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illyrianbitch · 8 months ago

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Of Our Own Devices — Part Five

For @erisweekofficial Day 5: War

Pairing: Reader x Eris

Summary: Since the moment he first tasted hatred, Eris Vanserra has harbored one relentless goal: to rid the world of his father. Now, the time has come to wage the war he's been preparing for his entire life—the war against his own blood.

Warnings: well... death, violence, cruelty, injury, mentions of animal abuse, animal death, mentions of child/spouse abuse. basically, we go into eris's mind as he kills beron.

Word Count: 5.1k

authors note: i'm not a huge fan of long fight scenes, so here is my spin on one. i thought it was important to show that wars are not only won on battlefields. this might be one of my most favorite writings.

Part Four | Part Six

✹ ✶ 𖧷 ✶✹

Eris knew that war wasn’t just physical; it was mental, political, emotional. He was a curious child, indeed. A collector. He'd collected secrets, absorbed the hatred and indifference around him like an animal adapting to its environment.

It taught him every skill he held dear.

Eris was skilled in combat, of course. He'd trained himself to be. He fantasized about killing his father with his own hands, dreamt of watching the life leave him, longed for the feeling of his father's power draining into his own veins. But he knew this war would, inevitably, be won another way.

He understood that true victory was achieved through subtler means. That with the right words, with the right plan, you could convince a foe to destroy himself before you ever laid a hand on him.

Eris scanned the room, his gaze sweeping across his men. They were scattered, blending seamlessly among the guests, but each one met his eyes the moment they felt his attention. Subtle nods. A flicker of recognition in their eyes. They were ready—every one of them, waiting for his signal, prepared to do whatever was necessary.

Without needing to turn his head, Eris could feel the weight of Rhysand’s gaze on him, the High Lord's presence nearly tangible, a suffocating pressure that seemed to reverberate in his mind. As much as Eris hated to acknowledge it, to feed into his inflated ego, Rhysand's power pulsed like an unseen echo. His father feared it for good reason, hid his fear through disdain, through disgust.

Eris had seen Tarquin in another far corner. He’d managed to sway the young High Lord, convincing him that his rule was inevitable, promising that he could prove himself where his Father had faltered. He'd seen something in Eris's eyes. And somehow, it had worked.

Spring was absent, as expected. Tamlin had yet to appear in any event, had yet to return to his proper existence. Eris knew he should feel some semblance of empathy, that he should feel for a fellow male wronged by the cards dealt, a male who made errors under the presumption of the greater good. But he didn't.

Winter was also absent—Vivianne had blocked any chance of their participation, had convinced Kallias to flee in haste and not spare a moment for the princeling. Eris had anticipated this, of course, had known that Mor’s influence would weaken his alliances in certain courts.

He had worked with Helion, though it had taken time and effort to even secure a meeting. Eris attributed Helion’s openness to Rhysand’s ability to balance his hatred for Eris with his vision of a stronger, united Prythian. Even he was shrewd enough to recognize that.

Now, Helion stood poised and ready, a few feet from Rhysand, his eyes scanning the crowd as if he were searching for something specific, seeking for something he had yet to find. Dawn was unable to attend, but Thesan seemed more open to Eris's words, seemed willing to hear him out despite his presentation the last time he was in his court, his words during the High Lord meeting.

It was enough.

Because Eris wasn't relying solely on them.

His alliances were tools for strength and backup, sources of power he lacked himself—like the ability to cloud the minds of those who might intervene. But other than that, Eris believed in his own abilities, believed in his rage even more.

The moment he had been preparing for his entire life had finally arrived. Every piece was moving exactly where he needed them to be.

Except for you.

Eris’s jaw tightened as his gaze fell on you once more. You hadn’t moved since the dance, your eyes still locked on him. He should have known better.

His heart pounded harder in his chest.

He almost growled in frustration, willing you to leave. Begging you, silently, to turn away, to walk out of the room before things spiraled further. But you didn’t move. You stood there, defiant as ever, and he knew in his bones that you wouldn’t leave him—not tonight, not ever, maybe. It was a comfort and a curse all at once, and he hated himself for expecting you to be anything but exactly what you always were: stubborn, unshakable, and entirely unwilling to leave him at surface level.

Eris thought he would've convinced you to leave, that you would've left the ball and never looked back.

He wanted you to give up on him.

Well, perhaps wanted wasn't the right word. He needed you to give up on him. But the conversation of tonight had steered a different way, he'd felt a tug in chest, a longing to say something to you that you would hold onto. He wanted to make things right if this night didn't go as he had planned. Just in case.

His hands clenched into fists, anger simmering under his skin. It wasn’t directed at you—no, it was at himself. For dragging you into this, for wanting you there even now when he should have been protecting you, not keeping you in the line of fire. His thoughts raced, but before he could find a way to fix this—to get you out of here—Beron's voice cut through the room.

“Thank you all for joining us this evening.” Beron’s voice carried a chilling glee as he addressed the assembly, his dull, dead gaze sweeping across the gathered guests. “Your presence here is both an honor and a testament to our shared interests.”

Eris resisted the urge to roll his eyes.

His father stepped down from his throne, his movements slower than usual, though not without their characteristic arrogance. With a subtle struggle masked by his usual flair, Beron flicked his wrist, summoning long banquet tables in a grand, sweeping motion.

Eris knew what to expect—the feast was an integral part of the Autumn Equinox ball, a hallmark of Beron’s gatherings and a grotesque display of excess. It wasn’t just about wealth; it was Beron’s way of reminding everyone of his power. The elaborate food and endless wine were symbols of his dominance, meant to impress, to intimidate. Everything served had its own twisted meaning, every bite meant to feed not only the stomachs of his guests but Beron’s insatiable ego.

“Let this night be remembered,” Beron said, a thin smile creeping over his lips, “For it is not just a feast, but a celebration—a dedication.”

His eyes finally settled on Eris. “To my eldest son, my heir," He drawled, his voice mocking. “So powerful, isn’t he? Could stand here—just like me.”

The room fell into a hushed confusion. From the corner of his eye, Eris noticed Rhysand and Feyre exchange a subtle glance. Then he took notice of the slightest of movements from his men and Beron’s guards alike, their hands inching towards the hilts of their swords.

“Why don’t you step forward? Take a seat." Beron’s grin sharpened as he gestured toward the throne looming behind him. "Tell me, is it warm enough for you?”

Eris didn't move. There was something in his father's eyes that unnerved him more than usual, something that prickled at his skin. Eris wanted to turn and look at you, wanted to find some feeling of comfort. He resisted the urge, resisted as he had for centuries.

Even Eris’s brothers seemed to sense the sinister glint in Beron’s eyes, stepping aside from their usual positions, retreating from his throne and his shadow. Their movements were hesitant, almost apologetic, but they did not challenge Beron or attempt to shield Eris. Instead, they distanced themselves, as they often did.

Eris felt a sharp pang of betrayal. It was expected, of course, but it hurt him still. He had loved them, raised them, spent countless hours teaching them how to hold a sword, how to pet a hound— shared with them the fragments of compassion he had left.

If Beron chose to make a move against him now, if he decided to execute him as he had done to others, as he had done to Lucien’s first love, Eris knew his brothers would not intervene. They would not rise to his defense. They would, instead, hold him down, their faces betraying no sign of conflict or hesitation. The years of affection and teaching he had given them would simply vanish, be replaced by a cold compliance that made them unrecognizable.

Eris didn’t loathe them for their cruelty. He understood their desire for acceptance, their need to survive in the oppressive shadow of their father. They weren’t as strong as he was—that was a fact Eris had long since accepted. But he did harbor a certain resentment, a bitterness reserved for those who shared his blood, for their spinelessness. It was a raw, bitter hatred born of disappointment, for they had succumbed to the very weakness he had fought to overcome.

Yet, deep down, Eris knew that hatred was unfair. They weren't as strong as he was. They had found safety, a semblance of life, in aligning themselves with Beron, in becoming mere extensions of his will. They were each equally awful, equally numb, void of the personality and warmth that once marked their youth.

His heart ached when he reflected on it too long, when he looked at the males before him and saw only shadows of their younger selves—reminders of who they might have been before Beron had shaped them into tools of his power.

Beron’s lips twisted. “Seems like you’re stuck. Not enough energy? Don’t have the appetite?” His voice took on a mocking softness. With a sudden cruel smile, he motioned for the feast to be revealed. “Perhaps you need something to satiate you.”

Eris felt his stomach twist, but it didn't show on his face, didn't show in his stature. He’d perfected it over the years, that calm, amused mask. Yet beneath it, something churned—something he couldn’t name.

And then the reveal came.

With a nod of Beron's head, attendants moved swiftly to unveil the centerpiece of the feast.

The array of food was lavish, an impressive display of excess. But as the cover was lifted, a collective gasp rippled through the room, followed by a collective step back. Eris’s hearing fuzzed, his breath catching in his throat as a wave of despair crashed over him.

There, displayed as if it were the grandest prize of the night, was one of his hounds. One of the first he had ever raised, ever loved. The animal stared back at him, its body bound, gagged with an apple.

Slain and displayed as a macabre trophy.

The sight sent a shudder through the room, a sense of disgust even reaching the eyes of Beron's soldiers, of the males standing around the room.

And clearly, like a piercing alarm in the dead of night, Eris could hear your voice—a sound of horror, of sadness—interwoven with his own, as if your emotions were etched into his own heartbeat. But now only anger consumed him. He saw red.

Beron wallowed in the shock, bathed in it like a pig in mud.

“My dear son, so arrogant, so ready to take my place. I hear the chatter.” He gestured disdainfully toward the hound. “What a shame that your beloved playthings aren’t immune to the cost of defiance.”

Eris took a deep breath.

“You’ve spent your entire life preparing for this," Beron walked over to two of his guards. They presented him with two ornate swords. “How satisfying it must be to finally face your grand plan.”

He turned and threw a sword at Eris’s feet, the blade skidding across the floor with a clatter.

“Pick it up,” Beron commanded. “If you’re so eager to prove yourself, then do it properly. Give your court a show.”

Eris’s gaze followed the sword. While Eris knew he didn't need to fight to win, he wasn't going to miss out on a bit of fun, wasn't going to resist his chance to decorate himself in his father's blood before his plan came to fruition. He felt eerily calm, felt strangely numb, as he bent down to retrieve the weapon, feeling its weight settle into his hand.

The first time Beron had struck Eris with true malice, he had been no older than sixteen. Instead of the usual heavy hand, Beron had chosen a different method of discipline that day.

He had targeted something deeper—something soft.

Eris was still young at the time, but old enough to have developed a bond with his hounds, creatures he had raised and trained with care. Only one of his brothers had been born at this time, too young to understand his affection for the animals, but Eris—Eris had always felt responsible, protective. He'd been the one to fight for them in the first place, had managed to summon the courage to convince his father they were useful, needed for the Court.

It was a simple mistake during hunting, on a trip Beron had granted them all to take. Eris had let the hounds range too far ahead, and when one of them startled a stag too soon, Beron saw red. Instead of turning his fury on Eris immediately, he called for the hound.

Eris’s stomach had dropped when he saw his father’s eyes narrow, his jaw clenching in that way that signaled violence was coming. But it wasn’t for Eris—yet.

Without hesitation, Beron grabbed the dog by the scruff and brought his hand down with a sickening crack across the hound’s side. The sound of bone snapping and the sharp yelp that followed was enough to freeze Eris in place, horror clawing at his chest.

“Your mistake,” Beron had snarled, glancing at Eris as the hound crumpled to the ground, whimpering. “It’s only fair it pays the price.”

Eris had wanted to run to the animal, to shield it, to beg his father to stop, but Beron’s gaze had pinned him in place. The message was clear: any sign of weakness would only make things worse.

“That’s the thing about care,” Beron continued, voice calm, detached. “It makes you vulnerable. Weak. Never let them see.”

Eris's weakness wasn’t something entirely physical—it was the things he loved, the things he couldn’t afford to lose. He was sixteen and wanted to be great. He was sixteen and loved his family. But he knew, then and there, that Beron would never hesitate to use those things against him.

So Eris learned to mask it all, to bury the things he cared for deep beneath a layer of cold indifference. He learned to find the weaknesses in others and use them before they could be turned against him.

Find the thing that makes them vulnerable, Eris collected, and exploit it until they're weak.

Beron’s vices had been his easiest prey— his pride, his paranoia.

Beron was already acting out of fear, already on edge. He was quick to draw his sword, quick to make rash decisions. Who could blame him, Eris thought, after he’d come across those letters? He could still feel the seething anger, remember the way Beron’s face had twisted as he read those messages from his high-ranking officials, his allies.

They spoke of Beron’s incompetence, of their desire to betray him. It was so convenient how Eris’s brothers had intercepted those letters, so strangely timed that they ended up exactly where Beron would find them on that fateful night.

Beron had been so angry, so furious, that he hadn’t realized the writing in the letters carried Eris’s careful hand. The curve of the a’s, the dotting of the i’s. Eris hadn’t even fully attempted to hide it. It was a fun little game.

The first strike came fast, Beron’s sword flashing in the dim light as it clashed with Eris’s blade. The impact rattled up Eris’s arm, but he held steady, his face betraying nothing. His father advanced again, faster, more aggressive, but Eris met him blow for blow.

“You think you can stand against me?” Beron spat, swinging again. His strikes were wild, reckless, fueled by a rage that had long since burned out of control. “You think you can take what’s mine?”

Eris sidestepped the blow. “I think you’ve already lost it,” he said, parrying another strike. The blade sliced through a thin layer of skin on his father's arm, the fine fabric soaking up a pool of crimson. Beron’s lips curled in a snarl. The blows were becoming harder, less controlled.

“Ungrateful whelp,” he hissed, “After everything I’ve given you, everything I’ve done.”

“Done to me,” Eris corrected, as his blade deflected another attack. The steel met his father's skin once more.

He could feel the fury rising, could see the cracks forming in Beron’s controlled facade. Every swing was growing sloppier. Eris bit back a grin.

Beron’s face twisted with rage, his teeth bared. “You think you’re so clever, don’t you? Playing your little games, whispering in the shadows.”

Eris didn’t flinch. His eyes locked on his father’s, unblinking, steady. “I learned from the best.”

As expected, Beron was desperate to prove his strength, his dominance. His face reddened, the veins in his neck bulging as he swung wildly.

He kept his soldiers at bay, clearly wanting the court to witness him vanquish his son with his own hands, to send a powerful message. But as the fight wore on and Beron’s frustration mounted, Eris could see the flicker of temptation in his father’s eyes, the near impulse to call upon his troops.

Beron would be sorely surprised if he made the call.

Eris briefly registered the movement of a few of his men, clad in his rich green colors, subtly inching closer to Beron’s soldiers. They didn’t advance to engage, no, but shared a knowing look with a few of the crimson-clad guards.

Before his brothers were born, Eris played often with his mother. She taught him countless games—strategy and thought alike. It was during those moments that Eris learned the most dangerous moves were the ones no one saw coming. He realized that the easiest games were often played with those unaware of the parts they were playing. At school, he could win every game if he hid just enough of the truth, allowing his tutors to think they knew the rules, when they didn’t know half of it.

Infiltration had been a long game.

It had taken Eris years, centuries, to meticulously cultivate and train the right individuals. It was thanks to him, whether his father acknowledged it or not, that Beron's men were stronger than ever. His newest soldiers, only a couple hundred of years old, had risen swiftly in rank, filling positions of power precisely when Beron needed them most. They emerged just as Beron’s senior troops had fallen ill of a strange form of Autumn Fever. The healers had said it came with the weakened state of soldiers, that their bodies were too tired to fight off such potent infections. Their weakened state created an opportune void.

The new recruits had seamlessly integrated, even believing themselves to be loyal supporters of Beron. Eris had been careful with them, had played the part of a helpful heir. They were eager for power, viewing their positions as a win-win—high-ranking regardless of whatever outcome. Eris had demonstrated his own worth, had shown his influence by granting them such positions. Without even trying, he'd earned their loyalty, ensured they had no reason to doubt him.

They remained loyal to their benefactor.

After all, everyone wanted to feel like they'd be on the winning side.

The clashing of steel and the cries of combat filled the room. Eris felt the sting of a fresh wound on his side, a searing pain that only seemed to heighten his sense of power. He fought through the pain.

In the chaos, a fleeting thought crossed his mind—he hoped, with a fervent intensity, that you weren’t watching. That you had found a place to hide, tucked away safely from the brutality of the scene. The notion that you might be witnessing this carnage, seeing him in his raw, bloody glory, gnawed at him.

He pushed the thoughts away. He couldn’t afford distractions now.

There was a time and a place for them. Because sometimes, distractions— disruptions— were useful. They could turn tides.

The mercenaries were easy to hire.

They didn't ask questions, didn't question the gold they were handed. Eris truly believed, deep in his core, that they found it fun, found enjoyment in creating chaos in the court's infrastructure. He was sure it was cathartic for them, therapeutic for these court outsiders to ruin the place they despised, to be paid to do so of all things.

The acts, though not catastrophic, were enough to inconvenience Beron, to create issues in his supply lines. All of the small riots, the court disturbances—each one had begun to eat away at his composure, had begun to sow seeds of doubt. The constant irritation of these minor upheavals fueled his rage. It angered him to think that his lower-court members, the very people who had sworn loyalty to him, would dare to believe they could challenge his authority. In his mind, it was an affront to his pride. Beron was driven to prove himself repeatedly, to show that he was still the supreme ruler, to assert his dominance even more cruelly than before.

Eris moved with a grace that belied the savage intensity of the fight. If this fight, this moment with his father, were a symphony, Eris was its masterful conductor. Precise, deadly. With a swift maneuver, he brought his blade to Beron’s neck, the tip dangerously close to ending the High Lord’s reign.

Beron’s eyes widened, a flicker of fear momentarily breaking through his usual composure.

As Eris had suspected, Beron's need to reassert control following the disturbances had led him to become increasingly harsh and unforgiving, to become the cruelest version of himself. It wasn’t just the overt displays of cruelty; at times, even Beron’s own loyal men were visibly taken aback by the severity of his punishments. The once-feared High Lord now seemed to revel in his own brutality, meting out harsh reprisals for the smallest perceived slights.

Citizens of the Autumn Court had begun to pray fervently for change.

Eris took note of their desperation. He began to frequent churches and visit temples more often, subtly goading the very prayers that begged for relief from Beron's tyranny. He felt a pang of guilt for the suffering inflicted on those innocent fae who bore the brunt of Beron’s cruelty. The weight of their pain was not lost on him.

But their suffering was a necessary sacrifice for a greater cause. The freedom of all, the chance to redeem the Autumn Court from the grip of a tyrant, to restore his own tarnished name.

Eris’s sword was struck from his hand with an almost too-easy motion, as if he had allowed it to happen, had planned for it. But Beron didn't notice, didn't think too much of the act as his grin widened.

He examined the blade of his sword. Then, with a dismissive flick, he tossed the sword near where Eris’s lay, the clatter echoing through the chamber.

"My son," Beron sneered. "Let me show you how a real ruler fights."

He took a step forward. The crowd took a step back. And then, Beron threw a heavy punch at his son, the impact so forceful that Eris swore he heard a crack. As Eris staggered, Beron’s demeanor shifted, his mockery giving way to raw aggression. He moved in and began to deliver a relentless series of blows.

There had been a point where Eris feared he might have undermined himself, might have jeopardized his plans. A moment where Beron confronted him, unevenly calm, about his meetings with Night Court trash. When he'd unleashed a fierce punishment in response to his alliance with Briallyn falling.

Beron had seen Eris for what he truly was: a significant threat.

Beron was not stupid.

But he was easily distracted, easily provoked. The more Beron’s attention was consumed by rage and suspicion, the less he could focus on the real threats closing in around him. Eris had shown submission, a form of fear, and his father's attention shifted to other alleged wrongdoings, other supposed acts of treachery.

Beron’s fists hammered into Eris with unrelenting force, each punch landing with a sickening thud. Eris’s world narrowed to the sharp pain with each strike. His father was monstrous now, uneased at how quickly his son seemed to fall.

When Eris finally fell to his knees, he was barely conscious of the cold floor beneath him. His father's grip on his neck was ironclad, dragging him upright. He felt the trickle of his own blood mingling with the sweat on his face, the warm, metallic taste filling his mouth.

Through every blow, Eris's cheeked ached with the desire to smile.

As a child, Eris had seen eager men tear each other apart in brutal brawls, rage consuming them entirely. He had watched with cold fascination as he stirred up hidden snakes beneath fallen leaves, prodding them into a vicious battle. He'd seen them strike and coil, each one consumed by its own fury.

He realized, even as a child, that the evil eat their own.

All he needed to do was provoke them and step back.

Beron's supporters were as simple as he could be. Animals led by their desires, by their emotions. It had been endlessly entertaining to create disunity between them. Each faction, desperate to curry favor and secure their own power, began to betray one another. The resulting chaos caused Beron to question everyone’s loyalty, leaving him isolated and paranoid. The more they scrambled with conflicting stories and accusations, the more Beron became convinced that everyone was deceiving him. They all suffered. They all fought.

Beron’s eyes blazed with fury as he picked up his forgotten sword and pointed the blade at Eris.

"Fight back!"

But his son did not.

Eris had exploited Beron’s vices with a precision that only years of calculated cruelty could achieve. He was observant, had to become his father to know how to defeat him. And one thing about Beron: he indulged. He was gluttonous to his core, carelessly so.

Beron’s high-ranking members had wanted to gift him something of luxury—something they’d only heard whispers about, whispers that they couldn’t trace but were plentiful. Interesting how that worked, Eris mused, how easily rumors could spread. But everyone wanted to get into the High Lord’s favor, so they pursued it, presented it to Beron. He accepted it with greedy, sin-sticky hands.

Beron hadn’t wanted the faebane antidote, never had enough contact with the poison to recognize it—didn’t know what it tasted like, how to test for it. It helped that, over the years, the crafters of Prythian had become inventive, altering and manipulating it, infusing it into drinks that were delectable, even addictive. The gradual degradation of Beron’s grasp on reality only made his anger more volatile. Eris wondered how his father hadn’t noticed his deteriorating health, why he never questioned why his strength seemed to ebb or why his flame flickered erratically when summoned.

But Eris also understood. Beron’s pride prevented him from admitting any weakness, from seeking help. He was desperate to maintain an image of invulnerability. What good was a High Lord who couldn't handle his liquor?

What good was a High Lord who grew sick?

None at all.

Eris took another kick and the slash with a stoic defiance.

“This is your chance, boy. Take it. Take it before I rid you of your pathetic life.”

Eris’s response was a grim chuckle, his laughter punctuated by a spray of blood. His chest ached with every breath, yet he couldn’t stop the dark humor from spilling out.

"I already have."

When Eris was nineteen, a male his age was stung by a bee. It was a seemingly inconsequential event—just a small, buzzing creature that landed on the boy’s skin. Yet, within hours, he was dead. The sting had triggered an allergic reaction so severe that the male's immortal body couldn’t cope.

In the aftermath, as Eris watched the reactions of those around him, he learned a profound lesson. The deadliest threats often come in the most unassuming forms, in the things that are overlooked—vital to life, but neglected nonetheless.

Beron lunged forward, blade aimed straight for Eris, for the heart he often forgot he had. But just as the weapon descended, Eris’s gaze shifted to something behind his father. Despite the searing pain, despite the specks forming in his eyesight, a smile managed to curve Eris's lips.

A wave of pride, of relief, washed over him as he watched his mother—sweet, neglected, and unassuming—strike true, slicing through Beron's back with a smooth, lethal precision.

The force of the strike caused Beron to stagger, his blade’s path shifting, falling and cutting deep into a lower area of Eris’s abdomen. With his slackened grip, the blade fell from his father's hold. Eris grimaced as its weight dragged it out of his flesh, as it went clattering to the floor beside him.

His vision was clouded with pain, but he remained transfixed as his mother moved with a fierce grace. Her hand, now wreathed in bright, licking flames, grasped Beron’s throat. With the other, she twisted the blade deeper into his father’s body, the fire searing his neck.

Eris’s ears rang, drowning out all but the relentless drum of his heartbeat. Despite the chaos, he could make out his mother’s voice, the words crisp in the oppressive silence.

“This is for my children.”

There was a sputtering sound from Beron, sick and wet, as the blade was twisted deeper. Eris felt a burning sensation, pain so overwhelming it took his breath, his vision blurring as the agony consumed him. It was beautiful and excruciating all at once.

He had never felt so alive, so broken at the same time.

Beron’s body crumpled beside him with a lifeless thud. Eris blinked through the haze.

Around him, chaos erupted—people running, screaming, power crackling in the air. He strained to focus, his gaze drifting past Beron’s corpse, and through the chaos, he saw something glorious.

An angel, perhaps. Something of breathtaking beauty. The glow around it, a song that called to him. Rushing toward him, screaming his name.

It was you.

At least, he believed it was you. Eris wasn’t sure anymore.

No, he managed to tell himself, it was you. He knew you.

He knew you the way one knows the pull of the moon on the tide, the way his soul knew the other half of itself.

It was your voice, mingling with the din of madness, your voice that called to him. Eris wanted to close his eyes at the sound, to bask in the feelings it stirred. You fell to your knees beside him.

He felt his mother’s hands on him, steady and warm.

Then, everything went black.

✹ ✶ 𖧷 ✶✹

authors note: hi guys how did i do??? i just think the idea of a sneaky lil eris letting the people around him fall like dominos is sooo entertaining. i strongly do believe his rise to power will be rooted in SUCH small, calculated moves hes made around people.

a big thank you to my love @sarawritestories for reading this for me<3 mwuah

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janesimsten · 1 year ago

Text

Regency Romance Mod Updated (v2.23)

You can download v2.23 here!

There is a new version of the Regency Romance mod out now that addresses some bugs, including:

Offer Spiritual Advice not completing the work assignment for the Clergy Career

Chef Uniforms sometimes appearing in the governess career

Clergy, Socialite, and Governess careers can now request time off on the phone

Those who couldn't see Purchase Estate on the mailbox now will be able to

Fixes an animation error related to the card table at Gentry, Gentlemen's, and Ladies' clubs.

Adds a cheat for max social standing (available by shift-clicking on your Sim)

Socialites will no longer get chance cards related to the culinary career.

Hired governesses will no longer cook meals excessively.

Fixes/clarifies governess teaching for the hired services.

Governesses will now more clearly teach lessons in etiquette, painting, writing, charisma, and piano. They will autonomously give lessons, and children will get a push to go and listen to them, which will raise fun and the associated skill (creative or social for children when appropriate). To request a specific lesson, click on the governess and select Ask to Give ___ Lesson from the Governess pie menu.

If you discover any bugs, or a recurrence of any of the errors listed above, please let me know! The fastest place to get help is on my discord, which is available for anyone to join: https://discord.gg/zQn9fV8qvC

Thank you to all for your patience!

#janesimsten #ts4 #ts4 mods #sims4 #regencyromance #sims 4 historical

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theninthdoor · 9 months ago

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virgo season🪻♍ mini tarot reading ࿔*

decks used || the druidcraft tarot, wild uknown animal spirit & the prism oracle. songs || shuffle pick from a random 2000s playlist. when picking a group, use your sun and/or rising signs. (disclaimer: based on current energies. all is alleged and for entertainment purposes only.)

🍊 Mutables | Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius, Pisces Song: The Fray - How to Save a Life

Cards: page of pentacles reversed, king of pentacles, eight of swords, Tiger (reversed), Flow

So, my dear mutable signs... it seems like this upcoming Virgo season is all about you working on getting your life back together after a period of disruption. In these past few weeks or months, you might have found yourself a little more sensitive, more reactive and easily overwhelmed. Perhaps you were pushed by people or circumnstances to let go of certain habits or routines that were already well set in your life, and that has made you feel out of balance. Going forward, I still see some struggle when it comes to making up for the empty space, plus there might be times when you go from 0 to 100 in a blink of an eye - so having no energy or motivation, and then going straight to being the most proactive and productive person on the planet - and, of course, going from one extreme to another must take a toll on your mental, emotional and physical bodies. With that, I must remind you that self-care is very important here. Don't let yourself stay stuck in situations or patterns that haven't been serving you, because they will only keep adding on to the frustration and unrest, but also please make sure to consciously keep working at a pace that is healthy and sustainable, to make sure you don't burn out. One last thing that came through: making up with friends/family/acquaintances or reuniting after a challenging period of misunderstandings or non-communication. Watch out for how you express youself, and let them speak as well! Whatever has been broken, can be mended, but you also need to take some accountability and be fair. - This might not apply to everyone, but if you were looking for this message/confirmation, here it is.

🩰 Fixed | Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, Aquarius Song: Sean Kingston - Beautiful Girls

Cards: five of swords reversed, eight of cups reversed, queen of swords, Dragonfly reversed, Love

the song???! 😭

So, for all my beautiful fixed signs (no pun intendend lol): this Virgo season will be all about you stepping back into your power. You're feeling yourself, taking care of yourself, being more social and having more vibrancy in general. There's just so much stuff you can't be bothered with anymore, and letting go of that is finally allowing new, beautiful energy to come into your life. However, that might come easier to some than to others... Even if you're not bothered with those things actively, they might still be hanging out at the back of your mind, popping in every now and then throughout your day. Don't ignore them, alright? But don't dwell on them either. You should be going about these matters with logic and patience, so they can be resolved properly and as soon as possible. I also feel now you're being a little more detached or acting a little colder towards certain people (if not all). You are definitely feeling more comfortable to put yourself out there and be more social, as a said, but there is still some distance that you're keeping between yourself and others. There's an aspect of self-protection here, but also self-love? You're self-protecting out of love for yourself, it feels like. After much trial and error, you have finally decided to give yourself what others haven't been able to. "I can buy myself flowers." I keep getting pulled to that Queen of Swords + the Dragonfly reversed (indicative that the energy is out of balance, which then points towards 'lack of concentration and a busy mind'), and that reminds me of Gemini - so whether that is you or someone you're dealing with this season, that whole energy should be around you in these upcoming weeks.

🍎 Cardinal | Aries, Cancer, Libra, Capricorn Song: Britney Spears - Circus

Cards: death reversed, the tower reversed, five of wands, Lion, Strength

When everything around you is falling apart, people aren't getting along, and it seems like you're having to walk on eggshells to avoid being pulled into conflict, you'll have to take it upon yourself to step into power and either act as a mediator between those conflicting sides, or force it all to be done with. You're tired of chaos, of noise, of people being selfish and reckless, and now you're looking for peace and order, and you know the change has to start with you. However, that doesn't mean you're going to be docile and quiet, neither aggressive or argumentative! We have both the Lion and Strength here, so this is moreso about having patience, determination and (self)control. Besides, some people might come out to poke you, provoke you, trying to get a strong reaction out of you - and sometimes they might get what they want, but here we have a reminder that you must really make an effort to keep it together and lead by example. - "There's only two types of people in the world / The ones that entertain, and the ones that observe." this part of the song in particular, feels relevant here. In general, in this Virgo season I see you taking on more responsibilities, perhaps also packing your schedule with new/more activities and events, or finally waking up after a slow, fruitless period, and deciding to clean up all the mess around you so you can get back to action. The final message that came through is about the Libra Venus transit, and it influencing you to pay more attention to your physical appearance. If you've been thinking about changing your style, haircut, starting or going back to getting your nails done, treating yourself to a spa day, getting a better skincare routine or something along those lines, this is the time to do that.

🌍 relevant transits: ⭒ mercury stations direct in leo on august 26th / shadow period ends on september 11th ⭒ venus enters libra (domicile) on august 29th ⭒ new moon in virgo on september 2nd ⭒ mars enters cancer (fall) on september 4th ⭒ mercury enters virgo (domicile) on september 9th ⭒ partial full moon lunar eclipse in pisces on september 17th

#tarot #tarot reading #astrology #monthly tarot reading #tarot services #pick a card #pick a pile #daily tarot #oracle reading #tarotcommunity #tarot reader

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kerubimcrepin · 7 months ago

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LIVEREAD: WAKFU, THE GREAT WAVE [TOME 1, Chapters 4-7]

Always some weird shit happening in this country.

I really wish they didn't make Grougalorasalar so fine because now putting him next to Joris feels like one of those "trying to give my cat body dysmorphia" memes.

EXCEPT JORIS ALMOST DEFINITELY ALREADY HAS THAT 😭

Some thought that it's quite cheap, to resurrect a character this way — however, killing 1k people is already established as a type of resurrection that works, within canon. And there is dramatic irony, considering at the end of the movie she kinda began to understand the error of her ways... It's like the universe is saying lol, no peaceful death for you, keep suffering, y'know? It's compelling.

SHUT THE FUCK UP. I DON'T CARE ABOUT YOUR FEE-FEES. YOU ALWAYS CRY WHILE COMMITTING WARCRIMES. COME UP WITH A NEW GIMMICK!

Like literally — this guy will cry over his dead son, and act scared about being forced to commit more warcrimes w/ Joris in the movie... and then go on to commit more warcrimes for centuries. Is he for real?

I think that, of all the people he could have picked, Julith is the most befitting candidate to try and fight Yugo.

She hated holier-than-thou types. She was aligned with Brakmar. She was willing to commit mass murder and abuse her son to reach her goals. For the right reasons, she will be willing to do more mass murder and son abuse once more. It literally makes so much sense to me.

(ANKAMA PLEASE CHANGE HER MOTIVATION FROM REVOLVING AROUND THE MAN SHE WAS IN LOVE WITH. DO KEEP THE CHILD ABUSE, THO. IF YOU DON'T DO THESE 2 THINGS, THIS MANGA WILL BE UNREADABLE AND UNBEARABLE. THANK YOU.)

Once again, I really appreciate the irony. I hope she feels bad about this — I hope it's clicking for her that this is what she was going to do. (I love torturing characters I love torturing characters I love—-)

I really wish we got some more of a conversation here — like "it's been approximately 600ish years since you died" or "the world almost ended like 4 times since you died, and there was a huge flood and stuff".

I really wish to see the reaction of some random mortal character from Dofus era to all the bullshit that has happened since then.

(God, I hope her first thought after learning how long it has been is, "oh, I guess I won't know what happened to my son. It has been a long time. He died a long time ago, I guess. That's probably a good thing." It would be so funny so so funny sooooo funny to me. hehe)

Due to Atcham being an owner of one of these thins in the past, I sadly have an affinity for them.

(I like to think Atcham wishes he could get another one, but being able to own an animal like this was like, one of the things he had to sacrifice to become a Bontarian.)

Something wrong with her, for real.

Loving their resurrection of Julith not just physically, but in spirit too <3

Welcome back, Irredeemably Evil Female Character Driven To Kill Torture And Abuse Innocents (Including Children) By "My Husband, Who Is The Only Person The Writers Have Me Care About, Died"-Disorder And No Other Character Traits Besides Motherhood/Desire To Be A Mother (Despite Being Abusive To All Children Around Her) Given To Her. You truly are a classic, in Ankama media!

I wonder if Julith is being forced into this, or if the only lesson she got from dying is "Jahash wouldn't have wanted me to kill 1k Bontarians" and she is still as weird and horrible of a person.

I guess it's hard to judge what is happening, without knowing what 'Salar told her.

By the way, if she still has a grudge against Bonta for planning the perfect series of events to kill her and Jahash, it will be so funny. Lady you literally tried to killed a woman's husband <3 you have no moral high ground anymore <3 and she never Had a moral high ground to stand on, but now there's like, hypocrisy to it too, if she uses the "my husband and I were plotted against" card.

[giggles cutely] You see, , this is why I often bring up Joris while analysing child-parent relationships and immortality. Ankama loves reiterating on ideas and concepts.

For example, the most recent motif is poisonings and belladonna, especially when love and royalty is involved...

I know I roasted the hell out of Eliatrope for her bad ruling skills, but I don't think that calling a ruling queen "kiddo" and "the girl" is helpful in this situation.

Then again, Aurora said that her father spent most of his time holled up in a cave, in season 4. Maybe he usually doesn't do politics. Maybe he's more of a military leader, while others do all the work.

...Yeah, I know, I know. Ankama just didn't give a shit and I'm just making stuff up to make it make sense.

#greatwave #ro liveblogs dofus #dofus #wakfu #krosmoz

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team-seraphic-official · 1 month ago

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Thank you so much for supporting us as we create ExtraColonist! We are now officially the largest IWATEX mod and just hit 400 members on our Discord so there is an exciting reveal attached... Helios silhouettes!

Our patreons voted on what to reveal, and they wanted to see a teaser for our future crash-landed characters. Do note that there will be 5 main Helios, but only 4 are complete- that's how early you guys got us here! What do you think their augments and personalities are?

and don't worry, progress will be moving smoothly and faster than our first year from now on! We have a clear workflow and thorough mod loader created during this first year.

So let's see what we've been working on since we founded...

April 2024 to March 2025

Art

39 cutscenes

13 backgrounds

78 cards made

50 full character sprites made (multiple expressions each)

18 map sprites drawn and animated

125 emotes

9 character redesigns

4 characters discarded

7 sol accessories

19 celestial tier artworks

72 cards coded in

3 music tracks made

78 memes (internal)

Main menu extended background and logo change

Designed website and reveals template

2 trailers

Writing

Writing fully complete for the first 3 game years

Lore expansions

Full character outlines and documentations

All heart events outlined

New endings conceptualized

Alterations to existing events

Year 1 artbook

Coding

Custom gear capability

Pronouns can change with life stage

Childhood friend mechanic

Full compatibility with other mods

Death capability

Custom music capability for specified events and seasons

Characters can spawn in expeditions

Custom collectables

Custom pets

Pet aging mechanic

Custom map spots per season

Main menu revamp- scrolling capability and new images

Animated map sprites

Lowered memory usage

Load recources at start of game + custom loading scene

Expanded upon dating capability

Custom endings and backgrounds capability and in gallery

Custom credits

Character can optionally age past 20 capability

Disable mods without uninstall (patreon request)

Indicate which mods are active on savefiles

Most remaining exoloader removed and replaced

Complete codebase refactor error reporting and better performance

Custom locations

All vanilla characters, cards, locations, collectables, and jobs overwritten

Collectables scroll bar implimented

Seasonal background changes

Non-windows capability

Sol sprite editing

Random number within range exoscript extension

63 cards coded in

All year 10 characters coded in

Year 10 fully coded with 11 started

BUGS FIXED

Overridden characters stop becoming a woman

Fixed week not being found in saves

Fix for spaghetti characters on slower PC

Fixed animation speed on slower PC

Prevent invalid songs from breaking code

Fixed anne not showing up

Fixed some invalid peri choices & sprites

Fixed wrong use of quotations being used in dialogue

Other

Seraphic LLC registered

400 Discord members

510 unique mod downloads

36 nexus endorsements

#extracolonist #i was a teenage exocolonist #iwatex #exocolonist oc #exocolonist

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captainmagpie-risha · 1 month ago

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For the oc ask game 7 and 8 for Ennera?

(yes I didn't check if you did her presentation no I don't care and yes this is a blank writ for you to ramble about her)

Love u

The ask references this post. Ennera Lavellan is my mage Inquisitor. A (really) quick sketch done tonight as a treat. And as always I forgot to add her vallaslin lmao but who's surprised ?? (she has Sylaise's one, I'll update later).

HI DEAR (no I didn't because I wanted to do Kali before... but I can literally do Ennera as her tarot card is done lmao BUT YOU KNOW HOW MY BRAIN WORKS) thanks for entertaining my never ending madness, as you do every day 🫶

+ i tried to proofread but there's probably a looot of grammatical errors I'm sorry !!

#7 favorite animal? why?

Ennera would probably say she loves every kind of animals. She's not bothered by any of them (except maybe giant spiders and the INFAMOUS DEEPSTALKERS what even are these things ?? Saw one, said "ahhhwww" and nearly died, so now that's an instakill) but yeah she loves a lot of them.

HOWEVER. Her favorite one is the rabbit. The more fur, the merrier. She rescued a litter of rabbits when she was in the Free Marches (around ~20 yo) and took care of them, then adopted one of them. The rabbit became bigger and bigger, until he barely fit in her tiny arms. (She's approx 1m55/5"1'... 😔) He has a lot of fur she uses to knit some scarves. She finds him fun and lovely, despite the creature being a spawn of hell. (The words of her bff. He's not totally wrong.)

If we talk about mounts, she loves traveling with dracolisks. Don't ask why. She says that since nobody wishes to walk them, she needs to mount them often. I suppose she's worried they could munch on the hand of a recruit... but her true reason is that she loves seeing the discomfited look on people's faces when she arrives, short and happy, on a dinosaur's back. Also they have more stamina than a horse and can climb mountains so that's a plus, as she can't follow paths.

#8 do they have a nickname? who gave it to them? if it's not derived from their real name, what's the story behind it?

Okay so there are a few ones.

Aodren, her bff / brother, calls her En or Neeree (pronounced [ni:-ʁe]) when he's feeling soft. The second is how he and her mother called her when she was little. If he feels mischevious, it's shorty (or half sprout / demi pousse in french). Later, it will be your Inquisitorialness (ton Inquisitude in French lol), nickname proudly stolen from Sera.

Cullen, her future husband, calls her Ma dame (My Lady) at first or when he feels flirty. It became an inside joke in the long run, as poor Cullen was unable to use his brain after their installation in Skyhold and he couldn't use her name without stuttering (and she forbade him to use Inquisitor when they were flirting not working). If not it's a classical Mon amour (my love). When they are married he says it in elven (mir lath) but he's not really imaginative and so am I 😔

When Varric will feel more at ease with her, he will call her Sunflower (Tournesol). The more she's accustomed to her new title, the more she showed her companions her personality : someone joyful who tend to light the mood. Sunshine would be a better nickname but it's hard to translate it in French, and I like the comparison with a flower since she likes them so dearly ! It also refers to her bright yellow Sylaise's vallaslin.

Thanks for asking !! It was fun to do 😌 There's a few more lists under the #ask game list tag if something crosses your mind ! I'm still opened to more asks about these characters, from a list or not.

For the record : Kallian my HoF-Rook /romanced Alistair ; Marian Hawke even tho it's not my most fleshed out character /romanced Anders then Varric bc I can ; Ennera my Inquisitor /romanced Cullen ; Tahlen, son of Kallian & Alistair ; Aodren, Ennera's childhood friend /romanced Dorian. I want to introduce them all to you so BAD it's hurting me. But I'll do the tarot card first to go nicely with their introduction posts I SWEAR 😤

#ennera lavellan #inquisitor lavellan #dragon age inquisition #ask game #my oc art #my oc stuff #my art #cullen x inquisitor #cullen x lavellan #ask game answers #dragon age

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hcsfff · 6 months ago

Note

35 and scarian or! If you feel whatever song it is works better for a different ship go for that instead!

That song would be Animal by the Neon Trees!

I decided to write a little something about the next session of Wild Life!

Warning for implied character death and implied cannibalism!

“Grian…!”

Grian batted low hanging branches out of his face as he raced through the woods. Even as fast as he was running, he could still hear Scar not far behind him, calling out to Grian in a voice filled with bloodlust. Grian couldn't shake Scar from his tail, he couldn't even formulate a plan to get away. All he could think of was the enormity of his errors.

The first of which was the Wild Card for this week. Grian thought it would be fun to amplify everyone's animal traits. This wouldn't have been a bad idea, it was just that Grian hadn't thought it through enough. A Vex with red bloodlust was actually the most horrifying thing he could think of! Especially when the Vex in question was relentlessly chasing him down.

“Grian! You shouldn't have killed Jimmy!”

Scar was so close that Grian could practically feel his breath against his neck.

Which brought Grian to his second mistake. He had killed Jimmy. It was justified in his mind, but he should've thought about how that might anger Scar. Vex are fiercely loyal and Scar considered Jimmy as his family. Of course Scar would come after Grian.

Grian yelled as he ran, not even looking back, “We are friends again Scar! You don't have to do this!”

“You killed him and I wanted Jimmy to win. You won't get away with killing my Jimmy.” Scar replied. His voice was… calmer now. Grian could almost feel some smug satisfaction in that tone. Scar probably figured that he had won and it was only a matter of time until he caught Grian.

And Scar was right.

Which brought Grian to his final mistake. When he was fighting with Jimmy, the Canary managed to break one of Grian’s wings. That eliminated the only advantage Grian should have in this situation. He couldn't fly. He had no way to escape from this angry Vex.

Grian only managed to take a few more steps before Scar harshly grabbed onto his arm. Grian winced at the pain, struggling to get away. It was all for naught, Scar spun Grian around easily, holding onto both his arms so that Grian couldn't even take a swing at him.

“You traitor!” Scar hissed at him. From this close, Grian could see how sharp Scar's teeth had become, the red glow in his eyes, the utter anger knit into his brow. “How could you kill him?!”

“I had to! Scar, let's talk about this!”

“We are done talking.” Scar let go of Grian with one hand. His hand that was more like claws, so sharp that they sparkled under the sunlight that drifted through the leaves above. He lifted his hand up high, grinning at Grian, “Don't worry Grian, I won't let your body go to waste. You look absolutely… delicious!”

Grian couldn't even reply before the sharp claw sliced him open. And whatever happened after that, he definitely didn't stick around to see.

#desert duo #i hope the link works #cool song very cool

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kaiowut99 · 15 days ago

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Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monsters GX Episodes 129-130 Subbed (Finalized)

(Previously: Episodes 127-128 Subbed [Finalized])

(Check out my Subbed!GX Stream Masterpost!)

TURN-129: The Threat of the Three Phantasms! Judai VS Martin

Martin provokes Judai by using the students that have become Duel Zombies as hostages, leading the two to confront each other. The duel begins, with Judai being mindful about Martin's three Phantasms. Martin summons his zero-ATK Chaos Core, placing one card face-down to conclude his turn, as Judai summons his Elemental Heroes hoping to settle things right away. Meanwhile, Johan combs the desert with O'Brien to find the spot where the capsule containing the Rainbow Dragon card landed, but...

TURN-130: Rainbow Dragon Awakens

Johan returns to Judai with the Rainbow Dragon card in hand, going on to duel against Martin alongside Judai. Practically unbothered about their disadvantageous summoning conditions, Martin succeeds in summoning the three Phantasms--Raviel, Lord of Phantasms; Hamon, Lord of Striking Thunder; and Uria, Lord of Divine Flames! Not to be outdone, Johan gathers all seven of his Gems on his field and in his Cemetery, going on to finally summon Rainbow Dragon. The three Phantasms VS Rainbow Dragon--which side will be victorious...?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Episodes 129 and 130 are now finalized, and it's the final confrontation between Judai and the being possessing Martin--who might be all too familiar to him. With Johan running off to grab Rainbow Dragon (everyone's ticket home) before joining Judai to pit it against the three Phantasms as Misawa recommended, the fair bit of action going in 129's first half as everyone does their part to get Judai to the House of Sand duel arena in one piece and Martin's strategy of skirting by the three Phantasms' tough summoning conditions in its second half (with some neat art/animation throughout thanks to Kyoung Soo Lee's animation team), and the Duel Zombie plot getting its conclusion with Yubel's first appearance in the flesh in 130, things in Season 3 so far come to a head here. There's also the lead-up to Rainbow Dragon's summoning in early 130, including some jealousy on Martin/Yubel's part in seeing Johan so close with Judai? 👀 The summon itself is iconic, and Yubel's full appearance later is also a standout moment, as is Johan setting up the big finish and Yubel's "bye for now" at the end--and we'll see next episode how Judai takes it. (130 also sees the first use of the "Sad Duel" OST which is neat; surely won't cause any feels later.)

(Quick Translation Note: During Judai's Chaos Neos turn in 130 [after the eyecatch], as Judai uses Necrodarkman/Necroshade's effect to summon Neos, I did add a "Technically a Tribute Summon" side-note to the line since he calls it a "Special Summon;" this is the second time this error's happened this season [Necrodarkman's text says "no tributes needed when summoning," but that would imply a Tribute/Normal Summon], and while I'd want to fix it like I did in 119, this time it actually affects the gameplay: he then goes on to make an illegal play by somehow summoning his Black Panther to form Chaos Neos [and EN Shuffle's anime text doesn't mention him getting to summon another Monster other than the Glow Moss he summons with it]. A case of "Hikokubo forgot," for sure. 🙃)

Animation error-wise, I fixed up 11 in each episode, for 22 total; mostly minor split-screen-related quality-of-watching fixes (though 130 really loved its diagonal split-screens...), but each episode did have one or two card-error-related ones I fixed up. There was also a blink-and-you-miss-it one with Yubel that I fixed in 130 (first full appearance and they were flubbed in one of their first scenes, smh). Details under the cut below as always, for the interested!

Anywho, enjoy! I did think about also working on 131, but I figured it'll serve as a good cool-down episode to work on before we get onto Season 3 Part II--though before that, I'll jump back into TFSP to re-translate Sora's story events, as well as also work on finishing up my "dub-uncut" edit for ARC-V episode 2. Stay tuned!

Fixes and Edits! (129)

Over the recap of 128's ending, as Judai reacts to Martin's announcement by saying he'll make him pay, with a surprise double lip shadow as he moves his head up to speak, I reprised my fix from 128 correcting that.

After the title card, as we pan over to Kenzan before he turns to tell Misawa to take Jim's place in keeping watch for Duel Zombies, Kenzan's right ear is actually not fully drawn in. I fixed this first in Photoshop, taking the last frame before he turns and editing his drawn left ear into place on the right, tweaking it to fit into place and account for the shading that was there; once done, I went into AfterEffects and did some motion-tracking to re-pan that frame across the shot before masking out the fix over the footage.

Later, during the boss Duel Zombie rush getting in Judai's way to the arena, Jim notices that Judai, Misawa, and Rei are surrounded; he slides down a pillar on the Academia building before Asuka jumps down to join him in rushing over, but for a quick two frames, Asuka has a second mouth as she moves her head--though that's corrected a frame later before she moves the frame after that, so it's odd they let it slip there, lol. Anyway, a quick fix in Sony Vegas as I masked the corrected bit of the third frame out over the error in the prior two.

A bit after that, as things ramp up between our crew and the Duel Zombies, Kenzan runs over tributing his Dark Driceratops and Gilasaurus to summon Dark Tyranno--but for some reason, he's holding a Fusion/Polymerization card in the air (also kept in the dub). Fixed in AfterEffects, applying a Dark Tyranno proxy in its place and adjusting it as Kenzan swings his arm around and the shot pans up from him as Dark Tyranno's summoned.

Later on, as Martin gets his first turn started by summoning Chaos Core, Judai notices it has zero ATK, while Martin slides up on a split-screen declaring his setting a card to end his turn--but a few things happen: 1) for the first frame as Martin slides in, Judai is moved upward in the frame but not fully drawn; 2) Martin's slide-in is only three frames long compared to the usual 7-8 frames, as it is on Martin and Judai sliding out of the split-screen; and 3) the border between their splits flickers for a quick frame before they start to split out to show Martin's field on the next frame. To fix this, using Sony Vegas, I first cropped the scene slightly to keep Judai fully in the frame (I also added a zoom-out back to the original position after the split-screen as Martin's card is set on the field), then working off of that, I redid Martin's slide-in to be smoother and last the usual 7-8 frames (by reversing his slide-out from later in the shot) while moving Judai upward behind him--though this led to Judai not being fully drawn for 2-3 frames like the original error as Martin's split caught up to cover him up, so I took those frames into Photoshop and drew in the rest of him as needed. Came out nicely! (Gif of the original slide-in; gif of the revised slide-in)

A bit later, during Judai's second turn, Tag Request is used to summon Necrodarkman, but it's missing from Judai's second Monster Zone (where it appears later). Fixed in AfterEffects by applying a proxy, using motion-tracking to apply it during the zoom-out as its ATK counter pops up before then adjusting it as Judai swings his arm around.

After Judai has both Necrodarkman and Sparkman attack Chaos Core to use up its destruction protection, Martin emphasizes how pointless it was, while Judai slides in on a split-screen to activate Flash Fusion--but Judai's split starts to slide in a frame early, before Martin moves for it; fixed this in Vegas by masking out the first bit of Judai's split slide-in, moving Martin slightly behind it. Then, as their split-screen ends, the first frame of their split-out to show Flash Fusion activating has Martin and Judai starting to move, but Martin's missing a border on his split that comes back in the next frame; fixed in Vegas by adding a border along the edge of his split.

A bit later, as Judai and Rei look on while Phantom of Chaos takes the shape of Hamon, there's a quick frame on their split-screen where there's a flicker along the border between them before they start to split apart in the next frame. Quickly fixed this in Vegas by holding the prior pre-flicker frame over the flicker frame.

Shortly after, Martin tells Judai that his Hamon!Phantom of Chaos can't deal him any Battle Damage, Judai sliding in for a split-screen as he clarifies that it can deal Effect Damage--but Martin moves a frame early for the split-screen, before Judai starts sliding in in the next frame; quickly fixed this in Vegas by just holding Martin still over the early-move frame. Then, after Martin clarifies and they split apart to show Hamon!Phantom of Chaos about to use its effect, they don't actually split apart in the first intended frame of the slide-out--instead, Martin is moved to the left within his split but both splits are kept in the same position before properly splitting apart in the next frame, with Martin's split back to normal. Fixed this in Vegas by redoing both Martin and Judai's splits in this first frame to actually start splitting them out, keeping Martin's split consistent with how it looked and how it goes on to keep sliding offscreen.

Later, once Johan comes onto the scene and suggests joining the duel, surprising Martin, he and Judai slide in on a split-screen as he proposes tag-teaming with Judai and Martin's LP increasing accordingly, but two things happen: 1) the first frame of the slide-in has their split already mostly onscreen, and 2) they're then moved within their split over the next two frames before they finish their slide-in in their final position within their split; fixed this in Vegas by redoing the Judai/Johan split's slide-in to be smoother. Then, after Martin agrees to Johan's terms and they split apart, two other things happen: 1) they start to split out the frame after Martin's last open-mouth flap, not holding for a frame or two with Martin's mouth closed, and 2) the Judai/Johan split almost seems to overtake Martin's because their split expands over his as he slides out; fixed these up by redoing Martin's slide-out to start after holding Martin's closed mouth for a frame or two, then keeping it consistent as he slides out.

In the preview, as we see Rei looking on at the light emerging from Martin, an odd error happens where it looks like the animators forgot to scrub away the lines on Rei's face indicating how shading should be applied; this happens only on the two linked keyframes, not the in-betweens as she moves in shock, with shading lines also on her earlobe in the second keyframe. I fixed this for 130 proper first before applying it here, taking the two keyframes into Photoshop to redraw her skin and skin shading to wipe away the lines; to apply it here, I applied the two keyframe fixes and also masked part of the Japanese title for 130 over the edit (thankfully with the text having the white glow, the edit is pretty seamless).

Fixes and Edits! (130)

As Judai fuses Bubbleman and Featherman, Judai slides in on a split-screen to call out Sailorman; as his split compresses out, there's a quick frame where the top border is drawn halfway into what's still there of his split, leaving the top borderless. Fixed in Sony Vegas by applying a new border on top, masking in part of the split to wipe away the erroneous border.

A bit later, Judai and Martin are on a split-screen as Yubel within him sees how he "read [my] mind" with how Dark Summoning God has more to it than its zero ATK; they split apart as he activates Dark Summoning God's effect, but it takes Martin an extra frame to move with Judai's split as it slides out. Fixed in Vegas by making it so Martin moves simultaneously with Judai starting to slide-out.

A bit later, Judai's shocked to learn that Dark Summoning God lets Martin Special-Summon the three Phantasms unconditionally; Martin/Yubel clicks into a split-screen commanding the darkness in their heart to release their hidden feelings, and as they split apart, the first frame of the split-out actually has the sky background behind their splits before it then shows the light behind Martin as he's about to summon them in the next frame. Fixed in Vegas by masking in some of that light between them in the first frame of their split-out.

A few shots later, Rei and O'Brien look on as the Phantasms are summoned; as their split-screen splits out, O'Brien's split takes a frame longer to fully slide offscreen. Fixed in Vegas by just replacing that frame with the frame after once they're both offscreen.

Later, as Johan's excited about having gotten all seven Gems together, a smiling Judai and annoyed Martin slide in for a split-screen; as they split apart, it takes Martin's split a frame longer to slide offscreen. Fixed in Vegas by masking part of Martin's split-out to shift it a frame earlier and time it with Judai's.

A few shots later, as Johan grabs Rainbow Dragon from his hand to summon it, a quick QUALITY error happens as his mouth is drawn bigger and closer to his chin than it had been a few frames earlier, despite not moving. A quick fix in Vegas by just masking his earlier face over the error frame.

Once it's summoned, Rei and Amon look up in awe at Rainbow Dragon before we see O'Brien doing the same, but as their split-screen splits apart, Amon moves but Rei's split is kept in place and loses its border, while the sky is between/behind them before O'Brien appears there in the next frame (along with a minor coloring error on Amon). Fixed in Vegas by redoing their split-out in this first frame to properly move their splits and add a border to Rei's while adding O'Brien behind them, then redoing part of Amon's split-out to also fix that coloring error.

Later, as Judai uses EN Shuffle to Special-Summon Glow Moss from his deck, we see that he's missing Glow Moss in the fourth Monster Zone on his Disk (where it is a bit later) as EN Shuffle fades away. Fixed this in AfterEffects by applying a proxy and fading it in to appear as EN Shuffle fades. (The dub, for some reason, opted to just hold the shot after Glow Moss is summoned but before EN Shuffle fades, or they just didn't fade out their dubified EN Shuffle--not sure if it was to not deal with fading the card in? [They also didn't bother editing their dubified Dummy Marker to shrink and fizzle away when Uria's effect destroys it, instead holding it still when flipped up...])

Later on, after Martin/Yubel says they've even restored their body from the Duel Zombies' Duel Energy, Johan is taken aback, while Judai slides in on a split-screen confused about the "body" mention--but the first frame of Judai's slide-in has his split already mostly onscreen, while it takes Johan another frame to start moving for the split; fixed in Vegas by moving Johan in sync with Judai's now-smoother split starting to slide in. After that, they split apart to show a smiling Martin, but it takes Johan's split an extra frame to slide fully offscreen; fixed by masking out Johan's split-out and shifting it a frame earlier to be timed with Judai's.

A bit later, as Rei looks on at the light emerging from Martin, an odd error happens where it looks like the animators forgot to scrub away the lines on Rei's face indicating how shading should be applied; this happens only on the two linked keyframes, not the in-betweens as she moves in shock, with shading lines also on her earlobe in the second keyframe. As noted under 129's list, I fixed this for 130 proper first before applying it in the preview there, taking the two keyframes into Photoshop to redraw her skin and skin shading to wipe away the lines.

A bit after that, with Yubel fully in the flesh, they toss away Martin's body towards Rei, but a blink-and-you-miss-it error happens in the last frames of that shot, as the layer of black over their neck and arm/shoulder aren't drawn in. Fixed this in Photoshop first, as I took the 4-5 frames involved--one with what's left of Martin's cape over them, then the others as their arm slightly moves after fully tossing Martin--and drew in the layers of black and black shading on their neck and arm/shoulder, then went into Vegas as I used it to mix the fixed frames into the footage.

#yugioh #gx #ygo gx #yugioh gx #ygo #yu-gi-oh gx #yu-gi-oh! gx #my subs #Judai Yuki #Martin Kanou #Yubel #Johan Andersen #[i could have made a 'they have risen' joke had i finished these by Easter oh well]#Yubel my beloved #do wonder what Yubel's appearance or Rainbow Dragon's summoning would've looked like if Kyoung Soo Lee's or Tea Sun In's team worked on 130 #Rainbow Dragon's summoning isn't too bad but I wonder if Yubel would've gotten a bit more oomph #also Judai being excited/happy for Johan and Rainbow Dragon in 130's eyecatch 🥺#['johan combs the desert with o'brien' is in fact a spaceballs reference #the original text there was 'looks through/investigates the desert' but 'combs the desert' applies so well lol]

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neogandw · 7 months ago

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I figured I should show some quick comm/intro presentation cards, now that the bluebird app is having issues.

I meant to upload this yesterday, but for some reason Tumblr didn't let me.

Please share and reblog around as that helps me far more than just a like. If you're so kind, please recommend me to people.

Sketch style is best suited for silly doodles, quick character studies, comic pages or even character design, which I've done plenty.

This style is quick and dirty, meant to be done rather fast, loose and experimental.

Basic style ranges from outlining to flat coloring and shading, basically a step above sketch in quality, best suited for quick renders or when you're making an asset that does at least need a bit of color.

All-Out means I do everything in my power to make the piece stand out, best suited for major graphical assets (such as stream layouts, live2D pieces, profile pictures and emoticons) or full on posters, thumbnails or character renders.

A brand new style I've been practicing a lot lately, the pixel art tier includes tilesets, single sprites, animations or even whole sprite sheets (as I've done multiple Make a Good MegaMan Level costumes, if you want a reference there).

Making a sprite sheet can be time consuming, but the more is done, the easier and faster it is to put together as it gives me chance to iterate on previous sprites to make new ones.

On the subject of time: all work is timed with software and screenshotted as evidence of work is provided, the final price is decided upon a rounding of how many hours it takes to make the piece multiplied by the tier cost.

Ex: 1 hour to make an All Out Emote, would be 20, 30 minutes would be 10, 1 hour and 30 minutes would be 25.

On the subject of flexible payments: not all of it has to be paid on a single go, if the price is too high, a payment plan can be discussed and adjusted to the needs of the client. Once its paid in full, the piece is provided, if its multiple pieces in one go, the pieces are provided as they are paid.

Other notes:

- The initial pitch sketch is not timed, its on me until the idea is decided upon, at which point the timer begins.

- Error and corrections are also not timed, I'll do the fix ups without adding to the timer.

- Evidence of work will be provided periodically.

- The usual restrictions apply: no political, overtly violent or erotic content will be drawn.

- I'm down for drawing whatever otherwise (stream assets, personal drawings, attempting specific art styles, etc.) but I reserve the right to refuse a work for whatever reason I deem fit (for instance: modifying someone else's work without permission).

- Number of characters, backgrounds or size does not affect pricing, only the time it takes to make them.

- I'll strive to be as transparent and ethical as possible with the process. So bear with me there.

#commission open #independent artist #open commissions #commissions #pixel art #sprite art #art commissions

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katgametable · 3 days ago

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Oxventurer’s Guild Season 3: The Orbpocalypse Saga

Oxventurer’s Guild Season 3 marked a notable shift in structure and strategy. While they had already used a “long story in episodes” format previously with Blades in the Dark, they were bringing it to DnD. The Orbpocalypse Saga lasted twelve episodes. After that, they did a number of live shows and specials before starting Season 4, so I have grouped those as part of this season, after Orbpocalypse. Orbpocalypse was filmed via video-share, pre-recorded and edited before broadcast. Of the specials, most were filmed in live shows, although Hog Wild was an in-studio pre-record, Battle for Bardcon was a live stream, and Big Deck Energy was a video-share pre-record.

With regards to cast make-up, it was largely the same group as always, with a few exceptions. Luke stepped away for a few episodes of Orbpocalypse, then had to miss the live show Wedded Redemption. That live show featured special guest Harry McEntire (who would later become the DM for Natural Six) as Aubrey the Tabaxi Sorceror. The following live show, Let’s Get Fiscal, Johnny had to withdraw at the last minute and gave their notes to Luke to DM in their place.

The season is all on YouTube, and all but one is on podcast. The exception is Big Deck Energy, which was a slightly experimental session mixing DnD with Magic: The Gathering, and thus had a substantial visual component they felt couldn’t translate into audio-only (not entirely sure how easy I’ll find it to write up, but I’ll do my best).

But before they started the season, Johnny released a short “story so far” video which was more of a character introduction, and an Episode 0: The Levelling, to detail levelling up. The Levelling was presented as a podcast episode, but I present my write-up of it to you here:

Jane is joined by Ellen to discuss The Levelling. After discussing video games, Ellen describes the process as taking off the training wheels, and explains that she and Mike are now playing their characters as prepared casters, choosing their spells each session. She describes it as being freeing but not OP. She mentions Johnny was so excited by everything, and that it gives more of an insight into the players rather than the character.

They’re going up from Level 7 to Level 8.

Corazon adds 2 to Constitution and clarifies how his multi-class works. Basically he’s just taking all the Swashbuckler levels, but keeping his handful of mostly utility spells. He’s looking forward to getting Panache at Level 9. He also gets some more hit points.

For Dob, Luke put the character sheet into DnD Beyond to neaten things up, track spell slots, and roll large numbers of dice. But in the process, his ability scores got a little messed up, probably due to removing maths errors. He puts his two points into Wisdom. He’s chosen the new spell Shatter. It may or may not be deployed on crotches. And again, more hit points.

Egbert isn’t getting new spells, but he boosts his Charisma by 2. He will not fix his -1 Wisdom modifier. And more hit points.

Prudence swaps her Sign of Ill Omen invocation (because she never used it) for Eldritch Spear, which will let her snipe with Eldritch Blast, up to 300 feet. She doesn’t get any more spell slots, but did take the spell Banish. She puts her 2 points into Wisdom and some more hit points.

Ellen explains that they’d vastly simplified playing as a Druid, picking the spells to learn permanently, but now Merilwen’s picking every day from a very large deck of spell cards. She’s gained another spell slot. She’s also been playing with set animal forms, but she’s now going to be using Wild Shape properly. She adds 1 point each to Wisdom (bringing it up to 20) and Constitution. She’d also forgotten to bring up her Spell Save DC three levels ago, but has sorted that. And more hit points.

Johnny is taking the training wheels off and going to stop letting them off the hook. They are going to insist on tracking spell slots. That means they’ll have to play differently, but will probably have more fireside scenes. Johnny wants combat to be tougher and more interesting. But they won’t enforce spell requirements, except for the “something distasteful to the target” for Prudence’s Banish (she’ll have it but she’ll need to say what it is, because that would be funny). Luke has now learned about upcasting. Jane fears they’re going to use their new abilities to prank each other.

Back with Jane and Ellen. They talk about Ellen choosing Merilwen’s spells, and using spell slots. Jane hadn’t been too worried, despite the small number of spell slots Warlocks have, because Eldritch Blast is a cantrip, but it caught more than she’d expected. What also caught them was when they had sessions run into each other narratively and having to track these things between sessions. They compare short stories with longer ones, and Ellen mentions she liked the NPCs and overarching story Johnny made up. She loved the cliffhangers. Jane finishes up by talking about merch and the MCM London show.

A Level 8 level-up is rather boring, because it’s ability score increases, but it’s significant that they’re getting into the rules properly now. (I will, however, say that I kinda prefer the way Johnny and Ellen had been doing Wild Shape, with a pre-selected range of forms to choose from and learn new ones every other level.) There’s also some new spells coming up, and at least one of them will have some great moments.

#Oxventure #Oxventurer's Guild #The Orbpocalypse Saga #TTRPG #Dungeons and Dragons #DnD

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archerinspace · 24 days ago

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Cleopatra in Space language decoding

This started with me just wondering if the 'Dreamworks' at the start actually translated accurately into the language they use on Mayet and apparently all around the galaxy in this show. Surprisingly(or not), it does!

That lead me down a whole rabbit hole of trying to understand other things in the show, maybe some hidden lore note or something just hidden there sorta like the Gravity Falls ciphers.

On the end cards, all I really found was some little notes referring to the credits of who helped make the show, and numbers I can't really figure out. (Spoiler: I never did)

I then started going through the entire show for any instant of text that would seem interesting or hold some kind of extra information. I found largely the obvious like a post office having the name "Mail It", signs telling where things are or in the arcade advertising drinks and games, aptly naming the food court area "Refreshments" or something similar.

My favorites include the mission file noting 'cute lil rock' and the council's chamber having a giant stone monument reading they ask for something to push off the table, as cats would want. Imagine you just walk into your teacher/mentor's office and he's made himself a plaque of calling himself cool, I think that's really funny. I am also more intrigued in Mortimer's fanfiction now knowing its titled "Two birds in love". I wonder what he means by that.

Brian's study notes are accurate but also very useless since its silly flavor text to fill out said notes. Akila's actually translate to something and that is her plan for what her and Cleo are going to do at their sleepover in the episode "School Break".

It also helped me notice a very inconsequential animation error where the panther lady introducers herself as "Urteko" and her bird lady friend as "Nekkles" but their name tags happen to be swapped when they do the smash intro like cutaway.

I was only able to understand at least a few numbers due to the episode "Parasites" where Cleo counts down and various ones are on her screen. However, this doesn't help much. I only got 11, 10, 4, 3, 2, and 1. 4,3,2, and 1 are guesses on my part since its obviously counting down from 11. This is sorta frustrating since that screenshot at the bottom mentions carbon dating which would help carbon date when the Ata tablet could be dated back to. Im considering just asking a crew member via email and see where that gets me.

My favorite one however is this. This is from "Xerx Works" where Cleo, Brian, Akila and Yosirah go to the mysterious unknown Xerx factory out on the edge of space. I thought at first 'Maybe theres something interesting here to learn about. A piece of lore note maybe' only to be blasted with 2018-2020 memes and the prop/text designers throwing in the funniest note regarding the episode. The thought of calling the big bad Octavian "Noodle Boy" is genuinely just really silly and funny.

After all this, I was able to compile this, an almost complete alphabet! The rest of those on the side are numbers and I am guessing a kind of exclamation mark since I don't see it anywhere else in the show or on anything else. Depending on what happens, I want to try to at least turn this into a font you can type with. I might just be missing two letters, unfortunately.

I will say I'm a bit disappointed there isn't anything deeper than what was neccessary but I'm equally impressed they actually made an entire alphabet and number system to accurately write things out. It adds a sense of the world existing and this is something they read and understand every day. I also did it for the Xerx's language too!

#cleopatra in space #rambling #language #dreamworks #dreamworks animation

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aioledreams · 1 month ago

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Aiole Manages a Maid Cafe

This is Maid Cafe on Electric Street, a game about you quitting your punishing corporate job and lucking into managing a maid cafe with four adorable maids of varying personalities. It is part casual management sim, part dating game, and it has a robust amount of collectibles. I loved this game's charming pixel style, the realistic locales, and the amazing voice acting (Japanese only) for the four main girls. If you watch a lot of anime you might recognize some of the voices. Each girl has her own unique personality and story, and it was very difficult to choose between them. As you play you unlock different pixel art cards of memorable scenes (and some of just the girls changing, so panties). Some of the group moments or the personal moments with the manager and the girls were just so sweet, I loved it.

I found out about Maid Cafe on Electric Street at the bottom of a 'let's check out some games I saw cozy gamers review online' rabbit hole; so that is, I found it completely by accident. It was on the "other games by this publisher" list when I was looking into 7 Days to End with You and Refind Self (both of which I purchased and neither of which I have finished).

I did finish Maid Cafe on Electric Street (once) and will be going back sometime in the future to get the perfect ending, which I did not get my first time around (I opted for the Shiro ending my first time). Now that I'm more familiar with how the gameplay works, I'll be going back to get a lot of the things I missed. I was honestly a bit surprised by where this game has depth, and found that I had more to do than I anticipated. There are one or two translation errors here and there but mostly the English localization is good. The drink making system reminds me a lot of the one in Coffee Talk and I would have liked a little bit more to do there. I would have also liked a little bit more to do with the management sim side of things - it can run itself if you let it, and if you help it doesn't net you too much more coin. Good news for people that do not like those kinds of games. Overall I enjoyed the game and I feel like I got more than my money's worth from it (On steam it's $25. I think I got it on sale. There's a demo out for it too). The story was worthwhile and after I've set it down for a time I'm looking forward to giving it another go. I never did find the Adventurer's Tavern.

#aiole plays other games #maid cafe on electric street

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bcdrawsandwrites · 2 years ago

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[ID: The first image Psychonauts fanfic banner on a black-to-gray gradient background. On the left in white text it says “Prompt #6: Organ Theft” On the right is a bright green animated figment of a brain in a glass case. The top of the glass case is labeled "PREZ" and the base is labeled "NO TOUCH." The figment is based on one of the images from the Milla's Adventures! memory vault.

The second image is a Bad Things Happen Bingo card. Various prompts are marked with a half-brain (prompt requested but not filled) or full-brain (prompt requested and finished) symbol, while the “Organ Theft” prompt specifically is marked with a full brain symbol. /end ID]

FINALLY WE'RE BACK!! This one took me WAY too long, but here's the next fic in my @badthingshappenbingo challenge!

I am currently NO LONGER OPEN FOR REQUESTS. I have enough to work on to get a bingo! I MAY decide to reopen prompts later if I want to keep going after finishing these fics, but for now, requests are closed!

This request is for @of-science-and-stars! Sorry this took so long, and hope you enjoy! Thanks to @jaywings and @pinkygrocket for beta-reading!

Prompt: Organ Theft Characters: Sasha Nein, Milla Vodello, Ford Cruller Warnings: None

---~~~---

The doors leading into Sasha's lab slid open, and he trudged through them, making his way to his office, then all but collapsed down onto his couch. Automatically, he TK'd a cigarette out of his pocket and lit it with pyrokinesis, and he tipped his head back to stare at the ceiling. He took a slow drag, sighing through his nose and watching the smoke spiral toward the ceiling.

He truly enjoyed his work. But there were some days that made him wish he had a different job—one that didn’t leave mental and emotional burdens weighing heavily on his shoulders.

Soon the first cigarette was smoked down to the filter. Into the ashtray it went, and it was swiftly replaced with another.

It was days like this that made him wish that he had never taken Ford up on his offer to join the Psychonauts when he had run into him so long ago. Of course, deep down he knew it was the best decision he'd ever made, and that mental exhaustion was causing his emotions to behave irrationally, but right now, that knowledge did nothing to change how he felt. As the events of the past several hours played out again in his mind, he sank lower into his couch. Truly this was one of the worst days of his career.

It could not possibly get worse.

If Hollis would no longer allow him to wear what he chose, then—

Shoehorn, Dustpan, this is Grease Jar.

Sasha jolted upright, scrambling to TK-grab his dropped cigarette before it burned the couch.

Got an important mission that's slipped through the cracks. U.S. government's deemed it too unimportant, but the entirety of Country's future is on the line if we don't do something.

Rubbing his forehead, Sasha wondered if Ford had misspoke. Before he could comment, Milla chimed in:

Of course, Grease Jar. Shoehorn and I would be happy to help. What's the trouble?

President's been captured.

What? That had to be wrong—how could that have slipped through the cracks? Are you sure?

Do I ever contact you when I'm not? You gonna help or what?

Well, he couldn't argue with that. ...Yes, he replied. We're ready.

Great. I'm getting things set up on my end. Paperwork will be handled as usual. Gimme a minute and I'll get you ready for transport.

Very well. Just... warn us this time, please. You recall how last time went.

You were fine, son. I know how to use the heimlich, and I can do it again if I need to.

He could feel Milla's gentle laugh, and he couldn't be too upset.

For a few moments he sat in his office, putting out his cigarette and straightening his jacket. Ford didn't like to waste time, so he'd likely be here any minute. Sighing, he stood up to stretch—

—and just as he realized one critical error he'd made, someone abruptly appeared next to him, grabbed his shoulder, and with a yank, he was out of his office.

—-

Sasha stumbled in the sudden dim light. The beeps and chirps from the nearby consoles weren't unfamiliar to him, but the use of teleportation was always jarring.

With a rush of green psychic energy, Ford and Milla appeared next to him. Nodding in satisfaction, Ford clapped both of them on the back. "Good to see you two out here to visit an old coot again."

"You know you're much more than that to us, Agent Cruller," Milla said with a smile.

"Pshaw." Ford waved a hand. "I didn't bring you here to get all sappy on me, anyway." He glanced over at Sasha, then blinked, one of his bushy brows raising. "Didn't take you out here for a vacation, either."

Milla followed his gaze, then covered her mouth to stifle a giggle. Meanwhile, Sasha looked away, shuffling his feet in his very comfortable pair of socks and sandals.

Shaking his head, Ford strode over to a console and tapped in a few keys, bringing up holographic images around the platform they stood upon. The first depicted a map of the globe, which zoomed in on a teeny tiny island. "So this here is Country."

"Which country?" Sasha asked, frowning at the image.

"It's not a country, it's a territory," Ford snapped, eyeing Sasha over his shoulder.

Milla exchanged a glance with Sasha before raising a finger. "You did just say it was a country—"

"No, I said it was Country. Keep up!" Frowning, Ford brought up a second map, which was zoomed a bit further out. "Country is a small island territory off the coast of Nation."

Sasha could feel regret creeping up his spine the second he opened his mouth. "Which nation—"

"The nation of—” He broke off into a sputter. “It's not a nation, it's a republic! Didn't you young'ns ever go to school?!"

Clasping her hands, Milla nodded. "Of course, Agent Cruller. What's going on there?"

Ford relaxed a little before bringing up another image—this one appearing to be a short, squat man with mint-green skin. "President's been found in danger."

"...The President?" Sasha asked, wilting.

"Yea—I mean, no!" Ford snapped, his body trembling in agitation. "His name's President—goes by Prez—and he's the Prime Minister of Country. He's been captured by terrorists and is being held captive in the Company Building."

Once again Sasha nearly opened his mouth, but Milla shook her head, and he held himself back. "So we'll head to this office building and—"

"It's not an office—it's a—a—" Ford broke off into sputtering once again, but this time shot a glare at the holograms around him. "Who names these things?!"

Milla laughed, and Ford rolled his eyes. "Laugh all you want, but I'd like to see you keep this stuff straight!"

Sighing, he brought up the layout of the fortress on the holograms. "Prez is being held somewhere in these walls. Now you'd think it'd be at the top of this tower here—" he pointed at a tower on the leftmost side of the building "—like some princess in a fairy tale, but the intelligence I've gathered shows he's most likely located somewhere around here." He indicated a number of smaller rooms in the middle of the building, then paused, indicating the tower again. "Or, if we're unlucky, he might be held there, where they apparently keep the gators."

The ridge of one of Sasha's lenses raised as he exchanged a glance with Milla. "Alligators?"

Ford scratched the back of his scalp as he glanced off to the side. "Or maybe it was crocodiles? Same difference. Anyway." Shaking his head, he pulled up another image that showed an aerial view of the building and its surrounding grounds. "Now, the authorities are camped out outside, and they’ve been notified that you’re coming. Hostage situations are delicate and all that, but if you can get Prez outside, they can take it from there."

"I assume these terrorists have a psychic on their side?" Sasha asked, examining the map. "Otherwise we would not have been called upon."

"Now that we're not sure," Ford admitted. "But one thing we do know is that they may have access to sneezing powder, which is going to complicate things. They may have some brains switched up."

"Ach, of course."

"We can handle it, Agent Cruller," Milla said, giving Sasha a nod.

"Good," Ford replied. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a couple photos as well as printed sheets of paper, which he handed to Sasha and Milla.

"Here's some pictures of our target, and some questions you'll need to ask him to verify his identity, in case they tried a switcheroo. Study 'em and burn 'em. I got the coordinates logged in the Pelican, as well as your disguises for the mission. I'll stay down here for now so you can reach me, and I'll give you more mission details along the way. Now git!"

With that, he waved his hands toward them in a shoo-ing motion.

"Tchau!" Milla said with a short wave.

"We'll be in contact," Sasha added, and the two of them headed for the tree stump exit. From there, the transport system brought them to the hangar. To his dismay, he found a bird's nest had been built atop one of the wings of the Pelican. "Ach... How do they keep getting in here?"

While Milla gently TK'd the nest off to the side, Sasha glanced around. While well-disguised on the outside, the hangar was above-ground, which led to... problems like this. At least the bears and cougars couldn't get in.

Milla gave him a playful psi-poke, and he shook his head. Right, they had bigger things to worry about right now. Arguably.

Once they had both levitated into the Pelican, a psychic message from Ford reached them: Once you're onboard, you should find your outfits on the front seats.

Nodding to each other, they approached their respective seats to find Milla's had one of her custom Psychonauts outfits folded neatly there, complete with the rarely-used hood. It also had a set of large, circular earrings on top, each of them transparent while giving off opalescent reflections. Sasha, meanwhile, found a fancy blue suit with a pin on the breast reading "Logan Smith - AquaSpark Amusement Parks.” Accompanying the outfit was a small briefcase with the fake company’s logo: a blue lightning bolt with a splash of water directly beneath it.

There were, however, no matching shoes for the outfit.

Sasha curled up inside himself.

So, Dustpan, you'll be handling the sneaky stuff. Those earrings there are one of Egg Carton's inventions—supposed to give you more invisibility time.

Milla smiled, turning over the earrings in her hand. Oh, that's wonderful! So stylish, too.

Yeah, yeah, he's all about style. Now, Shoehorn, you'll be the distraction. You'll be Logan Smith, CEO of AquaSpark Water Parks. For some reason these terrorists are just nuts about water parks, so they'll be happy to see you there.

Wonderful, Sasha thought, looking over the outfit. They sound reasonable.

"I'm sure you'll do great, darling!" Milla said with a smile.

Sasha almost raised a hand to protest, only to stop himself, and placed a hand on his temple to speak to Ford. Ford, there seems to be something missing from my outfit.

Eh?

The shoes.

Didn't give Milla shoes either. Figured you'd both come dressed for work.

He almost argued that he was dressed for work, but bit back the comment; a man's life was in danger, and there was no time to worry about shoes. Tapping the button to open the hangar door and flipping a number of switches, he sent a message to both Milla and Ford. Very well. Starting up the jet.

Good, Ford replied. Course is already set, so you should be there in about two hours.

We will notify you upon arrival.

As the jet took off, they braced themselves, and waited until the plane leveled before relaxing. Sasha turned to Milla. "We may as well familiarize ourselves with our target while we wait."

“Good idea!” Milla replied, TKing out the papers Ford had given her.

Sasha, meanwhile, TK'd out the photo he was given of Prez. Looking it over, he found himself staring into the face of a man who looked well-meaning, if somewhat baffled. Recalling the glimpse he'd gotten of the picture Ford had shown earlier, he wondered if that was the man's perpetual expression. Or perhaps he was just not photogenic.

After studying it for a while, he switched to the document. Said document detailed basic facts about the man—his birth date, his partner's name, the date of their anniversary, the names of all seven of his Samoyeds, and various other factoids that could be useful to know, ranging from basic to obscure. Fortunately, Sasha was used to memorizing this sort of thing—it was standard procedure for when a brain swap was suspected.

After he studied the notes for some time, another copy of the document entered his vision, and he didn't have to look to know that Milla was TKing it to him. Without a word he TK'd it off to his other side, gave her a moment to look away, and lit it on fire with pyrokinesis, doing the same with his own paper shortly afterward. "Aside from the odd names, this should be a fairly standard mission."

Milla nodded. "It will be over soon enough, and then we can throw a party!" She gave him a grin. "Perhaps that would cheer you up?"

Sasha stiffened. "Ah... I had hoped that wasn't obvious."

"It's all right, darling." She reached over to pat him on the shoulder gently. "Now let's get ready. It looks like we'll be arriving soon!"

Milla retreated into the bathroom, and stepped out in her Psychonaut outfit, without the hood—understandable, as it would not be comfortable to wear for an extended period. As his partner settled herself in her seat again, Sasha took a moment to step back to change into his own outfit. The suit tugged at his shoulders, but otherwise he found himself able to move around in it well enough. He kept his Psychonauts badge, however, slipping it into his pocket in case he needed to identify himself. But as he stepped back out, he frowned down at his feet.

"Oh, are you worried about your footwear?" Milla asked. He gave a start to find her looking back at him with an amused smile. "I'm sure you'll find a way to roll with it, darling."

"Hopefully," Sasha remarked, taking a moment to straighten his tie.

By this point, the jet was slowing down as it approached the Island of Country. Milla carefully tied her hair back into a bun and pulled her hood over her head. Her earrings poked out from the hood, looking obvious against the dark outfit, but half a second later she turned herself invisible.

"So far, so good," Sasha remarked, nodding approvingly in the direction where Milla had been standing. However, he felt her presence just behind him, and turned to see her smiling at him beneath her hood.

"I'm glad you think so," she said, a teasing glint in her eyes.

He gave a huff of amusement. "Even if Otto's new accessories don't work as advertised—which I'm sure they will—your stealth is unmatched."

"Naturally." Milla gave a soft laugh.

Looking down at the briefcase he’d been given, Sasha picked it up with his hand, and frowned. Well, this wouldn’t be enjoyable.

When the jet landed, the two drew their attention to a holographic screen near the cockpit. It displayed a map of the island, indicating where the jet had landed and where their target was.

"All right, listen up, cuz this recording's about to delete itself once it's done," Ford's voice crackled out of the speaker. "You've landed here, west of the target." The blip on the map indicating the jet flashed. "The authorities are gathered outside the building, and they've been made aware of your arrival. Dustpan, you're gonna sneak in through the side entrance here." The map zoomed in on the building, highlighting something on the western side. "The code to enter is 5002. Meanwhile, Shoehorn, you're gonna enter through the front, and make a show of pushing yourself through the cops. That'll get these guys' attention, and I'll leave you to figure out where to take it from there."

Sasha nodded grimly. Playing things by ear was not his favorite way to do things, but he could handle it when he had to.

"Remember, the fate of Country is on your shoulders, so don't screw this up. Grease Jar, out!" The screen switched off, and a dull bleep indicated that the message had been deleted.

Exchanging glances, Sasha and Milla gave each other a nod before exiting the Pelican, levitating onto the ground outside. With a wave of his hand, Sasha activated the jet's cloaking mechanism to hide it from view, and took note of his surroundings to remember where it was. They'd landed in a clearing in the middle of a forest, where enormous trees surrounded them. The air was thick and humid and alive with the buzzing of mosquitoes, and the sky was overcast. There was nothing really noteworthy here, but luckily, the building was a straight shot east of where they'd landed.

Also a straight shot east was a puddle of muck that Sasha had just stepped into.

His skin began to crawl, and he was certain about half a dozen regrets had spawned in his mental world.

"Watch your step, darling," Milla said, hovering gracefully over the ground.

Grimacing, Sasha levitated a few inches upward, telekinetically keeping hold of his sandal so it didn't slip off his foot and get devoured by the mud. He joined Milla in floating over the ground, but rather than the natural-looking hover Milla performed, he moved parallel to the ground as though standing upon an invisible moving walkway. As they traversed over the mud, he realized that this was more than just a patch of soggy ground—this was an outright swamp. He wished Ford had mentioned this.

Granted, it wasn't relevant to the mission, but it was relevant to his outfit.

Fortunately it wasn't long before they caught sight of a massive structure just beyond the swamp. It was a centuries-old fortress featuring a number of towers, giving the brief illusion that they had somehow stepped back in time. The illusion was shattered by the sight of modern police cars sitting outside, with various officers milling about idly.

Turning to Milla, Sasha gave a nod, and she faded from sight.

Let me know what's happening once you're inside, Milla said. I'll start scouting.

I'll try to draw their attention, Sasha replied, though he couldn't help but wish their roles were reversed.

Approaching the police, he TK'd his Psychonaut badge out of his pocket and flashed it at the police chief. It took a moment for the man to notice, but when he did, he did a double-take. "Hey, you're not supposed to be here," he spoke in a deliberate, dull tone.

As Sasha TK'd the badge away, the other cops looked at the chief, then at Sasha, before continuing the charade with little to no conviction. "Hey, get out of here. This is a police investigation!"

Sasha winced, but made his way toward the fortress nonetheless. "No," he said, also with volume, but hopefully more convincing than the police. "Let me through! I must speak with the men here!"

"Stay back. We have weapons." Several of the officers lifted batons (with a couple more enthusiastically raising guns).

Mentally Sasha prepared a psi-shield should the officers decide to attempt to be too convincing of the act they were putting on of keeping him out. "No!" he cried, raising his voice more with a rapid glance at the entrance to the fortress. "It is of dire importance that I speak to these people!"

To his relief, their plan seemed to be working—a few men wearing ski-masks were now staring at them from the other side of the iron gate that blocked the entrance. They looked at each other, then at him, and seemed to take notice of the logo on his briefcase. They gave a jump and their movements seemed to be growing more excited.

Unbelievable, Sasha thought. Shaking his head, he realized the officers were starting to close in on him (but not too much of course), and he redoubled his efforts to reach the fortress. "Let me through!"

There was a rusty screeching noise as the iron gate that blocked the entrance was raised. While a few officers turned to look at the gate, they looked away again, remembering the plan. With the police pretending to be preoccupied with Sasha, they “failed” to notice one of the men sneaking in their direction. Sasha continued to push his way toward the gate when the man suddenly rushed forward, grabbing him by the arm and pulling him into the fortress. The officers gave a half-hearted shout, a few of them pursuing before stopping at the closing gate.

"Bout time one of you guys heard about us!" the masked man said as he hauled Sasha through the courtyard. "Now we can finally be makin' some progress here!"

"I-indeed," Sasha stammered, wishing that this man would let go. His sandals were slapping noisily against the stone path and mud was flaking off of his pant leg. He noticed that the courtyard was filled with, of all things, inflatable water slides (many of which were deflated), but before he could comment on these, the man led him into the main building.

More people, these ones not wearing masks, hurried up to them, their brows furrowed in consternation. "Who's this bozo?" one woman demanded.

The man at Sasha's side yanked off his mask, and his expression was that of a child right before a birthday party. "He's with a water park!" he exclaimed, gesturing dramatically at Sasha.

Straightening his back and rolling his shoulder, Sasha nodded. "That's right. Logan Smith, Aqua Spark Amusement Parks."

The others' faces lit up. "Finally!" the woman cried.

"May I speak to...?" Sasha balked, realizing he'd never been given the name of their leader.

"Oh, yeah! Sure! Georg is this way." With a bounce to their steps, the people led Sasha further down the hall. Said hall seemed to be littered with trash, but on closer inspection, the mess consisted of small pool toys.

Something struck him, and he sent a telepathic message to Milla. I've entered the fortress. It was strangely easy.

To his shock, Milla's mental voice was slightly heightened in distress. That's great, darling, but I'm busy at the moment!

Sasha's heart jumped. Are you all right?

I can handle this. Try to find President!

Understood. Sasha frowned—in spite of Milla's insistence, he couldn't help but worry that they'd fallen for a trap. This group couldn't be that simple, could they?

As though reading his mind—can they? Sasha wondered in alarm—one of the men turned to Sasha with a raised eyebrow. "I've never heard of Aqua Spark."

Thinking quickly, Sasha replied, "We're a startup company looking for a place to build our first park. We believe that Country here is an untapped market."

To his relief, the man looked at his fellows with a wide grin. "That's what I've been saying!"

They continued to lead him further down the hall until they reached a doorway guarded by two women. They seemed cautious at first, but Sasha's companions hurried up to them to explain the situation, and they eagerly stepped away, ushering them into the room.

Stepping inside, Sasha found himself in a wide room that was probably once used for war meetings, which now had a banged-up desk shoved in one corner, misaligned with the wall, and a large aquarium in another corner, bearing a few cracks that were patched with duct tape. Said aquarium was devoid of fish, but a woman in a dark suit was bent over it, tossing in diving sticks with mild interest. One sank to the floor of the tank with a shower of bubbles and turned on its side, and the woman gave a cry of disgust, yanking it out of the tank and turning it over until she spotted a number of punctures in it. Hissing a curse, she turned to hurl the stick across the room, and Sasha had to stop himself from reflexively grabbing it with TK to avoid being hit.

Spotting Sasha, the woman paused. "Who are you?"

The first man who'd spoken to Sasha stepped forward. "This man is Logan Smith! He's with a water park!"

Rather than being ecstatic like her henchman, however, the woman frowned, looking Sasha up and down, studying him. Her gaze stopped at his feet, and Sasha stiffened, sweat trickling down the back of his neck. This was bad, this was going to end very badly, he should have told Ford to give him a moment to change his shoes before—

"Well, Mr. Smith..." she began, looking up into his glasses, as he gazed frantically around the windowless room for some sort of escape route. "It seems you share our enthusiasm for water parks! You've even brought your flip-flops!"

The tension in his shoulders eased slightly. "I—yes, of course." He gave a tight nod. "Hearing of your enthusiasm, we knew this would be the perfect place to launch our first theme park."

"That's great news!" the woman cried, throwing an arm around his shoulders. "We were hoping someone like you might show up!"

Please do not.

Realizing her forwardness, she backed off. "But where are my manners—my name is Georgette, but everyone here just calls me Georg." She held out her hand, and Sasha shook it uneasily. "It's great to have you here, Mr. Smith. Have a seat."

Before he could ask where she expected him to sit, one of the henchmen used a pump to inflate a chair, which was then propped up in front of the table. He stared at the chair for a long moment, almost debating remaining standing, before remembering he had a disguise to maintain. He lowered himself into the seat, which squeaked noisily against him. Likewise, Georg took a seat on the other side of the table, sitting on an equally squeaky inflatable chair.

"So!" she began, leaning forward. "Let's hear about your company. I'm all ears."

It took half a moment for Sasha to spin a quick story. "Right. Aqua Spark is a startup water park company in America. We're employing people who have experience building for other parks—Eight Flags, Oak Fair, Queen's Island..."

Georg nodded, her eyes and grin growing wide.

"Of course, there's a great deal of parks there, so we wanted to... make a splash—" Sasha repressed a shudder "—by building our first park here." He jabbed his finger just over the desk for emphasis. "We believe Country is an untapped market, and the perfect spot for a water park."

"Excellent!" Georg cried, clapping her hands together. "We've thought the same thing and have been campaigning for this for years now, but the government won't budge! But with our bargaining chip and with the backing of an amusement park company, there's no way they can turn us down again!"

One of the phrases made Sasha's ears perk. "Bargaining chip?"

"Oh yes, of course." She leaned forward, tilting her head. "You know exactly what I'm talking about, I assume."

"I believe so." Sasha mulled this over in his mind. "Though, I will say, it would look poorly on the company if we worked with you, and it turned out he were harmed."

"Oh! Goodness, no, we wouldn't do that!" Her smile went a bit too wide, her teeth biting down on her lower lip. "He's perfectly safe!" As she spoke, she gave a pointed glance at one of her lackeys, who hurried out the door. She rose to her feet. "But we'll get to that later! First, I wanted to show you some of our own ideas for the park we wanted—"

"Ah, yes," Sasha said, standing and taking a quick glance at the door. "First I'd like to make a quick trip to the restroom."

Georg sighed. "All right. Geoff, please show him the way, and then we can get right back to it."

"Sure thing! This way." The lackey, Geoff, waved him over to the door and began to lead him down the hall. As they walked, Geoff started to ramble. "So what kind of stuff are you planning?"

Sasha was only partially paying attention, scanning to look for the lackey who had left earlier. "We have a number of attraction concepts we're considering," he mumbled. He could definitely hear footsteps up ahead, and he hoped it was the woman who had been sent out. She must have gone to check on President.

"Like what? Oh, I really hope there's gonna be water slides—"

"Yes, of course. We’re planning a... ah... looping slide."

Geoff whirled on him. Sasha froze up, nearly expecting the man to attack, but instead he bore a huge grin.

"Like the one in Adventure Park?!"

Sasha relaxed. "Yes, but, uh... improved."

"Ooooooh man!" The lackey turned around again, continuing to lead him down the hall before stopping at one of the doors. "Here you are, Mr. Smith!"

"Thank you." Hastily, Sasha stepped inside, balking when he realized that the bathroom consisted only of a few reeking outhouses that had been dragged into the room. Steeling himself, he stepped into one, holding his breath, but did not quite close the door. Instead, he put a hand to his temple. Dustpan, this is Shoehorn. I have a lead on where President is.

Milla's mental voice sounded exhausted. That's great, darling.

Are you all right?

For now. Let me know when you find him, and I'll meet with you.

Understood.

Nodding, Sasha activated his invisibility and exited the outhouse, quietly shutting the door behind him. Relieved to be out of that germ-infested place, he crept out of the room, but froze when he realized his sandals were slapping against the stone floor. He was almost certain he had been caught, but he glanced at Geoff, who leaned against the wall. "Oh man..." the lackey was still muttering as Sasha shook his head.

He hated what he was about to do, but he could not levitate while invisible, nor could he risk compromising the mission any further. Reaching down, he slipped his sandals off his feet and held them in his free hand so his socks were now touching the ground, and continued creeping down the hall.

Sure enough, he spotted the woman who had been sent out of the room earlier. She was looking into each room frantically, as though she wasn't sure which room the captive would be in, which struck Sasha as odd. Frowning, he kept a short distance behind her, and at one point she opened one door only to close it with a yelp and lock it, hurrying ahead even more urgently. Sasha made a mental note to check that out later, if he had time—they would notice his absence eventually.

Finally, she turned a corner before reaching the last room in the hall. She opened the door with a key, and looked relieved. Sasha hurried behind her to find a man matching President's description blindfolded, gagged, and bound to a chair in a very, very cluttered room, full of old pool toys and several unlabeled tubs.

Noticing that the woman was about to shut the door, Sasha quickly CV'd into the man, only to bounce back immediately. His face went pale.

Dustpan, he said, exhaustion dragging at his mind, we've got an egg missing from the carton.

Oh dear.

That was putting it mildly. Still, Sasha steeled himself and made a mental map of where he was, projecting it to Milla. Dealing with a debrained target would be difficult, and he'd need all the help he could get.

For a moment he considered following the lackey who had locked the door so he could grab her keys, but his invisibility was already starting to wear off. Instead, he waited for her to turn the corner and psi-blasted the lock, catching it with TK before it could hit the floor. Now that he didn't have to hide it, he transferred his suitcase and sandals to TK as well.

Carefully opening the door, Sasha poked his head in. "President?" he whispered.

"TV...?" came the dreaded, muffled reply.

Sighing, Sasha squeezed into the cramped room and shut the door behind him. Though he knew he wouldn't be understood, he went on, "My name is Sasha Nein. I'm here to help you." With a few quick tugs of telekinesis, he undid the ropes that bound the man to the chair. Another few tugs and the blindfold and gag fell to the floor.

President stared at him seriously. "Puppy."

"Yes, we'll return you to your spouse and dogs as soon as we've found your brain." Sasha regarded the man for a moment—he was somehow more serious-looking than when he had a brain. Otto would have had a field day. "But where to find your brain?"

President continued to stare at him, then pointed a finger in his face. "Prime Minister."

"No, that's you," Sasha said, TKing the man's hand away. "Now, where—"

The doorknob rattled.

Sasha went invisible, ducking behind President's chair. If they'd been caught, then hopefully whoever opened the door to find this scene would assume that the ropes had fallen off of President on their own. Regardless, Sasha prepared for things to go south, placing a hand to his temple.

The door opened slowly, and Sasha tensed.

And then it shut, and before Sasha could wonder what happened, Milla came into view.

"Thank goodness," he breathed, ridding himself of his invisibility again. "It's good to see you again." But when he studied her closer, he frowned; Milla's outfit was roughed up, a few tears visible on the legs. It was rare to see her in such a state. "Are you all right?"

"I'll be fine, darling," Milla said, pulling down her hood partway. "I finally managed to get past those terrible alligators."

"Alligators?" he asked, eyebrows raised, then he shuddered when he remembered what Ford had said earlier. "It seems that bit of intelligence was accurate."

"Yes, they're everywhere." Milla moved some strands of hair out of her face, tucking them behind her ears. "But that's not important right now. Poor President!"

President looked her in the eye. "Dog treats."

"Yes, and we have little time to waste. They'll discover my absence soon."

"But how are we to find his brain? Where could they have put it?" Milla looking out over the mess of tubs of toys. "They don't seem very organized, and they let those awful alligators chew on everything!"

A thought struck Sasha as he recalled the information Ford had given them. "...The tower."

Milla nodded grimly. "Where they keep the alligators... Though it seems now they let those brutes roam everywhere."

Something’s not quite adding up… Sasha shook his head. "Regardless, we've no time to waste. Let's take him with us and get to the tower as soon as possible." He looked down at President and helped him up from the chair. "Time to leave, sir."

"TV. Puppies. Kibble!" the man said with increasing enthusiasm. "Dog treats!" And with no further warning he grabbed one of Sasha's sandals, which he had still been TKing off to the side, and began chewing on it.

Sasha winced back. "Aaaaach...!"

Milla placed a hand on his shoulder. "It will keep him quiet. Now let's go!" Putting up her hood again, she turned to open the door. "Hopefully we haven't been caught y—"

And the hiss of an alligator greeted them, the reptile opening its jaws wide as it sat in front of the door.

"Too late," Sasha grunted. He placed a hand to his temple and fired a psi-blast at the monster, knocking it back into the wall. "Come on!"

"Puppy!" President mumbled around the sandal in his mouth, reaching out toward the incapacitated alligator as Sasha plucked him up with TK.

Milla activated her invisibility, and Sasha led her down the hall, mentally mapping out the place. The tower they were headed for was on the western side of the building opposite of where they were, so they would have to be fast. Since their cover had already been blown, Sasha went into full-blown levitation, blasting down the hall.

As they passed one door—the door the lackey had checked and locked earlier—it began to rattle before bursting open off its hinges, and several more alligators scrambled out after them. "Doggies!" President mumbled in delight, while Sasha moved even faster.

Turning a corner, he spotted Geoff, still standing outside the bathroom. The lackey looked up at him in surprise. "Woah! Mr. Smith? What's going on? Isn't that Prez?"

Is he not aware? Regardless, Sasha did not answer, blasting past him. Before Geoff had time to question him again, the alligators turned the corner, and he let out a scream, bolting away.

They're afraid of their own guard dogs? Milla asked.

It seems so, but now's not the time to question it.

They continued through the building, any lackeys they discovered fleeing the second they saw the alligators giving chase, with some of the gators even pursuing them. Sasha was nearly relieved until another alligator burst out of a door ahead of him, its snout bearing a scorch mark, much like the one he'd psi-blasted earlier.

"What—how?!" Sasha cried.

As if on cue, several more gators suddenly appeared just ahead—literally, spawning out of mid-air.

That was it—they were teleporting. Perhaps that was why the people here didn't seem to be in control of them—the gators were as much of a problem to the criminals as they were to them.

Looking over the swarm of hissing alligators, Sasha frowned. We cannot teleport, but we can levitate! Get ready.

Ready when you are, darling!

The alligators continued to hiss before one of them charged, the others following suit.

NOW!

Sasha and the still-invisible Milla leaped into the air, levitating over the alligators. A few raised their heads and snapped at them, but they managed to clear the swarm, landing on the other side and resuming their charge through the fortress. Several of the gators hissed, giving chase, but a few more were distracted by the lackeys that stepped out of their rooms to panic.

Finally, Sasha came upon what he was looking for—a stairwell. With a motion to Milla, he hovered into it, ascending the narrow, spiraling stairs while the gators scrambled up after them. Milla and Sasha had the advantage here, and managed to reach the top before the gators could.

The room shouldn't be far from here, Sasha said, glancing to his side. He was somewhat surprised to find Milla visible again, but even with the equipment she had, it wasn't easy to stay invisible for an extended period, especially not when using other powers. Meanwhile, the alligators were nearing the top of the stairs, the one at the lead opening its mouth wide. With a well-aimed psi-blast, it was sent tumbling backward, knocking into the other reptiles and sending them all crashing down the spiral stairs.

That may or may not buy us some time, depending on if they decide to teleport again. Now to find...

This way! Milla cried, charging forward with a burst of levitation. Sasha followed, and they soon found themselves approaching another door, this one sealed with a giant padlock. One psi-blast later, the lock was smoldering on the ground, and they opened the door.

They found themselves in a circular room with a large circular grate raised up in the center. Sasha and Milla exchanged glances before grabbing it with telekinesis and heaving it up and off to the side.

As Sasha finally set President down, he leaned over the hole and opened his mouth. "Teeeveeeee!" he called, his voice echoing as the sandal he'd been holding in his mouth dropped down, down, down.

"No—!" Sasha cried, but before he could react, there was a splash, followed by the snapping of alligator jaws. He heaved a long, deep sigh, looking down. "More alligators."

There were two alligators swimming in the water far below, and in the midst of them was a small pedestal, upon which sat a glass covering. The pedestal had a large "NO TOUCH" sign attached, while the covering was labeled "PREZ."

And sitting within the glass was a human brain.

"There it is," Sasha and Milla found themselves saying together, and Sasha looked up. "I'll get it."

"No, you watch President," Milla said with a wink. "Leave this to the levitation expert."

"Fair enough."

With that, Milla raised herself up off the floor and down into the shaft, nearly upside-down as she reached out toward the glass jar. The alligators hissed up at her, swimming in circles beneath her like aquatic vultures, but she paid them no mind.

"Squeaky toy," President said, frowning down at his own brain as Milla TK'd the glass away.

"Stay put..." Sasha said, holding a hand in front of President as he watched Milla. She was raising the brain upward, drawing it closer to her hands.

At once there was a flash of psychic energy, and one of the alligators from below was up in the air in the middle of the shaft, snapping at Milla as it fell down toward her. She let out a startled cry, backing up against the wall of the shaft as the alligator teleported again, this time falling closer.

"Milla!" Sasha cried. His fear and fury took the form of raw psychic energy, blasting forward into the alligator. It slammed against the wall, skidding back down into the water. Before either of them had time to celebrate, the second alligator teleported higher up in the shaft, jaws focused on President's brain.

In a sudden stab of frustration, Sasha took his remaining sandal that he'd been TKing off to his side, and chucked it into the alligator's mouth. The reptile's jaws snapped shut, and it began to wheeze and choke as it plummeted back down into the water. Eventually, it spat up the mangled sandal and swam down into the water with an indignant flip of its tail, its slightly-scorched companion following suit.

With a sigh of relief, Milla levitated the rest of the way up the shaft, landing next to Sasha. "Thank you, darling."

"Thank me later," Sasha said, already opening up his briefcase and pulling out a funnel. He turned to face President. "Stay still, sir."

President was still frowning at his own brain. "Chew toy," he said with a look of disgust.

Sighing, Sasha took the brain from Milla and TK'd the funnel over to President's ear. "Hold him still, please."

Milla held the President with TK as Sasha forced the brain into the wider end of the funnel, shoving it inward until it slipped into the Prime Minister's empty head.

President staggered back as Sasha removed the funnel, the man's eyes rolling and blinking several times before coming into focus. "Wh... where am I?" he stammered, looking at Sasha and Milla in bewilderment. "Where are my dogs?!" He looked all around the room, his movements becoming more and more frantic. "Spot? Daisy? LEONARD?!"

Sasha grit his teeth, looking out the door to make sure they weren't going to get jumped on, while Milla bent down, shushing the man. "It's all right, Prime Minister President. You've been kidnapped and debrained, and we've just recovered your brain."

"Is... is that true?" Prez asked, rubbing his head. "That would explain my headache... Also, just Prez is fine."

"There's no time for questions. We're bound to be discovered at any moment, and we need to get out of here." Looking up and down the hallway, Sasha noted that any windows he could see were barred. "Milla, where was the entrance you came in from?"

"Not that way," she said. "It was crawling with alligators!"

Prez chuckled, and Sasha frowned. "Noted. We'll have to go back through the main entrance. Hurry!"

With that, the three charged back toward the stairs they'd ascended. The stairwell was empty, but to save time, Sasha grabbed Prez with TK once again as he and Milla levitated down the stairs.

"Woah!" Prez cried, eyes wide. "You're some a' them psychics!"

"Indeed, and it seems the alligators here are, too," Sasha replied, and Prez's brows knit in confusion. Once Sasha touched down on the floor, he took off in a burst of levitation down the hall, which was deserted. "We're nearly there. We just need to make it outside!"

The courtyard was in sight. Sasha and Milla both put on a burst of speed, feeling a great relief that their mission was nearing its end.

And with several puffs of green psychic energy, a dozen hissing alligators filled the courtyard, surrounding them.

"Not this again!" the three of them said simultaneously, and Sasha and Milla briefly gave Prez a look of confusion.

"I'll need all concentration on my psychic powers," Sasha said, dropping in his levitation to the ground in a psychic attack pose and setting Prez down. "Stay between me and Milla!"

As the alligators pressed in closer, Sasha and Milla both fired blue and pink psi-blasts respectively at the reptiles. While he could hear one be struck by Milla's attack, the one he'd fired at disappeared again. Whipping his head around, he searched for the missing gator, only to realize a shadow was falling over him. With a cry, he staggered out of the way, only for his feet to slip against the slick grass and send him crashing down on his back. The alligator landed in front of him, hissing, and more were closing in behind him and to the sides.

Before he could do anything else, however, there was a deafening chorus of barking from somewhere behind him. All the alligators looked up, and began to scramble away as a pack of enormous white dogs came charging into the courtyard. They howled and snarled as they chased the reptiles away from Sasha and the others, until the gators gave up, disappearing as quickly as they'd appeared.

"Daisy!" Prez cried, holding out his arms. "Spot! Leonard! Barkley!"

Any other names he called were drowned out by the sound of elated barking and whining as he was surrounded by the pack of dogs, who all jumped over each other at the chance to lick his face.

Milla pulled her hood back, wiping at her brow. "That was a close one..." With an invisible psychic hand, she helped Sasha to his feet. He dusted himself off, for all the good it would do.

"Indeed," he said, looking back toward the entrance. "I presume these aren't K-9 units..."

"Nah, those are probably on gator duty," Prez said, squeezing his way out from the swarm of samoyeds. "C'mon, let's get out of here!"

With that, the group stepped out of the fortress, the dogs cheerfully surrounding them. Milla couldn't resist the urge to pet one of them, and it leaned into her touch, tongue lolling.

Outside, the police seemed preoccupied with handcuffing a number of criminals, including Georg and Geoff. The former looked furious, while Geoff looked out toward Sasha with his lower lip wobbling. "N... no looping water slide?" he whimpered, eyes shining with tears.

"I'm afraid not," Sasha said, replacing his name tag with his Psychonaut badge. "This place seems ill-suited for water parks regardless."

"How did you capture them all?" Milla asked, looking toward the chief officer. "How could you have known we'd already rescued the Prime Minister and his brain?"

"We didn't," the officer said with a shrug. "These guys came runnin' out 'cause of the gators."

Prez let out a hearty laugh. "That's a real shocker!"

"Prez!" Another person came bolting through the crowd—someone Sasha identified as the man's spouse. They threw their arms around him in a tight hug. "I'm so glad you're all right! We were so worried about you, and I couldn't leave the dogs..."

"I'm fine! Thanks to the dogs, actually. And these guys too, of course." He waved a hand at Sasha and Milla.

Something had been nagging at the back of Sasha's head, and he hovered over to Prez, frowning. "Please excuse me for interrupting this moment, but I must ask." He waited for Prez to step away from his spouse and face him before continuing: "You seem to have a very serious problem with psychic alligators here. Why have you not called upon the Psychonauts for help with this?"

Prez, his spouse, and several of the police officers turned to give him bewildered looks. "Yeaaah, you mentioned that before," the Prime Minister said, crossing his arms. "How do you know they're psychic, though?"

Sasha balked. Had Prez been blind to what had just happened moments ago? "They can teleport, sir."

The man's face broke into a smile. "Yeah, and fish can swim! What's your point?"

Sasha glanced back at Milla, who was laughing. "Alligators don't normally have that ability."

Prez began laughing again, but stopped when Sasha did not join in. "Wait, you're serious?"

"Indeed," Sasha replied, suddenly feeling even more tired than he had before. "We can arrange to send a zoolepathy expert here to begin work on this issue, if you like."

"Uh. Yeah!" Prez blinked. "Yeah, that'd be great! Honestly, they're sorta the reason we couldn't build a water park here in the first place."

"WHAT?!" Georg cried some distance away, as a police carted her off with the rest of her lackeys.

Meanwhile, the police chief nodded. "If that's true, we'll send for one of you again."

As Sasha rubbed his temples, Milla stepped forward. "As for us, it looks like our work here is done."

"Right!" Prez rushed up to Milla and shook her hand before repeating the gesture with Sasha. "Thanks for your help!"

"And with that, we must be on our way." Finally, Sasha began hovering away from the crowd, back toward where they'd parked and cloaked the jet. Milla followed suit, waving to Prez and the others as they went their separate ways.

Once out of view of the crowd, they both dipped slightly in their respective hovers. Milla gave Sasha a tired smile, and he returned it.

"This has been quite the day," he admitted.

"Yes, but at least it's over now, darling."

Soon they were back onboard the Pelican and en-route back to Whispering Rock. While Milla stepped back toward the restroom, Sasha tapped a few buttons on the console and leaned back in his chair.

"This is Grease Jar," Ford's voice crackled over the radio. "What's the word?"

"The criminal group has been apprehended and Prez's brain and body rescued."

"Excellent work!"

"That said, it seems the Psychonauts are not yet done aiding Country. They seem to have an infestation of psychic—"

"ALLIGATOR!" Milla cried from the back.

"Pretty sure there's supposed to be an 's' at the end for the plural..." Ford grumbled, but Sasha was barely listening, rushing to the back to find Milla backing away from the bathroom in horror.

An enormous alligator stood over the toilet, where a large clutch of rubbery eggs sat within.

It was going to be a very, very long flight.

#sasha nein #milla vodello #ford cruller #psychonauts #bad things happen bingo #my art #my writing #fanfic #GOSH I'M SO GLAD I FINALLY GOT THIS ONE FINISHED #the next one might also take a bit as I still need to finish replaying the game #bUT I AM GOING TO FINISH THESE #I WILL NOT GIVE UP

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