#proton grenade

[swtechspecs]

Merr-Sonn Munitions 7-PrG Proton Grenade

Source: The Essential Guide to Weapons and Technology (Del Rey, 1997)

[fisheito]

untold treasures under that skirt

[msbarrybeeson]

Before You Go | Future Donnie & April Insight (Part VI)

(Reader Included)

A/N: Any constructive criticism is appreciated. Reader comments and feedback are also welcomed a lot. 

I have been gone for a long time. Just occupied with my studies! No fan fiction author curse or anything (yet).

Summary: You’re both adopting-parents of Casey. The story follows the perspective of Donatello and April O’Neil during the Kraang apocalypse. You and Leonardo decided to ask them to watch over thirteen-year-old Casey.

In other words, familial interactions between April, Donnie, and Casey Jr.

Reader: Gender-neutral pronouns are used, except the terms “(Mom / Dad)” are also used. Second POV.

Pairing: Rise! Future! Leonardo X Reader

Warnings: Bittersweet.

Word Count:  ~3490

Parts: One / Two / Three / Four / Five / Six / ...

~

Donnie knew how much of a genius he was.

It was no surprise after all. In his late teens, he improved NASA’s satellites to communicate with planets light centuries away. He cured breast cancer through the use of protons in radiation therapy to target specific cells, rather than affecting the harmless. Hell, he even managed to discover a new type of radioactive particles: mutons. By that point, he—.

“—should have been given a Nobel Prize in Medicine and in Chemistry.” Donnie cursed under his breath. He strolled over to his lab bench, equipping his goggles.

Squeeeak. 

April– who was found seated on Donnie’s roughed-up, spinning gaming chair– raised an eyebrow. Her hair had grown out and was left unbounded. Faint wrinkles and eye bags on her features displayed maturity, in contrast to a couple of years ago. However, everyone was well aware that time was not the only factor. 

“Whatcha going on about now, Donnie?”

The softshell huffed. “Recall when I wrote a report about my experimental findings with an invention meant to revive a deceased human being?”

“...You mean the one where you thought it was a good idea to open up Curie’s tomb? Even gone as far as to ask for my help?” April grimaced. “Who’d ever forget that.”

She proceeded to massage her temples. 

“God. You were in all kinds of messed up for that, Don.”

Lightning-like yellow sparks flickered as Donnie had his robotic hands occupied with a butane torch. His goggles were sealed tight around his eyes as he built a oval-looking device on his lab bench. Titanium outer-layer over a seriously complex circuit-board; appearing as if Samsung marketed grenades.

He scoffed. “Oh please. It wasn’t as if I’d taken long to understand how Marie Curie deserves her rest for her great contributions to radiation. Thus is why–.”

“–You decided to take a poor random husband of an old wife,” April interjected.

“Ahem.” Donnie pronounced. “The poor woman was begging me for her husband to be alive again. I was simply gracious and generous enough to not charge her for the process.” He set aside the butane torch. “At least it progressed well; he stayed alive for an additional two years. It gave his wife psychological comfort, and I was able to submit my paper to the N.S.F..” 

He picked up a screwdriver. “Except....” 

April could tell her friend’s eye was twitching. 

“They rejected my findings, nearly had me detained, and claimed it was far too ‘unethical.’” Donnie raised his volume. “Scoff! As if those researchers weren’t committing the crime themselves! Taking bodies away from families and claiming them as scientific property without permission.

If I could go back in time and shove my documents in their jaws, you bet I would.”

April smirked. “Well, I have my regrets too, Donnie.”

“You sound rather amused, April. Is that so surprising? And here I never thought you would regret your part-time job at Albearto’s. Or the fact you wasted money to switch to journalism in university.”

WHACK!

April threw her bat at Donnie’s head, flying back to her hand like a boomerang.

“Watch your mouth, mister. I may have regretted Albearto’s, but not a single moment in my life did I ever regret my journalism passion.” She stood up.

“Ouch.” The softshell vocalized, squinting his eyes toward her. His robotic clampers paused, setting aside the torch and taking off his goggles. 

“Mind yourself, April. Horse-playing is forbidden in the laboratory. I am not consenting to having yet another silver-titanium apparatus get scratched because of you.” Donnie gritted his teeth. “Can you hear the negative connotation?”

“Seriously, Donnie? Where’d that come from? Not only was that years ago but it ain’t anything except a simple accident.” 

“‘Simple accident?’” the softshell repeated with dramatic offense. “An accident, like many others in science labs, which could have caused severe damage! Remember the incident when your teacher dumped bleach and vinegar into the trash bin?

You know, if you had paid any attention in your chemistry class, those two would make mustard gas?” Donnie side-eyed his friend. “Simple accidents can have serious consequences, O’Neil.”

A hand crept up the lab bench.

“Uh-huh, and I’m supposed to believe an instance of me knocking over your phone and books would kill somebody?” April crossed her arms. “If anything, the blame’s yours for not organizing your desk when you got drunk on coffee.”

The hand took ahold of the butane torch.

“Donatello? Disorganized? Sounds cheap coming from you, a student majoring in Journalism.”

April pulled up her coat’s sleeves. “Oh boy, you’re about to get it—.”

Squeeeak!

Heads spun and found a 13-year old boy, replacing April’s spot on Donnie’s chair. Casey eyed the torch with a great yet concerning amount of curiosity.

“Yo, what’s this for, Uncle Don?”

At lightning speed, while April ran to move the gaming chair away further from the workbench, Donnie snatched the tool from his hands. “Child. Casey. Young man.” The softshell heaved loudly. “I must inform you this is NOT meant to be handled with such casual ease. How in Hawking did you even—.”

“Don’t your lab have a passcode or something?” 

“–Is what I am wondering myself, O’Neil. I refuse to believe this child remembers the beginning thirty numbers of π–.”

“Nope, only us.” April and Donnie lifted their gazes to his lab entrance. You leaned on the frame while a dear red-eared slider stood just behind. A couple of steps inside, and the metallic lab door shut close. 

Donnie– strangely– was quick to hide his device-in-progress off to the side.

“You’re back!” April grinned. “Hell, you would not believe the convo Donnie and I were having a minute ago.” She hurried to hug you.

“Figures,” Leo remarked. “We could practically hear you yards off.”

“Sounds like things never get old.” You smiled.

There was a side-eye between Donnie and April, before the Commander proceeded to inquire, coughing: “Anyhow.. care to explain the occasion? You two don’t seem to be in a hurry.”

“The only times you ever visit my laboratory are to prepare for immediate combat engagement, and you look awfully collected.” The softshell furrowed his brows.

“No, no.” You waved your hands, shaking your head. “Thank God no. We came here to ask if you two could take care of our Casey here while we head out.” The other turtle scrunched his in-quote eyebrows. “You— You came here to request us to... babysit him?”

April jabbed him in his plastron.

“You see? Just like I said.” Leo turned to you. “I know my brother, love. Don’s not the kind of guy to take responsibility for a kid. Or anyone, really.”

“Hold on.” Donnie narrowed his eyes. “I never said I refused, Leo.”

“Don’t know, it sounds like it to me.”

“Well, my misinformed brother, contrary to your belief, I am perfectly capable of handling a child.”

You huffed with amusement. Your husband only winked back.

“If you say so, Don.”

“Where are you two heading off for if you needed us to watch over him?” April inquired. “Wondering, ‘cause this never happened even when you two leave for patrol.”

“Just finding some time for ourselves.”

April exclaimed, “As in a honeymoon? Why not just say so? We’ll leave you two alone–.”

“–In this economy and climate?” Donnie interjected. “Has it also not been six years since your yet-to-be-legal marriage?”

“Alright, alright,” Leonardo chuckled. “Cut us some slack, bro. Finding time wasn’t easy when there’s Kraang above our necks.”

“Right, and you’re going on a honeymoon, how?” The softshell crossed his arms. “Simply because you’re the leader does not equate to you making wise decisions, Leo.”

“His ōdachi can teleport anyone to anyplace, we have some hope we can easily teleport to a remote area,” you answered. “One without Kraang infestation. It’ll be hard, but we may as well try.”

“Bonus points if we find clear skies and an ocean.” The red-eared turtle grinned, wrapping his arm over your shoulders.

“What’s a honeymoon, (Mom / Dad)?”

Your hand went to caress Casey’s cheek. “Parent quality time. It just means you get to handle yourself like the responsible grown-up you’ll become one day. Just promise me you’ll be on your best behavior around Uncle Don and Auntie April?”

“I promise, (Mom / Dad)!”

“Good boy,” Leo laughed, ruffling the kid’s hair.

“You didn’t ask Mikey and Raph to help out too, or?”

“Between you and me, I think you guys are better of making sure Casey doesn’t get into any chaos,” you whispered to April. “Don’t tell them that, though.”

She laughed. “Okay, I see how it is. You both have fun.” 

Donnie bit his lip. Right as Leonardo and (Name) turn to exit the laboratory, he extended his arm out to them.

“Leo, (Name).”

You two faced back to him once more.

“Don’t kill yourselves out there.”

Everyone’s eyes widened– April, you, and Leonardo himself. But the brother in blue snickered, holding a smile that reached his eyes. “So you do also care for me, Don. And all this time I thought you were plotting to put me in my grave or something.”

“We won’t.” Leo placed a hand on your shoulder. “You got my word.”

“Bye (Mom / Dad)! Bye Papa!”

“We’ll be back soon, Casey!”

Donnie stood in silence as you finally left, leaving himself with none other than his best friend and his nephew. “I refuse to believe this is the future we have to deal with.”

“Times changed all of us, didn’t they?” April spoke. “One day we wish each other a good one, and the next, we hope we just don’t die. I could’ve been a famous news anchor by now, make my mother happy, fight crime without worrying about dying the next second.

..I wonder if there’s anyone else out there besides the small number of us down here.”

“..I doubt it.”

Donnie pulled himself together and walked back to his workbench, operating his clampers to work once again. He put on his goggles. Casey, being a young teenager of enthusiasm, peeked over.

“Watch yourself, boy,” April warned.

“Don’t worry about me, Auntie. I’m only standing over here.” Casey narrowed his eyes upon the glowing and metal-like ball his uncle had his tools on. “What are you working on, Uncle Don?”

“A sphere.”

“A sphere?”

“You heard correctly.”

“That sounds kind of boring.”

Donnie had to hold himself back from remarking with: ‘That is exactly what every child whose intellect is doomed would say.’

“I’m sure your mother would find it rather moving.”

“(Mom / Dad)? I don’t understand what’s emotional about a ball, though.”

“Hey Casey.” April coughed. “Why not tell us about your mask here? Haven’t taken a good look at it before. Maybe Uncle Don would like to hear it too.”

“You actually want me to talk about my mask?”

“Ain’t a problem, is it?”

“No.” He fidgeted with his fingers a bit. “You don’t have anything else to do?”

“We were just told to watch over you, kid.”

“Yeah, but everyone I know is always busy with the Kraang or supplying weapons. I never really get chances to hang out.”

There was a brief pause in the butane torch’s flame.

April’s expression softened. Her hand came up to brush his black hair. “Things have gotten calmer up there. So you’ve got plenty of time with us now.”

Casey smiled.

“So your mask?” 

The boy alternated between covering his face and removing it. “(Mom / Dad) gave it to me. She told me it is based on the one worn by my biological mother. (Mom / Dad) also said that my birth mother was kind of crazy-funny and likes to be loud. She would have a stick to play– what was it– hockey?

I don’t know what kind of game hockey is supposed to be, but I guess it’s nice to know how life was like before all the Kraang.”

A sad smile crept on April’s lips. 

“Anyways, I thought the mask looked kind of plain, so I decided to draw red marks on it. See?” Casey showed his mask off, fingers tapping the surface. “Guess who it looks like!”

There were two bold and thick streaks of red. Each one ran through one eye, truly a defining characteristic. The Commander chuckled, already imagining how much pride her friend in blue would feel from the fact a kid– let alone one he had been parenting– looked up to him so much.

“You know, I am seeing someone familiar here.” April hummed as she put on a thoughtful facade. Fingers holding her chin and everything. “Got to be Uncle Don.”

Named turtle paused for a moment and raised a brow.

“Seriously, Auntie April?” On the other hand, Casey gave her an incredulous look and shook his head. “You probably want to get your eyes checked out, ‘cause Uncle Don doesn’t have any red stripes.” Off to the side. “And even if he did, he won’t look as cool as Dad.”

April snickered behind her palm as Donnie eyed the boy from behind his goggles.

“You’re right, you’re right. Just messing with you, kid.” Her hand ruffled his hair once more. “Sounds like you really admire your Papa, don’t you?”

“Why wouldn’t I? Dad has an awesome sword that opens up portals. He always moves so quickly whenever he’s fighting. Bam! And the Kraang’s gone!” The teenager stretched his arm for emphasis. “Even as the leader, Papa knows when to get serious and when to make people laugh. He also cares a lot about me, (Mom / Dad), you guys, and everyone!”

It made even Donnie himself smile. 

However, the way Casey’s enthusiasm died down had not gone unnoticed. “I’ve always wanted to help out though.” He sighed, shoulders slumping. “I want to fight the Kraang right by his and (Mom / Dad)’s side. Except I barely get the chance to, because they keep telling me to stay close to base and hide behind a giant rock.”

April crossed her arms and went quiet. His feelings were nothing new. In fact, she experienced the same thing herself, seeing she had always been a human. It was like that until–.

“Have no hard feelings,” Donnie spoke up, his hands and eyes remained on his spheric gadget. The sparks were flying. “Your parents are merely worried about your well-being.”

“I know, I know. They won’t have to though, if I can have enough training or something.” Casey sighed. “Then again, I also know I’m only a normal sensitive human.

...Why can’t I be a mutant instead?”

“Ahem. You are classified as a human. That is a true statement and one you cannot change.” Donnie hummed. “However, that does not mean you cannot be strong and capable in other ways.”

“Why does it sound like you’ve been in my place before?”

“Perhaps I did. Did you truly think being a soft-shell turtle is easy? I happened to be born as one of the only Testudines species whose outer shell cannot protect.” Donnie remarked. “Casey, your mask.” His hand signaled.

“What about my mask?”

“I merely want to add something.”

Confused, he hopped off the chair and handed the mask over. “Hmm. As long as you don’t mess with the stripes, Uncle Don.”

“Who says I won’t?”

Casey kicked Donnie’s leg.

“‘Ow,’ I say sarcastically without feeling physical pain.”

“Hmph.” He crossed his arms. “Why do you keep saying things like that?”

“Such as?”

“You say those action verbs, even when you’re already doing them.”

April snorted. “Just his thing, kid. Uncle Don’s got his special quirks.”

“Do you have a quirk?”

“Picking unnecessary fights for one,” Donnie commented.

“You only call them ‘unnecessary,’ because you never want to fix the problem.”

He rolled his eyes. “My solution would’ve been ten times more efficient if you had allowed my technology and I to do the work.”

Casey wondered. “Does your tech ever go haywire, Uncle Don?”

“No.”

“Oh man,” April began, “you should’ve been there for this one time. Your Uncle Don was building some kind of overprotective bed to keep your late Gramps from waking up from his beauty sleep.”

“Gramps likes to sleep?”

“You’d be surprised to hear that he sure does.”

“Then what happened?”

“Uncle Don asked your Dad, Uncle Mikey, and Uncle Raph to try punching, slicing, throwing whatever they could on the bed. They were attacking it like crazy!”

“And then?” 

“And the bed was even more insane, ‘cause there were actual missiles shooting out! They went straight for his brothers. At some point, it got overboard, so Uncle Don tried to command it to stop.”

“I’m hearing a ‘but’ coming.”

“But it malfunctioned and thought Uncle Don was the enemy!”

“However!” Donnie pointed his finger up, interrupting the story-telling. “It did not take long for my creation to recognize his master.”

“Still went haywire in my book,” April remarked. 

“Ignoring that.” His robotic hand tapped the edge of his workbench, grabbing Casey’s attention. “Come here, young man.” He slid back the mask, except in his hands, it felt as if the frame had thicken.

“It looks the same, but it doesn’t feel the same?”

“Try wearing it over your face.”

The boy did as told. All of a sudden, a bunch of green rectangles and words appeared in his vision. He gasped in awe. He spun around slowly, watching the rectangle focus on a figure through the wall.

“Yes yes, I know. I am well aware of how amazing I am.” Donnie huffed in pride. “I have opted to construct an interface with your mask. I cannot see why you shouldn’t have something to defend yourself with,” he reasoned. “I have other updates in mind later on. As of now, however, your mask will help you detect life forms across other rooms or through other objects.” 

“That’s so cool!” The boy hesitated though. “But I don’t want to break it or anything.”

“Hey.” April rested her hand on Casey’s shoulder, giving a firm squeeze. “Our resources are already scarce. Using then losing them is better than nothing. You better make the most of our tech. Understood, soldier?”

Casey grinned underneath his mask. He fixed his posture up and saluted. “Gotcha–! Understood, Commander!” 

He faced the inventor, whose hands were already back to being occupied with the “sphere.” “Thanks so much, Uncle Don!” Casey exclaimed, leaping towards the turtle to give a tight hug. “You’re the best!” 

Upon contact, Donnie stiffened up, but his lack of experience with physical touch did not prevent a smile forming on his face. He extended a robotic arm, patting Casey’s back. 

The boy then scanned around curiously with his mask. “Hey! Think I spot Uncle Mikey and Uncle Raph two floors down! They’re holding hands over a table or something. Why are so many people circling around them?”

April rolled her eyes. “Sounds like another arm-wrestling match between the our youngest and oldest brother.” 

Just like that, Casey booked it out of the laboratory so quickly, it reminded her of a certain red-eared slider. “What the–! Casey!” April groaned. “And here I thought we don’t have to deal with runaway kids. I better catch up to him.” 

“Would not worry about him too much,” Donnie commented. 

“What do you mean by that?”

“Considering we will not always be alive to protect him... the sooner we leave him to himself, the easier it will be for him to survive alone.” 

“Hey. Come on now.” April walked to her best friend’s side. “Don’t you say things like that. We’re all going to survive this together–.”

“April.” Slight pain wavered in his voice. “You know as well as I do how our current reality is. It is only a matter of time before the Kraang finds everyone.” 

“Yet you’re still here trying.”

No response.

“It’s all because of the kid, isn’t it?” April affirmed. “He ain’t any genius prodigy you were expecting long ago. But he gave you a reason to try– he became someone worth fighting for.”

“I would not put it as simply as that.”

She shrugged. “That’s how I’d say it. You know you’re not the only one whose life changed because of Casey.”

Donnie paused his work, turning off the butane torch and finally pulling his goggles off his eyes again. “...Casey reminds me of when we were young, being rash and immature teenagers like any other. I hate admitting to such thing, but I was one too. And I hate admitting much more how much I missed those times.

The child has known nothing of the trouble we’ve experienced outside, April: when Cassandra was killed, when Draxum was torn apart, when Dad decided to sacrifice himself despite the slim odds.” His hands clenched into fists.

“Do not expect me to have any false hope for our future, but do not assume I would want Casey to feel the same way. For as long as he can, I want him to hold onto that false hope.”

“...” April had her arms crossed. Her eyes slowly came to linger on the workbench. “Is that ‘sphere’ his false hope?”

“..No. Not his.” Donnie traced his thumb over his contraption. “It’s for (Name).”

[armageddon-generation]

Improving Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire (2024)

Frozen Empire has some neat ideas (Ancient ghostbusters, Phoebe & Melody, the Possessor, everything Dan Akroyd, Paul Rudd, James Acaster & Ernie Hudson do) but it’s bogged down by far too many characters and slavish fanservice. Afterlife was meant to pass the torch, but Frozen Empire is stuck replaying the greatest hits.

OPENING AND CHANGED VILLAIN

Instead of firefighters, we open on a 1900s team of ghost-hunters locking the villain Garraka away, led by Nadeem’s great-grandmother

Sealing Garraka away causes a huge explosion, and as we pull out of the burning building, we see a new ghost fly away. This is Melody, the ghost-girl, paralleling Egon’s ghost leaving his farmhouse in Afterlife's opening

Melody’s family were cultists who tried to summon big-bad Garraka. She’s the one who called the ghost-hunters to stop them, but was killed in the confrontation

Garraka tells Melody that her ‘unfinished business’ is summoning him to this dimension—the ritual she stopped her family completing. The only way she can be free is freeing him.

This establishes Melody’s distrust of ghost hunters, because they killed her

CUT CHARACTERS

Venkman and Janine don’t need to be here at all, they’re gone

Cut Podcast. Ray wistfully watches the opening car-chase  alone, out-of-the-loop. He seizes on the arrival of the Orb as his chance to get back in on the action. Podcast's absence also heightens Phoebe’s isolation

Cut Lucky. Her only real moment is defending Phoebe from Garraka, which itself was cut down from the trailers

THE AQUARIUM & COMMUNING WITH GHOSTS

‘Garraka wants to free the ghosts in the Firehouse’ is yet another reused plotpoint in a film full of them.

Instead the (much bigger) property damage in the opening chase loses the team the Firehouse completely, increasing Phoebe’s guilt and isolation

They’ve already been moving ghosts into Winston’s Aquarium lab, so go straight there

They’re testing new technology- think Ghostbusters (2016)’s ghost-chipper, proton-gloves, proton-grenades etc. Callie tests this stuff (bc she has nothing to do otherwise), bonding with Winston as the table uncle-figure she never had.

James Acaster's Dr. Lars is trying to communicate with the caged ghosts, to learn about the other side- he tries to interrogate one to no avail

The idea of someone volunteering to go on 'expeditions' as a ghost via the Spirit Extractor, like an abassador to the Afterlife, is brought up- both Phoebe and Ray are tempted

This makes Phoebe talking to Melody an incredible discovery- a sentient, talking ghost who apparently fully retains her humanity.

MELODY’S FAMILY

When Phoebe finds Melody in the diner, it’s because that's is where she was killed- where her family tried to summon Garraka.

Now the Orb is uncontained her family’s ghosts have become active again, and descend from the upper floors of the building to attack the diner.

Melody’s family are a Cluster Ghost- an amorphous blob of limbs and heads bonded by the sane traumatic cause of death, tripping over itself to get to her. This physical manifestation of her family trying to drag her down parallels Phoebe’s conflict about hers.

Phoebe now takes Melody on a tour of the Aquarium and they bond there, rather than the Firehouse

TREVOR

Finn Wolfhard's Trevor had fuck-all to do in this movie lmao

Replace his pointless sublpot with Slimer with him bonding with the Possessor ghost, which communicates through switching TV stations/radio channels.

The Possessor would probably need some kind of cute visual manifestation to sell this. Think Mogwai, Lilo and Stitch etc Slapstick antagonism turned genuine fun, games of catch etc

With Podcast gone, Trevor accompanies Phoebe and Ray to the library. When the Possessor tries to steal the chant recording he tries to reason with it- c'mon, man, I thought we were bonding, this isn’t you, Garraka’s controlling you, only to get absolutely dunked on

Ray’s research reveals that Garraka’s horns- the 'object' that allows its apparition to manifest- were hidden away separately from the orb

NADEEM'S GRANDMOTHER

To build on the theme of communicating with and humanizing ghosts, instead of pyrokenesis (which felt a little out of place) Kumail Nanjiani's Nadeem is literally possessed by his estranged grandmother.

The idea Nadeem was 'haunted' is already suggested, but by making it explicit we get the slapstick of her puppeteering his body and chewing him out for neglecting his family legacy- arguing with the same mouth etc

Swap Venkman questioning Nadeem with Callie, holding a comedic seance. This gives her a much-needed emotional beat bonding with him over their baggage with their ghost-hunting relatives (Egon vs Grandma). Callie expresses how it feels to reconnect with her dad's legacy, which Frozen Empire never gave us.

She then replaces Podcast helping Nadeem try to hone his powers- in this case, help him and his grandmother work together

GARRAKA THE GHOST-EMPEROR

Garraka can't manifest as a full apparition without its horns.

It's more like the Mind Flayer from Stranger Things, a hive-mind that works through other ghosts. When the ancient ghost-hunters banished Garraka to the Other Side it took over, and has ruled there ever since. This is the 'frozen empire' he's looking to expand

In this way ghosts are shifted from no longer strictly antagonistic, but victims of a cruel tyrant

 When Melody tricks Phoebe into freeing Garraka, it tries to take Phoebe's ghost as a vassal, but Melody volunteers herself to save her. Phoebe returns to her body just in time to see Melody be possessed.

Now Melody is more directly involved in the climax, giving the antagonist a complex, sympathetic face

Dr. Lars replaces Lucky trying to stop Garraka. It kills him to up the stakes

FINALE

Garraka takes Melody to the Diner, where she joins with her family’s Cluster, spreading its supernatural winter as it goes

Change the Death Chill so everyone Garraka chills has their spriti pulled out of them, to join it army of spectral drones. Everywhere it goes it's recruiting, getting stronger. If it finds its second horn it will be able to 'recruit' all of New York

Expand on the Possessor using the Ghostbusters’ own gear to fight them. It steals the Ecto-1 and all the old Proton packs

The new generation of Ghostbusters have to use the new tech they’ve been developing to defeat the old stuff.

Nadeem and his Grandmother finally call a truce and work together to play defence bending the proton streams. She grumbles about how bad this generation of ghost-hunters is

Trevor's bond with the Possessor causes it conflict when it tries to kill him- it fights itself, the equipment it's possessing self-destructing

From here it’s a race to stop Garraka collecting its horns. Garraka successfully finds the first, increasing the scale and power of the big freeze

In the final confrontation Phoebe lets Garraka pull her spirit from her body to loosen its hold on Melody. Melody lights her match: Her unfinished business wasn't to summon Garraka, it was to finish destroying him as she tried to when she died. Nadeem and his Grandmother incinerate the thing.

Again taking a good idea from Ghostbusters (2016), Phoebe is given the choice go to the Other Side with Melody, to finally discover and understand what happens next. Her family ask her to come back, hold on. Melody says that Phoebe should accept their love and support, as she was never loved or supported by her own family

Melody kisses Phoebe goodbye, because not following through on that (when we’ve seen ghosts make similar physical contact with people before) is taking the coward’s way out. They should've cast a minor!!

Nadeem's Grandmother gives her blessing to the ghost-hunters who inherited her family's responsibilities. Then she leaves his body and offers to guide Melody to the Other Side, apologizing for her death on her mother's behalf

We end with Podcast and Lucky finally arriving in New York for a summer internship with the Ghostbusters.

Dr. Lars has returned as a ghost to be an 'ambassador' to the Other Side (playing a ghost would really unleash James Acaster's weird and whacky side), and the Possessor is even working with them as a new team mascot.

Ray has settled into a role as the team's full-time researcher, rather than working in the field

[doctorvenko]

LOWER EAST MANHATTAN, NIGHT — EXT.

a large, impenetrable black cloud surged up into the sky. but this was no storm, no factory fire -- it glowed fluorescent purple at the edges. call it the afterbirth of a demon, imposing from its own etheric plane on new york city. the higher it rose, the louder it became… like the earth was cracking into two. peter had seriously underestimated this spook. as it towered above you and peter, the latter seemed to go into freeze mode -- his knuckles turning white from his iron-grip on the proton wand. but he was fully in the moment, calculating silently. he had done this one thousand times before, he just didn't know this spook's moves yet. a thunderous voice suddenly boomed from the cloud, threatening your demise, before it collapsed dramatically into a rolling fog. it was headed straight for the both of you. peter had nothing to aim for, but did the only thing he could think to do. years of experience surely wasn't wasted, right?

it all happened in a split second. peter pulled a trap loose from his belt and threw it into the cloud like it was a grenade. with you incapacitated, and your safety weighing down on peter's conscience, he gave you an incredibly hard shove into an alleyway to the left. ‘STAY DOWN!’ peter shouted over the chaos. he hoped you would forgive him later for any further injury. he then set the proton particle beam to HIGH AND WIDE as a last ditch effort to slow the sucker down.

[brokehorrorfan]

Trick or Treat Studios has released Toxic Crusaders 5" action figures. Priced at $20, Toxie is available now and Dr. Killemoff is expected to ship in August.

Toxie comes with mop, shield, bandolier with three grenades, and glow-in-the-dark slime. Killemoff features a removable disguise and comes with proton energizer, secret weapon, and glow-in-the-dark slime.

[utterfuckingchaos]

VOID!Tunner tells a tale.

"I'll tell you this kid, I've been around a lot longer than you, and I've seen and dealt with a lot worse than just some measly bullet wound. You see, about....twenty years ago, I was a courier for the Mojave Express, takin' letters and packages across most of the southwest. Spent probably 5 years of my life just walkin' from place to place, wearing out the soles of my boots and shootin' whatever critters tried to attack me. Then came one special job, had to carry this fancy little casino chip to New Vegas. Had no clue what it did but it was a job I had to do. So I picked it up around Sunnyvale, and started my trek back to Vegas. On my way, got rushed by a couple of Khans, and one smug prick named Benny. Got tied up, robbed, and shot point blank in the head. Somehow, managed to survive, got dug up by a robot named Victor, and got patched by Doc Mitchel, a true kind soul he is. From that point on, I went all across the Mojave, and aided in the crippling of Caesar's Legion, teamed up with the NCR, and killed that son of a bitch Benny. All during that time, I got shot up, stabbed, hit with mortar shells, sliced with fuckin' proton axes, had my brain, spine, and heart removed, got them back, and got some fancy sub-dermal armor installed. Collected a full arsenal of weapons, pistols, rifles, grenade launchers, axes, flamers, laser rifles, anti-material rifles, mini nuke launchers, and plenty of dynamite. Still got most of 'em in storage, and I always keep a pistol and few sticks of dynamite on my person at all times these days. Tellin' you this kid, because you seem like one of those folk who'll kill, maim, abuse, steal, and harm others for the hell of it, or to get themselves to some place of power. Last man I met like that caught a 50 BMG round to the skull, and his fancy little helmet is resting over my fireplace back home. So here's your one chance, fuck off, go back to whatever hellspawn you come from, and stay there. I won't give you a second chance, and it doesn't matter what weapons or magic bullshit you pull out of your ass, I've got more than enough experience and supplies to make up for it." -VOID!Tunner to Sprunki Infection!Black

[nchlsdmn]

9 Cut weapons from Ratchet and Clank Rift Apart were ripped from the files by a modder.

Sheepinator : Which has the same function as the Ps4 game

Thumper: Which is the proton drum under a different name

Schrödinger's Gun: an untextured weapon that fires those little alien anklebiters at enemies

The Vulcanic Eruptor: a magma glove that spews lava at it's foes. I wish that weapon replaced the Bombardier

Magna Missile: A rocket launcher weapon that fires a warping vortex that sucks enemies in and spits them out

Predator Launcher: Same function as the weapon from before

Fusion Grenade: the base weapon for the Salad Tosser, the original name for the Topiary Sprinkler

Dimensionator: The Dimensionator was originally supposed to be the weapon that fires portals from rifts, but was changed to the RYNO 8

[manicpanicaddict]

Hey Egon! It's Peter, but like from another, another dimension, yeah, either way, just curious, are we married in all dimensions? i

I just wanted to you know uhn calculate the different relationships i can have and their possibilities

"Hello, Peter--," he offered despite how he knew his greeting would be lost. His use of 'another' modifier clued him to where the signal was not coming from (68-R) as he tuned the inter-spatial transportation unit. Though, at first transmission, it appeared closely related.

"I--," he stopped entirely at Peter's question.

He asked so casually, but to him it felt (to exaggerate) like being hit by a proton grenade. It wasn't as if this was a new concept to him. They had all been rather... Well, they all had their separate thoughts and feelings about the 68-R versions of themselves having... different relationships.

He knew his delayed answer was causing an uncomfortable pause for Peter; but he wanted to choose his words carefully. He cared for Peter, not like how he expected, but cared for him all the same. He hated letting him down. Of all the versions of themselves they'd met across time, space, and dimensions in between, one fact remained true: there was no Ghostbusters without Peter finding him-- saving him.

"I'm...," there was no pleasant way to say it and braced himself for the other's reaction, "I'm sorry, Peter, but... we're not in this one."

Seeing the 68-R version of himself with his Peter made him question many things. He wondered if things could've been different in their universe, but he recognized how they were, sometimes wildly, different.

He never could've imagined his Peter so sober. He wanted to ask about how they met, how they discovered their feelings, how they lived. He stopped himself, knowing it would likely hurt, and that despite all the possibilities he knew Ray was his person over anyone.

"Why don't you ask your husband?" he forced the well-meaning question from his mouth. It wasn't even a legal union in this dimension though he wouldn't mention that. How blissful these adjacent planes seemed...

"Or," he started again; knowing himself well enough he wondered out loud, "are you trying to surprise him with the answer? You don't give yourself enough credit, Peter. I know that you know the answer."

He couldn't meet his eyes but softly smiled anyway. It was infinite. Every choice they made branched them off into other worlds. The possibilities were boundless, forever expansive, and positively endless. Just as his feelings were for his husband; and so his feelings for his Ray.

[linuxgamenews]

Aether & Iron: Unleash Aether Tech Chaos

Aether & Iron story driven RPG game aims at Steam Deck and Linux via Windows PC. Seismic Squirrel’s creative magic keeps their world alive and kicking. Working to bring it's magic to Steam this year. Get ready to hit the gas and dive into a wild, alternate 1930s New York in Aether & Iron, the brand-new story driven RPG game from Seismic Squirrel. In this city, gravity-defying aether tech has changed everything. While towering skyscrapers, floating platforms, and streets ruled by gangsters, corrupt politicians, and desperate smugglers like you.

...we are aiming for Aether & Iron to run smoothly on Steam Deck via Proton, so Linux players should still have a solid experience.

Seismic Squirrel knows the Linux gaming community is passionate, so they’re paying close attention to the interest in Aether & Iron. As they move toward launch and beyond, they’ll also be watching demand for other platforms. Right now, the best way to show support? Wishlist the title on Steam! The more Linux players that wishlist the game, the clearer it is in their data — helping shape future platform decisions. Instead of just releasing the game on Steam Deck via Proton.

Your Story, Your Choices

You play as Gia, a street-smart smuggler trying to survive in this dangerous, ever-shifting city. Your goal? Stay ahead of the law, outwit rival gangs, and carve your own path through an evoling conspiracy that could change the city forever. The choices you make shape Gia’s story and also the fate of New York itself. Will you be the hero this city needs, or just another hustler looking out for number one? Every decision counts, and with a little luck (and a well-timed dice roll), you might just come out on top.

Your Car Is Your Lifeline

In Aether & Iron, your car isn’t just for show — it’s also your weapon, your escape plan, and your most valuable asset. Smuggling goods through the city is risky, but when things go south. So, it’s time to fight back in turn-based vehicular combat.

Smash, shoot, and outmaneuver enemies in tactical street battles.

Customize your ride with armor, weapons, and secret compartments.

Use the city itself—ram enemies into obstacles, create roadblocks, and set up ambushes.

Do you go for speed, weaving through the streets before the cops catch up? Or do you armor up, roll in heavy, and blast your enemies with a mounted grenade launcher? Your playstyle, your call.

Aether & Iron Announcement Trailer

Build Your Crew & Survive the Underground

New York is a brutal place, and you won’t last long alone. So recruit a team of unique allies. Each also has their own skills and backstories. They’ll have your back in combat, help you pull off daring jobs, and maybe even betray you when the stakes get too high. With the right crew, the right skills, and a little bit of luck, you might just make it through this city alive.

Aether & Iron is a Gritty, Alt-History New York

This isn’t the New York you know—it’s one shaped by aether-powered technology, turning the skyline into a vertical battleground. The city is packed with secrets to uncover, from smoky jazz clubs and underground speakeasies to shady political offices and high-tech factories.

Corrupt politicians and ruthless crime lords pull the strings.

Mysterious conspiracies unfold in a noir-inspired world.

Characters come to life with full voice acting, bringing every deal, double-cross, and desperate chase to life.

Hustle, Smarts, and Brass

To make it in this city, you’ll need more than just a fast car. Upgrade Gia’s abilities:

Hustle – Stay quick on your feet, escape sticky situations, and talk your way out of trouble.

Smarts – Crack codes, outthink enemies, and see through their lies.

Brass – When all else fails, muscle your way through with brute force.

But remember — no matter how good you are in Aether & Iron, luck plays a role. The roll of the dice can turn a perfect plan into chaos in an instant.

Your Story, Your Legacy

In Aether & Iron story driven RPG, your choices shape more than just Gia’s fate. Will you fight for something bigger, join a rebellion, or just get rich and vanish into the shadows? Since it's coming to Steam Deck and Linux via Windows PC on Steam in 2025. One thing’s for sure — New York is changing, and you’re right in the middle of it.

[rubymoon-snape]

Disclaimer: I don't own Voltron Defender of the Universe, but I do own Ruby.

Summary: Keith learns someone is cleaning Black Lion and is determined to find out who.

Author Note: This is Keith/Ruby.

"Cleaning"

"Form Blazing Sword!"

The sword cutting through the robeast caused an explosion that decimated most of the Drule fighters the lions hadn't taken care of at the beginning of the fight. Keith scanned the surrounding airspace, looking for Lotor's ship. "Looks like Lotor ran away again. All right team, deactivate interlocks and disengage."

Right as Voltron broke apart into the lions, Lotor's ship appeared out of nowhere and shot a missile at Black, which sent it crashing through the forest and landing upside down in a mud pit.

"Ignite lion torch!"

"Stingray Missiles!"

"Proton Missiles!"

"Rocket Grenades!"

Lotor had to dodge these attacks from the other four lions, which prevented him from attempting to finish off Black Lion. Seeing as his path was blocked, Lotor left Arus's orbit.

Once Lotor was gone, Keith's radio crackled to life with the voices of the other pilots, worried for his safety. Unfortunately, their voices were overlapping, so Keith couldn't understand them.

"Guys!" Keith waited a few seconds before continuing, ensuring he had his team's attention. "I'm okay. I'm just upside down in a mud pit."

"You need help getting out, Chief?" Lance asked.

"No. I'll be okay. I'm going to dunk Black in the lake to get most of this off and then park him in the repair bay in order to be able to get the rest of it off."

"Are you sure, Keith?" Allura inquired. "The other lions don't do well in the water?"

"A quick dip will be fine, Allura. See you in a few minutes." Keith turned off his radio and took a deep, steadying breath. He activated Black Lion's wings, which effectively flipped the great lion back over.

Keith could feel Black Lion's irritation at being covered in mud, leaves, and sticks. "I know, Black, but we just need to get to the lake to get most of this stuff off. Then, you'll get a good cleaning."

Strangely, Black Lion purred in Keith's mind at the mention, but Keith thought it was just Black liked the idea of getting cleaned. Keith pushed his lion to fly quickly to the castle with the wings out (because they were coated in mud as well). Once the dunk in the lake was over, Keith was able to fold the wings, before he landed Black in the repair bay. Keith powered down his lion and took his key before patting the console. "I'll be back in a few minutes to give you a good cleaning."

Keith was startled by the sensation he received from Black that was something akin to a snort. Why would Black doubt him? He put it out of his mind. No doubt it was something he'd never figure out.

Keith changed into his usual red and white jumpsuit and checked in with the team, all of whom had gathered in the lounge. "Hey, guys. I thought I'd check in with you before I go clean Black."

"Unless someone beats you to it," Lance quipped.

Keith conceded his lieutenant's point with a subtle nod. "True. I wish I knew who was doing that."

"Maybe you'll find out soon," Allura added with a sly wink.

Keith got the idea that at least Lance and Allura knew who his mystery person was. "In any case, I should get going."

As Keith made his way to the repair bay, he thought about the last time Black needed cleaned. It had taken two hours for Keith to make it back to Black, because he had to write a report for the Garrison. When he made it to the repair bay, his lion was already cleaned. He hadn't seen who had taken it upon themselves to clean Black, though his lion was purring, which made Keith assume it hadn't been too long ago.

As he entered the repair bay, he heard the distinct lilt of his girlfriend's voice. He followed the sound of her voice and found her sitting cross legged in front of Black in her off hour clothes (black pants, turquoise tube top, and long, blue vest). She was gently pulling sticks out of Black's paw and talking to the great lion.

"And then, Nanny tried to- Oh, hang on, Black. This one seems stuck." Ruby tugged on a particularly stubborn stick and got it loose. "Got it!"

Keith quietly approached his girlfriend from behind, wrapping his arms around her when he was close enough. She froze for a second, but once she saw the red sleeves, she relaxed, realizing it's Keith.

"Are the one who's been cleaning Black, darling?"

"Of course, sweetheart! I am, after all, good at cleaning."

"Yes. Yes, you are." Keith leaned forward and captured his girlfriend's lips in a kiss as his lion purred to both of them.

Fin

[mckittenkat]

Ghostbusters concept art by Kyle Brown for the Aaron Sims Company. (Part 4/8 ~ proton grenade).

[what-if-ghostbusters-ask]

[Clover ran from the computer again and geared up once again for a bust:

Arm-mounted proton pack? Check

Grappling hook with auto-retract? Check

Protonic grenades? Check

Protonic nets? Check

Traps that have been jerry rigged to hold fifteen ghosts? Check

Gloves and boots? Check

After checking that she was completely prepared(mostly. Could be better.), she relaxed against the secretary desk, glancing between a guessed place where the 1991-Busters would be, and Egon's spot in the garage. Clover wouldn't let him live it down if he wasn't back soon... She can't lose anyone else.]

(@venkman-and-rookie)

[kirchefuchs]

Can we please talk about the Ghostbusters comics for a moment here?

Now as you can see, in the comics they show off a lot of really cool altered proton packs and even grenades, ranging from the small compact pack and the arm mounted pack up to much larger packs, such as one that's basically like a proton missile launcher.

Now can someone please tell me why seemingly no one has made any of these for cosplays yet?????

Like, yes! I love the movies, and the original hero packs are iconic and really cool!!! But they can also be very heavy. So I don't see why one can't flex their Ghostbusters knowledge and build a pack from the comics. Especially since it would be a great conversation starter. Someone might see this arm mounted pack of yours and say "Hey, that's really cool. Did you come up with it yourself? I haven't seen it in any if the movies." And then you get to excitedly tell them all about the comics and then they'll get excited about new Ghostbusters content to look into.

It's a win-win. I dont see why anyone hasn't done this yet, but I really hope someone will. I know I want to do it eventually after I recover from marvelling at everyone's super awesome Ghostbusters cosplays.

But that's just my two cents. I'll leave ya'll alone for the time being.

[hasbr0mniverse]

Beast Wars Transformers 1998 - Maximal Depth Charge - Function: Aquatic Forces Commander - Subgroup: Transmetal - A magnificent giant soars through the oceans in regal silence. Depth Charge was commissioned by Optimus Primal to act as a first line of defense against Predacon undersea aggressors. Though he would rather study military strategies than execute them, Depth Charge is a dedicated fighter and inspired leader. Nuclear cybershark drone conducts recon missions, doubles as reinforcement in battle, and fires dual proton torpedoes. Intermediate space-cruiser mode can achieve planetary orbit or withstand the deepest oceanic pressures. As a robot, he fires shrapnel grenades from his chest and can maintain a force field for five mega cycles. With unshakable nerves and Energon-cutlass in hand, Depth Charge leads his brave platoon into battle.

[itsthemysterykids]

Somebody is setting a bunch homophobic signs and threats outside the mystery shack. I need to know how expensive their hospital bills are.

Stan: *Hands each of them weapons* Kids, remember to aim for the shins so they can’t run. And if you can, look for any little black books with their associates’ numbers and addresses.

Ford: Stanley!… You forgot to give them the rocker launcher. *Gives Mabel the weapon*

Mabel: YES!

Lili: I get to use it next!

*The Mystery Kids run out of the shack to confront the lousy bigots*

Norman: For Marsha P. Johnson! *Shoots at them with a crossbow*

Mabel: And RuPaul! *Fires a rocket at a homophobe*

Terf: Hey, you!

Wybie: What?

Terf: I know a traitor to their gender when I see it you damn [censored]!

Wybie: Mhm… Mhm… Have you ever considered that I don’t give two shits what you have to say about me being Trans? Follow by… *Throws a grenade at the terf*

Coraline: And wipe that ugly look off your face. *Sprays the terf down with a hose*

Dipper: *Shoots at a few homophobes with a proton gun* Screw you. Screw you. And screw you.

Lili: You missed one. *Throws a grenade at a transphobe*

Transphobe: My face!

Neil: Suck it up!

*Minutes of children fighting bigots later*