#(though they are of course not really at much threat of being retired so that’s a bit different of a scenario

[synthetic-rust]

One thing I’ve wondered about within the ‘Thomas universe’ is wether or not people would be more inclined to keep around older generations of machine a bit longer so they could effectively teach the newer models how to go about things…

I feel like new machines would probably have a general sense of how to carry out their purpose already, but they don’t have any experience or knowledge to fall back on yet. So there’d be still be some use in keeping around one that’s more experienced to try guide them a bit.

I do imagine that would feel rather morose for the soon to be replaced machine, to see themselves be directly phased out of use… but it could be an interesting way of having them complete their purpose. One last way to be useful in a sense.

Though I think the fun part comes in how this dynamic could go any number of ways for both parties. ‘Sagely teacher who mostly accepts their fate and tries their best to impart knowledge onto the next generation’ vs ‘teacher who grits their teeth towards the newcomer stealing their job but cannot really do much about it,’ etc.

I feel like this would end up happening organically in places anyway, but I think having it be a concept or practice that the machines are at least aware of would make for something interesting character dynamic wise. Not everyone would end up getting the best advice or guidance to help them, from either human or machine.

‘People aren’t born with certain ideas in their head; they have to come from somewhere,’ type of thing.

[cerastes]

Does Chongyue rate on the Just Some Guy spectrum at all, considering how much work he’s put into not being Sui-related?

Chongyue doesn’t exist in the Just Some Guy spectrum in a way we’ve discussed yet, even though he has some overlap, because ultimately his essence conflicts with Some Guyhood on a fundamental level (of what has been discussed in Just Some Guy academia so far at least).

Just Some Guys all have the desire, and sometimes the expertise, to actually come across as Some Guys. Chongyue is a centuries old famed invincible general, title of Grandmaster, whose upcoming retirement is great news among leaders and figures of the highest authority and caliber. Chongyue is basically a celebrity and national hero. Chongyue is Mister Satan from Dragon Ball Z if Mister Satan had those Goku dukes and was actually able to throw hands with the biggest, meanest threats, and also a whole deal more humble, but the point is, man’s beyond notorious. Chongyue is A Guy, not Just Some Guy.

I understand where this sentiment comes from! He’s sealed the Sui consciousness and his true name into his sword, and this isn’t public knowledge, plus, he insists he only knows a little Kung Fu. The thing is, he is technically not wrong about his statement and he truly means it. He’s not trying to obfuscate, and this is a key part of Some Guyhood, he puts it in very laconic but pristine terms to Ling: He considers himself pretty average comparatively, considering the sheer amount of years he’s had to practice and master the martial arts, and confidently says that, were others to have the same set of tools he had, such as natural power and longevity, then anyone could achieve the level he’s at. He’s truly humble and honest about it in a way that is simply outside the scale of most other creatures in Terra to be able to relate to. Of course, this doesn’t mean he’s any less of a one man triple army able to decimate pretty much any quality or quantity of enemies with his martial prowess, but he’s not really underplaying it as much as he’s saying “no yeah but if you had the amount of time I had to grind out these sick spinkicks, you’d also be able to do this”. He’s the Soul Level 846 Chosen Undead that one-shots Kalameet three times over with one R2, and then doesn’t tell you “Oh, no no, it was an accident, haha! Oops!” the way Mr. Nothing would, Chongyue would instead say “Ok you might have found that impressive, but if YOU were Soul Level 846, you could very much do this as well! :)” and he means it! Just because Chongyue can 1cc Super Monkey Ball 2 doesn’t mean he’s particularly exceptional in his eyes, it simply means that it’s the only game he’s ever had for the last 400 years and, if you also played SMB2 for 400 years, you too could land the selfsame sick bounces into goals.

Now, you might be thinking, “wait, that could make him a Jaye of some sort, right?” Not quite! Jaye is truly convinced he’s unexceptional, hell, being exceptional in any way has not even crossed his mind, Jaye lives day to day acutely unaware that he has direct ties to both men you could consider the leaders of Lungmen. Chongyue is well aware that he’s a Sui fragment, and this, he hides, though less with the sundering desperation of someone who REALLY doesn’t want to be found out (like Nothing), and more like someone who’s got responsibilities to uphold, but if it ends up spilling out that he’s a Sui fragment, simply goes “Oh, it seems you know, alright,” and then take the appropriate action depending on what’s the most sensible road to take. Mr. Nothing and Sesa go out of their way to act like buffoons and charlatans for the express purpose of obfuscating their respective masteries, Chongyue has no qualms publicly showing his immense power and physical abilities to onlookers. 

If we had to put Chongyue in the Just Some Guy spectrum, he’d had to be on his own little space as A Guy That Thinks You Too Can Be A Guy. He’s not Just Some Guy, he’s definitely A Guy and makes no secret about it (without revealing ALL that makes him A Guy), but he also believes that you, with enough effort, time, and support, can also become A Guy of his caliber, and that he’s nothing special, he just has 6521 hours in TF2 and that’s why he can rocket surf and land air shots with the Direct Hit with 100% accuracy, not because he’s exceptional necessarily.

[kitsunefyuu]

If afo and inko were in love, what would their relationship be like?

Well with all this new backstory information I have quite a few ideas on how their relationship work. Warning, while I definitely write them as loving and stuff doesn't mean there aren't some red flags.

How their relationship would be like in love:

All for One is a petty person who desperate for love and validation using any means to get it while also willing to spoil his 'gift' if likes them. Inko is a loving and strong willed person who do anything for their loved ones.

Basically they work well. As All for One is startled that Inko is just actually nice and seems to just like him. It ain't at all like the insane worship of his followers and he LATCHES onto that. So he kind of orchestrates opportunities for them to keep meeting. But tries to act subtle despite trying to throw gifts at her.

Inko of course thinks it's kind of hilarious and sweet that he's trying so hard. So basically she agrees to date him and let me tell you AFO has NO IDEA how dating works. He just kind of there eating dinner with no idea what to do- Cue Inko just deciding to talk and slowly getting him to talk about stuff and talk about herself.

All for One is intrigued since he doesn't really get many chances to just 'talk' about stuff that isn't a transaction. He knows people but he isn't usually part of said people. And he ends up talking about his brother and how threw himself into his work still wishing him back.

Basically first date goes great and Inko learns a lot. Though AFO avoids the whole 'murdered' said brother accidentally or that he was being evil or is still evil.

Basic dating between them is AFO basically spoiling the ever loving crap out of Inko with material things. While Inko gets him talking about his emotional needs and desires as well as helping him learn more about her. AFO learns he likes learning about people when it not about what they can get but just because wants to talk.

AFO has very much murdered or wanted to murder potential threats to Inko in the background as well as anyone that dared to try and 'steal' her. Look man he's still AFO and if there anything you know, he ain't keen on sharing. Though he makes sure they aren't so close to Inko she worry or something, he ain't that stupid. He doesn't need her running away so if they are too close, he must endure... Inko pretty good at getting him to not worry over it tho.

AFO actually considered retiring super villainy when they become engaged. As unlike with followers and people that owe him she not afraid of him. Also she seems to just genuinely like his company despite him being 'off' as many say. Who would have thought having a healthy normal relationship and being in love can be so enjoyable? If only he read more romance novels/manga.

BTW he did start reading those in his attempt to woo so you get sudden random romantic gestures from him. He even learned to cook as learned girls like that and he wants to impress her. Inko gushes at having a husband that does so much for her. He feels like a god damn great provider so like a peacock showing off his tail feathers.

People swear it seems like he got more handsome while dating Inko. AFO didn't even realize it but he made himself look more handsome purposefully. Obtaining better grooming habits, maybe some quirks and also he just smiles more genuinely with her. He still ruthless as hell as a villain but now he working even harder to impress her not just look good for his cult.

One time AFO nearly revealed he had more then one quirk because of a rat. He screamed when saw one and was about to legit about to air canon it- He got lucky because Inko just captures it in a bucket. Assuming he was scared and now about to just bring the whole place down. AFO learned he needs to be more careful.

I got even more but we be here forever so ask for more if wish to hear more of me ranting about Inko X AFO~!

[waynes-multiverse]

Rehab – Prologue

Series Summary: Thanks to Soldier Boy, the CIA was able to develop Project Bloom under the fierce leadership of Grace Mallory: a final cure to Compound V and a hopeful end to the supe epidemic three years after the explosive incident at Vought. A secret rehab facility in Upstate New York is supposed to help former heroes find their way back to humanity. The catch, though? Soldier Boy has never fucking agreed to any of this shit and is surely not happy about being powerless for the first time in his goddamn long life.

Pairing: Soldier Boy/Ben x Female!Reader

Warnings: +18, language, general angst

Word Count: 778

A/N: Welcome, friends! I’ve missed writing for Soldier Boy, and I’m so happy to have this dirty, ol’ gramps back. Be aware, tho, that some topics are of a darker nature and it doesn’t necessarily have the happy ending y’all are imagining 😉 That being said, enjoy this prologue and lemme know if you wanna be on the series tag list for this story!

Feedback is my fuel 🖤

Main Masterlist || Series Masterlist

Prologue: rehab

“How are his latest test results?”

“Looking good, ma’am. His body is behaving exactly like we wanted it to. The Compound V is gone from his system after the third dose, and he’s recovering as expected. His vitals look very promising.”

“Good, good.” Grace Mallory nods at the young doctor in a white lab coat, a smirk playing across her thin lips as she looks at the unconscious fallen hero through the glass of his cryopod. “Wake him up and move him to the facility Upstate with the others,” she orders.

And so it happened that Soldier Boy was no longer a threat, the once most dangerous bomb on the planet defused, rendered harmless and impotent. These days, the former venomous snake was no more frightening than a toothless blindworm.

Y/N’s head lifts from the backgammon board in front of her and drifts to the commotion streaming in from the hall as the high-security metal entrance doors of the facility fly wide open. Curiously, she rises from her lounge chair, abandoning her winning match against her companion, and stalks closer, leaning against a concrete column. Three CIA agents hold down and wrangle with a furiously screaming man – broad-shouldered, longer sandy-blond hair, and neatly trimmed beard. They push him inside with all the strength they can muster while the guy in agony fights tooth and nail against the restraining arms around him.

“LET ME GO! I WILL FUCKING KILL YOU ALL! NO! NO! GET ME THE FUCK OUTTA HERE! YOU CAN’T DO THIS TO ME! NOOOO! DON’T YOU KNOW WHO THE FUCK I AM?! YOU FUCKING BITCH! I’LL FUCKING END YOU FOR WHAT YOU’VE DONE TO ME!”

Y/N, however, is not so surprised by that circumstance. After all, the guy’s not the first person that has ever tried to fight his way out of supe rehab. It happens all the time. In fact, she might be one of the few that actually came here willingly. Her brow significantly raises, though, as Grace Mallory strolls in behind the four men. Officially retired from the CIA but still in charge of Project Bloom, she only comes along for the special cases, the big fish, and as Y/N squints her eyes and takes a closer look at the newest arrival, her heart completely stops and drops to her slippers on the ivory linoleum.

“Is that–” She stumps, not daring to say the supe’s name aloud.

“Ben, yes,” Mallory nods and smiles, enjoying the struggle a little too much, her eyes practically fixated on the green-eyed man. “Of course, you might know him only as Soldier Boy.”

Y/N’s breath hitches in her throat. So it really is him. The sole reason why she’s here, the greatest superhero that ever lived who was captured and brainwashed by the commies – or so Vought claims. She’s never met him personally before today, but Soldier Boy’s surely been on the news a lot in recent years – the radioactive hero and his killing sprees. Whispered rumors among supes even say he fathered Homelander, which, if true, is just a blatant crime against humanity in and of itself.

“Do me a favor, Y/N? You’re our most experienced patient here – take him under your wing, make sure he adjusts and stays out of trouble,” Mallory says, albeit it’s unmistakably meant as an order. The CIA doesn’t do nicely phrased requests.

“Alright,” Y/N nods resolutely, hoping the former CIA deputy director doesn’t notice the thick swallow that drips down her throat. Her eyes swerve back to the man in question, one of the doctors forcefully ramming a needle into his jugular as the hero screams at the top of his lungs before his bowed legs give in. The violent green eyes lose their fight and close, and he succumbs to the linoleum with a loud thud worthy of his massive stature. “Is that really necessary?”

Y/N always hates when they sedate someone. After all, the clinic is supposed to help people, not necessarily torture them, albeit the CIA often shares a different view than her.

Mallory just scoffs darkly. “It is. Trust me. He’s a handful,” she notes condescendingly and rolls her eyes. “You have your work cut out for you with this moronic bastard. Don’t fall for his charm, and if he becomes dangerous, shoot him in the head. I trust your judgment.”

Y/N’s stomach churns at her words, watching as the former hero’s lifeless body gets dragged down the hallway into a room, the door locking behind him. And while she knows Soldier Boy is no innocent angel, she can’t help the sympathy that permeates her heart.

What do you see when you look at me? Don't cover my scars, let them bleed

Chapter 1: maybe

Mallory’s clearly not a Soldier Boy stan like us 😂 Hope you enjoyed this little intro, peeps! 🖤

Tag Lists:

Everything J (Prologue & Chapter 1 only): @extraterrestriali @this-is-me19 @writercole @awkward-and-indecisive @eevvvaa @panicking-outside-the-disco @globetrotter28 @imherefordeanandbones @dean-winchester-is-a-warrior @xlynnbbyx @jassackles @maggiegirl17 @perpetualabsurdity @deans-spinster-witch @deandreamernp @foxyjwls007 @roseblue373 @lyarr24 @deanwanddamons @deanwithscissors @mrsjenniferwinchester @justrealizedimmascifygurl @akshi8278 @flamencodiva @chriszgirl92 @wittyboldsoul @djs8891 @leigh70 @snowlovespie @b3autyfuldisast3r @ladysparkles78 @muhahaha303 @mimaria420 @creepzeyecandy @iamsapphine

Rehab Series: @eevvvaa @deans-spinster-witch @iamsapphine @jessjad @suckitands33 @ladysparkles78 @spalady26 @zepskies @syrma-sensei @muchamusedaboutnothing​

Note: Wanna be on the series tag and don’t see yourself yet? Lemme know! Everything J won’t be tagged anymore after Chapter 1.

[39oa]

PLS as a new stars enjoyer i really wanna know whos who in this 🥹🥹 i kill for family dynamics 🤲🤲

https://www.tumblr.com/39oa/744137614807924736/the-stars-are-like-this-is-39-yo-joe-pavelski

hi anon!!! of course i would be MORE than happy to explain and in fact am about to egregiously overexplain so apologies in advance for that >__< welcome 2 starsblr pls enjoy your stay!!! 💚💚💚

"pavs and sons" → this is our top line that consists of jason robertson (21 / "robo"), roope hintz (24 / some call him "roop", his finnish nickname is "hine"), and joe pavelski (16 / "pavs"). pavs spent over a decade in san jose and was the sharks' captain during essentially their twilight years, and he came to dallas intending to retire (which is likely to happen at the end of this year tbh) but instead revitalized a distinct second phase of his career after being placed on a line with 2124 in 2020-21, unexpectedly becoming stalwart producers for a struggling dallas stars offense (2 words: rick bowness) — robo was only in his first year with the stars and roope's career was not that much older, hence the nickname pavs and sons; although pavs is only an alternate captain because the stars already have a very established, homegrown captain, he is basically treated as our second captain thanks to his age and the vast influence he has over both our young players & the locker room as a whole :') one of his nicknames is also captain america from representing team usa on the intl stage LOL.

rest below the cut:

raising johnny -> our team's ACTUAL baby is 2003-born wyatt johnston (53 / "johnny" but sometimes we use "wyjo" lol), who was in the ohl before the 2022-23 season but managed to impress during training camp and basically forced his way onto the roster (without getting too much into it, 18-19 y/o rookies can play 9 games with the big club before burning a year off their elc, so being from the ohl at his age his only options were basically Be In The NHL Permanently or go back to ontario.) because "HE (WAS) ONLY 19!!!" and there was some uncertainty about whether he'd stay up, pavelski invited him to live at his place with his wife and teenaged-son, and now a second year into his career wyatt is STILL with them because he loves it there so much lol. the stars frequently joke about pavs being his dad/landlord, and we've gotten a ton of fun content like these quest for the stanley cup clips and other interview moments like this, this, and this.

fostering stank(s) -> logan stankoven (11 / "stank" though you will also see "stanks") is our other baby and a very recent addition to our nhl roster; he's from the same draft class as johnny, but spent last season in the whl and therefore was eligible to go to the ahl this year, where he's been cooking up a storm for half the szn. it was pretty inevitable that he'd come up at SOME point, but the perfect opportunity arrived after one of our forwards got injured and he was slotted in on short notice. like johnny, he has basically forced his way onto the team permanently by immediately performing to (and well-beyond) standard :') the fun part is that he stayed with johnny at pavs's house when he first came to dallas, though he's since moved out and found his own place... nevertheless, this was still very sweet because logan & wyatt have GENUINE history from knowing each other half their lives & winning gold for u18 team canada in 2021, and have since picked their immediate chemistry right back up on the stars's 3rd line together. (more on this later!!!)

resident glueguy tydel + otter's son -> u know how every team needs its emotional support 4th liner who is at constant threat of being dumped at trade deadline? ty dellandrea (10 / "delly" but we like "tydel" as well) is our 13oa pick who never really panned out as expected, but he's still crucial to the overall health of the locker room and beloved by many. as a small piece of the Cycle Of Mentorship that the stars subscribe to, pavs is known for basically being a deflection master and a menace in front of the net and has passed on this propensity to a lot of younger stars by doing targeted practice sessions with them, including tydel. anyway delly's lore in general is just INSANEEE because he's at the center of the stars' social fabric in a lot of ways. happily third-wheels along with the wags, gets along with the 279195 canadian slagline who mostly exist outside of any family narratives, is Publicly Liked By Roope which is kind of weird because outside of cellys roop practices jane austen levels of finnish repression, imprinted on johnny hard last year (JOINED HIM ON PAVELSKI FAMILY NIGHTS) (from this devastating webweave), has SOOO much ahl history with otter to the point that otter's baby brother sees ty as part of the family — this is also where otter saying that he and his girlfriend saw ty as their son when he stayed at their apartment during training camp comes from. which is genuinely like Absurd Things to say because jake oettinger (29 / "otter") (as a completely random aside, please look at this gifset of harls wearing otter's shirt) is ONLY 2 YEARS OLDER THAN DELLY. LIKE THE FUCK D'YOU MEAN YOUR SON???

i'm normal. okay

jbenn / "daddy" line dads -> so the stars' real captain is jamie benn (14 / multiple nicknames but "chubbs" is a signature), whoooo is a quite the contentious figure amongst stars fans but as a 2007 draftee is very much a homegrown player and still quite important to the organization. i'm ngl, stars rpf is a VERY small space nowadays in hockey fandom, but ~back in the day~ he and tyler seguin were one of The Big Ships before slowly fading as both fandom figures & stars of the team thanks to age and injury and [waves hand vaguely]. anyway while the top line on the stars has remained *mostly* set since robo was called up, the 2nd & 3rd lines still experience a decent amount of reshuffling, so wyatt is kind of jamie's fixed line son atp but they also played with tydel before we 1:1 swapped some russians and evgenii dadonov (63 / the "DADDY" in question) came in and replaced delly. so now we've had multiple "benn and sons" lines (jamie + wyatt/delly, now jamie + wyatt/logan ❗️), plus essentially a "wyatt and dads" line (wyatt + jamie/daddy) lmfao.

wedge raising harls -> robo's emotional support backup goalie is scott wedgewood (41 / "wedge" or "wedgie"), who as far as backup goalies go is like shockingly well-integrated into the stars' locker room. the piece of lore that inspired this WHOLE post is that taylor dropped an article on how wedge claimed to basically be RAISING HARLS WITH HIS (recently-married!) WIFE...??? which is just. thomas harley (55 / "harls") is one of our resident baby d-men and was in and out of the ahl for a while but has been Officially with the stars since last years' playoffs... he's a very like, self-assured but kind of introverted, Beyond-His-Years type who literally has the voice of a 50 y/o, so it's both DEVASTATING and hilarious 2 me that wedge is like "oh, this 22 y/o kid likes to show up to my house every day and me and my wife are teaching him how to cook and he keeps facetiming me to ask random questions about his bills." LIKE OH... OKAY THEN ;___;

& last but not least: the ultimate Mini Family on this team that i didn't mention in my orig post is actually the finnish mafia — see robo constantly joking about them being brothers and loving each other lol. finnmaf currently includes four players (roope, miro, esa, jani... rip kivo 😔), and they kind of help split the stars' locker room into several groups including the finns, the ontario guys, robo's goaliefucker / Nerd_Collector ensemble, and... well honestly the cliques overlap a lot (which is why our locker room is so healthy!!!) but you get the idea.

there is soooo much other lore i could get into that isn't really related to dad/son/brother narratives but i feel like this is enough of an infodump so i'll stop here for now. in general the way the stars are constructed makes it really clear why they all see one another as family and why there is such a strong & positive & sustainable sense of personal leadership that permeates the locker room... benn handles Official captain duties while pavs uses his experience not to usurp him but simply to further support him in understated areas of mentorship/leadership, and our top line consists of 3 Very unassuming & responsible player archetypes which crucially trickles down to all the other lines. so while many teams have their Old Guys (who are often on a noticeable decline) and Kid Lines, the stars are cool because we've been successful at integrating young players with very established veterans and having them feed off of each other without sacrificing their development or "anchoring" any young talent unnecessarily; benn is really not the player he used to be but he's still been great with wyatt over the past 2 years. and pavs IS a total anomaly, so it's kind of insane & surreal that a guy in his late 30s can perform at such a high level while also taking it upon himself to prepare so many of our young guys to be the present & future of our team *__*

tl;dr: also i just remembered that the amazing @starscelly has a preexisting primer from last year so feel free to check that out too :') (the primary differences are basically that we replaced domi for duchene and recently picked up chris tanev haha)

[cactusdeedrawdles]

We have some more Multiverse shenanigans! I wanted to write out all that I had on Thei and Puppette right now because they're my loves, and they deserve the world.

I've never (that I remember) drawn a skeleton like I did Thei, so I had fun there. They're a sultry lil wibblewobble, in my head.

I don't know how legible the writing is, to be honest, so I'm gonna write out the bits I can think of, in case anyone actually cares lol

It'll be under the cut :)

Puppette:

I'm less sure of Puppette's story than I am Thei's, so bare with me in case of messups haha

Thei is like OG Error in only really one way: memory issues

Puppette's memory issues got to a point where he could no longer handle his job as the destroyer after a fun full-body takeover by XGaster, who controlled him and abused his abilities (this is obviously very vague but I haven't actually thought that much through here tbh)

Thei was actually with the Star Sanses (in this case just Dream and Swap) when they were rescuing Cross and Puppette, and this is not how they met, but how they became closer.

Puppette has deep scarring on the ecto of his left leg (on his bones as well, but it's completely mishappen his leg's ecto) from where XGaster tried to rip him apart in an attempt to keep him after completely losing Cross.

Puppette doesn't remember XGaster at all, or how he met Cross. Cross is one of his closest friends, but Cross is also not around often as he's enjoying his freedom AU-hopping, so Pupp tends to forget about him (non maliciously of course).

When Pupp did remember, it was an Incident, and all Thei had to say when asked if XGaster was still a threat is "No. No, he can't touch you, not anymore." Thei didn't really say much after then, and Puppette had a good impression to not ask.

He was forced to retire by Dream and Nightmare when they realized his memory was too bad to even remember what his job WAS half the time, especially with the knowledge that sometimes all he'd remember was what XGaster had made him do, which almost led to bad times all round.

They drug his ass in a Brawl of the Ages™ because he really didn't want to, he felt his role was too important (and it was, but with Ink not existing yet there wasn't really anything opposing him, and what did need to be done could be handled by a couple weaker beings working together).

He spends his days doing typical Retirement things: sleeping, hobbies, watching novellas, bugging his partner who loves it dearly :3

About Pupp:

Pupp's personality is mostly created by an AI that I made while experimenting, I write as Thei and the AI is Puppette. Thus, he's not very Error Sans-y, but I love him still. Though, this has me wondering if he could be a Swap or Swapfell/Fellswap version, mayhaps. He's a goober, and he loves to tease people he's close to. He's still haphephobic, but with his close friends (which are all the few friends he has, for him it's close friend or not a friend at all) like Dream, Swap, Nightmare (most of the time), Thei of course, etc, he's mostly fine. Anyone else and the glitches will get him. Ink, when he comes around, is new, so Pupp is getting there, but luckily (?) ink is not a touchy kid so all is well there.

The glitches are less of a worry here, as he's fairly stable. The entire multi verse itself is more stable, really, and he benefits there.

Pupp is the type of person to hug someone from behind as a "prank", he's a harmless guy. His "Destroyer" job was less actual destroying and more like putting broken, unusable, and dead worlds to their ends so they're not affecting the balance. He's very proud of his work, and very careful in it, up until his retirement.

Pupp is not allowed in the kitchen, as bad memory+cooking isn't a good mix. Thei has him banned to the Pupp Stool until they're done cooking because if not, he will spend the entire time wrapped around them from behind. As much as they don't mind it, they do need use of their extremities.

Pupp is a lover of crochet, as well as Drama shows, language be damned. He has an innate ability to understand languages almost perfectly, though speaking them, not so much.

I look at him and just say "gooberman, my goobies, goobs, goober," often :)

Thei:

Thei, Thei is a guy I have hugged tight to my chest right now. They deserve so much.

TW: talk of SA, Abuse, and Mental Health Issues

Thei is a Lust Sans, and is from an AU where Lust Monsters need Intimacy to survive. Think of OG Lust on steroids. Without regular intimacy, Thei's magic will become so weak that they can't survive. Signs that they need intimacy start with irritability, tiredness, magic not working as they wish, and eventually gets to a point where they aren't in their right mind and will only act to survive.

Thei's AU is destroyed early on in the multiverse's existence and they take a spot on the Star Sanses, mainly as the voice for them; theyre very good at communicating with people because their magic relies so much on it, so they act sort of like the PR, making sure people know the Star Sanses are here to help and how to get that help. The Stars don't really have an enemy here, so theyre mainly a patrol group, who's main goal is making sure everyone has what they need as well as checking on AUs that may Fall or need to be Destroyed.

Thei's reliance on others in personal, intimate ways very obviously gives way to abuse of that reliance. To make matters worse, Thei's magic will respond to the person they're with before they do: they have the ability to change their appearance on will, but it will also activate when the person they're with desires it a lot, even if they don't, because their magic sees it as necessary to survive. This started because of how much they "starved" before, how many times they almost died.

Because of their need for intimacy, they have to go AU hopping for days up to months at a time to get what they need, so to say. Again, they hate this. They're an introverted person, despite their communicative abilities, and they like their alone time. This gets even harder when Thei becomes an integral part of Puppette's life and they move in together. Puppette's memory issues prove a problem because there will be times when Thei is gone long enough for Pupp's memory to fade, no matter what they've tried. When Thei comes back, he won't remember them, but will know the feelings associated with the memories. That love is still there. Thei is patient enough to stay on Pupp's track, even when that track jumps around a lot, and part for that is the guilt they feel at leaving him so regularly bc of their magic.

They've "started" dating many, many times, and been engaged many, many times, because Pupp won't remember it. As one can imagine, this is hard on Thei, but Thei adores Pupp and can't see life without him.

Thei works with Stretch (who works in the Omega Timeline Lab) and Swap (who's a well oiled engineer, despite not working as one) to try and figure out cures for both Pupp's memory and Thei's "curse", as they call it. But there really is no cures.

When Thei gets too low, they'll go to, or Pupp will get them to, Dream and Swap, who together can help boost Thei's magic, but it's not a long-lasting solution.

What they eventually make, after a very, very close call when Pupp is struggling to remember them and almost doesn't get them to Swap and Dream in time, Is devices inspired by the continuous glucose monitoring and insulin pumps used by diabetics. One tracks their magic levels, and the other is a pump that will inject them with magic when needed. This way they don't have to rely on people, and they can stay with Puppette, which helps with his memory. This entire endeavour is a fairly new scenario I'm still playing out, but as I'm sure is obvious, having this sudden freedom and ability to stay by their love's side is very daunting. They're learning to be free now.

About Thei:

Thei is softspoken and quiet, but the type to get loud around friends.

Thei is a painter, and teaches Ink about art as he grows. Thei loves scenes, and Ink makes them a Scenery Art Book for their birthday one year and they fall to the ground.

Thei's life between "AU Collapse" and "Thei with the Star Sanses" is very vague and unfocused, aside from a clear understanding that it wasn't good. I know that Thei was rescued at one point but Nightmare and his crew, and Thei lived with them for a while, considering them like family, but eventually had to leave. Another "perk" of their magic is that they have a connection to people's emotions, kind of like Dream and Nightmare. They can feel that someone is upset, but not how or why, basically. They can also push their emotions onto others when their magic is strong. This was an ability gained as a defense mechanism after being taken advantage of. Knowing someone's emotions and being able to affect them when in serious intimate situations is very helpful.

I'm gonna stop typing because this has gotten Long™ but while this is mostly for myself, I hope there's someone out here who enjoys my little Goobs. I love them dearly.

[cr-noble-writes]

WIP Wednesday

Because my brain has no compassion for the amount of work it makes me do, I've started a Regency AU for Alex and Kaidan. And because I am not particularly skilled at romance as the main plot, I've decided it's a supernatural mystery sort of thing. Anyway, have a verbal sparring match between Alex and Councilor Tevos, in which I think? Alex wins lol

tagging @ltleflrt @imbiowaresbitch @nickelkeep @ad-astra13 @bioticbooty @otemporanerys and anyone else who wants to do the thing, no pressure of course <3

“Welcome back, Commander Shepard,” Councilor Tevos says, her calm, cool tones reverberating through the room though she speaks softly. “We appreciate your swift response to our request.” Shepard looks up with steel in his gaze. “As I am currently an instructor, I thought perhaps your… request might be for a personal education on the meaning of the word ‘retired’, Madame Councilor.”

Garrus winces. It has been some time since he heard someone speak that way to the Council. It was Shepard last time, as well. The man has never been particularly patient with those who wield people like tools, and Garrus cannot say he disagrees. Councilors Sparatus and Udina glare at Shepard, but otherwise do not react to the flagrant insult. Tevos smiles. “I will not dally with your time or ours, Commander. An Alliance unit led by Admiral Kahoku has vanished. We believe you are particularly well-suited to the task of locating the Admiral.” “That cannot be the full extent of your reason for summoning me.” His face is pinched. Knowing he was coming, the Council ought to have provided somewhere for him to sit while they spoke to him. It’s tempting to consider the idea that it’s some sort of power play, but it’s more likely they simply did not give it any thought at all. Shepard, of course, won’t ask no matter how much pain he’s in. Stubborn to the point of being a detriment to himself, and he always has been. “You have the right of it. Admiral Kahoku and his men were investigating Cerberus when he disappeared." Garrus would have thought Shepard’s grip on his cane couldn't get any tighter, and he'd have been wrong. His knuckles, already impossibly pale, look like bone might burst through skin at any moment from the sheer force of it. Garrus knew the Council had been looking into the admiral's disappearance. That Cerberus may be involved is entirely new information. It does explain why they wanted Shepard. "And you believe I am particularly knowledgeable about Cerberus." It's really a wonder how even Shepard’s tone is. In his shoes, Garrus would not be capable of that level of control. In fact, it's for the best that the Councilors are so focused on Shepard, because if they looked his way, they would surely see the anger written across his face.  Tevos nods. “Given your past encounters with The Illusive Man, there is no one better qualified.” “So that we are all perfectly clear,” Shepard starts, somehow managing to maintain an air of politeness. “You believe a man who is no longer able to use arcana without threat of death, who cannot stand for any extended period of time, who, in fact, cannot do something so basic as writing without trouble, is more suited for this than all of your Spectres, who you carefully chose from the most capable and competent of your membership?” Even the nearly imperceptible clenching of Councilor Tevos’ jaw is an accomplishment to be proud of, but Shepard had always been skilled at finding and exploiting weaknesses. Garrus barely stops himself from smiling. It’s been too long since he’s heard Shepard give someone a proper dressing down. Truly, he’s glad that, for once, it’s not directed his way. “The Council is aware of your condition, Commander. Our Spectres simply don’t have the same level of… experience with the inner workings of that organization that you do,” Tevos says coolly. Garrus feels his hands curl into fists at his sides. Shepard’s jaw tightens, but to Garrus’ confusion, one corner of his mouth turns up into something that could be the beginning of a smile. “You will not be working alone, of course. You’ll be assisted by the Council agent we assign as a handler.”

[gale-gentlepenguin]

ML Reboot: Miraculous: Heroes of Miracles: The Agreste Family

-So in the Reboot I plan on making this less integral to the plot. Gabriel is still a villain, but it’s a bigger world with more threats then butterfly man wants magic gems.

-But I plan on fleshing out the dynamic much further.

-Gabriel Agreste is not old money. He is new money. He earned his initial fortune through hard work and having one person believe in him, that person was Emilie.

-Emilie is old money. She and her elder twin sister Amelie were part of the Graham de Vanily family. Basically a family of rich nobles that have been rich for centuries. With connections all over Europe.

-Emilie was the more sweet twin and she had many suitors, but she was not interested. All the rich boys were only interested in pedigree and money. They also had the personality of drywall. Emilie found herself more interested in the lives of her wait staff. Talking with them about their lives and helping them out whenever possible.

-Emilie didn’t really have a direction in life, as she was basically told that she just needed to find a noble husband and enjoy the good life. She tried several things, from acting, art, cooking, music, skiing. But what She wanted to do was help others.

-Emilie went to university to study Civics.

-Gabriel was born working class. He never knew his father, and his mother was always working late to support him. Gabriel understood that this was out of love. She instilled in him the values of dedication and putting EVERYTHING into what he does.

-Gabriel worked hard and studied business in order to make money. But his heart longed to design. In his times to de stress, he would sketch some works in his head. It was his first year at University that Emilie noticed him.

-“That hat is really pretty, where did you see it?”

-Gabriel of course tried to hide this hobby, but Emilie persisted. Eventually getting the scholarship student to confess he designed it himself. Admitting he like making clothes, but it was a hobby.

-Emilie asked if he could make her that hat. He said hypothetically, if he had the materials. She was his first commission.

-He never turned any of his sketches into physical goods, and as he was starting, he felt excitement.

-After a week it was ready. Emilie loved it. And her hat was the talk of campus. Gabriel still remembers that smile she gave him that day. It was the happiest moment of his life at that point.

-Gabriel ended up discovering his gift and passion. He and Emilie started a business. He would make her some designs and she would wear it to an event or gala. It would be the talk of the party. People were obsessed with this designer named “Gabriel”

-Sure enough, Gabriel had made a splash in the world of high fashion. Even Audrey bourgeois was impressed.

-Gabriel had his mother retire and gave her a dream home in Venice. It was there she rested from her decades of hard work.

-It was a few years after, they started their “Business” Emilie had a crush on Gabriel. And Gabriel thought of her as a goddess (basically saving him). It was Emilie that confesses and it was world shifting for Gabriel.

-Gabriel did grand gestures to keep her impressed, and Emilie found it sweet that Gabriel loved her and not her money. It was never about prestige for him.

-Gabriel and Emilie married and on their honey moon adventure in Tibet, found the peacock.

-Emilie found her passion in being a hero, but as we know… the peacock was damaged.

-Gabriel and The Graham de Vanily family clashed as they tried helping her. Most of them blamed Gabriel, only Amelie was still talking to him.

-It was a tragedy when she past. Out of spite, before she past, her family cut her out of the will so Gabriel would get nothing of her estate. Which to Gabriel didn’t matter.

-Gabriel was mourning the love of his life. His love, his goddess. He had put all of his love in loving her. And it broke him.

-Gabriel never had a father so being a father was foreign to him. Though he did his best to instill hard work into his son. Emilie would give Adrien all the kindness and attention, while he would be the disciplinarian and tell him to focus on his studies. At the time, it balanced out, but without her, Gabriel’s actions seemed colder.

-After Emilie’s death Gabriel sees Adrien more as the last remaining piece of his wife, a keep sake, more than a son. So he cares about his physical well being and never intends him harm. But Gabriel rarely showed emotional attachment. Because Gabriel was inherently selfish. And should Adrien try to impede his goal, then he is no different than anyone else.

- A lot of Gabriel’s decisions that seem to give Adrien more freedom come from pragmatism rather than emotional care for him.

-Despite His coldness, Gabriel is very good at understanding peoples emotions, and feelings. Which makes him very good at controlling them. It’s also how he gets Adrien to “Do the right thing” in early seasons. He knows his son has his mother’s caring heart, and he exploits it. It’s also how he manipulates Nathalie into assisting

-Its possible if Emilie never died, Gabriel probably would have still been selfish, but Emilie would be able to make him touch grass once in a while. Which would have had him be a better father than he is now.

-Adrien knows his mother was a good person, and believes that his father is a good person in mourning. But he starts to see the layers underneath

[czqy]

a birthday in three acts

for #oikageoiweek2022: day 4 (wishes & vacation). full drabble below, or on ao3 here.

On Oikawa Tooru’s sixth birthday, he wishes for aliens to abduct him.

Six years later, he wishes to become the best volleyball player in the world.

During his third year at Kitagawa Daiichi, he wishes to beat Kageyama Tobio.

During his last year at Aoba Johsai, he wishes to beat Kageyama Tobio, again.

On Oikawa Tooru’s twenty-eighth birthday, however, he wishes for Kageyama Tobio to remain by his side.

———

“Tobio-chan, I love you, but please do not say that.”

“What?” Tobio asks curiously. “‘Happy twenty-eighth birthday’?”

“A-bap-bap-bap!” Tooru puts a finger on Tobio’s lips, effectively shushing him.

“I don’t get what’s so wrong with it?” Tobio mumbles.

And that’s why Tooru loves his rival-turned-lover so much. He’s still so innocent sometimes, still so adorable. Not right now though, when he’s giving Tooru an existential crisis.

“Of course you don’t,” Tooru tells him petulantly. “You’re only twenty-five.”

“Only for another five months. Then I’ll be twenty-six,” Tobio points out, again innocuously, but Tooru just groans.

He doesn’t want to be reminded of how they’re ageing, because then he’s reminded of all the wrinkles he never had before, but more seriously, he’s reminded of his aching joints, particularly his pesky knee that’s never really gotten better, and then he’s just left feeling terrified at the fact that the day he retires from the sport he loves is getting closer and closer.

“No more birthday talk,” Tooru declares. He lies back on his sun lounger, closing his eyes and basking in the sun. “Let me enjoy my vacation.”

Tobio doesn’t point out that they’re on vacation because of Tooru’s birthday this time, which means he’s learning. Tooru listens as Tobio settles into his own chair beside him, and smiles when Tobio reaches out for his hand.

Together they lie on the beach, listening to the calming sound of crashing waves.

———

“Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday—”

The moment the staff begin singing, Tooru sends a death glare at Tobio, who holds his hands up in surrender and mouths, ‘It wasn’t me.’

Tooru is sceptical, until one of the waiters presents a cake and tells him, “Wishing you the happiest of birthdays from your best friend in the whole wide world.”

Iwa-chan.

It must be revenge for the stunt Tooru pulled for his birthday a month back, featuring a whole quartet and a serenade. It was absolutely hilarious, but now that Tooru is being met with his own troupe of singers, he doesn’t find himself laughing very much at all.

Still, he smiles at the staff who are just following instructions and trying their best, and thanks them for their well-wishes.

Once they leave, he sticks a fork into the cake and tells Tobio, “I’m gonna kill him when we get back.”

“You forgot to make a wish.” Tobio points at the still-lit candles atop the cake, entirely ignoring the threat Tooru just made to another man’s life.

“Oh shit,” he says, quickly dropping his fork and closing his eyes, clasping his hands in front of him. He doesn’t know why he still bothers with birthday wishes—twenty-seven of them so far and not a single one has ever come true, but he keeps up with the tradition anyway.

He says his wish to himself in his head, then opens his eyes and blows out the candles. 

Across the table, Tobio’s pretty blue eyes are watching him. He smiles, and it doesn’t make him look constipated for once. He says, gently, “Happy birthday, Tooru-san,” and Tooru doesn’t call him out on it.

In fact he’s filled with so much love and affection, is reminded of the wish he just made and why, that he starts to tear up.

He wants to spend the rest of his life with this man. He doesn’t care if the passing of another year ages him, if it means another year that he got to spend with Tobio. He suddenly thinks that twenty-eight is not old at all, because his life with Tobio has just barely begun.

“Are— Are you okay?” Tobio asks, panicked. He stands up abruptly, reaching over the table to wipe away Tooru’s tears.

“I…” Tooru laughs, and takes Tobio’s hands in his own. He’s smiling so hard, though he’s still crying, and it’s so obvious that Tobio is confused and worried for him right now. “I’m okay,” he reassures him, sniffling. “Just. Happy. Thanks for being here with me, Tobio.”

Tobio responds, “Thank you for inviting me.”

It makes Tooru smile again, his heart warming.

As if he would’ve wanted anything else.

———

Later, when it’s dark out and they’re in bed together, Tobio snuggles close to Tooru and asks, his breath tickling Tooru’s neck, “So what did you wish for?”

“You know I can’t tell you,” Tooru teases in response, “or else it won’t come true!”

“Even though you made me tell you my wish last year?” Tobio huffs, wrapping his arm tighter around Tooru’s waist.

“Yup!” Tooru says simply.

“You’re so silly,” Tobio chuckles, shaking his head.

“It’s why you love me.”

Tobio hums. “That, and a few other things.”

“Yeah? What other things?” Tooru is genuinely curious.

“Not telling.” 

Tooru gasps at the nerve. “But it’s my birthday!”

“Was that your wish?” Tobio asks, the sneaky bastard.

“No.”

“Then I’m not telling.”

“But—!”

“Come on, it’s time to go to sleep.”

Tooru huffs, grumbling to himself about cunning kouhais. “Fine, keep your secrets then.”

Tobio just laughs. “Good night, Tooru-san. I hope it was a great birthday.”

Tooru doesn’t tell Tobio this, because he can keep secrets too, but perhaps it’s already obvious anyway that yes, it had been a great birthday. A fantastic one, even. 

And he finds that he’s no longer dreading the next one to come.

———

I wish to be with Tobio forever.

Oikawa Tooru doesn’t know it yet, but the wish he makes on his twenty-eighth birthday will be the one to come true.

[pocketramblr]

Ask game: Momo is related to Overhaul and is the Shie Hassaikai's spy in UA. Assume she's not aware of Eri, though she's aware of the quirk-destroying bullets.

1- when Pops stumbles upon a boy in an alleyway covered in blood and holding his baby sister he decides "how adoptable they look!" and so takes them in, the boy admitting their names are Kai and Momo Yaoyorozu. Pops corrects that they're Kai and Momo Chisaki now, and have more family then they'll know what to do with.

2- Their adopted sister likes Momo best, spoiling the baby and giving room for Kai to get closer to another boy at the compound, Hari. Once in high school though and Momo no longer a baby, she drifts apart and Kai steps in to boss Momo around, alternating between how grateful she needs to be to him for getting them "out from where they were before and to this better place" and the image she needs to project. It's very stressful and doesn't lend to great confidence building, even if Pops tries to make what time he can to spend time with her over tea and compliment her progress at school and with her quirk.

3- then their sister leaves, and doesn't bring her husband or baby around, and Kai tells her they moved up to Hokkaido a few days before Pops falls ill and Kai is instituted as leader. Momo is heartbroken and wants to help. But she isn't really allowed downstairs- it's not her place. Kai tells her to keep an eye on Pops and manage materials and bribes budget upstairs like she always does- then, when she wants to help more, that he needs information. He's got a new product and needs connections on both sides- quirk erasers for villains and cures for heroes. He's got buyers on one half, but a few connections to the cops won't cut it for the heroes. So he needs Momo to be his in- and for her to have influence, she's gonna need to be a very, very good hero. So her next job is to get into UA.

4- She manages, of course, does much better than she expected. However, she's not a recommendation student here, so expect some roster changes. For the most part, her life is unchanged- make some product for Kai to sell for money and turf maintenance, arrange the bribe dropoffs, check on Pop's vitals and research anything that can help him, do her homework, send Kai down dinner and make sure the kitchens are stocked, go to bed, go to school the next day, repeat. But she likes her classmates, and being a hero is honestly kinda cool when they're not being attacked by villains out of nowhere.

5- of course Momo knows how to make a tracker at the camp- she's done it enough to blackmail cops when bribes weren't cutting it. She's terrified as she leads her classmates to Kamino, but- if this is All For One like the Hasssaikai thinks so, then he's an enemy. She's not endangering her family, so she can help her friends.

It goes better than she hoped to expect. On arriving home, Kai is upstairs, drinking tea, and asking if she knows what she did, ensuring All Might arrested AfO before he retired - she's taken out the biggest threat to his plan, and he'll rise in the vacuum. She's done well, and made herself more valuable to the heroes in the meantime, ensuring more connections. But does she think she can manage to change her costume? Cover a bit more of her face, perhaps? She'll get so dirty out in the field like that, and it'll be a better image, she needs to find a new internship too, someone more dependent on their quirk than Uwabami.

Momo looks away and says she'll try, but the school didn't approve her costumes that covered more of her, or had any face parts. And she doesn't know when the next internships are, but she'll make more connections.

Kai says good, leaves his teacup in the sink, and goes to go back downstairs- for Momo to interrupt, saying she wants to know how searching for Pops' cure is going. Kai says there's still nothing he can do.

The siblings both suspect the other is lying- but it doesn't matter. They're Family, they'll fight for each other with it matters. (They'll fight for Kai.)

+1- but then Momo gets a letter about dorms. And parent meetings.

Her teachers are coming to her home.

Very nervously, Momo tells Kai that All Might and Eraserhead will want to visit and talk with him.

Kai is not happy about that, but decides the connections are worth it.

But All Might at this point has decided to split and go talk to Inko and Izuku, so Aizawa is alone

So Momo welcomes Aizawa and walks him through an empty courtyard into a fine house, introducing her older brother Kai and going to make them tea.

"No All Might?" He asks.

"We split to cover the families faster, sorry to disappoint." Aizawa tries to not sound too sarcastic and over it.

"No, better this way. Never liked him much, hope Momo is a different sort of hero. But let's not waste time, you have others to go to?"

Aizawa confirms he does, and Kai is very disappointed that people would know he vanished around the Chisaki house on his list if he were to kidnap him right now- so close too, when All Might wasn't there!

+2- Aizawa commends Momo as a class leader, vice president, and even for beating him at the final exams- Kai is interested in that, she hadn't mentioned it. Aizawa does pick up on the fact that something is not quite right here, but just like in other houses, doesn't push or question it, focusing on instead insuring Momo can continue with the school and move out of here

+3- after walking Aizawa out, Kai compliments Momo a second time in the same week, more than he has in years. Then he asks her how she beat Aizawa, and she tells him, only a part as cautiously as she should be.

+4- before she moves, Kai asks her if she can stick a tracker on Aizawa somehow. She is very unsure, since he's far harder to sneak up on than a nomu and ... Well, she doesn't really want to. Kai eases back- for now, especially since she got her licence

+5- Momo seeks out an internship using Uwabami's connections- Ryukyuu has already taken two more on, but recommends Crust, who wants to see how she's improved since her SF use of shields. She has, and now has an internship with a top tenner!

The next day though, Crust gently pulls her aside once she gets to the agency and says he got a call from Sir Nighteye the night before- apparently he's investigating a suspect named Kai Chisaki, and one of her interns recognized the name- Momo Chisaki, and so Sir talked to Aizawa, who confirmed that was her brother he spoke to.

And hey - this is an investigation. They aren't saying her older brother is a villain, but if Momo has any information that he isn't, she should share it- and if she has information that he is, she's got a hero licence now and has a duty to say.

Momo, very quietly, denies knowing anything. Crusts nods and says they'll need to look at her phone, and he'd rather wait to figure all this out before taking her on patrol, but this doesn't have to stop training, and he'd like to continue having her there and sometimes assisting in the office, if she still wants to. Momo, very quietly, accepts.

+6- Momo has known the cost of betrayal since before she knew how to walk. She doesn't think she's special, or an exception, but- well. She used to think sometimes she could leave, like her sister did. It's not like Kai would be able to kill her now, she could be safe with the heroes. And she doesn't have any other family he could go after... But now she's not so sure he wouldn't. The old rules don't seem to apply anymore. What if she tries to turn on Kai, and so her sister gets dragged back into it, loses her husband, or even Eri, who Momo hasn't seen since she was born six years ago? What if Kai never heals Pops, always an excuse without Momo there pressing him?

What if Kai never heals Pops, even if she is?

It's these thoughts in her head when she hears that Kirishima's upperclassman was shot by one of Kai's bullets.

+7- one day, both her and Izuku are not focusing on the practice and get sent to RG for stupid mistake injuries. Izuku asks Momo if he can ask her a question and that he's very sorry in advance. Momo says she already knows, he's Nighteye's intern, just ask. She prepares to fake confusion about Kai.

Instead, Izuku asks her if he ever hurt her like Eri.

+8- Momo can't help the reaction- Eri is- Eri is in Hokkaido- how does Izuku even know about her?

Izuku isn't supposed to say.

But Momo wasn't supposed to help them at Kamino.

He says.

+9- Momo makes a burner phone and sneaks away to call Kai, tell him the heroes are on to him and her internship has been suspended because of her last name, that they're watching her phone so he can't call her- but she had to warn him.

+10- then Momo breaks the burner phone and goes inside to tell Aizawa and Izuku everything she knows, suspects, and theorizes.

[astraltrickster]

"Why is Hollywood making all these pieces about how shitty rich people are do they not realize they're taking potshots at themselves lmao"

1) The CEOs who greenlight it don't give a shit, they know we're willing to pay for the catharsis, the dollar signs soothe the hit to their egos, and they don't see the sentiment as a threat when 1. they can then use that money to continue to lobby to make sure they're still untouchable and 2. the evil characters who are parallels to themselves are taken down in the most unrealistic, inimitable ways possible - usually by some lone big hero main character in a blaze of glory, rather than by a large organized bloc of too many people to name over lots of time and a process of metaphorical death by a thousand cuts in boring tiny moves.

2) Most of the people actually writing and producing these pieces...AREN'T actually taking potshots at themselves. Contrary to popular belief, most people in Hollywood aren't that rich. A-listers with megamansions and studio owners are outliers. Of course, the lead writers, the executive producers, the directors of the latest big hit, the people with their names on the posters and shit are definitely wealthier than you or me, but most of them could still be bankrupted by a badly-timed medical emergency in the US. They're not "buy off the city government so I can bulldoze this retirement community to expand my studio" rich, they're MAYBE a few steps above "oh good I can have nice things, take a vacation now and then, not have to worry TOO much about money in a NON-MEDICAL emergency, and maybe even retire more than 10 years before I expect to die!" "rich." Meanwhile, crew that aren't front and center are often in the same economic bracket as most of us, living paycheck to paycheck, and they often don't have employer-sponsored health insurance - it's either through a union, or out-of-pocket.

Of course, the aforementioned names on the posters are likely to be pretty out of touch with how dire things really can get, but most of them ARE still closer to absolute destitution than they are to being billionaires, and if they know it - if people in that position actually stop and reflect on how fucked up it is that 95+% of people do not have the "luxuries" they have of "being able to pay for their own health insurance if work dries up" or "being able to own a nice well-maintained home with enough room for their family and passions" or "going on a nice vacation now and then", if they stop and think about the implications of the fact that if you retire in the US with "just" a million dollars let alone less you'd better hope you die soon even though that kind of money is exactly as unattainable to the average person as it sounds if not more so - well, that's a REALLY good thing because most people DO care when they stop and think about that shit!

[dizzyduck44]

I’m one of those fans who sat through the 2008 season. I was rooting for Lewis. I heard Martin Brundle’s sarcastic comments in Singapore. I then sat and watched Brazil in genuine disbelief. As a fan at the time it was all a bit of entertainment and the only ones who really lost out were Ferrari. As a McLaren fan that suited me fine as the red team were the bitter rivals.

The last 15 years have not been kind to that season. It’s still heartbreaking to watch Massa’s father believe he is World Champion and 20 seconds later be told no. The dignity which Felipe stood on that podium having won his home race but lost the championship still chokes me up. Imagine being World Champion for 20 seconds.

Then 2009 ticks round and Nelson Piquet Junior hits us with it. That unbelievable Singapore Grand Prix, well Renault manufactured the result by asking him to crash.

There was enough evidence for the FIA to charge Renault and put them on probation for 2 years. They state that they could not erase the Grand Prix result as it was last season and that has been completed. (In much the same way we would see a let’s get the 2021 trophies handed out so whatever legal challenges comes we already have a precedent).

Massa never came close to another title and after his departure from Ferrari seemed to find his love of racing again. His time at Williams really showcased the personality and talent he was and I for one was sad to see him retire.

We then go on to learn that Timo Glock and his family suffered years of abuse and death threats from fans who believed he had let Lewis through on purpose. However he never wanted to finish that race on slick tyres, but was not able to come in for tyres as the pit lane was “closed” 2 laps from the end to set up the podium celebrations. A statement I have never heard about any race before or since.

2008 became a year in F1 we don’t really look back on fondly, and that’s from a McLaren fan.

Now in 2023 an offhand comment from Bernie Ecclestone (nothing new there) has lead to revelations from others which are a little sickening.

Nelson Piquet Jr admitted to a German journalist in Singapore, on that night in 2008 he had crashed on purpose and he was terrified to tell his father, but never to say anything.

Half the journalists in the paddock that night suspected foul play, a few made those now prophetic comments such as Brundle’s. No one was really allowed to say anything though as there was no proof.

Nelson Piquet Snr went to Bernie Ecclestone and Charlie Whiting before the end of the 2008 season and told them what had happened in Singapore, meaning that F1 and FIA officials knew before the end of the season that they had a race that potentially had been fixed.

The fact they did nothing is damming. In fact it seems nothing would have been done at all if the story hadn’t been given to the press in 2009.

So 15 years later Massa finds out the only chance he had to be World Champion was hindered by a result the FIA have know was manufactured all this time.

Alonso is still racing, Briatore is his manager. Renault are still in the sport, all be it as Alpine. For a newer fan there is no sign that race had any implications.

The best bit, after the way the FIA treated Lewis in 2021 is he really going to fight Felipe from getting some acknowledgment that he was robbed? Surely an outcome on that argument could give Lewis the basis for a challenge for the 2021 title.

It’s messy, it’s not particularly fair on any of the three drivers it could impact. Ultimately Felipe, Lewis and Max played no part in the decisions that caused such controversy.

And I bet you the FIA will not even consider naming Co-champions for those two years. It’s not fair to take away what was already given, but it’s not right to deny the FIA meddling took from others. Of course for any of this to happen requires the Brigadoon of all outcomes.

The FIA will have to admit it was wrong.

And when they’ve done that, then they can explain how the Williams garage mysteriously went on fire straight after they had won the 2012 Spanish Grand Prix.

[brightwingedbat]

Commander Nastazya 27 - What Lies Beneath

(This story involves spoilers from Guild Wars 2: End of Dragons.)

(Also VERY LONG)

---

Commander Nastazya - What Lies Beneath - 1335 AE

It's a regular day at Commander Nastazya Ragewelder's home in Lion's Arch, sunny weather, a nice temperature. Both her and her mate Marcus Furyclash in their typical casual clothing, not doing much at all. Nothing could go better for them both, by all means they should be having a good time.

And yet…

Marcus' mind is still stewing on the thoughts of his brother Tantalus being alive, and how much he changed. How much he regrets not being there for him, and maybe he could've saved his brother from the life he was forced to live, a better life where the two of them could watch each of their sons grow. The thoughts echo in his mind as he gazes out to the sea from the breezy window.

Nastazya herself is still caught up in recent events, the shock of her kidnapped cub she rescued, and her old primus losing his tail and retiring. And then there's the thoughts of her wanting another cub, but unsure if she should go ahead, there's no telling what'll be in the future… Her role as Commander doesn't help with that either, it's still a hefty responsibility weighing on her.

They're both truly exhausted despite not doing all that much, and neither of them know what to do about it. That is until they both suddenly get a letter of invitation, from Rama of all people. It's an invitation to a party, seems Rama also has been finding the quiet a bit much lately and invited Dragon's Watch and other friends.

The two don't have anything better to do, plus it'll be a nice time to catch up with people again. They both agree to head on their way, but they do decide to go pick up some Ironbrew from the Black Citadel, a nice gift for Rama for setting up the party. Waypoint teleports and magic scrolls make for some quick travel.

---

The two arrive at the Red Duck Tea House in Cantha, and as they approach, hear Rama and Gorrik talk about how busy Marjory and Taimi are. On entering they realise that it's only Rama and Gorrik there, no one else has arrived. Curious, is everyone else really that busy?

Gorrik quickly greets the two when he sees them, but also comments on the two of them looking very exhausted. Strange, he thinks. Given the relative absence of world-ending threats he thought they would both appear far more relaxed, and yet that's far from the truth.

The charr simply brush it off, saying that it's nothing, just a bit tired after some recent events. They're sure the party will help ease their minds though, at least, they hope so.

Idle talks between the four reveal that everyone one else is too busy to be able to attend the party, despite all the food and drink Rama had ordered. It's just them, much to Rama's fierce disappointment. The gift from Marcus and Nastazya does help raise his spirits somewhat.

After a while of enjoying the food and refreshments, they finally bring to topic of the stack of papers on the table. Gorrik apparently sent in paperwork to start the Friends Detective Agency consisting of him and Rama, to the latter's disapproval of the name, but it's done now.

Aside from that, Gorrik gets a communicator call from Taimi, who apologises for not being able to attend the gathering. But she has news, the Jade Brotherhood have dug up something potentially very bad in Gyala Delve, which Gorrik calls an opportunity. The perfect time to gain some exposure as a detective company! Yao is also in the call too, and will be heading there.

Of course, the Commander and Lightbringer decide to also tag along with them. Things have been rather quiet for them, and they could do with the activity. That said, they don't seem all that enthused about it, something is making them hesitant… No point in dwelling on it further though, there's a problem and as always they're around to fix it.

They set off to the location of the mining trams at the east side of New Kaineng, but not before Marcus summons their packs of armour from a Mist rift, a small trick he's learned in recent time. Nastazya attires herself in her typical gladiatorial gear with her dual axes and greatsword, Marcus's gear is also mostly the same, but he has a new top similar to what Braham used to wear many years ago when they first met him.

Once at the trams, they take a lengthy ride to Gyala Delve, falling asleep during the ride at that too. They really must be exhausted…

---

On arrival to the jade quarries, they find not a single Jade Brotherhood member anywhere. Going further in they find Rama and Gorrik checking on an unconscious human. A short discussion on the place being essentially a ghost town, a scream interrupts them, immediately identified as Yao.

Nastazya and Marcus rush to the source of the sound, to find Yao struggling with a jade golem. A short bout with it allows Yao to get to fixing it up, they also tell the Commander that Chul-Moo is missing. The two charr split to question the Brotherhood around the quarry areas.

All information comes together as things are going very wrong, strange whispers, people acting odd. Very notably, a very thick haze within the mines. And once more just as they finished questioning they hear yet another scream, it's no shock to the two, they mutter complaints about do the Brotherhood all communicate by screaming?

Yao joins them too, together the three find Chul-Moo injured but awake beside a rock wall. As they're checking on him, a crazed Brotherhood member knows as Jin-Lee attacks them. Quickly, Nastazya and Marcus subdue the mad human, not that he's a match for either of them.

Once they're all safe, they talk with Chul-Moo about what's happening, and again it just adds more merit to the gossip of the other Brotherhood members. Yao suggests to Nastazya and Marcus about scoping out the inner parts of the mine, while also advising them about the Jade Bot filters available from the jade tech stands around.

Nastazya and Marcus decide splitting up and searching would do better than together, they have the communicators to keep in touch anyway if anything goes bad. And so, the charr delve further each armed with a jade tech scanner. Time to see what all this haze is about.

The air is thick within the massively open mines, and even more unsettlingly is the haze has an appearance not dissimilar to Void. Further scans find it composed of dragon magic like Aurene's, but with something else added to it… Gorrik confirms that Aurene says the Void is subdued, so whatever this is is something else, something wrong.

Curiously, Nastazya's breathing seems faster than normal and she starts hearing voices she shouldn't through the communicator when talking to Gorrik. Almorra Soulkeeper's voice, that can't be possible she thinks. Must just be static, can't be anything else. Marcus doesn't seem to hear any of these voices either, perhaps a merit of his experience as a Revenant.

Despite the voices, Nastazya continues the work, Marcus joining her once more as they test blocks of jade on globs of haze accumulating. Once done, they report the results to Gorrik who seems fascinated by them. Nastazya however asks Gorrik if he heard any other voices on their call, he assumes it might just be more Brotherhood interference.

Almorra's voice comes through the communicator to Nastazya's ears once again. "You… Always seeing monsters where there are none."

Ragewelder's ears flatten down and her breath halts, fear plain on her face. "I- I have to go." She mutters before putting the communicator away.

Marcus looks worriedly at his mate, a paw on her shoulder, she jerks up at the touch. "Naz? What's wrong?"

"It's nothing… Nothing. I'm fine." She responds with a slight heave to her breathing. Definitely not a good look for Furyclash to see.

"…You're clearly not, but alright. Let's finish up here first, this air here's real bad, might be that." Marcus says rather worriedly, he keeps close to his partner as he urges her to walk on further into the mines. He knows better than to try draw out an answer from her when she's like this.

"Y-yeah. Right."

---

The two travel deeper into the mines, meeting up once again with Gorrik, Rama and Yao. Plus Yao's jade mech Finn. As they go further in, with the help of Finn's explosives breaking down a rock wall, the group seem to be arguing amongst each other. Mainly Rama and Yao, while Gorrik tries to pacify them.

Marcus is too busy watching over Nastazya, until a demon ambushes them. Much to Marcus' horror, thanks to Mallyx in his head during the Void outbreak he's earned himself a deep phobia of the things. Ragewelder is quick to jump to the offense, removing the threat before it has a chance to hurt anyone, especially her partner who breathes a sigh of relief.

The attack manages to stop the arguing, which gives Gorrik a chance to ask Nastazya about the voices over the comms. She brushes it off, saying he was right about it just being interference while avoiding his gaze. The asura takes note of that, clearly she's not telling the truth.

Regardless, they need to continue further on, and encounter another odd demon with a void-like humanoid shape and white crackles around it. Together they all take it down, it seems to choke as it vanishes, with Nastazya taking a deep gasp of air at the same time.

When asked if she's alright, she mutters that it felt like she got the wind knocked out of her. Marcus doesn't waste a second to swap to Ventari in his head, administering a pulse of healing to his mate. A thankful nod from her, and yet more trodding towards the deepest part of the delve.

The tunnel opens up into a wide rocky area with three raised circular stone platforms in a vague mushroom-like shape, and above them swirls the unmistakeable energies of a Ley Line. Gorrik is quick to investigate, the jade this deep is absolutely thrumming with pure energy, charged by the Ley Line itself. The asura says he needs to get a closer look, which prompts Yao to get Finn to deploy a set of jade ziplines.

The moment they land on the first surface and walk forth, a hulking dark bipedal beast with a tentacled face and sharp claws appears. Rama immediately shouts out. "Oni!"

Suddenly it melts into a puddle of shadow, the puddles spread to each of the three stone platforms, a cloaked man rises from each. The same demon that vanished, but split apart. Gorrik claims it must be deceiving their senses and blurring reality, they have to split up to take it out. Rama and Yao head on to the other two platforms with Finn's ziplines, while Gorrik is aided by both Nastazya and Marcus.

The cloaked demon summons puddles of concentrated haze, bursting out in spirals around it. It focuses on repeatedly doing this over and over, while the three fighters all avoid the fierce, debilitating magics. Gorrik keeps up his holosmith defences, while Nastazya and Marcus go on an onslaught.

But just as they seem close to overwhelming it, their visions go darker, and suddenly they can only see the stone platform surrounded by the haze…

Nastazya's gaze darts around, Gorrik and Marcus have vanished… "Gorrik? Marcus?!" She calls out and receives no response, instead another being forms at the centre of the platform. Her eye widens in shock, a sight of someone long dead.

Forgal Kernsson, her partner in the Vigil, lost at Claw Island. The injured norn dissapointedly mutters. "You were special… one of the bravest warmasters in my order… Now that's changed, my friend."

"Wh-what…?" A slight sting to her heart, she shakes her head and quickly recovers her poise. "No, this is a trick. The demon's doing this."

More apparitions appear around the platform, slowly advancing towards Forgal in the centre. The haze seems to get thicker the closer they get, there's no doubt about it. Nastazya needs to protect him.

At the same time, Marcus also finds himself alone in a haze-filled platform. Going through much the same as his mate is, only this time he's given none other than Tybalt Leftpaw.

The disabled charr lays weakly at the centre, the same place that Forgal was. "You should be a little kinder to lost, broken things."

"Tybs…? But I am, I do care! I even lost use of my right paw like you!" Furyclash bellows out worriedly, it's now he notices the encroaching apparitions. "Kalla, you seeing this?"

The spirit's voice raises in his mind, serious given the matter at hand. (I am, but this doesn't seem right. I am using your eyes after all, if it's what you see, I see it too.)

"Yeah, it's not right. The demon probably, bastard. Gotta protect Tybs. Help me out here Razors!" Marcus calls, the spirits of Kalla's warband form to aid in fending off the monsters.

Clashing axes and greatsword, raining arrows and a spirit onslaught. Every apparition is reduced to dust, even though the two charr couldn't see each other, they were fighting the same opponents the whole time. The haze weakens, bringing them back out of the hallucination, with Gorrik successfully holding his own against the weakened encloaked demon. He's amidst shouting out. "Can you hear me? Yao wants you over on their platform. They need back up!"

Nastazya is quick to rush out a hissing remark, still focusing on the demon. "I know what you're doing. Using my mentor against me. You're pathetic."

Marcus keeps his muzzle shut, still getting his bearings after the shift back to reality. Kalla's warband dissipates back.

The asura ends up taken somewhat aback by Ragewelder's sudden outburst, he had been calling out to her the entire time with no response only to hear this now… "Commander? We'll talk later, I promise. Yao needs you now, okay?"

"Huh? Yao? Yes. Right." Nastazya snaps back from her rage, she glances over to the rather confused looking mate of hers. There's no time to question or answer, Yao needs help. "Let's go."

"…Uh, yeah." Furyclash feels much the same, no time to discuss. He soon follows his partner up the jade zipline to the jade tech engineer's platform.

"Help! I can't keep this up for much longer!" Yao shouts out desperately, they're barely fending off the demon's attacks…

"Sorry, Yao. Got out of sorts for a moment…" Nastazya utters apologetically, she and Marcus go to charge in to battle, but just as they get close they're drawn once more into the thick haze. Marcus and Yao vanish from Nastazya's sight, and instead she hears another voice…

"It's good to see you here." The silhouette at the centre of the platform becomes Eir Stegalkin, looking as wounded as she was before she was impaled by a vinetooth.

"STOP!" Nastazya inadvertently bellows out with a deep sorrow weaved in her voice. A harsh grimace forms upon her face as mordrem apparitions begin to appear, and go for Eir.

While she's fighting with all her strength, the illusory norn continues on to berate the Commander. "These people love you… You don't care…"

For some reason, these words bite harder than ever before. Ragewelder has to hold back her tears, she doesn't know why this is striking so harshly… "You know that's not true…" She utters mournfully, trying to keep her mind away from it amidst the demon's battle.

Marcus however only sees Yao vanish, but soon feels a pit in his stomach from the next sight. It's Nastazya, wounded and laying at the centre. "Naz-!" He calls out, but soon his attention falls more on the approaching demons. They're too fast, he needs to prevent them getting closer now, summoning the warband once again.

Nastazya hisses out hatefully, fangs bared. "Abandoning me once again, just like when you chased after Rytlock! Leaving me alone, to deal with everything myself! What kind of a mate are you?"

"N-Nastazya…?" This catches the revenant heavily off guard, his breath halts as he stares back at her. "But- But I- I didn't mean to…"

(Marcus, the demons!) Kalla roars in his head, pulling him back to the task at hand. He fires another volley of mist-rift arrows at a nearby demon, but he's losing concentration.

Ragewelder growls, glaring deeply at her mate. "You'll just leave me to die, like you did with Balthazar. You let him free, you killed me! I had to get myself back, and here I am about to lose everything again! It's all your fault! You could never protect me! Not even against Bangar!"

The words rattle Marcus straight to his core, tearing at him from within. "No, no, NO- I WON'T-! You're my everything, I couldn't bear losing you! I'll keep you safe, I promise! I promise! Please don't say this, please-!" He pleads with all his heart, tears already drip from his eyes, it's affecting his aim. Has Nastazya really felt this way the entire time? "I'm fighting, see! I'm still fighting for you!"

"For how long, until I die agai-" The voice is cut off as the haze weakens once more, Nastazya is standing with her greatsword heavy in her grip, an acute sadness in her eye. None of the wounds which were present to Marcus' eyes on her any longer.

Furyclash gazes in a heartrent expression, was that the haze doing that? Did she really say any of it? "Naz…?" He mutters out in a weak voice, looking on edge to burst into a sob.

Ragewelder isn't taking notice, recovering from her own experience. "I never wanted to hurt them. Eir…"

Marcus finds himself utterly silent, unable to act. Both he and his mate are stock silent. Only interrupted by Yao's next shout.

"Finn, shield Rama! Quick!"

"Defense engaged, The "Rama" has been shielded." The jade mech responds robotically, having jetted itself up to the final platform to set up the barrier. A massive wave of haze explodes from over it, with the shield breaking from the force, knocking the robot down.

"Commander, 'the Rama' could really use you over here!" The detective yells, having sustained some damage from the burst of haze.

Nastazya's focus goes entirely on Rama here, she quickly makes for the jade zipline up, rushing over to Finn and Rama. "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry…" Her voice is on the edge of breaking, the haze is taking more of a toll on her.

Furyclash finally snaps to his senses on seeing her travel up to help Rama, he's not going to prove those words right. He needs to stay by his mate, he needs to keep her safe.

"Less apologizing, more helping!" Rama groans, before finally getting back to his footing with Nastazya taking the demon's attention.

"Do you see them, too?" Ragewelder asks, pure desperation in her voice. She needs an answer, this is tearing at her.

"Yeah. We're fighting them. What are you talking about?" Rama questions, all he's been seeing is the cloaked demon that originally split in three.

The haze starts to grow thicker once again, the others around vanish as a dreadfully familiar voice calls out. "I'm just passing through…"

"NO!" The utter pain that sparks through Nastazya's chest… A person to cut the deepest, an inspiration. A mentor. A friend. A hero. Almorra Soulkeeper.

"We need to talk… So many lives lost…" The wounded spectre hisses, glaring at the Commander.

"There was no other way…" Ragewelder's voice passes the point of breaking, this is getting too much, she can't hold it back any longer.

"I was nothing to you. You'll be the end of the charr!" More scathing remarks from Soulkeeper, made to cut into Nastazya's heart, to rive open her wounds.

Almorra was so much to her, the reason she got this far. To hear that from her, it's shattering. "That's not fair! I did everything I could! Almorra!" Her voice cracks as she shouts her old friend's name, tears stream down her cheeks. "I've put my all into doing what I can for everyone! All that I have! Everyone takes a piece from me- I DIDN'T ASK TO BE THE COMMANDER!!" She manages to bring forth her rage, her deepest rage against herself. And with it, strikes forth at the demons approaching Almorra.

Marcus isn't brought in to hallucination this time, he hears every word his mate speaks, and puts his all into trying to get her back. "Nastazya! It's not Almorra, it's the demon! You've got to snap out of it! Naz!" He calls and calls, but he's not getting through to her. All he can do is fight off the demons…

(The quicker we take this thing out, the quicker Nastazya goes to her usual self. Quickly, summon the- Demons!) Kalla's voice suddenly shifts, a most horrifying voice, deep and raspy. Unnatural…

Marcus, amidst summoning Kalla's warband, finds his fur stand on end. His ears flatten down and his tail curls beneath him. That horrible voice at the end… His eyes see what he summons, and it is not the spirits of charr. It is yet more demons, his wide eyes stare in pure fear. "No no no no no-!"

(You can't hold me forever, your body will be my vessel to take.) The venomous words of a great evil echo in his head, Mallyx the Unyielding.

Furyclash staggers back, holding on to his head, riving at it with both claw and metal. "NO! NO! GET OUT! GET OUT OF MY HEAD!" A streak of blood drips down his forehead, from none other than his own doing.

Rama stares at both of the charr, one is uncharacteristically fighting in a fit of melancholy, the other is literally clawing through his own skin. "Hey, what is going on with you two?!" He questions in an outburst, still struggling against the demon.

Yao and Gorrik both finish off with their split demons, arriving up to assist the others in the battle against the last. Yao approaches up next to Marcus, trying to rouse him from whatever it is he's doing. "Marcus? What are you-"

"STAY BACK!" Furyclash roars, backing away from the engineer. The demon's voice is echoing loudly in his head, threatening to take over, against and again. "Mallyx is in my head! It's not safe! RRRGH! GET! OUT!"

(YOU. ARE. MINE-!)

Furyclash snarls upsettingly, cowering away from his friends. He doesn't know what to do, he can't get it out. The voice is always there, digging in deeper, until…

(Marcus! Don't listen to it!) Mallyx's voice is torn away, replaced by another, a familiar voice…

"Wh-what…? That can't…" It manages to break him out of the hallucination, there's no demons he summoned, there's no demon in his head. Only… "Tybalt?"

(No fear, like you showed me on Claw Island! You can do this, I know you can!) It's clear as day, Tybalt Leftpaw, spurring him onward.

Back to his senses, he can't let himself fall to any more of the oni's tricks. "Right, Naz needs me." He glances to Yao, nodding affirmedly. "I'm good, oni messing with my head. An old friend snapped me out of it, now then…" He nocks an arrow, it soars accurately to one of the last encroaching demons, more accurate than he usually is.

(Perfect shot, just like me and my rifle!)

The felling of that demon reduces the haze once more, pulling Nastazya out of the hallucination. But she's still looking distraught. Fighting wildly, charging right at the now uncloaked oni. "No more, no more…!"

It stabs at Marcus to see her like this, he's never, ever seen her fight in such a desperate way. Not full of sorrow like this. "It's gonna be fine, Naz! I'm here!"

There's no response to him, she's locked away in a fierce onslaught. An effective one though, she's tearing away at the demon and barely giving it a chance to fight back. The beast learning first hand what happens when you enhance the emotions of a charr who fights with her rage.

With the other four joining in, it's a short matter of time before the beast is finally fallen.

And yet…

There's little time to cheer, as the oni floats from the floor and begins to recover all its wounds. Absorbing the ley line energies directly.

The others seem ready to fight once more, but not Ragewelder. She starts hyperventilating, the haze here is thick, she can barely breathe right. She falls to a knee, grasping her throat. And slowly, starts losing consciousness.

"Naz! Nastazya!" Marcus quickly runs to her side, holding an arm around her front, trying to prop her up. After the words he's been given from earlier, he's scared more than ever.

Rama doesn't want to take any chances here, he orders the others. "Let's get out of here! Now! The Commander's blacking out! We need to get her and go!"

Nastazya's hearing becomes fuzzy, as does her vision. The last things she hears, in the voice of Almorra Soulkeeper and Eir Stegalkin. (You haven't changed a bit. Killing and corrupting, it's what you were born to do.)

Her vision goes black.

---

Nastazya stirs, the light assaults her opening eye, and something tightly clenches around her paw. She glances over, to see her tear-filled mate's face. "…Marc?"

A huge gasp of relief comes from Furyclash, he immediately leans down over her, embracing around her. "Nastazya… I'm so sorry. I'm so, so sorry…"

"Wh- Hey, It's alright, I'm fine. See? C'mon." Ragewelder utters softly, trying to sit herself up, barely managing to get Marcus up too. She notices Gorrik, Rama and Yao are standing nearby watching too.

Truthfully, Marcus' apologies come from the blame thrown at him from the demon encounter, the failing to protect her. The demon was right, he did fail her again. "But I, I didn't protect you, again…"

"That… Don't beat yourself up over it. I wasn't much help, was I…?" She admits sadly, she can't look at him in the face, she barely noticed he was even there when Almorra showed up.

"Burn me, I could say the same here. That demon was…" Marcus shakes his head, he doesn't know what to say. He is at least gladdened his mate seems well.

At this, Gorrik clears his throat to get their attention. "Ahem, apologies for interrupting but- We were discussing what's next while Marcus was watching over you. Taimi called."

"And I'm still here!" She announces from the communicator without hesitation.

"Ah, yes. Well, Joon was angry, but thrilled about the energy source! We just need to lure that demon away, and we have some ideas! But they…" Gorrik hesitates, he knows the Commander won't like it.

Nastazya sits up properly, with Marcus beside her. Her brow furrows as she looks to the asura. "What is it?"

"We, uh… We're going to have to do some neuro-parasitological investigation, the demon seemed particularly attracted to you. Given it appears to prey on traumatic memories, this may be… Difficult." The asura admits.

Nastazya falls silent, she feels Marcus embrace her once again. Her tail swishes uncomfortably behind her as her ears droop. "…If that's what it takes."

Taimi speaks from the communicator once more. "Sorry, Commander. But it is important work. I'll fill Joon in. Keep us posted if you can. And good luck."

It's silent for a while after, Marcus finally speaks up, worried for his mate. "I think it's best if us two get back home, I want to keep a watch over Naz, away from this place."

Rama nods in agreement. "By all means, she inhaled a lot of that haze stuff. Probably better that way."

"Keep in touch, alright? Otherwise I'll get worried." Yao answers, a genuine concern in their expression.

"We will, I'll make sure of it. See you some time then." Furyclash gets himself up, then aids his mate to her feet as well. Her quiet is unsettling him, he's not used to this. "Naz?"

"…Let's go." She mutters, all of this has been too much, she doesn't want to talk.

Together the two set off, first to Arborstone, then the asura gate back to Lion's Arch. Their travel is some of the quietest the two have been while beside the other.

---

It's night time at Lion's Arch, Nastazya and Marcus are back at their home. They've been trying to relax the rest of the day, back in their casual outfits. But it hasn't been going well. Nastazya's mind's been stuck on the words the demon twisted, and Marcus can see it getting to her.

He doesn't know all of what she saw, she's not mentioned it. Not that he's mentioned what he saw either, he's too scared to.

The ocean waves and light sound of crowds from the outside fill the quiet, the two sitting side by side on the red couch.

At some point, it gets too much for Nastazya, she can't bear it. Her voice is light, her face scrunches in sorrow. "Marc… It's too much. I can't take those words anymore."

"Huh? What words?" He asks curiously, worriedly. He brings his right arm around her back, his tech paw on her side. "Tell me."

Ragewelder is quiet, but then the words burst through, loud and angrily. "I'll be the end of the charr, killing and corrupting is what I was born to do… Those voices were right, they all were! Bangar only went after Jormag because I had Aurene! We went into a civil war, lost so many of us and got us corrupted into frost legion all because I was the spark to the flame!"

Furyclash grimaces, that's what she's been tormenting herself over. No wonder she looks so distraught. He needs to try shift that mindset. "Naz, you know that's not fair on you, you didn't have any choice. Bangar's who mobilised them, not you."

She's not listening to it, the words are too strong. "But he only did that because of ME! We lost too many, Rytlock and Crecia lost Ryland, Ursa and Patia lost Maxim. I had to kill Elexus, even got Almorra killed! Who knows how many more warbands lost their families all because I'm this DAMNED DRAGON 'CHAMPION'!"

"Nastazya! That was all far out of your hands! You're not the one to blame!" Marcus finds his own voice raising, else he fears his mate won't listen to him. But it seems to just make things worse.

Nastazya growls harshly, not at Marcus, but at herself. All the guilt she has fit to bursting. "How the hell am I not to blame?! Everything went to shit all because of who I am, even before I was the 'Champion' I still got Faust branded! Tullia, Graw and Clio all died because I had to rush in to a brandstorm, all just to kill my own branded mother! I was always like thi-"

"NASTAZYA! STOP!" Marcus yells, utter sorrow laced in every word. He quickly pulls her near, nuzzled beneath his neck while he attempts to comfort her. Left paw brushing down the side of her neck and hair, he can feel her quiver as her sobs begin, and soon he shares in this. "Nastazya… Please… It's not your fault, it's NOT your fault… I don't know what you saw in that haze, but it twists you, twists what you know. Gorrik said so, when you were out."

"Marc… It- it was all so raw. I can still feel the impact, that those words were true." Nastazya mutters amidst her weeps, bringing a hand up to grip upon her mate's arm for support, for consolation.

"…The haze, it… made me think Mallyx was in my head, even saw Kalla's warband as demons. And that wasn't true." The next words, he's unsure to share. But if he can't do it, he can't expect his mate to either, so with a light-voiced tone he reveals. "…It also showed me you, you… blamed me for abandoning you to chase after Rytlock in the Mists. You blamed me for letting Balthazar kill you, and still do to this day. Is that… All true?"

Nastazya falls stock still, her cries catch to silence. Now she knows all of that is not what she feels, not at all. "What…? No. No, no, that's not true at all-! Why would you even think that?"

"Because the haze made me, just like it's making you blame yourself right now." His embrace around his mate's neck and back grows a slight tighter, his breath staggers followed by a sniffle. "You see? It's not true, you're not to blame. You aren't…"

Ragewelder is silent for a while, meekly nuzzling her snout in the crook of her mate's neck. "…Burn me, how the hell are we meant to get through this? It all feels too much. How are we-?"

Furyclash cuts off his mate's words before she starts falling into another spiral, he needs to support her above all else right now, he needs her support at that too. "We'll get through this, Naz… We always do, always have done…"

She starts falling into the despair again, just thinking about that demon's effects on her. It's debilitating. "…I don't know how much more I can take… It's always us- Every. Time! Why…? Why is it always me?!"

"I don't know… But what I do know is despite everything, we're still here. I'm still here, and I always will be here for you. Alright? You got that?" He tries to assure her the only way he knows how, his presence.

"…I got it. I got it." Nastazya repeats, trying her best to pull herself back. But her doubts are still strong. "…Burn me, I don't want to go back there. I don't want Taimi and Gorrik to rip these… wounds back open."

"I know, I know. I don't either. I wish I had an answer to all this, I wish I did. Whatever happens after all this, I'll do anything to make things better for you, whatever it takes." Furyclash promises, with all his genuineness. His mate is everything.

Nastazya at least feels a calm over her, gradually. Her arm moves to embrace her partner's side. "I'll hold you to that, so you better not leave me. Don't you dare ever leave me."

Marcus' voice is soft, he's glad, she's finally calming down. He knows exactly the right words now, the words to ease her. "I promise, I'll stay by you, no matter what."

A sudden memory, rushes right back. All those years back, in Maguuma Jungle. "…I remember those words, as clear as day. When you returned…"

"And I still mean them just as much as I did then. Always. No matter how much it hurts, I'll be there by your side to help, I'll be your pillar."

"…You are, and always have been the one that keeps me standing." Ragewelder mutters, a smile finally forms upon the side of her teary muzzle.

A tender quiet now envelops the two, nothing like the anxiety filled silence from before. They both know, as long as they're together, it'll all work out.

Just before the two head off to get ready for bed, there's one last matter to speak about.

(So, Marcus. When were you planning to tell me you and that warmaster got together?) The voice arrives in Marcus' head, Tybalt, seems the spirit has found a new home to hang out in.

"…Naz, there's one other thing I have to tell you." Marcus says with some cheer, he gazes cheerfully into his mate's eye.

"Hm? What is it?"

"When I thought Mallyx was in my head, I got snapped out of it by another voice. Turns out, when I was reaching out for a voice to replace him, I accidentally invoked someone new." Furyclash explains, he seems rather happy about this one to her though.

"Who is it to get you smiling like that?" Nastazya asks, her joy returning to her face.

"Tybalt Leftpaw." He announces, the smile on his face seems to spread wider with it.

Her eye widens, now that is a surprise. "What? Really?"

"Yeah, it's great, hearing his voice again. I've missed him. Somehow I'm a better shot with him invoked too, so pretty damn useful too!" A light chuckle from the male charr, his ears then prick up.

(Hey! Are you saying I wouldn't be useful without that? You got so mean…)

Marcus grins. "Just playing with you, Tybs."

"I suppose something good did come of us going down to that delve… How much does he know about us?" She questions curiously, she doesn't know anything about when she was out cold.

"Not much really, his memories are still just back from Claw Island. He's surprised I got together with 'That Warmaster.'"

"Oh, really now?" Nastazya hums, brushing her chin with a finger. "So he doesn't know we have cubs either."

(YOU HAVE CUBS?!)

Marcus grimaces, that volume was a shock to his head. "…He does now." He mutters, with a slight chuckle afterwards. He speaks back to Tybalt now. "Yeah, Vita and Galvar, they're four now. Good cubs, Vita can be a little menace. Galvar is a quiet boy. We should go visit sometime, you can see them through my eyes!"

(Ohh, this is so exciting! I bet they're cute!)

"The cutest cubs on Tyria, right Naz?" Marcus answers, smiling to his mate.

"What kind of mother would I be if I said no to that?" Ragewelder shakes her head, a light laugh escaping. "They are, the both of them. They're who we fight for."

(As you should! Ahh, I missed so much, being dead and all. But better late than never! Couldn't get stuck in a better person's head.)

"Aw, Tybs. You're gonna make my ears red." Furyclash brushes the back of his neck. "He says as we should, he missed a lot, but he's happy he's stuck in my head at least."

Nastazya crosses her arms, though she's still smiling. "Guess I have to get used to you not having Kalla around all the time, don't I?"

"I'll have her around now and again, don't worry about that. But…" Marcus sighs deeply. "I really missed Tybalt, y'know?"

"I know you did." She nods softly. "I'm glad you've found him that way, suppose I'll see how things go."

"It's gonna be great, I know it." Marcus soon finds himself yawning. "Ah, burn me. Think it's time to sleep. We'll talk more tomorrow, Tybs."

(You got it! We're gonna have so much to talk about. Ahh, you got old Two-tibs A'whisker excited even more!)

"Singe my whiskers, I almost forgot about that name." Marcus laughs cheerily. "Ahh, Two-tibs A'whisker and Bloodcovered Backstabbing Blackjack the Blade. What a pirate team we were."

"Marcus, bed time before you get stuck in another conversation. C'mon." Nastazya urges him, she's rather jovial about it thought. She's happy to see him so glad.

"Yeah, yeah. I'm coming." Furyclash grins toothily, before finally joining his mate in readying for bed.

They've still got some doubts and fears hidden under their skin, fear about the oni and how to deal with it. But that can come when it comes, better to keep their minds focused on other things until then. Together, they can keep going on.

[vegalocity]

If Spider Queen where to theoretically wake up fully in the Red Awakening ending, would she have problems wearing her old regalia like Spindrax would? Also what would the wife-ified Sanzang be like and what would his reaction be to his get up if he could wake up?

oh man if Spider Queen went lucid she'd be heading for the fucking hills man

she'd play along JUST long enough to 'be retired for the night' and fucking TEAR her regalia off as she just fucking runs away. She'd be desparate just to fucking get out of there, no plans no allies left that haven't been snapped up by the Prince, no clan to fall back on, she's fucking OUT of there. Her only hope to try and break through to would be MAYBE Goliath since Xiaotian didn't super care to do a lot of work on him where as Syntax Huntsman and Spindrax have all been under HEAVY conditioning, but she's GONE she's BOUNCING.

Spider Queen is relatively low on the danger list if she goes lucid

Sanzang is THE most dangerous person to go lucid. the only person close to the same level of potential threat is Syntax, but that's mostly because he does ALL the personal tech work in the city. Sanzang is someone they 100% no matter what cannot AFFORD to even CHANCE going lucid. I was actually chatting about something similar with @unseelie-robynx and we came to the conclusion that Xiaotian would definitely be smart enough to identify that since Sanzang can UNDO his work that he really needs ALL the stops and ALL the failsafes in his head to KEEP him from going lucid. If Sanzang wakes up this whole thing is gonna go full nuclear bc there's no way he WOULDN'T not only contact EVERYONE in heaven that he possibly could, but ALSO undo as much to everyone around him that he possibly could.

So outwardly it seems like he has the least done with him, there's been a sort of cheeky 'breaking of his monastic vows' thing that happened early in since in the ending where Sanzang gets got the Cult has already been fully bought into by the rest of the 'court' so there's already plans underway for him to 'Join' them and he can't exactly still be a Buddhist monk while also being a god in another pantheon. But that was more of a 'something while he was still getting mentally broken' thing.

After that they let him keep basically the same personality and traits, both because with less behavior modifications it'll be harder for him even on a subconcious level to realize that there was something wrong, and also because Wukong LIKES him like this, and as we know an Oblivon Wife's entire life is in orbit around their Husband (heh) so he wouldn't want many behavioral changes anyway.

So to anyone looking in there wouldn't be THAT much different about him, other than that he just sort of changed creeds in order to 'be with' Wukong.

The only real behavioral change is that they basically turned his feelings for his monkey up to eleven and broke the dial off. essentially a mind control love potion, he's CONSTANTLY dizzy with infatuation in his ending. he can still DO other things of course, but it's REAL easy to just go full heart eyes over Wukong and get kinda carried away with it.

Yeah it'd REALLY fuck him up if he went lucid though, primarily due to the whole 'broke his own vows while under' thing, but the whole 'being dressed up like a doll' thing won't help either. I'm not entirely sure just WHAT would happen though, since he's the one with SO many failsafes in his head to ensure he DOESN'T go lucid, it's a statistical wonder if he does and suddenly EVERYTHINGS up in the air.

[dw-squirrel]

Uhh untitled debriel piece. Unedited, but I will probably come back and edit it more later. :) It's kinda like- a snippet? Should I like write this out as a full length story? 🤔

(a tad bit inspired by a debriel rp with my fiancé)

Before he even had to ask, Gabe would tell Dean he's loved. Before he had a chance to question, Gabe would tell Dean he's enough. He'll always be enough.

The questions and doubts still arise, but they work through it together. Somedays were harder than others. But there rarely comes a night where these two go to bed wondering if they're loved. They feel it, not just in words, but actions. The little things.

"You're all I ever wanted and more. More than enough, better than I deserve..." Dean would say as he kissed Gabe goodnight. The words left unspoken would be- 'i feel like we're writing a chick flick now.'

Gabe would smile, returning the kiss and similar words. "you're the only one I'll ever want. If I had to do things over again, I will always choose you. Always look for you. You're my person, I love you."

These quiet moments would only be kept between them. Not wanting others to see just how sappy and emotional they could get. Yet most everyone already knows. It's not really a secret anymore.

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

Being an archangel, Gabriel didn't need sleep. But he would lay with Dean for a while. Holding him and keeping the nightmares away. His husband had been haunted by nightmares ever since before they'd met.

Gabriel promised he would do anything to assure Dean wouldn't have to experience another nightmare.

In the mornings, they'd make breakfast together. The archangel technically didn't need to eat. But he enjoyed the special moments of the late morning hours, cooking breakfast. Never early morning, Dean was not a morning person. Unless there was a pot of coffee ready.

He'd enjoy listening to Dean talk about whatever plans he had for the day or any funny things he had forgotten to tell him the night before. He'd listen as the retired hunter went on and on about how good the food was.

It would be the same breakfast they made every morning. Bacon, eggs and pancakes. Though sometimes they'd switch it up and make muffins instead of pancakes.

Dean made the bacon, Gabe hated making bacon. Simply because he hated if the grease popped him, he was an archangel it wouldn't leave any scars or hurt much- but he was still a bit of a baby about it. He admitted that. So Dean made the bacon, the first piece to get done always was split in half for the two to share.

The days would generally remain the same, occasional bumps along the way. But they'd fallen into a routine. They opened the bakery in the morning after they ate their own breakfast. They'd work there til lunch, then hand it over to their employees to work and close in the evening.

After leaving the bakery, they'd take their lunch break then head over to the bar. Yeah, they ran two places. The bakery was Gabe's, the bar was Dean's. They shared ownership of course, but Gabe was more in charge of the bakery, while Dean was more in charge at the bar.

When the day started to come to a close, it would once again end on a positive note. Sappy love notes or words spoken aloud. It was the first taste of normalcy that Dean had experienced in years.

-------

He married an archangel, he was safe here. They didn't hunt as often, unless a huge threat came up like an apocalypse level threat. For Dean it was hard to adjust.

Gabe always hated fighting, he wanted no part in it unless it was absolutely necessary and even then it was difficult to convince him to join a fight. Dean however had grown up a hunter and this was all he ever knew.

There were times he'd snuck out on a hunting trip. But sneaking out when you're married to an archangel is kinda- well it didn't go unnoticed. Gabe knew Dean had left. They'd fought over it a few times. He would fear one of these times Dean wouldn't come back.

Dean always came back, generally with little to no injuries. But the scariest time would be when Dean hadn't checked in for several days. Gabriel tried to give him his space to do what he wanted to do.

But the second he knew he'd almost lost him, the archangel begged the hunter to stop going out to fight the supernatural. "Please, Dean. I. Can't. Lose. You."

"you won't, I know what I'm doing," Dean would reply.

"it makes no difference. I know you know what you're doing. Skilled or not, it's a risk going out there. A risk I hate that you're still taking and you almost died, Dean! You almost died! Do you have any idea how scared I was?"

He hadn't seen Gabriel cry often, but the tears were starting to form..Dean only stared, not saying a word yet.

"You are my husband, De. I have never- never loved anyone or anything more than I love you. I would do anything and everything to protect you. Tear the whole world apart to find my way to you, but that doesn't mean we should keep getting into situations where I would have to do something like that! We're safe here. Why can't you just stay here?"

"someone has to fight monsters.."

"and why does that someone have to be you?!" More tears had filled the archangels eyes. "Why Dean? Why? Haven't you already sacrificed enough of your life to this? We were supposed to get out. Sam is out, he's safe and enjoying himself. Why can't- why aren't you allowed to do the same?"

Dean would be silent for some time, trying to come up with an answer. Eventually replying with, "I can't get out. No one ever gets out permanently. It's just a part of me I can't run away from or ignore...I'm sorry."

The archangel nodded, a part of him understanding. Though he wished it wouldn't be like this. "Just please be safe, De. I can't lose you," he said the second time those words would be spoken in this conversation. "I love you."

"I love you too," Dean would reply as he took a step closer and wrapped his arms around the older man.

"if this is gonna continue though, the sneaking at least has to stop. Hunt if you have to, just tell me, please."

The request was valid of course, Dean always felt bad for leaving without saying a word. He nodded, agreeing.

The hunts became less frequent though. Something about how scared Gabe had been, stuck with Dean. How terrified Gabe was of losing him. He didn't want to cause his husband any pain or grief. So he started hunting less and less.

He'd go out if there was something nearby. He always came home. Dean was basically retired from hunting now.

Retired and living a somewhat normal life, married to an archangel. Yeah- maybe not normal. How many people could say they were married to an archangel?

[epicspheal]

@a-tale-of-legends post about loss of champion titles is making me reflect a bit on cactusverse and my champion OCs. At some point, all of them will no longer be reigning champions. In general most champions in cactusverse rarely last more than 5 years as champion, with leagues such as Galar, Unova and the Indigo league exhibiting the highest turnover by means of defeat or abdication. But starting from the first person to lose their title Jack. Of course he loses his title to a young Leon and then he goes to jail since he attempted murder a number of times. To be honest he wasn’t as mad about losing the title despite the rather obvious rage he flew into after the loss. See for Jack, the champion title was more of a means to an end to his true goal which was to become king of Galar. He was using the title of champion to gain support for not only a return to the absolute monarchy but for him to become king. So the loss of the title meant his potential claim to the throne was over. Hence why he was so upset and lashed out hard which of course didn’t help. He was already wanted on suspected attempted murder and threat charges and then he proceeded to attack Leon directly. Next up is Cami. So far she’s the only one to just retire but considering she had gotten her butt dragged the first time she did the Unovan gym challenge as a kid (and then got dragged by Blue on a monthly basis when she was his gym trainer until she defeated him) she’s well aware of the pain of defeat. Much like Jack being a champion wasn’t her ultimate goal but having the title certainly helped her out. Being a doctor was her true goal, and being a champion gave her the ability to practice medicine in Victory Road and highly dangerous areas (what are post game areas for us as players) without needing an escort. So honestly while she was sad to leave she wasn’t that sad. That and considering she becomes champion right after Red, Blue and Leaf get dragged to Hisui and then caring for them when they came back with no memories...she was under considerable amounts of stress. So in some ways giving up her title was a blessing as it was in many ways a reminder of a terrible time in her life (I haven’t talked about champion theme music for the cactusverse OCs but let’s just say she has one of the most haunting melodies for hers to show she was kind of losing it during that time). Then there’s Jabari. Jabari is actually one of the champions who lasts over a decade. Which checks out because of my champion OCs he’s the only one that hadn’t found his purpose yet until he went on his journey. Everyone else had strong passions outside of training and he had gone on his journey as a blank slate. So between that and wanting to be guiding light for Kalos after the Team Flare events he really put in a lot of work into being a trainer and he really fought hard to maintain his title. Which worked in his favor which allowed him to stay champion for so long. Eventually though he loses to [redacted] and it’s quite a shock for him. It had been so long since Jabari had lost a match that he had forgotten what the sting of defeat even feels like. But he handles it graciously. Overtime after losing he begins to realize he had begun to put a lot of stake in being the “Hero of Kalos” and that he had needed to step back. The threat of Team Flare had long passed and Kalos had been safe for awhile. Considering Marsha was the first ever champion of Alola, one may assume she’d have a long reign but she doesn’t. Only 3 years but that’s more than okay for her. Honestly, Marsha was more interested in doing the island challenge as a means of reconnecting with her culture since she spent so long in Kanto than becoming champion in the first place (hence why she refused to go on a journey while living in Kanto). She loses to Hau and while she’s a little sad about losing, she couldn’t be happier to have lost to her bestie. Especially knowing how much he had to overcome being in the shadow of Hala and being afraid of going all out in the fear of turning into Hala. She knew he would make a great champion. Plus with the Alola league being new she had been helping Kukui refine the rules for the league. During that she found a passion for directing things and eventually becomes the first chairwoman of the Alolan League Next is Valen who much like Jabari also has a rather long tenure as champion. He’s unique in that he technically went undefeated as a champion while in cactusverse. Considering he is an ultra space explorer he travels to many of the various worlds and his defeat actually happens off-world in an alternate universe by Selene (in a world where none of the cactusverse OCs exist). He’s shocked at first because as an extremely capable battle AI he’s not used to losing. But at the same time he was relieved to know that his programming wasn’t invincible and that there was still more that he could learn as a trainer. Then we have Calla, the little chemist prodigy who managed to beat the Unbeatable Leon. Her reign lasts for five years before being dethroned by Kabu who was the only gym leader who she lost to during her gym challenge. It actually happened at a perfect time for her. Calla had been itching to go back to school to get her PhD in Toxicology but she was torn about stretching herself thin being both champion and a graduate student. After all she did truly enjoy being champion, putting on a show for the audience with her gymnastics, and being able to give more positive reputation to poison types (after admittedly a rough start with getting the public to trust Eternatus). But also as someone whose first passion was science she had been missing the time she used to spend in the lab. And as she went to visit Sonia and Hop she had begun to get a bit envious of them and all of their research. So when she lost to Kabu for the second time, yeah she was upset but also it provided closure in a sense. Much like Jabari did in Kalos, she kind of gotten lost in her identity in being one of the heroes of Galar that came along with the title of champion. But also that she could move and pursue being a professor which she actually enjoys even more than being a champion.