#for the characters that must be protected i’m only doing the ones that are overhated in this fandom

[moonlightdancer26]

Characters that must be protected at all costs:

Severus Snape

Ron Weasley

Percy Weasley

Nymphadora Tonks

Fleur Delacour

Cho Chang

Lavender Brown

Viktor Krum

Characters that can choke:

James Potter

Sirius Black

Albus Dumbledore

Lily Evans

[alj4890]

All Through The Night

A Choices: The Royal Romance Dark AU fanfiction. 

A/N Other than my few Bloodbound shorts, I’ve never written anything with supernatural overtones before. After receiving requests to see Liam and Riley’s story if he was a vampire, this storyline was born. Since it is set in one of my favorite books from Pixelberry, I had to include as many of the main and supporting characters as I could. The following chapters will explain more where they and what our main characters are. Not going to lie, I am very anxious to step out of my comfort zone for this, but I’m also super excited to see how it goes. Along with The Royal Romance, I will be referencing and altering both The Crown and The Flame and The Royal Masquerade.

@gkittylove99​​ @krsnlove​ @kingliam2019​ @texaskitten30​ @yourmajesty09​ @mom2000aggie​ @ofpixelsandscribbles​ @twinkleallnight​ @lodberg​ @twinkleallnight​ @amandablink​ @neotericthemis​  @mm2305​ @sfb123​ @iufilms​​ ​ ​

Masterlist

Prologue

Once upon a time...

"Father!" Zenobia rushed down the stairwell. "Kenna is at the gates!"

King Luthor's frown deepened as he studied the places his troops had been destroyed. His hope to unite the five kingdoms and wipe off the abomination was for naught.

Kenna would not stop until he and his surviving offspring's heads were on pikes.

...until their blood filled the crystal goblets of the Dark Queen.

"What do we do?" His son, Diavolos, asked.

Luthor knew it was only himself Kenna wanted. After he had killed her mother, hoping to stop the monsters once and for all, Kenna would have her revenge.

If only he had known that she was a vampire...just like her mother.

"Listen carefully." His voice trembled at this possibly being the last time he was able to speak to his son and daughter. "A Nevarkis must always be ready to fight the creatures that prey on the weak and vulnerable."

"But..." Zenobia sniffed. "How? How can we possibly kill the unkillable?"

"She can be killed just like her mother before her." Luthor snapped. "Sunlight. A dagger to the heart. Cutting the head off." His features hardened with resolve. "Know that those are our true allies. Continue your training with daggers. Never stop being vigilant. Educate your children. And remember: where there's one vampire, many more lie in wait in the shadows."

Diavolos stepped forward and gripped his father's shoulder. "We will fight for you."

"No." Luthor corrected. "Fight for our people. The innocent. Fight for a chance to live without fear of monsters."

He cleared his throat. "If I should die--"

"Don't say that!" Zenobia screeched. "We'll be--"

"Kenna is coming for me." Luthor interrupted. "I know I must face the consequences of my actions."

"But--" Divalos lowered his head. "What are we to do?"

"Kill her." Luthor ordered. "Let your emotion be your strength." He took their hands. "And remember that a vampire is nature's evil incarnate. They will do whatever they want and kill anyone who they think is in their way." His voice turned to pleading. "Kill Kenna before she has a chance to kill you."

Zenobia nodded in a jerky manner. Diavolos swallowed with tears in his eyes.

"Good. Now prepare yourselves." Luthor pulled his sword from its sheath. "The devil herself is here."

*****************

Two years later...

Kenna cuddled her infant son, humming a lullaby.

Dom came in, a soft smile gracing his lips at the sight of his family.

"How are we this evening?" He asked, placing a kiss first on her lips then one on his son's forehead.

"A little fussy." Kenna explained. "But otherwise perfect."

"Good." Dom stretched then went to stoke the fire. "I will be going out later tonight."

Kenna's head jerked up. "Why? Are there more rumors?"

He nodded, a determined frown formed on his lips. "The Nevarkis brats refuse to let us live in peace." He moved to stand before the window that looked out toward the kingdom he had once lived in.

High in the mountains, the couple and those like them had found sanctuary. They built a kingdom, one of darkness and shadow that allowed them to live freely. He and Kenna were crowned the rulers, chosen by their people...those that were cursed as monsters.

"Si and I will be standing guard." He explained. "I will not risk you or our child."

"Dom..." Kenna pulled him close, capturing his lips in a long tender kiss. "This must end. I was foolish to let my need for revenge take over." Tears sparkled in her eyes. "Luthor might have left us alone if I had given him a chance."

Dom's face contorted into furious hatred. "A Nevarkis can never be trusted!" He gripped her waist, hands heating as he lost his temper. "He would have plunged a dagger into your heart the first chance he had."

"Dom." She said softly when he singed her clothes.

He wrenched his hands from her with a grimace. "I didn't burn you, did I?"

She shook her head. "I'm fine." She tried to lighten the mood. "Just a little overheated."

He took deep breaths to get himself under control. "Stay here where it is safe." His eyes searched hers. "Have you fed recently?"

"No, but I should be fine until you return." Kenna lifted a bottle with blood for their son. "I can call on one of the servants to help me if I need to."

"Promise me you won't go outside." He pleaded.

"Only if you promise to come back to me." She responded.

His lips quirked in that cocky smile she has always adored.

"Always, my queen." He kissed her once more, then slipped out the door to search out their enemies.

******************

Present Day New York...

"Cordonia...land of both beauty and mystery." Riley wrinkled her nose. "Boring."

"No, it isn't." Hana argued. "I think that is the perfect beginning."

"Look at the comments from our last video." Riley swiveled her laptop so her friend could see. "People love our walkthroughs and all but hate my narration."

"Well..." Hana's brow furrowed. "Maybe we should try to add more to it than just narration." She pulled out some sketches. "We could add some animation of the history before showing our footage of the country."

"That might work." Riley mumbled, tapping her pen against her notebook.

The two set to work planning their next project.

After years of trying, they had finally achieved their dream of traveling for a living. The two college friends had taken every class they could on how to make their hopes into a reality. With Riley's love of history and business and Hana's talent with art and fashion, the pair had created a successful travel channel that showcased rarely visited countries and cities around the world.

Hana took care of all the shopping and dining found at their chosen destinations. Her "day trips" were hailed as must see for anyone planning a vacation. Riley took over for what could be found at night. Myths and legends blended in with what could be discovered once the sun set. A place's nightlife was thoroughly researched and reached a wide variety of their audience, causing many to plan a vacation just on her recommendations alone.

"Did your mom suggest where we should go first?" Riley asked, after skimming the same few articles about the elusive country.

"Not really." Hana hedged.

Riley glanced up. "Is she giving you a hard time again?"

"Yes." Hana slumped in her chair. "She told me to call when I was done playing tour guide."

"Geez." Riley grumbled. "Does she not realize that we have created a legit business?"

"Ladies shouldn't be involved in anything that does not pertain to their husband and family." Hana quoted. "I was supposed to have my debut to Cordonian society last year." Angry tears filled her eyes. "She still hasn't forgiven me for missing out on the Masquerade Ball."

Riley wrapped her in a comforting hug. "I'm sorry."

Hana patted her back. "Don't be. I finally feel like I can accomplish anything."

"That's because you can." Riley sat back with a grin. "Especially with planning out what we should focus on first."

Hana giggled as she went to search out some of her old books she had inherited from her grandparents. "These might help you with your part."

Riley's eyebrows lifted over the titles. "The Crown, the Flame, and The Night Queen."

"That is the earliest recorded story of vampires and monsters in Cordonia." Hana explained. "Queen Kenna Rhys and King Luthor Nevarkis both fought over uniting the kingdoms that make up Cordonia." She shook her head in disbelief. "There is a legend that Queen Kenna was a vampire that married a man who could transform into a dragon."

"For real?" Riley eagerly opened the book. "What happened?"

"Luthor died." Hana reached for another history book. "Some say it was a sword fight while others say she ripped his throat out with her fangs."

"Whoa. Either way, she sounds pretty epic."

"His son got revenge though." Hana flipped to another chapter. "He sneaked in one day and supposedly dragged Kenna into the sunlight. Before her husband could save her, she burned to ash."

"Brutal." Riley shivered. "What did the dragon do?"

Hana shrugged. "Supposedly he left with their child to protect him." She pointed at some drawings rendered from the Dark Ages. "Kenna's son came back to extract revenge. He eliminated one entire side of the Nevarkis family tree."

"And let me guess," Riley picked up another book. "The remaining Nevarkis's struck back?"

"It's supposedly been a feud for centuries between the Nevarkis and the Rhys' families." Hana pulled up an image on her phone. "Though one is currently ruling Cordonia."

Riley studied the image. "Queen Olivia Nevarkis. Looks like the Rhys lost the throne."

Hana shrugged. "There's a myth that they still rule Cordonia from the shadows."

"Mythical royal vampires, huh?" Riley laughed at the thought. "I hope I bump into one just so I can figure out who's really in charge."

Hana giggled at the thought. "You would be the only person to ask a logical, government question instead of the usual, whoa you're a real live vampire!"

Riley threw a pillow at her. "Hey! I can be calm and collected when faced with the unknown."

Hana threw the pillow back. "Tell that to the supposed haunted house we visited on our last trip." She broke out into laughter with Riley's defense that squeaking doors were the true villains. "On that note, I'm going to start packing. Our flight leaves first thing in the morning."

"I'll be ready." Riley promised.

Once alone, she flipped to a more current timeline of the supposed Dark Kingdom.

King Constantine Rhys the Third rules over what is his rightful kingdom. Rumors swirl that he is simply biding his time until he can eliminate the usurper, Queen Olivia Nevarkis, First of Her Name. The people know that one day, a Rhys will sit upon the throne, uniting the Dark Kingdom and Cordonia once and for all.

****************

Cordonia's Royal Palace, 2 a.m.

"Heeeerah! Olivia threw her daggers as hard as she could while doing a roundhouse kick.

The blades struck into the chest, head, and groin of the makeshift dummy.

She brushed the few strands of red hair that had escaped her hair clip out of her eyes. With a great deal of scrutiny, she studied her dagger placement.

"The one to the head needs to go deeper."

She spun around with a start at that all too familiar voice.

"You're late." She folded her arms and tapped her foot.

Liam rubbed the back of his neck. "Sorry. Had to stop off for a quick bite."

Olivia rolled her eyes. "That's not funny."

"Not that kind of bite." He teased, holding up a styrofoam box.

"Oh." She blinked in surprise. "I forget that you enjoy normal food too."

He chuckled at that. "There are certain foods that I don't think any man could ever give up."

Olivia decided to ignore that as she wiped the sweat from her face and neck. "Now that you're here, let's get the formalities over with."

"Very well." Liam gestured toward her. "You may go first."

She sat down on a bench lining one side of the palace gym. She motioned for him to join her.

"Not you!" She hissed when she saw his all too familiar guard.

Drake Walker bristled at her tone. His brown eyes clashed with her green.

"Give us a moment, please." Liam asked him.

"Don't let your guard down." Drake warned. "Remember, she's a Nevarkis."

Olivia tensed. "Perhaps you should remember what happened the last time you said something like that."

She quirked one eyebrow at the man and felt a sense of glee when he winced in memory.

His hand automatically drifted to his side where one of her daggers had once struck true.

With a quick bow to Liam, Drake stepped back out into the hallway.

Liam shook his head. "Are you two ever going to get along?"

"Stop talking stupid." Olivia snapped. "Now then, as you know...I must have my revenge."

"I know." Liam folded his arms and leaned casually against a column.

She eyed him for any sign of hatred.

It drove her crazy how unvampiric he could be.

He seemed almost human.

He seemed...kind.

A vampire is nature's evil incarnate. You can never trust a Rhys.

Those words had been drummed into her skull by her parents and then her aunt after their deaths by Constantine's hand.

And yet...Liam had done the unthinkable.

He had actually been a friend to Olivia.

*************

The night after her parents' funeral, five year old Olivia had been sitting alone before the fireplace, weeping over them.

Her aunt had left her to deal with her own grief and to plan the next attack upon Constantine.

As she searched for a tissue, Olivia jumped back with a shriek at the little blonde haired boy that held the Kleenex box.

His eyes were filled with unshed tears as he handed her a tissue.

"Who are you?" She asked, remembering that a Nevarkis must always be brave.

"I'm Liam." He explained. "I wanted to...I wanted to tell you I'm sorry about your parents." He sniffed and took a tissue for himself. "My mom died too."

Olivia blinked and took a cautious step forward. "Are you...are you a vampire?!"

He nodded.

She whipped out the dagger her mother had given her and rushed at him.

Liam moved faster than she could comprehend, gently keeping her hand above her head.

"Let go of me, monster!" She ordered. "You're why I'm all alone!"

"I didn't do anything." He told her, anguish taking over his handsome features. "I don't want to hurt you or anyone."

"Liar!" She snapped. "That's what you do. Lie and kill." Her tears ran faster down her cheeks. "And now you'll kill me."

"I won't." He promised. "I swear I won't hurt you." He ignored his own tears trickling down his cheeks. His blue eyes burned with resolve. "My mother made me promise never to hurt a human."

Olivia shook her head. It had to be lies. Isn't that what vampires and monsters do? Lull you into letting your guard down so that they could have an easy kill.

"Your father will pay for what he did." She said, hoping to see his true, evil nature. "He must die!"

"I know." Liam slowly released her and took a step back.

Olivia watched in surprise as he sat down before her fireplace and pulled out a silk blue ribbon from his pocket.

He motioned for her to join him.

She slowly lowered herself down, dagger poised in her little fist in case he made a move.

"May I have your hand, please?" He asked.

He patiently waited on her to decide whether or not to give it to him.

She tentatively placed her hand in his.

His lips turned up into a relieved smile as he wrapped the ribbon over their joined hands.

"What are you doing?" She asked, lowering her dagger.

"Making a bond." He explained. "I, Liam Rhys, Crown Prince of the Dark Kingdom, promise to never seek out revenge and to end all vendettas against the Nevarkis family." His blue eyes held her green. "Just as my mother, Queen Eleanor wanted me to."

Oliva's lips parted. "You mean it?"

"I do." Liam's voice held a great deal of sincerity. "I would rather walk into the sun than not do as she asked."

"Oh." Olivia sniffed. She could understand that kind of devotion.

"Do you," Liam's cheeks colored. "Do you think we can be allies?"

"A Nevarkis will never be friends with a monster." She repeated the rhetoric that she knew by heart.

"But," Liam's shoulders slumped. "We're not all bad."

"All monsters are bad at heart."

"I'm not." He pouted. "I don't want to be."

"You're so weird." She muttered.

"Am not." Liam grumbled. "I hope I'm not."

Olivia looked down at their hands still bound together. "I guess since you promised something, I should too."

He didn't bother to hide his surprise.

She stuck her tongue out at him. "I, Olivia Nevarkis, The Crown Princess of Cordonia, swear that after I kill Constantine Rhys, I will lay down my weapons." Her brow furrowed. "I'll pick them back up though if you or any other monster tries anything."

Liam's smile grew. Before she could react, he tugged her into a quick hug.

"Now we can be friends!" He cheered.

"Friends?" She shook her head. "I'm a Nevarkis and you're a Rhys. We can't be friends."

"We will be." He vowed, jumping to his feet. "I have to go before Father finds out I've sneaked out. I'll try to come back in a few nights."

Olivia didn't have a chance to tell him whether or not she wanted him to. In the blink of an eye, he had jumped from her balcony and was already out the palace gates.

*****************

That had been the beginning of Liam's visits. Through the years, he had remained true to his promise. He did all he could to befriend her and never tried to sway her from seeking vengeance.

Olivia had once asked him how he could take her threat against his father so easily.

He had merely shrugged, explaining that he knew it was the way of things. His father had killed both her parents, while he had only lost one. He hoped she didn't since he did not wish to see his father or her dead.

Olivia had then told him again how weird he was, bringing another smile to his lips.

And now here he was again, calmly taking her promised vengeance well.

"So what business brings you here tonight?" She asked.

"Father thinks it is time I chose a wife." Liam responded. "I thought you should know that I will be spending more time in your kingdom to find one."

Olivia shot up off the bench. "What? But you promised to never hurt a human!"

"And I will keep true to that." He explained.

"But..." Olivia's brow furrowed. "You'll turn her into a vampire."

"Only if she wishes it." Liam explained. "I won't force her to make such a decision."

"I see." She began to pace while thinking. "You'll have vampire children."

"Only if she's a vampire." He reminded her. "Remember my brother."

Olivia paused. She had forgotten about Leo Rhys, The Great Disappointment of the Dark Kingdom. His mother had begged Constantine not to turn her. It had never been asked before, and in his mercy he had agreed. That was when they all discovered that a monster and a human could only produce a human child. In order for the heir to the Dark Kingdom to be a vampire, both parents had to be the same being.

"And you'll be fine having human children?" She asked. "If you're chosen bride refuses the Vampire's Kiss?"

"Of course." He responded.

"Lord, you're so weird." She muttered.

His smirk flashed. "Let's hope the woman I choose doesn't think so."

"Are there no women in your kingdom you can choose from?" She asked.

"I've looked." He shook his head. "It's hard to explain, but if one doesn't have an arranged marriage, then we must search until we see the one meant for us."

"And you somehow got weirder." She brushed her hands down her pants and held one out to him. "Good luck, I suppose."

"Thank you." He grasped her hand and lifted it to his lips. "I'll keep you updated on my progress."

"There's no need."

"Of course there is." He winked at her on his way out. "We're friends."

Her lips parted to once again remind him that they couldn't be. For some reason, she decided not to say it.

Liam had somehow wormed his way into her life and had become the closest friend she had ever had.

********************

The Lee Residence, Shanghai, China...

Lorelei paled as she reread the report. 

It can’t be. Not Now!

Of all the times for this to happen, it would be when her stubborn, foolish daughter decided to visit. 

Given the nature of her relationship with Hana, she knew that there was no way she could convince her to postpone her trip to Cordonia. 

There was only one course of action left to take. She would have to call the one man who was capable of protecting her daughter. She would promise hiim anything as long as he kept Hana out of Liam’s clutches. As much as wanted her to give up this ridiculous hobby she called a job and settled down with the right sort of man, she would never put her in the path of becoming the next vampire queen. 

Setting down the packet of information from one of her informants, she checked to make certain no servant was out in the hallway and then searched for the needed phone number.

Taking a deep breath, she placed the call.

Her trepidation grew when he didn’t immediately answer.

"Hello."

"Lord Beaumont?" 

"Yes." She could hear a door closing in the background. "Who is this?"

"Lorelei Lee." She replied.

"Lady Lorelei." He responded with a recognition. "How can I help you?"

"My daughter and her friend have got it in their heads to come visit Cordonia." She began. "I'm not certain how long they intend to stay, but I was hoping that I could retain your services."

"For what exactly?" Lord Beaumont asked.

"Protection." She replied. "I have heard through certain channels that the dark prince is beginning to search for a bride." She took a deep breath. "We do NOT want our daughter anywhere near that vile creature."

"I understand." He replied. "I usually don't do personal security. With my brother, Bertrand, retired," he hesitated, "it is left up to me to help protect Cordonia's borders."

"My husband and I would be in your debt if you could watch over her in the evenings." Lorelei cajoled. "I've heard that your brother is planning on extending his vineyards. We would be more than happy to invest in the production and distribution of his sparkling wine. Perhaps even let it be the only sparkling wine we serve in our hotels."

"Send me her information and picture. Call her and tell her that since our family is an old friend of yours, that I've volunteered to show them around. Find out where she's staying and when she plans on arriving."

"Oh thank you, my lord. We--"

"I'll also need a contract prepared and signed for all that you offered." He added.

"Yes of course. I'll get everything to you at once." She promised.

Once he ended the call, she sank back down onto her chair. 

She bowed her head and began to pray that her daughter came to no harm these next few weeks. To lose Hana to one of the many creatures that roamed the night in Cordonia was too horrible to even contemplate.

If anyone could keep her daughter safe then it was none other than Lord Maxwell Beaumont.

[chipper-smol]

Feral Vessel Chain 3

Starting Prompt:

Feral meets the Radiance in a dream and nearly becomes infected before Hollow saves them

I’m putting everything under a readmoree cause these posts are gonna be LOOONG

( @a-hollow-vessel )

Time travel was something finicky. Something that they didn’t quite understand. The vessel would pace the hallway, mind buzzing with a million thoughts. Each and everyone reminding them of how different they were from their sibling, the Pure Vessel.

...Seeing them up close, seeing how their eyes did not yet dance with orange.. It was surreal, something to get used to. Though Ghost knew that their time here was… Limited, at least with their sibling. Their sibling was still to be shipped off to their fate. Nothing they did seemed to stop it. They were a piece of this complicated puzzle now, more than before, and yet, they were oh so helpless.

Their sibling trained, sometimes sparred with them. Did not show a wink of feeling, despite Ghost knowing that it was there. They knew that it had to be. This only stirred the animosity that they towards their father.

They made it their goal to make their father’s life a living hell. And, whilst they mostly succeeded, it was growing difficult to plan their shenanigans. Something felt off. They.. Could feel the presence of Her. They started seeing orange in their usually mundane dreams. Heard that chime in their head.. Which, well, set them on edge certainly. Sleeping now would be dangerous. Sleepless nights became commonplace, each rest they saw more and more of the same dream, felt a sick sluggishness in their chest. Perhaps they had bitten off a bit more than they could chew, stepping in between two higher beings in their strife. The Radiance must have caught onto whatever had caused this.. Time leap, they supposed. They would huff in frustration.. This was no issue that a nail could solve. …

Hollow witnessed their sibling spacing out periodically. They did not acknowledge it, not purposefully. They were the Pure Vessel, after all. To do such a thing would be… Inane. …

This was the longest they had witnessed their sibling stare out into space. Four minutes, 33 seconds. Counting was an impulse, one that they reluctantly allowed themself to keep. It felt like the only thing that kept them from thinking about other things, which strictly was not permitted if they wanted to be of any use. Concern, that was what they were feeling. It brewed inside them like an awful sickness that they wanted to be rid of. They would clutch at their chest beneath their robes, not wanting the sign of imperfection to be seen. But something with Ghost was wrong. And they did not know how to fix it, rather, they could not. Their father could… But their sibling seemed to have a very big dislike towards him, for reasons that Hollow could not fathom.

Their sibling showed this through the pranks they seemed to pull, even when they seemed to droop from tiredness. Why were they so tired all of the time? It was a question that plagued their supposedly questionless mind.

…

Ghost tried to ignore these things. They didn’t have a dream nail, which they viewed as their only way to fix anything relating to the Radiance. It was much more fun to make the Pale King’s life hell. Whilst their sparse dreams grew more and more like what they had heard the infected dreamed of, before it all went downhill.

===

A few weeks into this dreary routine, they would awaken from a slumber with a start. Ghost blinked, letting out a silent breath. Their dream, orange and yellow and full of sickeningly warm light. Yet, yet, yet, their vision was still tinged with it. Their head ached dully, their hands shook. Sluggishly, they would bring themself to their feet and slide out of bed. Ghost landed on the cold floor and would lean one arm against their bed.

Their vision burned, they would blink and stare at the orange. A cold panic coursed through them as they realized that, indeed, the orange tinge was not going away. Ghost would reach a hand up, ghosting it over their vision with a trembling sigh.

This was outside of their control, they felt so helpless. It was.. Hard to focus, but they knew that they couldn’t stick around any longer, risk getting anyone sick, despite how much they despised them. The retainers and citizens did not deserve to be infected and die because of their stubbornness, even they knew that Ghost would lift up their nail, and stare down at the orange tinted metal of it. They felt the weight of it in their hands, before casting it aside. No, no, they did not want to.. Accidentally harm anybody. They took nothing with them as they fled from their room, down the long halls and the courtyard. Out. Hoping that no one had seen them. They would… They did not know, there was no plan in their mind other than not spreading the infection from inside the very palace.

…

Where did they go? Another question that they could not stop thinking about. Why did their sibling suddenly leave in the night?... What was that orange glow in their eyes? Hollow would stare down the hallway they guarded, waiting for their father to come back.. They needed orders to go, didn’t they?.. They could not go without prompting, they were the Pure Vessel. Even if the concern they held for their sibling weighed even more heavily on them than the cloak on their back, even holding all that it signified.

They mustn’t. But… They were to protect their family and the king. And all of the citizens of Hallownest. That order, it extended to their sibling, did it not?.. Who were they to question…

They would leave, clutching their nail tightly to provide themself the slightest bit of comfort. Their mind was surprisingly.. Not empty, as they tried and strived for. Only, worries for their sibling. This was so out of character, clearly they needed their help. Hollow would provide, it was their duty to do so. Hollow took a breath, not visibly moving outwardly. Then, they would begin their march out of the hallway. They did not know where Ghost had gone, but they had to look for them. To find them.. This entire situation was giving them a bad feeling. How they.. Wished. They wished they had a voice to call to their sibling…

Farther and farther they walked, guided namely by the faint presence of their sibling. Some sort of connection between the two of them.. Something that they thought disproved their emptiness.

…

…

…

Ghost walked, until they felt too dizzy to continue. Their limbs felt sluggish. They were so.. tired, and perhaps a bit overheated. A fever swirling in their head, yet they felt oddly… Clear headed. In such a way that made it hard to think. It was an oxymoron of sensations that they couldn’t describe. They would collapse into a sit, right next to the hot spring which they had subconsciously guided themself to. They listened to the sound of water gently swaying, trickling around rocks. Vision focused and unfocused on the steam.

Thud. They fell onto their back lightly, hitting the back of their head against the stone floor, but they really weren’t bothered by this.

They supposed this was the fate of someone who bent the rules of the very world. Not change that they sought, but the fury of gods. Ghost would adjust themself a bit, into something that made a mockery of comfort. Their hazy gaze would focus on the ceiling above, which lightly dripped water from some unseen source above.

Bright…

Maybe a rest would do them some good, they thought. There was nothing better to do, and they were so, so, so so tired from their self imposed sleep deprivation.

They would close their eyes, body relaxing further with the gentle sounds of water, right next to their head. Ghost would close their eyes, faintly wondering if their parents would miss them. An odd thing to think, they thought, as sleep took them and they drifted into darkness.

Or, not so darkness.

...

A platform floated amidst yellow fluffy clouds of dream, Ghost stood atop it in their slightly taller, ironically past form, holding nothing. No nail, as they had arrived to the spring. They looked up, wincing slightly at the bright light, almost blindingly bright. But, soon it became inviting. They would tilt their head slightly, looking up to the sky up ahead.

The air was still and warm, comfortable. The space became filled with light chiming sounds. Bells, enchanting sounding, dreamy.

Ghost was silent as they walked the gray and cream colored stone path. They had seen scenes such as this before.. Although the memories associated were not the most pleasant, they felt an odd sense of security. They knew that they should not feel this way, but it was a hard thing to combat. They felt as if someone had stuffed cotton into their mask.

The light only seemed to grow more and more blinding, the warmth more scalding but they didn’t care. They had been here before. But they couldn’t find it within themself to care, step, step, step. And in front of them, the platform opened into a circle shape, and then ended. Something akin to where they had once fought her. A faint voice in their head voiced wary concern, warnings. They wanted to reach for their nail, but they knew it was not there. It was not there. It was not there.

They did not need to fight, anyways. They were safe, they were safe, they were.

A pair of hands were on their shoulders and shaking them. Ghost startled awake, slightly panicked for a moment as they tried to figure out what was going on. Hollow gave a worried, half chirp that sounded strangled. A sound that should never have been heard, and yet they.. Had..?

Ghost squinted.

Their sibling?

They would blink, vision still hazy but they were awake now. Their head would tilt slightly, as their bigger sibling would grab the side of their face and tilt their head up with a confused, concerned look.

Hollow watched as the orange swirling in their pitch black eyes finally shrank away, and their sibling looked at them, actually looked at them, for the first time in what felt like eons.

No words were exchanged, there never were. Hollow was not the Pure Vessel. Ghost had known, but they could finally.. Truly know, as their sibling wrapped their arms around them in a tight hug. And they could feel the cold drip of tears on their shoulder.

...They probably weren’t out of the woods, not yet, maybe not ever, but they had their sibling. Not a husk who only followed commands, who never batted an eye to anything despite their best efforts.

Maybe things would be alright now, though.

( @deltaetalan )

( @spiralraven https://www.tumblr.com/blog/view/spiralraven )

They found a secret in the mind of a locked up bug. She was lying in the deep stomach of the kingdom, discarded with other hidden treasures. Her mind housed the warriors and higher beings of Hallownest, and Ghost has a terrible, fantastic, awful idea. 

If they are all in there… Could they defeat her? Without facing their sibling?

They have to try.

They face their friends, and the first time it happens, they are frozen. Their void is slowly beading up into the air, dissipating as it rises. Their mentor faces them, and for a split second they think the mind-palace made a mistake, it must have.

Oro releases a great big bellow, one that rattles their shell badly enough that his attack catches them off-guard. 

They don’t feel their shell split, but they wake up in front of the golden door, unharmed and whole. They get up from the floor and dust themselves off. 

They have no lasting injuries, and their soft void doesn’t even ache with the hits they suffered. They glance at the door again.

There must be something very important at the top, if it’s this well guarded.

They take the challenges, opening the golden doors over and over again. It makes the void inside them tremble something terrible as if by taking each challenge they are changing themselves too. 

They try and try and try again.

They slowly, painfully, climb up. 

That’s the only thing, really, that they can do. That’s how they started, and that’s how they will end it. Their determination fuels them more than anything, their thoughts a swirl of emotion. 

They face Oro and Mato. It kills them a little inside when they see their mentors on their knees, knowing that they were the one bringing them down.

They bow as a goodbye, and they leave, the dream arena dissolving into golden clouds.

They shake a little, their void trembling. It is worrisome, but they refuse to stop. They challenge the next door and fight and win. 

Facing Hornet once again, without the recognition in her eyes is more painful than they imagined. The fight is over quickly, but they ache inside, not unlike when they take a savage hit from the infected husks. 

They stop to rub at their chest, a tight, uncomfortable feeling coiling in them. They don’t want to hurt their friends and fighting this long is taking its toll. But the nervousness drives them forward further and further. 

They can’t afford to waste time. This is for their sibling.

They march on determined. They must win, they must fight. No challenge this bug can imagine would ever stop them. None and nothing will.

The final arena is dark. Their soul trembles and their pure nail shakes in their grip. They don’t want to believe what they are seeing. They don’t want to recognise the kneeling figure, and they shake their head in denial.

It can’t be. Their sibling is locked, chained, hidden away.

Their mind goes blank, and only their sharp reflexes save them from the first hit. Their sibling, tall, lanky and grown swipes at them again. Ghost evades the hit and prepares to retaliate. 

They fight. Their heart is bleeding with every hit they land on their sibling, and they want, more than anything, to stop. To hug them, to comfort them, but this is only a parody of their sibling. An illusion, a facsimile of a memory that was just as wreathed in darkness as they are right now.

With the last slash, their not-sibling falls to their knees. They look straight at Ghost, and Ghost sees a spark of recognition in their eyes. Ghost approaches, gently laying their hand against the white mask of their sibling. It almost dwarfs their hand, and for a split second their sibling lays their head against them. 

The ceiling splits open and Ghost is dragged upwards.

No. No!

They reach back to their sibling, desperate to cling to the sense of comfort for just a second more, but the fake sibling-shape dissolves into motes of void and Ghost is yanked up.

They turn and face the Radiance. 

She is an angry god, a screaming ball of fury and flame. The light of her hurts, burning their arms as they challenge her. They stand in front of the onslaught, their face turned up in defiance. 

One of them will not leave the arena. And they can’t afford to lose. 

As they fight, the void rises. Ghost doesn’t even realise as they grab at its power, pulling it up from the abyss between the dreams and waking thought. Its black liquidy mass rises and the Radiance flees up and up higher, but Ghost chases her. They evade her attacks as the onslaught grows more and more desperate. They arrive at the top of the pantheon, as they have defeated every single warrior left in Hallownest.

They ascend.

As The Void rises to devour the Radiance, Ghost desperately searches. Their sibling must be in there somewhere. They saw them turn back into the void the rose from, and all of The Void is now here.

They descend into the swirling mass of regrets, their nail slipping from their grasp, as the Void eats it. They twist around in the angry waves of the rising Void, looking for a flash of that blindingly white mask. Just a sign of life, just a second to see that they are free. The darkness obscures their vision, as it pours through them. Pressure builds behind their mask, and it spills out from them, but their tears are dark and it swirls easily with the rest of the terrible ocean.

A light catches their attention.

It is not the same burning glare of the Radiance, it is much more subdued. It is pale and white, almost silver, sharp and unfamiliar. 

Ghost turns and swims towards its source. The current drags them away, angry and lashing out as they push against it. It doesn’t want to let go, and the moment suspends itself, frozen in time before Ghost crashes through it.

They hang from a platform, its cold metal edge painfully familiar. They hold it, straining against releasing the edge. They pull themself up, their new soft claws scrabbling against the smooth metal surface.

Someone is already there.

They see the bright light of the king and a lonely little silhouette against it. They don’t think, they don’t consider anything other than that their sibling is there. They grab their shoulders and crush them into a hug, their nails clutching at the sibling’s cape. They don’t want to let go.

They know what will happen if they let go.

[ Bonus content:

The King marches them both out of the Abyss, his cold light cutting a sharp line straight ahead. Ghost clutches at their sibling’s hand, refusing to let them go. The king watches them both, Ghost knows this, but they can’t make themself release the limp hand from their desperate grip.

The king leaves it without comment.

The Ancient Basin is just as bleak and lifeless as it was before, although its impressive architecture is a lot less… crumbly.

As they make the journey across to the White Palace, Ghost’s urge to kick the king grows. 

They look at his stupid crown, and his stupid palace, as they clutch the claws of their sibling. With a growing sense of satisfaction they slowly realise that they could.]

( @couchcat or @couch-cat )

( @solara-nightshade )

Favoritism

The feral vessel is in the garden practicing different signs when they spot Hollow.  They look up from where they had been documenting which of their signs meant what and feel nothing strange upon sensing their presence.  It isn’t until Hollow comes into view that Ghost feels anything amiss.

 Hollow steps around the flowering shrubbery along the cobbled path to the courtyard, carrying a sword in each hand.  One is their usual large pale sword, intricate designs carved with precision, made to perfectly fit them and their size.  The other is not nearly as elegant- only half the length, standard, and perhaps slightly better material; a sword meant for an elite warrior rather than soldier.  

Before Ghost can even ponder where Hollow obtained the sword, and had started to sign the question, Hollow is thrusting out the extra sword towards them.  Message clear.

Fight me.

Fighting Hollow had not been on their list of things to do today, but they figure they can accept the Hollow Knight’s offer, emboldened by their brave show of individuality.  The courtyard offers enough space for a good duel, and as long as they don’t destroy the surrounding shrubbery, no one should object to their fight.  

With the tingle of excitement, they get up and take the sword.

No sooner had Ghost tested their grip had the Hollow Knight crouched with sword at the ready.  Ghost barely has time to adjust their stance before Hollow pushes forward and swings their sword.  Ghost is only able to parry by guiding Hollow’s blade upward with their own.

Ghost quickly goes onto the offensive and goes to give a good slap to Hollows side, hoping to move the duel to their favor by giving Hollow a weakness.  Hollow is forced to evade and back away before going in for another strike, this time with more force.  Knowing their smaller stature will not win against Hollows strength, they quickly maneuver to miss Hollow’s blade.

As soon as the blade passed Ghost goes in for the win, using the time it would take Hollow’s giant blade to make its way back to go in for the kill.  Blade ending at the skin of Hollow’s throat.

Ghost cannot help but smirk in triumph.

Ghost feels Hollow’s body go rigid, frozen in their stance.  However, something flashes in the corner of Ghost’s eyes and that is all the warning the feral vessel gets before ducking away to narrowly avoid the soul daggers aimed at their back.  The soul daggers dig into the ground and disappear, leaving cracked notches in the stone pathway.

Ghost feels anger briefly course through them, seeing as how they thought this was a sword duel.  However, they can adapt.  There was no need to stand on the traditions the pale king called acceptable for a sword duel.

With the knowledge that soul attacks were on the table now, Ghost sends a punch of soul towards Hollow, which Hollow side steps to avoid, then sends a wave of soul daggers back towards Ghost.  Ghost jumps into the air and swipes at one of the daggers, pogoing off towards the Hollow knight, and fling their sword in an arc above Hollow.  

Hollow quickly teleports away and lets loose a whip of void which Ghost tries to avoid, but gets nicked in the side.  It stings where the void touched but they ignore it and get back into a defensive stance.

However, when Hollow doesn’t make a move, Ghost takes the chance, switching to offensive, to send another burst of soul towards Hollow which hits Hollow straight in the chest.  The power behind the soul attack causing Hollow to slide a few feet backwards.

Hollow looks stunned for a moment, before gripping their sword tightly and teleporting above Ghost and thrusts downwards.  Ghost leaps out the way and has to avoid Hollows follow up thrust by dashing through Hollow as soon as their foot hit the ground, turning into intangible void for brief seconds.  Turning back around, they plan to hit Hollow again when they see a tell-tale sign of glowing from the Hollow Knight.  Knowing what this means, they immediately dash backwards to avoid the explosion of soul around Hollow.  Careful to avoid the lingering explosions, they dash back forwards to slap Hollow with their sword during the cooldown they know this spell has.

They don’t expect Hollow to physically grab their blade, causing liquid void to glisten down its length.

It is at this point Ghost starts to worry about Hollow’s intentions behind this fight.

Hollow forces the feral vessel’s blade away and follows up with a broad swing.  Ghost feels the wind from the motion just millimeters from their face, followed quickly by swing after swing.  Each a strong and powerful stroke, but slowly becoming more and more predictable.

Careless.

Ghost notices they are being backed up onto one of the moss covered walls surrounding the garden and looks for an opening in the swings.  When they spot it, they quickly swing in tandem with the offending blade and throw it off course and away.  Hollow’s large sword clinking along the ground as it comes to a halt several feet away.  Instead of aiming for what should have been the end the first time they did it, they swing themselves onto their siblings back and forced Hollows head upwards, hoping to unbalance him.

The sudden change in scenery caused Hollow to stagger, and with the sudden weight behind, gave enough force to make Hollow fall backwards.  Ghost quickly swings back around and thrusts Hollow’s chest to the ground.  They follow by digging their blade into the ground just inches away from Hollows neck.  

They stared at Hollow.  Hard.

When Hollow got over whatever dazed state they should have been in from the sudden vertigo, and noticed Ghosts stare, they looked away.  When Hollow ceases to desist, does Ghost finally relax.  Knowing Hollow has conceded the fight.

“Well done, my child.”  A whispery voice descends upon them from behind Hollow.  Ghost looks up and sees the White Lady descending into the courtyard from one of the paths that lead to higher ground.

Ghost, with incriminating evidence of a sword still in hand, quickly drops it and backs off of the Hollow Knight.  Quickly signing hello to get the Lady’s eyes off of the sight in front of them.

“Quite the accomplishment, defeating the Hollow Knight.  An impressive battle.”   She says as she floats into the garden, Dryya following stiffly behind her.  They could feel Dryya’s eyes on them like a hawk.

Hollow, on the other hand, was quick to stand and give the White Lady a bow in greeting.

The White Lady simply moves past Hollow and comes to a stop in front of the feral vessel, “I am sure my Wyrm will be quite impressed by the results.  Such a talented child for your age.”  She praises.

 Ghost cannot help but feel embarrassed by such kind words, but signs back, ‘Watch, all?’

“I know of the events, yes.  I could feel it through the plants.”  She gestures towards the damage they had inflicted to the courtyard and surrounding plant life.

Ghost, who really cares less about the plants, still signs a ‘sorry’ for her.

“Surely, with all the other damage you have inflicted upon my Wyrm’s palace, you cannot claim differently here.  I will pardon it this once, but please do try to keep your tendencies away from my garden from now on?  I have duties to attend, but I just wanted to stop by to see what was going on.  I will see you later, yes?”

At their signed affirmative she gently floats away from her garden down a different path from which she came, garden repairing itself as she goes by.  Ghost takes a look towards Hollow, only to find their head bowed and fists tightly clenched.  As soon as the Lady is completely gone, Hollow collapsing onto the ground with the thump startles Ghost from their thoughts.

Black tears start to cascade their way down Hollow’s face.  

Ghost approaches slowly, not really knowing how to take this sudden change in Hollow’s demeanor.  However, once they get close Hollow only pushes Ghost away before turning away from them.  Desperately scrubbing the tears away from their face.  Leaving black stains to mark Hollow’s face.

Ghost wasn’t about to let Hollow push them away and quickly marched over and grabbed their face, forcing them to look at Ghost.

“Wrong, what?”  They sign, taking one hand away to finger sign.

Hollow stares at them for a moment, before carefully signing back, “White Lady.  Hollow.  Hello. No.”  Their sign is basic, most likely learned from watching Ghost, but Ghost understands it nonetheless.

They hadn’t really been focusing, but they do remember how the White Lady had walked right past Hollow to give Ghost all the attention.  Ghost hadn’t thought anything was strange at the time, they having very little knowledge of social customs, but did find it weird that the White Lady had completely ignored Hollow. They tried to think if they had ever noticed the White Lady give the Hollow Knight any attention, and couldn’t think of any examples, and how how she had talked about Hollow in the future-

She had called them Vessel.  It.  Tarnished by an idea instilled.  Considered a blemish.

Perhaps her feelings affected even before their duty was to be fulfilled.  Knowing how a simple touch from the King affected them, having to watch as their mother ignored and went on to praise and give love to their sibling…

What a horrible sibling they have been.  What little attention they could have gotten, stolen away by their presence.

Wanting to fix this mistake of theirs, they quickly pull Hollow into a hug in apology, before taking their hand and forcing Hollow to their feet.  It only takes mere seconds for Hollow to find balance due to their training, and Ghost runs off with Hollow in tow.

They can feel Hollow tugging, trying to get their hand free of Ghost, but Ghost will not fail here.  They run down the hall that the White Lady had gone towards, and upon finding her and startling Dryya, they use their momentum to thrust Hollow in front of her.  Hollow almost collapsing into her by the sudden loss of momentum.  Hands, attempting to find balance, grab onto the White Lady’s robes.

The Hollow Knight lets go just as quickly as if burned.  Returning them to their sides.

The White Lady, predictably, looks to the feral vessel for answers, “What is it, my child?”

Ghost pointedly signs, ‘Hug.  Hollow.”  They circle their arms, finger points touching followed by a single hand with three bent fingers.

The White Lady looks hesitant before looking down at their sibling.  Her eyes widen at the sight of black streaks down their face, evidence of tears.

At her hesitation to move, Dryya speaks from her side, “Surely, you do not have to follow the whims of that feral creature, my lady.  It is no more than the same thing as this one in front of you.”

Dryya’s words caused the White Lady to freeze.  She seemed to think over Dryya’s words.  

Finally, after what felt like an eternity of silence, with Hollow looking resigned just in front of her, she whispers “Dryya, vow that what I am about to do will stay here?”

Dryya looks taken aback, but immediately takes to a knee and swears, “Anything for you, my lady.”

With that, the White Lady bends down and carefully wraps her arms around the vessel in front of her.  Catching said vessel off guard.  

She feels their shaking and when she feels a cold wetness at her front she replies, “I am sorry.  There is so little I can do for you.”

Ghost can only hope this is a step in the right direction.

( @plyushh​ )

( @confusedhost​ )

( @artisticdragons​ )

( @loops-for-soup https://www.tumblr.com/blog/view/loops-for-soup )

( @babystag )

[dazaily]

ushijima’s s/o being harassed

i wanted to write a hc abt one of the miyagi bois, so here it is.

description: in a scenario where you are waiting for ushijima alone, someone comes up to you and starts blatantly flirting with you. how will your boyfriend react?

warnings: implied female reader

·　　 ˚ 　　 * ˚ 　　· ˚

if u were expecting some kind of romantic knight in shining armour shiz, you’ve come to the wrong place.

if you know anything abt this man, you know that he is absolutely clueless.

no offence, but this man is unable to get a clue, how u gonna expect him to realise his s/o getting harassed.

social cues? never heard of her.

but, he is ushijima wakatoshi, the man, the myth, the legend himself, just his presence is enough to protect you from whatever danger.

so here’s the situation. 

you were waiting for his volleyball practice outside of the school. for plot conveniences

while waiting, at the corner of your eyes, you see a sketchy person walking around mumbling to himself about something. 

you were slightly bewildered by the person, as shiratorizawa is known to be a prestigious school, to see a person with such a disheveled appearance was quite unusual. foreshadowing

you chose to ignore the presence, but he started walking towards you. for more plot conveniences.

as the person made his way towards, you started to hear his soft mumbles.

“i finally got into this prestigious school, and not one girl, not oNE!? how is that possible, since this is a rich school, there must be a bunch of rich kids, so...”

as you heard the content of his mumbles, you began to feel scared

you took out your phone to pretending you were busy.

seeing the time, you realised ur bf’s volleyball practice has ended which immediately puts you in a giddy mood 

forgetting about the sketchy man, you put down your phone as you made eye-contact with the aforementioned man, who is now standing directly in front of you. 

the man smirks as he notices ur body tensing up from nervousness.

“what’s wrong pretty lady, why so nervous, I'm not here to hurt you,”

que awkward laughter. haha.

“now, what’s a young and pretty girl like you doing here, I'm sure someone like you has better places to be right now, like with me.”

“haha, im actually waiting for someone right now, so im not exactly free.”

“well can’t be helped, instead would you give me your phone number, i would like to be friends with a pretty girl like you” 

as a person who is unable to say no, you began to break into cold sweat.

your brain was going 100km/h, thinking of excuses, ways to avoid giving him your phone number without sounding rude. 

“should i just run... no, he would catch up in 3 steps,,,”

kjbewjbcioe your mind was overheating.

you set a reminder for yourself to get some advice from akaashi on fast decision making next time you see him, seeing how he is able to deal with bokuto’s emo mode so swiftly. 

deciding there was no possible way you could run from the situation, you decided to give in to the man’s request. there were many ways you could’ve avoided it but plot convenience.

just as you were about to give him your phone number, you heard a squeak from the man in front of you, as you felt a dark shadow looming over you. tokoyami, ure in the wrong anime.

“excus--”

the person behind you gets cut off by the sketchy man running away at mach speed, screeching bloody murder.

u turned around to see your saviour, only to be met w/ your bf’s confused face. 

you immediately engulfed him in the biggest bear hug, despite having a much smaller stature in comparison to the ushiwaka.

your bf just stands in confusion, returning the hug ofc.

“who was that man you were talking to a few moments ago?”

ur bf inquires, genuinely confused at the situation in his hands.

from his perspective, he just finished practiced, and on the way to the dorms he sees his gf talking to an older male. as he went up to the pair, he was only met with a screech of bloody murder. 

“hAHA!! my dear wakatoshi, still as nonchalant and ignorant as always.”

you heard your bf's self proclaimed best friend‘s voice from the background

“wdym tendou, i was just trying to be polite to the person y/n was talking to, yet i was returned with a screech.”

to most people, it would seem like ushijima is as calm and nonchalant as ever, but you were able to see the microscopic pout on his face.

giggles internally

you then came to the realisation that ur bf was genuinely upset by the rudeness he was met with. 

you continued to stay in your position hugging him, only squeezing tighter, in hopes of making him feel better.

“it doesn’t matter, all that matters is that you’re here now. ^^ let’s go get some food for dinner.”

“alright, let’s go, tendou you coming?”

*insert tendou’s shocked face*

“the wakatoshi is inviting a peasent like mE to join him and his giRLfRieND. this is a life goal i never thought i’d achieve, as much as i would like to join you guys as the third wheel like always, i need to call my parents about this achievement, so adieu.”

nice work tendou.

as tendou’s voice fades into the background, you and ur bf starts making your way towards the cafeteria. 

...

"y/n, what's the meaning of a third wheel?”

i mean what were you expecting from the wakatoshi.

˚      ·       ⋆ *         * ˚

a/n: originally, i was writing a hc for a karasuno character, since they're the main characters and i haven’t wrote anything abt them. but that hc turned out to be a short fic, so it’s gonna take awhile for me to complete and publish it. so take this ushiwaka hc instead.

[nemobookaholic]

FrostIron Part 2

Sorry for the delay @belligerentmistletoe there you go. Let me know what you think about the final.

As before, a short reminder, I don’t own any rights to the characters, they belong to Marvel (if it wasn’t obvious, but I have to say it anyway).

I’m willing to go on in writing this ship, if I get enough input. Cause those two idiots are that much alike, no chance they’ll have a harmonic relationship, hehehe. Yeah sorry I’m an evil writer. Anyway, I love them and putting them in unknown situations is fun. Please let me know if you have an idea for me to play with 🖤

It had been two weeks since the incident with Loki. Tony had managed to avoid him completely until today. A Team meeting was set by Steve and he wanted all of the Avengers to join.

The mechanic waited until the last minute to go upstairs. He had distracted himself with building a new suit. But his traitorous thoughts had returned to the god, as soon as he let focus slip for just a second.

What would he give for a drink!

Not even the fact that Pepper sat their relationship on pause, did bother him as much as those lips he almost had kissed without permission.

Maybe he should worry more about not being in a proper relationship right now?

“Boss, Mr. Rogers is asking for you,” Friday told him for the second time.

There weren't any excuses left, so finally he made his way upstairs to face the Team, to face Loki.

When Tony entered the room, he immediately cursed himself inwardly. The only place available to sit was to Loki's left.

What did he even think? He should have known that nobody wanted to sit next to him but Thor. And that the chances for Loki to get a place with only one person sitting next to him would be extraordinarily small.

Tony clenched his fists and took a seat next to the mischievous god, ignoring him completely. He stared at Steve instead, to signal him to start the meeting.

So Captain America started a boring lecture on the new members and to give them a chance. He talked about how the Avengers had to take over responsibility for damaged buildings and destruction they had done in the past.

Tony barely listened to him, he just watched his mouth moving, not willing to admit the feelings evolving inside of him.

With every second he got jumpier, his leg started trembling with his hands clutched to the armrest.

“Relax,” a soft voice said from his right. Tony finally had to look at Loki, who showed no sign of discomfort at all.

The tension eased off and Tony started to relax, his hands slid into his lap. Slowly he opened his fists and closed them again under the table. Repeating it like a ritual that would protect him from evil.

Suddenly he felt a hesitant touch to his arm. The mechanic froze. Loki, not stopped at this point must have felt encouraged, cause he shoved his hand into Tony’s and entangled their fingers.

“Tony, are you alright?” Steve asked him, as the shock was visible to his face.

“Sure, what should be wrong,” he replied.

“It’s just, you are unusually silent today,” several heads around the table nodded.

“Just tired. Haven’t been sleeping in days,” the mechanic said in defence. Loki squeezed his hand, as if he would exactly know what kept Tony up at night.

“Well okay, anyway, can I get your attention some longer?” Steve started to be a pain in the ass.

He lectured on, eying Tony now and then.

What if some of the others would notice they were holding hands?

Cold sweat ran down Tony’s back, the god next to him still entirely relaxed. It just wasn’t fair. He could feel Loki's attention on him like a rock on his shoulders. Even if none of the others seemed to care, heck they didn’t even look at him. Tony was the only centre of attention with his strange behaviour.

Loki giggled under his breath what gave Tony the feeling, the god was enjoying all this.

Tony cursed inwardly, referring to Loki with the worst curses he was able to imagine.

He didn’t know how, but Loki would have to pay for this.

***

The meeting turned out to be splendid fun. A bright smile was plastered onto the gods face, which irritated his team mates, made the mechanic grumble some more and his brother skeptical.

The sun couldn’t shine any brighter today.

“Brother I don’t hope you are up for something evil?” Thor took him aside.

“If I’d assure you that it won’t cause any harm, would I be allowed in some mischief?”

“Loki, your plans tend to attract chaos, so you'd better be careful. No matter what it is your restless mind set itself up to,” Thor warned him

“I promise,” Loki held his hands up in defence.

“You better keep your promise this time,” Thor said in a low voice, before he left.

Loki headed down the corridor, trying to catch up to the others. He had no intention to get lost in the building a second time. At the edge of the corner Tony’s voice forced him to slow down.

“It’s nothing,” he could hear the mechanic say.

“I thought we were beyond this point,” a second voice, that belonged to Colonel Rhodes, said. “Is it because Pepper put you on hold again? You can tell me.”

Stark sighed heavily, “Look…things are difficult at the moment. All I want right now is to numb my thoughts and build a new suit. Is that too much to ask for?”

“If that’s what you need, go for it. But remember to rest, that’s all I’m going to ask for. You're my friend Tony, I don’t enjoy seeing you like this.”

Loki overheard the conversation with some interest. He almost felt sorry for pushing Antony this hard. The god was still lingering behind the corner, when Tony turned it and bumped right into him.

“You!” the mechanic grumbled.

Loki showed an uncomfortable smile.

Tony seized him by the collar and shoved him against the wall. “What was that inside there?!” he spat out the words.

“I don’t know what you mean—haven’t you been the one who was going to ki…” Loki lost his breath, as Tony slammed him against the wall once more.

They heard steps heading towards them.

“Not out here,” Tony pressed through his teeth, indicating Loki to follow him, as he let go of his clothes.

They stepped into an elevator nearby. The god breathed out loudly. He had no good memory of his last conversation inside a lift.

There was no way doing get help again.

“I might need to apologise,” Loki muttered.

Tony just stared at the numbers passing by.

“Anthony?” he asked in a gentle voice.

The mechanic turned around to face him, with a fire to his eyes Loki almost misinterpreted. There was anger to it, but also fear, pain and desire?

He stepped closer towards Stark, lowering his head. Now it was his turn to shove him against the wall, his arms building a cage around the mechanic's body, leaving him no chance to escape. As if he could have gone anywhere at all.

Tony’s breath had accelerated, his system overheated causing a moment of madness between them.

As their lips collided, there was nothing but pure lust to it. A bestial hunger that consumed the whole air within the tiny cabin.

Tony freed himself first, only to commise Friday to stop the elevator. The mechanic's knees gave in, slowly he slid down to the ground. Loki followed, kneeling between Tony’s widely spread legs. Not willing to let go of him so soon.

“Anthony,” he said, his voice a sexy whisper.

Tony pulled him in again, grabbing for his shirt like he would drown.

They kissed, their tongues dancing to the melody of their fast paced hearts.

“Stop it! We can’t do this,” Tony pushed him away again.

“I’m confused. You seemed to enjoy it in the first place,” Loki leaned back at the other side of the lift.

“I’m not gay,” Tony said.

Loki laughed at the top of his lungs. “That’s your problem? You puny creatures and your vain ego’s.”

“It’s just…I can’t,” Tony tried again.

“And why is that? Your lives are already this short, so why don’t you allow yourself the pleasure of adultery?”

“You wouldn’t understand,” Tony hesitated.

“Oh really? Would it be easier for you if I looked different?” Loki shifted his appearance into a well known female one, he was sure Tony would accept to copulate with.

“Jesus! No.” the mechanic protested at once.

“I thought she was your girlfriend? What’s the matter with that?”

“Yes, no. It’s complicated. It doesn’t help at all, if you’d look like her.”

“Fine,” Loki raised his hands in frustration. He wasn’t used to meeting with a rebuff. “I’ll tell you what’s complicated, humanity and their awkward look onto sexuality! As gender would make any difference to it!”

Tony was staring at the floor.

“I’m grievously disappointed in you Anthony. I thought you would be different.” Loki got up again. “Lady Friday, would you be so kind as to relieve us, please?”

The elevator was put into motion again and Loki pressed the button for Ground floor.

The god left as soon as the doors opened, leaving Stark to his thoughts.

***

Somehow Tony made his way back upstairs to his room. He found himself distressed and numb. Had he really had such strong desires towards Loki? How had he been able to ignore them for so long?

Still he was horny and just the thought of the god’s lips sent his blood downstairs.

Maybe that was the point why he couldn’t make out with Pepper any longer?

He pushed that thought far away, yet it came back at him like a boomerang. Had he been blind all those years? But even if he had been, why did it have to be Loki?

What was it that attracted him to a murderous god?

Tony was desperate.

For the first time in his life he had no idea on how to fix it.

“Show me what he’s doing,” he told Friday, as he sat down, fiddling on a part of the armour to keep his hands busy.

“I’m sorry to say Sir, but we’ve lost the signal,” she replied.

Tony had placed a tiny spy software to Loki’s apartment as he’d left last time. Just to check if the god would behave. But there was a possibility he might have used it for private purposes the last few weeks.

How could he have lost the signal? His technical gadgets never failed.

Loki must have found it.

Question was, for how long had he known about it?

That guy definitely was a trickster. Tony tore his hair out over thinking of Loki. The screwdriver in his hand slipped off and damaged a sensible part of the armour.

“Fuck!” Tony shouted, throwing the piece into a corner.

“May I assist you Sir?” Friday offered her help.

“No, I just need to sleep. I have been up for too long,” the mechanic answered. He took the secret corridor to his bedroom.

But as he laid down, his thoughts were dancing around today's events. Tony knew there was no way he could have a good night's rest, if he hadn’t at least talked it off.

Deep down in the darkest part of his brain, he knew Loki had been right. How could he, the great Tony Stark, shy away from the fulfilment to his desires?

If he was honest with himself, something he usually avoided, he wanted the god more than anything else.

“Friday, cancel everything for tonight, I’ll be having a night out.”

“Yes Sir.”

***

Loki was channel hopping, when a sudden knock on his door made him jump. He half expected, half hoped for Stark to show up, after he had destroyed the little spy. He turned off the TV and answered the door.

There he was, the man that had let him down only hours before.

Loki leaned in the doorframe, his arms crossed staring at Tony in silence.

“I guess I deserve this,” Tony was scratching his head, “may I be allowed to come in?”

Loki stepped aside, asking him in with a gesture of his hand. Stark entered the flat still unsure on how to begin.

“Look I’ve been an idiot, okay?” he started, “I-i have no idea on how to do this. Talking about my feelings isn’t something I’d do on a regular basis. And to be fair, that, whatever it is between us, isn’t something that happens to people every day.” The mechanic’s cheeks turned red, as he looked everywhere but at the god.

A smile flashed over Loki’s face, “so you’ve changed your mind?” he simply asked.

“I wouldn’t see it like that. Let’s say I’m here to find out, if it might possibly work between the two of us.” Tony wanted it to sound casual, but his voice gave his nervousness away.

“That’s enough for now,” Loki said, reaching out for Tony. The god grabbed the other man by the hand, guiding him into the bedroom.

The place was dominated by a tester bed that had dark green velvet curtains to its sides. The only comfort Loki allowed himself. The double sheets were of emerald green silk, accurately spread across the bed.

The god led Tony to one side of it, implying him to sit down. Loki recognised how Tony was biting his lips, so he let himself sink into the pillows, hugging the mechanic from behind. He breathed in the smell he had missed.

In a sudden second of recognition, he figured out what fruity scent it was he wondered about last time. It was blueberries.

Loki kissed Tony’s neck, tempting him with his hot tongue. Meanwhile Tony tried to unbutton his shirt with shaky fingers.

“Let me help you,” Loki offered, pressing his chest against Tony’s back, peeking over his shoulder. He opened the shirt and freed the mechanic from the fabric.

The god let his fingers wander up and down Anthony’s chest, finally resting at his nipples, waiting for permission to go on.

A moan of pleasure escaped Tony’s throat, which was approbation enough for Loki. He twisted and rubbed them between thumb and index finger.

“How does that feel?” he whispered into Tony’s ear.

“Odd,” the mechanic pressed the words through his teeth.

“Ah, so you’d never allowed yourself to take pleasure out of it? Let me show you the possibilities,” Loki smirked. The god leaned backwards, so Tony slid down into his lap.

The mechanic buried his face in his hands, while Loki let his tongue dance over the most sensitive steads on the other man's body.

“Anthony, show me your face,” Loki pulled Tony’s arms upward and fixed them over his head, holding them together with just one hand.

Tony had been this agitated, he hadn’t noticed the god was all over him by now. His long fingers hooked into the waistband, already opened it, pulling the trousers down.

“Wait,” the mechanic said, “don’t you get undressed?”

“Everything at it’s time. Always inpatient,” he chuckled. Loki leaned in, to kiss Tony. While he was distracted, the spell faded, showing the Asgardian god in all his glory.

The moment he let go of Tony, the mechanic gasped, “does that mean you were nude all the time?”

“Who knows?” Loki was clearly flirting with him.

Yet Tony knitted his brows together, aware of what had to happen next. The thought must have been written on his face as Loki answered it: “Don’t worry, I won’t do anything that will hurt you, or make you uncomfortable. Just let me know if we’ve reached your limit.”

“I don’t think I can…well you know…” he stuttered.

Loki nodded, “of course, I didn’t expect you to, the first time you laid down with another male.” He let go of his hands and sat up. “Would you like to take the active part then?”

“Show me,” the mechanic's eyes were overcast with lust.

***

They made love to each other all night long. Tony always had imagined himself a skilled lover. Turned out he was wrong. Loki had centuries of experience and he did things to him, Tony never had dreamed off, or thought them being possible at all.

By dawn he fell asleep out of sheer exhaustion. He curled up next to Loki, who didn’t seem to be tired at all.

Tony woke from the smell of coffee, arising next to him.

The god was leaning in the pillows, with his long legs crossed, reading a book absently sipping from his mug.

“My apologies, I didn’t intend to wake you,” Loki said the moment he realised the other man was looking at him. “I can go to the living room, you must be tired.”

“No, that’s okay,” Tony rubbed his eyes.

“Would you like a cup of coffee then?”

“Yes, please.”

The god got up, to get one for Tony. The mechanic stretched his body, it was only by now that he felt how physically demanding it had been, trying to keep up with Loki.

The moment he sat up leaning into the pillows, like Loki did moments before, the god came back handing him a steaming mug.

Tony was fascinated, on how the black dressing gown underlined the gods' tall, wiry figure. Memories of sweaty, hot nakedness flashed his mind. If he only had the energy to get up, he would have the god begging for mercy this time.

Sipping his coffee, he hid his face until Loki sat back to his former spot.

“So, what do you think about our arrangement? Is it something you would like to continue?” Loki asked.

���I’ve never experienced something similar…” Tony answered, his mind drifting off again. To Loki kneeling over him, doing things with his tongue while his fingers had reached regions of Tony’s body, he never had thought of touching himself. Yet it had caused immense pleasure.

“That mean?” Loki was eying him uneasy.

“I’ll have to join Pride month next time,” the mechanic whispered. He still wasn’t sure if it would work out well between them. Heck both of them were stubborn and proud and not used to letting people come close in any way.

“Maybe we should keep it a secret, until we both feel pleasant about whatever will evolve out of this night?” Loki suggested.

“Agreed,” Tony nodded. “So what next? Shall we have dates? Or do we visit each other for random quickies?”

“Relax Anthony. We could start on exchanging numbers?”

“You have a phone?” Stark looked at the god with big eyes.

“Of course I have. I’m not Thor, I know how to adapt myself. A friend showed me how to use it,” Loki tilted his head.

“Friend?” Tony couldn’t believe it.

“Yes, Anthony. Believe it or not, I have a friend. Her name is Verity.”

“Sorry, I guess I was just surprised at how fast you’ve made yourself at home.”

“I had to. There’s nothing else left to call a home.” Loki was staring at his feet.

Tony was patting his back, shifting uneasy. It was time for him to leave. Usually he would steal away in the middle of the night, maybe leaving a note that said ‘thank you’. He was far away from his comfort zone and needed time to process all this.

“Uhhm, so—I need to go back, a lot of work is waiting for me,” he lied.

Loki scribbled down his phone number for Tony. “See you at the next mission, I suppose?” Loki was raising an eyebrow.

“Probably. I mean it’s New York. Ancient gods try to destroy it all the time.”

“Hey! It was just one time.”

The two men looked at each other, bursting out with laughter.

As Tony stepped out the door, he felt this was the first time he really wanted it to work. Like he had found a kindred soul, and so thought Loki lying in his bed.

-Fin-

[sojourntime-aux]

It's day 6 of @khoc-week and that means we are almost done! This one got kinda long, whoops, but I had a blast writing it all down!

I put it under the cut because it's kinda long!

~~~~

KH OC WEEK DAY 6: Loyalty, Formal Event, What are some special connections your character has?

✧✧✧✧

Cynthia has few special connections. Some which she knows about, some which she can no longer remember, and some which she is unaware of.

The first of these connections is Sora. While Cynthia and sora can no longer remember their time in Daybreak Town, or their adventure together, they still have a connection to each other. Back during their time in Daybreak Town, Cynthia would pin her bangs back with whatever she could find that would work, or do her best to tuck her hair behind her ear. Sora noticed how much Cynthia's hair got in her way, and also how much she had liked the story he had told her about he paopu fruit legend from his home. So with the help of Marcus, Sora made Cynthia a hair pin in the shape of a paopu, painting the top yellow, and back blue. He also signed his name on the back so she would never forget where it came from.

After Cynthia became a Nobody, she may not have remembered Sora, but she remembered the pin, and she also remembered at least his name if nothing else about him thanks to what was written on the back of it. So in a way, despite being only a pin, and not being a real paopu, it still kept the two connected like one, at least a little.

Cynthia's next connection is another one she can no longer remember. Marcus was her oldest friend in daybreak town, always looking out for her, and being there for her. Even though Marcus was about about two years older than Cynthia, the two were as thick as thieves when they were younger, and even a little throughout grade school.

Marcus did his best to protect Cynthia as they got older, especially as her head got injured and her memory issues got worse. He stepped up to tutor her, and never stopped believing in her ability. Even when Marcus got into the Academy before Cynthia, he did his best to help her archive her dream of getting in too. Not to mention sticking his neck out on behalf of her when she didn't report Sora's Skyfall, or for that matter Sora.

Marcus and Cynthia were both upset when Marcus achieved high enough rank within his union to be chosen to sail beyond the horizon. The two of them even joked about sneaking Cynthia and even Sora onto the ship Marcus was to sail off on, but they both knew deep down it would never work. They also both knew you don't just refuse the Academy's offer to sail. There was an old rumour that last person who refused the Academy's offer to go beyond the horizon had their keyblade stripped from them, and they spent the rest of their days roaming the streets as if a part of them was missing, until they faded away. Or so the story goes. The academy denies this rumour, and most people say it's just story cooked up by some non academy wielder long ago. Cynthia and Marcus deemed that Cynthia would just have to work her way up in the ranks too, once she was got into the Academy herself. Eventually they would meet up beyond the horizon. Cynthia however never got the chance to start looking for him before she became a nobody.

The main connection that Cynthia is unaware of is actually the mysterious cloaked figure that looked so much like Sora, that caused Cynthia to become a Nobody. The figure is is actually another link between her and Sora, and is in fact one of the reasons Sora was on his journey that caused him to fall into Daybreak Town. However the figure is another OC who belongs to my lovely partner, who wasn't able to participate in the even this year. They've been helping me with the re-work of this story, just as they helped with the original!

The last big connection is group of friends from the moonlit world Cynthia decided to stay in. Her friends were actually were one of the main reasons she never left the world. As days went on after first arriving there, Cynthia just couldn't see herself ever going back to organization, especially after meeting her friends.

The first person Cynthia really got to know, and the person who actually helped her when she for got to the world was Mandy. Mandy helped Cynthia keep from overheating in her black cloak, and also fished her out of the canals when she fell in. Mandy then got Cynthia a change of clothes and explained where she was. After that Mandy introduced Cynthia to her friend Kyle, and together they started to show Cynthia the town, and some of the things they claimed she had been "missing out on", like video games, and the like.

In the process of showing Cynthia some history of the world, and the town, the three ran into an aquantence of Mandy and Kyle's, named Amanda. While Mandy and Kyle didnt know Amanda that well, Cynthia and Amanda hit it off right away. This soon lead to all four of them hanging out together. Amanda was even the one who got Cynthia the apprenticeship with the boat maker.

Soon after that Kyle dragged Cynthia along with him to the local Art Store where he worked to pick something up that he had left. While there, Cynthia started talking to none other than Kyle's boss, Kenna. Kyle was mortified, but Kenna and Cynthia quickly became fast friends, and Kenna even pointed Cynthia in the right direction to get started painting.

The last member of their group Cynthia didn't meet until a little bit into her apprenticeship, when a girl named Kylie brought her families boat in for some matinence. Kylie had never see Cynthia before, and noticed she must be a new apprentice, and ended up introducing herself. Cynthia and Kylie soon started talking, which lead Cynthia to discover that she wasn't the only person here to come from another world. Kylie's family sailed to the moonlit world from another from another at one point, and while Kylie was born on this world, her family still tells stories. Even Amanda and Kenna have connections to other worlds, Cynthia came to learn. Cynthia also came to learn the local saying for the world; "Through water, all connections are possible." Over time, Cynthia grew to consider this group her family.

~~~~

This one got kind of long! But I hope you like it! I can't wait for tomorrow, even if I'm sad that event is almost over! I've been having so much doing this, just like I did last year!

So I'll see you tomorrow, for day 7!!

[falconfriend]

Central character: Zane

A/N: Pixal isn’t here? Yet, and ideally she’s coming in on part 2. I goofed on the transition originally because I had some canon facts about her timeline wrong, so I’ll be editing that soon. People who’ve followed me since I was more active will know I love Pixal very much; let’s write some fic involving you soon, my girl. (It’s been a while since I published fic at all.)

There’s a part 2 coming.

Warnings: Major (robot) injury, death references, some existential themes going on, minor burns.

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

The hard surface of Nya’s workbench rattles into Zane’s skin, rattles because he’s shaking—

“Zane!” Nya startles, bustling over to him. She puts a hand on his arm as if to pull him back onto his back, but snatches it away, shaking it out at her side immediately. “That’s good. Keep pulling in those deep breaths, Zane, you’re overheating. Oh…”

Nya’s voice holds a sense of command that she’s put there, deliberately, for Zane to latch onto, but also a little for herself. She stares at him for a little longer, hands hovering in the air between them as if looking for some way to help him, before she turns back to her screens, eyes scanning rapidly over line after line. This is the part where she can help him.

She presses a call button, and a much calmer version of her voice rings through the Bounty: “We could use a bit of a hand down here, asap.”

“Nya,” Zane gasps.

Nya winces. Oh, she doesn’t know how to do this part… 

She has grown close with all of the ninja, they’re her family, but aside from trading quips, she and Zane have always… struggled to connect. Kai’s the one who’s good with other people’s emotions. Nya’s just good at calling Kai on his own feelings, and building things, and pulling off logistical feats—

Zane had rolled onto his side when he woke up, and now he’s facing away from her. She walks around the table to him and crouches in front of him. She can’t use a metal workbench with Zane, the electronics need an insulator (though sometimes she runs a cable to ground in case of emergency), but if he stays like this much longer he’ll burn parts of this one dark brown.

“Hi, Zane,” Nya begins, at the same moment that a voice saves her from the doorway with, “Hey, Frosty.” 

Nya could melt in relief. She stands to welcome Cole in, remarking, conversationally, “Not so frosty right now, watch out—”

(This conversational tone is a performance for Zane’s sake, too, like the way some grown-ups can be about tragedies and disasters when a child is in the room.)

And Cole has already rested a hand on Zane’s back. Nya winces, knowing how high the metal has heated, and Cole winces too, pulling his hand an inch back and sucking in a quick hiss through his teeth. He recovers quickly. “Okay, big guy, okay. You’re safe. Eeeeeeasy, Frosty. You’re safe. We’ve got you.”

Nya watches from a step behind him, slightly flummoxed, amazed she once thought they were similar people. It’s more of this as she turns back to her workstation to try to figure out what had even happened, Cole’s voice droning on over her shoulder.

“That’s right, Astroboy. Let’s slow it down—Nya, should he be breathing like this?” And then Cole’s voice turns severe, softer: “We will always come for you, Zane. You hear me? We’re always coming for you.”

“Slower is better,” Nya confirms, as Kai and Jay come into the doorway. Her voice has gone softer, now, too. “He is overheating, so I thought that was his fans working on overdrive, but he’s having a panic attack.”

“How can we help?” Lloyd has joined our doorway crew, now, too. It seems less kind to linger in the hall, but the room is so cramped already, and Zane probably needs air.

Nya considers Jay, who looks, though he’s trying not to, like he’s chomping at the bit to ask to double-check her wiring work. She would ask him to if she thought it wouldn’t freak Zane out right now—he tolerates being prodded at like it’s nothing, but it can’t actually be nothing. The part of her that’s learning to be wrong really wants to ask him to anyway.

She checks herself, four times, for overconfidence. Better to stress Zane out and get a second opinion to keep his physical body safe if she has to. But her readings show a clear signal coming from Zane’s CPU and everything else on her screen says there’s nothing wrong.

“Just be a friend right now, I think.”

Zane came into her workshop today totally trashed. She didn’t feel the need to document and explain every one of them to him this time, he’s grown a lot less attached to the original hardware since he rebuilt himself, but she had to put in a lot of new wiring. Welding work. Multiple circuit boards scorched, and half a motherboard she’d assigned Jay to replicate—he keeps spares. 

Jay had found him on the ground torn open.

He must have held off a massive crowd at once. Thirty, fifty. He’d kept fighting long after he should have been on his knees, and most tellingly, he hadn’t let any of them get behind him—the damage is on his front.

Cole has shifted to rub Zane’s back again, now that the temperature’s dropped enough for it to be thinkable, but there’s still a little grimace on his face. 

Kai steps in once he notices that it’s burning him, offering— “Here, I can—”

“I got it.”

And the room settles into this tense sort of quiet.

Cole knows he was a little too sharp.

“I was just letting Zane know we’re always coming for him, and that he’s safe right here on the Bounty. We’re hundreds of miles away from the battle, isn’t that right? Kai, you’ve been manning the bridge.”

“Autopilot right now,” Kai clarifies, “before you worry, Zane. Cole’s right, we’re hundreds of miles away.”

“And what Cole said! We are, uh.” Jay fumbles, because it’s not sounding as good out loud now that he’s saying it. “Always coming for you.”

The stillness really wasn’t fixed by this.

Kai shifts uncomfortably on his feet. 

“No, you know what, that’s not what it’s going to be,” Kai asserts, already decided. “We’re not going to need to keep coming for you, because it’s not going to happen like this. Isn’t that right, Lloyd.”

Lloyd perks up, grateful for something to do. Cole’s eyes are still trained on Zane’s face, Jay watching anxiously over his shoulder, everyone else’s eyes on Lloyd. Nya’s paused in her work to listen.

“That is right.” He decides, then and there. “Zane, if you are in any situation where one of us would retreat or we would die, I want you to retreat. It’s the same standard for everyone. Not any more of this.”

“Retreat wasn’t an option.” Zane croaks out. It’s the second thing he’s said all night. His voice, for all it’s just been through, is surprisingly calm. Cole very gingerly jostles his shoulder, the same way he would ruffle someone’s hair.

“...Okay. I believe that.” Lloyd sounds a little chagrined, voice pulling away from its leader-y command. “I’m sorry it happened that way. We’ll keep a better eye out, alright? No, I’ll keep a better eye out. No one’s running off and getting surrounded anymore—that goes for all of you.”

There are a few very quick murmurs of assent, a quiet aye-aye Lloyd from Nya.

Kai sits on the workbench by Zane’s feet. He reaches as if to touch him, to be here with him somehow, but he’s unsure how to and Zane has already brought his breathing back down. Cole is keeping his hand draped behind the other’s back where Zane can’t see it. Kai notes that the palm’s a little burned.

Zane rolls onto his back, and Cole and Kai move out of the way.

He turns his eyes up toward Nya, who stills, pausing her fidgeting. “Nya, what are my diagnostics.”

Nya rattles them off, one by one, clear and moderately-paced. “You can’t access those yourself, or you just wanted to hear a voice?”

“I wanted a voice.” It’s easier, too, not to need to think for them. If anything is wrong, anything permanently damaged or even just hurting for an extra night, he’d rather not look at it directly.

“Okay, anytime.”

-

It’s well past dark when Kai finally moves toward bed later that night, speeding through the hall with the kind of quiet you use when you’re the only one left awake.

“Retreat was not an option.”

Kai halts. That came from Zane, fully alert—when he walks back to peer through Nya’s door, he half expects Zane to have sat up to face him, but he hasn’t, of course, he’s still curled on his side. He still catches Kai’s eye from the door, all the same, and Kai’s step quickens without waiting for him to ask it to as he steps inside.

“Oh, Zane, are you still-? Lloyd isn’t mad at you, he wasn’t saying-“

“No. Retreat wasn’t an option.” Kai has by now reached his side, and takes Zane’s hand where Zane lies on the workbench. He debates hopping up to sit on its edge, but by the time he’s finished thinking it, there’s already been too much quiet, and he can tell with an uncomfortable internal squirm that Zane is as empathetic to his predicament as he is to Zane’s. He opens his mouth to do something about it, just before Zane shakes his head and cuts in faster, like he’s racing him to break the silence on purpose. “I was built to-“ his voice chokes.

Kai’s eyes lock on Zane’s, and he takes a slow, comprehending kind of breath. He grips Zane’s hand, Zane grips it tighter back.

“...To protect those who cannot protect themselves,” Kai’s mouth helpfully, carefully supplies; he says it like he’s not sure Zane wants it said.

There’s a little moment, somewhere in the space they share right then, when Kai grows something unreadable on his face. A hint of the Kai from years ago who might have snapped on this, who might have given the problem an immediate villain and a villain he wants to punch. He has grown either the maturity or the embarrassment to bite the anger back, and Zane is selfishly grateful for either.

Zane pulls their hands closer to his face, affirmative hum interrupted by a full-body hitch. This part has never been hard. They’re brothers. Zane squeezes his hand, and Kai squeezes it back.

“We can protect ourselves. Zane. We can. Do you believe that?”

Zane shakes his head, not that he doesn’t believe, but that: “Retreat wasn’t-“

“Okay.” Kai cuts him off before he can explain himself into the ground. “You’re gonna be okay. We’re gonna make sure you’re safe, Zane.”

-

“Sorry I’m late, Kai.” Lloyd’s entry, arriving at the door with posture that says ‘casual’ and through the door with posture that says ‘leader,’ turns the half-baked gathering into a Meeting. “You wanted everyone on the bridge?”

“I actually wanted everyone down in Nya’s workshop, but I thought we should get there all at once. We need to talk about this.” 

Lloyd nods in acknowledgement; we all know what ‘this’ is. “You asked Zane?”

“I suggested it, but no, actually, Zane asked me.”

Lloyd nods again, once up and down, and once over his shoulder at the door. Jay, craning his neck up from the back of the room, gives him a smile, Lloyd takes that smile and gives it to the room. His expression goes serious once more, with his head on straight. “Alright, everyone, Zane called a meeting. Did he say right now?”

“Sooner is probably better.”

“Let’s head down.“

[braveskyered]

Knights Part 15

Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 Part 6 Part 7 Part 8 Part 9 Part 10 Part 11 Part 12 Part 13 Part 14

Please be aware that there may be some topics from here on out that you as a reader will find uncomfortable. Elaborating what they are in the beginning will be considered spoilers.

Do remember that this story is a work of fiction. Any similarities between characters or events to persons - living or dead - in our real world are purely coincidental.

Only those that have understood and thus agreed to the above have the privilege of continuing to read Knights to the very end with a clear head.

Do you agree?

Yes ←

No

Should you fail, then it would be wise if you hold yourself back and confront what hurts you.

Part 15: Tear Me Upside Down

- - - - - - - -

It hurt.

It hurt so much.

And Arthur knew he deserved it.

It was his arm that did the killing, after all.

He waited a few minutes after the wraith left and phased through the wall of his bedroom. He has to before he could start treating the wounds from the punishment right before. Thankfully, there aren’t any Dead Beats to keep an eye on him, so he has a little freedom. The wraith hasn't bothered to send its little helpers to watch Arthur for the past two weeks, and he made sure not to show his relief, lest it thinks to send them out again.

He assessed his injuries. They're on his shoulders and right arm this time, so it shouldn't be too difficult to tend to...

Grunting somewhat painfully, Arthur pulled himself off the floor somewhat and crawled down next to his bed. His right arm became too sore to move and twist, and Arthur wouldn't be surprised if there's a fracture or two at this point. Not enough for a cast, he thinks, but it hurt more than usual when the wraith's hand roughly grasped it, and thought he felt something crack.

He has no choice but to use his damned prosthetic left arm to pull the medium-sized box out from beneath. The forbidden box, he came to call it, because the wraith didn't like it whenever the box entered its line of sight. Otherwise, it would mean that Arthur hasn't suffered enough in this damned manor. Or worse, take the box and burn it to cinders like it did one time when Arthur first started collecting.

After some struggle, Arthur got himself into a sitting position, took off his shirt, and started to sift through the medical supplies he gradually smuggled in while ignoring the rest of the scars. The burn salve has always been his savior from the worst of it, so he took a somewhat filthy cotton ball and started applying the salve on his shoulders, careful not to let any of it get into his hair when he moved his head.

He must hurry before Vivi or Mystery come home, before the wraith would notice.

It took a while, but soon, Arthur was able to wrap some bandages around his shoulders, although the area around his left shoulder was rather sloppy in its wrapping. It's not like he can ask for help, so he did what he could. He then started to work on his right forearm. He took out the thin arm guard inside to use as a poor makeshift splint for what he hoped isn’t a broken bone, but it’ll have to do.

If anything, he could play it off as a mishap while working on the van. Or pretend he did it himself because he's a so-called masochist or something.

...Yeah, not happening. Arthur rolled his eyes. He never understood how that kink or whatever worked, and he knew no one would believe him if he used that excuse.

He dug into the medicine bottle and took out a few pills. The dose is probably more than what's typically directed for a person to take, but Arthur needed to reduce the pain soon or else there will be problems. Taking a small water bottle from the box, he swallowed the painkillers.

His self-treatment finished, Arthur put his shirt back on and tugged on the long sleeves to hide the wrapping. He placed the medical supplies back into the box and slipped it back under his bed, then quickly yet carefully gathered the few wrappers of the bandages from earlier and stuffed them into an empty potato chip bag. No one here ever bothers to check the trash. Arthur could only feel relieved somewhat as he tosses the chip bag into the nearby wastebasket. The Dead Beats are typically not smart enough to look through them, and the wraith has forbidden them to dig through trash like animals, so it works.

He then checked himself by looking into a small round mirror roughly the size of his palm he keeps on his desk. He could sigh in relief. Good. No one should be able to tell that he has bandages on.

Again.

Arthur isn't sure how much longer he'll be able to take the punishments he's been sentenced to have, but he must hold out for as long as he can. It meant that Vivi would be happy, since she loved Lewis so much, loved the wraith so much. It was like Lewis's death by his hand never even happened.

...If only it were that simple.

He could never see the wraith as a friend.

Lewis would be disgusted.

Arthur gripped at his stomach. It hurt. He hasn’t had a proper meal in two days.

He wondered if he could sneak to the van and eat that energy bar in the glove compartment. Vivi would just think either Mystery ate it or ate it herself and just forgot.

She always is a little scatterbrained like that here and there.

- - - - - - -

“Hey, Mom! Dad! Welcome back!”

Arthur blinked and gave an exasperated but amused smile upon seeing both Gwen and Percy grinning like little children in front of the cars, a funny sight considering that they have oil stains on their arms and faces.

“You should've seen the damage on this one!” Gwen was laughing as she spoke while gesturing to a large black pick-up truck, on one of the work stations, “The owner thought his truck's engine was constantly overheating since it kept giving out light smoke, but it's actually because there was an oil leak at the engine block. When we opened it, there was so much oil cooked on it, it was like removing a brick!”

“And that the tire alert kept turning on because the device itself was malfunctioning. All the tires were at the pressure they were supposed to be,” Percy made no attempt to hide his grin, although he seemed humbler about it, “But thankfully, our grand uncle had the parts needed to fix it.”

These were kids that were actively enjoying themselves. They weren't making fun of the owners, they were having fun just talking about the craziest and sometimes the most mundane problems a car could have. Arthur couldn’t help but feel proud of his little mechanics, especially once he noticed that they’re acknowledging Lance as family. He then saw Elaine walking over to the twins, no doubt to ask them how they’ve been since she and Arthur were gone.

He noticed that Belle is missing. He’s not sure if that’s a good thing. She often liked to blab about many things when she was a child.

“Where’s Aunt Morgan?”

“… to get lunch for us,” Gwen replied. Arthur didn’t hear the first part.

“They should be back in a bit,” Percy nodded along.

Food… does sounds good around this time. Arthur drifted off in his thoughts. He feels he’s forgetting something important. His brow furrowed at the thought, and he didn’t know why he has the feeling in the first place.

“They're active ones, I'll have to say,” Lance suddenly walked up, and to Arthur's surprise, is holding Vivian, “This one here, especially.”

How is Lance holding Vivian? She almost never lets anyone besides her family hold her! ...Then again, Lance is family. The little girl reached out to Arthur, and so he took her out of his uncle’s hold and into his own before sitting down to a nearby chair.

Arthur isn’t sure how to feel when he now knows that Lance is taking the fact that he is married with a family of his own… somewhat well.

“Your aunt-in-law explained everything about your family to me,” Lance glanced away for a moment, no doubt feeling awkward, “I can see why you didn’t want to tell me about them in your letters. But I must ask,” he turned back to Arthur, “Why didn’t you say anything? Why did you just leave? Why didn’t you at least tell me where you went? You know I would’ve helped you. I would’ve visited you, even.”

Arthur didn’t reply and kept his focus on Vivian, who reached up to grasp at his right shoulder. He somewhat smiled back at her while trying to keep his emotions in check and held his daughter’s hand.

Lance sighed and rubbed a hand against his neck, “Then again, if I’m not mistaken on why you left, I probably would’ve done the same thing if I were in your shoes.”

Arthur rose a brow slightly at Lance. Last he checked, his uncle is usually more gung-ho about life, a “move it or lose it” type of guy. Lance often thought that running away from things is a cowardly thing to do, which Arthur very well is and has done. It’s no secret that Arthur is afraid of many things and ran away from just as many horrors.

“I mean, even though they deeply regret it now, I still haven’t forgiven Joe and Lokia for what they said about you. They’ve never been in your shoes when... that happened.”

…If it was just that, Arthur knew he would have forced himself to grin and bear it.

“I really do wish that I was there for you, y’know. For you and your kids,” Lance turned his attention back to Elaine and the twins, who were somewhat debating over a certain part that needed replacing, “I would’ve loved to see them grow up over the years.”

Arthur could barely hold back a grimace so Vivian wouldn’t notice, “So would I.”

“What?

“I always knew you’d want to be there for them, but I couldn’t allow that,” Arthur tried not to tighten his grip on Vivian’s hand, “If I did, everyone here would know. If they knew, so would--”

Whatever anyone here in Tempo would know, so would that damn wraith, the monster that wore Lewis’s face and made his life hell after everything went wrong. The same monster that wanted him to suffer, wanted him dead, wanted everything he has.

Wanted him gone.

“Who else knows I’m here?” He had to know, if only to protect his three children. Vivian leaned closer against him.

“So far, it’s just me, Belle, Nobuhiro, and his wife Jolene. I'd count his mother, Fuyuko, but she's been more forgetful than usual ever since she was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s a few years back,” Lance counted them with his fingers, “After we found out where you were, we all agreed to keep quiet about your whereabouts from everyone. I also asked Belle to not say anything to her family since she’s my main assistant despite… things. So as far as I know, no one else but us four know that you’re here. Regarding your children, we knew about Gwen and Percy from that article that led us to you, but we didn’t know about little Vivian here since it didn’t mention her.”

So Vivi and Mystery, and thus the wraith, do not know that he is here. Arthur could only give a slow breath of relief, but he isn’t fully relaxed, “I see.”

It’s only a matter of time until the monsters catch wind of him. Either he remains hidden or he takes his family and runs away again.

The conversation ended at that, and while Arthur took the time to let Vivian play with his hand, he listened to Elaine talking with Gwen and Percy about something. He isn’t sure what, but it sounded a little serious. He thought about joining in the conversation, but ultimately decided against it. It didn’t look like they’re being scolded, so he felt that Elaine is handling it fine.

“Um… Arthur? One more thing I should add. You see, the Yuki—”

The sound of a bell from the entrance door cut off Lance’s words.

“Hey, Lance, we’re back with lunch!”

Arthur glanced in Belle’s direction and saw her with Morgan following, both carrying multiple brown paper bags as the smell of food filled the air. It smells familiar.

Lance apparently kept the policy of closing the shop for an hour for lunch, as Arthur could tell when he saw his uncle place up a sign saying such. He didn’t see any other employee leaving or coming out, so maybe it’s only just Lance and Belle for now? It would make sense, since it’s just before Thanksgiving week, so many people would be out visiting family.

“Arthur, are you coming?”

Looking up, Arthur saw Elaine waiting for him. Before standing up, he gently let Vivian down from his hold, took her hand, and followed his family into Lance’s home.

He feels he has forgotten something.

…

- - - - - - -

YOU’RE NOT ALLOWED TO HAVE THAT, YOU KNOW.

- - - - - - -

…

He coughed.

He gagged as he shoved one his fingers into his throat. He must get it out of his system before it becomes a part of him. Let the toilet take it instead. Let anyone take it! He can’t take it! He can’t have it!

How could I have forgotten?!

He didn't know. No one told him where the food came from. He was only told by Morgan that it was something she knew he would like. He should have known. Morgan wouldn't have – couldn’t have known. Belle is the daughter of chefs that own the restaurant that made the food she brought back with Morgan, so of course she would get something to eat from her family's restaurant! It was in typical paper bags instead of bearing the family logo of a pepper.

Who gave you the right to eat that?

The wraith didn’t like it whenever Arthur ate food from the Pepper Paradiso, or any food in general while in its sight, even when it was Vivi who provided it for him. He could only eat in the few times he was alone, and that was few and far in between. He never dared touch any food from the Pepper Paradiso ever since the wraith had beaten him the first few times he did, especially after one meal it made caused him to vomit.

"What happened?!" Elaine… Mystery?

"I-I don't know! He was fine and all of a sudden he just ran off and--," Belle… Vivi?

The pain was unbearable when that happened, and Arthur could only feel dread and outright betrayal the following day after stumbling across a tiny bottle tucked away into a corner of the counter when the wraith wasn't looking, only focused on Vivi. It wasn’t labeled, but it didn’t take a genius on Arthur’s end to learn what it was.

Arsenic. Tasteless and odorless. Poison.

A lesson.

The wraith would not only hurt him physically and emotionally, but also poison him to keep him in line.

Ever since then, any food from the Mystery Skulls was met with scrutiny. If Arthur found any flaw on the packaging of energy bars, he would refuse to eat it, saying he doesn’t have the appetite even though it would result in painful hunger later. He would only "play it safe" when no one was watching. The multitude of snacks Vivi packed in the van for everyone in the Mystery Skulls to consume, Arthur would gradually sneak one extra for himself when no one was looking. Considering how much both Vivi and Mystery consume, no one, not even the wraith, would notice if he sneaked away one or two more snacks that are mixed up within Vivi's “Mighty Snack Stash” pile.

Arthur felt awful for going so far as to steal food from Vivi, even though she had already offered him to take whatever he needed and whenever he needed it.  Because of the guilt, Arthur would go without food for days at a time, relying only on water or energy drinks, or even on the wildflowers outside of the manor for sustenance. He gradually started losing weight despite his efforts, and he knew with dread that he had to do something before his weight loss became obvious.

Shortly after, Vivi, with the wraith next to her, had asked Arthur that question, for the only thing he has left. He may have wanted to give it at one point, he isn’t too sure, and often questioned it to himself relentlessly since it was wrong for as long as he could remember. In the end, however, the punishments from the wraith and the persecution from everyone else that he had suffered – and would have suffered from had he accepted – made him refuse. The burns he received right after he refused were the proof.

And that question became the final straw.

It's just wrong, wrong, wrong!

Well… it’s pointless now, since he has Elaine, but that might not dissuade them from getting what they want.

When Arthur left Tempo seventeen years ago, he didn't dare pack any food. He couldn't bring any possible poison with him, only opting to get food somewhere where the Mystery Skulls or the wraith or anyone he knew did not have any influence. No one had any justifiable reason to poison a stranger.

Soon, Arthur couldn’t cough up anything else other than a dry heave, and soon scooted away from the toilet. Even though his throat burned, and his hands felt clammy, he couldn’t help but feel relieved. He got the food made by Pepper Paradiso out of him before his stomach fully digested it. The wraith won’t try to force him this time, it won’t punish him as harshly.

Or at least, he hoped so.

He knew the lesson already, he was just tricked into eating it this time.

That's all.

“Arthur, my star,” a quiet and shaking voice, “Are you okay?”

Upon hearing a hand gently rub circles onto his back, Arthur looked behind him and saw Elaine kneeling behind him. He gave out a weak whimper before turning away.

“My knight,” Elaine didn’t stop with the rubbing motions, “My knight, please, talk to me. Are you feeling better now, at least?”

His trembling didn’t stop. He sensed Elaine doing some movements, but he couldn't fully focus on what exactly his beloved light is doing. The tears from vomiting blurred his sight.

“Here, do you need this?”

Wiping away a tear, Arthur looked up slightly upon seeing Elaine’s hand enter his line of sight. She’s holding some toilet paper out to him. Slowly, he took it from her and wiped his mouth of any remaining fluids.

“Did the food not agree with you?”

He didn’t dare answer her, not when the others could hear. He didn’t want Lance or Morgan to fly into a rage at Belle. He didn’t want Belle to receive the end of their wrath. He didn’t want his children to become more confused and worried more than they already are. He didn’t want to admit to Elaine that for a brief moment, he thought he had consumed poison, even though the meal Morgan got him was actually one of his favorites from the menu…

“Do you want to go back to the camper for a while?” Elaine gripped at his shoulder.

She caught on. Arthur gave a weak nod, and within moments, he heard Elaine say something to the others waiting outside. He then heard the sound of the toilet flushing, felt her slowly pull him up, had him wash his hands, before finally taking him out of the bathroom. He tried to not give anyone eye contact, especially not to his children.

He felt too ashamed to look at them, especially upon hearing his younger daughter wanting to reach out to him.

"No, Vivian. Daddy just needs some alone time. You can hug him after he's done, okay?"

Gwen, Percy, Vivian… I'm so sorry.

Moment later, Elaine escorted Arthur into the camper and had him sit on the small bed in the back. He heard her lock the door before sitting next to him. With the same tender kindness he always knew, Arthur felt Elaine take his right hand with her left, wrap her right arm behind his back, and leaned close to him. In turn, he wrapped his left arm around her, and held her close. Neither of them said anything, only letting the faint sounds of the desert nature outside to be heard.

And it’s only midday…

A part of him wished it would rain, but because Tempo is a desert town, Arthur knew that there will not be any kind of precipitation to keep the fire away. Rainfall is rare in desert towns, where it can be fairly hot to scorching during the day, and somewhat chilly to downright frigid at night, neither of which would keep the wraith at bay.

Arthur isn’t sure whether Elaine could protect him from the wraith, but their children have higher priority. Unlike him, those children had nothing to do with Lewis dying so long ago; thus bearing no sin. Gwen, Percy, and Vivian deserve to live happy lives, and not be imprisoned by an obsessive wraith that would want to hold them captive like toys to play with like it wanted to do with him. If being taken by the wraith is what it will take for them to be safe, so be—

“We won’t let anyone here hurt you or our family,” Elaine whispered with a tone of finality, “I promised that, as did my mother, as did Aunt Morgan, and as did Nana Niniane. I will make that promise again and again, my star, ever since the day we married.”

Arthur whispered into her ear, “Do you remember your other promise to me?”

Elaine went stiff, “How can I not. You wouldn’t marry me until I did.”

He looked down at his feet, “Elaine, you know that there’s—"

“I won’t let that happen, Arthur,” she held him tighter, “You know that. I refuse to let it happen.”

Arthur could only smile sadly. He knew that it’s only a matter of time until his happiness is taken away. And like him, Elaine didn’t want that happiness to end.

“If by some chance it does, Elaine,” he buried his face against his light’s hair, “The safety of the children comes first. That’s all I ask.”

Elaine gave out a low hum, then pulled away from his hold. Arthur watched her stand up and kneel down to reach into a small cabinet nearby. If Arthur remembered right, that cabinet held the mini-fridge.

“I have a small deli sandwich left from our grocery run on the way down here yesterday. It’s got turkey, lettuce, cheese, and a little bacon in it. Do you think you can stomach it since this isn’t from that Pepper place?”

She held out the sandwich wrapped in plastic in front of him.

Arthur thought about it. They’re in the camper, which is full of protections and wards that prevent any malicious entities from coming in. The food he has in his hands was made somewhere around the Texas and Arkansas border, which is hours away from Tempo. Anyone related to the Peppers or the Yukino family are nowhere near nor could they see him. Sure, there’s Belle, but he made it a point to stay away from her.

It... should be fine. Right?

He nodded, and Elaine removed most of the wrapping before handing the food over to him, which he took and sampled a bite. It didn’t feel like poison, nor did he see or hear any sign of the wraith. He took another bite, and only then did he realize how hungry he was.

“I’m not sure how to feel about this ‘Lewis Pepper’ now,” Elaine sighed, “If he had hurt you so badly back then that you couldn’t even eat in peace—”

Arthur furrowed his brow upon hearing Elaine’s mumbling. He’ll let her assume what she wants. Lewis is dead, after all. The wraith is the one that hurt him. That he knows.

He briefly wondered where Niniane went for her investigation, since he knew that the old woman has a low opinion on people who would vandalize graves, which are meant to be the final resting places of the deceased.

And an even lower opinion of the deceased in question.

- - - - - - -

This can't be right.

The last time he was here, Arthur could easily recall the details of the tombstone that used to be at the very same spot in front of him. It was one that held an engraving of a simple angel holding a cake in one hand and a pepper in another. The words engraved next to the angel was the name of Lewis Pepper, some memoirs that showed that he was a loving son and brother, the numbers that showed that he had only lived a mere twenty-one years, and that his life had been tragically cut short.

But now the tombstone is gone, with only a simple stone slab that held the dead's name and vandalized beyond belief.

Arthur could barely make out the word “disappear” made in faded red spray paint. The hateful words carved against the stone that basically damn the dead with sheer hatred. Arthur thought he recognized one of the kanji, based from the few times Vivi had taken the time to show him the ofuda her grandmother had taught her, and he could only tremble in apprehension.

Arthur isn't sure what to feel when he looked at the crack that was almost split in the middle. It looks too straight for it to be a natural crack.

“It looks like someone stabbed a blade of some sort against this grave,” Elaine muttered incredulously as she kneeled down and traced her finger around the large hole and crack in the middle of the stone slab, “Nana Niniane, this kanji here...”

“The first one can be read as 'hate,'” Niniane said grimly with narrowed eyes, “The other is 'eternity.' Whoever painted that with a stencil has developed quite a hatred against this individual, enough that they wish for this one to suffer even in death until the end of time.”

So why--

“Why would someone do this?!” Arthur gasped; the words barely audible even to himself.

Niniane gave a slight shrug of her shoulders, her arms not leaving their crossed position, speaking nonchalantly, “The hatred runs deep, I guess.”

He didn't understand. Why would someone desecrate Lewis's grave like this? Who would hate him enough to--

“Hm?” Niniane knelt down and looked closer at the engravings, and from what Arthur saw, noticed that something was amiss, “Arthur. I have one question to ask you. All I need is a yes or a no.”

It better not be about--

“This man is the one who hurt you, isn't it?” Elaine suddenly asked, “You said that he was your best friend.”

Lewis isn't--

“But on a case, a demon took control of you, and killed him,” Niniane continued after, “If he saw you in his last moments, he must have thought that you did it on purpose.”

LEWIS ISN’T--

“Rather temperamental, I take it. Either way, it’s obvious that he didn’t get away with it,” Niniane stood up and moved closer to Arthur, gently tracing a somewhat long fingernail around the burn scar around the front of his neck, “Little good it does to you, though.”

Arthur shivered upon feeling Niniane’s motion, which the old woman took as a cue to pull her hand away.

“My apologies,” Niniane turned to Elaine, “Well, it’s for the best that the two of you don’t dawdle here for too long. The hatred from the person who vandalized this, as childish as it is, is not something to be trifled with since this person used a rather awful magic to crack the stone."

"Anything else we should know about?" Elaine asked, "I haven't sensed anything to be wary of so far, but I wanted to ask you."

"Hmm… I have yet to sense anything paranormal in this city, myself," the old woman rubbed her chin in thought, "Now that you've brought it to my attention, I will investigate this matter, and maybe also find out who vandalized this fool’s grave. I will contact you or Morgan once I find any results.”

She gave them a minor curtsy, then walked away

Arthur turned his attention back to Lewis’s grave. A part of him wanted to clean the spray paint off to give Lewis a little dignity after the loss of the original tombstone, but when he knelt down and brushed two fingers against the red, he noticed that it was dry. His chest ached somewhat upon seeing again that only Lewis’s name remained legible. No date of birth, no date of death, not even a little epitaph to describe him. Everything else had either been scratched off or wasn’t engraved in the first place.

No matter what, this meager slab is a lost cause.

He felt a small tug on his shoulder.

“We should head back, my star,” Elaine whispered, “We shouldn’t keep the kids waiting.”

“…Right.”

He turned his back to the pathetic sight and walked back the way he came with his light.

- - - - - - -

Arthur managed to finish the small meal without any further issue, which made him feel both relieved and disgusted at the same time.

“I’m sorry you had to see me in such a state, Elaine.”

“Don’t be. You didn’t want to come back here, after all,” Elaine took the sandwich wrapping from him and tossed it into a small trash can, then sat down next to him again, “If not for the fact that you said you trust your uncle, I wouldn’t have tried to convince you to come here in the first place."

Arthur looked down at his left hand, then slowly clenched it into a loose fist. Everything went wrong because of this arm, and that even now, he is so weak.

"If anything, I'm just more worried about how the kids are handling this," Elaine sighed, "They need to have their little 'exercise' soon. Do you know of any places they should stay away from?"

To Arthur, he wanted his children, his precious reasons to live, to stay away from his past home, stay away from his past acquaintances, stay away from the past monsters. Stay away from Tempo. Away from everything Arthur once knew, so they wouldn’t be poisoned, or beaten, or broken, or trapped like mice in a cage…!

But if there are some places to stay away from at the very least…

He stood up, " Elaine, I need to apologize for ruining… you know.”

She looked up at him, “Do you want me to go instead?”

Arthur didn’t answer.

A knock was heard, which made Arthur’s legs feel weak and sat back down on the bed. He wrapped his arms around himself, shivering. Someone’s behind the door leading outside the camper. Why did he have to feel such fear? If he opened that door, he could get hurt again.

But then he remembered that his children are out there.

Before he made a move, Elaine stood up to answer whoever was outside. Arthur saw her raise a finger up to her lips to the guest he couldn’t see, then watched her step outside and close the door behind her, leaving him in the safety of the camper’s protections. He closed his eyes in despair at the thought of his life with Elaine and the kids ending. He didn’t want it to end. He wanted to live. He wanted to see his children grow up. He wanted to protect them, but he couldn’t because he’s so weak.

…Am I really that weak?

He opened his eyes and clutched at the moon pin near his heart in a dark realization.

I… I am weak. I know how weak I am. I know I don’t stand a chance against the monsters and demons.

He gritted his teeth.

But if I remain here, Gwen, Percy, and Vivian won’t be safe from them.

Arthur shook his head furiously before standing up, all traces of fear leaving him. If it were just him, he would keep cowering in the safety of wherever he could hide. But ever since he became a father, he couldn’t hide anymore. His past eventually found him after all.

Elaine can only do so much. I promised her that I would do whatever I can to ensure their futures.

Taking a deep breath, he walked to the exist of the camper to see Elaine talking to Gwen and Percy through the window. Arthur briefly wondered where Vivian is, but that question was quickly answered when he opened the camper door to step out when he saw his youngest child clinging to her brother’s leg. All four of them turned their attention to them, the children all showing concern, but none of them dared to speak out.

“Hey, guys. Sorry about earlier,” Arthur tried to keep his words steady as he breathed out a smile, “I hope I didn’t scare you that badly.”

That got Gwen to start. Arthur watched his eldest daughter out her hands against her hips and lean towards his direction, “Of course you scared us, Daddy! We were worried!”

Arthur could only smile as he brushed a hand against Gwen’s hair, “Your mother told me that the three of you need to go out and let loose with your power for a while.” Upon seeing that he has the attention of his family, he continued, “As I’ve told you before we left home, this place is known to have paranormal elements, so whatever you guys do, please be careful.”

The twins and Elaine looked at each other with uncertainty.

“Dad, about this place. So far, our grand uncle has been amazing to hang out with, but…” Percy began to ask uneasily, “Why did you leave? What made you leave?”

“Percy!” Elaine scolded.

It was an inevitable topic, and Arthur knew it as he let out a breath with a half-smile without one feeling of happiness.

The true reason he left Tempo.

Contrary to what most would think, it wasn’t because of the wraith hurting him. Arthur could endure those, or at least as much as he could until his body gave out and he would die. The punishments were something he knew he deserved, but it wasn’t the reason he ran away.

How can he tell them, children that are twins just barely in their teens and a little girl, the true cause of his misery? His heart began to ache painfully at the thought.

Arthur smiled at them while trying to hide the emotions threatening to spill.

"Stay away from the southern area."

"What?"

"Stay away from the outskirts south of here that lead to a dark forest, and you should be fine," he moved closer to the twins, and placed a hand on each of their shoulders, "However, if you come across any threat, especially if you encounter a kitsune, or a flaming wraith,” he took a breath to hammer the warning into them, “You are to run away as fast as you can and return to the camper. Do you understand? Do whatever it takes to get away."

Gwen tilted her head in confusion, "Why those specif--"

"There's a possibility that those two monsters are still in that area. Stay out of their territory, and you should be fine. Do you understand?" Arthur tightened his grip to make sure that there isn't any room for discussion.

The twins glanced at his hands on their shoulders, then at each other, before finally nodding at him.

"Good," Arthur gave a smile of relief and released his son and daughter from his hold, "Remember all the lessons your mother taught you, and Vivian?"

"Daddy?"

"No poofing away from Gwen and Percy unless they tell you to," he knelt down and playfully tapped a finger against his youngest daughter’s nose, “You need to do your part to help your big brother and sister, too. Okay, Vivian?”

 “Yes!” Vivian laughed and hugged him, which he returned.

Once the preparations were made, in which Gwen and Percy quickly packed a few water bottles, some charms, and their phones from the camper, Arthur and Elaine watched the twins start to leave.

“Wait.”

The children stopped to look at their father.

“There’s one last thing I need to tell you,” Arthur took Gwen and Percy’s hands, and watched with a hint of amusement at Vivian’s attempt at joining in, “No matter what, stay away from the Pepper Paradiso.”

“The restaurant of Ms. Belle’s family?” Percy furrowed his brow, no doubt confused, “But their food is good?”

Arthur nodded, “I doubt her parents will do anything since Lance said they don’t know about you three, but please, stay away from the restaurant itself. I don’t want you to get hurt because of me. Okay?”

The twins looked at each other, no doubt wanting to know more, but they soon nodded. Arthur made sure to embrace his three children a moment longer than usual, then he released them from his hold. Watching the twins run off north with Vivian flying after them.

Arthur reached out for his children upon seeing them disappear from his sight, a part of him wanting to chase after them, but he curled his hand into a loose fist and lowered his arm. Upon feeling a hand take his fist, he looked over at Elaine, who smiled at him.

“They’ll be fine, my star,” Elaine said gently with confidence, “I made sure they can take care of themselves. I even went through the trouble of making those protection charms for them.”

Arthur wasn't convinced, but he chose to believe in her and their children, "Okay."

"…I know you don't want the kids to get involved in this, so I waited until after they left,” Elaine said with an unsure expression, “I have to meet with Mr. Yukino soon. He specifically requested that I bring you with me. Of course, I told him that you're free to decline, but he insisted that I ask you.”

"Oh…” Arthur felt fortunate that Elaine is so thoughtful about his feelings, "Did he say why he wanted me?"

"He only said there was someone he wanted you to see. He didn't say who, though."

Arthur really didn't want to see Vivi, or her family for that matter. The wraith hated it whenever he spoke to them, even when they were the ones that came to him for something. He didn’t want to see Mystery, either. For all he knows, the kitsune that remained with the Yukino family might still want to hurt him because of the demon’s influence, or some other reason that’s beyond his understanding.

But above all else, seeing Vivi is out of the question. Back then, Arthur had refused to give her what she had asked from him. Arthur may have wanted to hand it over at one point, but after learning the truth of what happened in the cave that resulted in Lewis’s death, combined with the hatred and punishments he suffered through, he left Tempo.

And now, years later, Vivi will never get it.

He looked down at Elaine’s hand still holding his. Slowly, he moved his other hand to put over hers, “Okay. I’ll meet him. But only on the condition that it’s only him. If the person he wants me to meet is who I think it is, I will leave immediately and let you finish the job he hired you for.”

Arthur could tell that Elaine wanted to know more, but he saw her nod in response.

“Before we go, we should probably head back to Lance to let him know you’re okay. I know he’s worried. I’ll also apologize to Belle for what happened in your place, because I know talking to her is one of… your triggers, so to speak.”

Arthur didn’t say a word in response.

- - - - - - -

Thankfully, Lance has a car as a spare vehicle whenever his truck needed repair, so he had no issue lending it to Elaine and Arthur to use for the time being. Elaine made sure to lace the interior with stringed protective charms that could be removed later for Arthur’s peace of mind.

As Elaine drove through the town, Arthur watched the surroundings while in the passenger seat. Although he didn’t find it surprising that Tempo almost looked the same ever since he left seventeen years ago, he saw that the town did change in a few areas while he was away.

The small shopping strip that was in the middle of the town has expanded a bit, judging from the four – or was it five? He couldn’t tell - stores that were built on what were previously empty fields. The old shambling movie theater that was said to be haunted years ago had been demolished with a new one in its place, although it’s still under the same name. Another gas station was added on the same road as that small convenience store, too.

Arthur isn’t sure how to feel about these changes and more.

“You okay, my knight?” Elaine asked once they reached a red light.

“I’m fine,” Arthur smiled at her, “It’s just… It’s been so long, you know?”

Unlike Cantabile, Tempo has not been his home for the past seventeen years ever since he had cut all ties to this small town. It’s been so long that he doesn’t even recognize it as his old home even though Lance and everyone else remained.

Once the light turned green, Elaine kept driving, her attention focused on the road while listening to the directions of the GPS that was preinstalled in the vehicle. Upon passing a certain building, Arthur did a double take as he and Elaine drove past it.

“What’s up, Arthur?”

“…Nothing important. Let’s just get this thing with Mr. Yukino over with.”

Elaine shrugged and let the matter drop, much to Arthur’s relief. Meanwhile, conflicting thoughts kept swirling through his mind upon seeing the sight he just witnessed. The Pepper Paradiso shouldn’t look so… run down.

Well, it’s nothing for him to be concerned about.

…Right?

- - - - - - -

“Is this the place?”

“The address matches the one on the mailbox, so it has to be.”

“But haven’t you been in the Yukino residence before?”

“Yes, but it’s not the same house from before I left, so they must have moved while I was gone.”

“I see.”

Instead of a two-story house from what Arthur remembered, the house he and Elaine have driven up the driveway to is only an old yet modest ranch style home, which is a bit of a far cry from the elder Yukino’s taste. On the front porch were a few paper lanterns left hanging by the front doors, and just outside the sidewalk is a small Japanese rock garden with a tall stone lantern close to the middle (a “tōrō” if memory serves him right).

Other than the lanterns and the garden, there isn’t anything to indicate that Vivi might be living there. From what Arthur can recall, Vivi is the type of woman that would leave the pumpkins or other Halloween decorations well after the holiday itself for Thanksgiving.

“Halloween and Thanksgiving both use pumpkins! This is recycling!” …Or something like that, Arthur recalled while imagining it in Vivi’s voice and everything. As a result, he sincerely hoped that Vivi isn’t in the house, or anywhere really. It would just mean that the wraith or Mystery would be nearby.

He couldn’t bring himself to be hurt by them. Not again.

Elaine pulled herself out of the car and started to make her way to the front door of the Yukino family residence, while Arthur waited in the car. It was agreed between the two of them that Elaine is to be the one that would meet with them first, and then decide from there at whether or not Arthur should come out. He watched his beloved light press the doorbell, and within moments an older blonde woman in yellow answered.

Vivi’s mother, Jolene Yukino.

Arthur watched Elaine and Mrs. Yukino talk, and soon after Mr. Yukino quickly came outside, looking out of breath. A chill went up Arthur’s spine once he made eye contact with Vivi’s father, but instead of anger like he expected, Mr. Yukino instead looked… relieved?

Elaine exchanged a few more words to them with a stern expression, and upon seeing them nod to her, turned to Arthur and made the gesture to come to her.

It’s safe.

After trying to steady himself with a few deep breaths, Arthur stepped out of the car to approach the three, only focusing his attention to Elaine the entire time.

“Arthur, you really came,” Mr. Yukino gave a relieved chuckle, “You have no idea how much this means to us.”

“What do you want?” Arthur struggled to keep his voice steady as he held Elaine’s hand. Even now, he still can’t bring himself to look at Vivi’s parents. Not after what he did.

“A-ano… I mean, ah…”

“If it’s about your daughter, I’m not interested,” Arthur furrowed his brow, still focusing on his hold with Elaine, “I know that—”

“No, it’s not Vivi. She’s not even here,” Mr. Yukino glanced at the front door before turning his attention back to him, “It’s my mother I need you to see.”

That caught Arthur’s attention. From the few times he remembered interacting with Grandma Yukino, all Arthur can recall is her speaking at low volumes in Japanese with a rather condescending tone with some broken English (or Engrish?) mixed in whenever he entered their previous home for whatever reason, from picking up Vivi or dropping her off, and would sometimes give him handmade ofuda for some reason. She also did the same thing to Lewis and may or may not have approved of Vivi’s relationship with her late boyfriend when he was alive. Arthur didn’t even need to get started about Grandma Yukino’s attitude towards Mystery. She never trusted “that yako mutt,” or however she says it, before and after the cave incident.

In short, Mr. Yukino’s mother, the old and cranky Fuyuko Yukino, isn’t someone Arthur interacted with unless he absolutely needed to. So why did she want to see him now, of all times? Last he remembered, he didn’t have any sort of connection to her whatsoever besides the one through her granddaughter.

“I know I’m asking a lot from you, but we really do need your help,” Mr. Yukino started to look desperate, “Did Lance explain anything to you?”

Arthur rose a brow as he tried to recall Lance’s words

“Um… Arthur? One more thing I should add. You see, the Yuki—”

The sound of a bell from the entrance door cut off Lance’s words.

“Hey, Lance, we’re back with lunch!”

That might have been it, but he knew better than to blame Belle Pepper for interrupting. There’s a possibility that she didn’t know.

“No, he didn’t have the chance.”

“Oh, well, how should I put this?”

Mrs. Yukino held a hand over her husband’s shoulder in concern, but Mr. Yukino took a deep breath before explaining, “Ever since you left, Arthur, nothing has ever been the same.”

…What?

“The truth is, in the few times I saw you after… well, the truck incident, I couldn’t help but notice your condition. At first, I thought it was because it you were still recovering from your injuries, but as weeks passed, I noticed you weren’t getting any better, if not actually getting worse. When I heard from Lance that you left for a solo vacation, I thought that you were finally starting to. But then…”

Mr. Yukino looked pained, his wife trying to comfort him as silently as she could as he kept talking.

“When you hadn’t returned, things fell apart, one by one. I often blamed myself for not saying anything sooner, especially once we all found out what happened!”

Both Arthur and Elaine took a step back at the sudden outburst. The latter giving the former the look that they will leave if they have to.

“And the Peppers—"

“Hiro, darling,” Mrs. Yukino finally spoke, her voice quiet, “We don’t want to scare him off.”

“R-Right, sorry,” Mr. Yukino straightened his posture, “I’m sorry, Arthur, but it’ll be easier if I just take you to Kaa-sa-- er, Mother. Maybe then all this misery would stop.”

Arthur and Elaine glanced at each other, the latter curious, the former confused. The same question going through both their minds: What exactly happened after Arthur left for good?

Reluctantly, Arthur followed the Yukino couple inside their home with Elaine by his side.

You aren’t to step foot in here.

Arthur made the move to leave immediately, but Elaine pulled him back and gave him a hard nod, tightening her grip at his hand.

“I won’t let anything happen,” she whispered, her voice almost inaudible, “You’re with me.”

What gave you the right to ignore your boundaries?

“That person isn’t here, Arthur,” Mr. Yukino suddenly spoke, not looking at him, “I’m inviting you in here. If anyone complains, they can take it up with me.”

Elaine rose a brow at Arthur, and he shook his head. Not now. Please. She nodded, and finally, Arthur stepped inside with her.

The interior is what Arthur somewhat expected it to be. Various paintings and decorations of Japanese origin were laid out throughout the house, and from what he could see, were items from their previous home. Tucked into a corner in the living room, Arthur spotted a small shrine, likes the ones that are used to honor deceased family members.

But the picture on the shrine wasn’t Grandma Yukino, it was a tall and somewhat muscular man of American or English origin that appeared to be in his late forties. The man’s features, dark blue, almost black hair that partially obscured his dark colored eyes, and a bright grin with slightly crooked teeth, didn’t look like they stand out much, but…

“Who is this?” Elaine asked the question, “A family member?”

“Yes,” Mrs. Yukino sadly nodded, “He was our son-in-law, our daughter’s husband. He died in an incident at work on Monday, October 13th just last month, so we’re still on our forty-nine days of mourning.”

This man was Vivi’s husband? So whatever happened to Vivi? Was her son from this man? If so, then whatever happened to her relationship with--

Arthur and Elaine looked at each other, both suddenly realizing the implication of the death date Mrs. Yukino mentioned. While they were happily celebrating the birthday of their three children, the Yukino family had a death in the family. It wasn’t something they could control, but it did leave a sour taste in their mouths.

“I’m sorry for your loss,” Elaine bowed down her head slightly.

Neither the husband or wife said anything and made a gesture to keep following them. Soon, the four of them reach a small bedroom, and when Mr. Yukino knocked on the door, the one who answered wasn’t Grandma Yukino, but a little boy.

The boy looked young, not even ten years old. Blue hair in a shade Arthur knew all too well shaped the child’s round face, wearing a sweater of a similar shade, dark blue pants, and a familiar blue scarf.

“Jason,” Mr. Yukino knelt down to ruffle the boy’s hair, “Some guests and I need to talk to Baa-chan for a while. How about you go play in the living room with Grandma in the meantime?”

“O-Okay,” the boy looked up at Arthur nervously for a moment, then took Mrs. Yukino’s hand and left the area.

Arthur noticed that Jason looks so much like his mother, Vivi. Did that child not take any traits from his father?

Whatever happened to--?

“Kaa-sama?” Mr. Yukino gently called out to the person in the bedroom from the hallway outside, “I’ve brought some guests.”

Upon being led inside, Arthur immediately spotted a small old woman sitting in a wheelchair next to the window. Her white hair with vague shades of blue, long at the sides and short on the back, were bound together. A white shawl with blue trim is wrapped around her shoulders, a dark blue blanket tucked against her legs. The woman’s face and general appearance gave the impression that she is withering away, little by little, enough to where her eyes appear to be always closed. The violet-colored glasses she always wore even before Arthur left didn’t make her look any younger.

From what Arthur could recall, Grandma Yukino was someone in her mid-seventies, if not in her early eighties from before he left. Wouldn’t that mean that’s she’s somewhere in her nineties, if not already one hundred years old by now?

“Kaa-sama?”

The old woman didn’t make a response, only staring out into space.

“Arthur, will you greet her? Just talk to her for a bit, she probably still remembers you. I hope.”

He glanced at Elaine, and while she looked unsure, she nodded. Slowly, Arthur and Elaine approached Grandma Yukino so as not to startle her. Then he started to speak, “…Yukino-sa--…?!”

A thin, bony hand quickly grabbed his wrist. It took every bit of restraint Arthur had to not jump away, and Elaine held his shoulders in an attempt to keep him calm.

“Ā… Āaaaa… sssssā…! Āsā…!”

Grandma Yukino’s eyes were wide open, looking at Arthur in shock.

“Āsā… You… safe,” she shook her head in disbelief and mumbled something in Japanese.

"Kaa-sama," Mr. Yukino said something to his mother in Japanese with a pleading tone. In response, Granny Yukino released Arthur from her grasp and spat out some angry words at her son.

While Arthur didn’t know Japanese very well, he could make out the words “onryō,” "yako," “kitsune,” “yōkai,” “yūrei,” and his own name a few times as she gestured furiously at the window and Arthur. Then Mr. Yukino started arguing back in Japanese.

As soon as she said “ruisu,” Arthur gritted his teeth in apprehension.

From the way Grandma Yukino is talking, she’s insulting Lewis from beyond his grave.

Arthur glanced down at Elaine, and he saw that she has her eyes wide and brow furrowed in disbelief at the sight of the elderly mother and son arguing. Before he could ask her what’s wrong, Elaine took something out of her back pocket and slipped what felt like paper into Arthur’s right hand, then held his hand like they always did to keep the object between them.

"--told you time and again that onryō is no good! You should've let me exorcise it long ago, and now we have to do it before it finds out Arthur is here and harm the little ones again!"

"Mother, we can't do that! We promised Vivi that we would try to fix--"

"That onryō already sapped the life out of Cayenne's--"

"MOTHER!" Mr. Yukino cut her off, looking offended, "You know that's impossible! It was only misfortune that happened! You already sealed Lewis long ago down at--"

"Don’t talk back to me, Nobuhiro! I told Vivi that we should have eliminated that damned onryō long ago. Everything has gone to hell ever since that thing manifested! Even more so after you and those Peppers drove Arthur away!"

Arthur started trembling as a feeling of apprehension went up his spine. Once he took a moment to process Grandma Yukino's words, a horrible thought entered his train of thought and...

Did I make a mistake?

Mr. Yukino sighed roughly, then turned to Arthur and Elaine, "I'm really sorry about all this, you two. I need to convince my mother, so you should wait outside. Could you tell my wife that I’m sorry if Jason gets scared?”

Elaine agreed, and soon, Arthur followed her out of Grandma Yukino’s room.

Another argument in Japanese sprang up once they left. After seeing that the living room is empty, they checked the door that led to the backyard and reached a small wooden deck. They finally found Mrs. Yukino sitting on a patio sofa with a cellphone in hand, speaking to whoever it is on the other line. Next to her is Jason, who is busy reading what looked like a children’s book. It doesn’t take much to figure out that they came outside so they wouldn’t hear Mr. Yukino and Grandma Yukino arguing.

When Arthur and Elaine approached, Mrs. Yukino’s eyes widened upon noticing the two of them and spoke a few hushed words to Jason before handing the phone to him. The young boy started to talk excitedly.

“Mom, when will you be coming home?”

Immediately, Arthur realized who Jason is talking to with dread.

Vivi is…!

Mrs. Yukino stood up to speak to them, “My daughter called while you were inside. I didn’t tell her that you’re here, Arthur, but I want to let you know that she’s on her way back from a job in Oklahoma. She’s really looking forward to seeing her son, since she’s been away for over two weeks. She said she’ll be home at around dinner time.”

“What was she doing?” Elaine rose a brow. Arthur glanced at her nervously.

“She is still in the paranormal business as the Mystery Skulls, even though the group itself has all but disbanded after Arthur left,” Mrs. Yukino sighed, “Ever since we realized what Lewis had done, Vivi had… well…”

A searing heat crawled into the beck of Arthur’s neck, “…What happened?”

“Vivi and Mystery have been mercilessly hunting and exorcising anything related to the paranormal left and right. No matter how much of a nuisance they are, malicious beings causing trouble to harmless spirits peacefully inhabiting somewhere, Vivi just eliminates them. She doesn’t take any chances anymore, saying that she doesn’t want a repeat of what happened to you. In other words…”

He could only hope that Vivi doesn’t run into his children.

“Ever since you left, Vivi snapped.”

 - - - - - -

Y'all about to learn a lesson,

It’s coming straight from the top!

Part 16: 555

[detroitbecomevenom]

Investigated (1)

Pair: Miles Morales & Reader (you)

Summary: Y/n’s newspaper has gotten her fame even outside of her little school. Her articles on Spider-Man are usually well received, well until someone not exactly fond of the masked hero gets a hold of one of them. Now Spider-Man, who is actually the reporter’s boyfriend, Miles Morales, must find a way to save her before it’s too late.

[This is a short series that I’ve written. The “prequel” to this is called Investigator and can be found on my masterlist, but it isn’t needed to read this although it does give a lot more insight on the main character’s personality]

Warning: It gets pretty dark. If you can watch crime shows you should be good with this.

Dust and debris covered the surrounding area of the prison. Somehow someone managed to carry in multiple bombs that led to a huge hole in the wall that was supposed to keep the biggest crime lord in New York inside of. Guards held back the weaker and less dangerous prisoners, but that meant that they had failed to keep the worst at bay. Wilson Fisk was free and hungry for revenge on the person that started it all: Spider-Man.

The news stations went wild on Monday when it happened, but by Thursday only a few kept a note on the escape. And on Thursday a small newspaper from a Brooklyn school fell into the hands of a hiding escapee. Spider-Man saves the day once again! This particular article included quotes from the masked vigilante and extremely detailed descriptions of the fight between him and Hydro-Man. Fisk looked at the author of the article, Y/n L/n. “This girl can’t be him, but she knows who he is,” he concluded to his group of henchpeople. If he really wanted to get Spider-Man, then he’d have to fight ugly and that’s exactly what he planned on doing.

~~~

Miles held Y/n’s soft hair in his hands as she leaned against him in his dorm. “Do you think I could write about the best boyfriend in the world for the front page next week? Maybe how our six month-iversary is tomorrow?” She laughed, kissing him on the cheek. It was Friday now and about half a year ever since Miles became Spider-Man, but he knew that telling Y/n about it wouldn’t be good for her safety. Peter had said to him that he needs to keep the ones he loves safe so that he would still have the will to get back up again.

“You should probably stick to the opening of Slate tomorrow. Maybe you should practice your speech again.” Miles knew how important tomorrow was for her, with the opening of the project she had been working on for almost six months. S.L.A.T.E was an acronym for Students learning academics with technology and entertainment. The building was basically a place where students from anywhere in New York City could go and study, get tutoring, and use all different types of computers and other devices all for free. Tomorrow was the ceremony where it would be opened to the public and she’d been told that along with the mayor, she had to present a speech about it in front of a large crowd of reporters.

Y/n knew that this could be the biggest moment in her life and the first time she’ll actually get noticed by the big name news outlets. “I’ve practiced it enough, I just wish you could be there with me,” she looked at him somberly, slipping her hand into his own. He squeezed her hand slightly, kissing her on the top of her head.

“I know, but my mom isn’t gonna let me back out of babysitting my cousin no matter what I say,” Miles adored his mother, but there were times that she wouldn’t reason with him whatsoever. His mother and aunt were going down to New Jersey for the weekend to visit someone while he and his dad were stuck watching his aunt’s six-year-old. “At least my dad will be there on duty, but you’re coming over for dinner afterward and I’ll be watching on tv.” He always found a way to be there for Y/n and she couldn’t have asked for anyone greater than him.

A small smile grew on her face. Y/n checked her phone and the smile left, “my ride’s here so I guess I’ll see you tomorrow.” They kissed, this time for real, and Y/n left the dorm room with her suitcase. Weekends were annoying for the both of them since they lived on the opposite sides of Brooklyn and didn’t have a lot of time to see each other.

Y/n woke up the morning excited, yet at the same time completely filled with anxiety. Now, she stood in her school uniform, just as she had been told, next to the mayor of New York City behind a makeshift stage. Her speech was in her hands as she trembled slightly. Someone put her hand on her shoulder, “Don’t worry, kid. Everything’s gonna go smoothly,” she realized that it was the mayor, whose name she completely forgot at the moment, but it did help her a little bit.

They walked on the stage together, the crowd getting quieter. Y/n looked at everyone, from the men and women in uniform surrounding the crowd and the crowd itself, she felt herself getting nervous. There were men in suits on the stage behind them and she assumes that they were just for the protection of the mayor. She stood next to the mayor as he introduced everyone and the concept of s.l.a.t.e, it would only be seconds now until she had to start talking.

“It is with great respect that I introduce the student that was involved in the project from start to finish, Y/n L/n,” he stepped back as everyone clapped for her. There was a small stool behind the podium that she used to appear taller and actually be able to see above it. Y/n make eye contact with Miles’ dad, who was smiling back at her. He was the most excited when they started dating and whenever she would come over since she made his son so incredibly happy.

“Hi everyone! I’m not that great at public speaking, so try and bear with me for this one,” she stifled a giggle and looked down at the paper containing the speech, “People have always said how important is it for children and teens to be educated, yet many of those students don’t have the access to materials that give them the best education that they could possibly receive. Every student has the potential to be the next Tony Stark or Bruce Banner, but when they can’t explore that part of themselves, then the student that finds the cure for cancer in the future will never have the chance to make a difference. Without everything that my own school provides me, I may not have even discovered how much I adore journalism.”

It was hot out and Y/n felt herself overheating slightly, but she knew that she only had to talk for a paragraph. “That is exactly why I fought so hard to get this project in the eyes of people that can get things done. The future of America depends on the students that are forced to use technology from the past and this can be a little difference. I hope that-” she was almost finished when her speech was interrupted by a gunshot. The officers starting pointing their guns around at whoever had fired, while Y/n looked to her right to see the mayor holding his abdomen and falling to his knees. She hopped down from the podium and knelt down next to the mayor. “Oh my god. Are you okay?” she asked in a panic, knowing that she couldn’t really help him at all.

Y/n felt an arm wrap around her waist and was roughly pulled off the ground away from him. The person holding her covered her mouth with some fabric, with what she assumed was chloroform on it. She kicked him and tried holding her breath as much as she could, but she felt herself losing it and eventually passed out.

The crowd was chaotic. The police had apprehended the man that fired the gun and the mayor was being rushed to the nearest hospital to hopefully remove the bullet. Reporters were all turned towards their specific cameras and describing everything live as it happened. Nobody could find Y/n, but at least everything was recorded by the news outlets.

Miles started to panic as he watched everything go down in his own living room. The six-year-old with him didn’t understand what was going on and tried to get him to continue playing ponies with her by pulling on his pant leg while he tried calling her cell. The call went to voicemail, which he almost expected considering what he saw on the tv. He sat down on the couch, contemplating whether or not to call Y/n’s parents and tell them about what had happened.

He looked over to his suitcase, which held his suit. He couldn’t just leave this kid alone without getting a talking to by his parents, but at the same time, he couldn’t just do nothing when his girlfriend and just been abducted. He was Spider-Man and keeping the citizens of Brooklyn safe was his duty. Miles grabbed his suit and changed in his room, throwing sweatpants and a jacket over it. He picked his cousin up and ran over to the neighbor’s apartment to drop her off.

He quickly swung out of the building and headed towards the scene of the attack. Most of the civilians had scurried away, leaving the police and forensics teams to search the area. Miles walked carefully by the podium and caught his breath once he saw the handwriting of Y/n on the paper that held her speech. She was supposed to finish this. He folded it and slid it in his pocket before swinging away, afraid of being caught by his father that should’ve been there.

[datura-foxglove]

(ADA Week Day 3), Family

Summary : Kyouka may has lost her parents, but that didn’t mean she couldn’t find new family with the agency.

Characters : Izumi Kyouka, Nakajima Atsushi, 1 OC for victim of being robbed.

Prompt : Family

Rating : PG (Gen)

It was raining when she finished with weekly grocery shopping. The sky was dark but people colorful umbrellas somehow lifted up the gloomy mood. Unfortunately, Kyouka forgot to bring her umbrella and had a moment of uncertainty. She could run home, the dorm wasn’t that far and she didn’t mind being wet… but that would mean her groceries would also got wet. While she could use the Demon Snow as replacement for umbrella, the sight of her ability would make civilians panic.

Deep in thought, Kyouka snapped her head up when she heard a pained shout from outside of the supermarket. “Thief!”

Her blue eyes caught the scene of an old lady sprawling helplessly on the wet ground with her hand pointing towards a young man who had the lady’s purse on his hands. Remembering Kunikida’s words to never bring shame to the Agency’s name and her own determination to redeem herself by doing good, Kyouka carefully put her groceries on the floor and pursued the thief. People watched curiously as a young girl in red yukata caught up easily with a grown man and tackled him down to the wet ground. The former assassin instinct was to reach for her hidden blade and finish her victim but she determinedly trampled that impulse. Instead, she remembered how Kunikida and Atsushi had taught her of how to take down her opponent in non-lethal way. Her hands expertly caught the man’s hands and twist them behind his back and keep her knees on the man’s legs. The man struggled, but Kyouka held on without any leeway for him to escape.

A passerby quickly called for a police and a few even helped her to restrain the man. Kyouka left the thief when she could see that he wouldn’t escape and quickly picked up the fallen purse from the ground and returned to the old lady. A store clerk had helped her up and picking up her scattered groceries. Kyouka approached the old lady and offered her purse back.

“Here.” The old lady saw her purse in Kyouka’s hands but she didn’t take it. Instead, the old lady carefully grabbed Kyouka’s shoulder. The former assassin flinched but managed to not pull away.

The old lady worriedly checked her face and her hands. “Are you hurt? That was so reckless of you to catch up with the thief! What if he carried a weapon? You could get hurt!”

Kyouka blinked and averted her eyes. She wasn’t used to people blatantly showing their worry for her. Back when she was with the mafia, no one would bat their eyes even if she got hurt. In the agency, people knew her abilities and sometimes they would get worried but they trusted her to take care of herself. “I am fine. I am strong.”

“The young ones shouldn’t get hurt in order to help the old ones.” The old lady’s eyes were full of worry but Kyouka could also see the depth of gratitude in them. “But thank you. You are such a sweet child.”

Kyouka blushed a bit when the old lady fondly patted her head. Purse returned and groceries collected, the old lady stood outside of the supermarket. Kyouka picked up her own groceries and approached the old lady. “Are you waiting for someone?”

The old lady smiled, her face seemed so kind with all the laughter lines and wrinkles. “I am waiting for my son. I don’t bring an umbrella and I called him to pick me up. My house is quite far so it will take time until he is here.”

Kyouka knew that the chance of another thief robbing her was slim, yet she determinedly stood next to the old lady. “I will wait with you.”

The old lady’s frowned. “Are you sure? You already helped me by catching the thief.”

“I am fine. I also don’t bring an umbrella.” Kyouka smiled a little, which was returned with a warm smile from the old lady. “My name is Kyouka. Pleased to meet you.”

“My name is Biwako. Pleased to meet you.”

“Oh my, Kyouka-chan, you are already working?” Biwako covered her gasp, startled to hear such a young girl already working full time job. “What about your parents? Do they agree with this?”

Kyouka nodded, feeling no shame from not being in school like the typical girl her age. “My parents are already passed away. I have no relative so I have to support myself.”

“My… what a tragedy…” Biwako’s saddened voice reflect her sympathy. “I am so sorry for your loss.”

“It’s okay. My parents may have died, but they left me behind their proof of love.” Kyouka smiled as she could feel the presence of Demon Snow within her mind. While it couldn’t talk, Kyouka could feel the fierce protectiveness it carried within it. Just like how her parents last act in this world was to protect her.

Biwako watched Kyouka’s fond smile and her hand patted the young girl’s hand softly. “I am sure they must be happy that you think of them so fondly. If I had a daughter like you, I will be proud. You are so sweet and kind, helping an old lady like myself.”

The old lady’s words made Kyouka’s heart warm and her smile became less restrained. “Thank you.”

“How is your work?” Biwako asked. They had been chatting to pass the time. Kyouka now knew that Biwako had two sons and three grandchildren. Her eldest live abroad while her youngest son’s family live with her. She also liked bunny, but her favorite animal was raccoon. She bought ingredients for hot pot to congratulate her grandchildren’s great marks on their exams. Kyouka also told bits about herself, heavily censored to omit any parts about her past with the mafia, her ability, or confidential about the agency.

“Work is busy sometimes, but my coworkers are nice people. Our boss is quiet, but he lets me work there despite my past. Kunikida-san is strict, but he always guides me whenever I need help. Naomi-san and Tanizaki-san are kind of weird, but they take me along with them whenever they are shopping. Kenji-san always smiles at me and treat me to beef bowl. Yosano-sensei treat my wounds whenever I got hurt. Ranpo-san sometimes shared his sweets, but he always takes my candy art. Dazai-san offers advice whenever I got lost of what to do. Atsushi…” Kyouka stopped a bit before she closed her eyes and smiled. “When I was trapped in the dark, he showed me the light. Without his help, I wouldn’t be able to work at that place now and be surrounded by such good people.”

Biwako listened to her stories about the agency members patiently, laughing whenever Kyouka told her about the weird things happening because of Dazai, Fukuzawa being heartbroken because cats keep running away from him, Kenji’s optimistic attitude, Tanizaki and Naomi’s questionable relationship, Atsushi being down because Akutagawa’s pay was way higher than him, Kunikida’s yelling about ideals, Yosano’s new victims, and Ranpo’s confidence. Kyouka didn’t realize when she had talked more than Biwako’s, somehow finding new stories to tell about the agency members.

When Kyouka finally stopped, her throat was parched and her eyes widened. That was the first time in a long time she had talked for so long that she forgot the time. It was only less than half an hour, but for Kyouka to keep talking like that it was weird.

Kyouka coughed a little, embarrassed by her tirade of stories. “My apologies, I talked too much.”

Biwako laughed, she genuinely looked like she had fun. “It’s fine! It’s normal to want to talk about your family. My, you must see the face of my friends whenever I bragged about my grandchildren. They always said ‘not again’ or ‘this is the fourth time you tell me about your grandchildren giving you a cicada shell as present’.”

Kyouka froze. “My… family?”

Biwako smiled warmly, her wise eyes knowing. “Isn’t that what you feel for your coworker? A family?” she gently patted Kyouka’s cheek. “Family don’t have to be bound by blood. Sometimes, you choose your own family. Like how you choose your coworkers as your new family.”

Kyouka looked down towards her hands. Was that truly what she thought? That she could build a family with her new friends? That she had stopped just seeing the agency as the place she belonged, but also where her family was?

While she may had lost her parents, did she gain another family?

“Kyouka-chan!”

Kyouka whipped up her head as she watched the running figure of Atsushi approaching her. Atsushi panted, with how breathless he was Kyouka could deduce that he had been running all the way from the dorm to the supermarket.

Before he could breathe normally, Atsushi had already begun his tirade of worry. “I am sorry I am so late! My workload was doubled because Dazai-san skipped his paperwork and I had to stay behind before Kunkida-san let me go home! I was worried because I remembered you didn’t bring your umbrella today and I ran back home to get your umbrella before coming back here. Dazai-san stole my umbrella so I couldn’t ran straight here—“

“Atsushi.” Kyouka put her hands on his shoulders. “Breathe.”

Atsushi stopped talking and focused on breathing normally. When he no longer panting like overheated dog, Atsushi gave her bunny printed umbrella to her. “Sorry about that. You have been waiting long, right? Let’s go home.”

Kyouka took her umbrella but she looked back behind her towards Biwako. “You can go home first, I am waiting for Biwako-san’s son to pick her up.”

Atsushi just noticed the kind looking old lady standing beside Kyouka. “I-I’m sorry for my rudeness!”

Biwako laughed, her eyes glimmered with amusement. “It’s okay, young man. You have such a kind and worry wart brother, Kyouka-chan.”

Atsushi yelped. “B-brother!?”

Kyouka was surprised too, but most of all she remembered Biwako’s words and the way her eyes lit up knowingly. Before she could stop her own words, her heart had blurted out what she had kept deep inside all this time. “Yes. Atsushi always worry about every little thing, but he is my kind brother.”

Atsushi’s eyes widened as his purple and gold colored eyes looked at Kyouka in wonder. Kyouka peeked at him before looking back to Biwako. She could feel her cheeks warmed up, but there was also a really genuine and content smile on her face.

Biwako nodded and smiled at Atsushi. “You two get along so well. If only my grandchildren can get along for five minutes before tearing their hairs or biting at each other.”

“Mother!” Kyouka noticed a grown man in his thirties running towards them. “Sorry, I got caught in the traffic. Are you okay? I heard that you got robbed.”

Biwako laughed and patted Kyouka’s shoulder. “You should see this young lady catch that thief! When you are her age you can’t even lift up the table!”

“Mother!” Her son embarrassedly shushed her, but he obviously didn’t believe her story. “Thank you for keeping my mother company. She must bore you with her stories.”

Biwako protested, but Kyouka’s words stopped her. “Actually, it’s the opposite.

I have talked so much about my family that she must be bored.”

After saying goodbyes to Biwako and her son, Atsushi and Kyouka walked back home in silence. The rain had stopped not long ago, but Kyouka still used the umbrella that Atsushi had taken pains to get for her. Atsushi carried the groceries for her and he keep looking at her. His mouth opened and closed, clearly unable to say what was in his mind.

When they arrived at their dorm, Kyouka rushed and climbed the stairs. Atsushi followed close behind, not knowing what prompt her to rush towards their room. Kyouka quickly unlocked their room with her key and coming inside, leaving the door open for him. Atsushi was about to come inside when Kyouka stopped not far from the door.

Kyouka suddenly turned around and smiled widely, her cheeks flushed but her words clear and warm. “Welcome home, brother.”

Atsushi was taken aback for a second. His cheeks flushed as he struggled for a few moments before finally he chuckled a bit and entered their home.

“I’m home, sister.”

[energonalucard]

Killer Kyoudai AU

Kyoudai= Brothers

Wait? What do you mean? You just said their names?

Still No Puffins-Yesterday at 6:12 PM

… Hey. Would the Killer Kyoudai been more interesting as Magnum’s brothers in the main series than his actual brothers?

Robot Harem Animes-Yesterday at 6:13 PM

…huh

AU: The Killer Brothers are Magnum Ace's brothers and the Silver/Fighter Brothers were made just to counter the murder sprees they go on as detectives. They also adopt Magnum at one point.

This is the wonderful trip on Discord that happened to the AU... Also, I'm "Minion tO WHO?" and yes, I wanna change my name too. It's bugging my brain. :P

Minion tO WHO?-Yesterday at 6:13 PM

Magnum having no brothers, then suddenly the KK or the KK always being his bros?

Still No Puffins-Yesterday at 6:14 PM

I never said good. Just interesting. Like, if applied, it might say a lot of Magnum as an Iron Soldier. Latter.

Minion tO WHO?-Yesterday at 6:16 PM

The Killer Kyoudai being the brothers that would seduce and kill as they please, and being soldiers isn't any better. Magnum being the heavy arms kinda bro.

Just musing...

Robot Harem Animes-Yesterday at 6:16 PM

that would actually be kind of interesting, though

Still No Puffins-Yesterday at 6:16 PM

Killer Kyoudai trying to get him back into the old days

Minion tO WHO?-Yesterday at 6:19 PM

"Come on Nii-san~" Killer Q would say as he puts his leg up on the Leaguer they'd nearly beat to death. "Oh kick wouldn't hurt! For old time sake~!"

"Yes! It would!" Magnum cries, "Get off him! And I don't do that anymore!"

Robot Harem Animes-Yesterday at 6:21 PM

heck, they'd be the ones who engineered GZ's kidnapping, probably

they might even remember him and feel like messing with him for old times' sake

…………yo imagien this applied to hero au, holy smokes

         (( Hero AU is a Iron Leaguer AU based on super powered human Silver Castle taking on the world! It's really good! ))

Minion tO WHO?-Yesterday at 6:25 PM

"Nii-chan!" Killer Q attaching himself to Magnum's side.

Magnum trying to pry away. "No!"

Still No Puffins-Yesterday at 6:25 PM

OAO OH MY GOD

And just when we’re making Spirits and Arrow the most lovingly good brothers in Hero AU too!

Like, they were so close as the Silver San Kyoudai. Inseparable

Chaoit-Yesterday at 6:27 PM

whhhy

Robot Harem Animes-Yesterday at 6:27 PM

A big part of Spirits' character arc is actually him learning that he needs to stop blaming himself for Magnum's 'disappearance'.

Minion tO WHO?-Yesterday at 6:28 PM

It's like a Spanish soap opera stereotype! 

*joking narrator voice* Who's parents had three kids? Who has the paperwork for Magnum's birth?

Chaoit-Yesterday at 6:28 PM

oh my god that'd be crazy

Robot Harem Animes-Yesterday at 6:29 PM

I just think it would be interesting if Magnum was forced to become a villain, and then in the killer brothers au, they ended up willingly doing some villain stuff

Minion tO WHO?-Yesterday at 6:30 PM

The Silver Kyoudai, in the Killer Brother AU, are Girochi's counter to these murderous brothers.

Robot Harem Animes-Yesterday at 6:30 PM

…oooh

Minion tO WHO?-Yesterday at 6:30 PM

Nothing too special, just them being suspicious of Magnum as well.

"You have the same coding, and the same ferocity as them! Who's to say you won't kill for pleasure as well?"

"I'm not my brothers! I've changed!"

Robot Harem Animes-Yesterday at 6:32 PM

and silver castle stands by him against the killer brothers

Minion tO WHO?-Yesterday at 6:33 PM

"The words of few, don't counter the names of the dead." Arrow would say as they back down. They don't wanna start a fight.

!!!

Robot Harem Animes-Yesterday at 6:40 PM

But you know what would be awesome? Magnum proving himself and then the fighter brothers just end up adopting him

Minion tO WHO?-Yesterday at 6:40 PM

The Silver Kyoudai being like detectives because we don't fully understand their origins.That would make the FK's already cold shoulder to Magnum make sense. And they actually hug him at the end.

Still No Puffins-Yesterday at 6:43 PM

YES

Minion tO WHO?-Yesterday at 6:45 PM

I'm not salty I swear

Them actually treating Magnum good when they get videos and tapes of the old brothers antics and seeing Frontier grow traumatised.

Still No Puffins-Yesterday at 6:46 PM

Again. All up for loving Fighter Brothers

Minion tO WHO?-Yesterday at 6:46 PM

What would the KK's old names be???

Still No Puffins-Yesterday at 6:47 PM

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Minion tO WHO?-Yesterday at 6:49 PM

Could they be the Silver's or should they be Platinum or Bronze...

Chrome actually seems nice! It's just like silver, but it's blended with steel and is usually higher quality then gold.

Robot Harem Animes-Yesterday at 6:57 PM

Chrome Frontier for magnum. Then Chrome Harpoon for Q, maybe? And Chrome Intrepid for B. or switch as needed

Minion tO WHO?-Yesterday at 6:58 PM

Intrepid is more humerous, so Q fits better.

B as Harpoon actually sounds cool!Birth order?

I feel...

B, Magnum, Q?

Or Magnum, B, Q?

Robot Harem Animes-Yesterday at 7:00 PM

middle, maybe?

Minion tO WHO?-Yesterday at 7:00 PM

Chrome Harpoon, Chrome Frontier, Chrome Intrepid.

Sounds awesome!

Still No Puffins-Yesterday at 7:01 PM

Q missed his big brother so much

And seeing him turn into such a goodie good?

utter betrayal in his eyes

Robot Harem Animes-Yesterday at 7:02 PM

Magnum was probably always the more morally upstanding one. like, he might have done some rough play, but he always kind of hated it

Still No Puffins-Yesterday at 7:03 PM

Killer B always had arguments with him

Minion tO WHO?-Yesterday at 7:07 PM

Killer B being the kinda older brother you'd hate to get angry. Girochi gave Harpoon responsibility over  Frontier and Intrepid and he takes Harpoin's word for everything.

Shock circuit lv 1 almost every time you don't kill someone must be traumatizing.

Robot Harem Animes-Yesterday at 7:10 PM

When they were retired, Frontier tried to run away. When his brother s found him, he ran to them, thinking they had escaped too and now they could run away. Imagine his horror when he realizes that they have upgrades, but they're willing to go and kill, and they grab him and cart him off to be reformatted.

Minion tO WHO?-Yesterday at 7:11 PM

His screams of terror still rock Richard, and he promises to make the G3 better then this. More loving then this.

Girochi separating VZ for one mission only and the absence of BV and QV at his side makes a small spark in his head say, 'Is Harpoon making you...?'

His old life flashes before his eyes and he drops the Leaguer head he had crushed.

Fleeing to Earth is the same, recruiting is the same except...Magnum has no tolerance for breaking Silver Castle's pacifist streak. NO TOLERANCE AT ALL.

Robot Harem Animes-Yesterday at 7:22 PM

and when he sees the way the GSK stick together, he feels a pang of longing

Minion tO WHO?-Yesterday at 7:22 PM

Top Joy getting a hand ball? Okay, fine. Top Joy kicking it in their own goal? Fine. Top Joy attacking another mech in Soccer? No way! TOP JOY WITH A BOMB?! They're having a talk.

Longing, yes. Forgiving, not really.

Robot Harem Animes-Yesterday at 7:24 PM

well, yes. but like… he kind of wishes that he'd had that

Minion tO WHO?-Yesterday at 7:27 PM

Definitely! He wishes they'd have their relationship, but he knows it's too good to be true. Doesn't keep him from staring at the stars wanting his brothers arms around him as they celebrate finding him safe.

Robot Harem Animes-Yesterday at 7:28 PM

When they actually show up, he gets their arms around him. And he wants them to let go.

Minion tO WHO?-Yesterday at 7:30 PM

He can feel death clinging to them. He knows they missed him, but he's beyond the cute "Nii-san!" act. His team has taught him about health relationships by now, and the clawing paws of these too are filled with blood.

Death and satisfaction are hard to breathe in. And Magnum is overheating.

Magnum shrugging them off and looking at them. Was... Was Dark f!ching kidding? Silver Castle was so well off they... stooped so low to beat them!

Robot Harem Animes-Yesterday at 7:35 PM

…yo. Imagine the Killer Brothers specifically targeting Windy to beat the sh!t out of him because how dare their brother find someone else?

      (( Torture Warning ))

Minion tO WHO?-Yesterday at 7:37 PM

Beating the hell out of the Gold Brothers too because aren't they just cute! Killer B holding up Gold Arm's head as Killer Q takes pictures after beating them all up because they have a say on if they get on the team or not.

Magnum x4 trauma when he receives pictures of all four being beaten. Even Windy, on field. How had he missed that?

Them finding Gold Foot adorable. He wanted to protect everyone, and his fire and defiance was similar to Magnum's~!

Robot Harem Animes-Yesterday at 7:41 PM

I wasn't even thinking on field. i was thinking they jumped windy while he was taking a walk and took their sweet time torturing him physically and psychologically

 …oh man. maybe they even see how the gold brothers are like them. also, imagine them (this is gory) mentioning how Arm has firey eyes, and Q rips one out to take a look at it

maybe not but still

Minion tO WHO?-Yesterday at 7:42 PM

Yes! It's an AU, so it doesn't matter how gory! All the gore!

Robot Harem Animes-Yesterday at 7:42 PM

i can write some good gore. i like writing the occasional gory fic

Minion tO WHO?-Yesterday at 7:42 PM

Arm's eye, Foot's leg(s), and Mask's teeth.

Robot Harem Animes-Yesterday at 7:43 PM

maybe not teeth. maybe those finials. heck, maybe foot/arm p!sses them off and so they take it out on mask

Minion tO WHO?-Yesterday at 7:45 PM

Mask losing more then his finals after Foot tries to tear B's face off. Mask looses his finals, everything attached to the finals, loses all his spikes violently (feet and shoulders), his chest armor as they mess with his none lethal innards.

Robot Harem Animes-Yesterday at 7:47 PM

and they punch and kick him, they mess up his face, too. their cleats cut him up, and Q stomps on his hand, shattering some of the mechanisms

the wrorst part: Foot knew there'd be consequences for that. He was paranoid, expecting them at every turn.

he wasn't expecting mask to show up at his door after dragging himself up to their quarters

Minion tO WHO?-Yesterday at 7:49 PM

The only thing working in Mask's bodies are his legs, and he just falls on Foot's floor and doesn't wanna move.Him screaming for Arm, for Foot, and still softly crying for them on Foot's own floor. Arm pulling out his IV's as he takes off when Foot calls him about this.

Robot Harem Animes-Yesterday at 7:53 PM

I mean, I bet they're fine with doing a lot of things b/c the mechanics can fix it

…yo. thunder bolt captures GZ. someone attacks him, and GZ breathes a sigh of relief…

…until he sees who it is

Chaoit-Yesterday at 7:54 PM

yep, then it's like 'I think I preferred my attacker'

Minion tO WHO?-Yesterday at 7:54 PM

They rip into Thunder Bolt like paper, GZ seeing what the battlefield can do to psychopaths. And the oil that freezes on the ice stains him as well.

Robot Harem Animes-Yesterday at 7:55 PM

and then they turn to him

Minion tO WHO?-Yesterday at 7:56 PM

Them being vicious and just circling him like predators as they skate slowly.

"Nii-san chooses the weirdest friends!" Q would say happily.

"Thicker armor, war grade, 1000 year stare. He is a strange one." B would chuckle, "But he's not all that tough. He fell in a trap with lions."

Minion tO WHO?-Yesterday at 8:02 PM

Q coming closer to GZ's face and taking in his eyes as he goes back to circling. "His eyes are pretty, but not as pretty as Gold Arm's! It's still in my chassis pocket, Nii-san!"

GZ just has the biggest heart attack ever, and that's saying something. Gold Arm's... eye? What did they do to them?

B taking Q's place in GZ's face. "Don't tell him anything, commander. This is an officers meeting and very coincidental."

"Nii-san... Someone entered the building and is heading this way." Q pipes up as Magnum and all Silver Castle bursts into the building. "We need to vanish."

They frame GZ. They knock him out, untie him, and put their murder weapons on GZ's person and make him hold it. They slink out a back entrance.

Chaoit-Yesterday at 8:19 PM

((well shit

Minion tO WHO?-Yesterday at 8:20 PM

Remember what I said about Magnum taking no shit from rough play? Oh boy!

Be doesn't know what to believe. He knows GZ couldn't have done it but all the paper's were talking about the autopsy of Thunder Bolt. It's a hockey weapon, it's very strong, and it looks to have been one assailant because the murder weapon was left on the ice.

"It was the Killer Kyoudai, you have to believe me, Magnum!" GZ would beg as the team didn't know what to do here.

"GZ... I believe you." Magnum will say as he startles GZ a bit. "But the news articles... They won't see it like us... If only we had proof. Like if they stashed something away..."

Stashed? On their person...? Gold Arm's eye!

"Magnum, I have an idea!" GZ would look at Magnum with determination here.

Chaoit-Yesterday at 8:26 PM

risky risky))

Minion tO WHO?-Yesterday at 8:27 PM

Since the G3 are being fixed in secret orders, and no one is the wiser about their condition. The KK can be free reined on the rink next week. Oh wait, those Silver Brothers were in the way...

The Silver Brothers are introduced here on the rinks as it's their big entrance. They are ace detectives, and Girochi is confident with them here, and incident like Thunder Bolts either won't happen or won't stay a mystery for long.

The Silver Brothers suspect Magnum Ace, Killer Q, Killer B, GZ, and Flash Kid. All have a motive to kill Thunder Bolt in cold blood for practise on a rink.They try to keep Silver Castle in their pacifist circle but Flash Kid and the Killer Brothers seem to always overwhelm the the underdogs.

They also might have history with Chrome Frontier...

In one episode, they clash and have a memory surge... 

Turns out...

           (( This is where Chronological Order becomes shit, so bear with me here. We were hyped up on ideas and everything went to shit. But you know where everything goes, hopefully. 😅 ))

After the Chrome Kyoudai killed a whole team of underdogs who tarnished their Dark name by winning, and Silver Justice and Silver Gallant were on the case back then. They had many restless nights as the CK kept killing while they accidentally fussed over paperwork.

Silver Gallant and Silver Justice are threatened with retirement from their sports if they don't find the murderers and they are like 1000% stressing until... Chrome Frontier knocks on their door with a broken and oil stained bat. He confesses everything and he rats out his brothers as he cries out he didn't wanna kill them.

That's how the Chrome Kyoudai were pulled in the Iron Soldier Program and Frontier tried to run away. But his brothers dragged him kicking and screaming into the underground as they wanted to kill kill kill and Frontier wasn't ruining this for them.

The Silver Kyoudai were retired because they knew too much about everything, and they made good looking war products.

Back to present day, Magnum gets access to their system by accident and wins the match that leads them into the championships.

GZ calling everyone into a meeting after the game. Once everyone gathers, he whips out a Leaguer's eye and holds it out. "I got Gold Arm's eye."

Chaoit-Yesterday at 8:46 PM

((GZ what the hell boy?

((tact is a thing you need to practice

Minion tO WHO?-Yesterday at 8:47 PM

Top Joy gagging, Ryuuken being disgusted, and Windy being angry on why he had it.

Magnum explains, "The Gold Brothers must be in danger, GZ got the eye off of Killer Q's person. The Gold Brothers, as reported by Juurouta, had to fight to Killer Kyoudai to get back in Dark... They could be dead."

GZ nods as he hands it to Bull Armor, the only one with medical knowledge of any kind here. "They told me as they slaughtered Thunder Bolt that my eyes were as cute as the one they had on them. Gold Arm's."

Bull examines it and cringes. "The line that connects it to the cortex is strained and stretched. It was ripped out..."

Top Joy might have fainted.

Windy might have punched a hole somewhere.

And Ryuuken might have swore a bad one.

Juurouta pipes up. "How do we catch them. Even their own ace detectives can't track the two they bunk with."

It's starting to slow down on me, I'm going to make a part 2 and I'll see if it helps! Read more if you dare! 😈

[the-master-cylinder]

SUMMARY In the near future, Earth has been devastated by a thermonuclear war over the depleting petroleum reserves. What little petrol remains has become a precious commodity fought over by vicious warlords and mercenaries. A war party led by Straker (James Wainwright) find a vast supply of diesel fuel in a compound once thought to be radioactive. When his daughter Corlie (Annie McEnroe) refuses to execute the previous owners, she runs away from her father’s base camp. Fleeing through the open desert, she runs into Hunter (Michael Beck), an ex-soldier armed with a high-tech motorbike, who takes her to shelter at his farm.

After keeping her on the farm on a temporary basis, Hunter sends her off to live in the walled city of Clearwater Farm, governed by a strict old-fashioned democracy, where she is quickly accepted by the community. However, she is soon discovered by her father’s men, who move to attack the Clearwater community. In the chaos that ensues, Corlie manages to escape back to Hunter’s remote hideout.

The mercenaries terrorise and pillage the city. Straker tortures the resident mechanic Rusty (John Ratzenberger) into giving him the location of Hunter’s secret hideout. Straker moves to attack Hunter’s base and recapture Corlie. Hunter and Corlie escape on his bike and Straker, in a rage, plows through Hunter’s residence with his truck. Hunter takes Corlie back to the Clearwater people and asks Rusty to build him an armored car to attack Straker’s “battletruck”. While Rusty and Hunter and a few others are thus occupied, one of the residents turns traitor and knocks out Coralie, putting her in a wagon and heads out to deliver her back to Straker. Hunter tries to stop him, but the traitor sets an ambush for him and wounds him with a crossbow. Believing that he has killed Hunter, he appears at Straker’s headquarters with Corlie in the wagon.

Meanwhile, Hunter regains consciousness and manages to limp back to Clearwater on his bike. While getting patched up there, Rusty finishes the armored car and shortly Hunter takes off in it, despite the fact that he is wounded. He attacks Straker’s HQ, plowing through buildings and tents and eventually dropping a grenade into Straker’s 50,000 litre diesel supply. He then runs and Straker, now in a towering rage, takes off after him. In the process, he forces the driver to overdo it in the truck, overheating the turbines. This stresses out the driver, (who loves the truck), and leads to dissension between him and Straker. Hunter meanwhile gets some distance ahead, jumps out of the car and climbs to a high place overlooking the road and it is now revealed that the whole attack on Straker’s HQ was a ruse to lure the truck into an ambush. The Clearwater people are at the high place waiting for Hunter with his motorcycle and a rocket launcher which Hunter had given them earlier in the movie. Hunter fires a couple of rockets at the truck, one causes slight damage and a small fire, which causes more stress between Straker and the truck driver. The driver attempts to kill Straker, who he feels is uselessly destroying the truck. Straker kills the driver, who slumps over the wheel and now the truck, throttles set to full, is more or less out of control.

Back on the bike again, Hunter manages to jump onto the truck through a hole in the top that one of his rockets had made. A battle ensues, the truck still careening wildly back and forth while Corlie tries to control it with the body of the driver slumped over the wheel and Straker furiously shouting commands to everybody. Eventually, Hunter fights his way to the front, temporarily stuns Straker, grabs Corlie, and jumps with her from the back of the still wildly out of control battle truck with Straker in the truck as he is still screaming, making death threats, and bumbling about the smoking ruins of the interior of the truck before it falls off a cliff as it crashes and explodes to kill him.

Hunter and Corlie end up back at Clearwater, where Corlie apparently settles for good as part of the community. Ever the loner, Hunter rides off into the sunset on a horse, promising Corlie that he will be back “sometime”.

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BEHIND THE SCENES The film was Warlords of the 21st Century. Originally released by Roger Corman’s New World Pictures regionally in California as Battletruck, this genre vehicle was promptly pulled over for an extensive overhauling of its advertising campaign and labeled with a new title. The original poster artwork featured a monstrous Battletruck explosively smashing everything in its path, echoing the crash-and kill apocalyptic trend of such highway combat flicks as Damnation Alley, Mad Max, Death Race 2000 and The Road Warrior.

Warlords takes place somewhere, sometime in the near future, in the wake of the oil wars. Nations have collapsed into chaos. There is no governmental authority outside the major cities; many who have fled the dying megalopolis have united in small communities to battle the marauding criminals and outcasts ravaging the countryside.

The most murderous “Warlord” is Colonel Straker, a merciless renegade who commands the indestructible Battletruck. Straker has discovered a secret government fuel stockpile and using it as his base camp, he plots a bloody campaign of terror against the nearby community of Clearwater.

But before his plans can be realized, Corlie, his young female companion, escapes his domination, fleeing on foot across rugged countryside, pursued by Straker’s men. Surrounded, she is rescued by a mysterious armor-clad road warrior on motorcycle. Hunter, an ex-commando who has turned his back flaps on society and lives a hermit-like existence in a mountain retreat, delivers Corlie to Clearwater. Refuge is short-lived as the community is attacked and destroyed by the maddened Straker, but Corlie has already escaped again. She seeks out the enigmatic Hunter, confronting him with a fateful choice: to maintain his neutrality or to face Straker and his murderous Battletruck.

Although non-stop stunt action is at the heart of this film, its soul is the interrelationship among its three characters. Hunter, played by Michael Beck (of The Warriors, Xanadu, Triumphs of A Man Called Horse), is a grim individualist who has rejected socie ty. Yet, he still cares about human life, and when spurned on by outrage after outrage, he will strike back. He is the respected but reluctant warrior.

Hunter’s opponent is the ruthless Straker, portrayed by James Wainwright, a veteran actor best known as the star of the TV series Jigsaw and for his roles in High Plains Drifter and Joe Kidd. Straker is a cold-blooded opportunist. He sees the world degenerating into chaos as an advantage to fulfill his own dreams of power, glory and control. Driven by his insatiable lusts, he executes his plans and his enemies-with the same flint-edged coldness. His only weaknesses are inflexibility, pride, and love for a girl named Corlie.

She is played by gravel-voiced Annie McEnroe, a stunning young actress who scored as Michael Caine’s ill-fated co-ed lover in The Hand. In Warriors, she is once again a victim of circumstances, tormented by her love for Straker and her hatred of the man and what he represents. She flees in search of a peaceful future, but first she must end her own violent past.

Plotting the Triangle For writer/director Harley Cokliss, second unit director of The Empire Strikes Back, this tripartite relationship provided the movie’s most fascinating moments. “What I was trying to do in the film was to give each character a certain amount of duality,” he says. “Straker, the evil king,’ is plagued by his obsession for Corlie. He’s an interesting, yet vulnerable kind of villain. Corlie is ‘a damsel in distress,’ though she’s kind of ambiguous and manipulative. She knows what she wants and uses other people to get it. People actually get killed because she doesn’t reveal her own identity. All she can say is, ‘I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it.’ There’s this kind of terrible attraction/repulsion which exists between them, like when she says, “I can’t stay with you, you know that.”

The specific nature of the affiliation between the evil Straker and the lovely Corlie is hinted at throughout the storyline. Their actual secret is confidential, shocking and not what you might expect. “We had to decide “How explicit do you want to make it?’.” Cokliss explains. “My feeling was we should go for a PG-rating because we wanted the film to be accessible to kids. It’s an exciting story about a future world that today’s kids may actually live in one day.

“Still, I was interested in having the characters’ motivation be adult. We tried to walk the line; it’s there for those who see it, yet it doesn’t smack you in the face,” he adds. “That’s why we chose to be a little circumspect. It is there if you want to find out. To me, it’s the main thrust of the film: why does this man pursue this one woman? Three quarters of the way into the film, you realize why there are clues dropped in dialogue, and you know that she’ll run away again and he’ll pursue her. It should come as a shock to the audience.”

The film’s hero, Hunter, resembles earlier cinematic characterizations etched by Clint Eastwood. “We did go back to the origins of Eastwood’s character, “Cokliss says, “which are the samurai pictures. A man of action should define his character through his actions rather than his dialogue. Of course, we talked about Clint’s minimal dialogue and how less is always more. The difference is that Hunter has a moral code. I really see him as a Zen Warrior, because he doesn’t seek out conflict. He moves away from it, only picking up the gauntlet when no other option remains.

“He’s forced to take a stand. When he lies on the operating table having his wounds dressed, he says, “No, they might come back for me.’ Hunter isn’t thinking, ‘I’m going to protect you,’ He knows Straker’s men will return for him and that anybody who has helped him will suffer. Hunter is really the reluctant hero who accepts the mantle only when he knows it’s inevitable. He knows there can’t be two bull mooses in the same part of the forest. Ultimately, he and Straker must come into conflict. But Hunter is the man who picks the time.”

Of course, a sequel typically, although Warlords of the 21st Century has yet to throttle into major, nationwide release, a follow-up has been discussed. “There are plans for a sequel,” Cokliss says, “in which many things we’ve begun to develop in this picture will be realized. We only had seven weeks to film Warlords, there were some very complicated sequences and I would have wished for at least 10 additional weeks and more money. What we had to do was boil the picture down to its bare essentials. We had no fat. We actually had to take scenes out in order to finish it within that time frame. I would have liked more scenes which more fully defined Hunter’s character and his relationship with Corlie, as well as ones dealing a little more with the alternative technology, “But we didn’t have time to do those things,” Cokliss sighs. “that’s the type of thing I want to resolve in the sequel, because I know I’ve raised many questions for the audience. They know at the end of Warlords the story isn’t over for Hunter and Corlie.

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“To me, this first film is about the mantle of kingship in a society in transition. It could be a Medieval tale, a Samurai story, a Western. What I wanted as a landscape, or time, to play out a story in which everything was without convention-where things were shaken up, unleashed, and literally could rattle around and reassemble themselves. In chaotic times, where there are those who oppose authority and law and order, you have people who band together in tribes. And you have this bandit king, a Warlord, call him what you will, trying to carve out his own territory and impose his will. Yet, he is not destined to be this land’s ruler because of various reasons. Warlords is like King Lear in that sense. And you wonder, when he dies, who will fill that void? I do have certain ideas how that leadership void will be filled in this world, and that’s what I hope to take up in the next picture.”

Warlords was filmed entirely on location in New Zealand, in the remote Central Otago region of South Island. The unspoiled barren landscape helps to personify society’s collapse and the primitive isolation forced on the survivors in the post-oil-war world. With few modern technological conveniences available, more practical alternatives must be substituted. “Obviously, people are not going to stop traveling,” Cokliss explains, detailing the futuristic tourist mind. “There are jokes about Volkswagens lasting forever. Well, I think the idea of two horses pulling a converted Volkswagen bus is wonderful! What you see in the film is what we did. There are very few special effects in Warlords. What we did, we did for real.

“The Battletruck, for example,” Cokliss says. “It’s steel-plated on a chassis, weighing 25 tons. Really! It was an armored truck, and actually went through buildings with hardly a scratch.

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“Hunter’s motorcycle was designed to run on methane. We postulated that he could brew and compress the gas from the decomposition of waste and vegetable matter. New Zealand, Italy and other countries now run their cars on natural gas. The technology is there for the type of energy-efficient community we created using wind solar and water power.”

Inevitably, comparisons arise between Warlords and the summer’s other similar vehicular-combat adventure-fantasy, The Road Warrior. Both focus on rugged loners, their ultra-fast vehicles and their violent adventurers in a post-holocaust world. Cokliss addresses the differences between the two movies. “I love The Road Warrior! It’s a terrific film with some very exciting action sequences, but it’s very dark, like a nightmare. The audience doesn’t project themselves into that story because it’s too bizarre. That’s why there was talk among distributors that our film would hurt Road Warrior or visa versa.

“To my mind, they are two very different films, which complement each other. They happen in different time scales; Road Warrior occurs further on in a more bizarre future. Warlords has a very believable, realistic landscape and time. It’s very much like a Western in its story dynamics and landscape a science-fiction Western in a very violent future.”

CAST/CREW Directed Harley Cokliss

Produced Lloyd Phillips Rob Whitehouse

Written Michael Abrams Irving Austin John Beech Harley Cokliss

Michael Beck as Hunter Annie McEnroe as Corlie James Wainwright as Straker Bruno Lawrence as Willie John Ratzenberger as Rusty John Bach as Bone Randy Powell as Judd

CREDITS/REFERENCES/SOURCES/BIBLIOGRAPHY Starburst Magazine#43 Starlog#67

Warlords of the 21st Century (1982) Retrospective SUMMARY In the near future, Earth has been devastated by a thermonuclear war over the depleting petroleum reserves.

[loganscanons]

(br)otp week - rainy

@rainys-shipsandcanons​ Sorry this is so late! I don’t know your characters super well, which I should definitely change because I love the ones I do know. Parker and Heath’s friendship is definitely one of my favorite friendships, so of course I had to write them. I hope you like!

It was one of those summer days where the heat was so thick, it was suffocating. The humidity seeped under doorways, through the cracks in windows, through every nook and cranny, covering even inanimate objects in a layer of sweat. Even the quietly humming air conditioning didn’t do much to help cool campers down. The Hephaestus kids spent the early part of the week working on a New and Improved air conditioning system, but now they were beaten by the heat wave as well. When Parker had last dropped in to say hi to Robbie, fans were set up in the forges, blowing around hot air with a rattling whrrr. Many of the Hephaestus children were stretched out on various pieces of furniture, their motivation swallowed by the heat. Others were bent over their work, but their eyes drooped and sweat gathered on their skin.

Parker had spent his time traveling from cabin to cabin, spending time with friends and trying to find the coldest room in camp. So far, he’d been out of luck, each cabin only offering a short reprieve from the stifling heat. Currently, he was sprawled out like a starfish on the floor of the Dionysus cabin. Heath was hanging off his bed, limbs splayed out in a similar fashion.

Parker groaned, pressing the side of his face to the floor. The heat had turned his cheeks dusty rose and even though his hair was pulled tight into Dutch braids, small curls stuck to the nape of his neck, plastered down by sweat. Both he and Heath had ditched their shirts a while ago, doing anything they could to minimize overheating.

“I come to New York over the summer so I don’t have to deal with the Florida heat. This isn’t fair,” Parker moaned. He didn’t come to New York to beat the heat; he came for camp. But the weather was a plus.

“Somebody must have pissed off Apollo,” Heath said with a heavy sigh.

“Or it’s global warming,” Parker suggested.

“Could be,” Heath said. “Someone should make a giant offering to Apollo either way.”

Most of the Apollo kids seemed the least affected by the heat wave, taking the opportunity to play beach volleyball, go swimming, and bask in the sun. Parker couldn’t believe them. Physical exertion didn’t seem possible in this heat. He told Heath that and Heath made a noise of agreement.

“Hey, Parker,” Heath said after a few moments of silence.

“Huh?” Parker said. He didn’t bother to pick his face up from the floor. The bed made a quiet creaking sound and then Heath was nudging him with his foot.

“Get up,” he said.

“Nuh-uh,” Parker groaned.

“Yeah, come on, I have an idea,” Heath said.

Parker looked up at him with a frown. An idea? He wasn’t sure he trusted Heath with unexplained ideas. Especially when he was smiling like that.

“What idea?” Parker asked, rolling over onto his back and sitting up slowly.

“You’ll like it, I promise,” Heath said. But he was grinning widely and there was glint in his eye that yelled don’t trust me!

Parker stretched, internally debating whether getting up was really worth it. Finally, he stood, taking his sweet time. And then he stretched again, second-guessing himself. He was pretty sure the air was hotter and he should just lie back down on the floor. Heat rises, after all.

He didn’t get the chance to lie back down, though, because Heath grabbed his wrist, pulling him out of the cabin. Parker pulled his arm away; even that amount of body heat was too much.

The humidity felt like walking through really hot sludge. Within seconds, the top of Parker’s head started to gather heat, his thick, dark hair a magnet for the sun’s rays. Fumbling, he put on his sunglasses so he wouldn’t have to squint the whole time they were outside.

“Where are we going?” Parker asked, following Heath at an obnoxiously slow pace. His muscles were bogged down and he couldn’t make them move faster if he tried.

“Camp store,” Heath said. He was several paces in front of Parker. Somehow, the humid air didn’t slow him down.

“Why?” Parker asked. But Heath was too far ahead now, and his question went unanswered.

Parker was breathing pretty deeply by the time he reached the camp store. Heath walked in a few moments earlier, still far ahead of him. Taking a moment to lean against the door frame, Parker went inside. He pulled off his sunglasses, allowing his eyes to readjust to the dim lighting. The room was mostly filled with camp clothing in an array of sizing. Tank tops, shirts, bandanas, even a couple towels, all a bright orange. One of the Kowalski siblings sat behind the register, flipping lazily through a magazine. A big, boxy fan sat on the edge of the counter, blowing directly into the Kowalski kid’s face.

Curiously, Heath was nowhere to be seen. Parker asked the Kowalski kid if they’d seen them and they just shrugged. Confused, Parker turned around, put on his sunglasses and walked outside. He looked left and right and –

FWISHHH! A harsh stream of freezing water pelted Parker’s torso. He jumped back, throwing up his arms to protect himself. If he hadn’t been so shocked, the water would’ve been refreshing. When the stream ended, he lowered his arms. There was Heath, grinning widely, his eyes hidden behind a pair of aviators. He was holding a large, neon colored water gun. Another, similar water gun with inverted colors rested against the wall of the camp store. Parker was pretty sure water guns weren’t on the stock list for the store, which meant the Kowalski siblings smuggled them into camp.

“Wanna go attack other campers with water guns?” Heath said, still grinning that devious grin. “They’ve got water balloons too,” he said, nodding his head toward the store.

“No way,” Parker said. “You could start an all-out water gun war if you do that.”

“Gods, I hope so,” Heath said. He popped his gum and added, “A war that I’m gonna win.”

“Yeah, okay, have fun with that,” Parker said. One of the other Kowalski siblings – Emma, the one who was probably the brains of the water gun smuggling – walked up to the store, returning from who knows where.

“I’d watch out,” Emma said, with a sly grin. “I heard someone just attacked some of the Ares kids with water guns. Holding that kinda makes you a target.” She nodded at Heath and then disappeared into the store.

Parker sighed, “A water gun war was gonna happen anyway, wasn’t it?”

“Yup,” Heath said.

“Well, you have fun, I’m gonna go back to my cabin,” Parker said. He started to turn but was showered with another stream of water against the small of his back. He gasped at the temperature.

“Hey!” Parker said.

Heath pushed passed him, turning only to spray Parker with another blast. “You coming?” Heath asked.

“Fine,” Parker said. If there was going to be a water gun war, it might be smart to be on Heath’s team, given how competitive he was. “But only if we team up.”

“You mean, if I only I protect you,” Heath said with a sideways smile.

“Yes,” Parker said.

“No promises,” Heath laughed.

[sassycassie-s-series]

Newsflash

Chapter 1 - First Video

By: SassyShoulderAngel319

Fandom/Character(s): The Flash - Barry Allen/The Flash and OC (Heather Astra)

Rating: PG

Original Idea: @hero-fix‘s HCs for Sharing a YouTube Channel with Barry Allen

Notes: (Masterlist) This is gonna be fun! I have a little experience with video editing so I’m excited to keep writing this one.

^^^^^

I sat down in front of the camera and turned it on, beginning the recording. “Okay here we go,” I whispered before looking directly into the lens. “What with all the crazy happening around here recently, I thought I would make this little vlog. Just… just in case I die from some metahuman attack. Which… probably won't happen, but… y’know. People die every day and sometimes it’s the result of some lunatic with superpowers rampaging through my city.” I smiled. “My name is Heather Astra and this… is my video journal.

“So, Heather,” I began as if I were talking as someone else, “what’s it like living in Central City?

“Well,” I continued, “it’s interesting. As interesting as life can be for a young, single girl who lives alone, hasn’t really been on a date since she was eighteen, and is such a science nerd that she scares boys away because she’s smarter than them.” I chuckled and sighed. “But, in all seriousness, life is actually pretty good. I have a stable job that I love and a powerful telescope so I can see the stars.

“A little bit more about me. I just turned twenty-four-years-old. I graduated Star City University with a degree in Forensic Science two years ago and got a job in my field. I am five-feet-one-inch tall, and if I wasn’t a forensic scientist I'd want to be an actor—ridiculous and unrealistic, I know. Do I want to be a metahuman with powers? No. Thank. You. I can barely handle my own life on my own without having to deal with superpowers on a regular basis—although my little fangirl heart is excited that superheroes exist,” I joked. “I read comic books a lot growing up. I like superheroes.”

I paused for a minute, wondering what else to say. “Oh. Right. This channel will mostly be me talking about things going on in my life and the city in general without too many specific details to protect the privacy of those involved. I’ll probably fangirl about The Flash a lot and talk about my fandoms—because, yes, I am literally a nerd on all fronts. And very proud to be so.” I smiled cheekily. “So I hope you guys are all as excited as I am—if anyone’s even watching this—and I will see you all very soon!” With that, I stopped recording and turned the camera off. I plugged the SD card into my laptop and began to edit. It would be a short first video, but that was okay. It was just an introduction.

Once the editing, rendering, and exporting was done, I uploaded it to my new channel: Star Sailor—which I'd chosen because it was the English translation of “astronaut’s” Latin roots.

Yeah. I was a big nerd.

Knock, knock, knock! The knuckles echoed off my door as the video was uploading. I closed my laptop’s lid slightly so that whoever was on the other side of my front door wouldn’t see what I was up to. I didn’t really want anyone to know about my vlog just yet.

I went over to the door and peered through the peephole.

A green eye was looking at me.

I yanked the door open. “Barry Allen!” I greeted brightly.

“Hey Heather. I was just on my way to this café to have lunch with some friends and was wondering if you would like to join us so I'm not awkwardly third-wheeling.”

I chuckled. “Sure. Just give me a minute so I don’t leave the house in my pajama bottoms. Come on in, make yourself at home for a few minutes so I can change.” I took my laptop into my room so Barry couldn’t see it, plugged it into the charger, and changed from pajama bottoms to skinny jeans. I pulled on some sneakers and a jacket. I could hear Barry humming and walking around my living room, probably looking at all the pictures I had on my walls. And I had a lot of them.

Once I touched up my makeup—that I'd applied for the video—and fixed my flyaway hairs, I went back into the living room, grabbing my bag with my wallet in it. I added my phone and smiled at my friend. “Shall we, then?” I asked brightly. I must have startled him because he whirled around so fast that I almost couldn’t track his movement. When he realized it was just me, he smiled.

“We shall. Thanks for joining me.”

“It’ll be my pleasure. I love cafés. Is it Jitters?”

“No it’s a smaller one. It’s a little farther away, but it’s got lots of delicious stuff on the menu. I know how much you love hot chocolate this time of year,” he answered. I smiled.

“Well then, what are we waiting for?” I joked.

Barry grinned. “Nothing. Let’s go.” He offered me his elbow. I took it and let him escort me out of my apartment—but pausing long enough for me to lock my door behind us. The video was still uploading and encoding. I'd have to publish it when I got back. Hopefully we wouldn’t be gone too long.

I loved autumn. It wasn’t too hot, but not too cold, and the leaves looked like they were catching fire. I could wear a comfy jacket or a sweater and drink as much hot chocolate as my heart desired without sweating profusely and feeling like I was overheating like I felt in the summer. And Central City was the perfect place to enjoy autumn. Tall buildings, trees, pleasantly brisk breezes blowing down the roads. I was so happy I lived there.

I leaned on Barry’s arm a bit as we walked, friendly familiarity making nothing awkward between us. There had never been anything romantic between us—not that I didn’t sometimes wonder—but we were close enough that I could lean on his arm with no implications about desires. We talked and laughed and smiled up and down at each other. I was a foot shorter than his 6’1”.

“Have I seen that necklace before?” he asked curiously, nodding at my chest.

A silver five point star charm hung off a thin chain of the same color. The points of the star were sharp, but the center had been rounded out a bit so the charm wasn’t just a flat plate.

I shrugged. “Probably,” I remarked. “I mean, I've worn it every day for the past… five months.”

Barry grunted. “Hmm. Guess I just never paid enough attention. Sorry about that. It’s really pretty,” he offered. “Just… kinda… suits you. If that makes sense.” He looked a little embarrassed. His cheekbones went slightly pink.

I grinned. “Thanks. That’s very sweet of you.”

“So,” he began, obviously trying to change the subject. “What's new with your life?”

I tried not to panic. I was a bad liar. It was hard for me to avoid a direct question. I didn’t want to tell him about my vlog because I had only just started and I wasn’t sure if I even wanted anyone in my normal life to know about it. I mean, sure it would be better for me to tell him myself than to have someone later share a video of mine on the internet and have him discover I'd told a story about him or something—but I didn’t want anyone to know just yet. Maybe if it went somewhere I'd start talking about it more. But for the moment, I wanted to keep it on the down-low.

So I shook my head and avoided his eyes. “Nothing really. Just spend too much time on the internet, as usual,” I answered, mostly-truthfully.

That made him chuckle. “Yeah same. My social life consists almost solely of Netflix.”

“Well at least we’re both away from the internet and Netflix for a little while now,” I commented, leaning against his arm again as a breeze brushed across our faces. Barry smiled as we walked, though he seemed a little jumpy.

“True,” he conceded.

We walked and talked on a little bit more for a while as we strolled through the city, taking in the sights, sounds, scents, and people. It was a great place to be—even with the metahumans and all of that crazy stuff. As long as the Flash was around to battle the metahumans I wasn’t too worried about the future of Central City.

Barry pulled me to a stop. “Here. This is it.” He took me into the coffee shop.

Next Chapter

[thesassybooskter]

COLLISION COURSE by Marie Harte Review, Excerpt & Giveaway

Collision Course by Marie Harte Series: Body Shop Bad Boys #4 Published by Sourcebooks Casablanca Publication Date: January 2nd 2018 Genres: Contemporary Romance Pages: 354 Source: Publisher Format: eARC Goodreads Buy Online: Amazon ♥ Barnes & Noble ♥ Kobo ♥ iBooks

I received this book for free from the Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

He’s always had a way with the ladies

She won’t give him the time of day

Sparks fly when two hearts in motion collide.

Florist Joey Reeves is working overtime to stay away from Lou Cortez, the ace mechanic with a reputation for irresistible charm. She’s a single mom with enough on her plate—the last thing she needs is entanglement with the hottest guy in town…

“Well, hello there.”

Joey glanced up and froze. The man who’d been haunting her sleep looked even better in the hard light of day.

“H-hello.” She coughed. The guys who worked at Webster’s Garage all looked larger than life, covered in tattoos, muscles, and that indefinable sense of danger they wore like a second skin. But this guy, the tall, Latin lover with dark-brown eyes and lips made for kissing, had ensnared her.

  Review

Like most fans of this series, I was really looking forward to Lou’s story but not for the same reason. Lou did not have the troubled background of the other guys and his large number of female relatives made him very interesting to me. He is the quintessential Latin lover – gorgeous, hot, charismatic and a ladies’ man – and I wanted to know what kind of woman would trip him up. While Joey would not have been my first choice, there is something fitting about a man who has had his pick of the finest and most exotic beauties falling for a quiet, reserved florist. Thankfully, she was not so reserved once you got to know her and was able to hold her own with Lou.

Joey was a very admirable character in her own right. Having to take on a major responsibility at a very younger age meant that she was light-years more mature than her contemporaries and it showed in every one of her decisions. She worked hard to make a better life for herself and her son, in spite of the cost in terms of her relationship with her parents.

Watching Lou go from the smooth know-it-all who always offered his friends the best advice about women to a bumbling, slightly insecure man was very enjoyable, as was having his well-thought out plans about romance and relationships blown up by his feelings for Joey.

The dialogue was fun, and the banter and chemistry among the other characters made this a very entertaining book. There were a lot more secondary characters here, but they all added something to the story and made what would have otherwise been an okay story a lot more enjoyable. The cameos from characters from her other series was one of the highlights of the book for me. 

  Excerpt

Ten minutes and a text later, Joey drove to Becky’s house and planned to indulge in some girl time. Maybe Becky could help her understand her fascination for Lou.

She arrived at Becky’s soon enough. Her friend shared a condo with a teacher friend. As Joey entered, said teacher left with a smile.

“She’s got a date tonight.” Becky motioned to the coffee table, laden with wine, crackers, and cheese. “And apparently now so do I. Dig in.” Becky lowered her voice and said, suggestively, “Welcome to my pad, sweetness. Boom chicka bow bow.”

Joey laughed. “Stop. That only works when I’m the plumber or the delivery guy.”

Becky sighed. “Guess I’ll have to save that for Trent, who’s out of town this weekend. How the hell am I supposed to seduce him when he’s helping his grandmother move?”

“Aw, that’s so nice.”

“Nice ain’t sexy. Gah.” Becky munched on a cracker. “But I’m excited to hang with you. I can’t believe you finally got paroled. So Brandon the criminal is hanging with the other hooligans, eh? Way to dodge that bullet, Joey.”

“Funny.” Joey paused. “Ah, there’s one thing. I can’t stay past eight. I have a…date.”

Becky stared. “Not with sexy Lou again.”

Joey’s silence answered for her.

“Oh my God. Dinner must have gone well the other night. Tell me.”

Joey swallowed. “He was polite, charming. He looked amazing. He’s really built.” She flushed, feeling that “built” inside her all over again. “We talked then walked after dinner. He paid too. And he was so nice, so sweet. We held hands.”

“Romantic.” Becky sighed.

And then last night he bent me over the flower table and made me see stars. Yeah, romantic.

Becky hugged a pillow to her chest, her expression dreamy until her eyes narrowed on Joey’s face. “Why are you blushing so hard? I mean, your face is really pink.” Her eyes widened. “Holy crap. You had sex with him, didn’t you?”

“N-no.” She cleared her throat. “That’s a little personal, don’t you think?”

“Oh my God, you did. You did! Joey Reeves got some lovin’. Hot damn. It’s about friggin’ time!”

Still feeling overheated, Joey glanced up at her friend. “You can’t tell anyone.” She swore. “I can’t believe it happened. It just…I’m still trying to process it.”

“What’s to process? You fell for the magic in his man-wand.” Becky shrugged, as if it was no big thing. “Happens to the best of us. Well, except for me and Trent the Boy Scout,” she grumbled.

Joey was stuck on man-wand. “What did you call it?”

Becky burst out laughing. “If you could see your face. Hey, you should hear half the things they call it. Fuckstick, staff of life, lady’s lollipop. I could go on.”

“Please, don’t.” Joey grimaced.

“I know, right? Man-wand is so much better.” Becky paused. “Is it, Joey? Is it better? Or did you lollipop him? You know, like what we in the know call it—the hand and blow.”

Joey’s face threatened to melt clean off. She had a feeling she could fry eggs on her cheeks. “I can’t believe I’m having this conversation.”

“Me neither.” Becky grinned. “You’re like beet-red right now. Or fire-engine red, maybe. Hey, did you guys remember to wear a ‘raincoat’?” Becky snickered.

“Stop talking, please.”

“Just tell me this. Do you want to do it again? As in, was it any good? Tell me, and I’ll shut up.”

“It was amazing, okay?” Joey growled. “So great I can’t stop thinking about doing it again. And I don’t tend to do well with men and sex.”

“That’s because you live like a nun in the Church of Reeves, presided over by Father Andrew and Sister Amy. God, it’s a wonder you have a kid with all the guilt your parents keep throwing on you. And after eight—”

“Nine.”

“—years you’d think they’d let it go.”

“So maybe I was just desperate. It was a one-shot deal, right?” So why am I thinking of being with him again when I know it’s a mistake?

Becky shrugged and ate more crackers and cheese. “I think you should be desperate again. If you want him, have him. You have a right to be happy. Take joy in his man parts. Go forth, just don’t prosper.”

Joey choked on a laugh. “Yes, Mom.”

“Ouch.”

“Don’t worry. We were safe.” Rather, he was safe. She’d been so far gone she hadn’t thought about protection until it was almost too late, which was just stupid. Granted, she wouldn’t have babies with Lou while on birth control. But she could always chance a disease with an unknown. She’d been so wrapped up in the moment, lost to her body’s needs.

But Lou had thought ahead.

Which put his actions in a different light. Had he expected to have sex with her?

“What’s that look?” Becky asked.

“He was ready for it. Us, I mean.”

Becky looked confused.

“He was prepared.”

“Jesus, Joey. You can say condom and not burn in hell. So he was prepared. Good for him.”

“You think?”

“Who cares why he had the condom? He had it, you had fun. And if you’re lucky, you’ll have more fun tonight.” Becky poured herself some wine. “Have some for me, would you? Because I’m clearly not getting any.” She cocked her head, considering something. “Unless Will’s home.”

“Becky.”

Becky laughed. “Nah. Will’s in Italy this month.” She chuckled. “Kidding, kidding. I’m wanting Trent. I am. Really.”

They laughed some more, and when Joey excused herself for the bathroom, a new text popped up. Lou had decided on the place. An address in Rainier Valley, where he’d mentioned he lived.

She didn’t know what to think, so she took care of business and blanked her mind.

She returned to the living room. “He invited me to his place.”

Becky blinked. “You were gone maybe five minutes.”

“He just texted me.”

“So go.”

“To his place?”

“Why not? Is he rapey or something?”

“No.” He’d been a perfect gentleman since she’d known him. And even after sending her to heaven, twice, he’d ended their impromptu session at the flower shop with a hug and by walking her to her car. “No. He’s nice. Sexy. Too—”

“He’s exactly what you need.” Becky nodded. “Give me your phone.”

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  About Marie Harte

Caffeine addict, boy referee, and romance aficionado, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author MARIE HARTE is a confessed bibliophile and devotee of action movies. Whether hiking or biking around town, or hanging at the local tea shop, she’s constantly plotting to give everyone a happily ever after. She lives in in Central Oregon.

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COLLISION COURSE by Marie Harte Review, Excerpt & Giveaway was originally published on The Sassy Bookster

[tomaschronosart]

I can remember writing a story about a cackle of hyenas whom were mindlessly roaming The Unending Desert, from memory I had depicted them as these anthropomorphic creatures – nearly human enough to recall. I was in Mrs. Dyer's class, so grade 6. I remember how calm and confident I felt doing this particular task, it seemed like I knew how to flow and tap into some source from the get go.The feeling of calm comfortability was very rare for me. Mrs. Dyer played the entire class a song and requested we create a narrative based on our initial thoughts, feelings and reactions to the song. As a kid with a bed time, I mostly just passed out from exhaustion, instead of actually going to sleep… I would lie awake every night, wired, manic and fearful. I began writing stories in my head early on in an attempt to soothe and channel my chronic anxieties.. I had constructed the usual traumatized-child-fantasy-universe – a safe place where I could manifest the perception of control. I never minded sleeplessness, as it created an apt environment for cognitive free-running, I adjusted. My fantastical bedtime stories were vanilla, from memory.. drug cartels, mercenary adventures in the jungle, sci-fi opera journeys and sometimes just a regular old adventure where me and mine would acquire some kind of drug or person or thing. For a long time, I had an obsession with unearthing new control techniques to quench the thirst of my firmly embedded insomnia - I had stock-standard/methodical/repetitive stories that would take 2-3 ours to ‘create n complete’. If there was a satisfying and coherent beginning, middle and an end to te story, I could sleep. Nights were always hardest and darkest for me – I have no idea how old I was when my sleep hygiene began deteriorating. And though, sleeplessness was uncomfortable and I was never keen on being tired – After doing the reading recovery program, I could finally read, so I was quick to pick up the –read-in-bed- habit. I began hearing other peoples stories, a welcome change. if I was feeling particularly flowy, I’d organize one of my card collections. I would try to master some new drawing technique... but I could sit behind a computer for 18-24 hours straight and ride the wave playing some puzzle or anything else repetitive enough to numb my mind. I remember how icy cold I’d get during winter - how blue my hands would become after hours of sitting stationary at my desk.. I would leave my window open throughout the night to keep the computer cool, it lagged if it overheated. I used to think that if I didn’t pay any attention to the cold, I would not feel the cold. Before I was 10, I had not come across any one thing that transfixed me. I had not yet become addicted to anything yet, I think? – that is until Puzzle Pirates!!! Shit, when that fucker came into the picture.. well, I no longer gave a shit about anything but Puzzle pirates. I could not cope with the disconnection, exile and the incessant bullying I copped from my peers. The frustrated messes waiting for me at home were suckin down durries, grog and sugar as hungrily as the machines cha-chinning for their money at the pub. I still am heeding these calls I am too tired to remember. I am still sweeping the dust away from these things I cant forget. At times, I miss the calm comfortability of not needing drugs; I miss the warmth that seeped away whilst roaming the waking world; I miss my Lunar lover, who would speak to me in dreams/ through dreams i could See through, cast away, be at ease. I hold on Tightly- still, To whatever vice’ll’suffice. seeming to soothe and appease the beast / my early coping strategies of hermitage and avoidance, protect me from momentum Games and story telling and art replication – I wanted to draw cartoon characters, as I was exposed to their stories more than my own peoples. I can still remember the countless hours, days and weeks of social isolation and voiceless anxiety. Sugar – one of the quickest ways to soothe my boiling baby brain. I keep thinking of the root of this addiction as a loss or lack of social belonging , or maybe I am lamenting another warped perception of my self .. I remember that I was so emotive and empathic and open but also unregulated, neglected and full of painful confusion. I forget that I still am. I felt so damn old all the time. I remember the sunshine splattering through the windows, onto the dashboard of mums old Ford Laser. We were doing one of our usual trips to Warrandyte for her housekeeping job with then Heffernans. I remember looking out over the balcony at the rear of their place, taking in the kilometers of bush and possibility. I black out their olympic size swimming pool - i nearly drowned in it a few times. While I was peering out across the sky,I was fretting over forgetting how I came to be standing there. I did not understand how I forgot- I remembered the sunshine On my face, So I knew, I had gotten there, though I could not remember how. I wanted to be a boy. I was a boy. I became a girl, as expected. , football was a medium, a bridge for the repressed masculinity – I didn't like to exercise, I did not want to be made of aware of my breathing, bleeding bio sac. my body was unimportant and sickly and tired and stressed and depressed, chronically– I reflect now and see how maladaptive a depressive I am. Always, wanting to escape the confines of the very thing I want to inhabit and realize? //// ah!!! the system that creates its own dependence, to substantiate its usage of the finite well, shall never recognize its own self-destructive carelessness. For having ignored the infinite well, the system, as it stands, shall fall. And that well that never runs dry? Well, I always forget about it. I use everything I have ever touched// to coin a collection of concepts Only I can comprehend. But, this is making it easier. I can see a bit clearer now. I can ease into the next step, less weary than before. But why? The further away I wander, the more susceptible I am to rot. In time, these things will return … and of my soul? My soul shall ache and pupate once more, Forlorn, I remember///! how I forgot – to start, To stop. And who's justifications am I leaning towards now? My deep dwelling fears and my leering observations are erratic, Unsustainable, Confusing. THE MAD ARM OF THE Y – an obstruction arises along the path creating the crossroads of forever, Two new paths, the same old path. I am alone, finally – at peace. At ease, with my failures, for now. No mirror I stumble upon can stave off my stare, Why should they? to see through what I can only see when I Stop, start and Refresh is my responsibility. I am so sorry, that I show A me that thinks it can have something It is not worthy of. Give me nothing and give me everything - I have been in all of the wrong places. I know I think wrong, and that I have made it too hard on myself. I know these revelations have been a long time coming but- I sat there and I remembered, It is to me and to me alone that I must consort with. I seek council amongst my memories and I find shelter in my solitude. These flickering unrealities I thought were gone - Pls, just hold onto the everlasting, Try, bust through space and time and just- Breathe. My desire for my true end has faded, I see life again, manifest. The 10,000 directions in front of me, the Myriad forever, the calf of endless suffering howls my name so doggardly. And change and change and change And grow and grow and grow, And that's all u r doing and that's all U can do. individualism is not the thing That u share with me, nor I with u. I remembered just now, that Id like to talk with u and, Share space. How I miss fixing shit with you. How u and me, we used to sit in the park and heal our aching thoughts- Work'd be done and the day was forever- and the thoughts would come, and go. And I miss it cause it kept me closer to my people – for when I speak amongst my kin, I am Home and full hearted – But I lost all my chill, I lost all my capitol, frankly. Then - it snow balled, as it always does. I feel I have been too sad to be a friend, too fucked to really feel love, I fear I am to scattered to comprehend my responsibilities And I’m too damn lonely to ask for help. And so what? Now what? Just keepin up with the fuckin fog is hard enough, I know I just gotta slow down and risk a bit of pain and ease into warmth and trust that its true. My silence has done me a disservice. My love for u, eternally/ Evergrateful / be am me, For all is as it could be. Chained to nought but my fears, Lovingly I say to u, from the mouth of Beth Ditto, “If everything u do has a hole in it, then everything u do has a hold on me, I been here before I should be used to this, But I can't take it no more, I can't take it no more, no oooo, Ooooooooo ooooooo ooooo,” (And to me I always sing:) “Yr mangled hrt, yr bitter love that's hangin onto memories, Ur lettin go of everything that ussed to be, U build me up to let Me down…” And from the channels of me, I wonder, what am I releasing? Capitulating with comrades, A sparrow new found – tiny and fragile, Like glass, Rock hard and clear/ transparent but, still. It is shattered Spraying and sputtering nuggets of raw energy. Crack and singe, whatever mind of mine is waning by the wayside. Moments of forever, Of the eternal calm of belonging- Jan Cadman’s Kyneton property, We’s just yabbies in the dam. / I think I can see, I wanna chill, like when I was there. As conceited as I can be- some people I never need to feel again. Thin ice, let me drown. My neck is under deep, it's me and me alone that keeps quiet. I've been drowning, again, like always. I just got sick from telling people.. Only I can save me, I forgot, I forgot.