#i fucking hate technology for being STUPID AS SIN

[bitbrumal]

ooc  moans & laments. i think the os update is also fucking up origin, so now sims 4 refuses to download any of its packs excepting... high school. i. i don’t even know where to begin. whatever urgh.

[legacysam]

"#*erases a rant about fandom cas characterization bc god who has the energy*" me. i have the energy. give me the rant.

*cracks knuckles* okay let’s see if any of these particular intellectual muscles still work.

I am always pro-cas-being-canonically-dickish posts (even if they are misleading one way or another, more on that later) because dear GOD this fandom loves to infantalize the man. He’s a “baby in a trenchcoat.” He’s dumb about pop culture and clueless about human things isn’t it adorable? SHUT UP!!!! And pls especially shut up if you’re using his ignorance as a way of making another character look cool or smart by comparison. “it’s a shortened version of my name” was 100% Cas fucking with Dean because he is a dick sometimes! and it’s great! Also: Cas’s indifference to pop culture isn’t a weakness just because pop culture knowledge is a major currency on tumblr!!! It’s indicative of the fact that he’s got much bigger and more important things on his mind. (Also. listen. This trait was canonically erased by Metatron and it was literally the only good thing that fucking character ever did so can we please as a fandom just acknowledge that little slice of canon? pls?)

(Can I also just say.....fish out of water stories are only good when they are on the side of the fish and not just using the fish to make jokes. Just. as a note on the trope in general but specifically re: every time this shows up in fanfic with Cas or any other similar character. Thor comes to mind.)

Anyway Cas isn’t a child, he’s ANCIENT and TIRED and CONFLICTED about major moral issues, which is FASCINATING for an angel character and forces us as an audience to consider more deeply the actual differences between heaven and hell, good and evil, destiny and free will. Is this how we expect an angel to behave? What does this tell us about Heaven? If Cas is an aberration, what does that tell us about Heaven and goodness and God? So his expressions of anger and frustration and his impatience with or indifference to human courtesies are a really great part of his character and people should appreciate them more (and not just when it’s funny!)

(Sidenote bc I always think about this when I think about fandom and Cas, the reductive fandom approach to “””crazy!cas””” (what a fun way of saying “deeply affected by horrible trauma and guilt and trying to repress it so he can function.” thanks for that fandom) as comic relief or a woobified victim is. hm. bad. That’s all I’ll say about that one.)

{ANOTHER sidenote, this one for fan artists in particular but fan writers definitely aren’t free from sin: Cas isn’t pale or short and he isn’t a fuckin twink pls stop projecting weird m/f stereotypes onto your queer ships pls and thank}

ANYWAY about these screenshots specifically: Listen I love this post but the context of these scenes is SO MUCH MORE INTERESTING than Cas being a dick to Sam. They aren’t really about Sam at all, actually. “Don’t ask stupid questions” is such a painful fucking response to Sam asking if he’s okay, because he’s clearly not okay--he’s still struggling with the knowledge that God has given up and abandoned them--but he can’t be vulnerable about it. So he redirects to ask what Sam needs from him because that’s what he does, it’s what he is, he’s a tool. He’s a solution to problems (except his own). And his unwillingness to confront his pain (while also not being able to hide it) isn’t really about his relationship with Sam, it’s about his relationship with God and with himself and his own failures. The visibility of that struggle while he continues to try to help in this episode is just really fucking moving, okay?

Also there’s absolutely nothing hostile about “Sam, of course, is an abomination” in context. Like. Not a damn thing. There’s a task that needs to be performed by a “servant of heaven,” and Cas is explaining why none of the three of them qualify, and we know he feels shame about the fact that HE doesn’t qualify by how he reacts later, calling himself a poor example of an angel. He’s as much an abomination as Sam is in this moment.

Actually you know what? Literally everything in these screenshots that gets interpreted as “Cas hates Sam” is 100% actually Cas hating himself. He hates Sam’s voice while he’s stuck using a human voice himself to communicate, through technology he’s hostile to because it’s limiting compared to angelic communication. He rejects Sam’s compassion because he doesn’t want to talk about his own weakness. He calls Sam an abomination in the same breath that he acknowledges that he isn’t a servant of heaven anymore, and with much less anger than when he later calls himself a poor example of an angel. He sees himself in Sam but he hates himself too much to use that as a point of connection and pushes away from it instead. (I’m not going to go on a shipper detour here but sastiel shippers....you know)

So Cas is angry and complicated and self-hating and yeah, it’s funny, but if you don’t respect those feelings and their complexity, maybe don’t try to write Cas or write about him. Maybe if you only like Cas when he’s making you laugh you don’t actually like Cas.

And this isn’t to be like...”writing fluffy shippy fic with Cas being sweet is bad” or whatever. That fills a need for some people, I get it. I’ve written fic where he’s sweet! There’s a difference between someone lovingly wrapping a character in a blanket and going “nice things will happen for you now” versus using that character for a reductive joke.

There’s also a difference between people who are actually carefully writing fic and people who are, yknow, tagging posts or circulating meme-like gifsets with this kind of commentary. Which, bc I don’t read fic as often anymore, tends to be the most common way anything like analysis of Cas reaches me. I do NOT recommend this method of engaging with fandom because it’s really the worst, unfunniest, most simplistic takes that get repeated over and over again (I would pay money to never see anyone call Sam “moose” or “sammy” again dear lord), and it obscures the actually really good work some folks are doing when they write these characters.

tl;dr 1. Cas is not a child and he is not stupid. 2. Cas doesn’t hate Sam but he DOES project onto him and it’s fascinating. 3. fandom wants to be transformative but bc of meme culture and the way tumblr works it can be painfully reductive and it’s exhausting

ps nb I haven’t watched a single episode since they killed Charlie off and I don’t know much about what happened after that lol. so don’t come at me “well actuallying” bc honestly I don’t care and bc canon has been a dumpster fire for years and all extended analysis of it including my own is really nonsense just by virtue of the source material being nonsense.

pps the showrunners are ABSOLUTELY complicit in this but I can’t. I just cannot get into that. I am too tired.

[jenna347-blog]

Lira Woods pt1 (Chapter 1)

Chapter One

This is a story about a woman named Lira Chanel Johnson. She was a smart-ass, sexual witch. She had long, deep brown hair that she wore in a bun. She always dressed in a sexy, naughty gothic witch outfit, and she didn’t take shit from any one. If you look at her the wrong way, she’d try to beat you up to a bloody pulp. She was from a dark, evil planet called Demish. This world was a wasteland of a place where there was no morning, only a hazy, gloomy, foggy night that lasted all year round.  The Planet that she lived in was more advance more so than Earth was about 2000-3000 years in the future with their high-class technology, but that’s if you were very wealthy. That’s the only way you could every get to these types of products, and if you were poor like Lira for example you were treated like a 2nd class piece of crap. Lira barely had any parenting during her childhood, so mostly she had but not choose to home school on her own. From preschool to second grade, most of the time, she had to teach herself because, on her world, everyone was forced to be homeschooled till the third grade, and they could only stop being homeschooled if they were hand selected. Plus, you had to know the person to even enter the most famous school in Demish named Kensaw Black Evil Witch Boarding School. It was on top of a hillside facing a dangerous ocean. Bats circled around the building with a deadly thunder storm surrounding. Lira had always wanted to go but never had the money or knew anyone that knew the higher power in that school. “I always wonder how I could get into this type of school. Maybe I could ask a rich person to sneak me into this wonderful dark school, but this person will have to be stupid. This person will have to be so dang stupid that he or she would ever think that I am a loyal friend. After I get into Kensaw, I will dump this person without him or her even knowing it. I just must get the dumbest, richest person out there. Can’t be that hard to find one, right?” She headed to the Beaonish Library, which was the only library where one could find out who was rich or poor. The books in this library tracked every living and dead person and was a valuable resource for all the witches. Lira was looking through the pages when she saw a girl named Sorcery. Even though she was as beautiful as Lira, she was also as smart. Sorcery was an upper gothic civil girl, even though she is turning eight in a month, she was as smart as anyone in his or her thirties. “Hmm, it says that this girl has more than four hundred goneins.” Goneins were the currency used on Demish. Four hundred gonines was the equivalent of more than $500 billion US dollars. “Also says she’s the smartest person of her kind. Hmm … maybe I can trick her into being my friend until I finish school then, but what would I do when I get outta there? Maybe I can still use her, even after graduation. Man, I have so many choices that I must face, but I truly need to get into that school because I know they’ll never let some broke bitch like me in there. Well, I can always just go with the flow and see what happens, and hopefully she doesn’t get smart enough that she’ll know that I’m trying to use her, but let me do more research on this school to see what kind of schooling this place may have in store for us, even after graduating outta the twelfth grade.” Lira copied Sorcery’s contact information and found out what she liked to do with her personal time. She, then, tried to think of a plan to scam Sorcery so that she could help Lira get into the best school that money could buy. She never thought it would take so long just to find her, but in her mind, she wished that she had the power to transfer from point A to point B in a second. “Damn! It’s taking a long time to get to her place. It must be hidden, so nobody can find her castle. I wish I had something that would help me on my quest to find her and make her my tool. I must get into this school, so I can be the greatest evil witch slave owner known to man. I have to make sure that she never knows about any of this, and I have to learn how to be a proper and classy young lady, or maybe just brain wash her simple as that.” About five days later, after trying to find Sorcery’s place, she discovered a building that could help her in her quest. It was kind of a GPS system building, and inside was a magical map wizard. “Yes, young one, how can I help you with your long quest? Come closer, my dear. I need to know what you look like because I can’t see but so far, so what is your name, girly, and what did you come here for? If it doesn’t have to deal with finding a person, and then get the fuck out.” the wizard said.  “Well, yes, I need your help finding someone that’s very important to me. See, there’s this girl I need to find that is worth more than gold to me.” “Let me guess, my child. This girl’s name is Sorcery, a beautiful, rich girl, and not just that also a smart person as well. You want to use her, so you can attend that well-known boarding school. This girl may be your ticket to be the best of all the class-act witches. I truly believe you made the best choice with this one, but I truly think you should think very hard about your future.” Lira stopped her dead in her tracks. “Stop talking about all of this bullshit and just tell me where this bastard is, or I swear, on my mother’s grave.” “What? So, you’re going to kill me if I don’t help you? Ha! Ha! Girl, please! You couldn’t even hurt a fly even if it was given to you. Damn! You’re the worse person I’ve ever met. You really need more training before you go any further, my dear.” “You’ve got to be kidding me, your old hag. Now you listen. I don’t need any training from an old bag like you!” “Before I can tell you anything, I must train you because I can see now that you’re not a bit ready to even attend a school like that, you’ll fail after the first year, I can see that now. And I’m saying this just because I know you may get stronger and smarter than Sorcery could ever be. But if you’re a little brat about and don’t want my help, just go home, you just a little homeless brat.” “What in the bloody hell are you talking about your old hag? Are you trying to say I’m not good enough for that goody to shoes rich-ass chick? She couldn’t get passed me if she was the last witch on this planet.” “Yes, I did. What are you going to do about it? Go cry about it? Go run to your mommy?” the older hag replied while floating toward towards Lira’s face. “You know what, your old hag? I know what you’re trying to pull, but it’s not going to work on me at all. Just tell me where this bitch is, or I’ll figure it out for my own damn self!” “Oh, lass, I truly don’t think you really mean that at all. You know that you need my help with this,” she said while Lira walked away. “Oh, Lira, don’t walk away from me. I know that you’ll come back, just like all the others.” “Get the hell outta here, I’m a grown behind woman. I don’t why I thought I needed your help from a stupid old hag as yourself” “Ok. If you feel that way, I’m not going to tell you anything else. Just like I said before, you’ll come back to me and listen to me, or I’ll just be there where you’re at, no matter what. I guess they should’ve told you all about me. I also know this — without me, you won’t know how powerful Sorcery’s background is or how powerful she can get. You are way too smart for your own being, but she can still will outsmart you in every way.” Lira went on her way, trying to find Bradshaw Manor (Sorcery’s home). She was also thinking about what the old lady had told her, that she wasn’t all that ready to be in the school or in life at all, but because of Lira’s hard headedness, and way to stubborn for her own good, she didn’t care what anyone thought about her. She, also, didn’t care what her problems were going to be. At the time, all she cared about was being the best witch and slave driver that ever lived. Oh, yeah, I may not have mentioned it, but, in this witch school, the rules are you couldn’t have a human lover or a mixed witch/mortal human child. That was a crime, in their eyes. It was, also, a sin if a witch did go out with or even married a human. They’d have a difficult future ahead of them if they were caught. She hated the fact that even the school and their world had a stupid way of controlling everyone, and she didn’t like that one bit; she also didn’t care what they truly thought. Whatever Lira wanted was what she always got. It didn’t matter what it cost. That simply did not matter. What she really wanted was a man that acted just like her in every way. She wanted someone who shared her interests, even if it involved murdering someone. She had always loved the smell of fresh blood and flesh. Now after three months of looking, she finally arrives at her place, after breathing so very heavily finally came to her door step. She knew that she had no choice at the last minute that she had to change her clothing, so she wouldn’t look so homeless then maybe Sorcery would be that dumb enough to fall for her tricks. Not just that she also had to sound upscale plus maybe cut down the anger till Lira got to know her. She lied, saying that Sorcery was expecting her and that she had known her for a long time. She told him that it had been a long time since they’d last seen each other. She was worried that Sorcery may not remember her. The butler believed her and let her enter the home, and so did Sorcery. Even in person, Sorcery was the prettiest person ever, but she was not as beautiful as Lira. Sorcery was a classy nerd. She was a different kind of beauty, who was captivating in her own way. No one could ever try to compare her to any other woman because she was in a class by herself. “So, Lira, what brings you to my home? Is there anything that you truly need from me or my folks that you claim to know so well? You know, we’ll do anything for a family member or a close friend?” Sorcery asked while pouring a cup of hot peppermint black tea. “Well, yes, there is. You already know that I don’t have anyone to help me out, but if your parents help me out with my school fare, you know, my parent and I, we’ll pay you back in any way possible. And you, if do this for me, I will be there anytime you need me. With your brains and my personality, Sorcery, we could make the best team. Others would get so damn jealous. So, what do you say?” “I don’t know, Lira. My parents could get a little testy about all of this, and they may have to do some thinking about what we’re doing right now not just that they don’t know you as a person, but I can always ask them about this. I could be wrong, and they may just help you with the funds. We could be strong buddies, and I could show you what my life entails, and you must repay me in another way. But that’s only if you agree with the stuff that I have in store for you, though.” “Sure. You know I’ll do anything to pay you and your folks back for all of this.” “All you have to do is be there for me and help me around the house. And for helping us out, you could stay here for free. How does that sound to you, Lira?” Sorcery explained while facing the fireplace. Her back was facing Lira. Lira got up, stood next to her, and replied, “It sounds great to me, girly.” Sorcery didn’t know that she was making the biggest mistake, one that she would regret later. Sorcery showed Lira the ropes. She taught her how to be a true lady and trained her in everything else that she needed to know before heading to one of the top school that their planet had to offer. After four months, Sorcery told Lira that she was ready to attend school. She told her that she thought she would be a perfect A-list student and that she might even have been able to leave early if she stayed focused like Sorcery did. She also told her that, when they both reached seventeen, they would have to become immortal and carry a book of life and dark magic. They would have to carry this with them no matter what, and if someone destroyed the book or even got caught with a human, they’d turn into a mortal and slowly die less than a week later. They’d turn into dust. This was one of the strictest schools known to man. “This is so damn messed up, Sorcery. Why can’t we do what we want to do? But like I said, with your smarts and my charms and both of our good looks, we may get away with anything we want and what some people only dream of, and when we graduate, we’ll be the best slave masters to those dumb humans, like no one has ever seen before. Maybe we could even kill them if they don’t listen to our demands. We could chop them up into little pieces and eat them while they’re still alive and make them suffer, or is that too much, my dear friend? I don’t want to break any of our school’s rules or our world’s laws.” “Yeah, it does sound like you’re going way too far with this idea. Just take it down a little bit. But I do like one thing that you said. We could be the greatest partners in crime that our world and earth has ever seen. I’ll make sure that no one can ever come between us, no matter what, and I would never let you go at all. I hope you’ll do the same thing.” “You know I would never let a great friend like you go. I’ll always have your back.” Now Lira had Sorcery wrapped around her tiny little finger. She was finally going to the school she’d been dying to go to for so damn long time, even though she had to let Sorcery train her till school started. After each day of training, Lira felt like total hell, but tomorrow was the first day of school, so she had to be ready for that. She should have never let her guard down, no matter what kind of problem that she may have had to face. “Lira, I have to tell you that these classes are very difficult. It’ll get to the point where you’ll wish you were never even born. Trust me. You’re so damn lucky that I’m training you now before it gets any worse, but we may get the worst of them all when we get older, and I truly mean that because they may not tell you that. Plus, like I told you, no soon-to-be immortal witch can ever be with anyone that is outside our race or have a mixed child. We must stay pure, so we don’t get into any trouble, and I also forgot to tell you something that you may want to know. That’s if you want to know because it is very important.” “Yes, I sure would like to know what I have to go against in the present and future.”  “Ok. The thing is, they may not tell you that, when you do go to a new planet, there can only be one witch on each of the eight planets of the universe. If there is more than one witch on that planet, the other witches should kill him or her, so you have to watch your back.” “Oh, please! That’s so damn stupid. Who should care if more than one of us is living there? All I care about is me and only me. Sorry, Sorcery. Also, I want to become a witch and make these humans on Earth my slaves. Nothing. If you want to tell me any different, then ok, but we can’t let these rules bother us if we want to become successful, and if you want to disagree with what I believe, then maybe I shouldn’t have come here at all!” Lira yelled while pacing back and forth. “Ok, Lira, just calm down. We can make it, ok? Just didn’t think all of this would get you so angry. I just don’t want anything to happen to you because I’m your friend. Just please calm down, ok?” “Look, Sorcery. I’m sorry. I just don’t want to be told what to do. It’s not like we’re working for them.” Sorcery didn’t realize the trouble she’d gotten herself into with Lira, meaning she was a hot-tempered person that would do anything to destroy anyone that got in her way if they weren’t careful. It also seemed that Lira’s plans were coming true, and when she reached seventeen and became immortal, when she graduates from the academy with honors. She hoped that she’d meet someone that had a lot in common with her and her actions. She hoped that this person would be a cannibal also. So, it was the first day of attending their lives as students. They had to stay there from the third to the twelfth grade, but they had to live there as always. They also couldn’t have any people coming in to visit, not even their parents, unless the upper witches had something to say about their students misbehaving in their corners. Also, they only had to take four classes in person, and the last three classes could be taken online. Yes, they had technology. After a long day of school and studying at their domes, Sorcery and Lira thought it’d be great to go out into town, just to have fun with a few classmates. “Oh, gosh, Sorcery. I want to make a toast to you and the other classmates here to make our more than eleven years from now the greatest time in our lives. We cannot let anyone stand in our fucking way. We cannot let anyone stop us from doing what we are trying to do.” About five hours of partying, they all went back to their place and went to bed. The next morning, they went to class, but this time it was going to get much harder going forward. “Ok, students, have a seat. I know you guys must have had a great first day, but things aren’t going to be as easy as you may think. The first thing I want to tell you is this class is a black magic class. You will learn everything there is to know about black magic. You will not just read about it, but you will gain a lot of hands on experience. And they may or may not have told you that, if you fail this school from third to twelfth grade, you’ll be kicked out and will never be able to come back ever again, you’ll have the clip till you’re die. But you guys may already have your online classes together, and I’m so sorry that you never got to get your items for the ground courses, but here’s what your future evil witches need. Here are your digital witch books. This is going to be your book even when you guys hit seventeen, but the difference would be they’re going to be updated when you grow older. It depends on how well you do your school work. Oh, yes, this will also be your lifeline when you become immortal. When you turn seventeen, that’s when you graduate. Are there any questions about this course at all?” Sorcery raised her hand. “Yes, I have a question that I know most of the others have. What will this school provide after we graduate? I mean, would you guys tell us what planet we’re supposed to go to?” “That’s a good question. No, you guys are on your own when you turn seventeen. You all will be known as grown witches, not children anymore. Also, you guys will become immortal at the same time with your own books, just make sure you guys don’t cause any harm to it. Even being immortal you’ll will die if your books get damage in any way from fire drowning you’ll start to become mortal, age, then become dust. Any other questions? But for now, I will teach you step by step about black magic, and the others will teach how to make others into your slaves and minions. The others will be more difficult than the rest. Most may show you shape shifting to anything that you want, but mostly your inner demon. You’ll learn serious shape-shifting from ninth grade to twelfth grade, but if you learn it sooner, you may graduate earlier than the others. That is if you do it right or if you are at the head of your class. Then, you will graduate early with top honors. Now open your black magic books to the first chapter. We’re going to read all about them and what you need to do in all day things. What I want you guys to do now is make something appear on your tables. It could be anything. A dragon … a dark beast frog … whatever you can come up with. The way that you are supposed to do it can be found in your book.” Everyone did well. Of course, Sorcery and Lira had the greatest dragon. It was better than any witch had ever made before. “Yes. This is what I’m talking about. Great evil job, Lira and Sorcery. You ladies must’ve done your homework. Maybe you other students should learn from them. Then maybe you would be as great as them, but you guys will get there. No worries. It’s just the beginning, but like I said, you guys should’ve already known the basics of evil witchcraft before you guys entered this building. This is kind of like someone who is in the middle class of knowledge of black magic, but it’s ok. Like I said, most of this stuff is going to be harder and brand new to most of you because I know whomever home schooled you all didn’t have the digital things that your newbies have now. We had to do so by our books, and we really struggle with our magic, like no other witch has before, and hopefully it did work, and if we failed, hopefully we had enough items to do it once again. But we do need to get on with it because class is about to be over soon, so let’s just wrap things up for now … till tomorrow. I’ll just let you guys out early. Well, before class ends, I want you guys to answer this question, and you should know this answer from your basic books from home. What happens when you see a human, and she tries not to obey your orders?” “I could tell you that, Miss Kulsum. The answer to that true powers. Do a sneak attack and brainwash the human to the point that she becomes your slave or minion.” Miss Kulsum was one of those crazy types of teachers at the time, and, she was so but beyond ugly at the same time, but she knew what she was talking about. I guess because she had the evilest look towards her with her fucked hair, messed up makeup also the way she gave her speech about giving us lessons about slaving others in your bidding. But I could’ve done a lot better at it that’s just me though. “Wow! Great answer, Lira. You get an A for today. Oh, yeah. Before your next class, I’m going to pass out a paper that will give information about your first project. I know its way too early for a project now, but I want you to do it. I want you guys to team up in groups of twos, and its due in two months. I want Sorcery and Lira to team up because I know you guys will put on a great show, and I hope you guys learn from them and make sure to ask me or these two how black magic is really done. They may have beauty, but they also have a lot of knowledge.” The castle bell rang. “Ok, class, I hope you guys fare well till tomorrow. We will talk more about the project and what you need to do. Oh, yes! Your homework will be to read your books and practice on your black magic because, like they say, “practice makes perfect.” “Oh, Lira, I forgot to mention that this school lets us have long breaks between classes, meaning we don’t have to be on time for the next class, so maybe we could get something to eat.” “Sure. Why not? Maybe we could have some tea and some spider soup at that oh-so-world-famous café. I think the name is Jomiah Café, if I’m correct.” “I love that café. They have the tastiest foods coffee and tea in town. No one can beat them.” After having lunch and tea, they went over their projects and wanted to know what they were going to do. Then they went to the rest of their classes. In their other classes, they learned how to make more humans their slaves and their minions. They worked on their project for two months. When it was time to present it, they presented the greatest black magic show that the school had ever seen. The magic was going to be so grand that’ll blow their socks off “Lira, I think we got this in the bag, and I know we could make these other guys and girls so dang on jealous my dear. We’re going to get the best grade ever.” “Well, maybe but I may do something at the end. I should’ve told you earlier, but sometimes I make my money by being a street performer, meaning I do little tricks like this, so this doesn’t faze me at all. Trust me. We’ll make those teachers and students see something they’ve never seen before, and maybe just maybe, we can leave early but still walk in with our class. Maybe we can make that trip to Earth. I heard of this place called New York City, New York in America. Maybe we could go there. What do you say about that, Sorcery?” Lira asked. “I don’t know, Lira. It seems way too early to even say, but hey, I wouldn’t mind of going. Maybe it could be our graduation gift to ourselves, but, Lira, I want to make sure that you don’t have any weird issues while we’re in the human world,” she replied. “Of course not, my dear. You know I wouldn’t do anything to embarrass you. What kind of friend would I be if I ever did that to you? I love you way too much, Sorcery, and you know that for a fact.” Lira gave Sorcery a hug. While they hugged, Sorcery had an evil grin on her face. “I’m so glad that you’re a loyal friend, Lira. I don’t know what I’m going to do without you, girl. You mean the world to me.” “I feel the same way about you, my dear.” Now it was finally their day to show off their projects during the school’s black magic fair. It was kind of like the science fairs that humans have. But this one, instead of being indoors, was outside. One by one, all the students in the first-period class showed off their creations. Many thought they had done ok until Sorcery and Lira were called to show off their amazing work to the whole school to see. The head council or head of state, which was more powerful than the rest, was who commanded Sorcery and Lira to show everyone their work. She was known for being extremely evil. She was so evil that even saying her name made humans want to gasp for air. Even her peers fear her presents no one and I do mean no one stand in her way, sometimes Lira always thought she could out scare this beat up old bat, but she had to get to her level to even be as powerful as head council. Her name was head master Kashum. “Ok, Sorcery and Lira show us what your project is. I believe this is what we all came to see. Because I heard that this past month you guys were turning heads with your magnificent work. I mean, you ladies may have a shot at becoming the big dogs. Maybe someday you could take my chair, but that has never been done. But I don’t want to keep going. Just show us how real true black magic is supposed to be done.” “Yes, your courtship,” they both had said while they bowed down. Lira and Sorcery started to read together one of the best spells that they could find. They made mouths fall to the ground. “Lira, show them what our magic is made of.” “You know I got this, lovely. I’m about to do the best shape shift that our people have ever seen.” Lira turned into a huge demon dragon. She had flaming streaks all along her body. Her scales were black as night. It was the most creative thing that anyone had ever seen before. Even Sorcery was super shocked with what she had done to herself, but in a safe way, Lira was always a step ahead of everyone and wouldn’t let someone step in her way of being a top honor student and maybe leave early.  “Oh! You ladies did a hell of a job on your project, and what you did, Lira, left me speechless. So, did you, Sorcery. Plus, I heard a lot about you and your family. I know you’re going to make them proud.” “Thank you, your courtship. You don’t know what your positive words mean to me, and I’ll make sure Lira and I do our hardest to meet your evilest studies and what you want from us no matter what,” Sorcery told the head council. “You can rest assured that we’re be the best evil witches that this planet has to offer. I truly believe Sorcery and I can do so much better as a team than doing it by ourselves,” Lira said. “You’re so current, Lira, and I think I know who should win for this witches’ fair today. Give the first-place award to Lira and Sorcery because they were more creative and evil than the rest. You students need to learn from the best, not just your teachers but from your fellow classmates, such as Lira and Sorcery.” For the next couple of years, Lira and Sorcery were the best in their classes and online classes, making their classmates jealous with envy. The guys wanted to be with them, and the girls wanted to be them. Most of the guys wanted to be with Lira more than Sorcery because of Lira’s lust, charm, and looks. Both girls’ lives, up to this point, had been as sweet as honey. Now that they were seventeen years old, Lira couldn’t wait for this day to come because they were finally seniors and were now becoming immortal. It was bittersweet for both Lira and Sorcery. The reason why it was bittersweet for Lira mostly because she could because immortal and had the knowledge about ruling a planet, not just that could just keep using Sorcery till they reached planet Earth, then fine a human to make them her slaves. After doing so she could just show her true side towards Sorcery. “Hey, Sorcery. Look at us now. We’re finally seniors and will be starting our final year in our school.” “Yes, Lira, I’m so excited about the New Year, and I can’t wait to leave this school and live my own life seeing all the sites, owning some humans also see what they do plus made of, but I still want to be your partner in crime.” Announcements were made. The announcer wanted all senior to be aware about becoming immortal. All the immortal seniors would be getting their Book of Immortality upgraded. They had to keep this book, and it could only be destroyed by someone who was immortal. No mortal or human could destroy our book for any reason at all. The book would be issued to all the seniors at the library any time after their classes ended. “Sorcery, I still can’t believe this is actually happening to us. I mean, I’ll make sure to be there for you like you were for me when we were eight.” “Same goes for me, girl.” For the past couple of days, Lira and Sorcery had continued to be the most popular girls on campus, and no one — and I mean, no one — could touch them. They were way too smart for their own good. Of course, Lira had all them fooled. Even smart as Sorcery was, she was still under the spell of Lira. It was a spell of knowing how to con people and other witches and what not. No matter what, Lira was going to have her way. No matter what, if they didn’t like what she did or had done, she would set them straight. Lira had been thinking about more than just graduation. She was thinking about maybe ditching Sorcery and just going her own separate way. “Oh, dang! Sorcery, I forgot. We need to get those books. Dang! How I could forget that.” “Hey! I can’t blame you for forgetting about the books. Even the smartest witches and mortals tend to forget about even the simplest things. So, don’t let this get to you, Lira. No matter what, you’re the best witch that I’ve ever met. I mean, you’re better than me in every way.” “I think we both are the greatest. We’re going to be the best immortal witches that our planet and planet Earth have ever seen in the history of witchery, and I think everyone’s mouths will drop when they see us in action. I’ll make sure to have your back with anything that our naughty hearts want, but I just wish that we could do the thing they tell us that we are not supposed to do, even though I wouldn’t care what they say.” “And if you do, Lira, you have more balls than a man does. You know you could get in trouble for this because even though we’re out of school, they still could tell us what to do afterward, and you know that, girly. I’m your friend, but I can’t let you get into trouble. I am nerd and want to follow the rules of the game and trade, so I would love to see you behave, but I know you won’t do that at all.” She laughs. Then, she continues, “And knowing you, in the future, you’re probably a bad chick that planet earth has ever did seen. You may become the next ruler of Earth, but I want you to know that you can’t do any dreadful things against our rules. You’ll drive yourself sick. Promise me that, ok, Lira?”  “You’re so right about everything. Man, I’m so lucky to have a great friend like you. Sorcery, you mean a lot to me, and I don’t know how to repay you at all.” After getting their black book and immortality, Lira and Sorcery still made the best grades in witch history. They were the best out of all their classmates, teachers, and higher leaders of their planet. They never thought this day would ever come, but their wishes had come true. Now the time had come for their graduation. Everyone showed up for the greatest day for seniors everywhere. Lira and Sorcery were very proud of themselves, knowing they had made it this far in their progress and in their success, but Sorcery wouldn’t know what Lira had up her sleeves till after they landed in New York, New York. She would learn soon enough, so I don’t want to keep running my mouth about it. So, after the graduation, they went to a local bar to celebrate their graduation. “Oh, Lira! We had made it, and I may be drunk and all, but you’re the greatest friend that a witch could wish for. Everyone, listen! I want to make a toast for my main girl, Lira. She made all this a reality for me.  If it wasn’t for her, I wouldn’t be standing here today. I am a free woman, and, man, I’m dizzy as hell, but other than that, here’s to Lira! Please give a tap on the glass.” Everyone tapped their glasses in honor of Lira. “Thanks, Sorcery, but I have to say that I don’t need to be thanked because it’s the other way around. You made me the witch that I am today, but it’s also a teamwork kind of thing, and you’re a devoted friend. You’re like no other being that I’ve ever known. You’re truly a special friend who I see as a sister.” Sorcery was so happy that she would be that nice to her, but everyone knew Lira from the past and knew that she was up to no good. Everyone also knew that she was using Sorcery. All they packed for their move to New York were their clothes, spell book, and spell items. But they had to look for a place to stay before they could move out on their own. They decided that they would leave the next day. Right when they arrived in New York, they wanted to find something to do. One thing that they learned immediately was that being on Earth meant being in a way different time zone. They were in New York City during the 1940s and 1950s, when gangsters were hot and sinister, and where New York was filled with shiny lights and the greatest, hottest shows. “I’m so glad that we’re out of that stupid school of ours. I want to see if we can find a great male slave and have our single mingle kind of thing. Man, they wouldn’t know what to do with our charm.” “But, Lira, you know we can’t date any mortal, even after graduation. We took a pledge. You know that,” Sorcery said with a worried look upon her face. “Who cares? It’s probably someone we could use as either a slave or a partner in crime. Plus, who knows? This person could be more than just a slave or a partner.” Then there was something going on while the women were in the town square. Everyone was running toward some shopping center. Lira and Sorcery wondered what the screaming was all about. When Lira saw a woman, she yelled out to her, “You, woman, we want to ask you something important. What’s going on?” “Girl, you don’t know that we have a famous formal male model here in our town. Oh, my god! He has the prettiest blue-green eyes that I ever did see. They claim that he’s a bad boy, too. Just wish that I could get a piece of that hotness. He has a greaser kind of look, but really you need to look for yourself.” the strange woman replied while she was walking away, toward him. And there he was, just as sweet as an apple and sour as a lemon. “Of course, I love a man who can be more controlling than I am, and he seemed like such a bad boy as well.” Lira said. And that was what she wanted in a guy with his red hair all slicked back, wearing a leather jacket. He had a baby face, and he was also buff as hell. His name was Jim Woods, a single man, and Lira wanted a man who was like her. He was a real man. “Sorcery, do you think I could get a sexy man like him in my life and make him my slave or work as a team?” “I don’t know, lass. Remember what they said at our school?” They said it at the same time, “We can’t marry or date someone who’s not an immortal like a vampire, witch, or werewolf.” “Yeah, how many times are you going to say that already? Like I said, I truly don’t care. He’s just way too hot to let go. And I don’t want to take him home to my mom or dad, so you better back the fuck off me, ok, Sorcery?” “Yeah, Lira. I got it. Just calm down, ok?  It wasn’t all that fucking serious. Geez!” But Lira didn’t realize that she and Jim had a lot in common with each other. She never knew that he had a twin brother named Tony, who was more of a bad boy than he was and who had more of a jealous streak because his twin brother Jim got more women than he did. Jim and Lira started dating right off the bat. It was love at first sight. “So, Jim, you never told me that you were such a bad boy, so what do you really do for a living? I’m a witch, an evil one at that, and I love a guy that can tell another mortal what to do. That really turns me on. I bet you’re a naughty little thing, aren’t you?” “Well, you can say I am a bad boy,” he said it with a devilish look in his eyes. “I know some magic, as well, my sexy lady. Maybe I can show you what I can do.” “Oh, yeah? I would love to have a slave or two in my collection, if you can catch my drift. Oh, my God! I don’t know what to say, my sexy lover. You’re the man I’ve been waiting for all my immortal life.” Oh, yeah, I forgot to mention that Jim and Lira were about forty years apart. She was seventeen, and he was fifty-seven. Age to them truly didn’t matter at all. They still loved each other and loved to make people their slaves, and if they didn’t get what they wanted, they’d just kill them in a horrible way. Afterward, they would chop them into little pieces and eat them. Her longtime friend, Sorcery, didn’t like the new Lira. She knew she was evil but not to the point of going completely insane. Of course, Sorcery now wondered if Lira really had changed or if she had always been this way. “Oh, baby, I love when we rule other mortals. I enjoy doing this with you so much.” “Me, too, my love, and I also love how we kill and eat their bodies when they don’t listen to us. It’s such a turn on, makes me want to do you so much more than ever.” “Oh, my god, Jim. You’re also turning me on, as well. I just want to take your clothes off and take control of you in my bed.” “Damn, Lira! You make me want to marry you so badly. So, Lira, will you marry me, my sexy-ass witch?” “Oh, yes! I do, my sweet. You’re the only one I want to rule this world with. Let’s make it our own, my love, and teach these mortals who’s boss, baby.” Then they passionately kissed each other with a ring of fire surrounding their love and hate. While planning their dark evil wedding in Jim’s home town, New York, New York, USA, Lira’s friend looked at her and asked her, “Lira, do you think he’s the right guy for you? And do you think you’re doing the right thing? I think you’re moving way too fast, and I think he’s using your magic for himself. I know we’re supposed to be evil and all, but I think this is going to go wrong for you. I’m very worried that the school is going to find out somehow.” “I truly don’t think this could ever go wrong in any type of way, and I think I would know if he was using me. I hope you know I have powers that you could never understand. I’m more powerful than you or those dumbass teachers. I want sexy-ass Jim all to myself. I think you’re just jealous just, like his twin brother Tony is. I told you one time that you should go out with one of the mortals because they’re so much better in and out the bed than those lame-ass, evil fuckers, and when I saw Jim for the first time, it was love at first sight. If you have a problem with who I am marrying, then you just must suck it up and deal with it. Be happy that I found someone that I really want and who wants me. For some reason, we have a lot of things in common. Me and him are both evil. We love making people our slaves, and we also love to kill and eat others, if they don’t listen to us.” “Ok, Lira, whatever you say, but I hope it doesn’t work for you at all. I’m being serious about this, but you know what, girl? I’ve had your back since we were in the third grade. I’m the only person you’ve ever could count. I’m the only you can trust. And I’ve always been there if anything goes wrong. But now that I’ve warned you, don’t come to me and ask me to help because I’ll be the one to say that I told your fucking ass so!” This was the first time that they had ever had a fight ever in their lives. “You know what, lass? I’m marrying him. I don’t care what you or those dumb teachers say. He’s mine and I’m his. This is our day to shine and to show you and those dumb teachers what we must offer as a couple. I’m Lira, the hot, sexy, supernatural witch, and I’m proud of it. If you have a problem, then that’s fine by me.” Meanwhile Jim and Tony planned for the wedding also. “So, bro, you’re finally getting married. Man, this means you can’t flirt with no other girl. Ha! Ha! Man, you’re so damn sorry. I can’t believe that you, my famous twin brother, the ladies’ man who has never let anyone stand in his way, letting a girl tie you down to the ground. What kind of spell did she cast to make you think she was the one for you?” Tony said, while shaking his head. He placed his hand was on Jim’s shoulder. “Well, Tony, you have to realize, like you said, I’m a ladies’ man. No woman can resist me, but for some reason, she has something that no other girl had. She did what no other girl could do for me. She turned me on to killing people, eating them, making them our slaves, and something about her makes her just the top queen of them all. She can’t be stopped. She’s just pure evil, and that’s what I want in a woman. She’s just like me but much better. I just can’t believe that I finally have an evil angel in my hands.” “Are you sure that you’re in love with her? Are you sure you’re not just using her for her magic and because she’s an evil witch? But you know what? I’m proud of you, man. I thought I was going to be the one who got a hot girl like that, but you got one that tops them all, man.” “She’s my world, my everything. I mean, she’s so damn sexy. I want her to have my child.” Jim didn’t know that Tony and Sorcery were working together to expose Lira and Jim’s secret to the school, and her planet include their hometown. They wanted to let everyone know that Jim and Lira were going out and planning to get married, but they were trying to wait for the perfect time. They wanted to wait until they had a child or two. Honestly, they never thought it was going to happen because an   immortal witch and a mortal slave master had not met and fallen in love in over one thousand years. Like they always say, sometimes love comes in all forms, and you never know where you will find it, even if the two people have different faiths and are different forms of life. Sorcery never thought this would come to the point where she would have to turn her best friend in, but she also felt that Lira was trying to use her as a slave as well. She also didn’t realize that Tony was using her to get back at his twin brother because he wanted Lira and Sorcery for their magic for his own selfish needs. Like I said before hand, Tony was more of a bad boy than his twin brother Jim, and I do mean way worse, so he was trying to trick Sorcery into telling her teachers and the other witches about the relationship. He also wanted to work with her to get them punished for their bad deeds. “My dear Sorcery, we can get them to marry and afterward tell your school about them. Then maybe, just maybe, we can work together and put our brains together and take over this country and maybe the world. How do you feel about that, my dear?” Sorcery used a spell to lift Tony up in the air. While he was in the air, she choked him, gave him an evil stare, and yelled forcefully, “Look. After this, I don’t want to see you again. Do you understand? After this, I don’t want to hear from you ever again!”  Then, she threw Tony back down with such force till it almost broke most of his joints. “Damn, girl! What’s your problem? Do you think I was trying to use you or something like that, but you know what? You need my help. Like I said, we can take over this world and make these people our zombie slaves. What do you say? Are you going to just walk away from the best thing that you could ever happen, or are you going to run behind Lira and not get credit for a damn thing? Why not make your journey into this world worth it?” Sorcery stopped for a minute and thought about all the years that she had spent with Lira. She realized that Lira, since she had met Jim, had not spent one minute with her. She also realized that she had no choice but to work with Tony. She wasn’t sure if she should trust him. If you remember, he’d wanted to trick her to gain her power, instead of work as a team. He wanted to get rid of Jim and Lira and make Sorcery his magical slave. He would force her to make him immortal so that he could rule over all of mankind and make everyone his “zombie slaves.”

[svt-writers-club]

i don’t know how many people are into my iron man!au, but i’m aware that at least one person likes it and i am willing to do anything for that one person. you know who you are ;3

Jihoon used to meet Wonwoo for brunch every Saturday. Keyword being: used to.

Back when they were still young and Jihoon had just newly gotten hold of Lee Group. He was a child genius, but still a child. Only nineteen when he was expected to lead an international company into the new age. Wonwoo had been a year from graduating with his masters and already on the way to being part of the Air Force. Wonwoo had always had his head stuck in the clouds, so seeing him aim for pilot had not been a shock to Jihoon.

Nowadays, they mostly meet at work functions. Wonwoo’s barely in the country and Jihoon is too busy with his work. Running a company (but Seungcheol’s taking over soon, so that’s fine) and creating weapons (ah, but he doesn’t do that anymore – not since Afghanistan) and making new technology that turns people’s heads.

Now, Jihoon’s making something of himself. Maybe even something that makes people (Seungcheol, Wonwoo, Seokmin) proud of him.

“Message from Wonwoo-ssi, sir,” WooJI says.

Jihoon, lying on his bed and doing nothing for once (which might have something to do with the aches in his joints), groans.

“Tell him to go away.”

“Let’s get brunch, Wonwoo-ssi has texted.”

Honestly, what’s the point of creating an AI when they just end up doing whatever they want anyway? It’s bad enough that Jihoon can’t control Dokyeom. Even his baby WooJI has his moments of rebellion. This just has to be one of them.

“Tell him no,” Jihoon orders.

WooJI hums contemplatively. There’s a quiet ping. “Wonwoo-ssi will be right over. He will arrive in twenty minutes.”

Jihoon groans, with feeling this time. “I’m selling you,” he grumbles.

“Of course, sir.”

Did he program smugness into the AI? He doesn’t remember doing it, but he must’ve. Past Jihoon must really hate him.

Jihoon forces himself to his feet. Through his threadbare tank top, he can see the dark veins of the palladium poisoning. He hates that it’s so stark against his pale skin. He wishes he could hide it under a tan, but he burns under the sun. Even if he didn’t it was too late to hide it. The poison had gotten bad enough that it was already travelling down his arms. Soon enough, he’d be nothing but pale skin riddled with a road map of black veins.

He turns away from the mirror. Jihoon has never been one to be disgusted with what he’s seeing in the mirror, but he is now.

He’s disgusted.

He looks worn out and sick.

Pathetic.

He forces himself into the shower, water hot enough to turn his skin pink. He wishes he could scrub away the black lines on his skin, but it doesn’t work that way. Maybe... maybe if he could just give up the suit. If he could give up being Iron Man.

Jihoon doesn’t let himself stay in the shower a minute longer than he needs to. His hair is still damp when he pulls on a t-shirt and blazer, covering up his sins effortlessly. He looks in the mirror again and forces a smile onto his lips. With a few adjustments, he looks the way he always does – the way he looks like in the newspapers and tabloids.

He can do this. It’s just as much for Wonwoo as it is for himself. He can’t let his best friend know what’s happening to him. Knowing Wonwoo, he’ll try to do something, like make it all better by being there. Wonwoo, with his dark glare and worried hands and his... caring nature.

No, no. He’d rather just keep Wonwoo away so that when he finally goes, it’ll be a relief.

Wonwoo arrives in the old pickup truck that he’s had since they were college roommates. Jihoon, smirk firmly drawn on his lips, smacks the passenger door obnoxiously.

“Are we finally sending this piece of junk to the scrap heap?” he mocks, looking at Wonwoo over the top of his Burberry sunglasses.

Wonwoo’s face is impressively blank. “You shut your stupid mouth. Don’t talk like that about Precious.”

Jihoon hops into the passenger seat, reclining the seat the way he knows Wonwoo hates. The pickup truck smells like it always does – of fake lemon, old leather and motor oil. He closes his eyes and it’s almost like he’s back in college, too small and too young and too smart and Wonwoo is the only one who understands.

“It’s been a while since we had brunch,” Wonwoo says conversationally. He doesn’t even blink when he shoves Jihoon’s feet off the dashboard.

“You haven’t been in Korea much,” Jihoon accuses.

Wonwoo snorts. “You haven’t been out of your apartment much. Shut up. I think you’ve managed to get paler, and I didn’t think that was possible.”

Jihoon gracefully ignores Wonwoo’s weak jab.

“At least I’ve been in the same country.”

“Is that what you call it when you fly off in your high-tech suit to save civilians?”

“Hey. At least it’s usually somewhere in Korea.”

“Yeah, yeah.”

The music is low. Something hip hop that Wonwoo indulges in because he likes the beats or whatever (and he’d started liking it at first because it didn’t fit his image, but now he loves it).

Jihoon lets his foot hang out of the open window. It’s a nice, balmy summer’s day. The kind of day Jihoon would have loved to spend on the rooftop of his apartment, shirtless and soaking up the sun. These days he can’t do that. He’s too worried there’ll be a news chopper or even Seungcheol walking in on him.

“Did you call me out for something?” Jihoon asks as they turn down the road to Wonwoo’s favourite brunch place. It’s old, the furniture is mismatched and the food is greasy. (Jihoon loves it.)

Wonwoo hums along to the radio. He parks. His hands squeeze the steering wheel. “Do I have to have a reason?”

No, of course he doesn’t. Even if they don’t see each other much anymore, Wonwoo is still Jihoon’s best friend. He’s the only one who knows Jihoon.

“Yes,” Jihoon says with an aggravating smirk. “I didn’t think you missed me much, puppy.”

Wonwoo scowls and reaches over to punch Jihoon’s shoulder. Jihoon pretends that it doesn’t hurt. Wonwoo doesn’t know his body is frail now, after all.

“You know I hate it when you call me that, Jihoon.”

Jihoon does what he does best when he finds an exposed nerve: he jumps on it like a fucking trampoline.

“Oh, you hate it? Big bad air force man, Colonel Jeon Wonwoo, hates being called puppy? I thought you got over your fear of dogs ages ago – ”

“Listen, tofu boy, if you think you can hold that over me, you’ve got another thing coming!”

Jihoon uses his whole body to laugh. He throws his head back and lets the laughter fill the air, even as he reaches over to punch Wonwoo on the shoulder. He keeps up the act, acting as obnoxious as possible so whatever Wonwoo really wanted to talk about never actually makes it out.

This, Jihoon thinks, is how I want him to remember me.

Not the dark veins and the tired eyes. He wants him to remember his bright hair (he’d gone platinum blonde again on a whim) and his even brighter laugh. Better his sharp quips that border inappropriate or insensitive, rather than the heavy words he doesn’t dare speak, except to his coded-child WooJI and an impersonal video left in the AI’s memory banks, firmly hidden within his End of The World protocol.

[movie-robotnik-positivity]

Everything Wrong with: Everything Wrong with Sonic the hedgehog 2020

Disclaimer: I am well aware that those types of videos are satire and made for entertainment. This post has the very same purpose and I have nothing against this person. Don’t send hate his way.

I’m not going to argue with EVERY sin, just the ones I feel make no sense or can be easily explained, ignoring stuff that are clearly bad jokes disguised as sins.

Therefore, I encourage you to watch the video for yourself, and add whatever point or opinion you want. I love seeing people comment on my stuff!

0:58 And until the end of the movie, there will be no explanation or even a hint of where he got such power. Aren’t movies like this made to fully reveal a character? 

And that’s exactly what the movie does, it introduces Sonic’s character and the world really well! There’s nothing wrong with leaving stuff open to explore later on in the (let’s face it) inevitable sequel.

1:51 Power of plot bought the sheriff to this place and the same power of plot allows him to pay attention to a tiny blue thing amongst these grass

Sorry to break this to you but stories are based on convenience. Almost everything that happens in a movie exists with the sole purpose of moving the plot forward. A shocking revelation, I know!

2:33 By the way, if these rings can lead Sonic anywhere, again the question arises, why did he not explored this world and other worlds? It’s still not clear why he’s stuck in this village.

Longclaw, on her dying breath, sent Sonic there to hide, he’s not going to leave earth until he absolutely has to. Also it’s either that or mushroomland

Also he’s not “stuck in this village” he loves Green Hills! It’s his favourite place in the world. It would also be risky to go to a different place, he’s safer in there.

3:16 Farting joke! This is absolutely necessary. We don’t know about other jokes to make children laugh, yeaaaah!

I personally barely consider that moment on the baseball scene a fart joke, but still, you know the movie has other jokes and it’s not just that, right?

3:21 The whole meeting can be described as “Hey, dudes, there’s something knocked power out, let’s send someone to find out, okay, who do we send? Him? No he’s crazy, yes, no, no, but this is written in the script, oh, okay then, we’ll send exactly him” Stupid goverment.

The meeting scene exists to explain WHY they send Robotnik. They go over every possible explanation as to why the blackout happened and nothing adds up, so without any other options other than a terrorist attack, they send him. 

Yes, they know Robotnik is crazy and nobody likes him, but he’s the smartest man in the world, who understands technology better than anyone and has never failed before. It’s a last resort.

3:54 Oh come on dude, you have time to transfer to the world of mushrooms, and people will not dare to go there. But nooo! This is not the end of the movie.

4:20 Why does Tom being on the side of the law risks becoming a criminal because of some alien? That’s weird

He’s a HEDGEHOG thank you very much Tom wants more than anything to be able to help someone in real danger, when the chance comes he begrudgingly accepts. 

Also him punching the madman who was about to shoot him when he got the chance was more of an act of self defense than anything.

4:39 What the hell? Why did it become furry? So it’s not needless at all? What the fuck?

Sonic has fur with quills in them. They’re pretty visible.

5:19 About slowmo, if Sonic has a speed close to the speed of light, then on the contrary everything would accelerate around him, and most likely everything would have burnt at that speed, and he would have lost mass

There are a few sins that claim that several things don’t make sense because Sonic’s speed is close to the speed of light. The problem is that he’s pulling this fact out of nowhere, it was NEVER stablished that he can run anywhere close to the speed of light.

5:45 Oh yeah and these two bro are free to go to San Francisco and they’re free to stay in motels.

There are also a lot of sings that consist of “WHY DOESN’T THIS PERSON RECONIZE TOM IS A CRIMINAL AND STOP HIM” as if everyone in the world would know about it. 

Hell, as far as we know, the news about Tom being a wanted man didn’t reach the public until he saw them in the news. 

6:10 Oh yeah, for the final battle with Sonic, the writers threw the needle with endless energy. It is necessary to level the powers of the opponents

Uuuhh....yes? Why is this a sin again?

6:37 The criminal’s wife quickly agrees to help him in everything, probably read the script in advance and therefore helps him

I see you’re ignoring the implication that when we cut back to Tom and Maddie he had just finished explaining the situation to her. They’re married, she understands why Tom would risk himself to save Sonic and wants to help.

9:52 After a couple of snotty words, Tom still decides to stay in this village

Sure, if you want to be reductive like that. the fuck you have against Green Hills?

10:05 The hell I watched right now? Why the fuck did the stupid goverment send Dr. Robotnik to catch Sonic? Tom and his wife should have been in prision, and the search for Sonic should have resumed! But instead this dude brings for this lovebirds gratitude and just asks them to forget about everything. The end!

Okay....

The goverment wants to make sure that there are no records of Robotnik’s existence, likely because of the collateral damage he caused and the many lives he endangered. They have the decency to leave the Wachowskis alone since they are to blame for the situation.

Besides, Tom’s crime was threatening and assaulting a goverment official, but how can you threaten someone that never existed?

AND WE’RE DONE!!! That was an absolute waste of my time, but if there’s something I have to spare is time, so I guess it’s fine.

[sassaetcie]

Silver x Idia (The Molten Charcoal) chapter 1

Okay so I thought I may post the fanfic here too,,, just the time I start writing my others-

I need to write. This... doesn't make any sense. Well, actually it does. The fact it does is annoying. How could this happen? I have played more than thousands of games. I have read more than thousands of mangas. I have seen more than thousands of animes. I have heard more than thousands of CD drama. Maybe have I not tasted enough latte... Come on, this can't be a sin, this can't be the possible sin? Am I even authorized to call it a sin... Isn't rushing through a visible obstacle, after having seen all of the possibilities, a sin? Yet this would be so stupid for others... I am so fucking stupid... Even after eighteen years, I hope for the Prince Charming to come and save me. This is pathetic, yet no one would feel pity for that. Ehmm... is it "despicable", then? Yeah, probably. Eighteen years of flames craving for water. I want a pastel person waiting for me on a silver lake. Day should not come to this gathering, though. It would be far too stereotyped... Well, a silver colored moon and light bathing all of the place sure is as well but at least I am not asking for dusk or dawn... And let's forget about the (white) horse part, too. Is it not a fair compensation for my wish? I don't want the noble animal, I don't want the pretty landscape, I don't want the huge castle, I don't want the pretty dress. I shouldn't waste time on wishing and writing for this crap. But oh weeeeell, it's not like it's going to last anyway. I'm going to burn this right after I've written it, after all. This is just a way to kill this foolish desire of mine. It's not like I can update it... I've tried so many times, heh. Eroge? Boring to some points, I... am not attracted to girls in that way. Dating sim? Okay, I'm not attracted to girls... Otome game? BL? Whatever. Sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry. SORRY. Sorry. The more I write it, the less I'll need to say it in reality, right? I will be able to just don't give a fuck... Right? Anyway, I'll burn this down. I shouldn't scribble that much on paper tho... or should I write though "entirely"? I'm going to waste so many papers, I'm dumb as fuck?! I will write on my computer next time buuut... Oh, fuck off. Nobody will ever try to hack me and... read my files? On my four hard drives? Lol, good luck with that, fuckers. I should stop writing there. I'm feeling a bit better for now. I could throw it in water but... it would only pollute and there's no proof it will disappear as fast as it will in fire. How many seconds of difference? That doesn't matter. This need to disappear. I cannot meddle with water in the end... This soft, reflecting liquid from which I am separated. My body will never absolutely fuse with it. My flames... are too strong and too weak.

[Started Recording at 8 pm : First? Day]

-Big Bro! What are you doing, open the door!

Steps cut the semi-silence for a delimited time, each of them. Their numbers were not important. Their susbstance, sure, was. The soft buzzing of machines could have covered them all, or even absolutely erased their origins. They were sweet for Ignihyde, after all.

-Y-yes... what is it... Ortho...?

The ever moving forward technology did not let him unite. He would have burned down the whole bunch, probably. The blue flames barely moved and yet twirled along like no other hair could. The door finally overwhelmed the other sounds along his fingers. Idia had opened.

-You're not talking loud like you usually do, I was a bit worried. I'm sorry, it seems you are alright.

-Y-y-yeah, don't worry... I mean, I'm usually quiet when I draw or write, r-right?

-That's true, I'm sorry, big Bro! So you were writing or drawing, I should have thought of it... :(

-P-p-please don't make such a sad face... I won't ever make something that can hurt you, okay? You're the best little bro I can have!

-Thanks big Bro! Can I come in? I have to talk a bit more to you and standing in the hallway will, maybe, attract people, although Ignihyde is somehow pretty diligent, hihi.

The blue light was not that of his aura, even if that was the only thing easily sighteable through an almost closed door. Thus, he was not lying. Why would have he, anyway? Perhaps a certain feature was preventing their personnalities to melt together, or disappear.

-H----heh... I'm... huh...

-So something happened to you, big Bro?!

-N-n-n-n-n-n-no! I'm... I'm alright...

-You can't be alright if you don't want to talk to me, especially if you already walked all the way to the door... Are you going to cry? :(

-N-n-n-n-o... I'm not going to cry... And please don't make that face, I will cry for sure if you do... W-w-w-w-well, not that I want you to threaten you into making always a happy face, I'm sorry, you have feelings too... I-i-i-i-i-i-i mean, I am not that threatening for you, you're so great and powerful, Ortho!! ... Sorry, just come in if you want.

-Yeay! Thanks, Big Bro!

The blue glimmering was numerous, as peaceful as it was supposed to be. Gleams were guarding the room and the one trying to sleep in it. They could have tried to be red under his request. But in the end, the will-o'-the-wisp would vanquish the glow, even if it were to be neverending lighting. The oceanic yet non oceanic lurked again. Some fans were slowing the progress of heat, although Idia probably had already taken care of his devices. The fire slept.

-S-so... what did you want to tell me... Ortho...

The door shut itself after being touched by the slender almost grayish fingers, yet far from being toxic human claws, still far from glorious Savanaclaw. The sun would burn him down if he did not burn down the whole sun. Sun thus had no place in his universe.

-I know that you hate sun and people outside, but you have to go outside! You will lack magnesium,  vitamine D, and since you don't move and only eat sweets and junk food, you are very likely to have cholesterol and be much more exposed to heart attacks and...

-I know, I'm sorry, Ortho...

-So, you can go outside when it rains! Nobody ever goes outside when it rains, right, right, right? :D

-H-huh... there are still some people who go out, you know... And I don't want to go out... what if I miss an event or a partner's call...

-Big Bro! You need to go out, I really mean it!!! >:(

-D-d-d-don't get angry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry...

-Moreover, there's a person who doesn't scare you, I know that. I know it because I talk to them and you didn't even try to RUN away from them!

He took some steps to bury in the room. He was able to move, after all. His feet were certainly not moving on their own... Or maybe they were, actually. His body was divided in many parts, like any other person.

-W-w-wait, wh-whwhwhwatdoyoumean Ortho...?

-Silver! You're not afraid of Silver! You even TALKED to him and watched him sleeping!

-I-I-I didn't w-w-w-w-w-ww-atch him sleeping! IwasjustpassingbyandIwaswonderingwhowassleepingthere...

-And I know why you're not afraid of him!

His body kept on crawling back to darkness, if darkness could be there. The black amalgamate was yet to become, destroyed again and again by neverending and never intended lights. The whole hoodie could barely hide the impossible river of flames. What could hide this pack of sparks?

-W-w-w-w-w-wait, it's not that I wasn't afraid or anxious, it's just that...

-Because he looks like the Prince Charming you spoke of when we were younger!

-Wait, just how many memories do you h...

-It's okay, it's not something to be ashamed of, Big Bro! You are very kind and caring, I want the same for you! But let's get straight to the point: Either you go outside on rainy days or I will take care of planning a date between you and Silver! :D

The fire could actually turn red. But it would goes even deeper in blue soon after. The more he sought for red, the more blue painted him over. Sparks would grow into flames. Flames into Furnace. And there was no way for it to become a Phoenix. The restrained body of the living clutched the hood on the azure someday arson, muffling the heat growing out of him. No water could separate this cursed hair. Would his hand freeze this very water as well? Ripple it until it breaks? Only tears could flow for some seconds, before returning among the void they should have belong to for eternity. Drops would vanish as well. His hands could touch the lake, but his being could not. Heat overwhelmed the fake liquid, and the long cheeks were denied of water again. Tears flowed again while his throat tried to muffle all of his being already muffled by the flames. They disappeared again, no matter how many times they tried to drop on the ground and free him from sadness.

-Ortho... please don't... I beg of you, don't... This will just be a bad end...

-Big Bro. I'm not joking anymore. You'll have fun talking to him!

-Ortho...

-I'm out, say hi to your gaming partner! I'm just about to call Silver!

He closed the door right after opening it. He was, after all, but one chunk of parts jumbled together. Definitely together.

[End of recording at 8:45 pm, First? Day]

I cried. I'm sorry but I cried... These tears won't even last. I don't want to go. I really don't WANT TO GO! What if I disappoint Silver? What if I annoy him? What if I just get awkward and start talking about videogames and he just falls asleep? He easily falls asleep, so maybe it wouldn't be my fault, but what if he falls asleep at the same time, maybe I'll be the one that make him sleep more than he usually does? What if I end offending him and Diasomnia by saying something stupid like I usually do? And what if I am the one to arrive first and waiting for him? No, no, no, no... But at the same time, what if I'm late?! He could think I'm doing this on purpose to see him sleep since he really could fall asleep while waiting for me, right right right? But he could also just leave and think Ortho made fun of him... Wait!!! I don't want Ortho to get involved further... I don't want to hurt him more than I already did. No please, please, please, don't cry Ortho, I'm sorry, I'm sorry imsoryrryimsorrry. If I don't go, Silver and Ortho will be disappointed, and Ortho will be taken responsible for making Silver lose some important time... Time he could have used to protect Malleus, yeah... He would probably say "no that's okay" with a peaceful look... I mean, he IS the Prince Charming, right? That day I saw him sleeping peacefully, under the tree, surrounded by animals... He is for sure the Prince Charming, the "ouji-samaaaa" character, right... He is, he is. But then, I shouldn't meddle with him, right. I am not a regular character, nor a MC, huh... There's no way he would save a dark supporting character like myself, heh... Maybe he actually could? If he doesn't know much of myself... Perhaps he would start to feel pity for me? I can't meet him... I can't meet him. What if he is not that much of a Prince? No. That can't be possible!! What if he has awful skills flaws... What if he is awful inside and just keeps the composure of a Prince? I am not hoping for the usual Prince, am I? I am not, I am not. I don't want the white horse, I don't want the castle... So it's okay for him to be slightly different, right? But if he is slightly different in another way? No, no, no. I shouldn't meet him. The more I see him, the less he will be a Prince, right? I DON'T WANT THE PRINCE TO DISAPPEAR. I DON'T WANT THE PRINCE TO DISAPPEAR. I DON'T WANT THE PRINCE TO RUN AWAY. What if the Prince doesn't exist? No, no, no, no, I did offer a compensation, right? But I can't tell him that I love him? How would he figure it out? There's no way. Even Ortho doesn't understand my affection for Silver to this extent. There's no way I'll be saved. There's no way I'll ever be loved. I will be alone. And die alone. Right? This is all the fault of this cursed family, right? Right? I can't tell him I love him. I can't tell my love to the world, but the world will not love me if I say nothing. But if I say something, there's no way of knowing in which way the world will move. I mustn't see him... I mustn't meet him... What if he thinks I'm disgusting for loving him... What if he's homophobic, moreover??? No there's no way he is. He's a Malleus fellow... Fae can't be that stupid. That's obvious... But I have to... But what if I tried to meet him but something "were" to happen... That still can happen, right. If we're meeting outside, rain could occur... right? Maybe I should try to go outside for like... some minutes at first... That would maybe make Ortho happy too... Maybe he would cancel the date before it happens... In the worst case I can still just use it as experience and strenghten my going-outside skill... I can do that... I'll just play a bit a SF game and I'll walk in the dorm corridors a bit... Oh yeah, I need to burn my venting paper too. I don't want Ortho to read this and become sad... But I don't want to burn it too... I hate fire so much... Well, I'll just play a bit and see what I... can do.

[istanlena]

Where did you go?

"Three years," Lena said, her voice filled with anger and devastation as if she didn't want to believe it. 

"Lee, I'm sorry."

"That all you got? 'I'm sorry'? For three fucking years, you pretended to care about me. You pretended to love me. Those words mean nothing. I don't want to stand and watch you lie to me anymore, so save us both the time and stop coming here ."

" I do care about you, Lena! It's just I- " Kara was cut off from her stammering.

"You what? Exactly. Get out." She ordered.

"Please, I don't know how to exist in a world without you." Kara's eyes started watering as she begged Lena for another chance.

"You're going to have to learn how to, Supergirl." Lena coldly said as she stared into the eyes of the deceitful hero.

The moment Kara arrived at her loft, she fell to the floor and started sobbing for what seemed like forever. Lena's words were playing in her head like a broken record, over and over again.

"You're going to have to learn how to."

She stifles a sob as she digs her fingernails into the spruce wooden floor that had just recently been cleaned. She reminds herself that she can control that grief and devastation and turn it into something painstakingly beautiful.

She promised herself that she wouldn't care anymore. She would learn to become numb and cold to those feelings, betray her soft and tender heart, be selfish. She vowed never to become so attached to something in her life again, never open her heart to love again.

So that's what she does.

————

It had been a year now since Kara has last spoken to Lena. Days all blended, weeks sped by even if she felt the time hadn't been moving for her. She hardly ate, barely slept, stopped going to game nights, and often would cancel sisters night with Alex. She felt as if her life had just stopped meaning anything. She no longer enjoyed being supergirl; it became more of an obligation to her. Kara would lay down and stare at the ceiling, wishing and praying to the god above that her powers would be stripped of her. She thought of them as a curse and Rao she knew how much of a sinful thought that was, but she couldn't help it. In her mind, she had been cursed.

Her mind flies back to the time before Lena knew Supergirl and kara were the same. Supergirl and Lena weren't on good terms at that time.

"You supers are all the same," Lena says, staring coldly into Supergirls eyes that were filled with shock and pain.

“You don't care about anyone but yourselves. Your cursed with these powers and you're forced to use them for good.” 

"Nothing is good about you."

Kara never let those words get to her because she knew Lena was upset and Kara, well Supergirl broke her trust. She knew she that Lena didn’t mean that.

She reminded herself. Now looking back at that memory, she realizes that everything Lena had said was true. Kara was selfish. That's why she didn't tell Lena, she wanted to keep her, and she didn't think about how her best friend would feel once she knew she had been lying to her. She would give anything if it means to be normal, she would give anything if it means Krypton had survived.

She was selfish. There was nothing good about her; she was sent to protect her cousin. Instead, he grew up without her with strangers. She failed her only mission, the one job she had to do so she tried redeeming herself by helping others.

She was right. I'm not a good person; I'm selfish. Maybe its time I stop pretending.

So she does exactly just that.

She leaves a note for Alex telling her she will be fine; tells her not to come looking for her, tells her everything. She begs her not to try and find her, tells her that National City will be in good hands with them. After all, the crimes had gone down more than half since Lex was killed and Lilian was in jail. Agent liberty was stopped, and so was that current president.

Supergirl wasn't needed, and Kara Danvers was no one but a wannabe journalist. She had no reason to stay.

                               Months later

———————

Alex was torn apart, her sister disappeared. Supergirl disappeared, the city was going crazy worrying for their hero, some saying she died others still having a bit of hope that she will be back.

Alex recruits Winn to try and find Kara's tracks because there was no way for her to hide all her technological traces and purchases, even though she was smarter than the average person due to the fact that she lived for thirteen years on a technologically advanced planet she still grew up here, so she was bound to make some mistakes.

 Is this all really because of that stupid Luthor? Alex would think.

She hated the fact that she grew to immensely hate Lena because of the state she had left her sister in. After all, she was one of their best friends. It started becoming frustrating because Kara was damn good at hiding her transactions. It was even harder since it has been almost a full year since Kara had disappeared and they weren't able to find any leads. Not even Superman was able to help since he didn't know Kara's heartbeat, and he wasn't able to hear another Kryptonians heartbeat.

Their last hope was Lena, the cause of all this. They doubted she would want to help her former ex-friends to try and find the person that made her hate herself for trusting someone again, especially a super.

Again, Winn started working on trying to find Lena last they heard she had moved back Metropolis city and hired someone to work for her as Acting CEO as she was starting a new company called Lightan. They knew the odds of her helping them was very low, but they had to try.

Within two weeks, Winn was able to find Lena's address since she wasn't trying to hide from them. They knew that she wouldn't go to extreme measures since kara and the others would all respect her wishes. Alex booked the earliest flight out to Metropolis for the next day. She was determined on getting Lena to help her even though they haven't spoken in nearly two years.

[nilesflynn]

Some of the rare few lines I still like from my writing, all of which happen to be in the same book

“You ready for the real world?”

    “Based on our previous conversations, I am going to have to say no.” A wicked, Cheshire cat smile drew itself across Val’s lips at his words.

    “Don't worry, none of us really have a clue what we're doing most of the time anyway. You'll fit right in.”

---

    “I don’t think any of us are really human anymore,” she was quiet, “at least not completely.”

---

“You’re aware this is breaking and entering, right?” Val paused at Case’s question as if honestly contemplating it before she shrugged her indifference.

    “It’s not the worst I’ve done and it probably won’t be the last. Don’t sweat the details.”

---

 “How’s it look, Doc?” Val broke the silence, her discomfort clear in the drumming of her fingers on her thigh. Myra took a deep breath, straightening up. “Not the worst I’ve seen, not even the worst I’ve had to patch up for you, I don’t think,” she used her “mom voice” and Val knew she was about to be lectured, though she couldn’t be sure what it was for this time; she figured Myra probably had a rather long list by now, “One of these days you’re going to get yourself hurt and there’s not going to be anyone around to help you. What will you do then, Valerie? What then?” Val seemed to honestly think about it for a moment. “I dunno, die probably.”

---

“Smoking has been known to take years off your lifespan.” Val smirked at that. “I’m well aware,” she didn’t bother pointing out that smoking was almost as unlikely as old age to be her cause of death, but he seemed to read it in her expression. “I will do what I can to help lessen your risk of death by unnatural causes if you promise me to stop smoking.” She studied him curiously, not sure what to make of the proposal. “Introducing you to Myra was a bad idea.”

---

“You heard about Bloom, right?” She glanced up at Myra again just in time to see her eyebrows raise in surprise. “I never took you for the type.” She paused at another rack of dresses, eyes focused again as she examined them. “The guy who shot me will be there.” It wasn’t a total lie, but Val was deliberately vague in her answer. “There it is.”

---

“Thanks, Myra.” “You can thank me by not doing anything stupid at that party.” Val looked up at her again, eyebrow raised. “You remember who you’re talking to, right?” “That’s why I’m worried.” Val was quiet for a moment, thinking it over. “I can’t make that promise,”

---

"Val?" She smiled softly at the uncertainty still in his voice. "You make me feel human," she spoke softly. "You are human." Val separated herself from Case as his hand dropped back to his side, but she didn't answer- didn't explain that she hadn't been considered human in years.

---

"and I’m going to kill them," she started towards the door, "every single one of them." Case stared at her for a moment, slightly surprised by her bloodlust. "I wouldn’t recommend it, your criminal record already resembles a lengthy novel."

---

“To survive here, we had to adapt, so much so, we practically became a different species- a deadlier species, and we were exterminated because of it.”

---

“I swear to God, Case, I am not above transferring you back into Virtual.” Her voice was low, a warning in itself as she spoke the words. “You don’t believe in God.” Val didn’t bother correcting him, living almost entirely to spite God wasn’t all that different than being an atheist and or worshipping technology, just like much of the rest of Adytum’s population. “Fucking try me,” her words became an icy growl.

---

“To my knowledge, all humans are worthy of love and understanding, therefore I am forced to draw the conclusion that you are not human.”

--- 

"The only way to end this is to become like them." Them. They both knew Val wasn't talking about Deius Industries, but still, she'd spoken so simply; it wasn’t that she sounded as if she knew she was going off to die, she sounded as if she were already dead. "I don't believe that." Case had come to hate that perpetual look of resignation she wore as she opened the chamber of her rifle, double checking that it was empty before cycling through the firing motions like it was muscle memory. The broken, haunted young woman Case had gotten used to dissipated; the Valkyrie- the monster had come out to play. "You will..."  She checked the chamber again, letting the bolt slide snap shut again as if for emphasis as she finally looked up at him, "in the end."

---

“What did I do that finally set you off, finally made you decide now was the time?” Val was silent, no hesitation in her eyes, no wavering in the hand that held her pistol. She took a deep breath, deciding that after all these years, maybe she owed him an answer. “I’m tired,” she spoke softly and, though to him the words did little in the way of an answer, to her they explained everything. “You’re tired? That’s it?”He looked angry, frustrated even; she didn’t blame him. “That’s it.”

---

“Why?” She let slip a harsh laugh, like she couldn’t believe he still hadn’t figured it out. “I was there when he ordered them to gas Vaztakki. You have any idea what it’s like to watch your home tear itself apart? What it’s like to kill your own family and not feel a thing? Veivain didn’t kill the Valkyrie, we did that to ourselves because it turned us into the very monsters you were so afraid of.” “They said you were all dead; the drones-” Val scoffed. “I programmed the two most advanced AIs Dusolis has ever seen, you think I can’t hide from a few drones?”

---

“You should’ve died on Vaztakki!” She saw the muzzle of her gun began to shake with Dukai’s rage; he was going to kill her right here, there would be no more talk of trial and public execution. “Just like the rest of those monsters!” Val moved then, one singular purpose filling her mind: kill him before he killed her. Val struck out with lightning speed, the solid heel of her boot connecting with his human shin in a painfully loud crunch, causing him to bend over it reflexively in pain. He fired a shot, but her empty hand had already come up to wrench his aim clear of her. She twisted and in one smooth motion, she jammed the glass into the side of his neck. “Funny thing about us monsters,” her voice was cold and cruel as Dukai fell to his knees, the shock writing itself plain across his face, “we’re rather unpredictable.”

---

“Let’s get something straight,” Val snatched a handful of the man’s uniform and slammed him hard enough into the bars of her cell to break his nose and bloody his face, “I’m not in here for my safety,” she flashed her wicked cheshire smile, “I’m in here for yours.”

---

“Would you like to confess your sins, child?” Val looked up at the generic priest with a blank expression, quiet a moment before answering the question with one of her own. “How much time do you have?”

---

“Do you seek forgiveness for your crimes?” “No,” she spoke simply and with no hesitation, much to his surprise, “forgiveness implies guilt and I stopped feeling guilty about anything when they gassed Noceo.” The priest’s eyes widened slightly at her nonchalant attitude. “You’ve got the Devil in you, child.” Val’s cheshire grin spread across her lips at his words. “Haven’t you put it together by now?” Her dark blue eyes sparked, “I am the Devil, and hell is in my head.”

---

“Just let me stay, Case,” years of exhaustion and pain were etched into her words, “let the pain end,” she paused with another weak smile, “don’t you think I’ve suffered enough?”

[cyberneticlagomorph]

The view is breathtaking to say the least, the ever revolving waltz of the cosmos plays silent witness to your approach, your breath misting on the thin, cold air as you glide through the starless patch of emptiness, known only as the Lawless. You have a ranch here, if you could call it that, a full lightminute’s worth of outer space to call your own.

Something is singing somewhere, beckoning, wheeling through the dark, and dusty strip of a far off asteroid field, a Shooting Star perhaps? You pay it no mind, you just circle the collection of awkward, chitinous spires anchored to the shattered remains of a long dead moon by the shed shell of a young Courier. Something bitter unfurls inside of you. 

The ghosts of memories, not yet dead, seek to torment you. White rooms and examination tables. Text redacted, reformatted. That facility was hell, more than any others you’d been in. And it’s going to stay with you, for the rest of your life, while she gets off scot fucking free.

 This is way more than she deserves.

Dust swirls lazily around your ankles as you land, wings tucking against your back so tightly they disappear completely. There is a walkway, leading up to what’s left of the Courier’s shell, a doorway sits snug in the chitin, easily missed by untrained eyes. Absently, you think about painting or carving it into something pleasing, maybe even homey. You stop yourself, fingers running over the chitin, imagining what it could be, and frown. You open the door, eager to stop wasting time in the cold. It’s warm inside, and brightly lit by glass bulbs full of bioluminescent algae. 

The floor shimmers, sections of chitin and polished stone Shaped together haphazardly with the use of your Amalgamy, a quick and dirt mosaic to break up the monotony of the interior’s design. Beneath the vaguely blue glow of the algae-lights, the walls and floor dance with cool colors brought out by tender fingers. There are swirls of violet coursing through the gleaming black of the chitinous walls, hints of blue too, all coaxed out of hiding by your hand.

The interior of this place, if your own creation, every room hand sculpted by you and your Amalgamy. The Red Science, the study of Shaping and Being Shaped, of breaking the Chain. It’s a forbidden science, one you’ve taken very well to, considering you yourself are an aberration Shaped by science. A different science, but science nonetheless. 

Motion further down an empty corridor interrupts your thoughts. A flash of red hair, gangly limbs, all turning to smoke. You stiffen and walk faster, your prey finally in sight.

Moira.

Internally, you kick yourself, hate yourself for the moment of weakness you showed back at Avalon. You had her there, life in your hands, blood on your knuckles. You could have ended her, ended THIS. But you hesitated, you remembered the days before she hurt you. So you let her live, you brought her here, where no one would find her, and you started building her a home. You can lie to yourself all you’d like, but that’s what it is, a gallant mansion of chitin and stone in the deep, beautiful reaches of space. Call it a gilded cage if you want, but there’s too much love poured into it for it to be a proper punishment of any kind.

She’s a mess when you find her, a bruise-mottled specter of herself, wrapped half-assedly in bandages and misplaced bravado. It’s a miracle she’s conscious, let alone standing. But there she is, defying the odds in that arrogant, stubborn way she always does. Everything has to bend to her will, even her own broken body. It’s infuriating, even more so than the way you instantly fall into the role of caregiver. How you instantly fall over yourself to please, to coddle, to love. 

Moira is, and always will be the object of your pity, something long misconstrued as love. Your expression must have changed, must have melted into that warm, stupid stare you used to give her, because she narrows her eyes and she fucking sneers. That alone pushes all thoughts of comforting her out of your mind. 

“Look at you, already wasting away without me.” The words fall out of your mouth before you can stop them. It’s mean, and a bit ironic since you’re the one that kicked her ass, but it’s (sort of) true regardless. That’s what drew you to Moira, her inability to care for herself, oh sure she’s dangerously clever, but she can’t cook to save her life. Or remember to eat, or sleep, especially when she’s knee deep in her work. So you’d remind her, you’d help her along, leave her things in the fridge, drag her to bed by the tie if you had to. And it had worked, for a little while, until she hurt you and you left.

Her sneer twists into something vaguely amused, “Oh, I am wounded.” She coos sardonically, “Does the little bunny think that his care is still needed? Nevermind effective?”

Ah, she hit a nerve. Of course she did, she’s always known how to get under your skin, figuratively and literally. Your ear twitches, betraying your neutral expression, “My care has always been effective, all my other partners have benefited from my care, you’re just an outlier.”

A grin, all sharp teeth and black gums, bruise-purple glows in the back of her mouth as she speaks, and flickers among the abyss of her sclera, “Oh? So your little experiments have come to fruition at last. We’re not so different, you and I, Jack.” She takes an unsteady step closer, and you flinch, “Misunderstood scoundrels of different areas of knowledge… but both oh so good at our thing. Oh so passionate.”

A rip-saw snarl tears its way up your throat, your own biolume igniting with icy fire, making you look otherworldly. It frames your teeth and lights up your eyes, burning you up inside just as much as the anger Moira’s barbs have stoked, “I am NOTHING like you.”

Moira tucks her hands behind her back, suddenly looming over you. Smoke leaks from her mouth and nostrils, lending weight to her words somehow, “Is that so, Jack? But were you never curious? Wanted to know something about someone? ‘Can I fatten them up? Change them? Make them to my liking?’ Have you never planned how to try it and wordlessly put it into action? Nevermind the consequences, you must know.”

She leans forward, bringing herself to your eye level in the most demeaning way possible. She smells like blood, like herbal cigs and shitty, stale coffee. You used to love those smells, but now they just make you sick. She tilts your chin up with one of her claws, her face is way too close to yours. You feel sick, so sick. Stop touching me stop touching me GET AWAY GET AWAY GET AWAY

“Was I not your darling pet project? Much like you were, and forever will be mine.”

You teleport without thinking, blinking several feet away, just out of her reach. You’re shaking, shaking so hard. Don’t throw up, DON’T THROW UP.

She seems smug, more than her usual aura of general smugness. “Keeping me here, won’t do you any good, I had reasons for keeping you in the lab, reasons that would benefit humanity. You on the other hand, have nothing.”

“Oh but this will benefit others, you’ll never hurt anyone, ever again.” It sounds like a lie coming from your trembling lips, but you try hard to believe it’s true, that keeping her here was a good idea. She scoffs, but you’re not all together here anymore, no, you’re drifting away, viewing all of this from behind the mask of your own face as the numbness sets in. Moira saying something about how this hurting others thing is nonsense, sacrifices are always made for the greater good.

You flinch as if struck. That struck another nerve, you’ve been told that verbatim by every researcher, every medic, every anything that’s ever hurt you for science. For the greater good of humanity. 

 “We are creatures that hurt, Jack. We hurt each other endlessly. Porcupines huddling together. All we can do is choose how we are hurting one another and why. I picked genetics. Picked to use my sins for a greater good. Cures for diseases, prosthetics with new technologies, ways to offer everything available to regular people today to the magical folks like you. To see how magic and technology can mesh together. To open up possibilities like never before.” A pause, a smile, “Is that not great, Jack? Not incredible?” 

“Why are you choosing to hurt your loved ones? There is little more  to this than revenge. But your satisfaction. And I won't complain- oh, no. But not because this is fair or just. Because I love you dearly. And love all data you've given me. And all I've become from you.” She means it, in her own little twisted way, she means every word that spills from her chapped lips. You hate it, and it’s very hard for you to hate anything, anyone, but you do. In that moment there is nothing in this universe, or any other, than Moira and her words. You move without realizing, hand at her throat, lifting her off the floor to slam her into a nearby wall hard enough to make the contents of the cabinets rattle. You’ve grown, stretched into a physical testament of your hatred. 

Moira remains stoic. The only change in her expression is a faint hint of annoyance and a quirked eyebrow, it doesn’t change, not for a long time, not even when your snarl and start to squeeze.

You both know that she could Fade out of your grasp if she wanted, but she doesn’t, she lets you put her hands on her and seems to savor your touch in a way that makes the violence you want to inflict seem almost erotic. She smiles at you, with those unnaturally sharp teeth, the faint purple tint of her lips make her look more corpselike than usual, a smug banshee on her deathbed. Dancing on the knife’s edge of fate.

"For all your wisdom, your incomprehensible IQ and all the data at your disposal, and you're still dumb enough to think that I still love you?" Your voice sounds strange, deep and menacing, "That I ever loved you? If anything I pitied you and your obvious inability to take care of yourself, your astonishing ability to cling to those that no longer want you. If you were my loved one, I'd've given you the mercy of a quick death, but all the hatred I have for you refuses to grant you that kindness "

A snort, a flash of teeth and a wheezing attempt at a laugh, "Allow me a fantasy, won't you?" But otherwise, her tone is unshaken. Her expression is vaguely amused. "I think, Jack. This little tirade is one of the most precious bits of information you could have ever given me. Our little talk is over. Play with me as you will- I am done here."

You could kill her, you could finally END THIS. 

You should.

You want to.

But you won’t, because she’s right. Every last fucking word out of that ugly maw of hers is right and you HATE. IT. 

You drop her unceremoniously to the ground, and deflate back into your normal self. You are broken, shards of a person thrice mended, struggling to come together. Logic dictates that if you want to stop being something people break, you should turn those shards outward, use them like armor. 

But you refuse, you always refuse.

To grow back sharp and hard would be the death of you, in a world already so jagged, who needs one more knife to cut themselves on. 

You are soft, you respond to those that hurt you with kindness you know that they do not deserve. 

You FORGIVE.

Something that should be beyond you by now. But it isn’t, and it never will be. You swallow the inferno of your ire, until all that’s left is dying embers. You run your hand on your scalp, wincing at the peach fuzz that greets you, it will grow back, softer than before. Just like you.

You look at Moira, long since dragged herself to her feet, rubbing her throat idly, and you sigh. 

“You really are pathetic, aren’t you? You aren’t some scientific martyr, Moira, just a sick impatient woman, who’s lived her life precariously piling up crates of exciting toys you’ve made for yourself. Someone who could never cooperate with others to gain even the slightest scientific footing, before jumping into whatever your whims dictated.”

That wipes the amusement from her face, leaving her stunned enough for you to continue uninterrupted, you sat there and listened to her dissect you, now it’s YOUR turn to show her what it’s like, “You’re just a spoiled child tinkering with what you don’t understand, someone with too much power and too little sense.”

She flinches, and oh how delicious it feels. You don’t stop, you can’t stop, not now, “So this,” You gesture at her new home, “This is your due. A room where you can play scientist, your very own padded cell.”

Moira opens her mouth to spit what you’re sure is a venomous retort but you cut her off before she can utter a syllable, “That’s what you really are, Moira, you may talk about the greater good and the advancement of mankind-- but you’re really just making excuses for yourself.” Now you’re the one looming, five feet small and she’s shrinking back from you like you’re on fire, “You want to do this fun thing you love, and you want to do it without feeling guilt for all the pain you’ve inflicted on others, on me.” 

Still, she tries to reply, tries to talk back, but you aren’t listening, “You try to justify your atrocities, by casting yourself as some misunderstood crusader of great things, but you’re just an idiot putting the cart before the horse.” Your voice becomes hers, a sharp and bitter mimicry, eerily accurate, “Why, yes! Put cybernetics on magical beings! When we don’t even know what a magical being is, really, or how they exist! Surely the magical part of it won’t affect our data at all!!” It’s your turn to scoff, your voice your own again but no less bitter, “You really just cherry pick what to apply the scientific method on. You act on this hedonist whim, but never acknowledge it. You over indulge in it, and lose sight of everything else… and that was your downfall. Not me, not Avalon, all you and your inability to exercise moderation… maybe you’ll find some out here, in the solitude, we both know you’ll have plenty of it.”

[lucyyh]

Ranting: Arrow 7x12

Well, my expectations were low for this episode, because well, MG wrote it, and the man have fucked up time and time again, since at least Season 4B.

It was good to watch some old faces, and old footage from earlier seasons. The documentary style was good too, the crew that follows them where there, without being overwhelming or annoying. That is for other characters the same as always. What I hated with passion is the stupid color in the episode. Like yes, they were trying to make it seem like a documentary, but damn you could have chose to go gray, and not that weird reddish, dark and absolutely awful color.

Baddie of the Week:

So...we are gonna have two vigilante killers in a row it seems. This one was a mad man only looking for masks (still, I want to know where Rory is!), and next episode will be Stan the Fan. I least I hope is Stan. I miss that psycho. Anyway, I feel like this is a sample of how MG had run out of ideas, a long time ago... using almost the same plot is typical of him...

Still, the guy was interesting. Not well developed to be amazing, but still entertaining for the episode.

Mayor Pollard:

Rolling my eyes at you woman, so hard. Still, is one of those characters that drive you up the wall, but you appreciate their consistency in their belief and their honesty when something proves them wrong. She is that for me. I don't like her, but still she isn't an hypocrite. I can respect that.

The NTA:

Ohhh look! now they say Oliver is a hero. I don't care about them.

I'm just gonna say this totally unrelated thing to the episode: I'm glad Dinah's make up looked more natural. I don't like her at all with the eyeliner, and the red lipstick...she looks way better in this episode.

BS:

It was good to see BS is not dead and was replace for this supossedly good and friendly new LL. That short interview with the documentary crew showed us she is still there.

Special Guests:

I love watching Thea, Quentin, Rory, Sara and Sin...Barry too, although his comment about Oliver being damage...yeah, I'm tired of this. He fixed it, but still. Unnecessary. I did love what everyone else had to say about vigilantes and Oliver...

I HAVE HIGH HOPES FOR COLIN MAKING AN APPEREANCE. AND THEY WERE CRUSHED UNTIL THEY WERE NOTHING MORE THAN DUST.

John Diggle:

Look Digg, I love you. Your interaction with the documentary people was funny...but explain to me this:

"We had each other's back"

You did? with the whole team? ARE YOU FUCKING SURE JOHN? BECAUSE IF I REMEMBER YOU CLEARLY LEFT FELICITY TO FEND FOR HERSELF, AND AFTER THAT,  YOU EXCUSE YOUR SHITTY BEHAVIOR SAYING YOU WERE GIVING HER SPACE.

So no John, you didn't have each other's back.

I can let you say Oliver and you support each other, because  it was implied in 7x01 that you visited him regularly...

BUT DON'T COME HERE INTO MY HOUSE AND LIE TO MY FACE.

You ABANDONED the one person you wanted to protect since the beginning, or at least your did before your mid life crisis, or whatever the fuck what happened to you in season 6 was.

You are right too in this: Oliver shouldn't have went to prison for you, bunch of ungrateful bastards. It's good that you finally are recognizing this.

Emiko: Eh. She was fine. *Shrugs* I don't have much to say about her, but it was cute that she didn't want to stop working with Rene.

Will and Zoe: Look at the babies being best friends! Rene was hilarious here too. Will is so conflicted right now, you can see it in his behavior...he wanted to trust in Zoe, but there was something holding him back: Is it shame for getting expelled? or is something else?

William and Felicity:

Oh Will...it while I was watching him so angry, and taking it all on Felicity, it made me think about my nephews.(They are 12 and 13). They behave just like him when they felt they were wronged in some way. I understand his hurt and anger. Will have some serious issues, that were address a little in season six: the fear of abandonment the most prominent, for what we had seen. First not wanting Oliver to be the Green Arrow, and now with Felicity sending him away to boarding school.

It's someone surprised he was so angry with her? She has been a constant, the one that explained to him so beautifully why it was important for Oliver to be the Green Arrow; the one he spent all those months living with, supporting each other, and sharing the fear of being found by Ricardo Díaz, the one who encouraged his enthusiasm and love for studies, technology in particular. We don't know yet why he was expelled, but it wouldn't surprise me if it was to get back at his parents for sending him away, and not letting him come back for Christmas. I would be pissed too.

The lack of Oliver being there for his son, it was...I don't even know what to call it. I'm angry about it. But hey, that's MG and his shitty writing.

Oliver:

He was great. But I wish he would stop believing everything is his fault. And you know? don't turn yourself in to be send AGAIN to prison. WTF.

Felicity:

I missed my girl. She didn't have enough screen time. FUCK YOU MG.

Olicity:

SO GOOD WE GOT A SCENE WITH THEM IN THE SAME PLACE.

FUCK YOU MG.

This episode was...okay. I'm being a nice person saying it was okay. MG continues to show that what he believes is right, in this  case "a love letter to the fans", is completely different for what a big part of the fans believe it is. But hey, he has different views  on what a "nice guy" is, or a "good reporter" is...so nothing new under the sun. I’m sure he is butthurt and oh so surprised by the people who didn’t like the episode....

Until Arrow gets rid of this man, his shitty writing, and decision making power, this show will continue to be bits of good things mix with a lot of dissapointment.

Sorry for all the swearing. But is so easy to do it when is in another language 😂😂😂

[tonystarkbingo]

Week 7 Roundup!  Does anyone else look forward to these not only for the awesome content, but also for that glorious cowboy RDJ pic?  Either way, check out all the awesome stuff that was shared with us this week!

Title: Invincible Summer Collaborator: monobuu Link: AO3 Square Filled: K1 - Fantasy World Ship: WinterIron Rating: Gen Major Tags: arranged marriage, misunderstandings, fluff Summary: Tony, a member of the desert-born Iron Tribe, is given away to the White Wolf of the North, the Winter Warlord, as part of a treaty to save his people. Now he must go to the cold northern territories to join his future mate when all he's ever known is the heat of the desert sun. Word Count: 5586

Title: Stark Confections Blueberry Donettes Collaborator: monobuu Link: Tumblr Square Filled: A1 - image of Stark Storefront Ship: none Rating: Gen Major Tags: art, fluff Summary: What if instead of making weapons, the Starks made snacks?

Title: Art for Such Sweet Revenge by ali_aliska Collaborator: feignedsobriquet Link: Tumblr Square Filled: A1 -  diner / restaurant Ship: WinterIron Rating: Gen Major Tags: art Summary: Tony and Bucky sitting in a diner

Title: Coming Home Contributor: Areiton Square Filled: K4 Presumed Dead Link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/18130361 Pairing: Tony Stark/Peter Parker Warning: presumed dead, grief/mourning, adult Peter Parker Summary: “They want to plan the funeral,” he says, after a while, and Harley smiles. It’s not a happy smile. It’s the kind of smile he learned from Tony, the kind that is all sharp teeth and threat and it makes Peter shiver. “Tony left plans for that,” he says. “Let them have their spectacle.” Word Count: 2,647

Title: You Got This Collaborator: Trammel Link: AO3 Square Filled: R1 - Denial  Ship: none Rating: Gen Major Tags: Endgame trailer spoilers, angst, time travel, Iron Dad Summary: "Dad, it's me," she said. Then he realized she had Pepper's hair - with stripes of green and purple in it - and his eyes. Oh shit. "You're not real," he said to the hallucination.  Word Count: 1047

Title: Polar Opposites Collaborator: mistrstank Link: AO3 Square Filled: R3 - Ransom Note Ship: WinterIron Rating: Gen Major Tags: shapeshifters AU, Steve is a troll, fluff and crack Summary: In which Bucky's shift is the best thing Tony has ever seen, no one knows what Tony's shift is and there are explosions. Word Count: 1270

Title: Faith, Against All Logic Collaborator: lbibliophile-mcu Link: Tumblr Square Filled: K5 - Robots Ship: none Rating: Gen Major Tags: poetry, Tony’s bots

Title: A WEAB caused this Collaborator: SyoshoHiataki Link: AO3 Square Filled: A3 - Free Space Ship: WinterIron Rating: Mature Major Tags: parental Tony and Bucky, somewhat not Steve friendly Summary: Tony Stark hated stupid but genius villains. Now, he and the infamous Winter Soldier were stuck in an alternate world with different Heroes running around. Needless to say, he and Bucky were going to prove that you don't need a Quirk to be a Hero. After all, he was one. Word Count: 1896

Title: Monaco Race Collaborator: ironstrange-is-the-endgame Link: AO3 Square Filled: S2 - image of Tony in his racing suit Ship: none Rating: Gen Major Tags: art Summary: digital watercolour

Title: That's what you get for waking up in Vegas Collaborator: cutebutpsyco Link: AO3 Square Filled: A1 -  MIT Years Ship: IronHusbands Rating: Gen Major Tags: Vegas wedding, underage drinking Summary: Tony tried to looking for an answer to that specific question, but there were none that he could provide. He ran a hand in his hair and then went back staring at the empty wall in front of him. “I don’t know, but I’m out of cash and my fake ID isn’t any longer in my wallet, and I think we couldn’t find the key of the room last night.” Word Count: 2567

Collaborator: trashcanakin Link: Tumblr Square Filled: S1 - shapeshifters Ship: WinterIron Rating: Gen Major Tags: art, shapeshifters Summary: Fanart to go with mistrstank’s fic “Polar Opposites”

Title: Lullaby In Binary Collaborator: Iron_Eirlyssa (Eirlyssa) Link: AO3 Square Filled: R2 -  Tony in the workshop Ship: Tony & Dum-E Rating: Gen Major Tags: protective Dum-E Summary: DUM-E will take care of his creator, even when said creator is being stubborn about it. Word Count: 875

Title: Best Bot Dum-E: Bedtime Enthusiast Collaborator: rebelmeg Link: AO3 Square Filled: T1 - humor Ship: Tony & Dum-E Rating: Gen Major Tags: fluff and humor, bot fic Summary: Dum-e is a very good helper bot. Steve witnesses him being helpful in an unexpected way. Tony will probably have a few small bruises... Word Count: 1068

Title: New Signature On The Network Collaborator: Lacrimula_Falsa Link: AO3 Square Filled: A5 - image of JARVIS Ship: Tony Stark and his bots Rating: Teen Major Tags: angst, character death, bots Summary: Dum-E meets Vision for the first time. Word Count: 715

Title: Let it Lie Collaborator: yuuki_Illene Link: AO3 Square Filled: R2 - Dark Alleys Ship: Tony Stark & Bucky Barnes Rating: Not rated Major Tags: angst, recovery, hurt/comfort Summary: It begins with Tony in an alleyway and getting mugged. But what has already been stolen is best left in the dark. “Dude, chill,” he gasps out as quickly as possible, slapping the mugger’s muscular arm with his normal hand. “And if you’re going to say money or your life like some kind of cheap mugger I’m gonna be real disappointed.” Word Count: 3313

Title: The Doom Of All Men... Is To Be Flirted With Collaborator: katling Link: AO3 Square Filled: K1 - doom Ship: Pepperony Rating: Teen Major Tags: Team Iron Man, not Team Cap friendly Summary: Look, Tony likes being flirted with as much as the next person but he has standards, you know. Word Count: 805

Title: I Don't Mind You Comin' Here Collaborator: chase_acow Link: AO3 Square Filled: R4 - slime Ship: IronFalcon Rating: Explicit Major Tags: shower sex, explicit sexual content Summary: There was a lot Tony would do for the man he loved, but slime of questionable provenance would make him hesitate a bit. Word Count:

Title: Sins Of The Father Collaborator: katling Link: AO3 Square Filled: S4 - Hank Pym Ship: none Rating: Teen Major Tags: redemption, not Team Cap friendly Summary: When Hank Pym requests a meeting, Tony isn't expecting much in the way of good things. He's pleasantly surprised. Word Count: 1529   

Title: Fixed Point Collaborator: notsopowerfulowl (theowlgalaxy) Link: AO3 Square Filled: S5 - hugs Ship: Pepperony Rating: Teen Major Tags: hurt/comfort, insomnia, PTSD, implied/referenced abuse Summary: Sometimes it takes soft words and gentle touches to bring Tony back from a nightmare. Word Count: 937

Title: Earth's Best Defender Collaborator: mariana_oconnor Link: AO3 Square Filled: S4 -  art format: stained glass Ship: none Rating: Gen Major Tags: art Summary: My first fill for the Tony Stark Bingo. Some of the details were lost when I scanned it into the computer, but it looks okay. Done in watercolour first, then the lines added with ink.

Title: R5- Seeing Red Collaborator: thudworm Link: AO3 Square Filled: R5 - seeing red Ship: none Rating: Teen Major Tags: post-Endgame, no spoilers. Howard Stark’s A+ Parenting Summary: Inspired by this post on tumblr: there’s tons of fics w howard appearing in the future and steve or tony telling howard how badly he fucked up but consider: rhodey taking one look at that piece of shit and fucking DECKING him in front of god and everybody Word Count: 1005   

Title: Not a damsel in distress Collaborator: alexisriversong Link: AO3 Square Filled: K2 -  Damsels (and others) in distress Ship: WinterIron Rating: Teen Major Tags: hurt Tony Summary: Tony gets kidnapped, Bucky wants to save him but Tony is already saving himself. Word Count: 924

Title: Let me Sum Up Collaborator: tisfan Link: AO3 Square Filled: S3 - Tony as the Sorcerer Supreme Ship: WinterIron Rating: Teen Major Tags: time travel, sorcerers, Tony needs a hug Summary: Tony has a big problem-- and several medium sized ones, and a dozen little ones… but mostly… what the hell is he supposed to say? Word Count: 939

Title: Playing Human - Chapter One Collaborator: rainbowshoes Link: AO3 Square Filled: K3 - Myths and Legends Ship: ThunderIron Rating: Mature Major Tags: Dark Tony, Extremis Tony Summary: loosely based on the concept from American Gods (which i've neither seen nor read) that our gods are created from the things we "worship" the most - and Tony Stark is the god of modern technology Word Count: 2223

Title: Playing Human - Chapter Two Collaborator: rainbowshoes Link: AO3 Square Filled: T4: Good Guys Gone Bad Ship: ThunderIron Rating: Mature Major Tags: Dark Tony, Extremis Tony Summary: loosely based on the concept from American Gods (which i've neither seen nor read) that our gods are created from the things we "worship" the most - and Tony Stark is the god of modern technology Word Count: 2223 

Title: Try, Try Again Collaborator: 27dragons Link: AO3 Square Filled: R4 - Time Travel Ship: IronStrange Rating: Teen Major Tags: time travel, marriage proposal Summary: It’s a very important date, and Stephen is determined that everything will be perfect. Everything. Word Count: 2371

Title: take me like a victorian dame Collaborator: yuuki_Illene Link: AO3 Square Filled: A1 -  KINK: mirrors Ship: WinterIron Rating: Explicit Major Tags: explicit sexual content, dorks in love, fluff and crack Summary: It starts an engagement announcement in an elaborate dress before they start going down at it in an elevator. Word Count: 2781

Title: Sacrifice Collaborator: martianwahtney Link: AO3 Square Filled: K4 -  Conflicting Obligations / Oaths Ship: none Rating: Gen Major Tags: Soul Stone, Endgame spoilers Summary: Tony Stark visits Vormir alone. The Soul Stone demands a sacrifice. Tony insists he's sacrificed enough. The Stone puts him up for evaluation. Word Count: 1168

Title: Done This Before Collaborator: Tuessday Square: S4 "Kink: Collars" Rating: Explicit Warnings: NAWA, but be aware of age gap, kidnapping and the aftermath of violence/captivity, BDSM, bad BDSM (leave it as read this is fiction and not a good guide for how to), bondage, consensual violence, characters being bad at communicating things they probably really should. Pairing: Peter Parker/Tony Stark Summary: Peter hadn't ever really thought about it. Link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/18228557 Word Count: 4414

Title: rouge Collaborator: scarynoodles Link: AO3 Square Filled: S1 Ship: Stony Rating: Explicit Major Tags: angst, pining, explicit sexual content Summary: His eyes are the most striking thing about him. He likes to think it’s his goatee, or even the reactor when he still had it, but no, it’s his eyes. Those dark, warm, expressive eyes the color of whiskey when the sunlight hits them just right. Steve is in love with those eyes, he loves seeing them bright and happy because then they sparkle even in the darkest of places. It hurts him whenever they’re dull, depressed, hidden by flashing red shades the color of anger and aggression. Word Count: 1667

Title: Baby, I Wasn’t Expecting You Collaborator: FreyaS Link: AO3 Square Filled: S1 -  silver haired Tony Ship: WinterIron Rating: Teen Major Tags: pining, identity porn, happy ending Summary: Bucky walked into the bar with his last twenty and a scowl that could have peeled rust off of iron, slapping the bill on the bartop with his prosthetic hand. “Gimme the strongest thing this’ll buy,” he snapped. The bartender took one look at Bucky before he unscrewed the serving tip off of a bottle of rum and handed him the half-full bottle. Bucky grinned, all teeth, and poured himself a generous serving into a glass and knocked back the drink with his good hand. “Whoa there, might want to slow down,” a voice said from his left. He turned sharply and almost lost his breath as he met the gaze of the most beautiful man he’d seen in a while. He was clearly older. Silver threaded through his hair and was peppered in his well-groomed goatee, but he wore his age well. His whiskey brown eyes were crinkled into a smile and his soft pink lips were quirked up as he sipped from a glass full of a clear but sparkling liquid with a lime wedge on the rim. (Or Bucky meets the man of his dreams and proceeds to get cockblocked by babies, his family, and Tony himself, before he finally gets his happily ever after.) Word Count: 10,163

Title: Trust Collaborator: katling  Link: AO3 Square Filled: S5 -  MIT Years Ship: none Rating: Teen Major Tags: Shifter AU Summary: Rhodey finally finds out that Tony is a shifter and what his form is. It doesn't happen in quite the way Tony wanted but it all works out okay. Word Count: 1772

[raendown]

I finally got around to taking part in @dahtwitchi‘s Dick Pic Project! And in time to be allowed my repost of her delicious artwork! The image I am posting is ever so slightly doctored, just cropped a little, but with permission from Twitchi. 

Pairing: MadaraTobirama Word count: 4121 Rated: M Summary: Madara isn't sure what he thinks about being given a third chance at life. He's glad that he has his brother and Hashirama with him, although he's pretty sure he could live without Tobirama being there as well. What really makes things things interesting is all this new technology. He particularly enjoys his new 'cellphone'.

Follow the link or read it under the cut!

Rapture On The Lonely Shore

As much as Madara appreciated being given another chance at life, there were still moments when he wondered if this was all just a little too much trouble. He had lived his life – two of them in fact! In that time he had committed his crimes, died for them twice, and seen about as much of the world as he’d thought he would ever want to. Getting dragged back in to the land of the living for a third go around wasn’t really in his plans.

Having both of the Senju brothers tag along for the ride could be nothing but karma trying to kick him in the ass and have a good laugh at him while doing it. Some days not even the fact that Izuna had also clawed his way back to life was worth the aggravation of it all.

Certainly on the surface everything was fine and dandy. The citizens of Konoha had at last reached a point where they were content to ignore him so long as he remained docile and afforded them the same discourtesy. Hashirama had fallen so easily in to the patterns of friendship they enjoyed during the few shorts months he had been able to peacefully exist within the village they built together. Spending his days with Izuna as he had always wanted to was a joy he’d long stopped believing could ever be possible.

The problem, as always, was Tobirama. To an outsider’s point of view it would appear that Tobirama had given up all animosity towards the Uchiha brothers he once carried so much hate for. And that would almost be considered correct, Madara had to admit. After finding themselves alive in a time period far passed their own, all of them had found it much easier to lay down their anger and simply enjoy the time they had been gifted, allowing the sins of the past to stay there and looking forward to the future with lighter hearts. Tobirama spent most of his time these days devoting his mind to the science he’d always loved.

He spent the rest of his time bothering Madara.

It wasn’t the same sort of hatred which had existed between them before when Izuna lay buried beneath six feet of earth and neither Tobirama nor Madara could look at each other without seeing the blood of their lost kin. Back then they had both done everything in their power to get in each other’s way, to antagonize and impede and irritate in every way they could just for the pleasure of knowing they had ruined even just a moment of the other’s day.

Now Madara wasn’t sure what he would call it. Without the weight of the world on his shoulders Tobirama seemed to have discovered a new side of himself that very much enjoyed poking fun at other people. He found a great deal of amusement in pulling small pranks and Madara, unfortunately, was his new favorite victim. Even more confusing was that none of it seemed to truly be mean-spirited. Tobirama switched out his reading glasses and put dye in his shampoo bottle, he laughed at the results until he was rubbing his sides with glee and then – amazingly – he would return Madara his things or provide him with the cure for whatever chaos he had caused. Then he returned to his lab until the urge for this new brand of fun rose again.

Several years had already gone by since the Fourth Shinobi War and all of them were fairly well entrenched in their patterns. Izuna in particular still struggled to remember the availability of new technologies like electric stoves and lightbulbs. On his part, Madara had been enamored with the concept of a cellphone since he was first handed one and the concept explained to him. That changed when Tobirama got a cellphone of his own.

Now here he was eyeing the small bar across the lock screen which indicated that he had a new message from “That White Bastard”. Madara sighed, drumming the nails of his other hands against his thigh as he wondered if it was worth his time to open the message. Last time he gave in to curiosity he’d gotten a series of eight picture messages of the same stupid leaf from different angles. Just a dumb waste of his time, something harmless that did nothing more than irritate him yet caused no real offense, that was the basis of all their interactions now. Madara had stopped checking Tobirama’s messages since then and started deleting them on sight but today a pattern had been broken.

Today he had received one picture message followed by no less than fifteen text messages in rapid succession. The constant ding of his phone was both annoying and slightly alarming, holding his attention if only for the way the messages just kept coming all at once. That wasn’t like Tobirama. It was more like Tobirama to wait and send each message in short intervals for maximum irritation value.

With a roll of his eyes and a heavy sigh, Madara unlocked his phone and fumbled around for the messages app. He wouldn’t be able to think about anything else until he solved this mini mystery so he might as well get it over with sooner rather than later. As soon as he opened it, however, he narrowed his eyes in confusion, anxious worry rising up in his throat as he read through the immediately visible messages.

No Seriously Do not I mean it, don’t scroll up If I send you enough messages it won’t be visible Just don’t scroll up I mean it Uchiha Don’t fucking do it If you want to keep your sanity DO NOT SCROLL UP

Madara caught his bottom lip between his teeth and nibbled viciously with indecision. He’d never seen Tobirama come even close to panic before but these messages, the speed with which they had all dropped in one after the other, it felt a lot like panic to him. The last message in particular caught his attention. He wasn’t sure if the wording was meant as a genuine warning or as a some kind of threat but all it had really accomplished was to make him incredibly curious. What could that idiot Senju have possibly sent him that would be followed all of this?

It took exactly half a minute for Madara to cave to his own curiosity. Whatever had been sent to him, it was obvious the Senju didn’t want him to see it. He might be holding amazing blackmail material in the palm of his hand; he would be stupid not to investigate that. Scrolling upwards only increased his confusion at first as it became more and more clear that Tobirama seemed to have sent him something by accident, something he truly did not wish for Madara to see, true panic clear in the messages where he seemed to realize he’d made some sort of mistake.

DON’T LOOK AT IT I DID NOT MEAN TO SEND THIS IMAGE Believe me when I say I meant to send something else This was an accident Do not scroll up Do not look at that image No Seriously

And then Madara found the image itself.

If he had an ounce less self-control he would have thrown his cellphone across the room on mere reflex, an instinctive reaction to the immediate influx of conflicting emotions. Of all the possible things Tobirama might have sent him, even accidentally, an image of the other man in the nude had not even crossed Madara’s mind.

Alright, so Tobirama wasn’t completely nude in the photo, although he might as well have been. His torso was bare and the pants he was wearing were opened to allow his impressive erection to rise out and stand perfectly centered in the frame. Madara couldn’t decide if he wanted to stare at the most delicious cock he’d ever set his poor shamed eyes upon or if he wanted to trace the shape of the tattoo he’d never known about. Tobirama’s pale white skin made a perfect backdrop for the red ink of a tiger to claw its way up and around his shoulder, the stripes of the beast’s arm running down Tobirama’s. The man’s other arm was pulled up behind his head to draw Madara’s eye to the third surprise: apparently Tobirama had seen fit to pierce one of his nipples.

Madara swallowed thickly, both hands clutching his phone so hard the metal casing gave a protesting creak. The part of his brain that had been raised in a war with the Senju was a little disgusted with himself for even entertaining the ideas this image was clearly meant to inspire. Perhaps it wasn’t meant to inspire those ideas in him but the other part of himself, the one that had put the war behind him and was slowly learning to trust again, was already rerouting blood to some very interested parts of his body. A few years ago he might have scowled at this same image with nothing but revulsion. Now he sank deeper in to his couch cushions and palmed the front of his trousers.

Two could play at this game, he thought with a grin. It had taken hours to teach him how to use the camera function on this overly complicated device but it was time he appreciated as well-spent now, reluctantly backing away from the messaging app so he could open up the camera and fiddle until he remembered how to turn it around to face himself. Then he unfastened his pants and pushed them down.

He wasn’t nearly as naked as Tobirama, he noticed. Staring back at the image of himself made him wonder if he should set the scene a little. Maybe take off his shirt? Pose? What expression should he make? Madara shifted and watched his cock bob from side to side, leering at the reflection his own hardness when an idea occurred to him.

It took several tries to get a picture he liked that actually stayed in focus, then several more tries to figure out how to send it back to Tobirama. If he said so himself it was quite an attractive image with him hunkered down in a similar lounging pose as the other man with one of his hands stroking himself and his eyes closed in bliss.

When his phone began to ring he nearly jumped out of his skin. The screen told him that Tobirama was calling him and Madara stared at it for a few seconds, terrified enough that his erection wilted a little. He didn’t think Tobirama would call him. He’d just…actually he had no idea what he’d meant with this stupid idea. Tit for tat? Payback? Mutual teasing with naked bodies? But if he didn’t answer then he ran the risk of Tobirama just popping in with that infernal jutsu of his so Madara accepted the call with one shaking thumb, his other hand still wrapped protectively around his own cock.

“Hello…” he mumbled, unsure of what the protocol was for talking to someone he’d just sent a racy picture of himself to.

“I thought I told you not to look at it.” Tobirama’s voice sounded oddly breathless in his ear. Madara swallowed thickly as his mind supplied him with several possible reasons why. His thumb absently rubbed small circles around the smooth head of his cock, making him shiver.

“You made me curious,” he admitted.

A few beats of silence followed before Tobirama spoke in a husky rasp, “I think I made you hard.”

“Perhaps. And you?” This was all stupid, so stupid, a bad idea shaped from adrenaline and the shock of sudden arousal. The percentage chance of this all blowing up in his face was astronomically high and yet he couldn’t stop his thumb from continuing to trace light circles, closing his eyes and dropping his head back to strain his ears for the sound of Tobirama’s voice. Had the man always had such an attractive voice or had Madara just not been listening properly?

“Madara…what are you doing right now?”

There were a hundred possible answers he could have given, a million different lies he could have told to stop this situation before it got too far out of hand, but the only animosity left between them was harmless pranks because they made Tobirama laugh and Madara had just enough courage to make a leap of faith. He took a chance in a way he never would have done in the world they lived in before.

“Right now? I’m touching myself while I think about that picture you sent me.”

“Oh.” Tobirama cleared his throat but it didn’t erase the fact that they both heard his voice crack. “R-right now. You’re–? Okay.”

“Do you know what would help?” Madara grinned listening to Tobirama’s breathing speed up.

“What?”

“If I could listen to you touching yourself at the same time.”

He never would have guessed how satisfying it would be to hear the hitch in Tobirama’s breath and the stuttering inhale that followed his statement. Madara shifted his grasp on the phone and squirmed as his thumb moved a little faster. Every fiber of his being wanted to move the entire hand, his blood boiling with anticipation at just the thought of it, but he held off for now. How much more satisfying would it be to have Tobirama join him? To listen to each other fall to pieces even though they were half a village apart.

Very likely he would have trouble looking Tobirama in the eye the next time they saw each other but that was a problem to be considered later. He could worry about his own recklessness and the possible fallouts of this after what promised to be a very satisfying orgasm.

“So, what, you would just…if I…?”

“You’re already touching yourself aren’t you?” Madara cut in smugly.

“Are you?”

“Yeah,” he breathed. “Tell me how you’re touching yourself Tobirama.”

The voice in his ear stumbled through a few syllables, clearly having difficulty doing both tasks at once, but finally he managed to say, “Slowly. I like to do it slowly. With light touches at first.”

Madara kept his eyes closed and groaned freely as his hand began to move at last, root to tip, consciously mimicking the things that were being described to him and trying to imagine it was Tobirama’s pale hand working him. Unsurprisingly, it was pretty easy to imagine. He’d never been more thankful for the perfect recall his eyes granted him.

“Never knew you had any other tattoos. If you were here I’d be tracing it with my tongue.” Madara bucked helplessly in to his fist when Tobirama groaned in his ear. He waited to hear something back, silence stretching until he realized the other man either had no idea what to say or was still too embarrassed to say it. Feeling reckless, he continued to speak his mind without thought for the consequences. “And that piercing. You’re just full of surprises, aren’t you? I’d love to get my teeth around that.”

“It was a dare,” Tobirama murmured finally, making him chuckle.

“Dare you to stroke yourself a little faster,” he said darkly. The other man let out a keening sound that sparked down the length of his spine like a jolt of electricity.

When the breathing in his ear started coming in fits and starts Madara swallowed thickly and moved his own hand faster as well, thrilled in a way he couldn’t describe to know that Tobirama had done so at his behest. His other hand absently pressed the phone so hard to the side of his head he feared the screen might crack, unwilling to miss even the slightest sound.

“You’re close, aren’t you?” he asked, grinding the words out between his clenched teeth.

“Fuck – yes – fuck…” Tobirama paused and then he whispered, “I want…to hear youcome.”

Madara groaned again instead of answering. If he had a second hand free he would have reached down between his legs to tease his entrance, maybe spit on his fingers and pressed in with just the tip of one, but to do that he would have to drop the phone. The last thing he was willing to do at that moment was give up the sound of Tobirama right at the edge, so close to glory. So instead he squeezed his eyes closed tighter and constructed the image of the other man on his knees taking Madara in to his mouth, the heat and the suction and the way his red eyes would be narrow and unfocused.

It was just enough. With a violent shudder he came, back arching and teeth grinding, a wordless growl ripping up his throat and immediately echoed from the other end of the call. Madara felt his jaw drop open in a gasp when he realized that Tobirama was coming too, reaching his completion from listening to Madara’s own.  

When the pleasure bordered on pain he let his hand come to rest and slumped backwards against the couch cushions to listen to Tobirama’s panting. His mind was blissfully empty of any thoughts other than how incredibly satisfying that had been, more satisfying than taking care of things himself usually felt. It took several minutes for him to realize that he and Tobirama were sitting in silence and listening to the each other recover in the aftermath. This was a man who, until a half hour ago, he would never thought himself to have any attachment to, had never even considered him as an option. Their shared past had blinded him to any possible attraction before now.

Now he wasn’t sure he would be able to look the man in the eye without wondering what he would taste like in the throes of ecstasy. Madara snapped both eyes open and stared at the ceiling with muted horror as he slowly realized what he’d just done and who he had done it with.

It seemed Tobirama’s mind was following the same paths.

“May I point out,” he heard the man rumble, “that it truly was an accident, me sending you that image.”  

“Hmm. You say that and yet I cannot think of any other reason for you to possess something…like…that…” Madara’s voice trailed off as a sudden thought washed over him like ice water. Why indeed would Tobirama have taken a photograph like that? Had he meant to send it to someone else? Had he taken it for a another person? His panic was cut short when Tobirama snapped at him, slipping easily in to defensive mode.

“You’ve called me narcissistic many times yourself. If you can’t tell what that image is for then I don’t know how to break the news to you.”

“Well I just thought, you know, if it was meant for…”

“Someone else?”

Madara pulled the phone away from his ear so that he could scowl at it briefly, hoping Tobirama would feel his irritation through their connection. Then he brought it back to say, “Clearly. I seem to remember that Inuzuka boy blathering on about something called ‘dick pics’ while he was trying to explain the camera function to me.”

“It was meant to pander to my preference for exhibitionism when at the time I lacked a partner to exhibit myself for.” He paused, a moment in which Madara strained his ears for more. “I am, in fact, still without a partner. A life partner, I mean. Or, well, that’s a bit presumptuous, clearly not every relationship is meant to last for life but what I mean is–”

“Are you asking me to be your partner?”

“Well I was going to but not if you’re going to interrupt me in that tone.”

“Because you don’t actually hate me or because I got you off over the phone?” Madara huffed, using his sticky hand to wrench his clothing back in to place with something like offense settling in his stomach.

Tobirama echoed his huff. “Impossible man. Just hold on a moment.”

Before Madara had time to question what the man wanted him to hold on for there was a surge of chakra across the room and then he was very glad he’d taken the time to stuff himself back inside his pants. Tobirama’s head swung from side to side as he took in the room he had just appeared in, clearly looking for Madara, and he narrowed his eyes when he spotted his prey.

“Are you deliberately this obtuse or do you somehow go through life with your eyes closed without noticing?” the man demanded, crossing the room with long strides to lean over and brace himself against the back of the couch with one hand, shoving his face right up in to Madara’s.

“I am not obtuse!”

“You can’t even tell when someone is flirting with you!”

“That’s – you’ve been flirting with me!?” Madara shoved the idiot away from himself so that he could rise to his feet with indignation. “What are you, five? A little girl pulling pigtails? You annoy me every chance you get and call it flirting? Not even your stupid lump of a brother is that poorly socialized to think that any sane human being would see your actions as some form of courtship ritual!”

“Would you shut up?”

Tobirama sneered in irritation and then hauled Madara up on to his toes for a searing kiss that cut off all further comments. As much as Madara wanted to cling to his argument that absolutely no flirting had happened, he gave in to Tobirama’s very convincing rebuttal rather quickly. It was hands down the best argument he’d ever lost and he did have to admit that the benefits of going along with this far outweighed the downsides. Actually, he couldn’t think of any downsides at all.

He very deliberately avoided thinking about what Hashirama’s reaction would be to this little development.

Groaning in protest when the delicious lips assaulting his own pulled away, Madara gathered what little cantankerous irritation was left in him and glared up at the man towering over him, a little insulted as he always was whenever he noticed again how much taller Tobirama was than him.

“You did send me that ‘dick pic’ on purpose, didn’t you? I know you did.”

“I maintain that it was an accident.”

“Bullshit.”

Tobirama shrugged. “Believe what you will. Although I should probably mention that I believe it was your brother which started the betting pool on when precisely you would clue in to my attentions. I’m not certain who has the spot for this month but we may wish to be discreet for now.” Madara pinched the bridge of his nose.

“I changed my mind. You’re too much trouble, get out of my house.”

“Hmm, so that’s a no on taking a few more personal photographs? These cellular phones are incredibly useful, wouldn’t you say?”

Madara paused to close his eyes and draw in a deep breath, letting it back out slowly before cracking his eyes open again for a very hard glare. He was sort of hoping his new partner might cower under the force of such a sharp expression but instead the only response he got was a single raised eyebrow.

“I hate you,” he grumbled.

“You’ll love what I can do with my tongue, though.”

“Can I take pictures of that?”

Tobirama didn’t answer him but Madara did notice the other man made sure to grab his cellphone as they stumbled down the hall towards his bedroom.  

He still didn’t understand for what purpose he had been given yet another unearned chance at life. Madara had no idea why he and Izuna and the Senju brothers had all been pulled away from what should have been their final rest. But that mattered less and less with every kiss the two of them shared on their stumbling journey down the hall. There didn’t need to be a reason for any of this; what mattered was the fact that he hardly remembered what it felt like to truly hate someone, that he had the life now he had dreamed of for so many years before.

What mattered was Tobirama and the oddly peaceful feeling of leaning in to his embrace. This new future with its strange technologies was no faultless paradise but it certainly had quite a few perks he very much intended to take advantage of like cellphones, dick pics, and the dimmer switch on the electric lightbulbs in his bedroom. Madara had no idea why he had been granted the life he’d always wanted – but he was happy to finally be happy.

[chokefriends]

Half breed. Cons: Half breed.

I, a half breed, went and watched Aquaman, and here are the results.

1. Actual half breeds: A-

There were honest-to-god half breed actors getting paid! To portray actual half breed characters! Beautiful brown babies abounded. I especially died about Aquadad and his chill as fuck native dadness. He does nothing but love and care for people the entire time, raising this kid on his own and waiting for his wife every morning AGH

2. Metaphorical half breeds: F-

Like literally every other fantasy whatever setting, half breed is used as a metaphor for racial politics that never actually fucking acknowledges racial politics or how it might intersect with the additional level of interspecies mixing. At least we didn’t have an eyenumbingly white hero struggling under the metaphoric burden of being two different but equally white things ughhhh. So while there was a visibly mixed main character with a visibly nonwhite dad and a white mother, that’s not where the “half breed” theme comes in. In the film Aquaman is called a half breed and a mongrel over and over in reference to mixed human / Atlantean heritage. Thing is, as far as I can tell, Atlantis has a race and it’s whiter than sin. Seriously, where are the native fish? A bunch of them are literal fish and they’re still coded white, which is a feat. 

Here’s a tangent about Atlantis, because it’s bullshit: You get to imagine this fantastical, ancient society of non-humans that will carry your core environmental message, and it’s... what? A patriarchal, overtly eugenicist monarchy, which, far from respecting and protecting the ocean, only ever treats water as real estate or a weapon, and whose chief dude literally seeks to be the ‘Ocean Master?’ That’s lame and they can all go fuck themselves. I was rooting for the actual fish at the end (and that tentacled, primordial Mother of the Deep, oh man).

Anyway, the thing about the half breed as a trope in white media is this: the halfbreed’s entire point is to go on a ~journey~ and become white. Or whatever -- become legitimized by the same violent, exclusionary system that told them they were a problem in the first place, and thereby legitimize the system itself. The halfbreed-as-trope is an insider/outsider that critiques some aspect of dominant (white) culture. In their journey to reconciliation with the dominant culture, that critique is resolved, and whiteness affirmed as virtuous.

Parsing this out: Atlantis is an idealized white first-world utopia (literally, they are white and have superpowers). Human society is being critiqued as not-as-virtuous as Atlantis because they pollute the oceans. Aquaman is considered by Atlanteans a mongrel reject because he’s half human. Aquaman goes on a journey to prove himself Atlantean (via ancient white father-administered genetic screening / Arthurian sword-pulling), defeats the villain, becomes Uber Atlantean bc One True King, stays in ocean and everything is great. Humans are still flawed but ignorant of the larger picture and therefore innocent; Atlanteans are still superwhite superdicks but now no longer metaphorically-racist because they have absorbed the Halfbreed Outsider; Aquaman and his dad as the relateable halfbreeds get affirmed and rewarded with super virtuous white women (there’s a whole other gender critique I havnet even).

Another couple notes on racist tropes in this one: Aquaman letting the Black father die at the start, and that death becoming this deep, character-changing regret that leads the hero to preserve the life of his genocidal white brother and hence his white father’s legacy? That’s more of the same -- Black pain and Native identity being jumping off points on the way to the reaffirmation of white values. 

3. Potential for alternative halfbreed reading: B+

By this I mean, if you’re a halfbreed in the audience and you’re trying to filter this (fundamentally white) media through your usual survival goggles, is there enough material to make it worth it? Yeah, I think so. Well... if you can ignore the total absence of women of color at all, and maybe just identify with the halfbreed men (as I do) or the white women (which I dont but still appreciate), then yeah.

I found Black Manta and his dad a really strong alternative to the Finding White Father narrative. That, and Native Dad, were seriously holding down the movie for me. Watching Black Manta take the Atlantean technology and literally make it black (and better) was great. Black manta / aquaman fight scenes were erotic. Aquaman being the only atlantean (?) able to talk to fish opened up possibilities for alternate endings for me. The end fight where he tells all the Atlanteans’ shark steeds to eat their riders was A++, and him riding into battle with that primordial sea titan mama was perfection. She should have destroyed literally everything. 

Other than that... Willem Dafoe was fucking useless but had an A+ samurai manbun that was only slightly a pseudo-othering technique. He’s one of the characters that should have been an actual nonwhite Atlantean. Also, I fucking hated hearing the word halfbreed coming from white mouths the entire movie, and then those assholes being saved or spared. Also hated that Aquaman (no, I’m not gonna call him Arthur, that’s stupid) ISNT himself a pirate and actually kills pirates and saves missile-carrying military guys? And then is perfectly cool with sending that junk to the bottom of the ocean?

In conclusion, I like halfbreeds, pirates, and fighty guys but not the patriarchy, and this movie gave me a decent amount to work with despite also sucking a great deal in many respects. B- because of the 3D IMAX potential of Jason Momoa’s pecs. 

[anxietydiaries]

ugh

If only people knew where i came from. They would listen, awaken, broken and beaten.

You'd think that I’d be sitting here thinking about everything, but my head is filled with holes, life with no meaning.

 All that people have ever said to me, but their words don't even matter, you can only learn so much from an idiot, when you think that you know the world as much as the world did.

When you sit there thinking about all of the things that you believe, knowing that life is futile, alone and at ease.

And thinking about whether you're right or wrong, thinking that you have it all. for me, it's more about morality, it's not perfect, but it works, because its raw..

Morality is a non-arguable stance, you can't make’em shift, you can't make em dance. you can't change their mind unless they themselves choose to do so, and experience something that makes the colors change.

Your mind is only something that you choose to change, no one else can do that unless faced with the brave, the active decision to have a discussion is there in one single place. Yet you all argue over the same tired talking points. racism, sexisim, gender, and choice.

when you wake up in the morning, is the first thing you do is think about what you might argue today? Do you think about who you are going to piss off, or hurt, harass, embarrass, or shame?

Do you even consider for one second how your actions can affect someone?

I really doubt it, because you only think of yourself and what you want, and then some. 

What's really funny to me is that there are people who exist that try to do the right thing, saying wise things, yet have all the wrong knowledge. What an anomaly, special, but pointless.

Can you really live with yourself knowing that you believed in lies, and tried to use the past to justify your retarded guise? the past is a poor argument. yet People sit there and say, the past is in the past, and we need to focus on change. the world isn't so black and white and blue and gray.

I know when people say that, they worry more of leaving things behind, but that justifies nothing, than learning from lies, it's the past and they should use that for their future. It’s super annoying. but it's important, its for our overture.

With today's social climate, i hate that people use the past to attack others, yet they never grasp,  using insults to tear someone down mentally and emotionally, how do you live, knowing that damage is overkill? 

while sitting on their computer and phones complaining about the word “retard” and crying on about how its a slur when the term is allocated to the damage of technology.

 You’d really think that people can be more intelligent, but really they're stupid as fuck. It leaves me worried with everything that's going on, and yet people think that the world sucks.

Lack of empathy is a mental illness on earth, yet no one notices at all. We live in a world where people treasure their material possessions to the point of tearing others down. their looks and numbers and “wins” when they're really losses. funny how that that shit never matters. 

Making me sick to my stomach, celebrating someone's death like that, what is wrong with people? well you can fuck off, because the same goes to you, now die with the masses. 

 You know it doesn't matter who you support, at the end of the day the decision will be made and yet you sit here thinking you’re on the throne, when you're really sitting on a pile of graves.

Fuck these people and everything they're about, why do we have to live with so much misinformation and doubt. YOU HAVE BEEN LIED TO, DON'T YOU SEE THAT? i'm a very moral person, so it doesn't add up. 

You think you're invincible, yet get your ass beat, if you have anything to say, you get whipped on the streets. Life ain't so precious when it's that easy, to find death, outside in the beautiful world.

Hiding behind your phones and keyboards, you think you're really brave, when really you're a weakling, smashing windows and vets graves. You're just a fly, easy to kill, but think you move fast when you're caught in your lies, but once your found, people smash you down, and you delete your tweet like you never made a sound. 

HELLO!? the wayback machine is a thing! once it's on the internet, its there for eternity, you cant hide your shit personality, so hold your breath, with your senseless atrocity.

So i suggest one thing, use that brain of yours, the thing in your head! You're not even real, you're dead. because remember, many people have died. but that doesnt matter, because you're selfish inside.

You all cry on about abortion yet you sit there sad and disappointed, your life has no value, as much as the chain around your neck, you're worthless, and pathetic at best. Your useless, you think fucking for fun is worth it, and then once you get pregnant you throw it away like you never even heard it, and then you turn gay.

Stop opening your legs and get a brain you pathetic insect, my life started off on an off beat, and here i am, im finally breathing. Yeah my chest is tight, and i panic every night, but i'm alive and that's all that matters, because my life really does matter. 

At 17, i could have killed myself, i could have died but i choose to think about it, and i'm really glad that i did, because it would have been a waste of my time and my energy to die without clearing my sins.

You think you had it worse? yeah sure thing, everyone's different, but you'll never know somebody's pain, until you learn to SHUT THE FUCK UP AND START LISTENING! its bears repeating, our whole world is glistening.

You're an ant, you're a flea, you're a parasite, living off government money, while you sit and flex on his cumming, you can't take it back and cry in your clean sheets.

Waiting for love, and you still cry, but love never comes, yet you wonder why, you're really alone, and you are the problem. Thinking you're great, when you're really nothing.

You're fat and alone and youre sad, you sit in the dark staring at your hand, wondering why you're alive. “KILL YOURSELF!! DO IT!!! I DARE YOU!!!” all of you peons, so pathetic, YOU'RE SCARED TOO!!! Sitting there fighting over nothing, but fame, and numbers and money.

When will you wake up and realize that world doesn't revolve around you? oh that's right, you're to busy only voting blue. 

the KKK, the liars and cheaters, the only people that you won't even breed with. Don't have kids, don't ever spawn, because its a waste of your time. Go ahead and sit open and bare, you're a wasteland of lies that you always wear. Ears glued shut, mouth wide open, swallowing every bit of jizz he pours in your mouth. 

Do you feel like a queen, a king, or a princess? Oh yeah thats right, that doesn't exist. 

So say my name, you don't know it, because you're a prostitute living off men. They don't actually care about you, they care for your body, you're a walking talking hypocrite. 

How you say? Now let me be clear, you're a pathetic whore living off jeers. It's embarrassing, and pathetic, i hope this make you cry, mostly out of the realization that you have nothing to supply.

The hearts of men are being used, and that's manipulation my guy. You're the worst kind of women if you don't really care, so sit there and take it all in. Because what i'm saying should make it all clear. 

My body my choice but you choose to open your legs.

My body my choice but you choose to say yes. 

My body my choice but you choose no protection, i hope you get a huge staph infection. 

My body my choice, you chose cum inside, and here you are a week later, on your knees, vomit, crying. 

WHAT HAVE I DONE? you cry to yourself, you whored yourself out for just ANYONE.

OH dear little ant, sit back and hear what i say. My body my choice is a pathetic disgrace. 

Hello, im adopted, nice to meet you! im free, my mother did cocaine, yet that's why i am here. If it went any further i could have died, and that'd be it, the end, good night.

But i'm happy to be here, i cherish every moment, knowing that my mother loved me enough to put me up for adoption.

I sit before you, grinning with teeth, knowing that i have a mother and father who love me endlessly. 

I can sing, i can dance, i can read really well, but what can you do? But sit there with your fancy nails.

I've heard everything, the same tired arguments. Its too hard, i have no meny, i CAN'T TAKE RESPONSIBILITY. 

What's it like to learn nothing and be mentally ill? knowing that i am yet one child who sits here eternally bare. bearing my own, taking it in stride, and life bests me from the inside, i keep fighting and breathing and winning, yet here you are, on your knees still whimpering.

oh little ant, you're so sad, i'm sorry that you lost your dad. lets make things better, now give it a think...

you're more responsible for yourself than the universe might think.

But you don't want that, you sit and you pray, wishing and hoping your baby is dead. 

How sad, how lucid, how empty you might be, to be a baby killer, sitting on her knees. 

you know i had a thought, so please hear me out. this wouldn't have happened if you never got out. if you stayed in your mom and lived your whole live, that abortion would have been perfect for snuffing you out, from the inside.

we are human beings, parasites of the land, so take it upon yourself to realize this. MY life could have perished, yet here i sit typing this. What are the words that you think you speak, nothing but blahs, and sighs, and eeps.

“WHAT ARE YOU GONNA DO? CRY ABOUT IT?” shut the fuck up bitch, and lie about it. 

you got so much dick in your mouth you can barely speak. thank you cum for brains for letting me speak.

good night. 

[alexanderwrites]

Hack Job: Why Were Hacker Movies Ever A Thing?

Lately i’ve been thinking about that weird and almost completely failed subgenre of movie that attempted to light up the LCD screens of our hearts, but instead faded like a broken computer screen: the hacker film. Now, I could ask what good the sub-genre has ever done for us, but the answer to that is clear and just a few inches above this block of text. The genre birthed this iconic Matthew Lillard role from the movie Hackers, in which he plays a (wait for it!) hacker named...erm...Cereal Killer. Because....he likes Cereal? Sure, lets go with that! He’s a character described by June Diane Raphael on an episode of the podcast How Did This Get Made? as “Disgusting”, and she is not completely wrong. He is disgusting, bizarre and the strangest character Lillard has played, and i’m including Shaggy in the live action Scooby Doo films. He’s a character that must be experienced, and once experienced, never forgotten. I mean - you’ve seen what he fucking looks like. 

But my point remains: outside of Cereal Killer (I am bolding his name because he is an Important Man), the genre has offered up very little to the world. I admittedly know nothing at all about hacking, and I don’t care at all about Hacking, like, i’d presume, 90% of people currently residing here on earth. But I cannot imagine that people who love Hacking (or Hacker Fuckers, if you will) queuing up to see Hackers, a film that thinks this is what the internet looks like:

Now, i’m no city-slickin’ mouse-clickin’ hacker, but I don’t think that’s what the internet looks like. I could be wrong, and character actor Fisher Stevens (I was about to write “beloved” character actor, but then I remembered Short Circuit) could be skating through a flashing pillar of internet right now. It’s a cool thought! Hackers came along in 1995, when future optimism was higher than it had been in years, as everyone believed the tech-bubble would never burst (spoiler alert: it did!) and that the new millennium would bring a world of positive changes and possibilities. The poor, innocent souls of 1995 could never have possibly imagined the true horrors waiting for them on the other side of the millennium...

But before Fred Durst became a thing in a hat that you had to look at, technology was booming, affordable and exciting. You got transparent Macs that allowed you to see through into the mechanical nonsense inside it. The new fangled e-mail gave us (I don’t know why i’m saying “us”. I was 3 years old in 1995. Babies don’t get emails) all the opportunity to open your email and then close it again as many times as you liked! So this is what producers saw when they started making movies like Hackers. They put their strongest marketing minds together and came up with “People got computers now. Make comPUTER FILM!”. Those wild bastards actually went and did it! And weirdly, Hackers was kinda ahead of its time. It might’ve been wildly inaccurate in almost every possible way, but it paved the way for a wave of (well, like 3) films. The Matrix wouldn’t be released for another 4 years, and Swordfish a further 2. If it did incite a trend, it was the only trend started by Director Iain Softley, his later film K-Pax tragically failing to kick start a new genre of films in which Kevin Spacey eats bananas with their skins still on.

Good stuff! Hackers does feel like a film that is unsure of whether it’s trying to replicate fads or start them off. I mean, characters rollerblade everywhere for no apparent reason in the film. That might be something Hackers do? I’ve never seen Mr Robot, so I cannot categorically say that Rami Malek doesn’t rollerblade his way around town like a Starlight Express extra who really hates computers. But I doubt it. So with the rollerblading, and the way....ugh...Cereal Killer dresses, it seems like the film is offering you up its own funky ideas that you could follow on from if you want to get murdered on the streets. Did its aesthetic style have influence? Was the game Jet Set Radio from 2000 and its rollerblading theme influenced at all by Hackers? Did Eminem see Johnny Lee Miller’s bleached blonde hair in the film (quick deeply important side note: his character is named Dade. DADE.) and think “huh. that would really compliment my insufferable personality!”? We’ll never know. The film is a weird exercise in style and trends, and the soundtrack, crammed with The Prodidgy and Underworld, is proof that at least the soundtrack department had its finger on the pulse. And, it could be argued that the film’s costume department at least came up with some creative cyber-punk clothing, and were bold enough to make Penn Jillette look like this:

The thing is, I liked the weirdness of it all, I like this misfires in capturing modern life, and inaccuracy doesn’t bother me really if a film is fun enough. I’m not a stickler for realism. I didn’t sit down to Face/Off and complain that it’s totally unbelievable that John Travolta is a human person. That’s not the issue. The issue, really is that with all the giant screen Playstations, pounding trance tracks and references to Coca Cola (weird, I thought Mountain Dew would be the Hacker’s choice), the film is in troubled water because of the fact that Hacking is unbelievably, deeply fucking boring. It is not interesting in seeing someone go clickety clack on a keyboard and make occasional faces to indicate that “oh no! the mainframe is busting my chops!” or “Huzzah! I clicked the mouse really fast just now!”.

Thankfully, the film has some fairly decent editing which intersperses the clickety-clacking with some long exposure, sped up shots of New York City just in case you forgot it was the 90′s. The fact that they need to cut away to exciting, zooming shots that have nothing to do with anything highlights the fact that the Director and Editor knew exactly what i’m talking about: HACKING IS FUCKING BORING (if you’re a hacker reading this, please don’t hack me). And they’ve built an entire film around it! A whole nonsensical plot which involves (as far as i can remember) big ships and evil corporations that want to sink the big ships is built on Hacking. Thank god this film is so wildly ridiculous, which keeps it from being entirely boring. It’s smart in that it knows to not make the film actually about hacking, but then you kind of ask yourself the question: why is this film about Hacking at all? Why is it called Hackers? Maybe a better name would’ve been ‘Bladin’ Teenz’, as an ode to their endless rollerblading. It’s a fun film, but a dumb film and proof that films entirely about hacking cannot really work.

The Matrix was a wise film. Exploiting that hip, late-90s techno excitement that everyone was buzzing over, it featured a hacker at its centre who really doesn’t do much hacking at all. In fact, Morpheus might as well have said “You Hack? Dude fucking grow up. Come on, i’ll make you a treat”. Sure, you’ve got the iconic green gibberish that turns up on the computers and would inspire a million shitty screensavers, but again the hacking is intercut with other action going on in the film. You have characters typing away and yelling shit like “I’m nearly in!” or “i’m not nearly in!” or “I am unsure of whether I am, in fact, in, nearly in, or not nearly in!”. But that is manageable and minimal, and in the end there’s so much more to remember about The Matrix that I don’t think anyone, when asked what it’s about, would say “Oh it’s about Keanu Reeves hacking on his dell”. It understood this caveat, and created its own style which would influence every single music video ever produced over the next 5 years.

These are screenshots from the video for Don’t Wanna Let You Go by 5ive, a very bad UK Boy-band that had 4 singers and 1 rapper, all of whom it’s safe to assume have passed away. 

The Matrix had the style, and the smarts to sidestep bland hacking scenes. You know what film doesn’t understand that hacking is boring? Fucking Swordfish.

Fucking Swordfish. A film so aesthetically ugly and repulsive in every way that it does the unthinkable and makes you hate Hugh Jackman. But it commits the biggest sin of all by giving John Travolta a teeny tiny beard - a decision which we still feel the fallout from today, whenever a new red carpet photo arrises of John’s new chin abomination. 

Looking like a cup of concentrated Michael Bay piss, the film leans heavily into stylishness - or lack thereof. Hugh Jackman is basically...sigh...DADE in the movie, and Travolta is regularly outfitted with funny sunglasses. It borrows a lot from Hackers, but while that had a naive, 1995 goofy charm, Swordfish is an aggressively stupid and oblivious movie, that gives us a LOT of Hacking. Like...so much Hacking. The Most Hacking. Oh, The Fucking Hacking. Its a reminder of just how boring Hackers or The Matrix could’ve been if they’d fallen into the wrong hands, and a big, horribly colour-corrected reminder that films about hacking really aren’t the best. Instead of cutaways of cityscapes, Swordfish tries to build the tension during one hacking scene in the grossest way possible: by having Hugh Jackman’s character receive forced fellatio while he works, and while John Travolta smiles. It doesn’t make a boring scene exciting, it makes a boring scene fucking disgusting (the movie’s grossness doesn’t stop there. Halle Berry was heavily pushed into taking her top off in the movie, and promised extra money if she did it.). The Hackers method of randomised cutaways feels a million miles away during these scenes, and you will be willing to pay any earthly sum to make the scene unfolding in front of you stop. Maybe that’s how hackers should make their money from here on in: stop hacking, and just start blackmailing people by forcing them to watch Swordfish. Fucking Swordfish.

The movie was also a bit of a death knell for a subgenre that never really took off. People realised “Oh, this is dull and crap to watch!” when it came to hacking, and technology moved on rapidly that there was a lot more to do with it than watch some guy slapping the keys of his iMac. I find it a really interesting subgenre to look back at, because i’m a huge fan of outdated technologies, fashion styles, turn of the millennium culture, and really quite poor films (besides The Matrix which holds up nicely). Hollywood has tried to make a manner of subjects interesting. Stock markets. Fishing. White people who buy zoos. Some work, some don’t, and it’s all about the way the subject is handled. Because of their reliance on technology, these hacking films feel so dated that maybe Hollywood doesn’t want to risk dipping its toes back into the cyberwaters again. I kind of hope they don’t, because I would literally rather never see a film again than have to even know that a film about Anonymous is being made. I don’t want an ‘edgy’ modern movie that’s made for Banksy to watch while he plunges his hands down his pants and goes to town. I want silly old Cereal Killer and towers of nonsense computer language dammit! I want rollerblading, coke-drinking cyberpunks! Oh well. Whatever happens to the genre, at the very least, we’ll always have Dade and The Gang....

[ecotone99]

[MS] Life Statistics

"What the hell is that?" I asked myself while staring in total disbelief at my phone. On it, a strange app called LifeScore displayed its home screen. Its logo was written in white font on a dark blue background. I ran my hand through my hair and felt the scar on the side of my head. I can't believe how lucky I am to have survived a brain tumor with a guarantee that it won't grow back. I tapped on Start and was greeted with a video in which a dark haired male, who I estimated to be in his late twenties to early thirties with impeccable features and dressed in a dark gray suit and trousers, white shirt and red tie, apparently described what I allegedly had installed on my phone.

"Welcome to the game of life. Now before you continue, watch this short video first. Have you ever wondered how well you measure up to your own standards and to those around you? Have you ever asked yourself how people really think and feel about you and get anxious at the mere thought that they actually don't like you at all? How many times have you asked your friends about a new acquaintance and if he or she can be trusted? If that sounds like you, don't worry. You are human after all, and definitely not the only person thinking about such things on a daily basis and, therefore, it is my mission as the messenger of truth to answer these questions.

Treat life as a game. If you have ever played video games before, you have encountered statistics of your scores at every level of the game. Life is very similar to that. You are currently at the first level, the physical one, where our powers are limited to what our bodies can achieve. There are still three levels ahead of you, supernatural presence, purgatory and judgment. Each come with their own challenges to overcome with the last being the deciding level whether you win or lose.

Level 1 revolves mainly around building relationships with other humans and walking the path to self actualization. You have reached the end of level 1 and this app will show you how well you have fared. Please note that your scores in this level will have an effect on the succeeding levels. If you scored low, you will have more difficulties from thereon. You ask why you haven't received this game as a child to get better scores. The truth is that life is all about being yourself and preparation would lead to the results being less genuine.

I give you two days to review your scores and seek explanations to them as well as to prepare yourself for the next level. Whether you wish to wait or advance to level 2 immediately is at your discretion. You will no longer remember this app by that time. See you there. Good luck."

The video closed and my full name was displayed on the screen above a button reading "Score". I tap the button and the app instantly loads statistics that read "Relationships" under which were several categories like "Most Liked By" "Loved By" "Most Hated By" "Most Prolific Liar" "Talks Behind Your Back The Most" and "Secret Enemies Who Sabotaged Your Life" Below that is a self-assessment score that shows how much of these results have been my fault. Another page showed "Career" under which there were more categories, namely "Missed Opportunities" "Successes" and "Failures". Under that was another self-assessment score showing how much of the above could be attributed to me or to other people. The app listed names and occurrences that I have never shared on any social medium. It couldn't know such things. It must all be made up. Brian is my best friend, yet he hates me and talks behind my back to his buddies and dates Melissa who was supposed to be my date. And she hates me as well and only loves the free stuff that I buy for her. Lana, my unfriendly and irritable boss actually loves me? She insults me whenever she can. That's just ridiculous.

I swear by my mother's grave that I haven't downloaded such a pretentious and comically imperious...thing. This has to be a very elaborately created virus. Ha, but the guy is stupid enough to show his face. Being the tech savvy guy I am, I regularly check downloaded files and know if something uninvited is in there. After finding nothing on my phone and on Play Store as well, I turned to the internet. No such app could be found but there were lots of reports of people having received it. One of them, named Kevin McLeod, claimed that the statistics were true after talking to the people who secretly loved or hated him. He had a Facebook account and I sent him a message. Half an hour later came a reply.

"Hi James. Yes its all true. The accuracy is mind boggling. When did you get it?"

"About an hour ago. And you?"

"Yesterday at 7:45 in the morning. "

"What does it mean that I get to supernatural presence in two days?"

"Basically you die to roam the earth as a ghost."

"Hahaha"

"I know its funny. No one can predict when we die save for God or Satan himself."

"How did they get all the data then?"

"Technology is so far advanced that it's hard to understand how it works. Those people mentioned in your app may have shared something about you and their AI came to its conclusions. "

"Alright, I'll have to see how this thing works out. Thanks for chatting"

"No problem. See you"

I'm not really a believer in God or Satan. There has to be another explanation. I took a shower, ate breakfast, got into my car and drove to the office as if nothing happened. En route, I stopped by the local shopping mall to buy myself some snacks and drinks in preparation for the long working hours. When I went to the restroom I heard a familiar voice.

"James is such an idiot. He dates Melissa and thinks she loves him. Everyone but him knows that she only loves his money and that she comes to me every night to get horny. She wants a real man not some wimp who talks about shit no one gives a fuck about. He deserves it if you ask me." I decided to enter the restroom and Brian saw me. "Hey, James what's up?" Without answering his question I took a swing at him with my fist hitting his cheek with a satisfying clap. Brian stumbled backwards and other restroom users separated us to prevent a full blown fistfight. "You'll regret that, asshole!" Brian snarled and spat out a tooth and some blood.

At the office, I couldn't concentrate on work. The incident at the shopping mall still made its rounds in my head. Maybe those scores weren't made up after all. In comparison to Melissa, my boss, Lana, is an angel. The only unattractive thing about her is her demeanor. I got up from my desk and went to the door of Lana's office. I knocked softly. "Yes. Come in." I entered the office and was greeted with the usual cold stare.

"Make it quick."

"Boss, I have something to tell you. I don't mind if you'll fire me, I won't be able to change that. Ever since I have worked here, I have felt something for you and I can't hold it back now. I feel that I have to tell you because it has a negative impact on my productivity. "

The ice melted. For the first time since I have worked here, she smiled. Not a fake one but a genuinely sweet smile. She looked at me like a loyal puppy, nodded and said "Yes, I've felt it too. I'm sorry for treating you the way I did but I had to do it to keep the employees in line." "I understand. Would you like to have a coffee with me after work?" Her smile widened and she nodded. She is a thousand times prettier when she smiled. Her dark, flowing hair, gray eyes and ageless face accentuate her smile. I realized for the first time how pretty she actually was. Prettier than Melissa ever could have been.

Later that afternoon, when I was with Lana at a local cafe, I showed her LifeScore and asked her if there was a possibility that an AI could know things one keeps to himself. She has studied computer science so she must know. "It's impossible. The only way they can create a profile of you is if you voluntarily share something over a communication device, even if its in a private call, SMS or chat. This is very strange considering that I haven't told anyone that I had feelings for you". "I wouldn't have guessed either" I replied and she laughed, playfully slapping my arm.

I woke up in the middle of the night and quietly got out of bed careful not to wake Lana up. I sat on my computer and opened Facebook. Kevin McLeod was online so I sent him a message.

"Hi. It's true what you've said this morning. I'm really thankful to receive the truth."

"That's great"

"Do you believe in God or Satan?"

"Yes. Why do you ask?"

"I'm starting to believe as well. I'm not a believer but I just can't explain what has happened today. "

"Faith fills the gap between the truth and the limit of our knowledge, my friend"

"I guess so. What is your theory on this LifeScore app?"

"If we're to die in two days as promised, it is a ploy by Lucifer to get more souls. We are given those scores in order to judge the people mentioned in them, to harm them if they hate us. We are not supposed to judge others. Only God can do that. When we judge, we commit the deadly sin of pride, thus, giving Lucifer a valid reason to send us to hell. I've asked some people mentioned in the app about their feelings. They haven't shared them. This has nothing to do with technology anymore. This app is supernatural. No human can create an untraceable app, let alone discover deeply held secrets that we're supposed to take to our graves. Have you watched the news recently?"

"No."

"All people complaining about LifeScore died. They just collapsed because of an aneurysm or something if they didn't kill themselves first. I know it's my turn tomorrow."

"Don't be afraid"

"I'm not, believe me. I won't be dying. I haven't judged the people on my stats."

"Alright then. Good luck and I hope to chat again."

"Sure. No problem. Good night"

The next morning, I woke up on an empty bed. Lana left early but left a note beside me. "See you at the office. Pretend like nothing happened. I love you XOXO" Later at the office, I opened Facebook and sent a message to Kevin. "Hey what's up?" He wasn't answering despite being online. I went to the cafeteria and ordered a coffee and a bagel. The attendant turned on the television and switched to the local news. "...terrible vehicular accident at 7:45 this morning. 32 year old Kevin McLeod from Chicago, Illinois apparently fell asleep behind the wheel of his black Toyota Corolla. The vehicle unexpectedly changed lanes and frontally collided with a semi-trailer truck at high speed, killing McLeod instantly. In other news, brain tumor surgeries have reached an all time high since five years ago..." Shocked and in total disbelief I went back to my cubicle. ...claimed the statistics were true after talking to the people who secretly loved or hated him. He did judge them. So did I. I'm as condemned as he was to burn in hell.

I left work early today, drawing a concerned look from Lana who sensed that something was wrong. I told her that I needed some time to think and she secretly gave me a day off. I went to my apartment building, greeted the receptionist as always and, in absentmindedness slipped on the newly wiped stairs in the lobby. My vision spun as I tumbled down the steps before a sharp pain on the side of my head plunged everything into darkness.

My eyes fluttered open and noticed a shape in front of me. Dark, flowing hair. Lana. She was sitting on the bed. As my eyes adjusted to the surroundings and my vision became clearer, I saw the smile that I had missed for so long. Tears were in her eyes. "Welcome back" she whispered. I mustered a smile as well. "How long have I been here?" "It's been three days". Wow, I didn't die. Divine intervention I guess. She ran her hand through her hair and over the scar on the side of her head. "What happened?" "Oh that? I had a brain tumor a couple of years ago. I got lucky." I suddenly had a flashback of Brian while we played basketball. He fell and hit his head and was bleeding badly. I treated his wound. The scar on the side of his head. I have one too. They all look identical and are on the exact same spot. No, I never had a tumor. "Lana, have a CT scan performed on you. Please trust me."

"They removed the chip. He was supposed to be terminated tomorrow. Call the boss."

"Goddammit, I knew we'll be busted sooner or later. The boss should have waited until the MindVision project was perfected. All those deaths are unnecessary, we could selectively wipe memories instead of detonating micro charges."

"The network isn't stable enough to keep the app running on our servers for more than two days before the chip fails. We can't risk exposure. Call the boss."

"Sir, we have a situation. Subject no. 225, James Saunders, had an accident today. He fell down a flight of stairs and suffered a concussion. The doctors found the chip during the CT scan and removed it. "

"Is he still alive?"

"Yes."

"Send someone to take care of him and the doctor who found the chip. Retrieve the chip and bring it back. Prepare to shut the program down."

"Consider it done, sir."

"I can't believe it. How could anyone do such a thing?" Lana said in disbelief while staring at the shiny metallic pellet, not much larger than a grain of rice. "Mars Industries" was engraved in tiny letters on the side. A male nurse came in and changed the IV bag. Shortly thereafter, hospital security barged in and tackled him to the ground. "Sorry for the disturbance but he isn't who he's supposed to be." "What happened?" "He killed two people. The nurse whom this ID and uniform belonged to and Dr. Strauss, who performed surgery on both of you. I guess you were supposed to be next." I thanked him for saving our lives. He nodded and dragged a handcuffed hitman out of the room.

"I guess this is the beginning then" Lana joked. "Let's say a rebirth instead".

Mars Industries. Your days are numbered.

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