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occasional-pyrrhon · 3 months

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I need to know your most unhinged headcanons about Pyrrhon. Idk if you already have a post like this, but I need to know.

YAY YAY YAY OK. OK EVERY THING I'VE EVER THOUGHT ABOUT HTIS GUY LET'S GO. MILLION PAGE LONG POST UNDER THE CUT

OK so what is this thang in the first place right. I think he's an alien. HEAR ME OUT GUYS HEAR ME OUT. So space seems really weird and vaguely eldritch in the worldbuilding right, the Kraken and the Pirates' appearances being robotic along with the Aurum, who apparently just Happened one day. I think he also Happened one day and just crashed landed onto earth meteor style, either coming from the sun itself or being the Aurum's flawed attempt at mimicking a god that got too out of control and developed free will. I mean he has bright green eyes and looks nothing like the other gods. Even HADES wears CLOTHES man. Fitting with space being mostly outside the domain of the gods, this weird little mini sun man was able to claim the Sun God title because no one else was using it, which is why the gods themselves are torn on if he's one of them. He isn't immortal but he does age slower than normal, he's a fairly recent annoyance among all the divine discourse

Him and Arlon are brothers! Sorta. They met as kids without any apparent families and Pyrrhon theorizes that they're connected, which Arlon goes along with. So they kinda *become* brothers in a way with my headcanons? Ja. They start out being kinda frenemies who don't really get along and are just sticking with this theory to figure out their pasts but they end up truly having the brothers relationships and being at eachothers' backs. Everyone else is shocked to learn about this every single time since they're such opposites. Arlon lends stability and Pyrrhon lends freedom and encourages leniency towards the whole "loyalty" thing, which evidently means less to him. 😌

The other popular headcanon I like is that his flame aura is controlled by his emotions. He can make it flare up for dramatic effect or cool it down if he needs to, but it's typically involuntary. It's usually not harmful to people, though he can easily burn things if he isn't paying attention and he's always warm to the touch. If he's calm it simmers down. If he's really, truly upset or hopeless it goes out. If he's excited or angry it burns brighter. If it turns white hot and hurts to the touch, you should probably run. :)

He's trans. "How is he 7ft tall?" Divine HRT will do that to you. "Out of everyone in the cast who would be way more fitting-" I like him. "Wasn't there something in smash about the gods' physical forms-" I do what I want always all the time forever.

OKAY so it's tough sometimes with characters who are intended to be insane with no further context because on the one hand that can be kinda fucked but on the other hand OUHHHHH. crazy guy who loses control to the orb was such a weird adhd awakening for me but baby if it wasn't an awakening. SO putting aside that it's obviously exaggerated and he was probably just intended to be insane with no nuance, I headcanon him as autistic and adhd with probably an array of Other Shit going on that I'm not qualified to pin down without feeling like it may be insulting. my mental illness pilled folks give your takes below or don't if you're uncomfortable with attatching stuff to characters like this because that's very justified I just hyperfixate on and relate to the worst specimens possible o7 you would not believe how many ocs I have that are just "let's do this bitch again and deconstruct all the dehumanization these guys always get while we're at it" follow my main artblog with my ocs plug plug plug plug

I think he would hate Hades as the apex of the irresponsibility and evil of the gods. HOWEVER Pyrrhon x Hades is just inherently super funny to me so its tough I kinda need to reconsile them. MY HEADCANON is that they dated for a bit when Pyrrhon didn't have a vendetta against the gods yet and was going after cred then when Palutena and Medusa yuri-divorced Hades felt the urge to one-up Medusa in some way so he ended things with Pyrrhon by saying he's homophobic. This in turn put Pyrrhon on a brief stint of homophobia that he thankfully recovered from when he started to listen to Limp Bizkit (unironically in every way of course) and decided that Fred Durst is the most beautiful man on the planet. Or will be. Kid Icarus ancient Greece with Nintendo you know how it is.

I'm growling and pacing ominously with a shadow over my eyes all the time over his underdeveloped motivations BUT from what we're given of his respect for Pit and his vendetta against the gods along with the heroic act I feel like he's kinda with Dark Pit on the idea of the gods constantly throwing everything off balance BUT the critical difference that turns him into a villain is that he thinks that if a true hero like HIM were the most powerful god he could fix all of this! See see HIS indulgence in the violence and warring is justified he doesn't WANNA incinerate the angel but it's just for the greater good. Fool tried to end the cycle of violence by becoming part of it!!!!!!! Everyone point and laugh!!!!!!!!

He's smart but he's also a dumbass but he can actually be a genius under the right circumstances but he's so so stupid. Right. He would put together a computer on his own from nothing but Vibes then think YouTube is a platform exclusively for fnaf letsplays because its the first thing he clicked on and he doesn't know how to search. He can determine his location by looking at the stars he also got lost in the department store yesterday. He can tell you about the Aurum for two hours he doesn't remember what he ate for lunch yesterday so he answers with som shit like the essence of heroism in the sandwich of destiny. He's so me he's all of us in a way .

He has mild psychic powers and he is NOT good at them 💔 he taught himself short range telepathy hence why he only really talks to the others in person until he gets his power up. He also tried to learn how to give visions and prophecies recieved upon touching his gem but it kinda just traps you in his adhd mindzone where he tries to keep up the illusion with cardboard cutouts on sticks.

Okay post canon time! Horray!!!!! The shorter more hyperspecific headcanons are after this. Tw for trauma and parallels to abuse until this section is done we're in projecting lane now.

A lot of details of what happens to him post-Aurum vary depending on what I'm drawing/writing at the moment like if he gets out on his own or has to be rescued after the war with Hades resolves, but generally he's trapped with them for a while with wavering control over himself. He develops an intense phobia of space and the Aurum afterwards despite them once being his biggest interests (<- PROJECTING.) His sense of personhood is very disrupted - he wasn't just controlled, he was assimilated and became one in the same with them with only shards of him holding on and resisting. He goes between never wanting to encounter them again to being nothing but a vessel who *must* return to them again no matter what it does to him, and he doesn't remember how to be a person without them controlling him. He completely stops believing he's a god in any way. He often zones out with the instinct that something else will be at the wheel until someone snaps at him and he's like huh wuzzat. Then probably plays it off as being inconsiderate since what people expect of him is easier than the truth.

He has the belief that the Aurum are attempting to take him again, even if they end up destroyed they're too powerful to him now to end that easily. They're *all* and they're *everywhere*. Since a lot of ptsd symptoms can feel like losing control it compounds quickly.

He has a habit of covering his mouth when he's upset. The feeling of those words and that smile stick with him.

I also think he'd have pretty messed up misconceptions towards "redeeming himself". With his broken identity he clings onto the idea of being fearless and acting the same way he used to, otherwise they "won". He would do stuff like accompanying Pit on a space mission and acting like it's no sweat while intermittently sneaking off to hide the breakdown. Why should he be afraid? It was *his* fault after all, and if he can't stop himself from being hurt it's just going to be *his* problem.

He starts wearing clothes to hide the scars he recieved on his chest, back, and limbs. He wants to look like NOTHING has changed, as much as possible. He starts returning to his old Nothingcore fit the more he heals from the events, because he doesn't like the feeling of clothes in the first place. he wears fingerless gloves and leg warmers because he can't stand the alternatives to either.

He also has a cane that's supposed to look enough like a staff to pass as one. His legs have been Pixels for the past couple years ok. Either way he's insecure about it and mostly uses it private, once again passing off his troubles in the department as his typical cringefail self don't worry about it 😁 👍

There's some mechanical alterations inside of him and like. I don't know how to explain my vision here except imagine the junji ito stuff turning into spirals story but with math and geometry and such. You can plug a bluetooth chip into his back scar and he's a literal wifi hotspot now. The quadratic formula is hidden somewhere in his femur as a fun easter egg. A lot of the changes are good for an impromptu living weapon but not for that weapon having an easy time afterwards, but it takes a while for him to reach out for help there, not just because of all previously mentioned but because he *hates* the idea of something going in and making "edits" to him again.

There's some more literal lingering effects from the Aurum - he can understand Morse code and binary and is compelled to read it out and translate it whenever he sees it, and sometimes those are the forms of communication that remain when the others go down, along with general detached computer speak. He *really* doesn't like others seeing this -- I like the idea of Arlon or Palutena teaching him signing to use in moments like this.

He is so touch starved my god. He probably wasn't getting much affection pre-canon in the first place but after being in space for 3+ years in a place where anything organic for miles is destroyed on sight, his body not being his own, and then going on to hide it all? Someone lays a hand on his shoulder and he just *melts*. He already feels like the affectionate back-breaking bear hug type in my mind so it's just. Auougghhhhhhhhhh. Yeah.

NO ONE IS HANDING HIM THE AUX CORD. EVER. His top artist on Spotify is Smosh. He listens to Lil Dicky and Your Favorite Martian. When it's a date and he needs to put on the more acceptable by society stuff he puts on ABBA and the Niel Ciceriga mashup albums. The ladder is most of his exposure to the wider music world he was BAFFLED when he found out hendrix wasn't actually singing about furries. I also think it would be really fucking funny if his main playlist with 2010 YouTuber Core has like Kid A interspersed in there. Thom York and the party rock guys are on the exact same artistic pedestal to him (you can decide if he's a real one for that)

Okay back to the less intense headcanons. All the main ones were at the top these are just little ideas or like stupid stuff.

He would NOT BE A MYSOGINIST. NO ONE GETS MY GUY. He's the most cringefail feminist on earth he was at the women's march tripping over the asphalt and face planting 30 times and when it was over they had to pick him up with a dustpan. HER PRONOUNS ARE THEY/THEM !!!

He figured all the fnaf lore out on his own but none of the gods gave a shit so he used the peak of his power to bestow maddening visions upon Markiplier's 20th removed great Greek ancestor. Hades did the same thing to MatPat's 20th removed great Greek ancestor just to muddy the waters and spite his ex

His favorite animals are snakes, cats, and dragons. When the others find out about him Going Through It post canon, Viridi begrudgingly makes immortal replicas of a snake and cat as gifts to him for emotional support

He would use his divine resilience to go out and hug poisonous creatures and beasts because he can

He would get so upset by like made up cartoon insults like in worlds where everyone's a dragon and they call eachother a pink-tailed coward and that kind of stuff right. If he got teleported into the geronimo stilton book universe and another mouse called him a chedderface he would have to be HOSPITALIZED.

He doesn't curse a lot and only does it under very specific circumstances that tick him off like if you called spongebob annoying he would curse you out

Talks to himself alone in rooms constantly. Has ytp verbal stims.

Has a thumbtack and string board not for like anything in specific its kinda just his replacement for a journal but for a guy who tries to find the connection between the weird waiter he met at girls' night to the Aliens

I have a genre of guys I call Stray Dog Youth who are just people I think would evoke a heroic pity response from him and the urge to take them under his wing and raise them into defenders of justice. Pit. Chicken Little. Fluttershy. Shadow the Hedgehog. Timmy Turner. Gohan. Malcom in the middle maybe I never watched it. But do you see my vision here. He respects this genre of person more than any god ever

STIM LORE 🔥 fist bumps, flying around in circles, saying him catchphrases and doing him poses, playing with fire in his hands and swirling it around. He's a hup and huh and woop and oops and wup kind of guy. Sometimes he yells CHOCOLATE STARFISH!!! to himself in fred durst impression.

He polishes his forehead gem a lot to be as striking and shiny as possible

His hair starts to turn ashy at the tips and hang down when it grows longer

He respects human life more than the average god. Protecting the earth is his ultimate goal but he'll justify many questionable sacrifices to achieve that

Panromantic Asexual 💪 he does not care about flirting or sex there are horrors to quell citizen. I mean even if he wanted to he couldn't so.

Oh yeah he uses citizens generally when talking about humanity and such, but citizen turns into a nickname for Pit in particular as a sign of respect.

He gives Pit exposure therapy training after returning to earth and learning about his pyrophobia. He also has talks with Palutena, one of the first gods he develops some respect towards and one of the first people to accept him back in, since they relate to eachother over the Chaos Kin incident.

He doesn't have a real temple and he's mostly a drifter, but he did set up shop at an abandoned human temple in the middle of nowhere. WORST crib imaginable. courage the cowardly dog style PC setup. Light up gaming in progress sign. Q-bert funko pop displayed like a treasured collectable.

He would be OBSESSED with old low budget sci-fi movies and similar genres of b-movies. He thinks The Amazing Bulk is the best movie ever made ever

He would be really good at games where the rules are just entirely decided by vibes and such he can understand them thoroughly. That one video of the guys using toy phones and xylophones like a card game with gamer rage mannerisms. Calvinball. Etc.

He can go a while without sleep. When he needs to he lays back in the sky and sleeps among the stars. This has led to many flock of owls attacks followed by meteor crash landing into a god's back lawn.

THAT'S ALL I CAN THINK OF FOR NOW but yeah those are the big ones 💞 thank you for opening the gates for me to be insanecrazy about my specialist guy on the planet 😁

#pyrrhon #kid icarus #kid icarus uprising #kiu #headcanons #not art

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thepringlesofblood · 8 months

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pls help me figure out what pride flags these are

so i've been making a pride flag index just for my own personal reference and several of the picrews i've been messing with lately have pride flag backgrounds that i just can't place. i've tried looking them up, with mixed success, and i figured I could use tumblr scrying as a last resort.

putting em under the cut bc pictures big but ill link the relevant picrews ofc

important: no one make fun of or do discourse about any of these identities/flags or be mean to the picrew ppl. I just want to know the the identity(s) associated with these flags bc I enjoy knowledge. might post my full index when I can.

also. there are many (good!) online flag indices. none of them have these. i just gotta solve the mystery

from this picrew:

1 (found! it's a boyflux flag!)

2 (found! it's the ace-spectrum (or acespec) flag!)

3 (found! this is a pomogender flag)

4 (found! it's the demiboyflux flag)

5 (found! it's a disability pride flag)

then from this picrew

6 (found! it's a relatively new sapphic lesbian flag by a biracial lesbian named Lydia - 7 is the original, 6 is a variant she made to look more aesthetically pleasing)

7 (this is the original, and the above is a variant rearranged for aesthetics)

this one. has many flags. i legit couldn't get through them all. i'm choosing to just try to find these 3. it's like a ball so i extended the flags a bit to make em more recognizable.

8 (found! it's the cenelian flag!)

9 (possible identification: a combination of the toric and trixic flags?)

10 (found! it's an abroromantic flag)

lastly, from this one

11 (found! it's the new polyamorous pride flag)

will update w answers if I find them. thank you for your service picrew creators o7

UPDATE: thanks @hernymills for letting me know that 11 is the new polyamorous pride flag, and 5 is a disability pride flag!

UPDATIER UPDATE: thank you so much to @allexistencevoid for ID'ing all of these! the only mystery remaining is if 9 is indeed intended to represent both the toric and trixic communities, or if it has a different or additional meaning. @allexistencevoid identified that a combo of the toric and trixic colors were used, but neither of us have found this specific flag on its own.

I found a bunch of other flag indices through googling all of these identities too! god i love information lol

#pride #pride flag #tumblr scrying #ongoing #original post #queer #picrew #queer identity #lgbtqia #disability #disability pride #disability pride flag

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jojotichakorn · 6 months

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watched the cooking crush trailer and i will be tuning in o7

first of all, APPLE? no, i cannot stress this enough, APPLE? i fucking adore her, i am so happy to see her again!! aside from that, it looks cute, off is in glasses, and it seems like neo is getting whored out to a new actor like gods intended, so my sundays are gonna get busier starting next week

#idk if i need to clarify this but 😭 obviously im not serious about the whoring out comment; it's normal to act w/ different people #archer watches cooking crush #new tag yay!

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readyandnot · 1 year

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ready rambles~

sovereign state season one finale

part two thoughts

spoilers under the cut:

picking up right where we left off, let’s do this.

* AND HERE IT IS FOLKS, FINALLY THE REASON WHY- IT IS THE SAME AS IMPERIUM HOLY SHIT

the meridian is falling apart again!!! but what will they do to stop it? is that why project meridian was started? SO MUCH LORE AND QUESTIONS

* THE FACT THAT AVIOR IS KNOWN ALIKE RAK’XIT IS CRAZY

* so starlight is fine because E’Laetum and Minara interfered, that makes sense!

* THE FUCKING VOICES OMG IT FEELS LIKE A HORROR MOVIE; it feels like they’re circling starlight while they’re explaining it to them and dear god that’s a terrifying image.

* what sovereign is going to be sacrificed??? we don’t seem to know any other sovereigns atm

* i’m not sorry, i’m so pissed off with E’Laetum and Minara, the fact that they were empathy and serenity daemons says a lot to the actions they are taking now

* what i mean is- why did they think it was a good idea to take away starlight’s memories??? that set them back even further! if anything you’d want them to keep their memories so they would want to go back for avior and get the message!

* the fact that they PURPOSELY slowed down time so that avior could finally pull starlight back in is terrible, he has LOST HIMSELF to this place, and he’s lost everything at the point, and it’s heartbreaking.

* STARLIGHT INSULTING THEM AFTER THEY INSULTED AVIOR IS MAKING ME DECEASED- god starlight is such a badass a different breed istg, they don’t give any fucks, i love them.

* so starlights memories will be returned to them??? well hopefully that puts their relationship with avior in a much better place, and I HOPE, that that’s the start of the last part.

* i’m sorry but you two chose to suffer because you chose to sacrifice yourselves, you didn’t have to, but you had to expect there would be pain that comes with it. i want to feel bad but i can’t because seeing the effect it’s had on two people is frustrating.

* WE GET IT. MESSAGE RECEIVED. NOW SEND US BACK AND GIVE ME MY DAMN MEMORIES BACK.

wow. did not think it’d be that short lol but that must mean we’re in for a ride with this next installment. i’m not ready (no pun intended-) but i’m excited.

like i said, i hope the next one starts with starlight gaining their memories back and just, reuniting with avior in a way that is so beautiful. i really want them to be happy, and whether that’s together right now or in the future? they both just deserve happiness, and i hope we get a glimpse of that in the last part.

this has been one hell of a ride y’all, let’s see where it ends, for now ;)

ps- YOU NON BELIEVERS THINKING STARLIGHT OR AVIOR WOULD DIE FUCK OFF LMAO

we believers will always rise on top, may we always believe o7

#redacted asmr #redacted audio #redacted avior #redacted starlight #readyrambles

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copepods · 1 year

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Hopping on the bandwagon of drawing c!Wilbur with boobs as the gods intended o7

YES…..YESSSSSSSSSSSSS

#asks #anon #JOIN MEEEEE

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icharchivist · 5 months

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As someone who started Gbf during new years and got tons of draws from the Gacha roulette immediately, can confirm, it's a very good time to start. It makes it easy to build up teams and get fights done. I had a bunch of SR characters pretty much from the get go, by virtue of getting 100 free draws on my second day of playing

100 FREE DRAWS ON SECOND DAY, HOW LUCKY......

but yeah, that's so felt. I made my gbf account in summer 2019 and only came in once in a while then, but i really started to play hard in November 2019 so i was ready for free pull season - and god the haul you can get from December's Free Pulls outweight everything.

I also tried not to hype up anything yet bc we never know, but usually Granblue also give out free 100 pulls or free 200 pulls around christmas time, so it's DEFINITELY a good moment to stock on units.

It really helps a lot until you get your footing into the game and figure out how to invest into possible future banners then.

So yeah, December is Peak Season to really get playing, and i wouldn't skip it if anyone intend to start the game -- December is the season that will help you build up your inventory so you can face the game heads on.

so yeah o7 hard recommendation to start the game before December 15th to anyone who wants to try Granblue out!

#ichareply #anonymous #ichafantalks gbf

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nick-nonya · 10 months

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welcome, boy. enjoy getting an anonymous ask. may you receive many more of the concerning, perplexing, and unintentionally hilarious varieties, just as the gods intended. amen.

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bookwyrminspiration · 4 months

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You are like a book character thats just. Yeah what did i expect from a name like that bnfjfjfjf

Yo on the reading tho!?? I feel the revitalized pjo interest im staring at my pjo books like. Soon soon i will get to u (THO IM MISSING A FEW OF THEM AND I DONT KNOW WHERE THEYVE GONE. THEYVE BEEN STOLEN I SWEAR) i actually have been trying to read actual books again and!!! I finished one finally!!! Only took me like a month bmgkfkfk i finished call down the hawk and my local library is ab to murder me for how long ive had it-

Dude okay so i work at a movie theater right and ive wanted to see boy and the heron so badly ive just been so busy im staring at it and like ten other movies like pls i need free time. Other than that i got baldurs gate 3 and have been wandering through a world download for a minecraft series i like. And im once again cursed by my inability to finish fics so my solution is write all of it then post and now i have like two 15k wips just sitting in my notes app ive been trying to finish for like two years T-T

I've read so many books I've started to become them, and honestly? There are worst fates. I think I'd make a good like...wise character. Like the one the main character goes to when they have a question and I pull on information I don't explain how I got and set them on their quest or something. Or they discover a cursed magic item and they're like, well Quil probably knows something useful. And then I do.

Anyway! Congrats on the reading! I actually did so much reading, writing, and drawing the past week that I gave myself a headache three days in a row. Like I legit had to just sit for an hour yesterday doing nothing. I've been meaning to read Call Down the Hawk since it came out--I actually started it back then, but for some reason I only got to the part right after the crabs(?) in the dorm where Ronan gets kicked out, and then cries(?) in the garden(?). But I fully intend to return to it, I love the world of trc. And Ronan's my favorite. so.

and the pjo thing!! i've been blasting through them at the rate of about one a day just like oh my god I forgot how much I loved these. the writing style is just so fun. currently half-way through mark of athena, but I had to stop because I do this thing every year where the first book I read is a twilight book for shits and giggles, so I gotta finish life and death before I go back to it (i'm already about 3/4ths of the way done so not a huge detour).

Oh right the boy and the heron! I forgot I mentioned that--I saw it yesterday! I'll admit it did contribute to my headache, because big bright screen in a dark room is...not great. my laptop gives me headaches sometimes, but anyway. I don't think it's my favorite ghibli film, but it had a draw to it. it's quite beautiful, and it's thought provoking in its way. very ghibli-esque.

bg3!! I haven't played myself (doesn't seem my kind of game), but I will admit I did have a few moments of just being enraptured by astarion. which is so cliche of me, but what can I say? his dialogue was funny.

good luck with all of your fics though--I've got a handful that are just waiting to be edited before I post them. but the wings au and then gift exchanges took precedent, so they've been sitting a while. but! those are over now! so I plan to edit and finally post them soon. I've also got this kotlc book 1 but from fitz's pov project in the works I'm very excited to return to :)

anyway, it is very nice to hear from you tater!! giving you the biggest high five rn o7 spicy gatorade or something

#quil's queries #a-lonely-tatertot #long post #fun fact life and death is like the only twiIight book I haven't fully read before #i've read the ending but that's it #it's nearly identical (except for the ending). it's just a genderbend #and it is. wow it's an experience #though it did affirm my gender a little out of nowhere???#one of the minor characters is named quil. and this new she/her quil is the only one who's name stayed identical #everyone else their pronouns and name changed to something else starting with the same letter #but not quil #so. name so gender neutral even smeyer acknowledges it #although there are fewer q names in the first place. but there are others. like quinn #anyway

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kbstories · 4 years

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impression//expression

“It’s not like Kirishima had come all this way to U.A. to immediately break the promise he made to himself upon arrival.

It’s just that Bakugou is as feral as they come, and the moment Kirishima recognizes it’s fear he felt crawling up his spine that day, he makes it his personal mission to face it head-on until it’s gone.”

(Or: Being friends with Bakugou Katsuki is anything but a linear experience. Kirishima Eijirou would have it no other way.)

Tags: Kirishima POV, Developing Friendships, Domestic Fluff, Bakusquad, An Extended Scene About The Joys And Pains of Dyeing Hair

Chapter 1. Chapter 2. Chapter 3. Chapter 4. Chapter 5. Chapter 6. No additional content warnings apply. Chapter 8. Chapter 9.

***

⚡💖⛰️🎸📼

You have added Best Bakubro 💣💥!

You have changed the name from “⚡💖⛰️🎸📼” to “⚡💖💣⛰️🎸📼”!

hehehe we’re all set (sent 12:10)

welcome baku!! 💪🏻 (sent 12:10)

God 💡: 👀 (received 12:11)

Simply Mina: 👀👀 (received 12:11)

MT Tape: 👀 (received 12:11)

Best Bakubro 💣💥: shitty hair (received 12:13)

you promised!!! (sent 12:13)

no take backs 👀 (sent 12:13)

Best Bakubro 💣💥: fuck (received 12:13)

Best Bakubro 💣💥: okay two things (received 12:13)

Best Bakubro 💣💥: one i’m muting this so @ me or fuck off (received 12:14)

Best Bakubro 💣💥: two give me your names (received 12:14)

God 💡: wait srsly?? (received 12:15)

God 💡: c’mon bro it’s been months :( (received 12:15)

Simply Mina: yea wth blasty that’s so cold :(( (received 12:15)

MT Tape: answer the people explosion man @Best Bakubro 💣💥 (received 12:17)

Best Bakubro 💣💥: fine you’re staying random numbers then (received 12:18)

God 💡: OH (received 12:18)

God 💡: kaminari denki here!! (received 12:18)

MT Tape: this is sero 🙏🏻 (received 12:18)

Simply Mina: mina!!! (received 12:19)

Simply Mina: @Guitar Hero is kyoka 💖 (received 12:19)

Best Bakubro 💣💥

who? (received 12:19)

jirou!! (sent 12:19)

? (received 12:19)

🔌 (sent 12:20)

ah (received 12:20)

⚡💖💣⛰️🎸📼

Best Bakubro 💣💥: k (received 12:20)

God 💡: anyways (received 12:22)

God 💡: this is the best day of my life (received 12:22)

Best Bakubro 💣💥: shut it jolteon (received 12:22)

God 💡: dude i didn’t even @ u asdfkjsfk (received 12:22)

God 💡: wait omg is that an upgrade?? (received 12:23)

God 💡: did i get upgraded from pikachu to jolteon omg omg (received 12:23)

MT Tape: DIBS ON UMBREON (received 12:23)

MT Tape: we’re picking eeveelutions right? (received 12:23)

!!!! pls pls flareon pls!!! (sent 12:24)

Simply Mina: espeon or sylveon (received 12:24)

Simply Mina: espeon or sylveon??? (received 12:25)

Simply Mina: GUYS (received 12:25)

Best Bakubro 💣💥: this is a nightmare (received 12:25)

Best Bakubro 💣💥: and wtf espeon of course (received 12:26)

Best Bakubro 💣💥: better stats and none of that affection shit (received 12:26)

Simply Mina: the council has spoken (received 12:26)

what about flareon??? (sent 12:27)

plsplspls (sent 12:27)

Best Bakubro 💣💥: kirishima (received 12:27)

Best Bakubro 💣💥: it’s red. (received 12:28)

HELL YEAH ❤️ (sent 12:28)

Guitar Hero: hi what the HELL are you guys spamming about (received 12:30)

Guitar Hero: oh hey bakugou (received 12:30)

Best Bakubro 💣💥: plugs you’re glaceon (received 12:31)

Guitar Hero: i’m cool with that (received 12:31)

Best Bakubro 💣💥: good (received 12:31)

MT Tape: ok kiri i think i get it now (received 12:34)

MT Tape: putting every decision thru the baku filter is so much more fun (received 12:34)

right??? (sent 12:34)

Best Bakubro 💣💥: don’t fucking start (received 12:35)

Simply Mina: too late <3 (received 12:35)

God 💡: our trap card activated the moment you stepped into this chat man (received 12:36)

MT Tape: Bakugou Katsuki has been designated Chief Executive Brain (CEB) of the squad, effective immediately. (received 12:36)

Best Bakubro 💣💥: i’m leaving (received 12:37)

:( (sent 12:37)

MT Tape: … 👀 (received 12:40)

MT Tape: he ain’t leaving huh? (received 12:44)

God 💡: kiri’s puppy eyes once again confirmed as world’s strongest force (received 12:45)

Simply Mina: it’s kiri so we’re all safe tho <3 (received 12:45)

<3 (sent 12:45)

Best Bakubro 💣💥: for the record i hate all of you (received 12:46)

⚡💖💣⛰️🎸📼

Simply Mina: hey hey blasty (received 14:48)

Simply Mina: which eeveelution are you? (received 14:48)

Simply Mina: @Best Bakubro 💣💥 (received 14:50)

God 💡: 👀👀 (received 14:50)

👀 (sent 14:50)

MT Tape: 👀 (received 14:51)

Guitar Hero: ^ what they said (received 14:53)

Best Bakubro 💣💥: eevee, duh (received 14:56)

Best Bakubro 💣💥: i don’t need a type advantage to win (received 14:56)

😭 bro so manly (sent 14:56)

also (sent 14:57)

You have changed the name from “⚡💖💣⛰️🎸📼” to “🦊 Eevee Squad 🦊”!

Best Bakubro 💣💥: fucking fantastic. can we shut up now? (received 15:00)

Best Bakubro 💣💥

see? told u it’s fun 💪🏻 (sent 15:01)

i guess (received 15:02)

like i said u can just ignore the chat if ur not feeling it (sent 15:10)

they’re cool, they won’t mind (sent 15:10)

+ i’ll text u stuff directly if it’s important (sent 15:12)

kiri (received 15:12)

ok ok hhh just saying (sent 15:12)

i know (received 15:13)

you got that shit for ectoplasm yet? (received 15:17)

ummm (sent 15:17)

fucking knew it (received 15:17)

you coming or what? (received 15:22)

!!! o7 (sent 15:22)

Bakugou is staring.

Eyes on the page, Kirishima tries to focus on the function he’s been struggling to get for fifteen minutes now. Something about tangents and right angles? No, cotangents, which is different from a non-cotangent tangent because–

Bakugou has stopped writing a while ago, the fabric-covered pen resting loosely in his hand, his head propped up on a fist.

–the cosine does… something with the sine of X. Division? Maybe? X pops up in a bunch of places, actually, and Kirishima longs for the days math still featured numbers and not whatever nonsense this cos-sin-tan stuff is–

Bakugou is staring right at him, has been for ages now and Kirishima can’t help it. He looks up, only to catch Bakugou looking away, and huffs a nervous chuckle.

“Bro, c’mon. What’s up? Is there something on my face ‘cause you’ve been–”

“It’s black.” There’s a pensive twist to Bakugou’s brow. He breezes through the part of the problem Kirishima’s stuck on like it’s nothing, scribbled down in permanent ink like the monster he is. “Your natural haircolor. It’s black, right?”

“Uh, yeah?”

Kirishima picks his head up from where he’s slumped across Bakugou’s desk, the bean bag he’s sitting on shifting under his butt. Since when does Bakugou care about his hair? It hasn’t been black for over a year, anyways, so what does that have to do with…

“Wait, why do you–”

Bakugou’s eyes wander back to him, landing on Kirishima’s hair for barely a second but it’s enough. With a mortified noise, Kirishima slaps both his hands over his forehead – or more specifically, his roots.

Because Kirishima completely forgot he’s overdue on a redye for a good week and styled his hair as he usually does: gel evenly spread into carefully towel-dried strands, quirk on until it dries, done. He hadn’t looked into a mirror before heading to class or he would’ve seen his tips straying from cherry red to berry pink.

And that jet-black line where it’s growing back out. The roots that are the bane of Kirishima’s existence and that Bakugou saw.

Kirishima groans, curling into himself until his head hits wood with a dull donk. “How bad is it? Don’t spare me, bro, I need to know.”

That rhymes, the part of his brain not burning in the hellfire of shame chimes in. Kirishima firmly tells it to shut up.

“Your hair?”, Bakugou asks from an unknown realm beyond the bit of desk Kirishima’s staring at, a beat late. Probably to treat him to a glare he can’t see.

Kirishima rubs his forehead across his math homework in a miserable nod.

“It’s not more or less shitty than usual, Shitty Hair.” Bakugou scoffs. “What’s the big deal?”

“Oh, nothing”, Kirishima shrugs, his voice a fake-cheerful mumble, “Just that I’ve been walking around like this all day. A whole ass day. Kill me, now.”

“Nah. Wasn’t the idea to ‘die like a man in chivalrous battle’?”

Kirishima shoots him a dirty look. Bakugou doesn’t even bat an eye; he flashes his teeth in a bright smile and knocks his fists against each other, whispering “manly” under his breath and okay, why does Bakugou have to be good at everything, including impersonating Kirishima?

“I hate you”, grumbles Kirishima. Bakugou breaks character to cackle, only stopping after Kirishima balls up his pitiful attempt at math to throw it at his head. Bull’s eye, right on the forehead.

“Oi! That’s your homework, moron.”

“You started it”, Kirishima points at him with his pencil. His notepad is pulled closer with a deep, long sigh. “Now I gotta do this stuff again and stress about my hair. Amazing.”

Ah, the God-help-me eyeroll. It’s been a while. “Just go fucking dye it and come back if it bothers you so much. Can’t be that hard.”

“Says the blond guy”, Kirishima huffs. “Dude, do you even know how long getting rid of this” – a gesture to his roots – “takes? Black hair is a pain to bleach. Literally.”

Bakugou considers his hair with a frown. “…How long are we talking here? Like, an hour?”

A laugh, louder than Kirishima intends. “Try three. Sometimes more, it depends.”

“Three hours?!”

“Or more.”

A little smug, Kirishima watches disbelief bloom on Bakugou’s face. When it comes to this, destroying the innocence of the uninitiated is the only joy he’s got. There’s really nothing fun about sitting through those hours every six weeks, give or take – just plain, boring routine. At least he isn’t anxious about making mistakes anymore, not like his first few times.

It’s definitely worth it, though. Kirishima loves his red hair.

“And it, what. It hurts?”

Bakugou is still processing it seems, a hand going to his own hair. (It looks so soft, that even light color Kirishima has envied since the beginning of time. Such a nice base for any type of dye, especially bright ones or pastels.)

Kirishima scrunches his nose. “The developer does, yeah. Anything over 9% makes your scalp burn like crazy so I stick to 9% and do multiple rounds. I can’t go light enough for the red I want, otherwise.”

“And then the dye?”

“Then you dye it, yeah. Roots first, then the lengths in small strands, let it sit for twenty more minutes or so, rinse it out and then you’re done.”

It’s weird to explain things that have become totally obvious to him step by step, but Bakugou looks strangely fascinated by what he’s hearing. He does likes things to be more complicated than simple in basically any regard, Kirishima muses with a private snicker. Perhaps it’s not that surprising, after all.

“I use pure red on everything but you can mix colors, too, there’s a whole science behind that. And if you decide ‘Hey, I haven’t suffered enough!’, you can do individual highlights as well. But that’s a production all in itself! Ask Kami, he does some wild things to get that lightning bolt just right.”

Bakugou slowly shakes his head. “You people are crazy. That can’t be worth it.” He squints at Kirishima, hums to himself and starts nodding, instead. Vaguely terrified of what’s brewing in that brain of his, Kirishima waits for him to finish thinking.

“Let’s do it.”

There it is, a suitably terrible idea. Also: What?

“Color or highlights?” Kirishima sputters. “Wait, you or me? Bro, I can live with my own mistakes but dyeing your hair is too much pressure. Like, I’ll do it if you really want me to but, um–”

“Color. And you, obviously. Who of us is freaking out about hair, huh? Sure as fuck ain’t me.”

I’m not freaking out about it, Kirishima wants to say. Okay, he had been freaking out a little. Maybe. Not anymore, not with the mental image of Bakugou with Riot-red hair sort of making his braincells implode.

It’s impossible to imagine. Kirishima tries to anyways, fails, shakes his head. Focus!

“But…”

He draws a blank. Actually, Bakugou helping him with his hair does sound kind of fun. Until his patience inevitably runs out and he explodes the pot of dye, or something. Which could be hilarious, too.

“…Homework?”

(Not that he particularly wants to go back to puzzling over non-tangent cotangents – Ectoplasm always seems to know when he didn’t do the thing, though, and Kirishima hates disappointing his teachers more than he does the variable X.)

Bakugou sparks off in his direction. “We got three hours. 'nuff said.” He snatches up the math book they were sharing, Kirishima’s notepad and even the pencil out of his hand, and is out the room before Kirishima has fully registered they’re doing this.

“Shitty Hair!”

Kirishima jumps to his feet.

“Coming!”

“This is so damn messy. How’s your bathroom not stained to hell already?”

Coming up on their third round over his bathroom sink, Kirishima feels little sleepy as he blinks up at Bakugou. That expression of intense concentration hasn’t budged all three rounds, Bakugou’s hands steady yet gentle where they’re starting to dab red dye over freshly bleached roots.

There’s a dot of crimson on his cheek already. After forcing gloves on Bakugou and explaining to him how red pigment is the hardest to wash out – on clothes, skin, hair, wherever it lands – Kirishima isn’t inclined to point it out to him just yet.

“I asked admin about it. They said everything in our rooms is practically indestructible, including the sinks.”

“Huh.”

“Yeah, right? They thought of everything, it seems.”

Bakugou continues. Kirishima dozes.

“Your hair is dry as fuck, by the way.”

Kirishima shrugs with his eyes closed, following the nudge to turn his head so Bakugou can get to the back. This is so much more comfortable than doing it by himself.

“Can’t be helped, man. The dye by itself is fine, actually, it’s the bleach that’s causes most of the damage. Oh well, with the gel it’s hard as concrete, anyways.”

“Mhmm. You’ll go bald by the time we’re outta here.”

“Hey!”

“Bald Hero: Red Riot”, Bakugou muses out loud, easily evading the kick Kirishima blindly aims at his shin. “Stop it, you’re gonna fuck up my hard work here.”

He’s smiling though, Kirishima can tell. It’s all in his voice, roughness replaced by warmth when it’s the two of them in Kirishima’s tiny bathroom.

“Stop dissing my hair, then. Besides, I know your secret.”

This Kirishima wants to see. He opens one eye and yup, Bakugou’s brows are doing the thing where they twitch and pull together. Not exactly a frown, more caught off guard than anything. Bakugou’s lips press shut, stubbornly silent as he brushes dye on every inch of Kirishima's hair.

Then: “I’m done. What am I s’posed to do with this shit?”

Kirishima glances at the pot Bakugou holds out to him. There’s still some of the thick liquid left.

“Just pour it on top. Can’t hurt and it’s better than throwing it away.”

Bakugou does exactly that. He tosses the empty pot and the thoroughly stained brush into the sink. Kirishima helps him wrap his hair in cellophane and a towel to reduce the possible mess, relocating to the closed lid of his toilet so Bakugou can take off the gloves and wash his hands.

“Okay, I’ll fucking bite. What secret?”

Lingering on the tension between them, Kirishima grins with all the confidence in the world. “That you like my hair.”

Bakugou barks a laugh. “After I went all Van Gogh on it? You better believe it’s good.”

“Nope, I mean before that”, Kirishima challenges.

“Proof?”, Bakugou shoots back without hesitation.

“Oh, I can give you proof.” Kirishima’s arms cross over the ratty shirt he always wears for this, its fabric dotted and streaked in interlacing shades of red. “One, it’s the first thing you noticed about me, hence ‘Shitty Hair’. Two, you were distracted by my roots growing in so you pay attention to how it looks–”

“I don’t–”

“–and three, you just spent hours dyeing it for me.”

Bakugou’s mouth snaps shut. He growls in his throat, grabbing an additional towel and drying his hands. Kirishima wasn’t aware those are actions that can be done aggressively but hey, he’s learning something new every day.

“Maybe”, Bakugou finally concedes. The towel is thrown in Kirishima’s face when all he does is smile. “Shut up.”

“I didn’t say anything.”

Bakugou’s cheeks are dusted pink. Still, Kirishima shows the guy some mercy: Bakugou spent all afternoon fixing both his hair and his math homework, after all.

“Hey, Baku?”

“… What?”

“Thanks, man. You’re a good friend, you know that?”

Somehow, that makes Bakugou look even more flustered. “Whatever, Shitty Hair.”

Because Bakugou is Bakugou, namely a man who doesn’t know when or how to quit, he sticks around until Kirishima can rinse out the dye. He emerges from the shower feeling fully restored, a towel wrapped around his waist and his shirt draped over his shoulder.

“And that’s how you do it.”

Bakugou throws him a look from his sprawl on Kirishima’s bed, manga in hand. His gaze flicks to his hair immediately; his lips twist upwards, obviously satisfied.

“Told ya, it ain’t hard.”

Kirishima chuckles, shakes his head. “You’re so full of shit, dude.”

Now that the hair situation is under control for a few weeks, he realizes how hungry he is. The evening has barely begun, too, which means there’s time for a movie before Bakugou’s ridiculous sleep schedule comes a-knocking, either taking him out or making him cranky. Each scenario has about a fifty-fifty chance of happening.

“Hey, you wanna–”

Out of nowhere, his door bursts open to reveal one Kaminari Denki, out of breath and clutching a very familiar book to his chest.

“Kiri! Please tell me you guys figured out the–”

His eyes fall first on the splattered shirt on Kirishima’s shoulder, the trails of watery red dripping from his hair to his naked chest – and then on Bakugou, hands stained a faint red despite the gloves, that smear of color on his cheek Kirishima forgot to tell him about still very much there.

“Is that blood? What happened? Oh my–” Kaminari gasps. “Did you kill somebody?! Oh fuck, we have to hide the bo–”

“Kami”, Kirishima tries between bouts of laughter, “No, what the hell!”

A familiar cackle behind him does absolutely nothing to help their case.

>>Chapter 8.

#boku no hero academia #my hero academia #bnha #mha #bakugou katsuki #kirishima eijirou #kiribaku #bnha fanfiction #tumblr will 100% kill the formatting #this fic is also on AO3!! (again the format......)#anyhow final stop in fluff land before we dive into more angst next time :3c #my stuff

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heligooddeals · 5 years

Text

There's a kind of love...

Over yonder in the land of Discord, via the Sanctuary Social, Blackguard and Sideswipe ( @wily-red-and-galeforce-gold ) do something... special. ♥

Transcript undercut.

NOTE: I’m leaving mun and muse user handles to help distinguish who wrote what (although I think it’s easy to tell @wily-red-and-galeforce-gold‘s mastery apart from my mess). I am user Muddy, and Blackguard is user flyingbusiness. Wily is user Wily, and Sideswipe is user Recklessinred.

Muddy

flyingbusiness: I need to see you flyingbusiness: ASAP

Wily

Recklessinred: of course! As soon as I get released. What's up?

Muddy

flyingbusiness: I need to talk to you in person.

Wily

Recklessinred: is everyone ok? Recklessinred: give me like half a day. I'mma talk my way out of the medbay. I'm like 90 Percent better Recklessinred: that's a passing grade

Muddy

flyingbusiness: We're okay. It's not an emergency. flyingbusiness: I just... realized I need to do something and it's important you're around for it.

Wily

Recklessinred: oh! Surprises! I like those =D

Muddy

flyingbusiness: Good flyingbusiness: I hope this one lives up to the hype

Wily

Recklessinred: I'm free \o/

Muddy

flyingbusiness: Good! flyingbusiness: Now get your aft over here

Wily

Recklessinred: yes ma'am. OMW

Muddy

[coordinates, because their position of space has changed slightly]

Wily

Recklessinred: o7 Recklessinred: gimme like 30 minutes and I'll be there

Muddy

Thirty minutes; The perfect amount of time to make something feel short yet agonizingly long at the same time.

Blackguard tries to keep herself busy and distracted from the wait time by tidying up the various livable rooms of Crossfire, starting with the mess hall because it had initially seemed like the best place to sit down with Sideswipe. When it dawns on her just how trashy the room is for what she intends to do though she hurries to the office-living room, cleaning there until she realizes it's just too big and not nearly private enough. Then she glances over at her berthroom, wondering if would be appropriate to invite him there since it was the most private she had available but also HER room.

Lug stretches out on the floor behind her with a great big groan and sigh, drawing her attention over to him, and her optics naturally pass over the viewing windows as she looks. As she gazes out into the stars, wondering just how and where she's going to bare her soul to Sideswipe, an idea hits her and she eagerly looks to the ceiling. "Crossfire?"

"Yes, Blackguard?"

"Can you still do the magnetic thing? You know - when you keep someone grounded to the floor or to your form if we're outside?"

"Yes." A thoughtful hum passes through the whole ship before he asks, "Are you intending to go outside, Blackguard?"

"I am. If Sideswipe's clear to go anyway. So we'll see, okay? And don't say anything to him."

"Your secret is safe with me, Blackguard."

Wily

It doesn't take him too long to make his way over. In fact, for once he's actually early, and hadn't been sidetracked or turned around. But there were a couple of reasons for that.

For starters he genuinely just enjoyed hanging out with Blackguard. So heck yeah he was gonna come over when invited!

Secondly, he was curious.

Curious about what she wanted to see him about. He had an incessant to know, and curiosity was a constant driving force that ate away at him. You can't just ask him to come over, then cryptically proceed to tell him nothing. That could have meant a plethora of things. Was something going on? Was this all code to proceed with the loose haphazard plan to bust Blackguard out of her house arrest sentence? Was something wrong? Was it something innocuous like "hey I was bored, wanna watch a movie and eat this cool new snack I ordered?" Maybe it was a fun surprise.

Honestly though? Regardless of the reason, her asking was enough to summon him.

So here he is.

Arrive he does, popping in to the ship, only mildly nauseous from the bridge trip. He announces himself with a weak but cheery, "Knock knock!

Muddy

A low rumble rolls through the ship when Sideswipe materializes within the supreme and Blackguard trills at the noise; Curious as to what had Crossfire making such a noise, then excited when she realized what/who it was.

"Coming!" She makes haste for the stairs to meet him on the lower deck, eager to get things going but now also mildly concerned for his health. He didn't sound so hot a moment ago and considering the state he had been in not that long ago...

"Hey." She walks up to him with as much casualness as she can muster, kneeling down to give him a loose hug and take a quick inspection of his shoulder. "How are you? Are you okay? You sounded kind of off earlier."

Wily

Don't worry, Blackguard. It's kind of difficult to tell if people are acting a little antsy when your world just tilted sideways. But he'll be fine. He needs a moment.

"I'm fiiiiine," He says a little airily and leans heavily into the hug. Maybe she meant to keep it loose and casual, but he's going to cling a little. Because it helps keep the world from spinning. "All fixed up!" And a little motion sick but maybe if he pretended he wasn't it would go away quicker.

But even after the vertigo ebbs he doesn't let go right away. Instead he tips his helm up, and offers a cheeky grin. "Hi."

"Sooooo," He stage whispers, "Gonna tell me the secret before I actually combust? I wanna knoooow."

Muddy

"Sure, sure." If Sideswipe wants a HUG then, by god, he's getting a HUG. It's not like they're hard to give (especially with their drastic size difference) and Blackguard is always happy to give and receive those kinds of hugs. She'll be mindful of his shoulder though and keep the squeezing around it to a minimal. Everything else on the other hand? It's all getting squeezed to death and then some until he starts wiggling around. Then she'll ease up, look back at him, and hum affectionately.

"Hi." She shifts, easing back on the embrace and carefully resting her hands over his shoulders, then gets down on both knees and sits back on her legs. "So... You're... One of the best mechs I've ever known, and probably one of the best friends I've ever had." A humorless laugh escapes her and she looks at the floor a moment before forcing herself to look back at him. "And that's not really saying much because I've had some really worthless ones too. But, you're good. You're more than good. You're... You're perfect honestly. You're kind, and wonderful, and--" Air hitches in her vents and she lets out another laugh, this one genuine. It's hard to speak with all these emotions bubbling up and getting caught in her throat, so she blurts out: "Will you be my amica endura?"

Wily

They're almost optic to optic like this. Him swaying as he stands, while she kneels and puts them at a more equal standing. Their size difference is comical but the companionship is comfortable. Especially now that the last waves of vertigo have burned away. Instead that tilting sick feeling fades, and it’s replaced by curiosity, and a breezy sort of excited energy. He’s not sure what for yet, but there’s anticipation. He’s smiling boyishly, excited by the things he might be told whatever that might be. Secrets? Something new? Was it time for plan 'jail break.’? Maybe it was nothing important at all and even that was fine. Whatever it was he was ready. He was- …

He wasn't ready for that.

First it was the nice words. Sweet words that even now were always like little surprises. He craved them the little positive reinforcements.

The positive things, and assurances... that he was good. That someone important saw him that way, despite seeing some of the worst of him. That gave his spark a squeeze.

He didn't let his thoughts linger on that too much. Instead he basked in the nice things, albeit a little confused, his grin making his cheeks hurt.

But as much as it warmed him to hear, it was... he wasn't sure what to say? So he ducked his helm, and laughed a little sheepishly. "Pffffft, you've got a weird definition of perfect. Ha...."

A pause. "You really consider me one of your best friends? Wow, I don't know what I did but go me! I mean you're pretty great your-"

And then he hears what she asks.

And then he thinks for a moment to remember what that is.

And his face does something complicated. Bemusement. Realization. A smile, because he figures it out! The smile gives way to shock as it hits him what it all means put together.

And then articulately-

-he proceeds to say nothing.

And in stunned silence he stares.

Muddy

She figured he would be like this - to a point. After he cried and submitted to her temporary grounding because of the last confession she gave to him, it was easy to anticipate a similar reaction to this confession. She didn't think he'd fall victim to a blue screen of death however and became mildly concerned when he suddenly cut himself off, giving no indication that the thought would continue or be derailed by another any time soon. Part of her even began to worry that this was a calm before a storm and rejection was looming on the horizon, but she did her best to ignore the insecure thought. She and Sides were good.

Probably.

Hopefully.

"Sides?" Tilting her helm, she rubs her hand over his good shoulder and brightens her visor. "You still with me?"

Wily

He blinks almost owlishly, the hand smoothing over his shoulder nudging some life back into him.

"Uhuh," He answers softly, with a distracted nod. Still, even hazy as he sounds, his optics are still wide and locked on her.

It's a weird sensation. A swelling in his chest, and a knot in his throat, and like all of his systems collectively seized into uselessness on him. It's warm, and cold, and he likes it, but he doesn't understand it and it's a lot. It's a lot, even if it's not showing that it's a lot. Not yet. The bewilderment is keeping everything at bay.

Eventually his brows knit, and a thousand things are flitting through his head, but the only thing he can snag from the chaos is-

"Why?"

The 'me' is unspoken, but hangs there.

Muddy

"Why.. what?" She mimics his question with her one, tilting her helm a few degrees more before straightening it out. "Like, why do I want to do this? Or..?"

Wily

"I...yeah? But... Why me?" He's still looking at her with that confusion in his optics. There's a fight in his head. Some creeping warm thing at war with incomprehension. It's an odd strain and maybe that's why his voice cracks in a way that's equally confusing. "Why would... why would you want this with me? I don't-"

Muddy

Relief washes over while a dagger simultaneously twists itself in her spark chamber. This wonderful, thoughtful, kind, loving, caring, fun, hilarious, and energetic mech was asking because he didn't understand why he'd qualify for such an honorable position? Clearly she needs to be a better friend - amica - to him then, so he'd understand exactly why he and he alone was the best mech she's known.

"Sideswipe." She cooes, dimming her visor to a gentle 'smile' as she cups the sides of his face, ready to whick any tears he might shed. "Why wouldn't I want to do this? Out of everyone I've ever called my amica, you're the only mech I've really felt... Good about saying it too. The only one I'd be saddened if I lost forever because it'd mean I failed SPECTACULARLY at being a worthy friend. And I would like to keep you around forever, if at all possible." She laughs, visor glowing a shade brighter. "There's literally no one else I'd want to bear my spark to either. Out of everyone, you deserve that part of me. I owe you that much, I think."

Wily

He stares at her in awe.

She thought all of that about him? But...he was chaotic. Impulsive. Naiive about some things, and too practiced in others. Practiced in not great, destructive things. To hear what she had to say so succinctly like that? It was-

It wasn't surprising though.

She had such things to him before. In snippets. In a longer sparkfelt moment. Still, to hear it now with such earnestness and warmth... it hit him square in those vulnerable things, soothing over them with the reminder that people thought he was good. Even though he was flawed.

She knew he was flawed. And still cared for him. For the all of him.

Like he cared for her. The all of her. The wry humor, the patience, the worry she showed in her own way, the exasperation, the silliness, the vulnerability and highs and lows, the give and the take-

People he cared about, cared about him too. And he knew that. Of course he did, but sometimes a reminder had a way of sneaking up on you before blindsiding you with something raw.

Affection. Wonder. Why wonder though? He knew these things didn't he? But sometimes things being spelled out-

She thought all of that of him? She deemed him that important to her?

That was kind of amazing. But it was a surprise, and not a surprise in equal measure.

Because they were friends right? Slowly, gradually, over time they got to this point. Somewhere odd, but strangely comfortable and obvious right?

"Oh," He manages to get out a watery laugh. His vision is misting but he's all grins again. A bright smile has broken across his face as the confusion is blown away by something giddy.

He slips past the hands on his cheeks, and gives her a hug again. Because why not? How could he not? Not with this odd happy buzz coursing through his lines. The tears would just have to get free reign for a bit. "Neat. Cool. So what do I have to do? Does this mean I get to be one of your 'super best friends?'"

Muddy

Arguably, she was rushing into things - like she had done before and always seemed to do, especially with amica endurae. Jitter had earned the title from her because they were both mechs stumbling into the multiverse and wanted to have an amica to count on if they ever got lost or overwhelmed. Blackout was rewarded with the title after he had taken initiative to search for her while she was lost in the grey and took care of Rigel and Starflare in her absence. Megatron became her amica because he was always willing to act as a pillar of strength for her when disaster struck.

But then Jitter found love and ran away while Blackout became jealous and hateful, and when Megatron got busy with rebuilding Cybertron Blackguard started to wonder if it was them or her. In some cases fault could be found with them, but in all of the cases she was at fault. She rushed into everything, she declared love for them because they had helped her, and made that dependency the foundation of their relationship. It was why she started pushing Sideswipe (and others) away when Redstrike left to go to war; She didn't want to be dependent on them, to fall back into the cycle of rushing into things, and making a moment into a bigger deal than it actually was.

But Sideswipe pushed back. He insisted he was capable of helping her, of comforting her, and doing whatever she needed if she'd only ask for it first - or nothing at all if she truly wanted that. Whatever she needed, he'd provide because they were friends and that's what friends did for each other.

And she cracked.

Maybe this was another disaster in the making. Maybe she was rushing into something again. Maybe they were doomed but she didn't care. She loved him now and he loved her in return, and that was all that mattered at the moment.

"Oh." She mimics him, teasing because it was such a simple word that somehow said so much. Oh, that's why. Oh, wow, you really do care. Oh, this is really happening.

Her arms quickly wrap themselves around him again, falling back into the usual position of an all-consuming, lovingly crushing hug that she had grown use to giving him. A little extra squeeze was given as she chuckles, tickled by his adorable questions and feeling a wave of warmth spread through her frame. "Yeah, you're going to be one my super best friends. And all you have to do is stand back from me a bit, okay?"

Wily

He shakes his helm at the request, but makes no move to let go. Not at first. He allows himself to remain anchored to her for at least a good couple of minutes before he finally relents, tries to wipe his face on his shoulder (the tears just smear), and shuffles back.

Amica Endura. This isn't a title that existed where he was from, and he only learned about it recently. And maybe that unfamiliarity didn't give the words the same weight that they held elsewhere. The same kneejerk meaning.

They didn't need to.

No, the fact that they meant something meaningful to Blackguard, was enough to make it meaningful to him. It meant something to her, and was something precious from where she was from and she was willing to share that with him. That spoke volumes.

Even if titles weren't as clear to him friendship was.

Friendship was a simple yet complicated thing after all. An intricate collection of thousands of little moments and feelings, good and bad that summed together made a bond. A meaningful bond. Through thick or thin right? Like a collection of little threads that could strengthen or fray. It wasn't always easy to maintain them, but they could be added too and the resulting bonds were more than worth it. The care and love and shared experiences good and bad were worth it.

So he didn't know what to expect. He didn't know the customs, and barely remembered the title 'Amica Endura' meant a moment ago. But nevertheless, as a giddy anticipation burned through him. As the knot in his throat grew, he stood expectently and waited. Albeit a little antsy. "Like this?"

Muddy

A couple of seconds versus a couple of minutes versus a couple of hours; There's not much difference between the three beats of time in comparison to the long lasting lifespan of a Transformer. So when you've got two mechs who thrive off of physical affection, extended hugs are bound to happen without anybody noticing or complaining about them - especially in rare moments like these where trouble was put off to the side and happiness was brought to focus. Happiness, and love.

"Just like that." Blackguard assures, 'smilingly' brightly, and resettles into her knelt position before closing her optics. Drawing in a long cycle of air, she holds the breath in her system for a moment before slowly releasing it, the multiple layers of protective metal and plating on her chassis folding back as she exhaled until there was nothing - absolutely nothing - between her spark and Sideswipe.

She opens her optics then casts away her visor, looking directly at him as the light of her spark illuminates his face.

"I bid you stand in the glow of my spark that you may feel the heat of my words and know them to be true. I invite you to receive my light and in doing so becoming Amica Endura—from now until forever. For your kindness and your love of life, both your's and everyone around you. For your boundless energy and your endless humor. For your optimism and your hope." Her digits twitch and in an act of impulse, Blackguard takes Sideswipe's hands in both of hers, then squeezes them. "As you are to me, may I be to you—today, tomorrow, and always."

Wily

He's stunned.

It takes a moment for his helm to catch up with what he's seeing. He hears the mechanisms in her plating unlatch and fold back. Then there's a light washing them both out, bleaching their colors pale.

Oh.

It's the light of the all of her. And he doesn't know what to do.

Plenty of people had seen Sideswipe's spark before. Mostly during medical checks or as they peiced him back together. So for the longest time Sideswipe knew that exposing it was something that should be avoided simply from a survival perspective.

In the last few years he had learned that there could be more to it than that. He had learned the other implications. What it meant to others to show this part of you. In a variety of ways. He learned through listening, talking, and growing with a love.

Your spark was everything you were. Your core. Your soul. If some were to believed an imprint of your memories. Showing it meant you were at your most vulnerable. To expose it to someone willingly...that meant trust, right? An immense trust.

He didn't know what to expect for this, what she would do, but he hadn't expected this. So, snaps back to the present, pieces together the implications, and it makes him feel lightheaded. Bowled him right over again.

So he stands there brows knitted, optics wide as the air catches in his vent. He tries to say something, but can't. But that's fine because Blackguard is talking instead... Making a pledge of friendship that thunders in his helm, and makes his bottom lip wobble.

So he sucks in a breath, and forgets the curtain of cleanser welled in his optics because it doesn't really matter if he can see. It's really bright anyways.

"I," there for sure are tears but he's never been one to be ashamed to feel things. Why should he? Especially when those things are happy. "I... I don't know what to- You mean all that? I- what am-? Am I supposed to do something back? Like trust falls? I-"

So for a moment he fidgets and panics, and flusters about feeling suddenly on the spot because he's not sure what he should be doing with himself. But if it's a show of trust-

He finally exhales, and his own plating fold back exposing his own light. Spinning like a young star behind the crystal casing, before that shifts back too.

He suddenly looks a little unsure and teary, but still awed under it all. "Um. I'm not whole like you are, and I just have the pieces but..um... samesies?"

A pause.

"....Wow. That was lame of me. Did I just ruin the thing?"

Muddy

In hindsight, Blackguard realizes a little too late that she should have gone over the intricacies of the ritual with him and spare him the feeling of being lost and overwhelmed in a foreign ceremony. It would have been the polite and intelligent thing to do anyway, but her eagerness to move forward with him pushed aside any and all forethought she could have had at the moment and hurdled them both into the ritual without any hesitation.

That kind of made things a little more special though too, in its own unique way. No two proposals she had previously gone through were the same, but this one was now a special little case of its own because she chose to bare her spark to him and cite the amicable chant, which she hadn't done for the others, and he returned the gesture. It was an unnecessary but wholesome move that forever made the moment special in her spark.

"No." She laughs and pulls one of her hands back to wipe at her optics a moment, whisking away the joyful tears that refused to stop leaking out despite her best efforts to keep them locked down. "No, you did great. What you said was perfect, Sides. Thank you."

And with nothing left to say, with all their love and their truths and their souls laid out, Blackguard pulls Sideswipe in for one last hug - carefully, to keep her spark from lining up with his and doing things it needn't do between them. It still reacts to the presence of another though, glowing brighter as if to reach out with its light, and burning hot in her core. She ignores the urges it feeds her and squeezes with all the strength she dare to use on the little lambo, turning to 'kiss' the top of his helm. "Thank you, Sideswipe. For everything."

Wily

The hug is more than a relief. It's an assurance that he didn't mess up. But more than that it gave him something to do with all that building excited energy. So he clings to her again, teary and laughing even though he doesn't completely understand why. But this feels important.

His crystal casing folds back over his spark, shattering the light through it's surface. And eventually chest plates follow, but even with the light of the room dimmer he's still so very bright.

He feels the press to his helm and laughs, watery as it sounds. "Thanks? I should thank you too." For not writing him off as a dumb kid. For listening. For being there.

He cuddles closer before tipping his helm up, "Sorry for improvising. So is it official? Super special friend status?"

Muddy

"We're official." Another 'kiss' is pressed to the side of his helm and Blackguard gives him one last loving squeeze before pulling away - if only to get enough space to cover up her sparkchamber without pinching him in the process. "Super special best amica friends for life. Or until you get sick of me." She hums, pulling him back in and rocking him around for a bit. "Cause unfortunately for you, I like you too much to get tired of you. So you're stuck with me forever."

Wily

He's laughing, and teary. Once her chest closes back up, as if magnitized, he falls right back against her so those hugs can resume. He doesn't want to let go. Not yet, when he feels flooded by that affection he so desperately craves. "Usually *sniff* I'm the one saying that. So I guess that means you're stuck with me until you get sick of me too."

And you know? He was fine with that. For the long haul, if it meant more moments that felt like this

#wilyredandgaleforcegold #wilyredandgaleforcegold; Sideswipe #There's A Kind Of Love RP

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radiojamming · 5 years

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DJs RDR2 Writing Masterpost

did this with FC5 and it helped my organization a ton. o7 i haven’t written much for this fandom yet, but i have a few prompts in my inbox that i’m hoping to take care of soon. o/

prompts are open! regular ask box here; NSFW ask box here.

ARTHUR/READER or ARTHUR/OC

Arthur sucks snake venom out of the reader’s leg, kind of

Lawrence (OC) being sort of badass in front of Arthur

Reader takes care of a very, very sick Arthur

ARTHUR/JAVIER

Cuddling for warmth in the snow

First kiss

JAVIER/READER or JAVIER/OC

Josie (OC) and Javier do a fakeout makeout

MISC.

Josie (OC) accidentally robbing a train with Arthur

Cody (FC5 OC) in the RDR2 universe, being a gremlin as god and nature intended

Waves Wash Over - Time loop AU (Arthur/Charles and Arthur/John/Abigail)

Hit the Boards - Vaudeville AU (Arthur and a hell of a lot of people)

NSFW below the cut

Arthur/Reader - Sexytimes follow-up to the venom sucking fic

John/Arthur - Being stuck in a tiny, tiny shed and having lots of tension

Javier/Charles/Reader - Outdoor sneaky threesome

(Headcanon) Arthur reacting to praise

#rdr2 #red dead redemption 2 #rdr2 fic #long post #masterpost #trying to keep myself organized #also when i do this sometimes it's v encouraging for getting my ass to write more stuff

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ac-liveblogs · 2 years

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I havent done the last one yet (cutting it fine) but I did do the first three sidequests and I somehow enjoyed it all.

Itto really is a great character, and elevates the whole quest, though I wish i could have delivered the soy free drink to him myself. (Also, I can't believe that they didnt just do his death animation for when he fell over. Missed opportunity much?)

But the uh, small girls are also quite cute! Like there's not much substance but god u just wanna pinch their cheeks. I've never actually seen a narrative succeed off of sheer cuteness before. I feel like my standards fell three floors this day. It scares me.

From how Raiden went, though, (and how theyre 50% a thousand year old loli) I'm guessing the dendro archon will be genshin's first bad small girl. o7 it was a good run HYV. Time for you to lose the only thing you have over FGO. Non-sexualised kids.

Me, who works with kids, staring at Klee: "I have no idea if I should be worry about your developmental level or not and your legal guardians concern me. Go to school. Make friends your own age."

Perhaps not the intended takeaway.

The quests this time were inoffensively bland. I was fine with them, even if I wish they'd done a little more. Klee's was best overall imho - I liked the storybook narrative and the payoff at the end, though I wish we'd spent more time with Albedo. I love myself too much to finish Sara's. They do bode well for future events, even if I wish they'd be more adventurous.

Yeah, as a Chinese game I would be absolutely shocked if Genshin goes the loli/shotacon route. I mean, look at the drama over the new female costumes recently, there’s no way that’ll happen. FGO's chinese servers actually censored their underage or underage-presenting/appearing female characters. That doesn't mean they won't continue to have generic moe appeal, though.

....well, FGO never had ads like this, at least.

#ac plays genshin impact #you know it's actually really hard for me to think an anime moe kid is cute #there needs to be substance and genshin. lol.#i still need to finish gorous' quest dang

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gizkasparadise · 6 years

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After a few moments, he lifts his arm, then tenses. Rey lets out a slow breath. It’s alright, she concedes to herself. It’s alright. Kylo’s arm stays still for another moment, before he moves it along its planned path. His hand hovers above her waist. Rey waits, before tucking her head under his chin. At her silent permission, his arm shifts to her back and pulls her tightly against him. His hand flexes between her shoulder blades, his fingertips sliding into her hair. GIVE ME ALL TH FEELS

ALL THE FEELS! god im a terrible author because i could not, for the life of me, remember what chapter this was in BUT I FOUND IT!! o7!

I was fully intending The Death of Kylo Ren to 100% be a ~unacted love story~ sort of like the dynamic between V and Evie in V for Vendetta. throughout the fic, there’s more of an emphasis on being close and having a quiet intimacy above having sex. a lot of their physical contact is hesitant on both ends, and this is continued through with this scene

After a few moments, he lifts his arm, then tenses. dude is s t r e s s e d. he’s waiting for her to scream at him, or cut him off from the bond, or otherwise banish him at any moment. there’s a lot of Rejection Complex happening on his end

Rey lets out a slow breath. It’s alright, she concedes to herself. It’s alright. this could be taken one of two ways, and i left it somewhat ambiguous on purpose. either it means it’s alright for Kylo to touch her, or she’s alright with letting go of the tight control she has on the situation for a moment.

Kylo’s arm stays still for another moment, before he moves it along its planned path. His hand hovers above her waist. again, tense. not touching until rey gives the first indication that she wants him to. i wanted to contrast how much of a impulsive mess he can be when fighting with the really slow deliberate moves he makes with rey in these situations

Rey waits, before tucking her head under his chin. that’s kind of like her go-to snuggle move with him. it happens throughout all three ficsAt her silent permission, his arm shifts to her back and pulls her tightly against him. His hand flexes between her shoulder blades, his fingertips sliding into her hair. again, it’s more about intimacy then anything that’s necessarily sexual. he just wants to hold her right now, the big ole sap

thank you for commenting!

#fanfic #reylo #series: crossroads #crossroads #asks!#Anonymous

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verdigrisprowl · 6 years

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Dec 19 Odothon Part 8 - DS9 S7E17 S7E18 S7E19 S7E20 S7E21 S7E22 S7E23 S7E24 S7E25

At last, the marathon that Soundwave has been showing Prowl is over. The star of their viewings, an unpopular law enforcement officer who’s been grappling with the discoveries that his home planet is 1) full of murderous conquerors bent on galactic domination, and 2) about to die off, has decided what to do about his ailing, awful species: cure them completely, and go home to try to teach them to be better people.

Prowl’s furious.

It doesn’t work like that. It’s not that easy. It’s a waste of time and a waste of effort and it just allows a rusty tumor that’s slowly corroding the galaxy to get stronger. One person can’t possibly hope to change a culture like that. It isn’t possible. People don’t get nice little happy endings like that.

... But. But. Now, he’s thinking about it.

ItsyBitsySpyers 5:09 pm *He's going to beat Prowl to it today. He's going to ping first. Rapidfire string of five.* FakeProwl 5:09 pm *He arrives between the third and fourth.* FakeProwl 5:10 pm Hold on, I wasn't actually upstairs yet. *He just kind of stopped walking in the middle of the doorway to turn on his avatar. He goes idle a moment.* ItsyBitsySpyers 5:11 pm *Soundwave shakes his helm in amusement and parks himself on the couch, cubes nearby.* FakeProwl 5:12 pm *Right! Optics bright again and claims his seat.* Ready. ItsyBitsySpyers 5:13 pm [[Good. There is one he thinks could be important, but we must finish this story today, so he will let you go back to it in your own time. There is also one to summarize.]]

[[Section 31 - the Federation's hidden spy organization - returns and demands Bashir gather data on key Romulan figures during a military and medical conference, intending to control who rises to power to preserve Federation interests. Sisko asks Bashir to agree, hoping to publicly expose them. Unfortunately, Bashir's work plays directly into their hands.]] FakeProwl 5:14 pm Mhm? ItsyBitsySpyers 5:15 pm [[Yes. They get their mole elected while doing what the humans call "throwing someone under the bus" to another senator who was already interested in helping.]]

[[And we begin.]] FakeProwl 5:18 pm {{S7E17 Penumbra: Part 1}}

... His mother is related to the wormhole aliens? ItsyBitsySpyers 5:19 pm [[Yes.]] FakeProwl 5:19 pm Hm. That explains why they like him so much. ItsyBitsySpyers 5:20 pm [[And why they expect so much of him.]]

[[He will be cutting out scenes in the next few tapes. They are somewhat important, but not greatly. The newest Dax host secretly leaves to rescue Worf, who is missing and stranded. They will be captured by the Breen aliens after she finds him.]] FakeProwl 5:24 pm ... About the Docks alien. I've never gotten a clear explanation. It's a parasite that lives in other people and passes its memory down across its hosts, correct? FakeProwl 5:26 pm *That was an extremely subtle way to propose. Prowl approves. Excellent job.* *I mean, he made it explicit after that. But if he'd left it at "I want it to be /our/ house" it would have been the most understated proposal Prowl's ever seen.* ItsyBitsySpyers 5:27 pm [[It is a symbiont, not a parasite, but yes. The host species and the worm species willingly work together. Those interested in becoming a host train hard and are well-screened.]] FakeProwl 5:27 pm ... People /volunteer/ to have someone else move into their body? I suppose someone has to enjoy it. ItsyBitsySpyers 5:28 pm [[The hosts are not mentally destroyed. They benefit from years upon years of experience, often retaining past skills and memories.]] FakeProwl 5:30 pm Roommates are hell. ItsyBitsySpyers 5:31 pm [[They can be.]] *This puffing is Soundwave chuckling to himself.* ItsyBitsySpyers 5:32 pm [[Some more than others.]] FakeProwl 5:32 pm *Sideways glance at Soundwave* Do /you/ have any? ItsyBitsySpyers 5:33 pm [[Not the kind you've been saddled with. Not the kind the Trill have. But he lives with seven others, and even without them around there is almost always a stream of other voices passing through his head.]] FakeProwl 5:34 pm Visitors. ItsyBitsySpyers 5:35 pm [[Of the longest-term variety.]] ItsyBitsySpyers 5:37 pm [[But, as he said. Some more than others. He knows yours falls under "more".]] FakeProwl 5:38 pm ... If the wormhole aliens weren't going to let him get married, it would have been nice of them to let him know before he proposed. {{S7E18 Til Death Do Us Part: Part 2}} ItsyBitsySpyers 5:39 pm ((WHOOP i forgot you were doing that. i'll catch the rest)) FakeProwl 5:39 pm ((o7)) ItsyBitsySpyers 5:39 pm [[It would have been. That is the problem with beings existing in non-linear time, he supposes.]] FakeProwl 5:40 pm If they're in non-linear time then couldn't they have seen the proposal coming and said something first? ItsyBitsySpyers 5:41 pm [[You'd think so.]] FakeProwl 5:41 pm *Ah, Prowl finally gets to see this Kai Winn he keeps being told about.* ItsyBitsySpyers 5:42 pm ((say hi to Nurse Ratched btw)) ItsyBitsySpyers 5:44 pm [[During these cuts, the Breen aliens torture Worf and Dax for information.]] FakeProwl 5:44 pm Very rude. ItsyBitsySpyers 5:45 pm [[Understatement.]] ItsyBitsySpyers 5:49 pm [[He does not understand why Sisko did not tell her right away. She is clearly excited about becoming his companion. Her hopes will have been built.]] FakeProwl 5:51 pm Fear of her pain when she's told. Short-sighted, yes, but still daunting. ItsyBitsySpyers 5:51 pm [[But waiting created more.]] FakeProwl 5:52 pm ... Were the prophets telling her that she needs to be guided by /Docket/? Why in the world...? ItsyBitsySpyers 5:53 pm [[All in time.]] FakeProwl 5:54 pm I'm hoping it's to screw her over. ItsyBitsySpyers 5:55 pm [[You dislike her.]] FakeProwl 5:55 pm You haven't talked her up. ItsyBitsySpyers 5:57 pm [[She does not deserve to be talked up.]] *Soundwave starts to lean toward Prowl, waiting to see if he'll be allowed to complete it.* [[And he is not complaining. He dislikes her too. He's just used to too many excusing all who bear religious power.]] FakeProwl 6:00 pm You're speaking to a mech who's made a career out of arguing with Primes, and who recently decided to cut out the middle man and argue directly with Primus. FakeProwl 6:02 pm ... Docket must be fuming on the inside. He's putting up a good act of gratitude. ItsyBitsySpyers 6:02 pm [[That is true.]] *Looks like he's not. He'll just prop himself up to stay in that position so he doesn't tip over or hurt himself trying to stay unsupported.* [[And most impressive of you.]] ItsyBitsySpyers 6:04 pm [[Dukat is indeed a skilled actor. And she is too naive for the level of her ambitions.]] FakeProwl 6:05 pm *It isn't until Soundwave props himself up that Prowl realizes he was leaning toward him. Oh. Oops. Slides over against Soundwave.* ItsyBitsySpyers 6:06 pm *Oh? Changed his mind? No more questions from him; he'll settle up and rest against Prowl in turn.*

[[She should, at the very least, be looking into his history.]] [[If for no other reason than most religions he knows of demand documentation for the miracles they lay claim to causing, so that they may wave it in the faces of those who disbelieve.]] [[Look at these fantastic events happening on Bajor, she could say. Bajor thrives under her spiritual leadership. And so on.]] *Ah, they're defying the Prophets and becoming spouses anyway. Charming. He'll be quiet now.* FakeProwl 6:09 pm Based on the previous things you've said about her—all her political machinations and so on—it seems to me as though that /would/ be the sort of thing she'd do. FakeProwl 6:11 pm So it's curious that she isn't. Is she that confident in the wormhole aliens' guidance? Is she... twitterpated by Dukat? ItsyBitsySpyers 6:13 pm *Where was he?*

[[She is twitterpated, yes. And always eager to believe herself in the right. Here is "proof".]] ItsyBitsySpyers 6:15 pm [[Her ego overrides her common sense.]]

{{S7E19 Strange Bedfellows: Part 3}} ItsyBitsySpyers 6:29 pm [[NOW she asks.]] FakeProwl 6:31 pm Aha. ItsyBitsySpyers 6:32 pm [[You begin to see.]] FakeProwl 6:35 pm Why does she still trust him in her presence even after finding out that the "prophets" that led her to him were false? ItsyBitsySpyers 6:36 pm [[Refusal to admit she was wrong? Her state of infatuation? Believing he did not know either? He cannot say.]] FakeProwl 6:41 pm ... Is she repenting? ItsyBitsySpyers 6:41 pm [[Trying.]] FakeProwl 6:41 pm Impressive. FakeProwl 6:42 pm ... Well, it was nice while it lasted. ItsyBitsySpyers 6:42 pm [[All ten seconds of it.]] ItsyBitsySpyers 6:47 pm ((solbor is 5000% Done)) FakeProwl 6:50 pm ... You know, if all it would have taken for her to realize she was wrong and repent is a visit or two from the prophets, just a chat every once in a while... Of course, I'm not saying it's /their/ fault if she goes completely evil. But, they could have done something about the situation. If they don't want to deal with her, they could have at least given a vision to a bunch of /other/ Bajorans telling them not to listen to this Winn Adami. If they're going to set themselves up as gods, for goodness sake, they could at least attempt to do the job properly. ItsyBitsySpyers 6:54 pm {{S7E20: The Changing Face of Evil}}

[[Who is to say they have not? She lost her other grab for political power. She herself states that they have never spoken to her - odd, for someone who leads the entire spiritual side of their planet. Kira has been warning her for the last seven years, and told her the truth now.]]

[[That said, he does agree that they could have done more. Clearly, she is too far gone for subtle messages.]] FakeProwl 6:54 pm ... Anyway. *Looks at Soundwave.* Where's Odo during all this? ItsyBitsySpyers 6:56 pm [[Odo is dealing with station life and will soon be brought into things as a larger player. It is best we see all these dominoes being placed so you understand his role in their tipping over.]]

[[And now he must answer a quick call - he will be back in a moment; Ravage has something to ask him.]] FakeProwl 6:57 pm *A nod.* All right. ItsyBitsySpyers 7:15 pm [[We're clear.]] FakeProwl 7:17 pm I can't begin to say how disinterested I am in this love triangle. ItsyBitsySpyers 7:20 pm [[You don't need to say. He is disinterested in it as well.]] *He was all too happy to cut most of it out.* FakeProwl 7:26 pm ((why do dukat's shoulders go on forever)) ((I thought it was just his gul suit but he's still got them)) ItsyBitsySpyers 7:27 pm ((marc alaimo just has broad shoulders and long neck irl heh)) FakeProwl 7:36 pm *There he was. For thirty seconds. Odo. It was nice.* ItsyBitsySpyers 7:37 pm *There will be more than thirty seconds of Odo as of next episode, Prowl. Patience will be rewarded.* FakeProwl 7:38 pm ... Docket and Kai Winn make me appreciate Starscream a little more. ItsyBitsySpyers 7:38 pm [[...Those are eleven words in an order he never thought he would hear them.]] FakeProwl 7:38 pm He's selfish, power-hungry, narcissistic, and cares nothing for the people under his control... but he's /self-aware/ of it. FakeProwl 7:40 pm You won't catch him explaining how thinking he's inherently superior to all the people around him makes him a good guy. ItsyBitsySpyers 7:41 pm [[Being self-aware of it does make it harder to interfere with his actions, but that has its upsides as well. He's generally not THIS]] *point at Kai Winn* [[easy for others to control.]] FakeProwl 7:42 pm I was thinking that it's less annoying to have to watch. ItsyBitsySpyers 7:42 pm [[Starscream's power lust?]] FakeProwl 7:43 pm THEY have themselves convinced they're doing the right thing. That makes them far more frustrating to watch. FakeProwl 7:48 pm If Starscream decided to massacre a planet, he'd at least be honest about his motives. If you tried to argue with him about how he's not doing this for whatever greater good may exist in his mind, you don't have to argue him out of that belief first before you can move on with the conversation. He'd shrug and says "So what?" FakeProwl 7:50 pm ... So why did it light up now? Does the book only reveal its contents to somebody who doesn't want them? Or maybe it requires a sacrifice. ItsyBitsySpyers 7:50 pm [[It does waste far less time. We may be a long-lived species, but even we have so much patience to spare.]]

[[The book lights up because it is the blood of the people the pah-wraiths would destroy.]] [[Proof that the would-be reader is ready to destroy Bajorans because they have already done so.]] FakeProwl 7:51 pm Sacrifice, then. ItsyBitsySpyers 7:51 pm [[Yes.]] ItsyBitsySpyers 7:53 pm [[She no longer bothers to hide her illness.]] ItsyBitsySpyers 7:54 pm {{S7E21: When it Rains: Part 5.}} FakeProwl 8:00 pm Poor Kira. Teaching her oppressors how to fight against oppressors. (("I need to borrow, a cup, of goo. I'll give it back." omg.)) FakeProwl 8:03 pm How easily she excuses the genocide of her own people, when she's the one committing it. ItsyBitsySpyers 8:06 pm [[He can't imagine Kira enjoys the idea of teaching them. But the alternative is... unpleasant. And dangerous for the rest of the galaxy, including her home.]] FakeProwl 8:07 pm Indeed. There's no practical alternative. On the bright side, the Cardassians won't enjoy it either, and then they'll be indebted to her. She seems unlikely to be the kind of person to cash in on that debt, but she and they will all know she has it. ItsyBitsySpyers 8:08 pm [[If she does not wish to cash in on it, she can always hand it off to her government.]] [[...Or she can simply enjoy sitting on it. It can be a pleasant feeling.]] FakeProwl 8:09 pm *Sits forward. Odo has an STD. This is unacceptable.* FakeProwl 8:15 pm ... Is Martok the one that was a changeling replaced? ItsyBitsySpyers 8:16 pm [[Yes. The true Martok was discovered in that internment camp, escaped, and returned to the Empire. He has fought valiantly since.]] FakeProwl 8:19 pm ... He's... not wrong. Losing one ally in order to allow their enemy to all die off... ItsyBitsySpyers 8:21 pm [[An important ally, who has an increased understanding of the Founders' mindset and is unlikely to let himself be trapped by it again, who could potentially gather more information and protect whatever ship he is placed on because of his species.]] [[And has an *incredibly* valuable ability for a resistance member.]] FakeProwl 8:22 pm The advantage he offers won't be necessary if the Founders are all dead. ItsyBitsySpyers 8:23 pm [[He does not need to die for them to do it.]] FakeProwl 8:24 pm No. He doesn't /need/ to. But if he's saved and the cure that's used to save him is leaked to the enemy... FakeProwl 8:27 pm He's already proven vulnerable to other Founders. He might voluntarily go out of his way to protect his home world. And changelings are already known to have infiltrated Starfleet. ItsyBitsySpyers 8:30 pm [[He broke from the conditioning he was being brought under.]] *Thoughtful nibbling.* [[You have a point that someone hiding in Starfleet could take it from him... but then why not imitate the people in charge of deciding whether or not Bashir gets the cure and freely hand the medical records over?]] [[And they are not doing this.]] FakeProwl 8:31 pm Maybe they simply haven't had the chance. Maybe they haven't been able to replace anyone high-ranked enough to get their hands on Odo's file. Maybe they think that if their doctors in the Dominion can't find a cure, Starfleet can't; but if they ever discover they underestimated Starfleet and they HAVE found a cure, they'll swoop in to take it. ItsyBitsySpyers 8:33 pm *Passing half-formed thought that can be interpreted as sneering at Gowron's idiocy.* FakeProwl 8:33 pm ... Primus below, save me from bad strategists. ItsyBitsySpyers 8:34 pm [[He hopes you mean the Klingon and not his mulling over points with you.]] FakeProwl 8:34 pm I definitely mean the Klingon. FakeProwl 8:35 pm And before that, the Cardassians. And I'm throwing in Docket and Kai Winn too... ItsyBitsySpyers 8:36 pm [[Good. It has been thoroughly enjoyable speaking with you and listening to your points and counterpoints. Too long since he's been around anyone who even tries to think as hard as you on such matters.]] FakeProwl 8:36 pm *STARFLEET infected Odo? Prowl's... ...not surprised. And... can't disagree.* ... Mutual. ItsyBitsySpyers 8:36 pm {{S7E22: Tacking into the Wind, Part 6}} *Sits up just enough to allow him to dip his helm in gratitude.* *And gets comfortable again.* FakeProwl 8:38 pm *Wraps arm around Soundwave.* ItsyBitsySpyers 8:39 pm *Pleased rumble.* ItsyBitsySpyers 8:40 pm [[...He knows only what absorption of Earth media and Knock Out's data have provided him, but the... peeling? Flaking? The disintegration looks horrifically painful.]] [[It certainly would not be comfortable for our kind.]] FakeProwl 8:41 pm I've seen rust infections like that. ItsyBitsySpyers 8:43 pm *Silent for a few seconds, debating whether or not it's his place to say what came to mind just now.*

*In the end, he figures it's history anyone can look up.*

[[...So has your alternate. Fragmented records suggest that they were forced to close a bridge on one of their - you would call them batchmates, he thinks? When their planet became overrun by a rust plague.]] FakeProwl 8:44 pm Batchmates? Built in the same factory batch? ItsyBitsySpyers 8:45 pm [[Not built. Forged in the same group at the same time and made the Underworld run to the surface together.]] [[Close for much of their lives.]] FakeProwl 8:46 pm Ah. If they were born instead of built, "from the same hot spot" or, more poetically, "forgemates." ItsyBitsySpyers 8:47 pm [[Thank you. He will make the correction. But yes - forgemates, then.]] ItsyBitsySpyers 8:49 pm [[Shrewd.]] FakeProwl 8:49 pm And also exactly what Kira predicted. ItsyBitsySpyers 8:51 pm [[The sooner they shed the uncooperative one the better.]] FakeProwl 8:55 pm Check out that projecting he's got going on. ItsyBitsySpyers 8:56 pm [[He could play it on a screen from a thousand feet away.]] FakeProwl 8:56 pm *Huff.* ItsyBitsySpyers 8:56 pm *Pleased.* [[Garak did warn him.]] FakeProwl 8:57 pm If Garak's so concerned that Russet is going to kill Kira, why is he urging Kira to kill him? That will undermine her authority in front of all the other Cardassians. Garak should kill Russet himself. ItsyBitsySpyers 9:08 pm [[Odo's protest reminds him of your simulations.]] FakeProwl 9:09 pm *wry smile.* ItsyBitsySpyers 9:10 pm *...Not sure that's a good smile. Looks at it for a moment longer than necessary and then away, unable to decide.* FakeProwl 9:10 pm ... Odo is learning to imitate other people. Admittedly, so far it's only another Founder whose face looks almost like his, but. ItsyBitsySpyers 9:11 pm [[That's hardly an "only", given their situation.]] [[Imagine all they could do...]] FakeProwl 9:12 pm True. But it means his skills at imitating other people are still limited. ItsyBitsySpyers 9:13 pm [[Hopefully O'Brien and Bashir will buy him time to learn.]] *Soundwave leans forward a little bit.* FakeProwl 9:14 pm Hopefully. ItsyBitsySpyers 9:16 pm *Gets back to his comfortable lean.* FakeProwl 9:16 pm That's a terrible governmental system. Admittedly, not much different than ours, but. ItsyBitsySpyers 9:19 pm [[It can be improved. Martok is sufficiently honorable.]] FakeProwl 9:19 pm It's not going to get a lot better as long as you can seize leadership just by being a good enough warrior. Hand-to-hand combat skills and leadership skills have low correlation. ItsyBitsySpyers 9:20 pm [[What he means is, Martok is a fine tactician, and unlikely to serve his personal interests above those of his people. He may help to change what is corrupt and foolish.]] FakeProwl 9:21 pm {{S7E23 Extreme Measures: Part 7}}

Maybe. But he seemed pretty invested in the status quo. FakeProwl 9:22 pm ... He's hideous. *That's Prowl expressing concern.* ItsyBitsySpyers 9:24 pm [[Mm. It is a possibility. Still. If Worf is right, and the Empire respects him enough to support him and try following in his footsteps, it will do much to stop the rampant selfishness. It is a start.]] FakeProwl 9:24 pm Mm. *At the moment, he's been quite thoroughly distracted from Klingon politics by dying Odo.* ItsyBitsySpyers 9:25 pm *On the other side, Soundwave is uncomfortable with the concept of loved ones dying and was trying not to focus too much on it.* *He's gotten braver about letting himself be open and attached, but there's always That Fear.* FakeProwl 9:29 pm *... Rumors of nonconsensual mind reading, now.* This message has been removed. ItsyBitsySpyers 9:29 pm ((DAMN forgot one)) FakeProwl 9:30 pm ((how long ago did the ep start?)) ItsyBitsySpyers 9:30 pm ((about 10 minutes)) ItsyBitsySpyers 9:33 pm [[The Section 31 operative wakes in the medbay, threatens O'Brien's family, tries to convince them he does not have the cure, and attempts to kill himself when they apply the probes. Bashir stabilizes him, but only for an hour. They manage to find the cure just before he dies.]] FakeProwl 9:35 pm *Well, Prowl doesn't think he minds skipping all that.* ItsyBitsySpyers 9:35 pm *Soundwave didn't think he would.* FakeProwl 9:35 pm *Odo isn't dying and that's what matters.* FakeProwl 9:36 pm ((episode #?)) ItsyBitsySpyers 9:36 pm ((typing it!)) {{S7E24: The Dogs of War Part 8}} FakeProwl 9:38 pm ... How are they going to explain the dead guy in the medbay? ItsyBitsySpyers 9:40 pm [[It was somewhat explained in the part he skipped. The operative had been in Section 31 for so long and devoted himself so deeply that he had done his best to eliminate himself from the historical record. There will be few who knew he existed and fewer who cared.]]

[[In any case, no-one who does recognize him can be publicly upset by it, lest they get exposed themselves.]]

[[He expects they simply vaporized the body.]] FakeProwl 9:41 pm ... That's unfortunate. ItsyBitsySpyers 9:43 pm [[Isn't it.]] *Folds his hands.* [[It's possible they turned him over to his family and concocted a lie, but the amount of explaining they'd have to do would risk revealing their hand. Or trapping them in the future. It would be wiser to remove the evidence, and he thinks Bashir is that sharp.]] [[There is a war on. There will be plenty of missing citizens that never return.]] FakeProwl 9:44 pm Oh, no, I meant, *gestures at the screen* the people they were coming to recruit being killed. ItsyBitsySpyers 9:44 pm [[Ah. That, too.]] ItsyBitsySpyers 10:02 pm [[Quark spends the next while complaining about all the other social reforms on Ferenginar and states that he will demand to be allowed to do things as he wishes or else refuse the job despite the loss of status and wealth.]] FakeProwl 10:02 pm ... The Founders don't seem to be doing much about the fact that they're currently dying, do they? Well, there's no need to watch Quark gripe. ItsyBitsySpyers 10:03 pm [[They don't, no. Stubbornness and pride and a stupid, *stupid* determination to win instead of attending to the health of their people.]] [[No, there isn't. Let us skip him.]] FakeProwl 10:03 pm *Very emphatic. Is that self-reproach Prowl hears?* ItsyBitsySpyers 10:04 pm *A little self-reproach, a little residual anger with Megatron... it's a strong cocktail.* ItsyBitsySpyers 10:07 pm [[The Grand Nagus arrives and informs Quark that he is mistaken. It is Rom who will become the Ferengi planet's next leader, not him.]]

[[Quark declares that his bar will be the last outpost of the old Ferenginar. He will continue to cheat and swindle while Rom carries the planet forward.]]

[[Moving on.]] FakeProwl 10:07 pm Oh, a happy ending. ItsyBitsySpyers 10:08 pm *Huffing.* FakeProwl 10:12 pm ... Poor timing to be reproducing. ItsyBitsySpyers 10:12 pm [[Agreed. One of the worst.]]

[[We are now at the end of all the wars that have woven around and through one another because of the Dominion.]] {{S7E25 What You Leave Behind, Part 9}} FakeProwl 10:13 pm The end? The war ends here? ItsyBitsySpyers 10:14 pm [[They all will, one way or another.]] FakeProwl 10:14 pm Hm. ItsyBitsySpyers 10:14 pm [[That is, we are at the point of watching it.]] FakeProwl 10:14 pm I figured that was what you meant. ItsyBitsySpyers 10:15 pm [[Yes.]] *Huff.* [[The galaxy does not stop because the Emissary has reproduced.]] FakeProwl 10:17 pm Thank goodness. That would be a dull five months. *Isn't quite sure how long pregnancy lasts.* ItsyBitsySpyers 10:18 pm [[Still. At least it would offer them all a break.]]

*Doesn't know either.* FakeProwl 10:21 pm ... So the helmet causes the voice, that's not what the Breen actually sound like? FakeProwl 10:22 pm ((garak is beaming. "look at that, my honorary grandma's complimenting my deceitfulness")) ItsyBitsySpyers 10:22 pm [[Apparently. It's a handy trick, you know.]] ItsyBitsySpyers 10:23 pm ((precious snek boy)) ItsyBitsySpyers 10:25 pm [[Must he return.]] FakeProwl 10:27 pm Ugh. FakeProwl 10:28 pm I hope to see them hoisted by their own petards. Or maybe just backstab each other. ItsyBitsySpyers 10:29 pm *Soundwave lifts a cube in a feeler and nods, then sips from it. He'll toast to that.* ItsyBitsySpyers 10:31 pm [[Coward.]] FakeProwl 10:31 pm I was just thinking the same thing. Look at that, Dumber /can/ be humbled. ItsyBitsySpyers 10:33 pm [[It is good for him.]] FakeProwl 10:34 pm *... Long exhale.* ItsyBitsySpyers 10:34 pm [[This is the kind of thing he meant when we discussed Bashir's numbers about surrendering. Resistance becoming nigh impossible when they already have a solid hold.]] FakeProwl 10:35 pm *Two million, in moments.* *Prowl's seen numbers like that, many times. They never stop feeling like an icicle through the spark.* ItsyBitsySpyers 10:39 pm *Soundwave glances at Prowl. Is he all right, there? It can't be bringing up good memories - his own aren't - but Prowl isn't seeking comfort yet, so he must be holding up relatively okay.*

*Or else hiding it, but Soundwave can't make him not do that.* FakeProwl 10:41 pm *well, his expression hasn't changed.* FakeProwl 10:43 pm ... It's the fastest way to inspire the population to join a side, isn't it? By having the other side bomb their civilian cities. ItsyBitsySpyers 10:45 pm [[He doesn't know if it is the fastest, but we did use it on Vos and Tarn.]] FakeProwl 10:46 pm Did you? The Decepticons just conquered them in mine. FakeProwl 10:48 pm ((in his bajoran disguise dukat looks like he should be the so-serious-he's-goofy uncle in a 90s family sitcom)) ItsyBitsySpyers 10:49 pm [[Mm. Shockwave attempted to play each city against the other and convince both the Autobots had done it.]] ((...i'm never gonna unsee that)) FakeProwl 10:49 pm ((good. suffer with me.)) FakeProwl 10:51 pm *Oh shoot, Prowl had almost forgotten about Odo, he was so worried about the Cardassian civilian cities.* FakeProwl 10:52 pm *Prowl wonders how often his spies and saboteurs have had little breakdowns like that behind enemy lines.* ItsyBitsySpyers 10:55 pm *Soundwave's group have had them from time to time. They're probably more prone to shenanigans than Prowl's bunch, but he'd still put money on it happening if he had any to spare.* [[A death well spent.]] FakeProwl 10:55 pm Indeed it is. ... I thought you didn't believe in heroic sacrifices? *mumbles at the screen* Qapla'. ItsyBitsySpyers 10:58 pm [[He would prefer Damar have perished another way, or not at all. Cardassia needs people like him. But, if he must go... better that than cringing in the cellar.]] FakeProwl 10:58 pm Mm. True. FakeProwl 10:59 pm *Wants to know who the hell these Breen are and how they got involved. Will ask once this is over. Doesn't want to interrupt the show for it.* She's poisoning him. He's a sacrifice. Of course, it was obvious he was going to be a sacrifice the moment she said she needed him. ItsyBitsySpyers 11:01 pm [[Naturally. To all except he who thought himself invincible.]] ItsyBitsySpyers 11:03 pm *Soundwave would run and run and run from the DJD rather than stay and fight them head on at the first battle, but if he were finally cornered? Yes, he would die on his feet.*

*He focuses on the screen.* FakeProwl 11:03 pm *Focuses as well. Odo is playing a very dangerous game.* *Linking with the person who used that link to manipulate him? Cure a Founder at the edge of death?* *slow blink.* ... Why? Why has she changed her mind? Odo's linked with her before, and it twisted him. Why not this time? ItsyBitsySpyers 11:10 pm [[He has become stronger. Firm in his convictions regarding the humanoids, with evidence of their interest in peace and their ability to learn to accept and help others. Acknowledgment of her failure. A reminder of the traitor Vorta's story would not hurt.]] FakeProwl 11:10 pm ... He has weapons he didn't before. FakeProwl 11:11 pm ... And that's enough? ItsyBitsySpyers 11:11 pm [[And despite all they have done to him, he offered to cure his people. That is... something powerful. Especially to them.]] FakeProwl 11:12 pm That can't be enough. They've sent hundreds—maybe thousands—maybe /millions/ of changelings out into the galaxy to live among solids, all of whom have come back to report their findings and contributed their knowledge to the—the hivemind— And somehow he's the only one who's come back with a positive impression? The only one whose positive impression was strong enough to override the consensus she learned from the hivemind? It's, it's—irrational. ((i bet THEIR alamo in the future has a cool plaza with a bunch of trees in front of it.)) ItsyBitsySpyers 11:15 pm [[He was the first to return. Ahead of schedule, by her own words.]]

[[In the episode we skipped, he finally found another of the Hundred. That one disliked humanoids and preferred to avoid them, but they did not go to join the Dominion.]] ((lmao we can hope)) FakeProwl 11:16 pm ... So he's the only changeling to ever get a positive impression of solids? I find that— I can't believe that. Surely others have had positive opinions, and their positive opinions were oppressed by the majority. His can't be different. ... His /shouldn't/ be different. ItsyBitsySpyers 11:18 pm [[No. The one he found had positive enough impressions to entertain relationships with them for a while. And to avoid joining the war, as he said.]]

[[And who is to say there were not those who once held or now hold positive opinions in the Great Link? If he returns, he will be able to help them find their voice.]] ItsyBitsySpyers 11:19 pm [[He is clearly strong enough now to teach those who don't.]] FakeProwl 11:19 pm He taught one. Who was desperate and dying. ItsyBitsySpyers 11:22 pm *Soundwave shudders slightly. Possession by such spirits - ugh.*

[[The others are desperate and dying. The others are as timeless as him. He has a long opportunity to try.]]

[[And even if he fails - at least he'll have made the effort to teach and protect them, and others around the galaxy.]] ItsyBitsySpyers 11:24 pm [[It is devotion to the safety of others. It is the rehabilitation of criminals. How is that wrong for him to try?]] FakeProwl 11:24 pm ... If he fails, then /they/ persuade /him./ And he's added another body to their army. One with intimate knowledge of the inner workings of the Federation. ItsyBitsySpyers 11:27 pm [[Their army is broken. Others will hear of this - and those who have already survived and won will not accept more wars.]] FakeProwl 11:29 pm If he tries, then he /gives up/ on trying /other/ things that—that might actually work. That might actually succeed in protecting people! They still have an army that can be and IS CURRENTLY a threat to the galaxy. Making an effort to /contain/ it—or better, just letting its leaders die—has a far higher probability of making a difference than /saving/ them and trying to talk sense into them. He's just /one person/! What can a /single/ person do to—to change the minds, of... of an entire... ItsyBitsySpyers 11:33 pm [[Why must he be all things? Why can't he try to be this while others conduct negotiations? While others assist worlds that need help breaking free of their former oppressors and rebuilding?]]

[[And one person can do much. Worf stood before Gowron. Damar inspired Cardassia's rebellion. He does not seize all the credit for Megatron's defeat, but his turning away from Megatron did help change things.]] ItsyBitsySpyers 11:34 pm [[If nothing else - one Cardassian allowed them to seize the Jem'Hadar ship. One Cardassian saved them when they were to be executed.]] [[One Bajoran taught them how to run a resistance.]] FakeProwl 11:37 pm He doesn't /need/ to be all things. But there's going to be /one/ thing, /somewhere,/ where he will make a greater positive difference than he will anywhere else. ItsyBitsySpyers 11:38 pm [[This is what he knows how to do. This is what he /wants/ to do, and has aspired to do well. This could be that thing. It does not need to be destructive.]] FakeProwl 11:38 pm And he is—is derelict in his duties if he turns away from that position to pursue one where he's got a /tiny/ chance of talking a pack of genocidal warlords into making peace! FakeProwl 11:40 pm SO WHAT IF IT'S WHAT HE WANTS TO DO?! He's pursuing the lesser good! What he WANTS is worth nothing compared to what he OUGHT to be doing! ItsyBitsySpyers 11:41 pm [[Who BETTER to do it? The humanoids cannot link, and the changelings still have some fear of them. The Founder will be punished for her war. No other Changelings have returned, and judging by the Founder's claims, it is unlikely they will for centuries.]] FakeProwl 11:41 pm Then maybe it shouldn't be done! Maybe he should have left them to die! No warlords, no threat! He helps them, and there's a tiny chance they improve compared to a MASSIVE chance they pick up right where they left off! He lets them die, and it's guaranteed they hurt no one again. ItsyBitsySpyers 11:47 pm [[And the Earth? The one that experienced a war so terrible it nearly destroyed the planet and everyone on it, yet survived to become a paradise?]]

[[Why do you deny the existence of hope? How can anyone claim the right to destroy that many people? To do that to their own species without proving themselves a part of everything they claim the others are - a part that doesn't know how to do anything /except/ murder?]] [[He said it himself. He is /not/ a god. He does not have that right or that power.]] FakeProwl 11:50 pm Hope isn't statistically probable, that's what makes it hope! If it was the probability you wouldn't need to hope for it! You put all your effort into pursuing a one percent hope of reform and you leave a ninety-nine percent chance they'll pick up their same old scrap! FakeProwl 11:51 pm He may not have that right but he /does/ have that power—and sometimes you have to do things you don't have the right to do. And what does it matter if he proves himself just as bad as the rest of them, as long as he becomes the only person left who would do that? That's the /point/ of a necessary evil—it's necessary but /still evil./ Yesterday ItsyBitsySpyers 11:59 pm [[It does not need to be all the effort! Odo does not need to be all things, and not everyone can have the same role! There are still many others who can assist and prepare in case the ninety-nine percent comes true. Kira stood against him when he fell; she would do it again.]]

[[He could not live with himself if he went against his nature and killed them all, and that would be a waste of him as well.]] *Vents. He thought this would help, but... it's as if Prowl is doubling down instead.* [[In any case, he doesn't think you'd have respected Odo for what he'd become if he did. Not in the long run.]] FakeProwl 12:05 am ... Not all /necessary/ things are worthy of respect. They're not done for—for respect, or to demonstrate one's moral high ground. They're done because they... The alternatives... *For a moment, he glowers at the floor, silent.* ItsyBitsySpyers 12:07 am *Soundwave doesn't say anything while Prowl glowers. He doesn't know what else he /can/ say. For Primus' sake, he's not an Odo himself and he never will be; that was out of the question from the moment he made his Underworld journey. How is someone like him supposed to convince someone like Prowl to be /better/ than him?* FakeProwl 12:08 am ... Does he succeed? ItsyBitsySpyers 12:11 am [[...He doesn't know. It isn't explicitly said. And maybe that is part of the point, that we must accept the presence of uncertainty.]]

[[But he likes to think so. They didn't show him failing. They showed him curing the Link. That must mean something.]] [[And they didn't throw him back out.]] FakeProwl 12:12 am You've got access to the records from this universe. You can look it up, can't you? FakeProwl 12:13 am Unless their war only /just/ ended, there's got to be /some/ update on what the Founders are up to now? ItsyBitsySpyers 12:14 am [[What he knows of what comes to pass after this does not speak of it, just as he does not have a record of every single thing within his own. He knows nothing of the result, good or bad.]]

[[But... sometimes quiet is a sign of peacefulness.]] FakeProwl 12:15 am ... Or plotting. ItsyBitsySpyers 12:19 am [[Perhaps. Uncertainty, again.]]

[[But he is tired, both frame-wise and of the idea that nothing can be improved. He has fought it since he first understood that Minicons were true people and he will neither accept it now nor apologize for that.]] FakeProwl 12:21 am *Back at the floor.* ... Sorry I'm so tiring. ItsyBitsySpyers 12:21 am [[You aren't.]] FakeProwl 12:22 am Hmm. FakeProwl 12:24 am *Props his elbows on his knees, laces his hands in front of his crest, presses his thumbs over his dimmed optics.* ItsyBitsySpyers 12:25 am [[You told him he was to be honest. If he had meant you, he would have said you.]]

*Soundwave isn't sure how to handle Prowl's current pose or provide what comfort he thinks that hmm might need, so he just... rests his hand on Prowl's back. And rubs tiny circles with his thumb.* FakeProwl 12:26 am *An initial twitch at the touch, but he doesn't push it away.* ItsyBitsySpyers 12:27 am *He pauses for a second at the twitch, but he's also supposed to trust that Prowl isn't fragile and can speak for himself, so he'll take the lack of being pushed away as a sign that his hand being there isn't a Vital Error.* FakeProwl 12:38 am ... I'm... *No. Get your words in line before you say anything.* ItsyBitsySpyers 12:40 am *Soundwave turns his helm just enough to make it clear he's being patient and listening without fixing his gaze on Prowl and getting all intimidating about it. He'll wait until they're in line.* FakeProwl 12:42 am It's... not that... he's not... that... FakeProwl 12:44 am ... that the path he's... That the path he /wants/ to take... doesn't have... value. It's not that it doesn't—increase the good. It—could. It might. A little bit. ItsyBitsySpyers 12:45 am *Nodding. Go on?* FakeProwl 12:47 am But—only a little bit. Only a small, tiny, local bit. He makes things a little bit better on—on one little planet—and maybe, MAYBE, if he's DAMN lucky, he has a minuscule effect on how that one little planet deals with a few other little planets. But probably not. FakeProwl 12:49 am Compare that to where he is now. The resources he commands. The organizations he's tied to. The things that he can offer to the greater good from his current position are—boundless. Sure, he gets his hands a little dirtier in using them, but what are his hands compared to the welfare of the entire galaxy? One set of hands is a small, small price to pay. FakeProwl 12:51 am By choosing to walk away from those resources, those connections, those many, MANY ways he can advance the greater good... he's just... FakeProwl 12:52 am He's a law enforcer. He believes in order and justice. How, with any good conscience, can he let himself abandon a position where he can do /so much/ for the greater good... to take a smaller role, where he does less good, purely because that's /what he wants/? What is what he wants worth compared to the greater good? ItsyBitsySpyers 1:04 am [[Yes, he is a law enforcer. But tell him, Prowl - isn't making things a little bit better a small, tiny, local bit at a time how law enforcement is supposed to work? It didn't in his time, but ideally - the way you've spoken of it - one officer patrols his set neighborhood, keeping it safe and helping those within it. And surely everyone he protects is happy that he is there, if he does the job the right way and does not abuse his position.]]

[[He may rise through the ranks and he may not. There simply isn't room for everyone to do it. But he continues to perform a vital function for that small area.]]

[[With enough law enforcers taking on pieces of the city, eventually the whole area becomes protected, one being at a time.]]

[[It is not so different with a galaxy. Odo can protect and teach his home planet. Others will try to protect and teach theirs. In time, entire sectors smooth out and things like the Federation are born.]] FakeProwl 1:09 am *Shakes his head.* ItsyBitsySpyers 1:09 am [[And just because someone has the resources, it does not mean they should be the one to use them. Kai Winn had connections, organizations, resources - the theoretical ability to do a great good with them at the price of dirtying her hands. Which she did willingly and often.]]

[[But she should have stepped down. She served Bajor best when she was still a Vedek. And there is no shame in knowing that. There is no shame in wanting to return to that.]] FakeProwl 1:15 am You're exactly right, not everyone deserves to use those resources. Which is why it's so important for the few who /can/ use those resources properly to be the ones to use them. Any patrol cop can make a single city block better. Not just any patrol cop can be trusted with the resources that can be used to steer an entire galaxy toward good or evil. Those that /can/ be trusted with them, can't—can't give up and restrict their influence to a little neighborhood and cross their fingers and hope that the next person to hold those resources isn't a despot or a moron. ItsyBitsySpyers 1:29 am [[They'll have to eventually, whether they want to or not. Someone must come after them. Existence can no more be permitted to stagnate and fall into stasis lock than it can to succumb to chaos.]]

[[And not everything needs to be a heroic sacrifice. He and his deployers share our burdens when we can. It stops us from pushing ourselves to a point from which we cannot recover. And it ensures that we are all capable of going places we could not alone.]]

[[Imagine what the Dominion could someday do for the galaxy if they learn to model themselves after Odo. All their genetic engineering and medical skills, their creative technological developments, their unsurpassed knowledge of an entire quadrant - all used to help instead of harm, to raise others up, and without being smeared by dirty fingers. Benevolence and guardianship.]] ItsyBitsySpyers 1:32 am [[He could have forced the Founder to go with him and make him their leader. He could have broken her the way she tried to break him. Instead, he gave her a choice and kept his hands clean, and she still agreed to turn herself in.]] FakeProwl 1:37 am Of course someone must come after them. That doesn't mean those who are /currently/ capable should—should give up before they must. "I'm going to be useless someday, therefore I might as well be useless now"? Pff. Sharing burdens is—irrelevant. A burden can be shared without giving it up entirely. Acquiring the appropriate assistance to complete one's duty is entirely different from—from flat-out running away from one's duty. FakeProwl 1:39 am *The last point, though—the things they could contribute if someone else steered them that way... Prowl doesn't reply. He lowers his hands from his crest to his mouth, frowning hard behind them, glowering again at the ground.* ItsyBitsySpyers 1:42 am *He doesn't think it's irrelevant. Everyone who isn't forced into dirtying themselves until they're buried and lost can still contribute. They can still show off a shiny spot or two and make the overall future brighter.*

*But Prowl is thinking again, and if he could fire lasers from his optics Soundwave would probably have a nice new storage pit in his floor. So for now, he'll sit in silence.* FakeProwl 1:43 am ... Do you think he succeeded. ItsyBitsySpyers 1:43 am [[Would he have asked you to watch this with him if he didn't?]] FakeProwl 1:45 am Depends on how desperate you are to change my mind. *But, he sees Soundwave's point.* ItsyBitsySpyers 1:49 am [[The answer is yes, Prowl. He thinks Odo succeeded.]]

*To make sure Prowl knows.* FakeProwl 1:52 am *A small nod.* ItsyBitsySpyers 1:56 am [[He's going to have to recharge soon. Would you rather idle with him or have time to yourself? Such as it is.]]

*Sits up only to bend forward a bit to try to get a better view of Prowl's face.* FakeProwl 1:58 am *His expression is unchanged. Still that intense frown of concentration.* FakeProwl 1:59 am ... I'd rather be here. ItsyBitsySpyers 2:01 am *Hmm. Running a simulation? Maybe he'd best not create a disturbance. Or allow one. He could cause a harmless error that would interfere with the sch--*

*Ah.*

[[Then he will stay here with you. Rouse him if you need him. He will not mind.]]

*Sits back again and maneuvers himself into a sort of half-sitting, half-laying position against Prowl's side with his legs over the side of the couch.* FakeProwl 2:02 am ... Before you... One question. ItsyBitsySpyers 2:02 am [[Hm?]] FakeProwl 2:04 am He's not charismatic. He's not popular. Why would—why would they listen to him? Sure, /if/ they listen to him, it could make a... But why would they? Someone like him? ItsyBitsySpyers 2:16 am [[He cannot give a definitive answer to that.]]

[[But it's probably for the same reason someone would listen to a prying, unsettling, suspicious mech like himself: the truth is the truth, whether or not it comes from socially preferred sources. Those who seek it will consider its existence reason enough to listen.]] FakeProwl 2:18 am *In Prowl's experience, next to nobody wants the truth if they dislike the source.* ... I've kept you up far later than you wanted to be. I'm sorry. ItsyBitsySpyers 2:21 am *Well, the world is slow to change. Soundwave hasn't convinced everyone of the Unicron threat. He's convinced a few, though, and that's a start.*

[[He is where he wants to be, and he does not regret the time spent. Don't apologize.]] FakeProwl 2:22 am *Nod.* *Finally, he breaks off his intense stare, sits up, and leans against Soundwave.* ItsyBitsySpyers 2:23 am *Coils a feeler around the avatar and closes his optics.* FakeProwl 2:24 am *Dims his optics, and lets his avatar go idle.*

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