#bendys regular form is more towards bendy as well ))

[just-bendy]

Do Inky Bendy and Beast Bendy accept pets and hugs too?

Well... I guess so...? Although, touchin' my ink demon form is only gonna get ya all messy since I keep drippin' ink as him. I don't recommend doin' that unless ya like gettin' all inky. Ya weirdo.

As for the other guy... uhh...

... I don't think you should do that at all. I can barely keep him controlled for that long. He's a beast, it's in the name. It would take me so much effort not to rip you apart. Then my head would hurt like hell for most of the day and I'd feel exhausted, so I don't think it's a very good idea. It'd be a bad time for both of us.

[karmavongrim]

Inky Wings of Hope fanfic idea

Fanfic idea of Henry finally breaking the cycle and freeing them to their new world.

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

Finally, it was going to be over. At least that was an elderly man known as Henry Stein, the former head animator of Joey Drew Studios or what was left of it, hoped for.

In his ink stained hand he held an old film reel labeled as ‘The End’. He took another look at it before looking at the monstrous form of his beloved cartoon character he created decades ago, Bendy. The hulking demon made of living ink stood in front of him in seeming anxiousness of what was about to happen. Henry didn’t blame him, trapped in the studio for who knows how long now with no way getting out had made all the denizens of the studio lose all of their hope, not to mention most of their sanity. He was close to that fate too couple of times if not for the unexpected but welcomed company of his not-so-little devil darling that blossomed into a proper friendship over the past hundred cycles.

“The moment of truth bud. Hope this works.” He said as confidently as he could muster. Their crazy plan was almost complete, after much trying and failing.

Henry had started to think and theorize just how Joey Drew, his former friend and coworker, managed to do all of this. From his knowledge the bastard was a regular human just like him, yet he was still able to bring cartoons to life and trap an entire studio along with it’s workers within a time loop. There were hints of course, but it took him more than a dozen retries to connect the dots.

All the pentagrams, sacrifices, Joey’s memoir along with some other things, big and small, told him of three possible theories. Joey either made a deal with an actual devil, he actually was a devil himself, or he used dark magic of his own.

In the past he would have laughed at such notions but after everything that has happened it no longer seemed too out of realm of possibility. Since Henry didn’t want to explore his first and second theory, not yet at least, he went with the last one and started to research and experiment as much as possible without attracting Joey’s attention. If his hypothesis was proven correct, then he would be able to level the playing field a bit.

If Joey was able to learned to use magic they why couldn’t he? He would make that bastard taste his own medicine.

Through trial and error he managed to make progress constantly, he hated to give Joey any credit but just like he had said in one of his recordings, “You just have to believe”.

The power of imagination is truly terrifying down here, just a single strong thought is enough turn ink into metaphorical gold. But like with anything else in life, nothing is free. The magic and soul infused ink around the studio he used for his experiments had started to seep into his very being with the constant interaction, it became part of him and he part of it. He learned to manipulate it, and when ever he did the ink would start to glow golden light. Only thing remotely similar to it he has seen was whenever he died and had to crawl his way out of the inky abyss towards the exits of golden light. He learned to created simple objects using the tainted ink as long it was nothing extravagant, and they didn’t last more than fifteen minutes, and it would leave him too tired to try and created anything else for a half an hour at least.

It took lots of planning, detective work, and hundreds of retries to make his plan come to fruition.

What he had learned is that Joey had managed to create a pocket in time and space, isolating the studio within itself. And that also needed anchors to determine where the loop began and where it ended, as well as some others to create extra stability. Easiest way to describe it would be to imagine a rolled out paper that has paper weights on top of it to preventing it from rolling back in on itself.

It took time to identify and locate all the anchors and at some of them he felt like strangling Joey or kicking himself. First was that cursed letter Henry always sees which he was certain marked the cycle’s beginning and second is the reel at the end that would bring you back to the beginning. Others were the Ink Machine to nobody’s surprise, the door that led from Joey’s apartment to the studio and a creepy looking Bendy cutout holding a sign saying “Wandering is a terrible sin.”, which almost scared the life out of him when he was testing his magic by traveling between spaces.

These were all key components to his plan to set everyone free and he needed to destroy them all. A theory he had come up with is that if the anchors were destroyed then this makeshift world should pop like a bubble when it was no longer being held together and return everything to it’s original place.

Or it could wipe them all out of existent entirely.

Or it would fail miserably and the cycle would continue like nothing had happened. But in all honesty they had nothing to lose at this point, plus the chance of getting out of here or being erased completely were far more appealing options than being stuck in this hell hole for the rest of eternity.

With a new wound energy the ex-animator had strode through the halls and rooms with practiced ease after using his new powers to destroy these objects in his wake. With destruction of each anchor he felt the space around him shake just like a house would if you demolished it’s support beams. This gave him confidence that he was on the right track and to keep going, but he needed to be quick so that Joey wouldn’t realize what was going on until it was too late for him. And as if knowing that this was their only possible chance to finally be free, everybody who he came in contact with quietly let him pass without an issue. Some of them had even helped him with some tasks so that he could reach the end faster.

And now here Henry was, reel in hand, standing on a podium that housed a makeshift throne in the middle of a circular room, it’s walls decorated with movie screens. Bendy is standing still, looking at him intently. Closing his eyes to concentrate on the feeling of the final anchor and its hold on the world around him, he started to unravel the inky spider web acting as glue. One thread after another dissolved under his golden touch, and each time the world around them shook as the remaining supports were destroyed. And when the last thread broke, so did the reel into golden particles.

Then nothing. The tremors stopped.

Henry opened his eyes in disbelieve. Did he really fail? All the energy left his body along with any hope of getting any of them out. Crashing to his knees he couldn’t stop tears from falling, not that he cared. It should have worked, they should all be free now.

While Henry’s mind was reeling from the horrid possibility of being truly stuck because of him destroying both the beginning and the end, making them unable to even restart the cycle, he didn’t notice when Bendy began moving towards him.

The man’s mind was somewhere far away when Bendy clumsily laid next to him. Slowly the elderly man lifted a shaky hand to pat the toon next to him, and with as shaky voice contemplated.

“I-I don’t u-understand? I-It should have w-worked. Everything pointed t-towards this working, s-so why…?” He turned to look at the passive demon next to him.

“I’m s-so sorry.” Bendy moved a bit closer to the man whom he knew was his true creator, who in turn leaned in so that their foreheads touched.

“I just w-wanted to help everyone. To set us all free from t-this hell. Was it really too m-much to a-ask?”

He cursed his inability to fix this, but more then that he cursed the one who did this to them all.

“Curse you Joey Drew!” He shouted at the ceiling of their personal prison before slumping on top of Bendy, having lost most of his will to even move. Before closing his eyes he muttered.

“I just wanted all of us to finally have peace, to finally be free.”

He closed his eyes only to snap them open when he felt like his entire body along with his mind and soul being carved open.

He screamed.

Bendy was startled and rose to his full height, looking at the man who was now writhing in absolute agony on the floor. The ink demon whined in distress and circled around, not knowing what to do or what was happening.

Golden cracks started to run across the animator’s body and bleed into his surroundings. Tremors from before were back and stronger than ever. Walls and the ceiling cracking from the force, letting golden light dazzle the once dismal halls with never before seen warmth.

Bendy did the only thing he could think of and dove to cover his creator. Henry, despite still feeling like he was experiencing his most painful death yet, noticed this action and with great difficulty reached to touch the toon on top of him.

“B-Bendy-” Was all he managed to say before closing his now glowing golden eyes when a next jolt of pain shook his body, seemingly in tune with the tremors that are destroying the place. This caused Bendy to curl even more around them both and he would swore that he heard his creator say.

“L-Love you b-bud. Always.” Before they were engulfed by blinding light.

[tsquaredphysiotherapy]

5 Transformative Benefits of Stretch Therapy

Stretch Therapy is like giving your body a big, warm hug.

Did you know the benefits of stretch therapy?

Stretch therapy is all about boosting flexibility, movement, and feeling great from head to toe through some seriously awesome stretching techniques. Stretch therapy is all about getting your muscles moving in fun and dynamic ways- something that can promote your overall well-being.

Do you know how it promotes overall well-being? It's packed with a bunch of benefits you didn’t know of. First off, it helps you get super bendy and flexible, so you can move with enhanced muscular coordination and avoid those pesky injuries. Plus, it's like hitting the reset button for your muscles, melting away tension and helping you feel relaxed and laid back.

By targeting those tight spots and giving your muscles some love, stretch therapy can have you standing tall and having a great posture at the same time.

But there are a few more benefits to this form of therapy, let’s have a look into that.

Benefits Of Stretch Therapy You Should Know of

Stretch therapy has quite a few advantages. But unfortunately, it is heavily misunderstood and undervalued. Let’s look into those benefits most people ignore:

Better Muscle Coordination

Stretch therapy enhances muscle coordination by promoting better communication between muscles and nerves. Through targeted stretches, you engage various muscle groups, encouraging them to work together more efficiently. This coordination not only improves athletic performance but also reduces the risk of injury during physical activities.

Your muscles are just like a team of synchronized dancers, moving in harmony to perform a flawless routine. Stretch therapy helps them rehearse and perfect their moves, ensuring smooth and coordinated actions in all your activities.

Improvement of Blood Circulation and Nutrition Supply

Stretching increases blood flow towards your muscles, delivering essential nutrients and oxygen while removing waste products. This enhanced circulation supports muscle recovery and repair, leading to faster healing and reduced soreness after exercise.

Think of stretching as a refreshing drink for your muscles. With each stretch, you're a lot more than you imagine- nourishing them with a rush of revitalizing nutrients, leaving them feeling energised and ready for action.

Improved Flexibility

Regular stretching sessions gradually increase flexibility by elongating muscles and improving their elasticity. This enhanced flexibility allows for a greater range of motion and reduces muscle tension and stiffness, leading to improved mobility and agility.

It’s like placing yourself as a graceful gymnast, effortlessly bending and stretching with fluidity and ease. Stretch therapy helps you achieve that same level of flexibility, allowing you to move through life with grace and agility.

Better Posture

Stretch therapy targets key muscle groups responsible for maintaining proper posture, such as the back, shoulders, and hips. By releasing tension and tightness in these areas, stretching helps correct imbalances and alignment issues, resulting in improved posture and reduced risk of back pain.

Imagine standing tall and proud, with your shoulders back and head held high. Stretch therapy helps you achieve that confident posture, giving you the poise and presence to tackle whatever life throws your way.

Stress Management and Relaxation

Stretching promotes relaxation by triggering the release of endorphins, the body's natural feel-good hormones. This calming effect reduces stress levels and promotes well-being, helping you unwind and de-stress after a long day.

We’ll tell you an easier way to do this. Close your eyes and take a deep breath as you sink into a gentle stretch. Feel the tension melt away from your body, leaving you feeling calm, centred, and ready to take on the world.

Now that you already know about the benefits of stretch therapy, it’s easier for you to get into it. So why wait and waste time? in theapy everyday can get you going good in the long run. Let’s hop into your stretch journey and hope it keeps you well.

[entityupdates]

This is a supplementary post for my Rook Gets The Omnitrix AU fic. This post explains which aliens he has and why I choose them.

I love the original ten aliens and I think they’re an amazingly balanced set but for this fic, I wanted to have some underused aliens and just do something different to keep it fun without making OCs. A balanced team generally has water (Ripjaws), fire (Heatblast), energy/ electric/ tech (Upgrade), flight (Stinkfly), smart (Grey Matter), speed (XLR8), building/ versatility/ resistant (Diamondhead), Sensory (Wildmutt), and some kind of unique power (Ghostfreak). Plant manipulation, duplication, and sound are also core powers, I think. Sticking to this formula, here are the aliens I went with for this story:

1. Tidetail Wave

One of the creators confirmed that the Omnitrix has DNA of other Earth species, including the dolphin and white lab mouse. I knew I wanted to use one so I went with the dolphin. There is no canonical name for this transformation so I’m calling it Tidetail Wave.

Since this is an animal we have in real life, I wanted to keep Tidetail’s powers realistic and I’m not taking any creative liberties with this guy. Dolphins powers include swimming, echolocation, sharp vision, electroreception, mud rings/ mud nets, agility, intelligence, enhanced healing and ability to produce natural painkillers, holding their breath for a long time, and incredible speed in the water.

I originally picked Tidetail because he covers the water part of the team but he also covers sensory. Dolphins can use echolocation, meaning they can emit sound and listen to the way it bounces off objects to mentally map their surroundings, and they can also use electroreception, meaning they can sense the electrical impulses that living things give off and use them to find them if their sense of sight is restricted. 

The power I was most interested in was the mud rings/ mud nets dolphins make. In shallow water, they can kick up the sand below to create these rings to trap and disorient prey. I feel like it would be pretty cool to see this in combat.

The Omnitrix usually scans the “ideal” form of a species (as shown in the second Omniverse video game) so Tidetail would be stronger than the average dolphin. Dolphins are already pretty strong and can have pretty wicked teeth designed for latching into things. They’re naturally pretty resistant, have a healing ability several times as strong as humans, and can continue on with injury which would be useful in combat.

2. Archfiend

This is another alien that has been implied to exist by Derrick J. Wyatt but has not been confirmed. We can assume Archfiend’s DNA is in the Codon Stream though and we have seen Benzarro use a version of this alien called Archfiendzarro.

This alien has enhanced strength and durability and hellfire powers but I imagine that any kind of advanced fire techniques are something this alien must learn and just has regular fire powers by default. 

As you can assume, Archfiend would fill the fire slot on this set of aliens. There aren’t a lot of options when it comes to fire aliens. I decided not to go with Heatblast since I wanted to limit the number of original aliens that we see and I didn’t go for Swampfire because he seems a bit too powerful for a beginner Omnitrix wielder to have. I felt like Archfiend was different and unique so I wanted to try him. Plus, I eventually wanted Rook to visit Anur Transyl and I felt like Archfiend would be a good alien to use there.

3. Antigravitesla

Antigravitesla is one of the aliens made for the Latin American commercials but never seen in the show. Antigravitesla has control over gravity but he has trouble controlling his powers. The commercial is only a few seconds so we don’t see much of him but he seems to be very powerful, maybe too powerful for a beginner but I think the inability to control Antigravitesla’s powers balances it out. Since he cannot be easily controlled, he cannot be used as much or very well and it also presents a challenge to the Omnitrix bearer.

I wanted to take some creative liberties with this alien and give him some electrical powers as well since he is named after the man who designed the modern alternating current electricity supply system, thus allowing him to take the place of energy alien on the set. I did consider going for Upgrade or Brainstorm on this one but Antigravitesla is my favorite commercial alien and I wanted to take on the challenge of writing an alien like this.

4. Terrorsaur

Terrorsaur is one of the Tom Perkins aliens that he made for fun and was not based on anything in the show, though he did intend for this guy to be a Ben 10K alien. Terrorsaur is a flying alien with the ability to cause terrifying hallucinations. I choose him to cover Stinkfly’s flying ability and some of Ghostfreak’s spookiness.

Like with Antigravitesla’s powers, I think the hallucinations may be a bit overpowered but, the Omnitrix bearer can’t always use all of an aliens powers right off the bat. I think that at first, Rook would only be able to use Terrorsaur for flight and master the rest of Terrorsaur’s powers later on.

A lot of the Omnitrix aliens can fly but Stinkyfly is pretty much the only one good for riding. I didn’t want to use Stinkfly though and it wasn’t that difficult to settle on Terrorsaur. I really like this alien and I think his scary appearance would be fun to write.

5. Four Arms

I think we all know who Four Arms is. He’s got super strength, thick skin, and not much else which makes him an excellent beginner alien. When it comes to strength, I didn’t want to pick someone too overpowered and I also wanted to have a balance of unique and recognizable aliens. Four Arms felt like a good choice. 

I did consider using an Acrosian (Fistina’s species) since supposedly the Omnitrix does have that DNA. I thought it may be funny but I already named Tidetail and I didn’t want to have too many forms without canonical names since that feels a bit like OC territory and I didn’t want to do that. I also considered Atomix or Humungasaur but I thought that would be too overpowered.

6. Juryrigg

I had a hard time settling on who to pick for the smarts category. Grey Matter and Brainstorm are probably the best choices since their intelligence covers a lot. I also was leaning towards Gutrot for awhile, even if his knowledge is mostly surrounding chemistry, before I settled on Juryrigg. Juryrigg’s intelligence is surrounding machines which I think is a good supplement to Rook’s interest in cars. He needs to be used responsibly but his powers are good in and out of combat. Plus, he’s pretty fast and he’s got claws which is a good skill to have if he ever is separated from machinery. 

7. XLR8

Like with fire, there aren’t a lot of options for speed. The main options are XLR8, Fasttrack, Skidmarx, and Jetray. I love Jetray but I already had flight, water, and energy covered. Jetray may be too overpowered for a beginner. I’m not too familiar with Fasttrack and I almost went with him for that reason. I really wanted to use Skidmarx but we don’t actually know his powers and from what little we do know, I thought he might be a bit overpowered.

Like Four Arms, I think XLR8 is a good strong but simple choice. They’re also fairly recognizable and I wanted to have a few aliens who characters would recognize. Plus I really like XLR8.

8. Bloxx

I almost went with Diamondhead for this spot. Diamondhead is an amazing alien and one of my favorites. His crystal building can be used in many ways and he is very strong and durable. But, I decided to go with Bloxx which is basically just a weaker, more bendy version of Bloxx.

Bloxx gets a lot of hate and I think he was mostly used for comical reasons in Omniverse but I think he is a good beginner alien and he had potential if he is used right.

9. Kringl The Summoner

Like Terrorsaur, Kringl is one of Tom Perkin’s designs that he made after the show and is technically noncanonical. I picked this guy to fill the miscellaneous slot but his powers are kind of similar to Ditto’s. Kringl has the power to summon energy constructs that resemble elves. I imagine he also has some kind of enhanced strength or durability and some kind of ice powers like Artiguna. I also feel like he would have some kind of mental link with his energy elves. Maybe he has weak senses and he relies on them to navigate? 

I’m not sure if Kringl is overpowered or underpowered but I wanted to use him. I feel like he’s a very unexpected alien who can be pretty useful. 

10. Wildvine

Last but not least, Wildvine. Plant powers were not on the original squad but I think they’re a core ability. Swampfire is a bit too strong but Wildvine has a good set of powers. Plant manipulation, regeneration, stretchy limbs, digging, and seed bombs make a diverse skillset. Plus, Wildvine is a classic alien who was not part of the original set. He’s fun, he’s strong, and chances are his powers will be pretty useful on Revonnah.

[halfusek]

Does anyone in your crew hate themselves? If so, how do they cope? (Yes, I know the answer for Mag is yes and booze, lol.)

dfnfdkjdfnjkfd well then

I’d say they have specific kinds of self-hatred and reasons for them

Thomas is ashamed of having a hand in everything that has happened in the studio, he has many regrets and tends to beat himself up over it. Mostly inside but sometimes he verbalizes those thoughts and I guess Allison is there for him, however it seems in DCTL as if Allison as kinda trying to sugar coat it, so it both kinda helps and doesn’t, because he doesn’t get to face it head on that yes, he did help make something that kills people and creates monsters. Maybe he starts working on some inventions of his own to clear his mind

Henry (in the game studio) sometimes wishes he did indeed push harder and feels at fault as for what has happened and thinks of “what if” such as what if he never left and steer Joey the right way - but he generally realizes he is not at fault at all and it’s just Joey’s guilt trippy approach and the general despair of the studio getting to him sometimes. To cope he looks for things that make him hopeful (Linda, their kids, grandkids, doing something nice with Boris, etc)

Henry (before/after he left) feels guilty for not being able to manage the hard situation at work, for having to choose his work over his wife and making her/both of them upset because of that, then he feels a bit of guilt for leaving for leaving everyone in a bad situation (or so he thought because then the studio went on as if it never needed him - that was Joey trying to prove he never needed Henry). To cope he was talking to his wife, tried to think of ways to make thinks better but when they failed, finally the ultimate way of dealing with that was leaving. It was a kind of “I’m in a bad position and put someone dear to me in a bad position and I don’t know what to do” self-hatred if that makes sense

Sammy for what has happened to Susie - how he took part in using her and replacing her. Later, very much later on for everything he has done to appease a god that did not care for him. For the first one coping was just trying to be even more indifferent towards others and pushing himself away from people, making him a more anger driven person. For his lord’s betrayal... going absolutely out of his mind, there was nothing to cope by after that. (As for what happened between him and Joey in my comic... welp, you’ll find out soon. But that involves completely turning away from Joey and giving trust into a deity that... betrays him as well. Big oofs there.)

Norman and Jack both wish they could have done something/saved someone as they both were exposed and suspicious of some things going down, and their natures resulted in different behaviors from their ink forms: Norman is very active as the Projectionist but his mind is too gone to take a proper action, so he’s “blindly” taking care of anyone he sees; Jack proceeds to not do anything, he doesn’t think he’s capable of doing anything. Jack additionally always had self esteem issues - not minding that Joey takes the praise for his songs - so also had a bit of self hatred for him for being, in a way, a coward, or at least he would have called himself so (in reality it’s just his shy nature, humbleness and anxiety). I’d say Norman’s is very minor, and trying to act is his way of dealing with it. Jack’s however is major and his way is spending time alone, focusing hard on songs, maybe just singing some for fun and a bit of that coffee passion.

Susie sometimes beats herself up over being naive, she doesn’t really have a way for coping directly with that, it leads to the anger at those who used her naivness and her emotions shift - here she can either calm down or let that anger out, by something violent and mean probably. As for the calmness, as a person she’d have wrote her mom, as an ink creature maybe bury herself in Alice dolls and listen to some Alice Angel songs. Or, you know, go break/send Henry to break some Bendy cutouts. She, as an ink creature, hates her imperfect form, something in her is obsessed with perfection and she cannot get over that, only actively trying to make herself perfect makes it bearable.

Grant has depression showing up every now and then, coming into his mind with dirty shoes and a bat, beating some furniture up and leaving. The numbers should be adding up and if they don’t he’s just a shit accountant, isn’t he? He has grown a strength to push past those thoughts in regular life, however working at JDS is hell and regular solutions don’t apply to JDS problems. Regularly, any distractions from work would help to catch a breather and come back to trying to solve something with more power, but JDS problems just don’t go away and he ends up not being able to distract himself anymore because no solutions are working and he’s distracted from being distracted and there is no coping for that. To cope there have been friends, and from less grounded things, religion.

Joey. [long whistle] Yeah. Joey is afraid of failing and he fails and he hates being a failure and he hates himself deeply for that. Before studio bankrupted he really was just kind of delusional and tried to push the hardest he could, because he couldn’t manage to stop without stopping completely, he’s a very extreme person and couldn’t do something in between. Then the studio bankrupts and he is forced to stop. Or is he? Well, he was forced to at least try to stop, until he found a way to go against the impossible and continue anyway. So, yes, booze is one of the “coping” mechanisms for him, which is just trying to not thing about his problems and bottling them up. He pretends he’s fine without Henry, he pretends he’s doing what’s right and would stand by the fact that it was okay for a while, but then everything fails and nothing is fine at all. After the studio bankrupted he might have tried to do other things but just found himself unable to move on, so at least he dedicated himself to trying to fix something that is unfixable. Other kind of coping is trying to get closure from other people but that’s very hard to come by because he shuts other people off, so it only really happens when he puts his guard down and accidentially lets someone else in. Which he then tries to backpedal from, so it only makes him feel a bit better for a short while but it’s always still bitter.

[onlyfroaskingcmcqusetions1]

Hi, I've got something I need to say. I'm going to say this now, and I'm going to get it off my chest and if any of you disagree with me that's fine but I'm going to say this anyway.

YouTube has gone to s***. I enjoy watching it I enjoy using it for some reason it's fun to shoot is Formosa do the reasons the biggest of which being children content can't have commenting board hello not all the people watching children's content or children number 1 and number 2 why the hell does it matter if a child leave a comment and if a kid leave the comment but deciding the fact that YouTube isn't for children in the first damn place. Also, side note Google this is directed at you instead of having YouTube kids develop an entirely different website that uses the YouTube API that's directed it kid don't have YouTube kid make YouTube kids something different by Google kids or Google junior or some other form of a YouTube type service that's only for children and don't put YouTube name on it your stupidity has caused issues. And I can give you a couple of other reasons it's really stupid to do, for example YouTube does not let there be mini player active for children's content any longer so say I'm watching an episode of DuckTales or Tangled or say I'm watching a video where someone is talking about Tangled and they show clips from Tangled well they're going to assume it's children's content and then let's say I don't want to watch that video but I'm searching for something else to watch right after well I can't do both because it's children's content do you see the stupid what danger is a child in by having mini player available so they can sit through and watch YouTube videos at once or try to find multiple videos and watch at the same time What is the thing what's the danger in letting a Child leave comment on a video now I can get behind there's a child in the video we don't want comments when there are children in videos because they could be full of pedophile commenters AKA Maps or people trying to bully the child listen to responsibility to deal with it. YouTube It's the parents responsibility to protect your child from the Internet by the internet job Hopper shouldn't exist poplin needs to get removed we shouldn't be protecting our children on the internet because that's the parents job nothing internet job.

It's the parents job to keep their child safe on mine it's not the internet provider or the websites job to do this they shouldn't be doing this they shouldn't have to do this now, is it something like Nickelodeon or Nick jr. Yes by all means they should be because they're directed at children mainly but something like YouTube they shouldn't have to they shouldn't have to comply because they weren't designed for children in the beginning know where they ever aimed at children YouTube kids was just their way to try and have a safe place for the children's content that gets uploaded like Ryan's world because they think children can't watch YouTube in a regular manner cuz oh no little tiny two-year-old Jimmy but accidentally clicked a video about Fallout okay so well that's not for children I admit that and yes I'm on the way to that could be potentially scarring but I'm also not going to sit here and say that that would happen because let's look at it this way if someone is watching Ryan's World Julia's likely to get certain types of videos. And side note if you're watching Ryan's world you have no life LOL just kidding but seriously he's content is not good at all I tried to watch it before it's going to

Now, there's some other things to keep in mind to I get that YouTube is trying to protect their asses because the FTC is involved and I don't like the children can't have protein today because heaven forbid that collect information from a six-year-old without the parents consent think that's such a problem and you have a problem because yes their information gets taken and no I'm no expert but I do know a little bit about computers and from what I do know they only do things like take cookies which tracks the website you go to that's not bad it's not like YouTube is sitting there and pushing a button that says let's find out little Jimmy's age place of birth date of birth time of birth social security number place of schooling they're not doing all of that and if they were I mean you were Dubai a lot sooner. And the reason I have such a problem with all of this is because it ruined a perfectly good YouTubers like Audrey Lynn Vlogs who I just discovered she's a lot like fathering autism and they're in the same general category so I'm going to whip them together for a minute no Abby is nowhere near the same thing as autumn but we're going to lump them together because they're in the same general category of disabled parent vlogging but we're going to lump them together because they're in the same general category of parent of disabled child blogging about their experiences. I'm well aware that there's a potential for Matt's out there I'm not saying that map should be given freedom but I'm saying is I as a viewer should be allowed to talk to the YouTubers I watch be a comment even if they were children in their videos because there is some good content creators out there that I want to be able to leave comments on but I can't because they use other forms of social media I do not use or will not use like Snapchat Instagram excetera I don't like Snapchat I think it's stupid I don't like Instagram Instagram isn't stupid I just don't like it because I don't like the way it's set up, and I refuse to use Facebook.

And also, I don't use Twitter anymore because Twitter is garbage. Now, and the other thing, I want to point this out as well there are other channels out there that don't specifically directed at children but they get called child channels is simply because of the content exhibit a hextian he does Dobby paints now, his dogs are not for children yes he uses Barbie, Ever After High, Monster High and some other Barbie asked dolls but his stuff is not directed at children at all no hok watches videos yes but they're not directed at children exhibit B MyFroggyStuff no you should think about her Channel he's in a bit of a gray-haired because she did originally start out as a crafting Channel designed to Showcase craft that a child could technically do with some adult supervision like how to make a Barbie bed or dollhouse etc etc adult supervision or potentially on their own so I could see what she need to get considered a child's Channel because her content is kind of Grey area skewed more towards children Exhibit C we have someone like nerdecrafter she could be considered a child Channel because she covers arts and crafts and My Little Pony and then of course we have more on the other end like people like say Bailey J he is very good, she's an artist and if you haven't seen or content you need to. But, under the actual thing at hand she could be considered a child's channel to technically but see she doesn't do children's content we automatically assume the things that are cute on YouTube or for children when in reality through things that are cute but don't you children I'm going to name two examples hear Happy Tree Friends anything bendy and the ink machine because in some instances bendy and Company can look very cute and adorable and also are you Gregory horror show which again to some people could be considered cute and childish.

[calorieworkouts]

What does mindfulness *actually* mean? I tried a beginner`s yoga class to find out

I am definitely not a yoga exercise professional-- unless being one means you dual tap Instagram photos of yogis twisted into apparently difficult positions with awe (as well as a touch of envy) on the reg. I have spent a decent regarding of time on the mat, from sessions meant to be so restorative they verge on a snooze, to courses that are sweat-dripping-in-your-eyes, heart-poundingly intense.

But the one kind of course strangely enough missing from my arsenal was one especially geared toward beginners. Like a great deal of new yogis, I originally jumped head-first right into yoga. My first-ever class was most definitely means as well advanced for my degree of (no) experience-- as well as I hid in the back and really hoped for the very best.

In an initiative to touch much more into the internal benefits of yoga, I made a decision to go all the method back to the basics.

I've come a lengthy method ever since, however have just recently discovered myself intending to take my dedication to yoga exercise up a notch. So in an effort to tap extra right into the internal benefits of yoga exercise (and maybe get one action better to sticking one of those mind-bendingly bendy poses), I determined to copulate back to the basics.

I enrolled in a YogaWorks Degree 1 class, which the supervisors ensured me was ideal for someone completely brand-new to yoga (so it met my fresh-start need). As a workshop that's been around for decades (they're commemorating their 30th anniversary in September) I figured I might trust YogaWorks' guideline, considering its technique guarantees genuine, traditional-style yoga exercise with a focus on establishing mindfulness.

So, a lady walked right into a poorly lit workshop armed with a floor covering and also an open mind. Here's what I discovered.

Scroll down for 4 reasons a back-to-the-basics yoga experience could be for you.

To get even more in tune with your body

The first point I discovered was the rate of the class. It was much slower than your regular vinyasa circulation course, which allowed me time to work out right into each pose without seeming like I had to rush right into the following one to stay on par with my neighbor.

In turn, I paid more focus to how my body was feeling ( and also realized I was a lot much more aching from my workout the previous day than I had thought). The trainer, Caitlin Casella, clarified to me after course that the calm pace is what commonly attracts more innovative trainees to take her Level 1 class.

' Several of the usual Level 3 students occasionally take a Degree 1 class since it just feels right for their body on that particular day,' Casella states. 'Possibly they're weary or aching from one more workout, or it just really feels secure on their body and on their joints.' Inspect, as well as check.

To learn the 'right' way to do each pose

During the course, Casella committed a great deal of time to explaining exactly how to line up your body to get into the position. She had us pay added attention to the angle of our hips in presents like tree as well as warrior 2, which assisted me realize that my variation of warrior was more twisted than it required to be.

' Slower classes permit time for inquiry as well as playing so you can learn optimum positioning for the pose and the body,' Casella discusses. 'There might not be one optimum positioning for a specific posture, yet there may be an optimum positioning for that present for your body."

Learning the best method to place my body eventually aided me really feel like I was obtaining more out of it (Also Known As my quads were most definitely melting).

To learn something new

If your objective is to toenail a handstand, you may think an innovative course is where you need to be. However Casella says much more knowledgeable trainees go back to the lower level classes when they have their views established on including a new position to their arsenal.

' Some pupils are blown away when they go back to a Level 1 course by what they in fact learn," Casella says. "Advanced pupils wind up discovering a lot by decreasing. Think of it such as this: You have to go slow-moving to learn just how to talk a new language. Numerous progressed trainees circle back to degree 1 since they're asking their bodies to do something new.'

To figure out what mindfulness truly means

The greatest job in my back-to-basics test was to tackle my understanding of mindfulness. I obtain that yoga is designed to aid you get rid of your mind-- but what does that in fact look like?

' Some circulation classes with songs can relocate right into amusement, as well as inevitably, home entertainment in any form is diversion for your mind,' Casella states. 'I assume going slower and being still can actually be an advanced method due to the fact that it makes you rest with what's inside your mind.'

In the YogaWorks 1 class, Casella provided a difficulty: Use the slower speed to allow on your own to notice how sidetracked you obtain. For me, the solution was a lot. Without having to function so difficult to keep up with the course, my brain began churning. Not only was I taking mental notes for what I was going to write in this article (guilty), I was additionally planning what I intended to eat for dinner.

But each time my mind roamed, I advised myself, come back to the breath. ( Just how lots of times have you listened to a teacher claim that in a course?)

After, I really felt like I ultimately understood what that implied. Listening to my breath had not been simply an additional disturbance. It aided me pay focus to myself and what my body needed, and ultimately, that's a method bigger present than considering tomorrow's to-do listing. Because honestly, it can wait.

In partnership with YogaWorks

[youllallriseintheink]

Moving On

This takes place chronologically after the events of another one of my stories, called “Breaking the Time Loop.” I think it’s understandable without having read it, though. I hope everyone enjoys it.

---

For twenty three years, Sammy Lawrence had longed for everything he had now. Freedom. His old body. The whole, open, colourful world for him to live in. Even his relationship with Susie Campbell had been given back to him. In his daydreams, Sammy had fantasized about publishing the music he’d written in his years of captivity, becoming involved with a church, marrying, and never coming back to that horrible studio or performing demonic arts again.

Less had changed than he expected. Until he was finally free, he had never realized just how attached he was to the churches he already had within the studio, and the people he’d helped there. And so, every day after work, he’d head into the sketch dimension. The portal to it had found a new home in the closet in the bathroom of his brother’s apartment, where he and Susie were staying until they found their own place to stay. Joey had been perfectly willing to help him move it: there was no more closure to be had from the sketch dimension, and a part of Joey was honestly just happy that someone from the dimension was moving on and helping to salvage the souls of the damned.

Within the dimension, Alice Angel was hard at work sending the souls of Sammy’s cult to heaven. A necessary part of that was separating a soul from the hive mind that lost one’s tended to become when left unattended.

There was nothing functionally wrong with separating them out as needed like Alice was doing. The souls, spread out across dozens of bodies, simply wouldn’t be aware of themselves. A few of them, Sammy knew, had never even attempted to separate due to what could only be described as a very weak will to live. The only problem was that Sammy didn’t like seeing his people melt away into a languid hive. That was why he reopened the Church of Unity and returned to it whenever necessary, playing audio logs for anyone who had forgotten who they were.

There was a good deal less to do at the Church of Unity now that Alice was at work- nothing helps one’s will to live like not being hunted by a demon and the concrete promise of escape. And of course, now that Bendy had given life back to every person he could, the Church of the Ink Demon was permanently closed. The only other “work” he had as a pastor was in encouraging the occasional lost one who was afraid to give himself over to Alice. As a result, Sammy had a lot of time to spend hanging out with the important people in his life. He and Jack were still best friends, and would Sammy often played music with him. Jack also joined Sammy, Tom, and Alice for games of cards. He generally wouldn’t leave the sketch dimension until ten or eleven at night, when his body’s need for sleep forced him to.

At first, Susie stayed up for him. Though, his social batteries were usually drained by that point, so he typically just showered off and went to bed after that, careful to remove every drop of ink from himself and the floor. Susie hated seeing ink in any quantity greater than what would come out of a pen, and she hated when Sammy talked about what was going on in the sketch dimension. Thing was, that was pretty much Sammy’s whole life. Eventually, she stopped staying up for him, making him agree to have dinner with her and his brother each night before disappearing into the sketch dimension instead.

Over dinners, he mostly let Susie talk. She’d always been the type to enjoy talking about her day and the like. As of late, she’d been talking about new technologies and other little things that had changed between the forties and the sixties that she wanted Sammy to see. His response was always the same: “we’ll do it on the weekend.” As of late, she’d been doing a lot of complaining about him not becoming more involved in “the real world.”

Sammy hated that. The people of his cult were real. Real and important to him. If Susie didn’t want to listen to why that was (and she didn’t. She didn’t want to hear a word about the sketch dimension) she’d just have to accept it blind.

Despite some bitterness towards her, Sammy did feel bad about neglecting to make a life outside the sketch dimension, especially as Susie began to lose interest in him. And that wasn’t the only problem with living most of his life there. The other problem was that the people that made up his life were disappearing before his eyes.

Sammy had always known that that would happen eventually, of course. And he knew that his people were going to a better place, and that there was no way for them to live in a physical body again. Still, when someone he had known was there one day and gone from him the next, he couldn’t help but think of it as their death. Like people he knew were dying on a regular, steady basis and the studio just kept getting emptier.

Alice was the only one he could talk to about that. He didn’t even want Susie to know about it. So, when his memories of some ascended lost one were keeping him up at night, he’d leave and head for somewhere where no one could bother him. Oftentimes to his old sanctuary. From his time in captivity, he was used to hearing lost ones cry at night. He was even used to being one of them.

Susie noticed that Sammy’s mood had taken a turn, and was even aware of him leaving at night, but she didn’t know what to do about it. He denied that it was even happening, until a particular event pushed her to act.

It had all started when Sammy had come to Alice and Tom’s place, as he had many times before, only to be greeted by a strange, sketchy, black-and-white man. The man was tall, burly, and completely unsurprised by Sammy’s shock. “Like my new look? Oh calm down, Sammy. It’s Tom. Come in.”

“How...?”

“You see, Sammy,” Alice explained, “I decided to get one of the harder cases over with. The searcher that you’d isolated in that cage because she’d gone entirely insane. Well, after a few hours I realized that there was no fixing her. I should have known. She couldn’t even even speak, the poor thing. So I did what I did for Norman’s soul and just blanked it out and let Tom use it to change form. Boris here might be fine as a mute dog, but Tom isn’t!”

“Oh. Uh, congratulations, Tom. You look great!” Sammy replied, though he was much more concerned with his favourite blob with a hat. “She was so insane she couldn’t talk, you say?”

“Oh, Sammy. I promise you that Jack is going to be fine. I don’t know why he’s always stayed a searcher, but you know that none of them can talk. His soul seems pretty normal from what I can see.” From the corner where he was stroking Boris the wolf, Jack nodded in agreement.

“Alright, good to hear,” Sammy had said. That night, though, he laid awake, pondering his friend’s mortality, and the promise he’d made to his church to do everything in his power to save them. And it just seemed so unfair that he should get to live, just because he happened to have kept a bit of his own hair.

Sammy sat up in bed. That was it. The only way to bring him back was to get some physical remains of his. If that tiny, inky bundle of hair was enough for Bendy to do his magic, then anything ought to do.

Sammy retrieved a phone book from the drawer, taking a glance at the clock, which read 2:36. This was insane, and Sammy knew it was insane. Nonetheless, he flipped through the pages until he came upon the name “Fain.” It made most sense to just start at the top of the list and work his way down. He dialed the first number, the noise painfully loud against the silence of the night.

“Hello,” came a sleepy, female voice. Sammy had to wonder what he’d been thinking, doing this at this hour. Yet, it felt too late to back out now.

“Yes, hello. Do you have a relative named Jack Fain?”

“Uh, let me think... yeah. An uncle, I think.”

“Is he dead?”

“What?

“Sorry, I mean, uh...”

“Who is this?”

There was a silence.

“I’m hanging up-“

“Wait! I’m a geneticist from uh, New York University! We have reason to believe that he had a rare but harmless genetic abnormality that we’d like to study. Do you have anything that might have his DNA?”

“Oh, okay. I’m sorry, no. You might have a better chance with one of his adoptive kids, but I doubt anyone has anything. He went missing a long time ago. Can I give you one of their numbers?”

“I’d love that.”

Within the next ten minutes, Sammy had been on the line with all three of Jack’s adoptive kids, and was no closer to securing Jack’s DNA. He hung the phone back up and slumped to the floor, defeated and ready to cry. His sheep might be going to a better place, but he was still losing them, and he wasn’t sure how much more he could take. Susie and Sammy’s brother watched in silence from the hall. Susie beckoned his brother over.

“What should we do?” she whispered.

“I don’t think we can get through to him,” he replied.

“I think I know someone who can.”

Susie left the man’s side and left for the entrance to the sketch dimension. Even just poking her head through the door and seeing the sepia-toned studio on the other side made her heart pick up the pace. Slowly, she forced herself in, and pulled the door shut behind her. She checked it to make sure that it was in fact unlocked. Alright, she could do this. She’d done it before-done it for years. And it wasn’t as though the ink demon was here this time.

“Relentless forward momentum, Susie. Just do it, and don’t look back.”

Susie made her way through the studio, found an axe, slaughtered a few butcher gang trios, and found the elevator.

Relentless forward momentum. Don’t think, just do. There were plenty of artifacts of her past to trigger her memories, but she refused to take any of it in.

After a trip through Bendyland, she came to an ink river and stopped dead. Allison would be on the other side of this. Come on. Relentless forward momentum. It’s not gonna melt you. After some serious hesitation, Susie got in, waded through as quickly as she could, and found herself at Alice’s door. She gave it a few hard knocks.

“Who is it...?” Alice asked sleepily.

“It’s Susie Campbell.”

Confused, Alice got up and opened the door. Sure enough, Susie was there. “Susie! What brings you here?”

“It’s about Sammy. He’s not adjusting to the real world and I don’t think he would listen to anyone else. I want to give him an intervention, but could use you to soften him up. What do you say?”

Alice hesitated. Susie was getting desperate. “This is the last time he’ll ever get to spend with these people, Susie. I’ve seen into his soul, and you have no idea how much his people matter to him and how good his time here was. Have you ever considered just letting him grieve?”

Tears pricked at Susie’s eyes. “I wish I could see how he’s grown. But all he wants to do is come here. And talk about here. And I don’t wanna ever think about here again. All the ways I was hurt, and hurt other people... I just wanna forget it all and he won’t let me. Alice, if nothing happens, I’m going to have to leave him for my own sake so that I can move on. And I’m worried about how he’ll take that. He’s already crying almost every night, and tonight he was lying to people on the phone and acting like a fool in the middle of the night because he doesn’t want to lose Jack. I don’t wanna put a break up on him on top of that. What should I do, Alice?”

Alice looked to Susie with pity. At this point tears were flowing down the smaller woman’s face. “I guess you should at least warn him,” she sighed. “About the breakup, that is. I guess I can try talking to him. I’m biased, Susie. I don’t know what there is to value out there. I only know about in here. But I’ll try.”

“Okay,” Susie choked out.

“Can I walk you to the elevator? You look like you swam here.”

“There’s an elevator?”

“Yep. The lost ones made it.”

That explained why Susie didn’t know about it. Why would the lost ones share their knowledge with a monstress who wanted to vivisect them for their hearts? But, Susie didn’t have to think about that. A few minutes, and she’d be out of this inky hell.

—-

Sammy was overjoyed that Susie was finally allowing him to bring Allison and Tom out of the sketch dimension. He had something very important to tell them. After, of course, showing them around a little.

Allison in particular was awestruck as they walked downtown together. “There’s so much colour. Oh my gosh, what’s this one called?” Allison asked, pointing to a woman’s dress.

“Indigo. And the belt’s colour is called red,” Sammy said. Showing Allison around like this made him feel like a hero. Suddenly, Allison tore off to a cart selling flowers. By the time he’d caught up with her, she was face-deep in them.

“Oh, Sammy... you told me there were a lot of different kinds of these things, but... I never thought there would be this many.”

“Wanna buy some?”

If it were possible, Alice’s face lit up even more. Sammy bought her some small indigo flowers.

Soon, they were at the park they’d intended to go to. “So,” Alice began, voice somber, “I have something to tell you.”

“Really? Me, too.”

“You first.”

“Okay. So, I know you don’t really know yet what you’re going to do once you’re on the outside, and I’ve been thinking that you and Bendy could make a great team for curing mental illnesses like schizophrenia or dementia. Just kill them, manipulate the soul, and have Bendy bring them back to life. Easy, and it would probably bring in a lot of money.”

Alice looked at him like he was crazy. “Don’t the people out here have more reservations about death than us?”

“Oh, right. But, they also have reservations about torturing themselves with mental illness. I think a lot of people would still take it.”

“I don’t know, Sammy. I kind of want to find out who I am when I’m not killing people and manipulating souls. I don’t expect you to get it, but choosing who someone is supposed to be without their input is stressful. I’m not sure I can even do anything about dementia- it’s more a physical thing. And just... look around,” Allison gestured at the park. “It’s beautiful. Tom and I want to come out here and try something new. Anyhow, do you know if Bendy would be up to it?”

Sammy looked pensively to the grass. “No. Can I call him now?”

“Sure.”

So, that’s what Sammy did. Bendy picked up.

“Hello?”

“Hello, Bendy. It’s Sammy Lawrence.

“Hi, Sammy! To what do ah owe the honour?”

“This is... mostly hypothetical, but I was wondering if you’d be up to joining in a little project with Allison. It would involve moving across states to live with her, but I can imagine no greater use of your gifts.”

Bendy was silent a moment. Then, he heard Bendy call out, “Dad! It’s Sammy! He wants me to move in with Alice!”

“What?” Henry grunted before taking the phone and chasing Bendy off to play. “Sammy, hi! How are you adjusting to the real world?”

“Good...”

“Good. Now look, I’m sorry, but Bendy relocating now is not a good idea.”

Sammy was surprised with the strength of his reaction. “But why? You don’t even know what my plan is.”

“Because, Sammy,” Henry said patiently, “Bendy is a child. It doesn’t matter what the plan was. He needs his parental figures.”

“No he isn’t,” Sammy retorted, “He’s a powerful, 20-something-year-old demon that can control ink and raise the dead.”

“Yeah, but he spent several of those years locked and chained in an empty room, and spent the rest of them wandering around in a pocket dimension attempting to steal a soul. And right now, he wouldn’t want to be separated from me for two days, let alone to move to another state with Tom and Allison. Mentally, he’s just a child with abandonment issues. I don’t know what I’m going to do with him long-term, Sammy. Right now we’re going to try putting him in school. He’ll probably be ready for something like what you’re talking about one day. But right now, we honestly just want to move on.”

“Oh. Okay,” Sammy said. Then he hung up.

“What did he say?” Alice asked.

“They want to move on.”

Alice nodded. “That’s the thing I needed to tell you. Susie is worried about you. She thinks you have to move on.”

Sammy hid his head in his hands. A ton of thoughts, most of them nasty, brewed. He counted to ten and said, “Susie doesn’t realize how important my cult is to me. She doesn’t want to talk about anything.”

“She’s traumatized.”

Sammy strained to keep the anger out of his voice and the tears out of his eyes. “Why couldn’t you have just fixed that when you had the chance? It hurts us. You fixed that other guy.”

Alice sighed. “That’s different, Sammy. Depression is basically the brain not producing enough of a couple chemicals. To use the writing metaphor, it’s a matter of correcting a couple grammatical errors. With Susie, it would be like rewriting the plot, or deleting sentences. Susie’s trauma is about her memories, and her interpretation of them. Unless it were necessary, I couldn’t just... delete soul-deep memories. I could have planted thoughts in her head so that she wouldn’t be so affected by them, but after doing so much of that already for her identity issues and aggression, I just wanted to keep it low-interference wherever I could. And maybe that was a mistake. There isn’t a manual for this, y’know. I have to make choices and then live with them.”

“Oh. Okay,” Sammy replied, resigned. “If I can ask, what’s the biggest thing you did to me?”

“I made your thinking less black and white. That’s about it.”

“Okay.”

Sammy sat in silence a while, head on his knees. “What are you going to do when you can come out?” Sammy asked. “Who will you stay with?

“Presumably Tom and I will just live in the sketch dimension until we can afford a real place.”

“Okay. I was just thinking about letting the sketch dimension go for Susie’s sake. The thing is, I don’t want to leave you to learn about the world alone-“

Alice grabbed Sammy’s hand. His perfect, creamy white hand. This was someone pure. Someone who wouldn’t be stared at by every man woman and child out here. “Sammy. Look at yourself. You belong out here. With people. I wouldn’t want to hold you back.”

“You wouldn’t be. Alice, I’m not the person I was going into the sketch dimension, and I wouldn’t want to be. I want to discover who I am now and how I could fit in to this world, too. That’s what Susie doesn’t seem to get- even when my cult is gone, I don’t want things to go back to the way they were. We could figure out our new lives together. Tom, too.”

Alice would have blushed if she were physically capable of it. She also laughed a little, which confused Sammy. “What?”

“Oh, nothing. It just that I was supposed to get you to see the light and leave the sketch dimension behind. It seems like I’ve done pretty much the opposite. I’m gonna warn you, though: Susie and your brother are waiting for you to come back to the apartment so they can do a little intervention for you.”

The two came back to the apartment together, where Susie and Sammy’s brother were waiting. They had a serious talk together about what Sammy could be doing to handle loss better, and Sammy listened. He also explained his side of the story and what he’d planned with Allison. Susie was devastated, but also relieved when she and Sammy broke up. After the intervention was finished, Susie called her sister, and was moved out within a week.

—-

It was a little over a year later, and Sammy was rowing across a lake with Allison and Tom, where they planned on having a picnic to celebrate the anniversary of Tom and Alice’s entry into the real world. Sammy was happy that he’d chosen to be a part of it.

had found their place in a little town that housed the greatest hospice in New York State. The people out here had gotten used to having two sketchy, black and white people around. It had taken time, though. Sammy had gotten a job at the hospice fairly easily, but it took him a while to convince his boss to give Allison a chance. It had turned out to be a good place for them both to use their skills, including ones Sammy had developed during his time as an ink creature. It was far from a secular hospice, so Sammy could even use spirituality to comfort some of the patients. Alice occasionally took a soul home and fixed it up enough to land it in heaven, which she found to be a good balance between using her power and being more than it. Tom was also happy working as a lumberjack. Even aside from work though, it was a nice town, though- small, tight-knit, out in nature, had a nice church.

Not all of their transition was easy. It was very hard for Tom and Allison to discover that just because they’d been together when their were no other options, didn’t mean that their love would survive once they were free to make other choices. Alice and Sammy had had feelings for each other on some level since the moment they’d met, and became a couple pretty much the second that they were both single at the same time. The trio remained friends, though, with Tom living fairly close by and visiting often.

Sammy had readjusted some of his unused music for the modern age and had released them to some success. Susie had called him to congratulate him as soon as she saw a record with his name on it for sale. They exchanged stories about how they were doing. Susie was doing well. She was back in voice acting and was getting fairly good roles, and she was engaged now. That had been a couple months ago, and they hadn’t talked since. That was okay. Sammy had moved on. At their own pace, everyone had.

---

Do you guys think Sammy made the right choice? When I started writing this, I was thinking I’d end it with Sammy giving the portal to the sketch dimension to Henry, forcing himself to move on, and eventually marrying Susie.

[hellzyeahthewebwieldingavenger]

Absolute Carnage #1 Thoughts

Absolute Carnage is an Absolute Triumph!

Do not get it twisted. I will not be covering older or future issues of Cates’ Venom run. Nor will I be covering every tie in issue for this event. In fact I was not planning on covering the main book in the first place.

But after reading it I now will be and have put it on my pull list.

Cates’ Venom work has been tremendous despite the detractors.

There have been some writing issues with older Venom continuity, but those issues are the by product of Cates desperately loving this character and the symbiote franchise and wanting to make Eddie Brock and his version of Venom a viable anti-hero protagonist character going forward.

To be clear I still fundamentally oppose that direction for the character, but if it must happen (and sales practically demand it happen) then yes we should have good writing accordingly. Cates has thus reinvented Brock and Venom (without a total overhaul) and rendered them fascinating, sympathetic, but still with plenty of edge and moral ambiguity.

He has not done the same for Carnage. He has simply taken Carnage and made him true to what he always was. A force of nature, a force of chaos and death with a Freddy Krueger wisecracking personality.

However what Cates has done for Carnage is reframe him in this story.

Whereas before Carnage was a spikey, sharp obstacle heroes needed to band together to bring down, now he’s beyond that. As he says, he is a God now, or at least almost Godlike. A Red Grim Reaper that even a monster like Venom is rightly afraid of.

Heroes might be able to stall him for awhile, but never stop him.

Much like Freddy Krueger, or Jason Voorhees or any of the classical slasher villains then, Carnage has been reframed as a horror monster. But imagine Jason, Freddy or Michael Myers with the almost Lovecraftian raw power behind them.

Scary right? And that’s what Absolute Carnage is. It’s a superhero horror story.*

It gets scarier when you consider Carnage isn’t even himself the real horroer, he’s the harbinger of it. Knull, the literal GOD OF THE SYMBIOTES is the ends through which Kasady is the bloody red means. Knull has recently appeared in Cates’ Silver Surfer run and it only just struck me writing this that in a sense Carnage is to Knrull what the Surfer was to Galactus.

Carnage is the Herald of Knull.

Kasady has all the over the top immense abilities he had before as Carnage, only now they’ve been cranked up to 11. Which considering the whole point of Carnage was that he was cranked up to 11 makes Absolute Carnage 22? He’s less vulnerable to sonics and fire and injury in general. His anatomy is contorted to the point where when bonded with the symbiote his waist is as thin as his spine and he’s HUGE. He can generate other symbiotes and bond them to others making them his footsoldiers.

He’s seemingly Absolutely unstoppable.

In this sense Absolute Carnage is a true blue sequel to Maximum Carnage. Like so many sequels of the time it is BIGGER. Whereas in Maximum Carnage the question was how far should the heroes go to stop Carnage, in Absolute Carnage the question is rather how on Earth CAN they stop him?

It’s Carnage taken to his absolute logical conclusion and I love it.

Now in fairness all that is contingent upon you liking Carnage in the first place. I’d still recommend regular ASM readers skim the issue as events from it will be relevant, but if you don’t like Carnage in general maybe don’t buy this.

However the issue holds other merits.

Cates is a unique beast amidst symbiote writers because he actually seems to unrepentantly LIKE them.

In the history of all the symbiote comics writers have either approached the characters as enjoying Venom and/or Carnage or parts of their lore but being very selective. Flash Thompson’s run on Venom for instance carried an undercurrent of, if not contempt, then elitism towards Eddie Brock and all the other symbiotes hence Remender (or was it Bunn?) sought to clean the slate of them. Bendis infamously didn’t even want to do Venom in Ultimate Spider-Man, rarely used him after he did and totally reframed the symbiotes in Guardians of the Galaxy to be glorified gooey Green Lanterns.

And I will be the first to admit I fall into the cadre of people who are extremely selective when it comes to symbiote lore. My love for them is through the lens of how they fit in and enrich Spider-Man’s  mythology, not appreciating them on the basis of their own mythology.

Cates is entirely different. He is first and foremost a Venom/symbiote fan. He is someone, and there are interviews corroborating this, who as a kid had one of his formative comic book lover experiences with anti-hero 90s Venom and stories like that.

This is why so many of the Web of Venom comic books that have been setting up this event have directly or indirectly referenced those 90s Venom books, even if it’s just in the name of the comics. Unleashed. Funeral Pyre. Cult of Carnage. Carnage Born. I mean he’s the first comic book creator to have ever expressed adoration for Carnage Mind Bomb, the first ever true blue Carnage horror story that is his equivalent to the Killing Joke. It’s obscure, macabre, twists and gruesome. But it lays out for you everything about who Carnage is. He hasn’t got layers. And that is the point.

Cates’ love for those stories, for the symbiote lore oozes (pun intended) in his Venom work and this comic. He WANTS to use every corner of that lore that he can and add to it. He wants to tell the greatest symbiote epic of our time. He wants to do the ultimate Carnage story, the ultimate Venom story.

Hell he WANTS to do a Maximum Carnage tribute because he unapologetically loves that piece of hot trash.

And he wants you to love that stuff too. I don’t agree with the decision to do stories like this because I feel Venom and Carnage should be just about the only symbiotes around and be nothing more than Spidey villains at that. And yet...I feel his enthusiasm pulsing from the pages of this comic.

His love and excitement for using these characters and doing something this big is as palpable as it is infectious. And so he’s won me over. I don’t agree with doing this story but I’m so onboard for enjoying the ride.

It helps that it’s honestly very well written.

He’s done his homework (and symbiote canon is a fucking mess let me tell you so that is impressive), he throws out deep cut references to stuff like Marvel Knights or the Life Foundation. More than that when you look at this issue and his Venom run up to this point you can see how meticulous he planned it. it could go way off the rails of course, but right now he’s firing on all cylinders. Carnage was appropriately foreshadowed and built up, his escapades were well documented in various issues preceding this event. The Knull mythology was clearly established, the stakes were appropriately set up.

And just in case you disagree he spells it all out for you concisely in the first few pages of this oversized issue. I’ve been reading the run and even I appreciated the refresher course.

He doesn’t just give us a larger than life doomsday scenario though, or even a ‘a bad guy is doing bad things we need to stop him’ plot. By making everyone to have bonded to a symbiote a target it means characters we are emotionally invested in, even if they are villains we love to hate, are in jeopardy.

And at the beating heart of it all is the story of a father and a son.

Eddie Brock and his son, unbeknownst to the boy of course. On a thematic level this is relevant because Dylan and Kasady/Carnage are both the products of Brock and the Venom symbiote. But the fact that this is all about Knull, the ‘father’ if you will of all symbiotes makes this a metaphorical family drama.

And Peter Parker to my surprise and delight is a part of it. I didn’t expect him to show up or to seemingly have the starring role he will have, and yet here he is. That’s what got this onto my pull list.

If there are any criticisms to be had it relates to Spider-Man continuity.

Peter is nonchalant over Brock knowing who he is.

Spider-Man in costume refers to Normie as his Godson multiple times in front both Normie and Dylan.

Norman Osborn may or may not still have the Carnage symbiote (the art makes this a bit unclear).

Spidey is very chill with Brock.

These do bother me, they are objectively writing issues I will not deny that, even though my thrill at the rest of the comic means on a pure enjoyment level I can’t bring myself down by sweating them.

My only defences would be that Peter upon learning Brock is once more aware of who he is would probably not react that badly to the information for a few reasons. First of all he was already living with the distinct possibility that Brock already knew the truth about him. The symbiote had known for a long time and had been bonded to Brock for awhile now so it was always a possibility. Second of all the Brock/Venom of the 80s and 90s is not the Brock of the current run. That is to my personal chagrin, but nevertheless Peter knows Brock and the symbiote are nicer more moralistic folks now and if they still held a grudge they’d have come after him, with or without knowing who he was.

My other defence is that this is not a Spider-Man story. It is a Venom story. It is in essence Spider-Man/Peter Parker filtered through the lens of Venom and the needs and requirements of serving Venom’s character and narrative. Whilst a major problem in Maximum Carnage was serving Carnage and Venom at Peter’s expense, that was a Spidey story in his titles, this is Venom’s story so giving him the spotlight, short-changing Peter’s continuity for the sake of propelling the plot along, that’s fair game. I don’t like it but it’s fair game.

Similarly Peter becomes Brock’s supporting character in this story and an effective one at that.

Brock recognizes Spider-Man is his best ally to resolve this situation even though he hates him. We learn more about Brock as a person through his feelings towards Spider-Man. Where once irrational hatred flowed now there is surprisingly...jealously. Spidey often gets a bum rap in the press and yet Venom is envious of that because in and out of the costume it’s much better than his lot in life.

There is also two wonderfully poignant moments between the two. The first is where Peter learns Dylan is Brock’s son and that Dylan doesn’t know this. We see the hurt Peter feels when he relates how terrible it is to not know who your father is. The second poignant moment is when Brock is distraught that Carnage must have desecrated the body of his deceased ex-wife and Dylan’s mother. For a character like Eddie Brock who’s so often (unfairly frankly) been dismissed as lacking depth this is a shocking moment of sadness, compounded by the fact that Dylan doesn’t know who Ann was. In this same moment Spider-Man looks remorseful too, which is a subtle piece of continuity porn done right by Cates. Ann was first introduced in ASM #375 (the issue setting up Brock’s solo series actually) and later died in ASM vol 2 #19.

What follows is another Spidey/Venom team up but arguably the best, or at least one of the best ever, as they encounter the Maker a.k.a. Ultimate Reed Richards which is a historic moment as Spider-Man finally gets to meet the counterpart to his old friend. There is plenty of other connections between hem too. The Ultimate Universe is innately associated with Spider-Man more than anyone else, the Maker like him was a young genius and they were both among the Secret Wars 2015 survivors. We get Normie Osborn returning for the first time since Fresh Start, a welcome return at that as I always love seeing his relationship with Spider-Man acknowledged. Then we get a nightmarish sequence set in Ravencroft with yet more well done continuity porn. John Jameson, veteran of Carnage Mind Bomb, Carnage: It’s a Wonderful Life, Conway’s Carnage run and 90s Ravencroft stories shows up to pay off his appearance in Cult of Carnage earlier this year. Norman Osborn returns in what will hopefully fix the asinine Red Goblin story arc. Spidey and Venom have their backs up against the wall (literally) and facing down Carnage, an army of Carnage infected psychos and Norman Osborn with the Carnage symbiote.

It’s been a very long time since I’ve ended a comic thinking ‘How WILL they get out of this?’

To tie aaaaaaaall this together is Ryan Stegman’s stellar art.

I’ve said it before and I will say it again, Stegman is the best new Spidey artist of the 2010s. He’s Bagley, JRJR, Frenz levels of awesome. He’s also the perfect fit for symbiotes as his art seems to be somewhat influenced by McFarlane co-creator of Venom despite what fucking fools (like RDMacQ) might think. His style here is dynamic, detailed, funny when it needs to be, scary when it needs to be, awe inspiring when it needs to be.

His double page spreads are eye candy and the one depicting the pit of bodies feels straight out of a late night drama. It’s just brilliant.

Never before has there been a Carnage or a symbiote story that’s felt this epic, this ambitious, this sheer mad and audacious in scale.

I can’t wait to read future installments.

Cates in this issue, and his run in general, has somehow managed to recapture the allure of the symbiotes that I think 80s and 90s fans felt when they first fell in love with them.

If you don’t like Carnage or symbiotes inherently I strongly recommend you skip this. If you even vaguely like them though I cannot recommend this enough. 

*Carnage has been making the transition into a horror character for awhile now. Carnage U.S.A., which is recommended reading for this event, felt very similar to a Dark Horse horror comic only with Marvel superheroes. Gerry Conway was explicit about how his Carnage ongoing series was effectively his take on Tomb of Dracula.

[khantoelessar]

Rubeus Hagrid: One of the powerful and talented wizards in the Harry Potter Universe. A mini-meta on Rubeus Hagrid and his skill at magic.

Can we just talk for a moment about what an amazingly powerful but also talented wizard Rubeus Hagrid is?

Putting aside for a moment his gift with magical creatures, let’s just focus on his ability with magic, to cast spells.

We actually see Hagrid cast a number of spells throughout the books. In the Philosopher’s Stone, the very first time we meet Hagrid, we not only see him cast the fire spell Incendio . . .

. . . we also see him cast a partial human transfiguration spell on Dudley (which we learn in the Half Blood Prince is an immensely difficult spell and is only taught in the sixth year).

Now granted he was going for a full transfiguration and didn’t quite make it but still even a partial transfiguration is impressive.

When they leave the hut on the rock the next morning, Hagrid tells Harry that he is not allowed to do magic again once he has collected Harry. This is why they do not apparate or use a portkey. But instead of rowing Harry and himself back to the mainland (because what’s the fun in that) he casts another spell on the boat to make it go speeding through the water (much more fun).

So that’s three spells right there, at least one of them was a sixth-year level spell and Hagrid was expelled in his third year[1] On top of all of this we never actually hear him cast these spells. He did them all non-verbally, again something that is very difficult and taught only in the sixth-year.

In Chamber of Secrets we learn that Hagrid cast an Engorgement charm on his pumpkins and did this well enough that Hermione said he did a good job.[2] Additionally, when his roosters were being killed to protect the basilisk from the sound of their crowing, he goes to Dumbledore to ask permission to cast a charm on the chicken coop to protect them.[3] Please note, he does not go to Dumbledore to get him or one of the other teachers to cast the spell, he goes to gets permission to cast the charm himself.

Now as what kind of charm it is, we are not specifically told so I’m going into the realm of speculation here and assuming that it’s some form of shielding charm. The first time we see Harry cast a shield charm is in Order of the Phoenix when he uses it against Snape in his Occlumency lessons. We do not see Harry use any form of shielding charm in the Goblet of Fire so again I’m assuming, based on the evidence that it’s a fifth-year level spell that Hagrid cast.

Finally, the last actual spell that we see him directly cast is in The Half-Blood Prince after the Death Eaters set fire to his hut.

Now granted, Harry had to remind him that the charm was Aguamenti, but once he remembered it, he certainly had no trouble casting it. [4]

This brings me to the most significant point I want to make. Hagrid cast all these spells and, in most cases, did so correctly with a broken wand. A. BROKEN. Wand. We learn in the Philosopher’s Stone that Hagrid’s wand was snapped when he was expelled.

“[Ollivander] Rubeus! Rubeus Hagrid! How nice to see you again … Oak, sixteen inches, rather bendy, wasn’t it? “It was, sir, yes,” said Hagrid. “Good wand, that one. But I suppose they snapped it in half when you got expelled?” said Mr. Ollivander, suddenly stern. “Er – yes, they did, yes,” said Hagrid, shuffling his feet. “I’ve still got the pieces, though,” he added brightly. “But you don’t use them?” said Mr. Ollivander sharply. “Oh, no, sir,” said Hagrid quickly. Harry noticed he gripped his pick umbrella very tightly as he spoke.[5]

Now, how many other characters within the Harry Potter universe do we see being able to successfully use a broken wand?

We see a lot of wandless magic in the movies, especially in the third and fourth ones,

but do we ever see a witch or wizard being able to successfully use a broken wand? No, not really.

The closest person we see even come close to using a broken wand is Ron Weasley in the Chamber of Secrets and even then, the wand wasn’t completely snapped into separate pieces.

“My wand,” said Ron, in a shaky voice. “Look at my wand.” It had snapped in two; the tip was dangling limply, held on by a few splinters.” [6]

Now Ron did manage to make some very basic repairs to it. Enough that it could still channel magic (of a sorts) but every attempt to actually used it ended in disaster, both for Ron . . .

“[Ron] had patched up his wand with some borrowed Spellotape, but it seemed to be damaged beyond repair. It kept crackling and sparking at odd moments, and every time Ron tried to transfigure his beetle it engulfed him in thick grey smoke which smelled of rotten eggs.” [7]

. . . and ultimately Gildroy Lockhart when he tried to use Ron’s wand to obliviate Harry and Ron, which is the one spell that he is actually quite gifted at and it backfired on him, wiping out his mind instead. [8]

We never actually see anyone, other than Hagrid actually be able to successfully use a broken wand, not even Dumbledore, though I imagine he could if anyone. But even he I suspect would find it difficult. Now I ask you, if this is the kind of magic Hagrid is capable of with a broken wand, what do you think he could do with a whole one?

I also want to point out once again that Hagrid was expelled in his third year. A number of the spells and charms we see him use are at least fifth year or above. This means that even after he was expelled Hagrid did not stop studying and learning. How else could he have learnt sixth year level spells? Despite Ron Weasley being surprised at seeing Hagrid in the library in the Philosopher’s Stone, I suspect he would have known his way around the Hogwarts Library quite well. (So well, in fact that he managed to smuggle a book right out from under Madam Pince’s nose without her even being aware of it, and given Madam Pince’s legendary zealousness over her library, how often has that happened?) Where else could he have learned to do that kind of magic? Certainly, the Hogwarts teachers couldn’t have taught him, not after he’d been expelled.

It’s one of my personal head canon theories that Dumbledore would have done everything in his power to help and teach Hagrid. But this probably would have taken the form of subtle hints and nudges towards certain books in the library, idle talk of wand techniques over cups of tea and brandy in Hagrid’s hut. After all, there was little Dumbledore could do openly, what with Hagrid’s position of being expelled and having his wand snapped. On top of this we should never forget that as much as it is Dumbledore’s nature to nurture and teach so is his nature equally inclined towards secrecy, manipulation and . . . shall we say, circumventing the dictates of authority when he thinks it is in the best interests.

But this is only my personal head canon and whatever help he might have given Hagrid it would have had to have been discrete and hidden under the cloak of misdirection. The majority of the work and study would have had to have been done by Hagrid on his own time after his gamekeeping duties were done. It certainly would not have been the full-time regulated, organized study and teaching that the regular students received. Primarily Hagrid would have had to have been self-taught. In doing this he demonstrated (and I say this with more than a bit of Slytherin pride)

“resourcefulness, determination, and if I may say so, a certain disregard for the rules” [9]

It’s no wonder Hagrid and Harry got on so well.

If you add this skill and talent for magic with his gift with magical creatures, power with mind you, not power over creatures that most of the rest of the wizarding world would call extremely dangerous at best, kill on sight at worst, and you’ve got a man who is not only an extremely talented and skilled wizard but a very powerful one as well. This is something that goes unrecognised by most of the wizarding world, including Hagrid himself, though not I suspect by Albus Dumbledore (see my previously mentioned head canon).

It was this very blindness by Voldemort and his Death Eaters not only to Hagrid’s skill and power but also his intelligence (Voldemort calls him a great oaf [10] ) that lets him escape their attention, to seem insignificant and thus beneath their notice. This in turn lets him become one of the most important and powerful pieces on Dumbledore’s chessboard. In many ways he’s Dumbledore’s rook, his castle. He provides not only shelter and protection to Harry and his friends during his time at Hogwarts but also like the rook, he’s a powerful and versatile fighter. In the battle of Hogwarts, he not only brings Grawp and the Hippogriffs into the battle but is a deadly fighter in his own right. [11]

That Voldemort failed to recognise Hagrid’s power and intelligence is not only one of the reasons why he lost the war but is also indicative (and I’m saying this again as a Slytherin) of his complete and utter stupidity and blindness when it comes to recognising where a person’s true power and influence lies. But as Dumbledore said “…but then, if he had been able to understand, he could not be Lord Voldemort, and might never have murdered at all.”[12]

Dumbledore on the other hand was not so stupid or blind but rather was able to recognise greatness and potential even in the most unlikely of outcasts. Which is why Voldemort lost and Dumbledore ultimately won.

[1] Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone illustrated ed., Rowling, J.K. & Kay, J. p.g. 41, 48, 54

[2] Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets illustrated ed., Rowling, J.K. & Kay J. p.g. 91-92

[3] Ibid, p.g. 153

[4] Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince, Bloomsbury and Raincoast books, Rowling, J.K., p.g 565

[5] Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, illustrated ed, Rowling, J.K. and Kay, J. p.g. 71

[6] Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, illustrated ed., Rowling, J.K. and Kay, J. p.g. 64

[7] Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, illustrated ed., Rowling, J.K. and Kay, J. p.g. 77

[8] Ibid p.g. 230

[9] Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, movie, Warner Brothers, 2002

10] Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets illustrated ed., Rowling, J.K. and Kay, J. p.g. 234

[11] Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Rowling, J.K. and Kay, J. p.g.519 & 589

[12 Ibid, p.g. 569

[secretairesuite]

Caught in the Reel

Joey Drew was startled from his inward musings when the door to his office swung open with a resounding bang and the fiery woman stormed in—practically slamming a thin stack of papers on his desk.  The momentary silence he had indulged himself in was replaced by the fumbling, nervous squawks of his secretary standing behind her and the awkward murmurs of the managerial officers creeping out of their offices to see the fuss.  Over the past few months, such had become a common source of entertainment for them.  Though for Joey, it had become an all too regular source of irritation…   

The only thing that surprised him was to see which of his disgruntled employees stood before him this time: Evelyn Cropper, one of the art department’s inkers.  If it hadn’t been for her long-standing presence in the studio, he wouldn’t have even bothered to know her name.  Despite her low-tier placement, she had earned herself bit of a… reputation, for being a hard-case.  Signing-on with the company at a young age, she poured herself into her job and took a no-nonsense stance toward her fellow coworkers.  Any sign of incompetence was regarded by her with open disdain.

He knew she hated him. He didn’t care for her either—as a matter of fact, practically everyone in the company thought she was an ice queen—but that didn’t make her any less valuable an employee. “Evie!” he greeted, feigning sweetness as he waved to one of two leather-bond chairs across from him. “It’s been a long time! What are these you’ve dropped off here? Delivery from the art department?”

She didn’t accept his offer, instead standing like a cold monolith before him with her arms folded across her chest. “It’s my resignation,” she seemed to growl, “Maybe you’d know that two weeks ago if the director had actually passed on it to HR! Instead, I’m still getting calls to come back with new assignments mailed to my doorstep!”

Of course she was still getting them.  If anything, he expected her to be getting even more than the usual load.  He had ordered the “slip-up.”  Hiring new employees to replace those who had quit wasn’t an unusual practice, but there had been a massive decline in staff recently and the hiring pool was low. To any would-be quitters, the “mistake” was their chance to rethink their decision, be it from an actual passion for their work or from the fear of having nothing else to turn to. It didn’t always work, but there were some who—despite everything—came back around in the end.

Evelyn herself was a prime example.  If she really wanted to quit, then she wouldn’t be standing in front of him now: She’d ignore every message, like so many others did, and take her time finding a new job.  Instead, every call from the company mocked her decision.  She couldn’t properly leave or even wanted to, not in her own mind. She belonged to the studio.

And that was the one thing he actually did like about her. “Come now, Evie: Why all the fuss?” Pushing himself up from his desk, he strode over to the door and closed it shut behind them after shooing away the secretary with a relaxed, confident air. Joey looked back at the inker and held his hands out in an all-encompassing gesture.  “You know you’re one of our best girls.  Our studio family just wouldn’t feel quite like home without you.”  

The art department would probably be a lot quieter, to start…

“Oh yeah? Well, a cardboard box isn’t gonna feel quite like home either when I get kicked out on the streets because you won’t pay me on time!” she spat, fuming, “I can’t take this anymore, Drew! You know I can find work anywhere else!”

If anyone was willing to put up with her sour attitude, yes, she could.  She performed well, a workaholic to a fault.  Evelyn was the sort to push overtime just to match a cel to perfection and would even do the work of some of the other inkers if she thought it wasn’t good enough.  While some of the more prideful girls had taken insult to the fact others had taken advantage of it, shifting their own load onto her without a second thought.  Now it was his turn to use that dedication against her. “You could get married too,” he added with a light shrug and a devil-may-care grin, “then you wouldn’t have to worry about being the breadwinner ever again, but I think we both know that’s not what you want.”

Ambition: It was a trait they both shared, the one thing that kept a mutual respect between them. She could bark all she liked about missing a paycheck or two, or about whatever the nuisance she found from the studio’s rapid changes, but not once had she ever complained about his lofty goals for the company.  Probably because she had a few of her own.  Joey could read them in her conflicted gaze now in the momentary lapse of silence that followed as she fought to answer him with another of her sharp quips.        

“You’ve always been loyal to this place: The last thing I’d want to do is hold you back from moving on to greener pastures,” he continued before she could come up with her reply. “I’m just a little upset to see you pass up the assignment, after how much you’ve grown with us…”

“Which assignment?”

There lay the bait. He blinked up at her in innocent bewilderment, “We’ve needed a few new character artists to handle some of the upcoming cartoons.  You already have plenty of experience drawing the gang: I was told you were moving upstairs.”

Suspicion nevertheless glistened in Evelyn’s eyes.  Her mouth drew even further into a firm line.  “No one said anything to me about that…”

“Ah,” he murmured, “Well, as you can imagine, the workload hasn’t been easy for anyone lately.  I’m sure the director just got distracted.” He paced around his desk once more, and pulling the papers over to him.   Joey watched the grip on her own arms tighten, the muscles hidden underneath her sweater tensing at the action.  He hid back a smile.  

“People wouldn’t be leaving in the first place if you actually bothered to pay anyone on time anymore,” she shot back.

“No need to reminded me: I already hear it enough from Grant,” he replied.  Inside, his blood broiled at her continued antics, but he kept up the act. “Anyway, if you won’t reconsider, I’ll have someone take your resignation to HR later.” Leaning forward, he offered to shake her hand, “I hope you’ll at least keep in touch with us.  It’s been a pleasure having you on the team.”

A hardened stone formed in his chest from mild shock when she took his hand without hesitating; gave it one, firm shake; and began to depart. “A pleasure,” she said in a curt reply that was more out of a curtesy than anything.  With that, she disappeared behind the door.

A week later, Evelyn was adjusting to her new job.  She sat in a meeting with a small group of artists and animators going over the details of their next cartoon—a sketchbook in her lap with drawings of Bendy sprawled across its pages.        

[ask-joeydrewstudios]

Another Reality (Part 1)

(Hello, Mun! I’ve been wanting to write a fanfiction for this AU for awhile, but once I heard the blog was shutting down, I finally decided to start. As a result of my lateness, this fanfiction is not finished. I guess I’ll be sending the rest to your other blog, if you’re interested. This is literally the first time I’ve ever submitted something online, so if I did something wrong, I apologize.)

(Where do I begin? Mun, I’d just like to thank you for all the laughs and heartfelt moments this blog has provided. It was a creative, unique idea to have a “happily ever after” AU, and continues to be. I haven’t been here since the beginning; I only got into the Bendy and the Ink Machine fandom about a year ago, and found your blog a few months later. But I can say that this has been, by far, one of my most favorite blogs here on Tumblr. I love your original take on all the characters, and their unique designs. You are an amazing artist and even more amazing human being. I wish you the best of luck in all your future projects, both fandom related and not.)

(Now back to the fanfiction. I’d been entertaining the idea of the studio employees of this AU ending up in the game studio. I decided to write that, but only for Chapter 1. It gets pretty “angsty” later on, but I tried to mix in some humor as well. I’ve never written anything so dramatic before, so we’ll see how it turned out.)

((Note: This fanfiction was written rather hastily, so I’m sorry if the pacing seems too fast. The way I headcanon the AU studio is that it’s a mix of the studio before the game was remastered and the studio after it was remastered, meaning the ink machine is in a small room at the far end of the main hallway, like the original, but everything else is like the remastered version.))

Joey Drew glanced over at his dozing head animator, Henry, before quietly laying down his pencil, setting aside the papers he’d been writing on. Slowly, he pulled open his desk drawer and withdrew his book of dark magic, careful to make as little noise as possible. He had no wish for Henry to discover him in the act of practicing spells; the cartoonist, while not actively trying to prevent him from performing said rituals, did not necessarily approve of them, either.

The head of the studio adjusted his glasses as he flipped through the pages of his book. He’d been so busy lately with the cartoons, which were quickly gaining popularity, that he hadn’t had time for practicing his spells. Joey had finished most of his work for the day, and decided he was deserving of a quick break.

Henry had come in about ten minutes ago, stumbling slightly as he’d opened the door, rubbing at his eyes beneath his glasses. Joey shook his head, looking over at the young man, now fast asleep in his armchair. That boy needed to take better care of himself; he’d been working for almost two days straight on the latest cartoon, ignoring Joey’s and his wife’s protests. Henry’s work habits had improved much since he’d married Dianne, but clearly old habits die hard. Well, Joey thought, At least he finally had the common sense to go lie down.

Joey turned his attention back to his book. He had had this book for so many years now, and still he felt he hadn’t untapped all the secrets it held, hadn’t explored all the rituals it had to offer. Thumbing through it, Joey waited for something to catch his eye. He stopped when he reached the page with an intricate summoning circle sketched on it. Joey always found himself coming back to this particular passage, but had never made the time to try it out. Grinning, Joey opened one of his drawers and took out some candles, matches, and a large ink pot. He had the time now.

The text said something about it being a gateway. The book was written all in Latin, and was extremely old and had suffered some water damage, leading to many of the words having faded away. Joey could only just make out the incantation. Taking up his ink pot, Joey began to copy the circle down on the floor of his office. The ink he was using was not the regular ink found at the store. It was cursed ink, the kind used to bring Bendy, Boris, and Alice to life.

Joey deftly finished copying the diagram, years of experience guiding his hand. He was just reaching for the matches, when a shout he knew all too well reached his ears.

“JOEY!”

Sighing, Joey set down the match box and got to his feet, groaning slightly (being old was not fun). Couldn’t Sammy try to be a little more quiet? He checked to make sure Henry hadn’t woken up at the sudden outburst. Thankfully, the animator was still sound asleep. Joey quietly crossed his office and opened the door, shutting it gently behind him.

Angry shouting awoke Henry from his slumber. He recognized the shouter to be Sammy (When wasn’t it Sammy?) ranting about Bendy, and something about Susie. Henry sighed. He hoped Bendy hadn’t tried to prank Sammy again. Pranking Sammy was an exceedingly bad idea, but the prank backfiring and accidentally getting Susie was even worse. From what he was hearing, that was exactly what happened. He could hear Susie trying to calm her boyfriend, and could just detect Joey’s soft, measured voice through the noise.

Henry rolled his eyes and tried to block out the sounds. He let his eyelids droop shut, but not before something caught his eye. Peeking an eye open, Henry looked down at a summoning circle on the floor. Really, Joey? Had Joey actually been performing a ritual right under his nose? Henry sat up, reached for his glasses on Joey’s desk to get a closer look.

The circle seemed more complex than the other ritual circles Henry had seen, with various designs crisscrossing each other. Henry knew next to nothing about demonic rituals, other than what Joey had told him. Actually, now that he thought of it, he probably knew more than the average person did due to his boss.

Henry decided to let it be, and proceeded to take his glasses off and begin to snuggle back into the cushions, when he heard a whisper. Frowning, Henry replaced the glasses on his nose, staring intently at the circle. Had it just said something? Henry listened closely. There was definitely a whisper emanating from the circle. The animator got to his feet, knowing he should tell Joey. The whispers grew louder. Henry couldn’t make out what they said, but the voice sounded familiar. With a start, he realized it was his voice.

Henry stood silently for a moment, too confused and surprised to move. As he stared at the circle, the ink seemed to spread. Henry blinked a few times, rubbed his eyes. No, the ink was definitely moving. It was spreading across the circle, swirling around. A tunnel began to form, steadily elongating till Henry saw a light at the very end.

Something about this tunnel held Henry in some sort of spell, and he could not bring himself to tear his gaze away. His own whispers echoed in Henry’s ears, unintelligible but urgent. Without thinking, Henry stepped toward the dark puddle. Warning bells sounded in his head, yet he could not bring himself to heed them. He stood on the edge of the circle, gazing into the abyss. His foot rose slowly, almost of its own volition. It kicked something, sending it into the tunnel as it did so, but he didn’t care. His foot sunk into the ink, bringing the rest of him with it. Distantly, Henry heard Joey’s voice calling for him, but he didn’t turn to look.

  “I’ve had it up to here with that demon brat, Joey!”

Joey glared at Sammy coldly. The head of the music department didn’t seem to know how to stop shouting. Susie was trying to hush him, bringing an ink stained finger to her ink stained lips. Bendy had set a pale of ink up above the music department, attempting to drop it on one of the musicians, most likely aiming for Sammy. From what Joey had heard, and could clearly see, that ink had instead poured on Alice’s voice actress.

“Either you teach him a lesson or I will!” Sammy glared daggers at Joey.

“What do you mean by that, Lawrence?” Joey met Sammy’s glare coolly. He admitted that Bendy could be troublesome sometimes, and deserved a good chastising, but he wasn’t about to let Sammy start threatening his son. Sammy seemed to realize his mistake, for he sputtered for a few seconds, searching for something to say.

“Sammy,” Susie intervened, her voice gentle but firm, “I think Joey understands your feelings on the matter and will see to it that Bendy is suitably reprimanded. Now, please, shut up.”

Sammy looked startled for a moment and looked down at his girlfriend, who was giving him a stern look through her stringy, ink-drenched hair. Joey sighed and nodded his thanks to her, which she returned. It was commonly known around the studio that Sammy would do anything for Susie, and that was an admirable trait. Sometimes he pushed it a little far, though.

“I’ll go talk to Bendy as soon as I, ah, take care of some business.” Joey assured, turning back to his office door, pausing before he opened it, “And Susie, you may of course go home and clean up.” Susie smiled her thanks.

Joey nodded then turned the knob and entered his office, to see an ink tunnel having formed where he’d painted the circle, and Henry right on the edge of it. Joey could only stare for a moment, before calling out to Henry, who was actually stepping into this mysterious tunnel.

“Henry!” Joey leaped for the animator, but he was already falling down the tunnel, and into the brightness at the end. Sammy and Susie both burst into the room, alarmed by Joey’s cry.

“Joey, what- Holy heck!” Sammy’s eyes landed on the tunnel, and he took a step back, “What in blazes is that?”

Joey was staring intently at the tunnel, unable to speak for a few moments. What had just happened? How could it have happened? He hadn’t even begun the ritual! Joey was suddenly aware of whispers coming from the tunnel, reverberating in his ears. He stumbled away from them, backing into Sammy and Susie.

“Joey, what’s going on?” Susie’s nervous eyes searched Joey’s face for an answer, an answer Joey didn’t have.

“I-I don’t know.” His gaze was fixated on the tunnel, “I didn’t do anything. I only painted the circle. This shouldn’t have happened! Henry…” Oh goodness, what had he done?

Joey glanced desperately around for his ritual book; it would have the answer to how to bring Henry back. It had to. When he didn’t see it, Joey was immediately filled with dread. It had to be here. He frantically searched under the armchair and by his desk, but it was nowhere to be found, which meant only one thing: it had fallen into the gateway with Henry.

After a brief moment of panic, Joey came to a decision, “I’m going after him.” He stepped toward the ink, a deep sense of calm and resolution suddenly washing over him. Henry was like a son to him, and Joey wouldn’t be exaggerating if he said he wouldn’t know what to do should anything happen to him. He was the reason Henry had fallen down this ink tunnel, and he would be the one to bring him back.

“You can’t just jump into some ink tunnel not knowing where it leads.” Susie protested, “We need a plan.”

“The plan is to go in, get Henry and the ritual book, then find a way back.”

“That doesn’t sound very well thought out.”

“There are no other options!” Susie jumped slightly at the harshness in Joey’s voice. Then, seeing the desperation in the older man’s eyes, her tone softened.

“Alright.”

“ ‘Alright?’ ” Sammy interrupted, looking at Susie in disbelief, “We’re seriously letting Joey jump into a freaking hole in the floor?”

“Do you have any better ideas?”

When Sammy remained silent, Susie turned back to Joey.

“Go.” she said, simply.

Joey nodded, prepared to jump in, before turning to his employees, “No one is to follow me, understand?” Susie nodded, and Sammy glanced between the two of them before nodding slowly. Joey turned back to the ink tunnel, and, before fear could overtake him, he jumped.

  What the heck just happened?

Henry lay on his back, staring up at the ceiling of the studio. He had been falling down a tunnel of ink till he’d flown up and out of the tunnel, landing painfully on his back. Now here he lay, too stunned to do little more than blink. After a few moments, Henry remembered he had arms, and he used these arms to push himself up to a sitting position, while adjusting his glasses. Turning round, Henry saw the strange tunnel he’d just fallen through, on the floor just a foot from him. Henry had had many strange experiences in his life, but this definitely was the strangest. Even that one time Bendy had turned him into a cartoon didn’t seem so weird compared to this.

Henry got shakily to his feet, surveying his surroundings more. He was at the entrance to the studio, but Henry immediately realized it had changed. There were no sounds, no one speaking other than the whispering portal. The studio was never this quiet. There was a large amount of ink dripping from a section of the ceiling, creating a large puddle on the floorboards. That hadn’t been there this morning. What was even more peculiar was the glowing ink on the walls and floor. That definitely hadn’t been there this morning.

Henry studied this strange ink, first looking down at the large amount that seemed to have been painted across the floorboards. At the end of this long stretch of ink was written in large letters “DON’T TURN ON THE MACHINE”. Henry could only assume whoever had written this was referring to the ink machine. His eyes roved over the writing on the walls. Two sections were devoted solely to tallies. One part read “TURN BACK”, painted over a Bendy poster, and another read “I’M SORRY BUDDY”, over a Boris poster. In the room that led off from this hallway, Henry could see a large sign for Joey Drew Studios, with moving film reels behind it. Over the “Studios” part was written “NOTHING”, so that the sign seemed to read “Joey Drew nothing”. Henry couldn’t even begin to wrap his head around all he was seeing. All the writing was so ominous. Why would anyone write this in the studio? Was this even the studio he knew? Where was he?

Panic began to set in, and Henry found himself turning back to the ink tunnel; if it could send him to wherever this place was, then surely it could send him back home. As he prepared to walk back through, Henry spotted Joey’s book of dark magic lying on the ground. He remembered something had fallen into the tunnel before he did, but he hadn’t spotted it until now. Henry picked it up, and held it close to him. Suddenly this book of devilry was the most precious and comforting item in the world.

Henry took a deep breathe, about to step into the gateway, when he saw something falling through it, rising up toward him. No, not something, someone. Joey!

Joey flew threw the tunnel, arching through the air before slamming into Henry. The two men crashed to the ground, the ritual book flying from Henry’s grasp. The pain Henry felt at the collision did not override the relief and joy he felt at seeing Joey.

“Joey!” he cried, pushing his glasses back into place.

“Henry!” The older man struggled to sit up, enveloping the animator in a tight embrace the moment he did. Henry returned the hug with equal warmth, letting all of his fears melt away, even just f

or a moment, to allow himself to feel safe and comforted.

Joey pulled away from the hug first, adjusting his askew glasses, “Are you hurt?” he asked, eyeing Henry up and down.

“No. Are you?” Joey didn’t talk about it very much, but he was growing old, and falling through a tunnel and smacking into someone else before hitting the floor probably did not do his aging body any wonders.

“I’m fine.” Joey assured, attempting to stand before wincing and sinking back down, “Or at least I will be.”

Henry nodded understandingly, seating himself beside Joey. The two men sat in silence for a few seconds, allowing their nerves to settle. At last, Joey turned to Henry, his icy blue eyes wide and earnest, “I’m sorry this happened to you. I didn’t think this would - or could - happen. I should have been more careful.”

Henry smiled wanly. Joey had done a lot of what could be considered bad things in his life, such as summoning creatures from ink, but he’d never done anything with malicious intent. He always owned up to his mistakes and always tried to make amends. Sure, he was a little too careless sometimes, but it was hard for Henry to hold a grudge against the man who had given him his dream job, who was always there for him, and who he considered to be like a father to him.

“I forgive you.” Henry said, simply.

Joey searched Henry’s gaze, and, apparently concluding he’d meant what he said, smiled back.

The studio owner then eyed their surroundings, his brow furrowing, before spotting his book. He went to get up and grab it, but Henry beat him to it, and handed the book to him. Joey flipped through the pages impatiently before stopping on a page with a sketch of the ritual circle Henry had seen just minutes ago in Joey’s office.

“This’ll be our ticket home.” he said, pointing to the diagram.

“Can’t we just walk back through the tunnel?” Henry asked.

“The portal probably only works on one end, and since no one knows how to bring us back on that end, we’ll need a second ritual circle to get us back to our studio.” Henry frowned, and experimentally tried to put his hand through the tunnel they’d come through. Sure enough, some invisible barrier prevented him from doing so.

“Now all we need is ink…” Joey mused aloud. Henry knew they couldn’t just use normal ink; they needed ink directly from the ink machine. Henry glanced over at the message on the floor. “DON’T TURN ON THE MACHINE”.

“What do you make of these messages?” Henry asked, gesturing to the glowing ink surrounding them.

Joey frowned, “What messages?”

“These ones.” Henry said, gesturing again. Joey looked about them a moment before turning back to Henry, a puzzled expression on his face.

“I don’t see anything.”

Now Henry frowned, “How do you not see anything? They’re literally glowing.”

Joey continued to look confused, which irritated Henry. He didn’t like being the only one seeing the messages, seeing as how he didn’t know what that meant.

Joey’s head tilted slightly as he considered his apprentice, “What do these messages say?”

Henry explained to him all the markings he was seeing, and the older man stroked his chin thoughtfully.

“Interesting…” he murmured to himself. Henry didn’t understand why Joey found it so “interesting”, but decided not to ask; he wasn’t sure he wanted to know.

Joey seemed to remember the whispers coming from the tunnel, and he turned slowly to face them, a look of surprise on his face.

“Is that-”

“Me? Yeah, it is.”

Joey stared at Henry silently for a moment, before turning back to the portal.

“I wish I could understand what you’re saying.”

“So do I.”

Joey stared wide-eyed at the gateway for a few more seconds, before snapping back to the matter at hand.

“Well, regardless of the warning not to, we need to turn on the ink machine in order to get home.” Joey rose slowly to his feet. He rubbed at a spot on his back, and grimaced.

“That’ll smart for awhile.” he said, half to himself. Turning to Henry, Joey smiled slightly.

“Let’s go.”

  Sammy could not believe what he was seeing. Many a strange thing had happened in the years since he’d begun working at the studio, but this definitely surpassed them all. Well, apart from that one time Bendy had turned him into an ink monster for a few days, but other than that, this was definitely the strangest thing that had happened.

Susie and he stood as far away from the ink tunnel as they could without leaving the room. The whispers were still audible over here, but were not nearly as… tantalizing. Something about those whispers sounded familiar, but Sammy couldn’t place why. They also seemed to have a sort of lulling effect, and Sammy and Susie had to repeatedly stop themselves from advancing toward the gateway. At last, Sammy decided to just turn his back to the tunnel; the whispers were less prominent this way.

Darn it, Joey. He cursed to himself, Why do you have to go mucking about with this stuff?

Susie noticed Sammy’s consternation, “Are you alright?” she asked.

“Yeah, I’m fine.” Susie gave him a knowing look, and Sammy crossed his arms. He would never, ever, say it, but he had come to actually like his boss, even though he could be a total idiot sometimes. And he’d always respected Henry for his work ethic and for the fact that he always minded his own business. The music director grudgingly admitted to himself that he cared for both of them, something Susie could understand without him having to put it into words.

“Hey, Mr. Drew!” Wally’s voice snapped Sammy from his thoughts, as did the janitor’s hurried footsteps, “Mr. Drew, there’s a pipe leak- sweet cheese!” Wally ran into the office and immediately backpedaled when he saw the tunnel, hugging the wall.

“Wh-What is that?” The janitor turned to Sammy and Susie, steadily inching closer to them.

“It’s a hole in the floor.” Sammy said drily, too disgruntled to explain.

Susie rolled her eyes at Sammy and explained the situation to a flabbergasted Wally, who had made his way over to them and stood close to Susie.

“Henry fell into this… tunnel, and Joey went to go rescue him.”

“… So, we’re just waitin’ now?” Wally asked, his eyes flicking from the tunnel to Susie and back again.

“Basically.”

Wally nodded slowly. Sammy sighed. As if the situation wasn’t bad enough already, now they had to deal with Wally. Could this day get any worse? Bendy rushed into the room. I’ve got to remember to stop asking that. The ink demon looked scared, and Sammy figured he was probably seeking Joey for protection, which he often did when Sammy was mad at him.

Bendy squeaked when he saw Sammy, made to leave, then paused when he noticed the music director wasn’t even looking at him. Cautiously, Bendy stepped into the room, squeaking again when he saw the portal on the floor.

“What happened?” he asked, his pie eyes wide, “Where’s Papa Drew?”

Susie smiled gently, crouching down so she was at eye level with Bendy to give him the news.

“He and Henry fell into that ink thing!” Wally cried. Susie turned to glare at him, while Bendy’s usually smiling mouth drooped into a frown.

“When are they comin’ back?” he asked. Sammy watched as Susie searched for an assuring answer, stuttering a bit. He decided to interject.

“They’ll be back soon.” Sammy looked down at the ink demon. Bendy looked up at him, no longer afraid of his wrath. Sammy had to admit he wasn’t really angry with him any more; too much had happened in the past several minutes.

“You’re welcome to wait for them with us.” Susie said.

Bendy nodded and seated himself, facing the portal. Sammy and Susie shared a glance, each silently asking the same question: What do we do if they don’t come back? Out of the corner of his eye Sammy saw Wally move, but was too absorbed in his thoughts to turn and look. If they don’t come back- No. I won’t think about that right now. Sammy found his hands moving to his pockets, reaching in for his cigarettes and lighter. Smoking usually helped calm his nerves.

Sliding out a cigarette and placing it in his mouth, Sammy flicked open the lighter, bringing it up to the end of his stick.

“Um, Wally, what are you doing?”

Bendy was looking behind Sammy and the music director turned to see Wally right on the edge of the ink tunnel. Oh, shoot! “Wally!”

The lighter fell from Sammy’s grasp, flipping closed, the cigarette falling to the floor as he dove for the janitor. Wally was descending into the ink and Sammy clutched his arm. Wally’s weight and the pull of the portal was too much, though, and Sammy was soon diving in as well. Dimly, he heard Susie shouting his name, felt her hands on his upper arm. Then they were all lost to the ink and whispers.

  The deeper into the studio they went, the more uneasy Joey and Henry became. It was all too clear no one else was here, and hadn’t been for quite some time. However, two of the rooms off the main hallway had lights on, one of them being Sammy’s upstairs office. Music suddenly began to play from behind the door. Joey and Henry had shared a nervous glance before Joey had timidly said, “Hello?” No one answered, and the music soon stopped. They’d tried to open the door, but it was locked. Ink dripped in worrying amounts from various sections of the ceiling; Joey was surprised the ceiling was still holding up. If all this wasn’t eerie enough, Henry discovered more hidden messages. Over the directory was written “DEATH IN EVERY DiRECTION”. There was a message just beyond it, that Joey could see quite clearly. “DREAMS COME TRUE”. That was his slogan. Why had someone written his slogan on the wall in ink? Who had done it? Henry told him there was another secret message just above it that said “NOT ALL”. “NOT ALL DREAMS COME TRUE”. What did this mean?

Obviously this universe’s version of the studio was radically different from the one Joey had founded. But why? If there was an alternate studio, there must be an alternate version of him. Joey couldn’t imagine any version of him would let the studio fall into ruin; the success of the studio had always been his top priority. And what about these messages Henry was seeing? Perhaps, Joey mused to himself, Only Henry can see them because Henry wrote them. That would make sense, if it was written in magical ink. But then Joey found himself at the same question of “Why?”. Why would Henry write these messages? Who was he trying to warn, if the only other person who could read it was another Henry?

Joey shook his head. There were no concrete answers as of yet. He needed to focus on the mission at hand: getting home.

The way to the ink machine was different than their world. The area off the hallway leading to it was blocked off by what looked like a garage door. That’s not good, Joey thought, We’ll need to open it to access the switches for the machine. Instead of this hallway directly leading to the machine, it turned right, and there was a chart at the far end of the hallway labeled “Ink Output Schedule”. Joey saw that it had been signed “T.C.”. He could only assume that meant Thomas Connor. Did this studio have all the same employees as theirs? What had happened to them? Had they all quit?

They turned right, stepping over a large pipe that extended across the floor. And soon they beheld a large room, split into two levels, with them on the upper part. Chains extended down from the ceiling to the lower level. Here on the upper level was a lever, and some sort of power generator. To the left was a trunk and a shelf. A railing was placed on the other side of this level, probably to make sure no one fell. The ink machine was nowhere in sight.

Joey just stared in awe at his surroundings. He wasn’t sure why this whole area was necessary, or where the ink machine was, but it was fascinating seeing his studio designed differently.

Henry murmured something.

“What’s that?” Joey asked, absently.

“ ‘THERE NEVER WAS A CHOICE’.”

Joey frowned, turned to look at the younger man, “What?”

Henry pointed to the floor, “Another message.”

Joey instinctively looked down where Henry was pointing, even though he knew he wouldn’t be able to see anything. He’d have to remember all these messages, so he could come to a conclusion later as to what they meant.

Henry walked over to the railing, looked down at the room below.

“I don’t see the machine.” The young man eyed the chains and the large hole in the floor, “Maybe it’s attached to the chains.”

Joey didn’t see the reason behind the chains needing to hold the machine. He guessed it was so that it could move to the different levels of the studio, though Joey didn’t think that was necessary.

The studio owner glanced about him, “How do we get to it…?” He eyed the lever, then the power generator.

“This lift could use a few dry cells.” Henry voiced Joey’s thoughts aloud.

“There’s one over there.” Joey went and grabbed one off the shelf. Henry checked the inside of the trunk, and withdrew another. The two men carried their loads over to the power generator, sliding them in place. Joey grabbed the lever, yanking it down. Instantly, the chains began moving as they worked to bring something up.

“Let’s see what’s hiding down there…” Henry said, quietly.

Sure enough, it was the ink machine, but not the ink machine they knew. This one was designed differently, with a pipe running down it, and an altogether sleeker look. Steam issued from either side, making Joey jump slightly. He pressed himself up against the railing, trying to get a closer look. He wondered how efficiently this ink machine ran compared to the one back in their world. Was it a newer model? Joey wanted nothing more than to study this alternate machine.

“Uh, Joey?” Henry’s voice jarred Joey’s thoughts, and he backed away. Right, right, getting home is our main priority.

The two of them headed out of the room, Joey casting glances back over his shoulder.

When they arrived back at the main hallway, Joey saw the roll up door that had closed off the area with the switches had been opened up, and the door to the breakroom had opened as well. But how? There was no one else here. At least, no one they’d seen. I’m beginning to think this place is haunted. And as the thought crossed Joey’s mind, he realized this notion wasn’t entirely not plausible.

“Come on.” he said, motioning to Henry. It wouldn’t do to dwell on things that could not be explained, as of yet. Henry glanced at Joey, before following him into the new hallway.

  This section of the studio was just like their world’s studio, except for the occasional hole in the wall. Henry was glad to see not everything was changed, but it was eerie at the same time. How could two studios, so similar, be so different?

They turned right, past the desk and chair nobody ever used, towards the old break room, which was where one of the switches was and where Joey performed the ritual to curse the ink. Henry stared at the far wall, reading yet another secret message. “DON’T BE SCARED”, it read. Don’t be scared of what?

A plank of wood fell from the ceiling and clattered to the ground. It wasn’t so much the the fall itself but rather the resounding noise the plank made as it hit the floor that caused Henry to wince. Joey looked surprised, but other than that made no reaction. Henry looked back up at the writing on the wall. It was as if whoever had written it had known the wood would fall. Add that to the list of strange things that had been happening.

Henry reported the message to Joey, who paused, before nodding, telling him to keep him posted. Hopefully Joey will be able to make better sense of these messages than I can.

They reached the intersection, and Henry turned right, heading for the break room, but something caught his eye in the room to the left. He turned to look just as Joey gasped, a small cry escaping him. Henry looked into the other room and saw Boris - dead - strapped to a raised table, his rib cage splayed open with a wrench jammed between them and his eyes crossed out.

Henry could only stand there, staring at the corpse. Horror filled him, overtaking his mind. He couldn’t breathe, he couldn’t think. Boris was dead. Boris was dead.

The two men stood frozen for a few moments, until Joey stumbled forward, inexplicably drawn to the dead wolf. Henry wanted to do something, to pull him away, but his limbs refused to move. Joey approached Boris, staring up at the body. His legs could no longer carry him, and he sunk to the floor, kneeling before the corpse, his ritual book falling from his grasp. A horrible noise escaped him, and Henry realized it was a sob, a terrible, heart-wrenching sob. And suddenly Henry could move again, and he was running to and kneeling beside his boss. A golden message shone on the floor, but Henry couldn’t care less what it said.

Henry’s arms wrapped around Joey, offering what little comfort they could. Joey didn’t seem to notice, his watering blue eyes trained on Boris. Henry squeezed his eyes shut, trying to hold back his own tears; one of them needed to stay strong.

The two men remained in silence for what seemed an eternity, before Joey spoke, his voice low, “Who… would do this?”

Henry didn’t have an answer, and he didn’t trust his voice to speak without shaking.

Joey had finally wrenched his gaze away from Boris and was staring down at his hands, “How could I let this happen?”

Henry took a deep breath before speaking, “It’s not our Boris.”

“But he’s still Boris. There’s a Joey in this world, and he let this happen. He…” Joey’s voice broke as he covered his face with his hands.

Biting his lower lip, Henry gently withdrew his arms from around Joey, shifting himself so that he was partially facing the older man.

“Joey,” he said, softly. Joey didn’t look up. Henry breathed in slowly, calming himself before he continued, his voice stronger, “Joey, this isn’t your fault. Whoever did this, whichever Joey let this happen, is not you.” Joey continued to sob quietly into his hands.

Henry realized that no amount of comforting words would make this moment any better. Joey had just seen the disemboweled corpse of his son. Yes, this Boris wasn’t their Boris, from their world, but it was still Boris. It didn’t matter whose fault it was. Boris was still dead. His son was dead.

Scooching back beside Joey, Henry wrapped his arms about him again, and this time Joey leaned into him, giving himself to his anguish. Henry held him tighter, letting his own tears fall.

And so the two men remained, whispers echoing about them, the Boris corpse oblivious to the tears being shed for it.

  Susie fought to keep herself from shivering. She was still drenched from the ink Bendy had poured on her, and the chill of this… other studio combined with the wetness set her teeth chattering. Sammy noticed this, and wrapped an arm about her, not caring that he was getting ink on his own clothes. Susie smiled at her boyfriend gratefully.

The three of them (her, Sammy, and Wally) gazed about this strange new studio. Neither Joey nor Henry were in sight; Susie hoped they were alright.

Sammy was glaring viciously at Wally, “Well, Franks, I hope you’re happy. We’re trapped in some alternate studio, with no way of getting back, and it’s all thanks to you.”

“Hey!” Wally cried indignantly, “It’s not my fault! I didn’t know the tunnel was gonna start whisperin’ at me. You guys shoulda warned me!”

“Let’s not argue.” Susie said, already sick of their bickering, “We need to find Joey and Henry.”

Sammy cast one last glare at Wally, before turning to Susie, sighing, “Let’s go, then.”

The trio had tumbled out of the portal a mere minute ago, with Wally landing first, flat on his face, Sammy landing on top of the janitor, and Susie forming the apex of their strange little tower. It had taken them some moments to regain their bearings and to disentangle themselves from each other, but they’d been quite surprised by their surroundings once they had. Now they advanced through the silent hallway leading toward the ink machine, becoming more wary with each step.

“Joey?” Susie called softly, her voice seemingly too nervous to speak louder, “Henry?”

Sammy paused when they reached his office, opening the door. It wasn’t much different from his office back in their world, with a desk taking up most of the space, a radio, and a shelf, except this shelf contained bacon soup. Nobody at their studio enjoyed bacon soup except for Bendy and Henry. How old is this stuff? Susie withdrew a can from the shelf, checked the expiration date, her eyes widening when she saw the soup had expired almost three decades ago. How long has it been since anyone worked here?

“ ‘He will set us free’?” Susie turned to see Sammy reading off a paper on his desk, brow furrowed. The music director turned to look at his girlfriend, “Did I write that?”

Susie didn’t have an answer for him. Since there was another studio, it was conceivable that there could be other versions of themselves. For some reason, the thought made the voice actress uneasy; she wasn’t sure she could handle meeting another version of herself. This studio was already so different from theirs; wouldn’t its employees be different, too?

Gently, Susie laced her arm through Sammy’s, led him out of the small space. Wally surveyed the room more closely once they’d stepped out, his eyes alighting on the small radio on the desk. Before either Susie or Sammy could protest, Wally had turned the dial. Music blared from the radio, making them all jump. Cursing, Sammy shoved past Wally and shut it off.

“Can’t you ever use your brain, Franks?” Sammy scowled at the janitor.

“I wanted to see if it still worked.” Wally said defensively, “I didn’t think it would be so loud…”

Sammy gestured to the radio, “The volume is turned all the way up, if you hadn’t noticed.”

“Oh.” Wally looked sheepish, “Well, maybe Joey or Henry heard it.”

Or something else did. Susie shook her head, trying to ignore the fanciful notion.

The three continued to progress down the hallway, noticing the ink machine wasn’t directly at the end as it was in their studio. They were just nearing the break room when soft footsteps could be heard in the section opposite it. The three of them halted, and Susie licked her dry lips, tasting ink, before calling timidly, “Joey?”

“Susie?” Henry’s low voice made Susie sigh in relief, and she walked forward just as Henry turned the corner, Joey right behind him. Susie’s smile faltered as they neared, seeing their faces. Henry’s eyes were red rimmed, his mouth set in a tight line, as if he was trying to hold himself back from crying. Joey clearly had been crying, and his puffy, red eyes proved that. His breathing was shaky, and as he came up to meet her, Susie could see tears still sliding down his cheeks.

“Are you alright?” she asked of them immediately. Neither of them could meet her gaze.

“We’re fine.” Henry looked up at Sammy and Wally, before turning to Susie, “Why are you here?”

“We fell in by accident.” Susie explained.

“She means Wally dragged us here.” Sammy added, earning a harsh glare from Susie.

Wally crossed his arms, “I didn’t ask you to try and save me.” The voice actress tried to communicate to the two of them with her eyes that now was a very bad time to argue. Sammy caught her look, and seemed to finally notice that Joey and Henry were upset. He frowned, nudging Wally slightly before he could continue the squabble. The janitor looked confused at Sammy’s sudden silence, before he too saw the reason behind it.

Henry sighed, rubbed at his eyes beneath his glasses, “Well, we need the ink machine to get home. We were just about to start the ritual when we heard the radio turn on.”

The animator made to turn back the way he’d come, but stopped to glance at Joey. The older man hadn’t said a word, had barely even looked at them. He seemed lost in his own world, which wasn’t unusual for him. But the utterly morose look on his face wasn’t like Joey at all. He looked like he was within moments of an emotional break down.

“Joey,” Henry’s voice grew quiet as he addressed his mentor, “do you want to wait a bit?”

Joey turned to his apprentice, before drawing a long, quivering breath, “No. I want to go home.” Henry nodded, placing a comforting hand on his shoulder before walking off in the direction of the ritual room. Susie shared a confused and concerned glance with Sammy and Wally. What could Joey and Henry have seen to affect them in this manner? Susie had a sinking feeling she was about to find out.

(That’s it for now! I hope you all enjoyed this. It might be a bit too depressing for the end of the blog, but oh well. I never was good at writing fluff. Farewell, Mun! I’ll be seeing you on your art blog.)

(( Oh wow, I think this is the longest one submission i’ve ever gotten xD I like how you write the characters, you’ve got their personalities down pretty well, and even though a few people have done the ‘AU characters end up in the canon universe’ idea the whole ‘people reacting to the dead boris’ thing never gets easier to read :^) it hurts every time. if you continue to write this please feel free to @ my art blog, i’d love to see more! thanks for the fic!! <3))

[catnip-smuggler-radio]

Candlelight: Part 3

(Fight between Haname and Yimir in true fighting game style.  Hope you all enjoy! :D  Warning, long. Lol.  As always Haname is @repose-and-run char) Yimir rose from his feet and studied the man before him.  Not a bell ago, the man had rested at the feet of Nald’thal, ready to enter the god’s domain of death. The man in question was an old regular of Yimir’s, back before he’d entered into negotiations with Ostreaux about working for the elezen’s organization and his alone.  Yimir would be joining a organization for life and he was still uncertain what he’d do; but for now he was here, aiding an old friends soul.  A soul that was not for collecting today.  Yimir had pulled the man from the great beyond and allowed him to live a bit longer.  Yimir took a long sip of water from a flask.  The effort of healing the man’s wounded form had taken a lot out of him and he was weary now.  He slowly pulled his grey robe up over his bandaged arms and shoulders.  The healer looked at his own, bandaged hands and marveled at how someone as insignificant as himself somehow could keep life inside a ruined form through will and aether.  Did he defy the Wheel of Fate, or was he a part in its great machinations? He doubted he would ever know.  He glanced out the window of the small apartment that overlooked Pearl Lane.   It was night already…

The night was dark and full of terrors. Not really, but it was full of crime and shady individuals. The Masked Moogle crouched atop an old, rundown building in Pearl Lane, face hidden behind a Magitek mask and Moogle katana strapped to her side. She wore a gaudy white coat and boots, true to her namesake, and what looked like a Moogle plush dressed as a Taoist floated around her. She didn't have her signature pigtails. No, that'd be way too obvious. After all, how many other grown women wore their hair in pigtails? Not many. It was the perfect disguise. The mask she wore warped her voice and hid her aetherial signature. And the outfit she wore was way too flashy and cool compared to her usual wardrobe. She was a real vigilante now-- No. She was a superhero, stalking the alleys of Ul'dah to fight crime.

"He'll need a few days rest an' den needs tuh take it easy all healed up meow." Yimir said as he stepped out the door of the small, building into the Lane. "Just keep him relaxed." With that, the blonde shut the door and turned to walk down the street. He was dressed in a white, cotton shirt over which was a large, grey robe and a polished, leather bandolier across his chest. Thigh-high leather boots covered brown riding pants and a large yellow-and-black plaid scarf was wrapped around his neck and lower face. He moved slowly, keeping an eye out for any patrolling Blades. They were a rare sight around these parts but anyone moving in the lane past sunset was up to no good.

The Masked Moogle noticed movement from the corner of her eye. She tapped the side of her mask and the screen of it zoomed in to the area she turned her head towards. She couldn't quite make out a face due to the large hat and scarf, but she knew the area well enough back in her moko smuggling days where each crime den was. And that was definitely a crime den. She looked the suspicious figure up and down, and judging by their conversation, he was probably a medic. Getting up from her crouched position, she followed after the man from the rooftops, pausing only to send her Moogle companion out. The Moogle plush fluttered down and twirled happily around Yimir, its little Taoist robes fluttering in the desert breeze. "Where are you going, kupo? What have you been up to, kupo?" It asked in its irritatingly adorable voice. "My name is Gohan, kupo! You look suspicious, kupo!"

Yimir stopped and waved his left arm to shoo the moogle away. He couldn't believe he was running into a moogle of all things! What was the world coming too? "Begone ye little one." Yimir ordered in a mildly annoyed manner. Certainly he felt no threat from the intrusive creature as they were known to be silly drunks more than anything else, but the creature was loud and could garner him some unwanted attention. "I ain't done nuttin' but take a walk. Shoo!"

 "Ain't done nuttin', kupo?" Gohan quoted, floating down so it was almost nose to nose with Yimir. "What kind of nuts, kupo? Kupo nuts? There were some shaaady men back there, kupo. Ah! Watch out, kupo!" And then Gohan zoomed off, flying several feet up into the air above Yimir. The distraction was provided and the Masked Moogle leapt off the building right above the blonde Mi'qote, nearly landing on top of him with her katana drawn. "Alright, kupo." She said in a low voice, which really wasn't needed since her mask warped her voice to a much higher pitch anyways. "Hands up in the air. I know what kind of shady business you've been dealing with, kupo. I need you to come with me. Peacefully." She paused. "Kupo." She added to the end.

 "I said buzz off ye-" Yimir's ears perked as he heard something above him. He couldn't tell what it was but his tail poofed in a sign of danger and he leapt backwards, pulling a small kukiri made from bone out of his robe. He landed on both feet and tensed his entire body as he held his weapon at his side. He peered at this new arrival as if it was a coiled viper. There was no joy in his mismatched eyes as his tail swished behind him. The vigilante's words further soured his impression of her. He had no intention of complying with her orders and he spun the dagger around a finger by its o-ring. "I dun know who ye are, but I ain't goin' anywhere with yeh. So either ye move out de way or...we gonna have ourselves some trouble."

Yes Yimir. Sound tough. You are sooo badass.

 "Heh, so you really won't come peacefully then, huh kupo?" The Masked Moogle said with a small tilt of her head. "Well then.." She sheathed her sword. "I am the Masked Moogle, Champion of Justice!" She struck a pose. "In the name of the Mog, I shall punish you!" Another pose. Was that necessary? No, but she had been wanting to do it for a long time now and what better opportunity to than now? She held the pose for a moment longer as Gohan slowly descended back down, shaking its big, fat Moogle head.

 The blonde male stopped spinning his knife, almost cutting a finger off as he stared in dumbfound wonder at the woman's posturing. Was...was this for real? Was this seriously happening? Was this person really challenging him to a fight while acting like a gosh darn moogle and posing like she was a power ranger? He blinked and it took him him almost a minute to manage to form som sort of reply. "Are...are ye for real? Ye seriously want...but…Do ye do this often or sumfing? First time? Cause aint heard of ye." FIGHT BEGINS! QUE MUSIC!

"Hah! And clearly your first time if you've never heard of me, kupo!" The Masked Moogle was bluffing. But she had been down Pearl Lane enough times to know she had never seen this loser around before. And the fact that he hadn't straight up shanked her. "You're as green as they come, aren't ya kupo?" In a flash, she drew her katana again and well... threw it straight at his head.

Yimir had been expecting her to do something. -Throwing- the gosh darn katana, however, HADN'T been near the top of that list. He was saved by muscles and sheer instinct alone. He leaned back, flailing his arms behind him and sensing the world in slow motion as if he was dodging bullets in a video game. The weapon sailed over his head, the blade gleaming along it's polished edge in the moon's light. The healer watched it sail a mere ilm over his nose. And then it was gone. Yimir pulled himself upright and stood there, honestly surprised his himself and actually thanking his dad for making him do yoga. He was very bendy. But his wonder didn't last long. He glanced at the woman and clicked his tongue. Using his aether, he connected with the elements instead of his normal spells. His holy flames would be too obvious. Instead, he waved his hand and a gust of wind blew down the Lane and tried to slam into her feet and knock her onto her butt.

The gust of wind was strong. But not strong enough! The Masked Moogle had been hit by things worse than a little gust. Like boulders, shovels, and angry Highlanders. She butterfly-kicked into the air, doing a little spin like a Moogle would. Speaking of Moogle, Gohan was chanting "fight, kupo, fight, kupo, fight, kupo" the whole time. Landing on her feet again, she raised her hand and whistled. Unbeknownst to Yimir, her ridiculous looking katana was Magitek -infused and came boomeranging back around towards the back of Yimir's head a second time.

 Yimir twirled his kukiri a few times and had taken a step forward when the pommel of the katana smashed into the back of his head. He jerked his head forward as a loud thwack filled the air from the impact. He used his free had to hold the back of his skull as he glanced between his golden locks at the bizarre sight. A magical katana... This was turning into a very weird evening. "Alright buttercup." Yimir muttered, rubbing his sore skull as he stood up. "Let's wrap this up." Yimir snapped his left hand. Two chains of gold would spring from the ground like twin pythons and try to wrap themselves around her torso and pin her arms to her sides.

"Hah! Not today, 'cuz I'm not here to stay!" The Masked Moogle rhymed as she leapt up just in time for the chains to miss snagging around her. She paused briefly and added, "..Kupo." She caught her katana midair and dashed forward in an attempt to shoulder-tackle the Mi'qote with.. well, not quite full-force since that would be a dead giveaway, but with at least strength to knock the air out of him if she landed a hit.

"Oh great, and it rhymes." Yimir muttered as the moogle warrior came at him with her weapon drawn. Her bravado how made it clear what her goal was and he simply side stepped her raging charge. As she ran past, he very casually stuck his foot out to trip her.

"KUUUUPOOOOOOO--" Followed by a loud, audible thud as the Masked Moogle fell face first into the ground and with the speed she had been charging at, she tumbled several feet away. Her mask nearly slid off from the accident as well but fortunately, she had her back to the medic and quickly adjusted it before ripping the Moogle adornment on her katana and promptly hurling it at Yimir. It made a little 'kupo' squeak and as it sailed through the air, the Masked Moogle pressed a button on her mask. Soon after, sparks of lightning began to fizz out from the ornament. If it successful in landing on the blonde, it would send him into quite a shock! Literally.   Yimir was very smug as he heard the vigilante eat it on the stone street. Not that he looked. No he turned his back and began quickly shuffling away, eager to put this odd person and their moogle obsession far behind him. This desire for an expedient exit, however, proved a poor idea. A few moments later, he sensed the electricity behind him. The hair on his tail poofed again and he yelped out loudly: "Don't taze me bro!" But, alas, Haname did not listen and the blonde was tazed. His entire body convulsed and his muscles tensed. He collapsed in a heap as the moogle adornment bounced away.

"Hehe! Watt did you think of that, kupo?!" Horrible puns are horrible. But that didn't stop the Masked Moogle. "That one was on the house, no charge! Or maybe there was a charge.. of the shocking kind, kupo!" She laughed obnoxiously and proudly at her first feat as a superhero, dishing out justice and puns in equal measure. Stepping forward, she picked up her Moogle adornment and attached it back onto her katana before reaching down to drag the shady looking medic up by the back of his scarf and attempting to snatch off his hat to get a better look at her victim.

"What's going on here!" came the call of a tall, broad hyur. A moment later two armored Brass Blades clanked around the corner and into sight. They had been drawn by the sounds of illegal justice. Yimir looked at them with grateful eyes as he wiggled away from Haname as she tried to pull his scarf away. "Officers!" Yimir wheezed. "Help! This crazy person assaulted me!"

"Officers! I'm just doing my due diligence here in helping enforce the law, kupo!" The Masked Moogle claimed, loosening her hold on the scarf though she didn't quite let go of Yimir yet. "There was some criminal activity here, kupo! Arrest this Mi'qote!" Gohan floated itself around, adjusting its hat. "And if worst comes to worst, kupo, officers will make some nice bail money!" The plush piped in.

The hyur and lalafel looked at the scene, then one another, then the two unaware family members. They drew swords and pointed those pointed ends at duo. "Alright you weirdos. I don't know if you are Quicksand fuck buddies or fighting for gil or what, but both of you, drop your weapons, put you your hands in the air, and we'll go down to the station and sort this all out nice and easy. Sound good?" Yimir did not think that sounded good. Not at all. Seriously. He'd just gotten a big ol' Yakuza tattoo on his arms and was willing to wager things would not go well for him. Especially seeing as this was technically terf belonging to a different 'Little Star' and might rub some of his superiors the wrong way, supposing he lasted long enough for word to get out. Brass Blades did have their reputation after all.

"Officers, you got it wrong, kupo! I'm a good person, kupo!" The Masked Moogle threw her hands up defensively. Somehow, she knew it'd go something like this. After all, she had dealt with plenty of Blades before, on Frandrin's payroll or not. And with this knowledge, she knew this would not go down well. She quickly gave another whistle and suddenly, crashing down from the rooftops came a Magitek motorbike. It vroomed and roared and she hopped onto it without a second thought and promptly zoomed off, leaving the Mi'qote to fend for himself.

Yimir covered his head as the Brass Blades threw themselves aside as the bike slammed down onto the earth. A roar of the engines and a moment later the mysterious kupo crusader was gone. Yimir, coughed as a blast of moogle exhaust hit him as he got to his feet. He took a few steps when one of the Blades blew a whistle. The young miqo'te groaned as he turned and waved his hands. A powerful sleep spell slammed into both Blades. But it was too late. Even as the pair of Blades fell over in a heap, the sounds of incoming boots could be heard. Eager to not be here when the Blades arrived, the blonde took off down a long hallway that entered the palace. Soon, the male vanished among the many long, weaving corridors, left only to dwell upon his very strange evening and the very strange silly person out hunting down criminals.

[avaquet]

Evelyn Lavellan - A Preference for Bed

aka an explicit list of OC stuff that literally no one asked for but oh well /shrug

Under the cut.

- In more regular/vanilla sex, she’s actually very quiet. She doesn’t moan, and if she does it’s more like a whisper. To her she never feels the need to moan unless her partner likes to hear it. Instead, it’s all in her body language, if she’s enjoying things she will smile and lull her head, grip tighter, etc etc.

- If certain parameters are met, she can be quite vocal. She can even reach the point of screaming but it all highly depends on what’s going on. Though, don’t be put off, just because she’s finally making noise doesn’t mean she wasn’t enjoying the above situation any less or this situation any more.

- Even her gag reflex is quiet. Her stomach still tenses up, but it’s mostly just a harsh exhale. Now if she concentrates, she can bypass the reflex all together.

- She experiences intense orgasms. It’s not uncommon for her to be lightly trembling after a session. But the orgasm itself causes her whole body to tense up at the peak and the crash itself makes her quiver and shake. Though no two orgasms are the same, and sometimes she experiences lesser ones where it’s only felt around the clitoris instead of her whole body. And the others that are more intense leaves her body wobbly if she even tries to walk. But her most common orgasms are higher than average in intensity.

- She can orgasm by penetration alone, though direct clitoral stimulation does help quicken things. She can also feel orgasm up by the cervix if certain parameters are met. In fact, the whole area is more sensitive than average.

- Breast play doesn’t really do anything for her. She’s not very sensitive at all around the nipples. If there is breast play it’s more for her partner and not her.

- On the other hand, she is sensitive around the waist, feeling her up at the waist will turn her on and she heavily enjoys it.

- Ev has a higher than average libido. During ovulation it peaks to the point of annoyance. It’s the time of month where she’s usually into the more intense and rougher sessions. Not only that but also when her endurance is highest. She will be horny quickly even after a long session, and yes it does annoy/frustrate her. She might be satisfied but it’s like her vagina never is during these days. Whereas her libido is at the lowest during menstruation. In fact, it’s so low that she doesn’t crave it at all the first couple of days. It’s definitely a big fluctuation. Side note, she’s absolutely exhausted the first couple of days of menstruation. She doesn’t experience cramps much but she’s pretty lethargic. The signals from her stomach to her brain telling her that she’s hungry is also fucked, and she can forget to eat the first couple of days because of it.

- She personally believes sex can be for love or for fun, and sometimes both. It just depends. And thus she actually doesn’t have a preference because it heavily depends on her mood.

- Speaking of preference, she is a switch. During the Inquisition, she leaned towards a submissive role to contrast her role as Inquisitor. But outside of that, she’s more 50-50, which again depends on her mood.

- She gets off on pain play. Her favorites are a stinging pain, sharp pain, and electrical pain. Though she does have limitations, and only enjoys pain in an erotic and of course consensual way. But, she will never ever enjoy pain applied to the face. In fact it’s a hard limit as it can trigger a past abuse and send her into panic.

- Ironically, if she’s in scene where discipline is applied, being tickled or tickle torture is used as a punishment. She has a love hate relationship with being tickled, as in she likes the idea of it and the past experiences but as she’s receiving it she heavily dislikes it.

- Bondage is one of her favorite things. Specifically being bonded/tied. It’s the fastest way to make her escape into her fantasy/submission/etc. not only that but the feeling of being tied makes her feel safe and secure and almost like she’s in a trance. Again, assuming this is all consensual (This applies to all topics). Sensory play is also a top favorite of hers. Roleplay is also a huge thing. Even a very mild form of pet play that uses a collar and a leash.

- She actually loves anything oral. It’s probably why one of her favorite non-sexual activities is kissing. But, she loves marking, being marked, giving or receiving oral, bites, licks, etc.

- Despite being into a lot of oral things, she can actually feel sick looking at saliva that’s outside of the mouth with a stringy or bubbly look to it. Leaving a wet spot is fine and such but if there’s an obvious mess it makes her stomach turn. No real reason, just a bad sensory thing for her. And because of that she is a swallower. And spitting, even for “lube” is not her thing. The only way this is bypassed is if during the scene/session she’s really horny/desperate/begging. But normally it’s a hell no from her.

- But it’s easily worked around. So for instance instead of being told to spit, she’s instead told to lick.

- She likes the fantasy of an orgy or gangbang, but is really uncomfortable with actually going through with it, so she gets creative with toys.

- Here are some things that she’s usually not in the mood for but when she is, it’s usually the main event due to how much she’s in the mood for it: wax play, c//un//t torture, and humiliation.

- She’s very flexible. She actually doesn’t sit very normally at all and when she sleeps it looks like a murder scene. But she’s also into yoga as well and as a result, is quite flexible. Not a contortionist, just bendy. She gets into all kinds of positions, and is tied up in many creative ways.

[bendywackyadventures]

Believe Pretty Cure Episode 5

*Sighs* FINALLY!! This chapter took a while, and I was stuck on this to the point I had to write new stories to keep me motivated. Still enjoy!

Cure Fiore stood there in shock and surprise. Allison Pendle, an idol she’s looked up too for a while now. Was actually the Pretty Cure, Cure Aurora! “This whole time. Allison Pendle. Cure Aurora.” Cure Fiore shivered.

Allison smiled. “So, ready for your test of trust? Susie Campbell?” Allison asked.

Cure Fiore was in shock making her revert back into Susie. “Y-Yes.” She stuttered. “What’s the test?”

“This may sound weird and stupid, but would you like to come with me to the studio tomorrow?” Allison asked.

“T-The studio?” Susie stuttered.

Allison nodded. “I’m serious. I’m doing some photo shoots and told my manager that you’ll be joining us.” She explained.

“A-Are you sure its okay?” Susie asked. Allison nodded again. “Well okay.”

Allison smiled. “Cool! I’ll pick you up in the morning.” Allison ran off leaving Susie behind. Bendy and Boris appeared and looked up at the young girl.

“Susie?” Boris asked.

“Are you okay?” Bendy finished.

Susie stood their shaking, “Allison wants to hang out with me?”

(OP: Be Yourself! Believe Pretty Cure!)

Susie walked home slowly the thought of Allison wanting to spend time with her went around her mind. Once she got home she went to her room.

“Susie!” Her mother exclaimed. “Your in home just in time for dinner.” Susie didn’t reply making her mom worry. “Susie?”

“What’s wrong?” Susie’s father asked. Susie’s mom shrugged not wondering what’s wrong with their daughter.

“YAHOO!” Susie cheered loudly. Her mom and dad looked at each other wondering what’s making their daughter so happy.

With Love and Hope! Together we’re Believe Pretty Cure!

Susie was in the kitchen having breakfast, she’s been excited since last night and slept later then usual. Still, she was excited for her day with Allison.

DING DONG

Susie ran to the door and opened it to see Allison. “Allison!” Susie yelled smiling. “You’re here early!”

“So ready to go?” Allison asked. Susie nodded. The two went in Allison’s limo headed for the studio. Susie could hardly sit still smiling and bouncing around. Once they got to the studio Susie got out of the limo and followed Allison inside.

“Here we are.” Allison said. Susie was amazed at how big the studio was. “Wow! It looks amazing!”

“Allison.” A woman came by walking towards the girls. “I’m so glad you’re here.”

“Hi manager,” Allison stepped aside to introduce Susie. “This is Susie, she’s the guest I brought over for today.”

Susie was shaking a bit. “N-Nice to meet you.”

Allison’s manager smiled at the young girl. “Why hello. I hope you enjoy your time today.”

Susie smiled. “Thank you.” She replied.

Susie got to watch Allison try on so many dresses and clothes posing differently in each one. The girl was surprised at the idol modeling. “I didn’t know you model.” Susie exclaimed.

“Its one of the things I do.” Allison added. After taking photos the girls looked at each one to see which one Allison should use for her magazine. Susie was amazed with all the work Allison was doing for today, and just for one idol.

“Alright! Lunch break!” A man called out.

Susie sighed finally she’ll be able to eat and enjoy her meal. Before she could eat, Susie felt her bag shake and when she opened it Bendy and Boris came out. “Finally I can breathe!” Bendy yelled.

“Bendy! Boris! What are you two doing here?” Susie asked!

“We decided to follow you.” Bendy replied.

“Follow me? But where’s my lunch!”

“So you must be Bendy and Boris.” Susie got scared at first, turning around she sighed in relief seeing it was only Allison.

“Oh Allison its you.” Susie replied.

“Its okay. I’ve meet them already.”

Bendy smiled. “We met while you were fighting the Ushikuma from a while back.” Bendy explained. Allison nodded to confirm Bendy’s story.

Susie’s stomach started to rumble realizing that she hasn’t ate. “But my lunch is gone out the window.”

“I have a lot for lunch, want to have some?” Allison asked.

Susie, Bendy and Boris’s eyes sparkled in joy hearing Allison will share her meal. “Really?” Allison nodded.

Allison’s manger smiled seeing how Susie and Allison were getting along. “Allison, I’m glad your making friends already.”

Susie smiled. “Yeah, we are. Right, Allison?” Susie replied.

Allison’s expression changed. “Excuse me, but Susie and I have to talk somewhere privately.” Allison grabbed Susie’s hand and led her to another room where they can talk.

They didn’t see it, but Allison’s manager looked sad.

“So why are we here?” Susie asked looking at the abandoned room.

“I don’t really consider you a friend, Susie.” Allison admitted. Susie felt hurt hearing Allison’s words. This whole time spending with her idol and she goes and says that.

“B-But we were having so much fun! Isn’t that what friends do?” Susie asked.

Allison nodded. “True, but were a team and that’s how I see us.” She explained. Susie felt sad hearing Allison’s words. Allison sighed, “I actually brought you here because I figured I should tell you.”

“Tell us what?” Bendy asked.

Allison sighed. “It happened about a year ago.” Allison started, “I was performing on stage for a show, after the show I decided to take a small walk to relax. When I did, I saw something fall from the sky.

At that point Allison remembered that day. Allison was walking in the park and saw something twinkle in the sky and fall right in front of her. Once the smoke cleared she saw a Pala Phone along with a blue dream badge. Allison picked it up and the Pala Phone started glowing.

“At that point I became a Pretty Cure.” Allison explained. When she remembered that day Allison’s eyes open and saw she was no longer in her regular clothes, but in her Pretty Cure outfit.

Bendy and Boris chuckled remembering the Pala Phone they threw away before was the one that went into Allison’s hand. “I think I know where it came from.” Susie commented.

Allison ignored the comment and continued with the story.  “But around that time I was friends with a young girl, Laura. We did performances together, and wanted to become an idol unit with her.” Allison stopped to look down, “But an Ushikuma had to be summoned before I can get the chance to tell Laura. After the battle Laura realized that she can’t keep up with me, and decided to leave for Europe. Before she left I gave her a letter asking her if she would like to be a Pretty Cure, but.”

Allison remembered the letter she gave to Laura and saw the later rip the letter up. Allison’s eyes widen in sadness and in shock seeing Laura rip up her letter. “After that whole ordeal. I decided to go solo as a Pretty Cure, fighting my own battles.” Allison explained. “I realized that I couldn’t even balance having a friend, being an idol, and a Pretty Cure.”

“That’s not true!” Susie yelled running up and grabbing Allison’s shoulders. Allison stared at Susie in shock, the later then gave a small smile. “So you may of lost Laura, but that doesn’t mean you give up! You will get more and more friends, and I’m happy to be your friend Allison!”

“Susie?” Allison was confused, but worried as well.

“Allison. You shouldn’t be scared or push anyone away. I would gladly be your friend.” All Alison could do was stare at Susie, not giving an answer.

(Eyecatch 1: On stage the curtains open, showing Susie and Allison in their everyday clothes. They close it, and open again wearing idol outfits. They close it once more and are in their Cure forms smiling. They close it once more as the Believe Pretty Cure logo shows up.)

(Eyecatch 2: Alice is crying and Bendy and Boris try to cheer her up by playing music, and silly faces. Susie and Allison show up using their Pala Phone. Susie uses her Pala Phone to give Alice a cake, and Allison gives Alice a dress making the baby toon smile and laugh.)

Allison’s manager was walking away tired from all the work that was given to her. “Man what a day.” She sighed. The manager wasn’t aware someone was following her, as the figure stared on in the shadows. She then heard a noise, making her turn around. “Who’s there?!” She asked seeing no one around. The manager thought nothing of it and kept on walking, she then stopped seeing a figure ahead of her.

“Hello! Who are you?” She asked. The figured stood there not doing anything. “I’ll call security!” The figure then smiled evilly making Allison’s manager scared.

“Ahhh!”

Allison, Susie, Bendy and Boris stood still hearing the scream. “Manager!” Allison yelled.

“Susie do you think?” Boris asked.

Susie glared. “No doubt about it!” She growled.

Outside the room a camera Ushikuma run amok the studio causing everyone to flee. Barley laughed seeing his Ushikuma attack and destroy everything in sight.

“Allison! Let’s go!” Susie yelled.

Allison nodded and went to grab her Pala Phone, only to realize it wasn’t in her pocket. “Oh no! My Pala Phone is in my room!” She yelled in realization.

“Eh!?” Susie, Bendy and Boris yelled.

“I have to run and get it. In the meantime use as much power as you can until I get it back!” Allison explained.

“B-But.” Susie was about to explain she can’t do this without Allison, but Allison grabbed Susie by the shoulders and looked at her eye to eye. “Listen I’ve seen you fight! You can handle this for a few minutes till I grab it. I promise we’ll fight together, okay?”

Susie smiled and nodded. “Okay.” Susie then started to transform.

On Stage! Pretty Cure! Make Up!

Believing with a loving heart, Cure Fiore!

“Be careful okay, Allison.” Cure Fiore warned. Allison nodded and ran to get her Pala Phone.

“USHI!” The monster roared as it threw a chair to the wall, making some workers doge it. Out of nowhere the monster was attacked by a kick out of nowhere.

“What the?!” Barley yelled. He turned around and saw Cure Fiore glaring at him. “Ah Cure Fiore, where’s your partner?” He asked.

Cure Fiore glared and went to attack the monster, punching and kicking it with all her power. The Ushikuma countered her attack by punching her, but the pink cure seemed unphased by it.

Allison finally went to her dressing room and found her Pala Phone on the desk. She grabbed it and quickly ran back to Cure Fiore, before anything could happen to her.

Cure Fiore was on the ground, and injured. She put up a good fight, but the Ushikuma was too wild for her to handle by herself. Cure Fiore held the foot of the Ushikuma so she wouldn’t be squished. Barley laughed about to see Cure Fiore become squished like a pancake.

“Stop it!” Allison yelled coming by holding her Pala Phone.

Barley gasped seeing the Pala Phone. “Don’t tell me, your?” He stopped as Allison was about to transform.

Allison’s Pala Phone opens up and she puts the Blue Dream Badge inside. The screen turns on showing a blue star as the buttons light up yellow, blue, and indigo.

On Stage! Pretty Cure! Make Up!

Allison presses all three buttons and a bright light flashes. Allison was now in a glowing dress that then turned into blue top with black and light blue ruffled material that a blue heart broach with a bat wing on it, then a blue skirt with a black ribbon on the back along with her blue boots. Allison’s hair glowed and turned burgundy and tied itself into a ponytail. A sparkle of light appeared and Allison’s eyes turned magenta and gained blue star earrings. Allison put her Pala Phone in a pink and white carry bag.

Allison was now on stage as a spotlight appeared in front of her in a starry background.

Believing a dreaming heart, Cure Aurora!

“Yes!” Cure Fiore cheered.

Cure Aurora kicked the Ushikuma knocking balance off it. “Are you okay?” Cure Aurora asked helping Cure Fiore up.

“Yeah! Thanks.” Cure Fiore smiled. Cure Aurora replied back with a smile. The Pretty Cure looked up seeing the monster get up. “Ready?” Cure Fiore asked holding her hand out.

Cure Aurora looked at Cure Fiore’s hand in hesitation, but she took it anyway. As they held hands the two cures looked and saw it was glowing. “What the?” Cure Aurora asked.

The light got brighter blinding Barley and the Ushikuma.

“With the power of love!” Cure Fiore yelled.

“And the power of hope!” Cure Aurora yelled.

A pink and blue heart appeared ready to shoot. “Pretty Cure! Miracle Shower!” The pink and blue heart swirled around and shot the Ushikuma.

“Believe in your heart!” The two cures said together.

“Believe.” The Ushikuma said tiredly as it disappeared and the heart was healed.

Barley growled. “Pretty Cure.” He then disappeared.

“We did it!” Cure Fiore cheered.

“We did!” Cure Aurora replied. The two girls looked at each other and hugged cheering in celebration. The heart of Allison’s manager went back to her, and she woke up with no memory of what happened.

“You two were awesome!” Bendy cheered. “I didn’t know your friendship power was that strong!”

“Friendship power?” Cure Aurora asked. Cure Fiore and Cure Aurora looked at each other and shared a smile then a laugh.

After the battle the girls were back in their regular clothes. To thank Allison for the day together, Susie decided to take Allison to the lake to star gaze.

“The stars are so pretty.” Allison said looking at the stars. “But why did you bring me here?” She asked.

Susie smiled. “I figured since we did something you like to do. I thought we do something I like to do!” Allison smiled at Susie, she then saw the later smile looking at the sky. “Look Allison! A shooting star! Quick, make a wish!” Susie yelled pointing at the star. She quickly put her hands together and started mumbling her wish. Allison looked at Susie and did the same.

Before Allison can make her wish a star twinkled and started to shoot towards them. “Um girls are stars supposed to shoot towards us?” Bendy asked. The cures opened their eyes and saw the star headed towards them. It freaked them out as they ran all over the place, except for Susie. She saw a figure inside the star. She held her arms out catching the star, only to fall back on the ground. Everyone ran to Susie hoping she was okay. “Susie! Are you okay!?” Boris asked.

“I-I am.” She replied. She looked at what she caught and freaked at the sight. Allison, Bendy and Boris looked as well also freaking out at the sight.

“A baby?!” Everyone screamed. The baby yawned opening her eyes as she let out a coo.

(ED: Gakuen Tengoku! Pretty Cure version)

[everythingisbetterwithpirates]

Mind, Body & Soul: Dialogue Series II

Regarding: A Dirty Little Secret

Thunder echoed far away, resembling the chaos taking place on the other side of the world. Far enough that it did not come with a rumble. On a soft slope in the sandy beach, Margharette sat. Without weapons or a fancy suit. No monocle to help hide what hid in her dark blue eyes. Instead, she wore a comfortable white camisole. It matched her cotton shorts. Feet half-sank into the grains. To her left was a fuzzy coconut. It was decorated with a bright, pink umbrella and aided by a bendy straw.

What would have been a linear horizon slowly turned into a steamy, textured one. Lightning brought out the shapes hidden in the distance. And for a brief moment, the far away beats of thunder matched the rhythm of her heart. Margharette picked up her coconut, guiding the straw to her lips and watching the storms loom in the night sky.

{ Mind, Body and Soul will be expressed through three different beings.}

Rette was a fancy woman of fancy tastes. Her adoration towards all things beautiful and elegant extended beyond jewels and fabrics. Long, dark hair intricately braided behind the ears. It rose to the impossibly tight and well rounded bun at the top of her head. She was dressed in a sleek garment. Intricate embroidery which followed the movements and patterns of spiders and snakes outlined some features while shimmering, golden fabric did the rest. She drank from a saucered teacup that flared at the rim.

Mar was a physical duplicate of Rette, but she lacked the pretty dress. She lacked clothes in general. And her hair was not impeccably tied into a knot. It was loose. Slung carelessly over her freckled shoulders and back. Mar sat with her knees hugged closely to her chest. Directly across from discipline, sat relaxation. She drank from a coconut with a little pink umbrella sticking out from the side.

And then there was Gha. Only the woman’s silhouette persisted in this image. That and her typical business attire. It was a faceless being with a tight knot around it’s neck. No defining features beyond a head, a torso and functional limbs. Ashen, roughly textured skin made up her exposed extremities. There was no drink to be shared with the group. Only folded hands.

Even the empty seat across from Gha had been served with a pair of coffee cups. One was of regular size and the other a miniature version of it.

In the middle of a table was Frank the Cactus. His home was a simple, handcrafted ceramic pot. Pebbles and dirt secured him firmly in place. And as the group readied to converse, it tilted to the right.

Mar sucked from the straw before she placed the coconut on the table. 

Mar: "Without our dreams, we would be stuck to the ground. You go higher. And higher... "

Mar paused, staring off into the unknown. 

Mar: " ... but then you get too close to the sun."

Rette: "Is that where you burst into flames?"

Mar: "Something like that." Words were spoken with a knowing grin. 

Gha: "Tell us-s-s anyway. Enjoy it. Do it. When things exp-p-plode."

Across Mar's shoulder, a transluscent plume of dark purple stroked. Soothingly so.

Mar: "Why linger in the abyss when we can gently glide across the skies? No. I want to do it. I will pursue this ardent adversary into whatever it leads to. Dark roads do not disturb me. Not living while I am alive does."

Gha's entire form shivers. It begins at the top, where two depressions on the raw and skin like texture of it's body seemed to be drawing the shape of a frown. A thick and tar-like substance oozed. Where it once created the illusion of a finely crafted business suit, it now rolled and ransacked with agitation, removing all regularity from the uniform. The would-be lines over the head deepened. A gaping maw was left behind, one that revealed nothing more than agitation in the form of black and purple needles.

Rette looked between Mar and Gha, bringing her flowery cup of tea to her lips for a long drink.Pretentious nostrils flared in preparation for battle between two stalwart sides of the same coin. For a moment, her attention drifted to the empty seat to her right. Just a cup next to another. One big. One small. Both deserving of more. She cleared her throat and turned towards the others.

Frank danced to the left without a sound.

Rette: "Very well. We shall discuss. let us begin with the obvious. Present dangers. Precautionary measures have been taken, but all it takes is one tiny error and it is over. It will spread all across this table. So much so that it becomes it."

Mar: "Oh, aye. We would cease to exist as is. But this picture is no longer just stormy skies. His plans bring a possibility that cannot be ignored. If he succeeds, it could be just like a scene from a play. Walking down the garden. Holding hands.”

Mar's gaze turned to Gha who was quietly brooding and staring into the empty seat across, to Mar's left. 

Mar: "... Maybe someone crying or dying in the background. Nothing unnatural."

Gha's faceless face shuddered.

Rette: "His predatory nature will surely persist through the split. Strong on both sides, but only one would pose a high level of danger -- and it is not going to be the real him. Of course, it should be noted that I believe my words to be biased. My pants would catch on fire were I to sat your hopes are not relatable. Or contagious."

Rette nodded to Mar, taking a delicate sip from her teacup. Polished pinkie extended.

With a dislocated succession of faint 'pops' and 'cracks', Gha stood from it's seat. Though a pair of arms were discernible, it's legs slithered and dragged across the wooden floor as if they were one. Another round of ripples and needlish spikes traveled across the hazy suit. 

Gha: "I. Will. S-s-s-show you. Your desires. This is one of it's many. P-possibilities."

Frank tilted to the right. It's thorny body was fantastically bendy.

Behind the empty seat, a scene began to appear. It was prompted by Gha's waving hand. Like a weathered painting, patterns and shapes flourished. A sizable portion of a ship's cabin replaced the empty darkness. Windows revealed both ocean and land in the distance. But before such escapes was a bloodstained bed. The expansion of the image revealed two bodies.

One was a grown human male. He was of shaggy blonde hair and a dark, tanned complexion. He lay face down, bleeding into the bed from the wound on the side of his head. One of his arms was wrapped around the second body. A much smaller one. That of an infant girl who looked to be no older than several months. The child's wound mirrored that of her father's. 

Gha: "This could be him if his plan succeeds. And her. He did. Did not come alone. Or it. Could be us-s-s."

The scene continued to extend, revealing a gun on the floor. A dying lamp swung from the ceiling as turbulent waves began to come around. 

Gha: "The inevitable conclusion of all life. Death."

Gha paced enthusiastically behind it's spot on the board. Mar and Rette steadily watched. One had a teacup, the other a coconut. Where Mar swayed her head, Rette drummed her fingers. 

Gha: "Instead of them outliving us. We. Outlive them. Neither brings good tidings-s-s."

Margharette appeared on the scene, arriving to what would become her last day in paradise. Stricken with grief, she falls to her knees. The woman gasped for air, but her sobs went by silently. The picture was muted. One after the other, her cries went ignored. 

Gha: "There. F-f-fallen. Every good thing once felt. Destroyed. Crushed by loss."

In the recreation of her pain, Margharette began to reach for the loaded weapon on the floor.

Frank swayed left.

Another tendril of Shadows coiled around Mar's shoulders, this time extending to her neck and bare chest. One were now two.

Meanwhile, Margharette's attempts to place the gun against her head were thwarted by a violent quake. Her grip faltered. The heavy piece fell to the ground with a thud as loud as hers. Unlike the others, this sound boomed across the space of those watching. Tightly, Margharette clutched her chest, blue eyes rising to the bodies of her loved ones. She choked. She groaned. But then nothing. 

Gha: "And you couldn't even finish it yourself."

A few more twitches and Margharette's heart was finally done. Broken. Not enough strength to keep her going and away from death's door. Now, it became the key that unlocked it.

Mar: "I can be next in line."

Gha, who had been pacing a little more, froze on it's tracks. Though it's body was turned away from Mar, it's ghoulish head turned around. All the way around. The sound of bones breaking and colliding was as gruesome as that of unseen teeth gnawing and grinding.

Gha: "You. Just like. Me."

Rette took a last glance at the disappearing image, finding the clarity of it's details satisfactory. She then looked between Mar and Gha with a less severe expression, drinking quietly from her cup.

Mar's head swayed from side to side after giving Gha a confident nod. 

Mar: "Our fate is shared. That was something made extremely clear after this catastrophe. The wheel spun and showed us the direction. Now we have it. That was the deal. Two more opportunities, if possible, for the third has already been taken advantage of."

Gha: "Options. There are others."

Slowly, Frank the Cactus tilted to the right again.

Rette: "None that entice all senses like he does. Even YOU will surrender." Unwavering authority composed said words.

Gha: "You defend this because you are infatuated. And because it will not be YOU that endures... "

Gha began to move closer to the table, body rapidly and gracelessly turning to match the direction of it's head.

Gha: " ... t-t-this."

Rette's flowery cup rose, used as a means to signal her agreement towards the creature at her left.

Mar: "We have been in the warm shores of paradise. Many never even see it. And while that may not be the final destination of this voyage, the risk is still worth it. Patience will be worth it. This is not the same Margharette from then. This is now. And if in the future, darkness should encase me, I am comforted by the fact that it will be YOU that stands alone. Radiance in a room of monsters. Means there will still be a chance... And I do like chances."

Mar's shaven coconut rose, mimicking Rette's previous cheering motion with her contrasting fancy cup.

Gha silently stared at the seat across even without eyes. Frail hands settled over it's own seat, but soon, Gha joined the others seated at the table.

Frank veered left, it's spine flexible but unbreakable. 

Gha: "Useless. Your silence. Is not. Or is it... It is. Or... "

Rette: "Banter aside, this companionship has touched us all in one way or another. Most recently, I noted an irregularity during a session. These feelings of adoration... Of love -- they must be carefully woven into the cover story. Too many lies and the story is too weak to stand on it's own. Not enough, and we expose a weakness. One the enemy can and would exploit. Twice, because there are TWO people involved. The verbal foreplay routine when engaged in work will need to be reworked. Rephrased. Refreshed."

Mar: "This discussion has nothing to do with business."

Rette: "Everything can be business if you're gray enough."

Mar stared at Rette for a long and spiteful moment, but the feeling passed. Slid with ease. Like melted butter. 

Mar: "Which is why I am making this call. What needs to be done will be done. That is what I trust you to do if it comes to such blows. Let the winds die now so that we may reach a conclusion and gaze into our future."

Rette nodded, throwing a tiny cube into her refilled cup. Gha only continued to glare ahead.

Rette: "Preparations for many possibilities have already begun. The Crabby Cabin will also be going through extensive renovations. This place will be a fortress. One where both him and her can seek refuge from what comes, given that there will finally be room for more than one person. What truly worries me is the vessel he leaves behind. With any luck, and maybe some bribes, it will be kept busy."

Gha shuddered, it's stable but fluid form vivid and animated. 

Gha: "Miss-s-s. I will miss it. I. Yet. Do not know the satisfaction of making it..." The voice became even more distorted. Wisps of thick Shadows wrapped around it's head, moving in fast spinning circles. 

Gha: "... Submit. In full. Without him being bound. By ch-ch-chains."

Frank tilted to the right.

Mar: "Confusing creature."

Gha: "Remind yourself. No matter how the next fall comes. You. And I. Will look the same."

Mar fell silent, turning to glance at the empty coffee cups to her right. With acceptance, she nodded. 

Rette: "Then it is settled. The chance will be taken. This means that our grip on emotions, and by our I of course mean mine, will need to be better than flawless at all times. Especially when we consider what is happening deeper down the rabbit hole."

Behind Rette's ear, a Shadowy line curved and twisted. After snaking around the back of her neck, it disappeared beneath her golden garments. 

Mar: "Be it by Chance or otherwise, our fates are here. Present. Some of the tails found down this road lead to heartbreak. Others to happiness. To peace. Peace that is violently forged elsewhere. Here? It is made complete by his presence. Fun. Joy. Love. Care. Affection. All siblings. All part of the same thread."

Gha: "Even I feel this. This that you speak of. To not pursue and protect this treasure would be criminal."

The three beings looked between each other and nodded. Mar and Rette rose their drinks and indulged. Gha sat still. And the empty seat remained empty.  

Frank the Cactus moved again. Now it sat straight.