (Bottom Path)

Vindicta (Mariocraft Magikoopa vs. Benjamin and Wolfie) (Middle Path)

Tumultuary (The Goomba Revolution) (Top Path)

Final Island

Nothing...? (Level UP Luigi / God Mode Luigi)

Planum Descendit (Level DOWN vs. Benjamin, Level UP, Wolfie and Princess Plum)

Secret Songs

Zombified (The Zombies vs. Benjamin, Mario and Toadette) (Move toward the lava pit)

Mario World 3.6 - Ssenmodnar Square (optional; SMG4)

N64 Castle Entrance

Spaghetti Humper (SMG4 Mario Rematch)

Paintings of Plight

Chomp's Out (The Chain Chomp vs. SMG4 and Mario)

Spaghettiria Bite (The FNaF Animatronics vs. Mario)

Fridge Milk (Jeeves vs. Mario, Luigi and Toad)

Trio's Trips (Mario vs. SMG4 vs. Toad) (encapsulates the three main "Trip" videos)

Two Funkin' Friends (X vs. FM)

Splatted Sunset (Meggy vs. Benjamin)

Running (Tari vs. Belle)

Saikosis (Saiko and Kaizo vs. Benjamin)

Arcs of Agony

Rejection Rampage (Waluigi vs. Benjamin, SMG4, Mario and Tari)

Anime Destiny (Meggy (inkling/human) vs. Desti (inkling/angel) vs. Francis)

Creative Control (Mr. Puzzles vs. Benjamin and the SMG4 Gang)

Genesis of Zero (Zero vs. Benjamin and the SMG4 Gang)

Final Revolution (Niles/Zero vs. Benjamin, SMG0 and Melony)

Mario World 4 - Classified Castle (SM64 CLASSIFIED)

Promotion (Promo Mario / Stanley)

Abandoned (Classified Luigi) (Left Side)

Finished Role (Classified Yoshi) (Right Side)

The End (Costume)

Play Pretend (Promo Luigi vs. Promo Mario vs. Benjamin / Stanley vs. Jim)

Mario World 5 - Ravaged Road (other SM64 content)

Normal Songs

Apparition (The Wario Apparition)

West Path (SimpleFlips ROM Hacking Competition Entries)

Watching (The Toad Circle from "Regular Pasta")

This Way (Eyeless Peach from "Please Come to the Castle")

Loneliness (King Bob-Omb from "The Picture of Bob-Omb Battlefield)

East Path (other foes and legends)

Near-Impact (Rashay from "SM64: Last Impact")

Better Off (M from "sm64.z64") (from FNF Classified)

Thalassophobia (L Is Real Luigi)

EVERY COPY OF SUPER MARIO 64 IS PERSONALISED

Your Copy (Personalised Mario) (from FNF: Classified)

Focused on Fun (Wario Apparition Rematch) (from SMB: Refunked) (Secret Climax Boss)

Secret Songs

Revolution (128 Marios) (from Super Funkin' Galaxy) (Clear the Toad House in Classified Castle and go bang in the middle of the level)

Mario World 6 - Hellish Heights (Modern-Day Mario Horrors)

Normal Songs

Black & White Void

Golden Land (Benjamin Mix) (GB vs. Benjamin)

Golden Land (Black & White Mix) (GB vs. Christine Hermer)

West Path (Multi-Console Zone)

Blinked (Dais-eye) (from MMNM)

No Party (DJ Hallyboo)

Paranoia (Mr. Virtual)

East Path (NES/SNES Horrors Zone)

Verdant (Ink Bowser vs. Mario and Peach)

Relictus (Sophie (Left Behind) vs. Tankman)

Overdue (Mr. L vs. Pico and THE FORGIVEN)

North Path (The Power Star Archives; all from Petrifying Plumbers)

Overseer (Buggy Wario vs. Benjamin)

Overthrown (Peach_AI vs. Luigi_AI)

Indecisiveness (Peach_AI/Buggy vs. Luigi_AI/Andrew)

Lost Innocence Zone

Power Down (MX vs. Benjamin)

Demise (MX vs. Benjamin and Pico)

Final Reality (MX vs. Lucas)

Secret Songs

Systemized (X.nes vs. Pico) (move before the transition after Overdue)

Pasta Partners (Mr. L and X.nes vs. Pico) (beat Systemized)

Annihilation (Nekoamon) (beat Hellish Heights)

Unbeatable (The Commercial Gang) (beat the game)

Sonic Zone 1 - Dangerous Depths (Sonic CD secrets and official SEGA characters)

Secrets of Sonic CD

Endless (Majin Sonic) (Focus ability from Undying Phoenix is unlocked after this song)

Gotta Go (Batman Sonic)

Kickin' It (MC Sonic)

Alternate Hedgehogs

Waterfall (Ashura vs. Tails)

Chaos (Fleetway Super Sonic)

Phantasm (Fleetway Super Sonic vs. Fleetway Sonic)

Penumbra (Terios vs. Benjamin and Sonic)

Schoolhouse (Schoolhouse Sonic) (from Vs. Speed.GIF)

Revival (Extra Life vs. Fleetway Tails)

Peek-a-Boo (Possessed Amy Rose)

Bigger Threats

Barrel'd (The Annoying Barrel vs. Sonic and Tails) (from Vs. Sonic.EXE - Megadrive Mix)

Syndrome (Surge the Tenrec)

Cast into Doubt (Mimic the Octopus)

Memphis (Mephiles the Dark)

Who will ever feel the sunshine?

Sunshine (Tails Doll)

Soulless (Soulless DX version) (Slasher Tails Doll)

Sonic Zone 2 - Nostalgic Necropolis (Classic EXEs/Sonic Creepypastas)

Retro Pastas Zone

Time Attack (Sonic/Sonic.exe (Ordinary Sonic)) (from RERUN)

Freedom (The SONIC (Chinelin) entities vs. Sonic and Benjamin)

Inside the Walls (Sally Anderson vs. Grace)

Acceptance (Cyber/Genocide City Robotnik)

Last Chance (Zalgo (Sonic2.exe Trilogy) vs. Sonic and Tails)

Bitter Ending (Robotnik vs. Sonic (Sonic 2 Friendship) (This song has two endings depending on the miss count)

Deferment (Blue Pendrive Sonic vs. Skid and Pump) (intended for Legacy)

Retro Killers Zone

God's Will (Bratwurst Sonic.exe)

My New Plaything (Woody.exe / Respiro) (from Toys' Madness Friday)

Nightmare Beginning (Exetior) (from FNF.EXE Trilogy)

God Killer (Exeller (SoH)) (from FNF SoH Round 2)

Phantom Annihilation (Phaton and Talrareth (Shifted Reality))

Retribution (Exruby/Moiraio (The Destiny EXE) vs. Sonic and Benjamin)

EMPTY_ROOM Zone

Petrified (2017 X vs. "Cream")

Assurance (2017 X vs. Benjamin)

Toetality (2017 X vs. "Tails")

Sonic Zone 3 - Safety Savestate (Non-Hostile Characters)

A Zone That Is Fun

Milk (Sunky)

Cereal (Sunky and Silly)

Unusual Rivals

Substantial (X-Terion)

Funni (Sonk vs. Skid and Pump)

REROY (Reroy) (from RERUN)

A Raw Jam (Sonic.RAW)

Friendly Beings

Specialities (Roze)

Quiz'd n' Questioned (Monty the Monitor)

Hedge (Hog)

Wonkers (Wacky)

Warrior (Exester (The Glitch Chaos))

Cutting Room Floor (Unused (Nominal Dingus)) (from Blood Deal)

Make Haste (Hasty)

A True Showstopper

Round 11 (dEXE vs. Talia)

Sonic Zone 4 - Wacky Whirlwind (New Millennium+ Oddballs and Villains)

Memes and Classics

Personel (Coldsteel)

Too Fest (Sanic) (Executable Entourage version)

Shockwave (XS Sonic) (from Soulless DX: Milk & Cereal DLC)

Gigabreak (Aeon)

Sonic Kills You And You Die (Google Maps Sonic.exe) (from RERUN)

Silly Parodies

I AM SEGA (Sonic vs. Tails (Sonic Shorts))

Odd Happenings (Oddshow Sonic)

Chilli Dogs (TerminalMontage Sonic / Chillidogs)

Think Fast (Hues of Metal)

Adaptational Monsters

Twisted (Secret History Tails vs. Benjamin and SH!Sonic) (from RERUN)

Amnesia (Lost Memory Sonic)

Lost Hero (Miles vs. Sonic) (Where Was My Hero...?)

Unleashed (Nazo)

Ultimate Creation (Seelkadoom)

Strange Twists

Post-Mortem (NES Eggman vs. NES Sonic vs. Vinesauce Joel) (from RERUN UST)

Benjamin's Dilemma (BoomBusterBB Sonic.exe)

Sonic Zone 4.3 - Analog Alpine (Analog Horrors and non-EXE terrors)

Love Crafts Zone

Round-A-Bout (Needlem0use Sarah)

Twin Flames (S0NIC (Speedduo64) vs. Tom)

Lost Cartridge Zone (@jordangaming101)

Initiation (Goldman)

Ardenti Memorias (Sonath)

Ultima Spe (James/Metal Sonic)

The Grieving Zone

Uh Oh! (Demogri)

Haze (Griatos)

Sonic Zone 4.6 - Legacy Lake (other retro EXEs)

Bloodthirst (Exegod)

Illusion Fusion (Exrath)

Tarlike Screams (Corrupt)

Glitched Trap (Puroto)

(to be expanded)

Sonic Zone 5 - Bloody Base (Modern Terrors)

Normal Threats Zone

Melting (Melthog)

Fatality (Fatal Error)

No Peace (Crimtake)

Spreading Assimilation (The Shifter vs. Darnell) (from SØNIC (UNL))

Below the Depths (Sink)

2sday (Requital vs. Pico) (from Soulless DX: Goalpost DLC)

Impulse (NULL) (from Funkin' is (not) an Option: VS NULL)

Other Threats Zone

Stranger Danger (Stranger vs. Skid and Pump)

Hell Reaper (Outbreak Malware Threat vs. Martha Mearest)

Chromatic (Chromophobiac vs. Senpai)

Intermission (Villains X vs. Nene)

Other non-EXEs Zone

Third Party (Piracy Sonic)

Evergreen (End/Returnal/Green Mountain Sonics)

The False Altar

Blackened Sky (Faker / Black Sun) (Faker/Eclipse)

Deathrun (Eclipse)

Sonic Zone 6 - Harrowing "Home" (SonicPC / Soulless Sonic) (all songs from Lord X Wrath except "Vessel")

The Prelude

Vessel (Lord X vs. Alan)

Castle Exterior

Cycles (Lord X)

Broken (Lord X and Alice)

Torment (Lord X)

Desires v2 (Yokubo, the Guardian of Temptation)

Castle Interior

Gatekeepers (Lord X and the Guardians)

Fate (Lord X and Illusion Grace and Pico)

Trichael (Lord X)

Guardian Arena (bonus area following Lord X's defeat)

Devotion (Kito, Guardian of Prayer)

Resentful (Gekido, Guardian of Anger)

Desperation (Zetsubo, Guardian of Despair)

Joyous (Kofuku, Guardian of Happiness)

Haunting (Kyofu, Guardian of Fear)

Revulsion (Ken’o, Guardian of Disgust)

SONIC II SPECIAL

Special Event (Bandado vs. Benjamin and Lord Mortis)

Sonic Zone 6.5 - Creation Citadel (pre-Sonic.exe horror takes)

Glitcher ("Cyborg" Sonic)

Dark Chains (Darkness Sonic / "2007 X")

Ichor Pilot (Sonic.HTF / "2009 X")

Ego Brawler (Haunted SSBB Sonic)

Countdown (Blue Pendrive Sonic (rematch) vs. Gonzalo)

Ill-Willed (Zodick the Hellhog)

The Grand Finale

Act I: Goalpost in Sight

Ashes to Ashes (Xenophanes vs. Pico)

Like Old Times (?????.??? and Tails Doll vs. Benjamin) (from FNF.EXE Trilogy)

Multi Rounds (SonicClone, MD-X, GenesiX, Corrupthog and FileName0X vs. Grace)

The "Final" Battle

All-Stars (Ultra M, Omega, LG, W4R, Y0SH, WA7X and TO4 vs. Benjamin, Grace and Pico)

fakebaby/RealAdult (No More Innocence vs. Daniel Dearest)

Act II: A Second Chance

(The songs here can be played in any order leading to the Final Egg; however, you MUST beat Blind Love and Facing Yourself at the bare minimum to get inside.)

Station Square

Carnage (King_Ruthless vs. Benjamin and Pico)

Vista (Chaotix vs. Benjamin and Pico) (from Illegal Instruction)

Deception (Requital (Rematch) vs. Benjamin and Pico)

Burning (Genesγs vs. Benjamin)

Mystic Ruins

Gamebreaker (DX vs. Pico) (from Breaker Bundle)

Recalcitrant (PDS!Curse vs. Benjamin)

Sinful Prayer (Hyper-Accurate vs. Benjamin and Pico) (from RERUN)

Lost World Pyramid (the only mandatory area pre-Final Egg)

Enemy Within (The Corruption vs. Benjamin)

Blind Love (Girl vs. Benjamin)

Facing Yourself/Silly Billy (Lookalike vs. Benjamin) (beat Blind Love to access)

Final Egg (you can skip straight here if you wish to after finishing Facing Yourself)

Farming Viper (Caffrin the Gamer Girl vs. Pico and Benjamin)

YOU NEED TO LEAVE

Her World (Luther vs. Benjamin vs. Sarah)

Act III: Benjamin WILL Pass

A Path to Deicide

Tetrabrachial (SL4SH vs. Fatal Error)

Placation (Requital vs. SL4SH and Fatal Error)

Apochronal (Majin Sonic vs. SL4SH and Fatal Error)

The Crystalline Deicide

Omnipresent (Tails Doll, Soul Tails, Exruby/Moiraio, Soul Knuckles, Xenophanes, Soul Eggman, Lord X and Eclipse vs. Benjamin and Pico)

Endgame (Xenophanes, EYX, Devil Tails Doll, Fearful X and Metal.exe vs. Benjamin and Pico (and Grace))

Deicide (Xenophanes and the souls vs. SL4SH, Fatal Error, Requital and Majin Sonic)

Deal... or No MORE Deals?

Cataclysm (Super Horror Mario, Lumpy Touch Mario and Infection Mario vs. Benjamin)

Lost Wonder (Ultra M/Victim #1/Madeline, Comedy, Tragedy and Dolor Luigi vs. Benjamin, Pico, Grace, Caffrin, Skid, Pump, Martha Mearest, Tankman, Darnell and Nene ft. IHY Mario and Beta Luigi)

Act IV: The Final Round

Facetious (Wacky vs. SL4SH, Fatal Error and Majin Sonic)

Tua Vera Fata (Xenophanes, IHY Luigi, Scorched and Emperor M vs. Madeline, IHY Mario, Hog and Boyfriend)

Triple Appear V2 (MX, Lord X and Mr. L vs. Benjamin, Grace and Pico)

Final Escape (Xenophanes vs. Benjamin, Madeline and the restored victims)

[neodracunyan]

Murder Drones: Fight or Flight Book Cover Redux

ALT:

This is remake cover for my Murder Drones x Male Reader Story as the plot of the story will be rewritten as well as the Male Reader's story, character bio, powers and abilities and all that stuff.

The main reason why I am remaking the entire story is because of how each episode of the series is kinda making my old story a little off in each episode, plus the amount of robot forms is kinda making the reader a bit too OP.

So I'm planning to give Y/n some unique robot powers, abilities and weapons in order to fight off against the murder drones and the other enemies in the series.

But I can still have Claptrap in my old story in the remake in case you guys really want him in the remake.

Also, there will be some chapters before and after some of the episodes in the series. There will also be some extra chapter that will and/or not be Canon in the story itself.

As soon as I post the remake book with the reader Info and bio page, PLEASE, I beg you PLEASE, don't constantly ask me when the next chapter comes out or when the first chapter comes out cause I'm not good with giving out release dates, especially whenever I have a busy schedule in my day to day life outside of my fanfiction career.

Also I don't like to be rushed when you guys keep up with the questions about the next chapter of the book coming out.

I can't take much more of that kind of stress when I started writing the old story.

No offense.

Once the final episode of Murder Drones comes out, I will do my best to finish the prologue for the book, so please don't rush me or push me too hard until I reached my limit that will drive me away from continuing writing this book.

I hope you all understand what I'm talking about and I'm glad that you all enjoyed my books as well as the original story of Fight or Flight, but as soon as the final episode drops, I'm deleting the old story and will work on the new book.

Thank you for understanding and have a great day

NeoDracunyan

[redux-iterum]

I'd been meaning to catch up on this for ages (I've been following your stuff since... the early days of Redux, I was there for the first prologue drop) but I hadn't gotten around to it- until tonight when I binged through the entirety of A Kindling. I know we're far past it but I just wanted to tell you it completely gripped me in a way that Warriors hasn't in a very very long time.

My highest praises goes to how raw the death scenes feel, especially Brokenstar's trial, they were incredibly well written. (And given the asks I've been seeing from here lately I suspect they keep the same quality as time goes on.) Fireheart has such good characterization and him standing in front of Lionface made me feel like I wanted to cheer him on. I absolutely love the way Yellowfang talks, the "Didn't"s and similar were very funny and it really made her character pop, honestly I could go for a whole paragraph about how much I loved Yellowfang. Crookedstar is a delight to read and I'm looking forward to seeing more of him. Also I'm very scared to read what happens to Bluestar, lol.

Overall very very high praises for the characterization and I love how distinct each Clan feels. I absolutely loved it and I'm so excited to read the rest of it!

Oh shit, an old timer! I think I remember seeing your name pop up here and there on the old blog. Hello and welcome again!

Thank you for returning and enjoying the new version of the story. I very much hope you'll like the rest of what's out so far - I'm much more pleased with it than I was the original Redux, and I actually had other people around to tell me when my ideas are stupid this time!

[caktusjuice-draws]

Hey, Melissa! (Redux) - Fic

FOR THE LOVE OF GODS PLEASE READ THE TAGS. Please don't engage if you find this content triggering. Please take care of yourself. I am begging.

But for those of you who are interested. Prologue is up.

[pama-saga]

Intro Redux

Jesse spares PAMA, causing a butterfly effect of sorts. How will Beacontown react?

Current arc: Aftermath

Tags

#page - Any page posted.

#ask - Any answered ask.

#lore post - Previously non-ask related work. Now an archival tag.

#worldbuilding - What it says on the tin.

#miscellaneous - Anything unrelated or silly.

#reference - Character references

Cameo info here!

Start from the beginning here!

AU masterpost

Character QNA!

Read Aftermath (and the prologue) chronologically on ComicFury here!

Read the lore chronologically on ComicFury!

Read weeks ahead on Patreon!

More indepth summaries under the cut

Prologue: Jesse spares PAMA, and they must figure out what to do with their life now.

Aftermath: After making PAMA his assistant, Radar finds a rebellion growing in Beacontown. How willing is either side to sculpt Beacontown in their image?

[jenna12381]

Sly Cooper: Thieves In Time Redux

Here's a super abridged recap of my rewrite of Thieves In Time...

Prologue: Penelope is revealed to still be behind the events of the game. She nearly gets kidnapped, foolishly tells Bentley about it in a panic, then gets roped into joining Sly, Bentley, and Murray for the whole game. She enters the game keeping a dark secret of betrayal.

Paris Tutorial: Joins Bentley in the sewers. They get separated, she gets her own segment. She saves his skin as they reunite.

Turning Japanese: Does her tasks to avoid looking sus. Tries to go rogue during Altitude Sickness. Runs into Sly and El Jefe's duel, then decides to help Sly. Also gets scolded for running off. Her secret is safe.

Go West, Young Raccoon: Manages to save Bentley's skin twice; once during Cooper For Hire, and again during Jail Break. Also gets to see Carmelita tearing Sly a new one, making her see a dark future for her and Bentley. Secret is still safe.

Clan Of The Cave Raccoon: Gets very sick, sees the error of her ways. Sees Sly and Carmelita not getting along, doesn't want the same thing for her and Bentley. Resolves to become a team player. Secret is still safe.

Of Frogs And Mechs: Sir Raleigh is revealed to be behind Penelope's botched kidnapping. She also has a robotic impostor. His men kidnap her. She mostly frees herself, and she gets to fight her impostor and Raleigh. She also gets closer to Bentley. Secret is still safe.

40 Thieves: Spends the whole episode pulling her weight and then some. Le Paradox reveals her secret of betrayal during All Rolled Up just when she's starting to feel like a true member of the team again. She refuses to rejoin the skunk. Her secret is out.

Paris Epilogue: Leads the raid on Le Paradox's blimp, then starts the final boss fight. Nearly loses before the rest of the playable cast comes in to help. Gives a speech on what she learned about friendship and takes Le Paradox down.

Aftermath: Tries to leave the Cooper Gang out of guilt, only to be forgiven. The game ends with her still on their roster. She and Bentley are also engaged.

Let's all just pretend this is what actually happened instead of the hot mess that was vanilla Thieves In Time.

Feel free to make as much fanart for this project as you want. I'm no artist; just a writer with big ideas.

[nvzblartdump]

After seven years, I finally got the prologue + first chapter of the Luck of the Draw rewrite up (ffnet + ao3), with the Witt and Witticism rewrite cooking to be posted next month. The current plan is for Story L is to be a short run fic (plan is 9 chapters, but it might flex higher or lower depending on certain factors) that dovetails into Witt and Redux when it's time.

[bluemoonperegrine]

Chapter 9: Redux

It's up! I'm excited! *bounces*

Since there's a boatload of spoilers, I'll put an excerpt after the cut. You probably can follow the plot without reading the previous chapters. The chapter is titled "Redux" for good reason.

-----------------------

Huge frikkin' spoiler: Thanks to time travel shenanigans, Jack isn't a werewolf.

After stowing the rest of the gear he’d bought in Phoenix—brass knuckles and two mini-bombs—in pockets, Jack ate some beef jerky and washed it and four Tylenol down with water. By the light of the moon he applied black and white face paint in a simplified calavera design. It didn’t work as well with his beard, but that didn’t matter. The only things that did were reuniting with Elsa and saving Ted.

Not grinning as he strode up to the guarded entrance to the temple took willpower. Focusing on his perennially unhappy joints helped. The guard at the door wearing black paramilitary armor glanced at the iron cross on a ribbon round Jack’s neck and waved him inside.

Jack was halfway down the hallway with the hideous, violent murals when voices behind him stopped him cold.

“You’ve got some gall showing up here.” The man’s American-accented baritone dripped disdain.

A impatient huff carried down the hall. “Whatever,” Elsa drawled, and Jack’s breath caught. He willed himself to not run to her, but turned in her direction. Neither she nor the man she spoke with were visible. “He’s my dad too,” she added, sounding bored. “Was.”

Jack blinked rapidly. Her brother was here? Elsa had said little about Cullen in the time they’d been together. How would this affect the hunt? Jack gulped as worry overtook the nervous excitement that had filled him since entering the manor’s grounds.

“You don’t deserve the Bloodstone,” Cullen spat.

Jack could practically hear his mate’s eyes rolling. “Not your call, dear brother.” Light footsteps sounded, and Elsa’s willowy silhouette appeared at the end of the hallway. 

After beaming at his mate, determined and graceful and fierce in her leather jacket, pants, and boots, Jack forced himself to turn around and continue to the rotunda. Elsa’s footsteps continued and were soon joined by heavier ones, surely Cullen’s.

Read the rest of chapter nine of "Past Is Prologue."