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mostlysignssomeportents · 2 months ago

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Apple faces criminal sanctions for defying App Store antitrust order

I'm on a 20+ city book tour for my new novel PICKS AND SHOVELS. Catch me at NEW ZEALAND'S UNITY BOOKS in AUCKLAND TODAY (May 2), and in WELLINGTON TOMORROW (May 3). More tour dates (Pittsburgh, PDX, London, Manchester) here.

Epic, makers of the wildly popular Fortnite video-game, have waged a one-company war against the "app tax" – the 15-30% rake that the mobile duopoly of Apple/Google take out of every penny we spend inside of apps.

Epic's own digital practices are hardly spotless: just this year, the company was caught cheating players – many of them children – with deceptive practices and had to refund over $72m:

https://www.ftc.gov/enforcement/refunds/fortnite-refunds

But in this fight, Epic is on the side of the angels. The 30% that Apple/Google sucks out of the mobile economy is a brutal tax, and not just on app makers. Patreon performers recently raised a stink when the company announced that it would be clawing back 30% of the money pledged by their supporters – that 30% surcharge is passed straight through to Apple/Google:

https://www.theverge.com/2024/8/12/24218629/patreon-membership-ios-30-percent-apple-tax

From independent news outlets to crafters selling their work out of small storefronts, all the way up to massive entertainment services like Disney Plus and Fortnite, the mobile cartel takes 30% out of every dollar, a racket they maintain with onerous rules that ban apps from using their own payment processors, or even from encouraging users to click a link that brings them to a web-based payment screen.

30% is a gigantic markup on payment processing. It's ten times the going rate for payments in the USA, already one of the most expensive places in the world to transfer money from one party to another. In the EU, payment processing typically runs 1%…or less.

But crafters, Patreon podcasters and small-town newspapers are in no position to fight Google and Apple. Instead, we get Epic, a multi-billion-dollar company that's gone to the mattresses to fight these multi-trillion-dollar companies. Personally, I dote on billionaire-on-trillionaire violence.

Epic was wildly successful. It mopped up the floor with Google, securing an especially punitive award from a judge who was furious that Google had destroyed evidence:

https://pluralistic.net/2023/12/12/im-feeling-lucky/#hugger-mugger

Epic also won against Apple, though not as thoroughly as it had with Google, because Apple had the commonsense not to get up to the kind of shenanigans that make federal judges very, very mad. In the Google case, the court found that Google had acted as a monopolist and ordered it to open up the payment system in Google Play, a direct blow to the Android app tax.

In the Apple case, the judge did not find that Google had acted as a monopolist, but did rule that the App Store's payment processing racket violated the law, and ordered Apple to end its own app tax:

https://techcrunch.com/2025/04/30/epic-games-just-scored-a-major-win-against-apple/

That's where things get gnarly. Apple is addicted to corrupt sources of income – like the tens of billions it illegally receives every year in bribes from Google make it the default search:

https://apnews.com/article/google-antitrust-search-engine-verdict-apple-319a61f20fb11510097845a30abaefd8

And it really, really loves the app tax. When the EU ordered Apple to allow third-party app stores (as a way of killing the app tax), the company cooked up a malicious compliance plan that was comically corrupt:

https://pluralistic.net/2024/02/06/spoil-the-bunch/#dma

So, the mere fact that a federal judge had ordered Apple to open up its app store to competing payment processors was not going convince Apple to actually do it. Instead, Apple cooked up a set of rules for third-party payment processing that would make it more costly to use someone else's payments, piling up a mountain of junk fees and using scare screens and other deceptive warnings to discourage users from making payments through a rival system:

https://www.thebignewsletter.com/p/judge-rules-apple-executive-lied

That's the kind of thing that is apt to make a federal judge angry – and, as noted, angry federal judges can make life very hard for tech monopolists, a lesson Google learned when it destroyed key evidence in its Epic case. But Apple didn't just flout the court order – they lied about it to cover it up, and Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers is furious. She held that Alex Roman, Apple's Vice-President of Finance, "outright lied under oath," and she has raised the possibility of criminal contempt penalties for Apple:

https://regmedia.co.uk/2025/05/01/pacer_epic_vs_apple_injunction_judgement.pdf

The judge further wrote:

This is an injunction, not a negotiation. There are no do-overs once a party willfully disregards a court order. Time is of the essence. The Court will not tolerate further delays. As previously ordered, Apple will not impede competition. The Court enjoins Apple from implementing its new anticompetitive acts to avoid compliance with the Injunction. Effective immediately Apple will no longer impede developers’ ability to communicate with users nor will they levy or impose a new commission on off-app purchases

In other words, any junk fees, any impediments to opening up third party payments, will be switfly and harshly dealt with. As of right now developers can start to build third-party payments into their apps and Apple cannot block them. It's the end of the app tax, a source of about $100b/year for Apple:

https://www.theregister.com/2025/05/01/apple_epic_lies_possible_crime/

The world is on fire and everything is terrible, but we are also living through the most consequential season in the history of the war on corporate tech power. Google has been convicted three times of being a monopolist and is almost certainly going to have to sell off Chrome, most of its ad-tech stack, and possibly Android. Meta just put up a pathetic showing in an equally serious antitrust case that could see it forced to sell off Instagram and Whatsapp:

https://pluralistic.net/2025/04/11/it-is-better-to-buy/#than-to-compete

Countries around the world have passed big, sweeping, muscular antitrust laws specifically aimed at smashing corporate tech power, like the EU's Digital Markets Act and Digital Services Act:

https://www.eff.org/pages/adoption-dsadma-notre-analyse

Most importantly, all of this is happening from the bottom up. There is no dark money campaign to fuck up the tech companies. The politicians and enforcers who are taking on Big Tech are being shoved from behind by billions of everyday people who are furious and refuse to take it any longer:

https://pluralistic.net/2025/04/10/solidarity-forever-2/#oligarchism

I am deeply grateful for the public servants who have championed this cause, but I also know that these people are the effect of our movement, not the cause. When Kier Starmer fires Britain's brilliant and effective top competition enforcer and replaces him with the former head of Amazon UK, that does nothing to tamp down the political outrage that Britons feel towards America's tech giants:

https://pluralistic.net/2025/01/22/autocrats-of-trade/#dingo-babysitter

All over the world, countries that passed IP laws to protect US tech interests in exchange for tariff-free access to US markets are grappling with the end of free trade with America. This represents a generational opportunity to pass laws that enable local technologists to jailbreak US tech exports and liberate their people from the extractive practices of Big Tech forever:

https://archive.is/CiBIz

There is nothing harder to stop than an idea whose time has come to pass.

If you'd like an essay-formatted version of this post to read or share, here's a link to it on pluralistic.net, my surveillance-free, ad-free, tracker-free blog:

https://pluralistic.net/2025/05/01/its-not-the-crime/#its-the-coverup

Image: Alex Popovkin, Bahia, Brazil from Brazil (modified) https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Annelid_worm,_Atlantic_forest,_northern_littoral_of_Bahia,_Brazil_%2816107326533%29.jpg

CC BY 2.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/deed.en

Hubertl (modified) https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:2015-03-04_Elstar_%28apple%29_starting_putrefying_IMG_9761_bis_9772.jpg

CC BY-SA 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.en

#pluralistic #apple #antitrust #monopolism #app stores #app tax #iphone #ios #perjury #junk fees #epic #fortnite #big tech #petard #patreon

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sgiandubh · 2 months ago

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Looking for balance

People have been asking for years that she would name McGill in the same sentence as 'husband'. This happened, after almost six years of marital bliss #shitshow, which is (how can I properly put it?) at least peculiar. And yes, I am still perfectly unfazed - because you see, promo also means being as consensual as possible. In this regard, it would seem the lessons of that costly, (in)famous Vanity Fair interview have been learned. But also that her fresh, organic image the veterans of this fandom so much enjoyed is probably gone.

Among all the interviews she so liberally (and rather proportionally with the big budget of The Amateur) offered, the most interesting one was for Io Donna the woman weekly supplement of the big Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera. It was posted across the street and they were unable to read, let alone understand it. They imagine we were as parochial and dumb as they are, so I said 'hold my beer' and translated it for you.

[Source: https://www.iodonna.it/personaggi/star-internazionali/2025/04/08/caitriona-balfe-protagonista-con-rami-malek-in-operazione-vendetta/ - 8 April 2025]

This time, we are talking about a widespread, very prestigious European media outlet. Not a Swiss news portal, bearing also in mind that Switzerland is a market seven times less important, in terms of audience, than Italy.

Anyways, there goes - my own translation, thank you:

Caitriona Balfe, star of 'The Amateur': 'I'm Frustrated by Injustice in the World' A former model and aspiring director, she is best known for her role as Claire Fraser in the television series Outlander. by Michaela K. Bellisario

"They made Rami run around a lot. We shot the escape scene so many times that we ended up joking about it." Caitriona Balfe, 45, actress and supermodel, is one of the two female leads (the other is Rachel Brosnahan) in The Amateur with Rami Malek, an American spy action thriller directed by James Hawes, based on the 1981 novel of the same name by Robert Littell, in theaters starting April 10.

Malek is a CIA code breaker who works in the basement of the Langley headquarters in the United States. His life is turned upside down when his wife is killed in a terrorist attack in London. When his supervisors refuse to act, he embarks on a dangerous journey around the world to track down the real perpetrators of the attack and avenge his wife. Caitriona Balfe is the widow of another agent and helps Malek using her computer skills.

Caitriona Balfe in The Amateur : "I accepted the movie because we were going to shoot in Marseille and Istanbul"

For Caitriona Balfe, originally from Dublin, this is a new role . The actress is best known for her role as Claire Fraser in the TV series Outlander, for which she won a BAFTA Scotland, two People's Choice Awards and two Saturn Awards, and received four consecutive Golden Globe nominations for Best Actress in a Drama Series. In 2021, alongside Jamie Dornan, she starred in the film Belfast, written and directed by Kenneth Branagh.

Caitriona Balfe, what made you take this role? I liked the idea of measuring up to a character so different from the others played to date. And then I was attracted by the possibility of working with Rami Malek and the director James Hawes, who I admire for the series Slow Horses. Last but not least, I confess, the fact that it was shot in Istanbul and Marseille. After all those years in Scotland ...

In fact, you basically worked and lived in Scotland for the TV series Outlander. Yes, that's eleven years in total. Intense and beautiful years. But, of course, every now and then changing location doesn't hurt, especially if I think of my colleagues who, instead, shoot for example, I don't know, in exotic locations (laughs).

Caitriona Balfe: "Rami Malek Gave Me So Much Advice" You have long scenes with Rami Malek, the “avenger”, especially those where you run to escape from the “enemies”, can you tell us a behind-the-scenes anecdote? If you mean the escape scene, we repeated it five times, it must have been three in the morning on a cold January night in Marseille. An adventure… Malek is a very generous professional and gave me a lot of advice. I arrived on the set when the shooting was already underway, it always takes a few moments of orientation to fit in and Rami supported me at every moment.

What is the message of this action thriller: revenge or peace? The film seems to be focused on revenge, Rami tries in every possible way to avenge his wife's assassination by occult terrorist forces. But during his long escape around the world, a bit like in a hero's journey, he understands that after all revenge is only the starting point of what he is doing. He understands the only thing that makes sense is to discover the truth and he wants justice to be served.

Food for thought in such a troubled moment of global politics… Exactly. In our world, these two levels, revenge and aspiration towards justice, are often confused. Yours is an interesting question we should all ask ourselves at this moment in time. I liked my character because she chose truth instead of revenge. And she has a positive influence on the character played by Rami Malek.

Caitriona Balfe: "I'm frustrated by injustice"

What makes you call for revenge? Everything! I am a Libra and I am looking for harmony in everything. I am frustrated by the lack of empathy between people, yet we are all interconnected, equal, we should treat each other with love and compassion. The same goes for animals and the environment. Everything would be easier, right? Instead, it seems to be the most difficult thing in the world. I was talking about it with a friend just today. You reach a certain point in life where you understand that the only important thing is love for all sentient beings.

Let's take a step back in time: you were a supermodel in the 90s and then you made your debut in The Devil Wears Prada… As I always say… I didn’t actually act in the film. I was an extra, one of the many girls who sashay in and out of the editorial office. But at least I had the chance to meet Meryl Streep. Even becoming a model was the result of chance. I was eighteen and studying acting in Dublin when I was noticed. I was able to live in Japan, France, Germany… ten years of discoveries.

"I'm interested in nourishing the soul"

You have tried directing on Outlander's set. Yes, I would love to end up behind the camera again, I am interested in exploring storytelling and narratives. Ultimately, thousands of years ago, when we were all cavemen, we told stories around the fire. For an actor, that is perhaps the most interesting side of it, because we are limited in the roles we play. Directing will make me able to tell stories in a much broader way.

How do you balance your private life with your professional life? Since I had a son, everything has become much more complicated. But it's not a problem, he is my priority. For the first three years of his life I worked a lot, now I've decided to take some time for us to be together, also because he will start school and we will have to find a new balance.

What do you do in your free time? I explore my creative side. I try to practice yoga. Nourishing the soul is definitely the most important task we have.'

***

I took the liberty to put in italics the answers I considered way more interesting, and perhaps even honest, than the rest. Her Stans should definitely take a deep look at what she said about empathy (or rather lack thereof), equality and her ultimately feeling that people are interconnected - all things I have particularly found Mordor wanting, especially considering their uncanny brutality and love of insults.

Corriere della Sera is a far more liberal media outlet than FOX, so the message of her points of talk was tailored to align with its values: yoga, compassion, empathy, environment and animal rights, tolerance and connection, injustice of the actual global context (subtly so, always as far as she is concerned). Again, no surprise and a clearly more serious, better adjusted image for the (perhaps more sophisticated) given audience. All you need is love, insomma: there's nothing more consensual than that, there's nothing less encouraging to probe further the real C behind the mask, Oriana Fallaci style.

I was not surprised, then, to see no mention of McGill, whatsoever. This is, at any rate, rarely done in European media of this level and importance, unless the story is compelling. She seems now entirely focused on Blonde Bambino, who (in her own words) has become 'her priority' (but, but...oooh, LOL) . That was the golden opportunity to mention McGill in a very positive, indisputable context, yet she did not take it - I really wonder why. Oh, and in case you wonder, the 'us' in 'I decided to take some time for us' refers, in my humble opinion, exclusively to her and Blonde Bambino. This being reinforced by her mentioning she worked a lot on Outlander and her will to spend more one on one time with him before he'd start school.

The contrast is clear. Different messages for different markets: she is a human being, not a batch of Skyr. However, it is with deep nostalgia (and also a wide grin) that I noticed the website also linked to a July 2016 interview of hers to the same newspaper, for the people who had time to kill and were willing to know more about her story. Lo and behold, here is what I found:

[Source: https://www.iodonna.it/personaggi/interviste-gallery/2016/07/15/caitriona-balfe-sono-uneroina-romantica-ma-non-ho-tempo-per-lamore/]

My translation: 'Caitriona Balfe: I am a romantic heroine, but I don't have time for love. On the TV screen, I have two husbands, but in my own life I've got none', jokes the actress, star of the cult series Outlander. She is talking to us about 'real sensuality', passion and feeling embarrassed. And she tells us why she'll never go to Paris with any fiancé'.

My translation: 'From the Scottish Highlands to the 1750's Paris: how much does the script weigh on the acting?

The Scottish Highlands are wild lands, the intensity of the landscape and the events of that time are encouraging Claire and Jamie's passion. Then, Paris does create strong tensions. I don't know if you have already went to the French capital while being in love: it's such a pressure to love each other, that it always ends in fighting' (laughs).

Of course, the rest is paying lip service to the narrative, but what about the trolls across the street for whom McGill was already the chosen one, by then (as if, heh... as if...)?

Stop lying. You're not doing her any good.

#fandom #shitshow #The Amateur Promo April 2025

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apod · 2 years ago

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2023 October 23

Moon Io from Spacecraft Juno Image Credit: NASA, JPL-Caltech, SwRI, MSSS; Processing & Copyright: Ted Stryk & Fernando García Navarro

Explanation: There goes another one! Volcanoes on Jupiter's moon Io keep erupting. To investigate, NASA's robotic Juno spacecraft has begun a series of visits to this very strange moon. Io is about the size of Earth's moon, but because of gravitational flexing by Jupiter and other moons, Io's interior gets heated and its surface has become covered with volcanoes. The featured image is from last week's flyby, passing within 12,000 kilometers above the dangerously active world. The surface of Io is covered with sulfur and frozen sulfur dioxide, making it appear yellow, orange and brown. As hoped, Juno flew by just as a volcano was erupting -- with its faint plume visible near the top of the featured image. Studying Io's volcanoes and plumes helps humanity better understand how Jupiter's complex system of moons, rings, and auroras interact. Juno is scheduled to make two flybys of Io during the coming months that are almost 10 times closer: one in December and another in February 2024.

∞ Source: apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap231023.html

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thefirstknife · 11 months ago

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The Infinite Forest

Sighs. This post has been on my mind since we saw the trailer for Echoes, because they showed us the gate to the Infinite Forest and I thought: how many people even recognise that? Let alone have been there? Or know stuff about it? It's not been in the game for over 4 years, outside of a few pvp maps.

The Infinite Forest was a victim of the yoinkening of planets at the end of Arrivals. Unlike Mars and Titan that have since returned, Mercury has not (and neither has Io) so there was really no reason to think about it until they decided to do something with that. And it appears they've decided, something I hoped they might do in Echoes, given that we've speculated from the start that it would be a Vex season.

But now that we did get the proof that we'll be dealing with it somehow, I want to get into it, and mostly because they gave us zero explanation about how is it even possible for us to consider the Forest. I'm going to have a normal time with this one. I know we'll get at least some answers in a few days, but I need to cook in the meantime so I don't descend into madness (too late). Obviously spoilers for this week under the cut, and also a long post:

What is the Infinite Forest?

How does it all work and why?

What happened to it?

Echoes

What is the Infinite Forest?

The best, and arguably only, source for this is unfortunately a vaulted campaign, Curse of Osiris. Here's a link to the campaign from Destiny Lore Vault, but there are also playthroughs around from the time it launched. It's not needed to watch the whole thing, although it is fairly short, but this is where most of the information about it comes from.

There's also the Osiris comics that accompanied the DLC; first two are available on Bungie's site. The third is only in the physical book, helpfully scanned here.

Probably the most concise explanations are from the campaign:

Reflection of Osiris: Behold — the Infinite Forest! A planet sized prediction engine, simulating trillions of realities in parallel, all geared towards a single Vex purpose. Keep going, and you'll see. Sagira: The Vex are simulating reality in here. Brute forcing the future. And before you ask: everything in here IS real enough to kill you.

And this entire lore tab:

Physically, I am beneath the surface of Mercury. That is what Sagira's sensors say. The Vex hollowed out the planet, replaced its molten heart with cold right angles. But that is not what I see. I see infinity. An infinity of possible worlds, so perfectly simulated as to be indistinguishable from the experiences I once called "reality." I can touch them, taste them, pass lifetimes in them! They grow within this machine like fruit upon a tree—no, a forest of trees, its fractal expansion nigh unmeasurable.

Essentially, the Infinite Forest is a simulation engine that the Vex use to make predictions and find possibilities that suit their goals. It's physically located inside of Mercury; the Vex dug into the planet and replaced its insides with the engine. So far it has only been accessible from Mercury, from a single gate. Putting my 7 year old screenshots here like grabbing pictures of loved ones from a photo album:

Ikora noted that Osiris spent a long time studying that gate back in the day, believing it's the entrance. And he was correct.

There is a Vex gateway near your location. Osiris spent years studying it. He was convinced it was the door to the infinite Forest. If it is still possible to find Osiris, we need to open that door.

Osiris, or rather, his reflection, also said:

First, I will show you where it all began. Mercury, untold centuries ago, before the Vex arrived. Here, the Vex planted the seed that became the Infinite Forest, and its Mind, Panoptes. Panoptes has a single purpose — reshape reality for the Vex.

To keep things simple, the campaign revolved around us stopping Panoptes from achieving the Vex' goals by using the Infinite Forest. We ended up killing it, of course. We did so by hopping around through the Forest, going to simulated pasts and futures.

But the Forest largely consists of a really weird constantly shifting space that looks like this:

Thank you past me for this really helpful screenshot. It looks like it's an open sky, but it's not; the ceiling is a solid flat surface. That is the surface of Mercury, seen from the inside of the planet. On the edges of the picture, there's two tall structures; one looks worn down and destroyed, the other looks newly built. These are the gates leading to the actual simulations. The left one leads to a simulated future and the right to a simulated past.

These structures are called "trees" and are the reason why this place is called the Infinite Forest. Each of these "trees" generates a simulation and leads there, but you have to go through this shifting reality with ever-changing platforms to reach them. This is the physical space needed to essentially "run" the Forest.

You can still see this on pvp maps Fragment and Convergence:

A lot of the stuff about how the Vex actually made this was not entirely confirmed at the time; the stuff about Mercury being converted back during the Collapse was something that's been in the lore since literally D1, but not much was known about how true any of that was or how it started and how it was done. This was somewhat cleared up later, in the first page of Trials and Tribulations (from Worthy). I say "somewhat" because like. Reading this page is an exercise for sanity:

Yeah. What this whole thing seems to be implying is a confirmation of Mercury being converted by the Vex during the Collapse. The Vex flooded the planet with radiolaria and drilled into it, changing its terraformed environment into a Vex world. Some of this is shown in Curse when we first visit the simulated past. The Vex appeared and started raising the spires and transforming the surface of Mercury into what we know it as. Its core was eventually fully replaced by the Infinite Forest.

After we killed Panoptes, Osiris essentially claimed the Forest for himself and returned there sort of indefinitely. He would leave years later, when he contacted us in Season of Dawn, though we know that he was periodically leaving anyway, since he was building the Sundial. It's not really been used for anything else, outside of various adventures and the quest for saving Saint which I went into in this post.

How does it all work and why?

It's always been kinda weird that the Forest was not a bigger deal, though it makes sense if we consider the out-of-game factors and the fans' general dislike of Mercury as a whole (which I personally think is a skill issue). The Forest was also difficult to work with so it was difficult to make new content for it which is probably why it was never really done, even though realistically, setting-wise, it should've.

It's mentioned in lore here and there, and Osiris spent his time there a lot up until Dawn. The Infinite Forest also alerted him that our actions drastically changed the Vex predictions which was serious and important enough for him to finally leave. So for all intents and purposes, the Forest was always a big deal, just difficult to implement into gameplay. This is quite unfortunate because it should've reasonably been something to use more, including explaining its danger a bit more in-depth over time. While Osiris did have a major influence over it post-Panoptes, the place was still largely Vex-controlled and they still had access to it.

So why is that dangerous in the first place? After all, it's just a simulation engine. That's true, but the danger is in how the Vex were using those simulations. By having access to a place that generates trillions of situations and possibilities, it allowed them to explore options that would normally be almost impossible to explore in-person, physically. Even the Vex, who can exist outside of time, would need to spend... well... time and resources to explore these options by simply time travelling. With the Forest, they could just generate them all at once, instantly, with no time passing outside of the Forest.

They could use this to simulate anything and then explore what would happen if they followed that possibility, which allowed them to predict more accurately. It allowed them to essentially run a certain scenario through every single possible iteration and see the outcome of all of them, then pick the option that suits them best and act accordingly. It could also let them study their enemies; by simulating many situations and observing how the enemies react in those situations, they could learn about the strategies their enemies use.

This is incredibly powerful and dangerous. But are there limitations to their simulations? Sort of... As we know, the Vex can't simulate Light or any other paracausality, but that doesn't necessarily mean that they can't try. This is where things get complicated because we lack a lot of the details about how this all works.

From what we can tell, the Forest can include simulations that feature paracausality and Guardians; it's seen in the intro cutscene for Curse where Osiris casually wanders into the Guardians raiding the Vault of Glass. It was also briefly mentioned in Lightfall's CE (page 28), where Elsie explores different timelines. In one of them, she finds Osiris wielding Stasis who tells her that he saw her wielding it:

"I saw glimpses of you wielding this power during my time in the Infinite Forest."

This is where things get complicated because we don't truly know if there are meaningful differences between normal simulations and simulations produced by a planet-size machine. The Vex, for all intents and purposes, can't really simulate Light and Guardians, but could they create simulations based on what they've personally experienced? After all, the Vex from the Vault of Glass experienced the Guardians raiding them; can they load up their memories and simply replay it? Would that even count as a simulation or is that simply just a recording that you can access within the Forest?

Is it accessible in other Vex spaces or is the Infinite Forest unique in some way? After all, there is also the Vex network as well as corridors of time. There's also some sort of overlap between them, according to Osiris:

...Vex security measures where the network intersects with the corridors of time.

There's even the implication that a simulation from the Forest could potentially escape the engine and enter the real world.

Sagira: Hey, team! Copies of the Cabal invasion are trapped inside the Infinite Forest. On the, uh, off chance one of them escapes, possibly armed with world-breaking Vex tech… Ghost: Wouldn’t be the first time. We’ll handle this.

There is also the whole question about timelines and realities and how that works in the Forest. Can you use the Forest to look into real timelines and realities, those that might be happening somewhere, or are they just projections and simulations of possibilities? Could you interact with them, and affect other timelines? This is an interesting question now that Echoes is going on with all the stuff about the Conductor and what's happening to Saint, but we currently don't know the answers.

What I think is the most likely is that the Infinite Forest is somehow unique and can offer a lot more than the normal Vex network; its simulation options are so well-developed and so powerful that it can genuinely simulate a lot more than the Vex usually would be able to, including showing glimpses of paracausality, especially glimpses that the Vex have themselves recorded in their interactions with Guardians. Then, they can use the Forest to try and build on that, essentially train the engine by feeding it trillions of data points to attempt to make accurate simulations that lead to good predictions.

And these seem to be the key words: accurate and prediction. The point of simulations is not just to look at things, it's to use them to be able to predict things, giving the Vex an advantage. This is directly referenced and discussed in the lore:

There's just one thing: if Osiris used the Infinite Forest to develop his prophecies, and the Infinite Forest cannot accurately simulate Light, how did Osiris predict the Traveler would wake? The Forest's very inability to predict this very thing is what prevented Panoptes from breaking ground with its apocalyptic calculations.

So what exactly is the Forest capable of? It can definitely show the past even if it involves paracausality. It can also show the future, though the accuracy of any future predictions may be in question, depending on the amount of paracausality involved. It's very much implied that it can also show other timelines and/or realities. And of course, it can simulate future possibilities, as well as show simulations of anything from the past; events or places alike. For example, Osiris simulated the Fundament, apparently:

Ghost: The Forest can generate so many Hive - it might as well be their homeworld. Sagira: We've thought about that. Ghost: Have you simulated the Hive homeworld? Sagira: Didn't go well.

If there are specific limitations, we're not sure what they may be. There probably are, but they're most likely deliberately not spelled out to prevent any kind of conflict with stuff they might want to add to the Forest later; like for example now, with Echoes. Because there's a lot of questions right now about the Forest now that Ikora has so casually told us we're going to be going back in there. So...

What happened to it?

As has been established, the Forest is physically located on Mercury. Or rather, in Mercury. Its one and only entrance is on Mercury as well. And Mercury has been eaten by the Witness over 4 years ago. So that's it then? Well no. Not only is the Forest on an inaccessible planet, it has actually been sealed, from the inside, before the planet was taken.

He struggled with his pack as a tempest beat on his eardrums. He withdrew his Infinite Simulacrum, impossibly small in this immense space, and with trembling fingers synchronized it to the frequency of the crack in the Forest. It ticked like a metronome and then… Silence. The Forest was sealed.

Instead of evacuating, Brother Vance decided to stay on Mercury, go into the Forest, and seal it. I go about it for a long time in this post, but basically he believed that it would be really bad if the Pyramids gained access to the Forest. He also believed that the Sundial did something to the timelines and that the Pyramids could exploit that, as well as the Infinite Forest being somehow "the key to all of this."

He also wanted to use the Forest to... spread hope. Through the timelines?

"I will walk into the Infinite Forest and spread hope, Guardian."

He essentially wanted to do something and prove that even Lightless people can still help. He appeared to be willing to die for this, which is quite strange mostly because this whole idea and endeavour wasn't in the name of Osiris. Hell, in a way, it was about doing something to fix the unknown consequences of Osiris' meddling with the timelines.

You notice Vance's hands are balled tightly at his sides. "The Pyramids draw close. Through this system and beyond, the Lightless are filled with fear. I am no Osiris, true, but in my small way, I will bring light to their darkness." There is clarity in his voice. "I will tell them they must believe."

Since I've gone into it in the other post in a lot more details, I won't go into it here again, although I could. But the point that I want to get across is that the sealing of the Infinite Forest was quite a significant part of Arrivals and the whole plot of the evacuation of Mercury (or rather the non-evacuation of Mercury; the sole reason for Vance staying was to seal the Forest).

In another post (you'll have to scroll through the back-and-forth insanity) I also mentioned how much of Vance's story in Arrivals seemed to be connected to him losing his mind about the effects of the Sundial on the timelines. It also directly links to the Perfect Paradox. All of these things have been quite prominently connected to this episode, especially the stuff with the Sundial and what Osiris has done with it and how it may or may not have affected the timelines and, most of all, Saint and the whole ordeal of saving him.

It's fairly unclear how many characters know what happened to the Forest though. The YW knows obviously because Vance told us directly. I do believe that Zavala would also know as we reported back to him, which also most likely extends to Ikora as well. Another issue is that we don't really have any specific proof that the sealing was successful or permanent. It seems like it was, but a lot of stuff could've happened in the past 4 years of Mercury being in an anomaly.

As I've mentioned many times before, Mercury is the last unsolved plot from Arrivals; as in, we genuinely don't know anything about it. Mars has returned in WQ and Ana's side of the story was concluded in Seraph. While Io is still gone, Asher's story was concluded in Defiance through Avalon. Titan returned in Deep, which solved the story of the planet and also Sloane. We know why these planets were taken (with the exception of Io, though it's fair to assume it had something to do with the Pyramidion because of Asher's story being tied to it), and we know what happened to all of the vendors. Except Mercury and Vance; two things inherently connected to the Infinite Forest.

We don't truly know why Mercury was yoinked, though it's once again fair to assume it was most likely for the Forest. But you know. It got sealed so the Witness couldn't do anything with it and we have no idea what it was doing with Mercury all this time. We also don't know what the hell was Vance on about when he talked about the "anchored timelines" and how the Forest is incredibly important to everything. Due to how unreliable he is, it could just be his usual cringefail. After all, Osiris himself did not have any plans for the Forest himself; he was upset that he'd lose it, but he didn't think anything more about it, even if during Dawn he insisted that the Forest cannot be sealed or destroyed yet.

But also I think dismissing it all is an easy mistake to make, and possibly a deliberate one. Everything with Vance is written to be as easy to dismiss as possible, but he did know certain things that were absolutely correct and real. Not to go on about the tones again, but. Yeah. And given the current situation...

Echoes

Failsafe has come up with a plan for which she needs data from the Vex. She specifically needs data that can be compared to the altered Vex on Nessus, so we need large amounts of information that hasn't been changed or messed with. She concluded that the best source of that data would be Saint's dead body. It exists in a specific space (and time) and would have this information; information that has not been altered or influenced by anything else because that Saint is dead and preserved as is.

Failsafe explained this to Ikora and Ikora agreed that this is the best source, she's just worried about how this will affect Osiris and Saint. She doesn't want us to tell them. So next reset, we're going to the Infinite Forest to find Saint's tomb again. Yay!

But like. How?

They presented this so casually, with Ikora even saying that the best "accessible" source of this data is the Forest and Saint's tomb. And I know that they know that we know that Mercury is gone and that the Forest was sealed. But they've already showed us the gate to the Forest on Nessus, twice: in the mini showcase and then in the intro to the season in-game:

The first picture is showing the gate when it's open. And yes, this specific portal effect has only ever been used for the Forest. The second image shows the gate when it's closed with that impenetrable barrier. The structure itself is different from the original; it's worn down, coloured differently and doesn't have the same tip - instead there's the weird orb and the statue. It looks far more Nessus-like, and closer to present-day Vex, or maybe future Vex. But it's guarded by Precursors, so I don't know. It definitely doesn't look like the original however.

We clearly aren't going to Mercury. And even if we were, how would we enter? Neither Failsafe nor Ikora have mentioned this little problem and it seems as if they already know that the gate is on Nessus; I assume they'll discuss the details of this in the Act 2 finale next week. But the problem is that without all of this context, how do they even explain the issue with the Forest? They can always shorten this to some reasonable quick explanation, but they still have to explain how are we entering the Forest. There's a few key problems.

Obviously, number 1 is that the Forest is on Mercury and as of now Mercury is still in the anomaly.

The Forest itself is sealed from the inside.

So far it has not been possible (or at least not known to us) to enter the Forest from any other location. As we've seen, Osiris spent years looking for the entrance and back in Arrivals he was quite upset about losing the Forest. If he simply had the ability to enter it without being physically on Mercury, then why bother or lament Mercury's loss?

It is, to our knowledge, one of a kind. It took quite a tremendous effort to build it and it requires a lot of power to run; a whole planet.

Possible solutions:

Mercury is back and Ikora hasn't told anyone yet because she doesn't want anyone to go there yet; perhaps it's in quarantine. I don't think this is very likely, but it's possible.

Opening a gate to the Forest from another location IS possible and we just didn't know about it.

Opening a gate to the Forest from another location is possible only because of the situation with the Echo; a powerful source of paracausal power can maybe help us do this remotely. So this simply wasn't an option before the Echo's existence.

The Vex and the Conductor have built or are still building a new Forest inside of Nessus this time. The Vex lost access to the original, either simply because of the anomaly or because it was sealed or both, so now with the Echo they're just doing it again, and better. So the Forest we're going into is not the original, but a new one; the assumption being that the data from the old Forest is accessible to the Vex so the new Forest can essentially run the same code as the old one, allowing us access to Saint's tomb.

The Vex and the Conductor only have to build a new gate that can lead us to the old Forest, despite it being in an anomaly and despite it being sealed. It essentially just brute forced another door.

And the possibilities in regards to it being sealed:

As I mentioned before, maybe the sealing wasn't as successful as we (or Vance) thought.

Vance is somehow still alive and he will open it for us from the inside, essentially concluding his role from Arrivals.

Maybe the sealing wasn't permanent; either the Vex could eventually counteract this, or Vance couldn't hold it closed for very long. He's a Lightless man and it's quite dubious how long he could survive inside. Maybe the seal automatically broke when (if?) he died.

If we're going with the option that this is a new gate to the old Forest, then as I said before, this may simply be able to counteract the seal.

If we're dealing with a completely new Forest, the seal may simply not even be in effect. The old Forest is sealed, but we're not going to the old one so it doesn't matter.

What I'm assuming is that Osiris could open the gate if he saw one again, so if the gate is simply now on Nessus (either to a new Forest or connecting to the old one), Osiris can just use his cubes as he did before and open it again, counteracting the seal. Vance's device used to seal it was made from Osiris' notes anyway, so I'm assuming it's something similar to the cubes. In that case it can just be opened with the same thing.

Ikora will just blast it open like she did back in Curse. Seal or no seal, new or old Forest, she doesn't give a shit,

There's an option for all of these that's basically just they don't mention it all. I don't think this is very likely, but hey. It's possible!

I've been running these scenarios in my head for days. Actually, I've been running them ever since the showcase for Echoes showed us the gate to the Forest, but this significantly increased when this week confirmed that we are indeed heading in there. And it was delivered so matter-of-factly as if there aren't any of these problems and scenarios I listed above. This is baffling me. I know there will be some explanations offered, but the setup completely blindsided me with how it was delivered. Ikora with the simple "Oh yeah the best place to grab data from is the Infinite Forest. Pack it up boys." And I'm standing there with a 8 hours long presentation asking her to explain how. She blocks my number on vannet.

Perhaps the situation is far simpler than I'm making it out to be. It would be really easy to just write the old Forest and Mercury away as being permanently lost. That way you don't have to explain or deal with any of the stuff with the anomaly or the yoinkening or Vance's shenanigans. I will obviously remain forever unhinged about it if that's the case because I simply need to know what happened, but it's the easiest way to deal with this. The Echo allowed the Vex to make a new Forest, they're using massive amounts of radiolaria and the core of Nessus to just recreate it all, then they copied all the data from the old one into it, booted it up and that's it.

But what if the seal is in effect? Or what if we're dealing with the old Forest on Mercury that's still in the anomaly? How do they plan to deal with that in a single mission? Well... We have no clue.

Bungie article lore time, but back last year in the State of the Game article, they said this about the pvp map Multiplex:

Although many of us had been thinking about a lo-fi Vex map for the Crucible, the challenge of this palette was the possible lack of player orientation in the play space. We thought bringing the Mars palette into the Vex Network realm would be a great way to mitigate this while adding an evocative look. Narratively, the space is in the middle of compiling the Infinite Forest, so this is what you’ll see in action.

Yes, while everyone was losing their mind about this article, I was looking for lore about the Infinite Forest. But yeah. It seems like they have information about it in the network and they were using it to compile that information; perhaps preparing to make a new one? Or simply using it for data.

So essentially, the Vex could have enough information about the Forest to recreate it, and better now with the Echo, which would allow us to simply bypass the anomaly and the Forest being locked, while allowing us to enter and still find Saint's tomb. This is by far the easiest solution.

But I want a conclusion on Mercury and Vance. I feel like this episode is the only time to really do that and they've been giving us so many Mercury things already, clearly showing that it was a big inspiration for it all. The music, the assets, the enemies. This includes the stuff about Saint and his grave, as well as the whole thing with the Perfect Paradox. There's still Act 3 of course and some still unknown exotic mission, but I feel like the quest that has us literally going into the Infinite Forest to revisit a place not even from Dawn, but from Curse, is the best spot to also deal with this.

I just have no idea how that's going to happen and I wanted to list out the stuff that would have to be somehow addressed and solved, even if the solution ends up being the simplest one. I also wanted to try and list some information about the Forest itself since this thing has not been in the game for years. I hope this was useful and that it explains things well.

Anyway, I've spent the whole week pacing around my room like a wild animal. Help.

In conclusion:

#destiny 2 #echoes #infinite forest #vex #nessus #osiris #brother vance #long post #lore vibing #i've been having a normal one this week #and yes that's me in the photo. don't even worry about it #needed to get this out to prepare my brain with all scenarios for tuesday #most likely it'll be something wild that i've not considered #but i'm really really interested to see how they'll explain the forest stuff. i'm very excited for tuesday #and scared for my emotions of course

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the-monkey-ruler · 5 months ago

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Westward: Paintings of Journey to the West (2024) 西游：笔绘西行

Date: May 16, 2024 Platform: Android, iOS, PC Developer: Beijing Mobi Culture Co., Ltd. Publisher: Beijing Changyou Times Digital Technology Co., Ltd. Genre: Card Game Theme: Adventure Also known as: 笔绘西行 Type: Reimanging

Summary:

The story takes place in the world of 100 years after Journey to the West. After five teachers and apprentices became Buddhas, they discovered the truth of the "scripture". This is just a wishful scam for the Buddhist world. In the writing "script", no matter how to overcome the magic barrier, it is just false. The demon that they have encountered and defeated are just "actors" and "chess pieces". , Even to preach the victim of the Dharma. The master and apprentice and his party were hit hard, so after sending the scriptures back to the Tang Dynasty, he disappeared from then on, and no one had seen them again. As a wordless scripture, "I" was taken back to Huaguo Mountain by Sun Wukong, attracting the snatch of the heavens and the demon. Goku was injured in protecting the scriptures, and his mana lost great mana and became a young form. In order to cure Goku and avoid the arrest, Bi Ling and Yutu and others embarked on a fantasy journey to find a helper, improve the wordless scriptures, and prevent the demon from the monster.

Source: https://baike.baidu.com/item/%E8%A5%BF%E6%B8%B8%EF%BC%9A%E7%AC%94%E7%BB%98%E8%A5%BF%E8%A1%8C/63020450

Link: https://xy.changyou.com/

#Westward: Paintings of Journey to the West #西游：笔绘西行 #jttw media #笔绘西行 #jttw game #video game #game #reimaging #reimagining #continuation #sun wukong #zhu bajie #sha wujing #tang sanzang #six eared macaque #jade face fox #nezha #erlang shen #king yama

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lovelybrandt · 6 months ago

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The Cutiest World Cup 2022 🏆🇶🇦⚽Cartoon Fanarts Wallpaper Phone For IOS And Android.

Source: Gallery Images From Weibo.

Thanks To For 🌼 Daisy 1929 🌼 And ColorsOfMySeason

Requested by: @vainika19 And @xivdl @gavirae

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youcouldmakealife · 8 months ago

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Hello! Another writing question! Which word processor do you use? I've been relying on Google Docs, but want to upgrade. TYIA!

I've been using Scrivener for many, many years now. Like a shocking number of years, given I am the kind of person who picks up every new program or app with 'this will surely fix me' energy, only to discard them when they did not, in fact, fix me (or they stopped providing The Dopamine, or I started tracking too many things and things got too convoluted, or--)

Before I was using Scrivener, I was using Word (or an open source alternative, depending), and I use Google Docs for editing, but Scrivener, and its ability for me to have a work space that includes all my projects (they're all in one project called 'kitchen sink', unless it's a novel I'm prepping for publication, in which case it gets its own project). It's basically the ideal program for someone who flits from piece to piece, and it's insanely customizable, which is probably the reason I've never left for more novel pastures: if I change the way I want to work, I can alter it to suit.

If you're a one project at a time person, I still pretty heartily recommend it, because it has spots for ancillary bits that you need to have access to but don't necessarily fit in the main file (character profiles, a scene you cut but really like a few lines from, research, etc)

It can do a ton for you if you put the time into learning it (I not only write in it, but also format my books for publication within it), but you don't need to use all its bells and whistles.

Most exciting of all: you buy it once. Like. Seriously. Not even once per laptop or whatever, though I'd still be hyped about that.

They also have a really generous trial where you can use it for 30 days (not calendar, but days of use -- if you used it once a week, say, that'd be 30 weeks).

I'm genuinely really happy to stump for them because I use it like...every single day and every time I've had trouble with it, it's because of something I did or didn't do (say, forgot to set up auto backup) rather than a problem with the program. They've also been actively refining it and working on it the entire time I've had it. In a world that's gone all in on apps over programs, subscription based models over ownership, and general enshittification, it's a product that just...works. I love it. Could not more highly recommend at least giving the trial a shot. (it's available for Mac, PC, and IOS)

#taylor recs

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cinnamonzor · 2 years ago

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Ayla: Do you have any skeletons in your closet?

Piper: Literally or figuratively?

Ayla: Honestly, the fact that I have to specify-

#incorrect quotes #world of io #ioverse #deadbeats #ayla fern #piper hellebore #dr piper orientalis hellebore #source: ???

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incorrect-ionians · 8 months ago

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Mottle: What time is it?

Klernt: I dunno. Pass me that saxophone and I’ll find out.

Klernt: [BLASTS the saxophone as loud as goblinly possible]

Granny: WHO THE FUCK IS PLAYING SAXOPHONE AT TWO IN THE MORNING???

Klernt: It’s 2am.

#incorrect quotes #world of io #ioverse #goblins of io #mottle io #klernt #the tumultuous klernt #granny io #kingbendrick #tomato gaming #brettultimus #source: ???

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forgottenporkbun · 7 months ago

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Alright people. Buckle up cus it's finally time i tell you the history of Animal Crossing!!!! (After putting it off for awhile)

Originally named どうぶつの森 (Doubutsu no mori) in Japan meaning Animal Forest. It was introduced at Spaceworld 2000 in Japan and many people have claimed there was a playable demo there. I believe there is a bit if footage you can find on it but I may be wrong.

Doubutsu no mori released on April 14, 2001 on the Nintendo 64 exclusively in Japan. Only 8 months later on December 14, 2001 they released Doubutsu no mori + for the Gamecube which contained extra features left out of the 64 version such as the museum and the Able sisters (along with house upgrades I believe) and used the Gamecube's built in clock.

Finally, they localised and released the game under the title Animal Crossing: Population Growing in North America on September 16, 2002, Australia on October 17, 2003, and Europe on September 24, 2004 on the Gamecube

However, on June 27, 2003 Japan release yet another version of the game titled Doubutsu no mori e+ where they added even more new features for villagers such as: extended dialogue, the best friend system, sickness, likes/hates, catching fleas, etc. In this version of the game you could use the e card reader to obtain certain items. In this version of the game you could also buy an island from Tom Nook which you could access through Kapp'n. Once you got to this island you could name it, create a flag, and download it onto your Gameboy Advance to continue interacting with your islander or even trade islands with other players.

Animal Crossing Wild World released for the Nintendo DS in Japan on November 23, 2005, North America and Australia on December 5, 2005, and in Europe sometime in March of 2006.

On June 1, 2006 a Chinese version of Doubutsu no mori called 动物森林 (Dòngwù Sēnlín) was released for the iQue Player, a Chinese Nintendo console. Dòngwù Sēnlín is the original N64 version of the game despite featuring characters from Doubutsu no mori + on the cover.

Animal Crossing City Folk was releases in North America November 16, 2008 for the Wii followed by its release in Japan on November 20, 2008, Australia on December 4, 2008, and Europe on December 5, 2008. City Folk was compatible with the Wii Speak microphone, which allowed you to talk to other players who had it- essentially a form of voice chat. Fun fact: there's an add for the game where it is featured being used!!! One feature i absolutely love in this game is the fountain , where you can throw an axe into it and a special character named Serena will appear and she is how you obtain both the silver and golden axe.

Now onto Animal Crossing New Leaf was released for the Nintendo 3DS in Japan and South Korea on February 7, 2013. After that, it released internationally across June of 2003: June 9 in North America, June 14 in Europe, and June 15 in Australia.

Animal Crossing Happy Home designer was released for the 3DS in Japan on July 30, 2015, North America on September 25, Europe on October 2, and Australia on October 3. This game was very different from the others and the main goal was to design houses for villagers.

In November of 2015 we were cursed with Animal Crossing Amiibo Festival for the Wii U. The game only sold 490,000 copies and was considering a failure.

Animal Crossing Pocket Camp was released on Android and iOS mobile devices on October 25, 2017 and 40 other territories on November 22, 2017- but other sources say it was the 21. Sadly, in the last year we received news that it will be shutting down, but apparently from what i know they will be making another version of it or something of the sort.

Animal Crossing New Horizons was released on March 20, 2020 internationally for the Nintendo Switch. This game introduced DIY crafting and in later updates, cooking. Eventually they added the Happy Home Paradise DLC on November 5, 2021 which essentially functions like Happy Home Designer, but unlocks new skill you can use on your island.

I must say, we've come a longggggg way with this game. It helped a lot of people through 2020- including me. Can't wait to see what's in store for us next. Hope you enjoyed learning about the history of the games and if you would like to know more (like stuff about merch or even the movie) ask away! :D

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jeffffffffest · 6 months ago

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Io SSSSSSSSaturnalia Prompts

The time has come! Below are the prompts for our Saturnalia event.

A huge thank you to everyone who submitted prompts! As a reminder there is no limit to the number of prompts you choose to fill and works can be as big/long or small/short as you'd like to make them. The goal is to be creative and have fun!

We'll be accepting works to our AO3 Collection until January 1st.

Prompt List by prompt type:

Any Medium

“In Roman mythology, Lua was a goddess to whom soldiers sacrificed captured weapons of enemy combatants. She is sometimes referred to as "Lua Mater" or "Lua Saturni", the latter of which makes her a consort of Saturn.” Source

“The Night We Met” by Lord Huron

All of the other Jeff’s seem to have a signature color. But not him. He is all colors and none.

Art from dr-Lemurr, used with permission.

Bacchanalia. Someone (or several someones) gets drunk and makes questionable decisions, and/or is indulged and looked after by the others.

Bonfire and/or campfire

Ghost and Lucid. I adore their cottagecore-earth magic vibe. Something to do with the fae folk, Lucid and his flower tree, Ghost burying seeds under the earth, and their own fairy tale. Rain is always welcome, either as part of the triad or another part of the fairy tale.

Ghost going non-verbal as he processes and heals, learning to trust and speak again with support.

Ghost tends Lucid's wounds

Ghost/Husband/Wife THROUPLE domestic bliss

Heavy is the crown

Howl's Moving Castle AU. Enchanted Fest promo Howl? Demon of Fire Calcifer? King of Darkness Witch of the Waste? I know this has been done before, but it cannot actually be done enough. If there are other characters that tickle your fancy for a Howl AU, please go wild. Ghost realizing he's not human and finding a doorway to another world where he can be a wizard instead of a clone? Sunshine wreaking havoc in 4 worlds at once? Interpret "AU" as liberally as you like.

Jeff learns he is an incarnation of the Roman god Saturn. With each of the characters (manifestations) that he shows the world, Jeff’s fans (worshipers) and his creative powers grow. He fears this as much as he loves it, but cannot stop now.

Like bats, all of the Jeff’s can use echolocation and they have their own instinctive language of nonverbal sounds It’s part of what makes them uncanny to humans. But Jeff doesn’t realize he does either until he encounters Sunshine and Moonshine. (Feel free to swap Jeffs to whomever works for you)

Lucid only exists in dreams. Every time he meets another Jeff in his dreams, they've forgotten about him, but Lucid remembers. He always remembers.

Moonshine services Sunshine's implants. All of them.

One of the Jeffs exploring gender. Maybe they’re nonbinary or are a dude that likes to wear clothes that would traditionally be confided feminine

Passion experiences bouts of euphoria and then drops. Again and again until…

Portrait of Dorian Gray, except it's Passion (Steal the Show) or Black (Black Tie) who is indulging in hedonism and has hidden away an old mirror with a withered and ghostly figure trapped inside.

Red lipstick. Beautiful. Messy.

Role reversal

Sentinel/Guide AU

Siam (vampire) hasn't seen their own reflection in centuries. One day they see a familiar face smiling at them through a mirror.

Sipping the red wine, just like your black lies what's a little Saturnalia celebration without wine and lies? Someone makes some bad (but fun?) choices.

Spicy the horse's interactions with various Jeffs. (Does she adopt them all? Are there any she can't stand? Who does she manipulate into giving her extra treats?)

SS8 finds a grimoire with a spell that will let the caster meet other versions of themself.

Sunshine and Moonshine are two people sharing one body: how do they decide who gets to be in control and when? What do they do with the body as soon as they regain control? Do they have pet peeves about what the other one does while in control? Do they run commentary for each other while they're not in control?

Sunshine finds 008 chained up in the basement.

Sunshine has always been a trickster. But he was not always in the pantheon with Coyote, Anansi and the rest of the trickster gods. This is the story of how he became deified.

Sunshine’s tattoos (one or more) showing up on other Jeff’s and them trying to figure out why.

The incarnations each receive an invitation to a mysterious Saturnalia celebration.

The writer feels things for his creations. They might be romantic. They might be sexual. He’s not sure because he’s never felt such things for people in real life.

Their various personas are not inclined to be romantically interested in each other, despite what they may lead their fans to believe. It’s more of a creative synergy. Their acting partners though are a different story. They fall in love a bit with every one.

This jacket.

vampire siam jeff in this corset

Waking up to a cuddly and happy Lucid is always nice. It’s the nights he disappears that are worrisome.

Waxplay

When you’re (a Jeff) at a pub and there’s another person who looks like your sort of person (and maybe sort of like you?) reading a book at the bar and you’re thinking… we could be friends but… bugging someone while they’re deep in their reading is so rude!

Who are two characters you think would really not get along, put them in a room together, what happens?

Who are two characters you think would get on really well, how did they meet and how often do they hang out?

You said you liked it so I found it for you.

Audio and Video

A fictional SS8 'movie trailer' conveyed through a combination of music, sounds, audio and video clips, quotes from interviews, etc.

Visual Art and Written

Rain God the divine. Being worshipped, accepting tribute, descending to interact with mortal followers. Being almost too much/too intense for human lovers in a religious ecstasy sort of way. Being above mortal life and concerns but still sampling them through his worshippers. As long as it's fully consensual, this can be as graphic as you want to go. >.>

were!lucid but instead of a wolf he's a deer (or some other woodland creature)

Visual Art

Modern interpretation of a 'Narcissus' painting and spin on reflections in the MVs, with one of the characters gazing into a mirror and a different character appearing in the reflection. (Black Tie? Passion? Sunshine and Moonshine? JS and Ghost?)

The Court of Rain' as a classical painting, with Lucid, Sunshine, etc. depicted with their symbols/attributes, like the flower crown--mythological/religious vibe and poses.

Wings!

Thanks again to everyone who submitted prompts! We can't wait to see what everyone comes up with!

Happy Jeff-ing! 🪐

#io ssssssssaturnalia #prompt list #jeff satur #jeffcest

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apod · 11 months ago

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youtube

2024 July 17

Villarrica Volcano Against the Sky Video Credit & Copyright: Gabriel MuÃ±oz; Text: Natalia Lewandowska (SUNY Oswego)

Explanation: When Vulcan, the Roman god of fire, swings his blacksmith's hammer, the sky is lit on fire. A recent eruption of Chile's Villarrica volcano shows the delicate interplay between this fire -- actually glowing steam and ash from melted rock -- and the light from distant stars in our Milky Way galaxy and the Magellanic Clouds galaxies. In the featured timelapse video, the Earth rotates under the stars as Villarrica erupts. With about 1350 volcanoes, our planet Earth rivals Jupiter's moon Io as the most geologically active place in the Solar System. While both have magnificent beauty, the reasons for the existence of volcanoes on both worlds are different. Earth's volcanoes typically occur between slowly shifting outer shell plates, while Io's volcanoes are caused by gravitational flexing resulting from Jupiter's tidal gravitational pull.

∞ Source: apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap240717.html

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lonelydreams-world · 2 months ago

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The peaceful black night sky was covered with hundreds of gleaming stars,and a single point of light was moving quickly between them. At first it looked like a dot, no bigger than any other star,but then it seemed to grow larger as it moved closer and closer towards the Earth. It picked up speed as it disappeared behind the moon,flew out from the other side and then plunged into the atmosphere.

It left a long trail of smoke behind as it hurtled across the sky,down to the planet's surface.

It screeched loudly past a snow-covered mountain and a dark green forest,lightning up the trees as it went. It flew lower before landing in a deafening boom. Trees were thrown aside and the object carved a long,muddy trench into the ground as it shuddered to a halt landing on a remote part of the northern United States.

The object in question was sleek and metallic, and it smoked gently in the cold air of the night. It had landed a long way from any towns,so there was no one around to hear the low hum of what sounded like a engine deep inside. There was no one around to hear the whirring of a small ramp descending from the base of the ship to the forest floor. And there was no one around to hear the tip-tap of metal feet as something nasty scuttled down the ramp and disappeared into the night... The silhouette stopped for a moment to gaze at the sight of this brand new world she has just arrived in.

"Ah,a brand new place,how perfect... An opportunity to prowl in the wild again, what more could a lady of my caliber ask?". The silhouette whispered in delight,as she walked near two trees,sheathed her blades and grazed them onto the tree trunks to verify their sharpness, satisfied to see them leaving marks,she then proceeded to walk deeper into the woods with one clear motive on her mind.

The next day, Arcee, Jack and Edelgard who was above a tree whereas the duo were walking through the forest,unware of the events of the previous evening. The air was chilly, drafty and thick with bugs.

Jack Darby was a fifteen-year-old boy with slick black hair and a friendly face. A few months ago he'd been just a regular kid with a part-time job in a drive-thru restaurant. Then one day he had sat on what he thought was a regular motorbike, only to discover it was actually an Autobot disguised in vehicle mode. Since that day he had been on many adventures with Arcee, but he still felt like he was being treated as someone who needed to be protected rather than as a partner. He wanted to be thought of as a real member of their team!

So when Arcee had asked Jack to come on a 'routine recon' mission, he'd jumped at the chance. Now, as he swatted at several mosquitoes, he was starting to regret it.

"I really wish I'd packed some insect repellent," he complained as he was swatting the noisy bug left and right trying to squash it.

Arcee didn't react. She was walking a short distance ahead, pushing on through the undergrowth of the forest with a determined look on her face. Jack caught up with her as she stopped to check her hand-held scanner. She was using it to search for Energon, the blue crystals of fuel that she and her Autobot friends used as a power source, lifeblood and main source of nutrition. She studied the scanner for a moment with her shining blue and pink optics, before carrying onwards.

Jack squished yet another mosquito onto his forearm and followed. "The mosquitoes out here are the size of vampire bats, and they drink just about as much blood!"

Panting as he kept trying to hit the blood draining bug, Edelgard above them just shook her head in annoyance due to his lack of complaints and refusal to practice adaptation in this forestial territory, she then shifted her focus into gazing ahead on the environment.

Arcee looked down at him." You're quite the outdoors man kind of guy, aren't you, Jack?" she said with a smile.

"You wouldn't be making fun of my survival kit, would you?"Jack shot back jokingly.

"Maybe" Arcee teased back in a similar tone, as she tilted her head and shrugged with her index and middle digits, her amusing smile never leaving her mouthplate.

"I may not have sting-proof metal skin, but I can use my multi-function pocket knife and fire-starter to cook up some freeze-dried macaroni and cheese." Jack patted his Black Fanny bag proudly, and then unziped it to get a specific item he meant to show to his guardian, he held out his pocket knife for Arcee to look at, spreading it open to show the various tools it contained.She looked unimpressed though,before she could answer him, a voice from above cut her off.

"About high time you stopped frining, Johnny Complaints, if you can come up with a loads of narking and moaning like that you must be fine, because everything after mosquito is blah,blah, blah" Edelgard responded having enough of his whining over a mosquito as the duo looked a said girl who was leaning against the tree wearing her hooded black coat.

"Need I remind you that before people had technology they were Tribesfolk? Yet, despite the lack of contraptions, they made it through just fine even without machinery, for they compensated it with blood, sweat and tears that have been shown in their rigorous daily training that developed their skills, perceptions, innovation and adaptation for survival in a savage world, if you can not handle a feeble mosquito then you have no chance at all in these woods , unlike Buck from Call of The Wild" Edelgard finished her statement in a matter of factly manner, as she had enough to see people going soft because of never learning to leave their comfort zone.

Edelgard was a mysterious girl that Jack accidentally met the very same day he met Arcee in her motorcycle form, he bumped into her trying to get away from the chasing Vehicons and Arcee herself after she threatened him to not reveal that she can talk and drive on her own, ever since that she has resented him for involving her into a warfare between two faction from the same species that could possibly make her life nothing short of constraints and danger, she never shown once a sign of friendliness or trust toward him and the others, which made it difficult for them to guess what she will do next, but has come aware about two things about her... That she had powers, and that she was amnesiac to the point of remembering one thing... Her name and last name which said last name she never told anyone except two, but those two were outside of that circle in which she wished she get out of it.

She also warned the quartet of Jack, Miko, Raf and Sierra that if the Autobots knew about her two secrets she will cut off their tongues, so they decided to comply, until Miko accidentally let the cat out of the bag about her secrets ,which made her ten times more guarded than before refusing to say anything about herself and often giving everyone the cold shoulder, but deep down he knew she wasn't like that.

He had witnessed time and again how despite being indifferent to everyone she protected them, he recalled when one of Soundwave's tentacles was about to swing an ax on them, she stepped in and saved them resulting her in being thrusted harshly to a wall, helping them patch the Autobots from their Scraplet injuries and the defrost process of Optimus and Arcee, her taking a risk by saving a Scraplet from being blasted after seeing that it has been reprogramed into not feeding on living Cybertronians, only metal alloys that meet his consumption requirements, trying to save Miko from being crushed by Makeshift whom she suspected that he was posing for Wheeljack, but unfortunately got caught with her, yet managed to hatch a plan to save them both, fighting MECH operatives to protect the DINGUS, trying to stop a Locomotive by herself, going on her own to back Bulkhead during his solo attempt to retrieve the Energon Harvestor and recently but most shockingly managing to tame a Predacon that was hiding in the Omega One Outpost which was secretly consuming Energon without the Autobots notice until they figured out who is the real culprit, these exploits alone have shown Jack that Edelgard was capable of courage, ingenuity, kindness, cooperation and compassion, yet only regresses herself never giving away a single personal detail of her life, for the only thing that would come out of her mouth is either a sassy, snarky and sharply witty remarks and sarcastic bits or a straight talk hard truth that no one can argue about it being wrong, but when he and Sierra went to race against Vince for a round 2 secretly from Optimus and Arcee with Bumblebee as his substitute because Vince threatened to hurt Raf, Edelgard was with them refusing to tell her reason, till she saw the punch for his stomach, as he and Sierra figured out that must have been said reason to come, hopefully one day he wishes that she can at least trust them even a little to better understand what kind of person she is underneath the aloof and frigid exterior.

"Seriously? Must you challenge anyone?" Arcee asked annoyed as she stared where the dark blond was standing at the tree branch.

"Where I come from that is how you survive, you would not ask me that if you were in my position, which I highly doubt you would" Edelgard countered as she stood up straight stepping in front.

"Aren't you a bit scared that you might fall? I mean it's pretty high up there from where you stand" Jack inquired worriedly at how the tan skinned girl isn't afraid of falling off a tree, also wanting to cut the tension between his guardian and her afraid that it would escalate to a long dispute.

"Well, unlike you 'Mr. Survival Kit' I have no problem adjusting, whether it is the heat of a scorching desert, the freezing cold, the height of a tree, the pouring rain, the draftiness and humidity of a cave or forest, the biting of poisonous insects and animals, I learned how to adapt like a true surviving nomad" Edelgard responded plainly as she kept her gaze onward not looking at them in the eyes or optics.

"I do not afford wasting time socialising, I would rather focus at the task at hand, because the more I stay here the more I feel the mere presence of both of you alone which is no picnic for me, and no need to come to my rescue I have a rifle and a dagger in which I can use to defend myself because relying on 'Miss Ditcher' here to protect me would be a let down". Edelgard finished as her eyes where flickering on the horizon, but her last words made Arcee groan and roll her eyes about her all familiar attitude.

For the past few weeks, Arcee put up with Edelgard's attitude for Jack's' sake. She did not hate the girl nor did she her either,due to the lack of trust she has in all of them.

However, Arcee had to put up with it, she did it only not just because of Jack, but for her own personal reason, doing it out of respect to a fellow warrior. She had not been blind to the human's actions during their first encounter. Despite the differences in physiology the young maiden had fought off MECH agents by herself, even though said agents were trained to kill on site should they encounter an obstacle, yet she used whatever resources she had to try stopping them from getting the 'DINGUS', not to mention attempting cease the train on her own before Optimus showed up and finished what she started, what also surprised her is how she managed to tame a Predacon, even though she wasn't born at the age where they existed on her home planet on Cybertron she knew from stories that they were predators that would eat any unfortunate Cybertronians in site, just like how most of their folktales end, but now here on earth she witnessed one, and is living with one in her home in the Outpost, this exploit alone made her know that Edelgard was much more different than her yet had her own hidden talents that she keeps to herself, she too managed to turn one of the most dangerous vermin into a none threatening companion whom she keeps close at all times.

During the war on Cybertron, Arcee had learned from experience that a fight was most often a way to tell you about someone because behavior in a combat situation is unpredictable. She worked with many Autobots in combat but few were considered her equal except one, it was watching the way they fight that allowed her to understand what kind of character a bot possessed, she benefited also from this experience when she was once a police officer working for Prowl and occasionally would partner up with fellow Cybertronian motorcycle now Autobot Flareup whom she considered her like a sister before both went their separate ways during the war, she has seen Bots with much more fighting experience and Decepticons capable of using multiple tactics, but met different personalities some serious, some lighthearted but faced harsh realities, some intelligent like Ratchet, she learned that when he fixed her arm after it was shot off by Breakdown when she first arrived on Earth with Cliffjumper, but luckily she found kinship and a new reason to fight for the cause no matter what.

Arcee had learned that Edelgard was one of the few humans who had courage to stand in the face of fear despite the unfairness of the odds that are stacked against her. That was what a true warrior was even if she and Edelgard didn't want to get along.

Jack could practically feel the intense tension between the two, ever since Arcee went out to patrol with Bumblebee when she was actually ordered to stay and watch over them by Optimus,instead of following his instructions she in Edelgard’s eyes ditched them in favours of acting on what she wants rather than doing what she was told to do which made the dark blond record her words to use them against her later on which she did when Optimus scolded Bulkhead, while he and Edelgard do not see eye to eye he to himself at least admitted that she was right, Arcee leaving caused them to not only being discovered by Agent Fowler and him tortured through Energon electrocution during interrogating him in the Brig by Starscream, but also involving Raf whom he consideres like a younger brother was put in danger in which he was fortunate enough to survive because of Miko's desire to see an Autobot and Decepticon fight, Sierra too whom she has seen action with them knows very well the repercussions of giant robots fighting, while he is grateful that he can still live and see his mother again so are his friends with their families, he understood how deep the war was and how one little mistake done by unnecessary risks can endanger one's life as he learned that the hard way when he raced against Vince to impress Sierra, it was because of the Fowler and many more incidents that made Edelgard refuse to come to base unless she does by her own reasons and also to have an Autobot act as a guardian to her because she doubts their word and their actions to be faithful it is no small wonder she is a close door, but while Optimus himself chose to become her guardian against her protests, wishes and choices, Jack hoped that the Autobot Commander might be the one to convince her that the Autobots are truly genuine in their desire to protect their planet and how honest they are when it comes to care about not only their well being but also themselves.

His mind wandered to what happened earlier at the base before they left for their 'recon routine'

1 hour earlier before leaving for North America.

Jack was enjoying another round of playing the racing video game that Raf got them as he was trying to beat Miko because last time he did, the game got interrupted by power failure which wiped out his score, but this time he is going to win.

Raf, Sierra, Bumblebee, Bulkhead minus Arcee were cheering on both of them to win, whereas Ratchet in the monitors was just grumbling to himself about the amount of noise they are making.

Edelgard on the other hand was on the floor with Sparkplug her Scraplet beside her and their newest friend Bellatrix Leola was sitting next to her staring intently at the booklet her friend is reading, which was Charles Perrault's stories, but the one she currently reads was 'Les Aventures de Finette', 'The Adventure of Finette' in french in which tells about a young princess who finds herself in all different kinds of troubles yet her sharp wit was able to get her out of these problems with ease by relying on her cleverness.

Roaring engines could be heard at the base entrance and exit route coming closer as they did, it revealed Optimus and Ironhide coming back from a routine patrol in Jasper, Nevada, transforming into their bipedal forms, they walked towards Ratchet to give report.

"How was your patrol?" Ratchet asked while he was in deep focus on his satellite scan readings to see if he could detect an Energon mine for the Autobots, as he felt that it is imperative that they need to secure one to restock their reserves.

"Nothin' much just plain old scenery, same old sights, unlike you Ratchet and Prime, every time I look into a monitor, my circuts sizzle. When are we going to start busting Deceptichops? The boredom enough is killin' me" The old war veteran complains due to the lack of action these recent days.

"I admit Decepticon activity these past few weeks are at lull, meaning that Starscream must be searching for more Energon Deposits to which he could collect more or preparing for the next course of action" Optimus said as he shared his own concerns to his two old friends.

"Well I hope it doesn't last long, I've been itching for some action and a chance to play target practice with my two cannons" Ironhide lamented as he rubbed his left servo.

Optimus just smiled amused at his weapon's specialist dilemma, being a Cybertronian of action Ironhide constantly looks forward to fight, glancing around the room he saw the children and his teammates enjoying spending time together, however, he noticed one missing he flickered his optics left and right in searching only to find his charge sitting on the floor with her Scraplet companion and her newfound Predacon friend together far away from the kids who are above the platform with his Autobots behind them.

"She ain't no social butterfly ain't she?" Ironhide commented as he noticed Optimus staring at the girl he personally took on the responsibility to protect and act as a guardian to her.

"Kids usually like to hang out with one another but her... Well she'd rather read, kinda like how you were before you got named leader and promoted to Prime" Ironhide compared which made his leader raise an optic ridge in curiosity.

Before Optimus could answer the main monitor started beeping.

"Optimus, my satellite scanners might have stumbled upon an underground Energon deposit for the taking but the signature itself is weak but steady I will need somebot to scout it" Ratchet informed to everyone in the room while asking for a volunteer.

"I'll go for this routine recon, as long as the destination isn't a frozen ice cap" Arcee spoke up, as she wanted to take part in a simple mission as she too like Ratchet desired to find Energon for her friends and herself.

"Can I come? " a voice cut in which was none other than Jack as he walked towards the four Autobots with Miko, Raf and Sierra behind him in the catwalk that is near the elevator as they paused their game and were listening to the conversation they wanted to take part of.

"Are you certain kid? We don't wanna drag you in another average day with us Bots" Ironhide said with uncertainty by echoing Jack's previous words about how perilous an Autobot mission is.

"He can tag along, it's just scouting for Energon, nothing more to it and if cons do show up I will send him straight to the Groundbridge" Arcee agreed assuring her superiors that she will look after Jack.

To her this was the opportunity to earn back Optimus, Ironhide and Ratchet's approval after the 'Fowler Botnapping incident' which she indirectly caused by leaving Bulkhead in charge, she ended up being scolded by all three of them and was suspended from missions and to add it all up her racing stunt against Vince which almost costed his life and Edelgard's as she was kidnapped by Knockout. She was fortunate enough to see that both were safe and unharmed,not to mention Vince not knowing anything about their existence, it was a close call that could have jeopardized everything, but that day she and Jack weren't the only ones who took the responsibility for their actions, Sierra, Raf, Miko, Bumblebee and Bulkhead took it too which made all three bots banned from patrols and partaking in missions, as they got substituted by Optimus, Ratchet and Ironhide to scout the town and other places.

Hopefully she thought that this is the opportunity to be trusted and make up for her past mistakes, as a guardian to Jack and as a mature Autobot soldier.

"Great, so where are we headed?" Jack wondered excited since he had no opportunity to go outside Jasper.

"North America, near the forest" Ratchet answered to the young adult.

"So... Its a routine recon and a brief camping? Not bad for a first outdoor experience" Jack said satisfied with what the mission is going to offer.

"Can I come with too?" Miko asked too eagerly since she hoped for some action and to secretly help the bots with anything since they are protecting their planet.

"Sorry Miko, I don't think Optimus wants you to take part in and didn't Ratchet said it was in the forest?" Bulkhead denied not wanting to go because he knew she will immediately regret.

"So, what about it? Why should it matter" Miko said as she did not understood why she couldn't take part in a safe recon mission, since there is no danger.

"Uh, Miko didn't you learn nothing from Miss Hertz' biology class sessions?" Sierra tried to clarify for Bulkhead and hopefully that she will catch on to what he is trying to prevent her from finding out the hard way.

"It does matter Pitaya, because forests are known to the natural home of the cause of your phobia, 21 species to be precise, 'Black Widow, Brown Widow, Brown Recluses, Yellow Sac, Wolf, Jumping, Cellar, Grass, Camel, Bold, Crab, Hobo, House, Orb-weaver, Tarantula, Trapdoor, Woodlouse, Southern House, Harvestmen, Ground, and Funnel Spiders" Edelgard listed as everyone around her looked surprised at how much she managed to remember the names of the Spiders that lived in the Forests of North America, on the other hand both Sierra and Miko were sweating bullets when Edelgard enumerated the entire list of Spiders their worst fears, which made their skin crawl.

"Those two make it so easy" Edelgard muttered amusingly to herself as Sparkplug and Bellatrix chuckled in their own sounds at Edelgard's enjoyable gape.

"You know what, I changed my mind about going to this recon" Miko said immediately not wanting to deal with another Brown Recluse like last time when the base was infested with Scraplets, luckily for her Edelgard found said spider that was in Sierra's hair and crushed it in front of them without hesitation.

"Same here." Sierra said as she shuddered the thought of seeing anymore eight legged creatures or any to inhabit her hair.

"Still, tell you what how about we go another round Dune Bashing just the two of us" Bulkhead offered to cheer her up.

"Sa-weet! You sure know how to lift my spirits Bulk! " Miko squealed in joy jumped up and down which made him laugh at her enthusiasm.

"You know... Miko might be on to something, take Edelgard with you" Ratchet suggested seeing how Edelgard seems to be an expert in wildlife which made Optimus nod in agreement.

"Wait what?! Why does she/do I have to come?" Arcee and Edelgard said at the same time as the dark blond as she stood up from where she sat as soon as she heard that she is involved with a mission with Jack and Arcee, but was not happy about it, as for Arcee her voice doesn't spare any complaints which Jack felt it immediately and so are the others.

"Because I said so, her ability to sense energy including Energon will prove highly useful and using a scanner alone will not be sufficient" Ratchet explained on why he wanted Edelgard to take part of this operation.

"Wait I gotta/got to team up with Her" The duo said at the same time,while Jack watched in bewilderment.

"Oh, oh" Raf said knowingly as he winced at the tone of their voice with Bumblebee flinching.

"Awkward" Miko and Sierra echoed together knowing what is about to happen next, with Bulkhead nodding.

"Couldn't you make an exception and not include her, I have Jack coming with me and I know all about Energon scouting" Arcee complained not wanting to have her time with Jack be ruined.

"Sorry, but the last I want is to be near her, even if it is a ten foot radius distance" Edelgard protested as she does not trust the two wheeler of the team.

"Edelgard, Arcee whether you like it or not you are partners, friends, allies in this mission Ratchet has assigned you, so you are to work together and that is an order" Optimus said to his charge firmly with no room for objections.

"And here I thought abuse of power was beneath him,ugh fine Sparkplug hop in the bag" Grumbled the girl, as she opened her bag for her pet to get in.

"Sorry, but I don't want any more plus ones, just you and Jack" Arcee objected before even Sparkplug set a claw on the bag which made him croon in sadness, as Bellatrix lowered her head and nuzzles him in comfort.

"Seriously?! First I have no say whether I should go or not, now I can not bring the only protector I can actually count on can not come, it is official my grave is already dug without any doubt" Edelgard whined not liking this every second of it.

"Are you suggesting that I am incapable of acting as a protector? While your Scraplet is qualified? " Arcee asked in disbelief at how low her faith was in her.

"I am not suggesting anything, I am stating an actual fact had you proven capable of following directives without acting out of your own interests I would at least consider you capable this much" as she raised her index and thumb as measurement.

"Wait, no, no, no there much better" she did so again but this time the two fingers were closer making them create a tiny hole.

"If I were to choose between you, a rabid schnauzer or a rat, to be a more qualified choice to act as a guardian, rather than a reckless renegade such as yourself, I will take the second and third option rather then the first choice" The black coated girl confessed sarcastically.

Before Arcee could answer she was cut off by Optimus.

"Enough! You are to show cooperation in this mission understood? Besides it is an opportunity for all three of you to as the humans say 'unplug yourselves', think of it as a chance for a character builder that will strengthen you." Optimus ordered as he wanted both of them to at least act in harmony even for a brief moment, the two looked at each other for a moment then spun their heads scoffing.

"Whatever" Arcee relented disappointedly as she headed towards where Jack was awaiting for her.

"Believe me girl sometimes I wish I could scare them away or fly away or turn invisible in a moment's notice. And so much for finishing reading the part where Finette was about to confess to the prince that she made a decoy to spare him from murdering an innocent, I guess you and Sparkplug have to finish the story without me until I return from this 'routine recon' with Corbeau(Crow in french) and Sarcasm" Edelgard said in disappointment as she felt the eyes of the Predacon behind her.

"Still behave in my absence alright? Sparkplug knows how to read French so he can tell you all about the other stories that are in this booklet" As she put the book on the ground and gone to lean in the wall in waiting for the two.

10 minutes later

After Jack got his fanny bag ready when Arcee took him home to fetch what he needed for the mission, Edelgard was leaning against the wall tapping her finger against her arm impatiently, as she was annoyed that she had to go with two of her least favorite people, not to mention she couldn't bring Sparkplug along due to Two Wheeler uneasiness with the scraplet which infuriated her to no end.

"Do not let her get to you Edelgard, you will have another chance to have serendipity" A familiar voice said

Darkus was a mysterious spirit who made contact in her dreams with Edelgard the day she left the Autobots headquarters when they were first brought to it, she is the only one who can and hear him, as he proved to be the only presence she can tolerate because of his honesty and straightforwardness as he never pried on asking her about any personal information and is shown to be a kindred spirit as he confessed that he too lost his memories just like her which made it her mission to help him, since every time she recovered a fragment of her's, he did too, for a unique reason she truly wanted to help him, even though she never involves herself with others and their lives,but with Darkus she felt otherwise.

"I really, wish that everytime I have a say in what I should or should not do, but unfortunately adults like 'Big Red Rig' to abuse their power on those younger than him"

"It must frustrate you does it not? I understand how you feel but think of it this way, you have the opportunity to explore a forest, and comune with nature which is something I believe, is your kind of activity." Darkus assures her trying to lift her spirit up, which worked as she turned to her right.

"I guess there is a bright side to it, even as minute. Very well I will at least make due but still not giving them the satisfaction, I always had a soft spot for nature calls, especially done by wolves and birds." Edelgard relented seeing her partner in destiny making a compelling point.

Just as she said that, Ratchet just finished putting the coordinates and opening the groundbridge, he walked to Arcee handing her a scanner so she can use it and detect their main source of fuel,Edelgard made her way first near the transport portal, but not without having the last word.

"Out of my way Blue Meanie of a Porcupine, you already know this I do not like you and you do not like me, so let get this over with quickly, so I can get on with my life, any attempt of trying to cross my path will be met in sore regret for you" Edelgard vowed as she went to the groundbridge first, leaving a scowling Arcee behind.

"Ugh" Arcee as she headed to the portal too an angry scowl on her face which made the group of Raf, Miko, Sierra, Bumblebee and Bulkhead either gulp at the situation or saying a quiet 'Uh Oh'. 1

"I will try and make sure they don't kill each other" Jack assured everyone, despite not being sure of himself, if he somehow managed to avoid a cat fight between the two of them, then it would be a miracle.

The 16 year old then headed last to the portal leaving, the rest of the group concerned about how Arcee and Edelgard will behave around each other.

"Somehow, kid's promise won't be easy to keep, I feel sorry for him, are you sure this was a good idea to send these two out together? " Ironhide asked his leader with a doubtful expression.

"To be frank old friend, I remain uncertain myself, but hopefully this expedition will help them come to an understanding" Optimus answered truthfully to one of his second defacto leader, as he too was worried about Edelgard's malignancy towards other will cause conflict within the group, he held hope in his spark that this expedition will help his charge to learn to trust others even a little.

End of Flashback.

Jack knew that he hands full with this promise that he made to Optimus and the others, as he himself admitted that he is no miracle worker,yet it remains to be seen.

Arcee held up her Energon scanner and waved it in front to prove her point, which made Jack turn in her direction after he finished remembering the past events back at the Silo. "You and her have your tools, I have mine."

Suddenly the scanner started to bleep. Arcee looked at it, concerned. "That's odd. Ratchet's satellite scans were accurate, but underground Energon deposits don't cause this kind of surge."

Above them Edelgard felt an unfamiliar scent which caused her to sniff the air around her, she could feel the stench of scorching metal and an unfamiliar liquid, suddenly inside her hood her blond strands started to flicker indicating that there is a nearby energy ahead.

"True, I feel something unusual coming over there" She called out to the two below ground as they followed the direction she pointed out to them.

She held the scanner in front of her and started to follow it towards the source of the disturbance. Jack ran after her as she pushed a path through the undergrowth,and the scanner bleeped rapidly as they got closer to their target.

Edelgard landed not far away from them and started to walk slowly while looking left and right in case an enemy emerges, she wasn't the only one on the lookout duty for Darkus is floating above trying to see if there was something that stood out, seeing that it is safe he gave Edelgard the signal to proceed without worry, which she made him know by nodding in confirmation, as she sprinted ahead in Arcee and Jack's direction, as she caught up with them and is now walking behind them.

They soon emerged into a wide clearing in the forest. Jack and Edelgard were surprised to see a large scorch-marked trench cut into the ground in front of them and they he thought they could smell smoke in the air. "What happened here?" he asked, as Edelgard and Darkus were on the same page about what caused the trench to be made.

"That is one way to pave a road or make a man-made river." Darkus commented as he used the telepathic link he shared with Edelgard to communicate when they were around other people to avoid being weirded out by other whenever Edelgard talks to him normally whereas in their eyes they think she is talking to thin air.

"I have a feeling that this was not man-made at all, no construction vehicle would create that much damage let alone damage these trees, at least the construction workers and builders make sure that the trees are removed not twisted or destroyed like that." Edelgard observed as she shared what she thought with her partner in destiny.

"A crash landing," answered Arcee in recognition, with a grave look on her face. "Stay behind me, low and close." she instructed to the two of them as she sprinted ahead of them.

She bent down low and darted from tree to tree as she followed the path of the trench. Jack ran as fast as he could, struggling to keep up. Arcee was at her fastest in her motorbike vehicle mode, but even in robot mode her legs were almost twice as tall as Jack's entire body. She could move very quickly. While Edelgard walked slowly making sure that there's no unexpected surprises would emerge with Darkus above in the air his eyes darting and flickering in every corner to make sure his partner is safe.

Panting and wheezing, Jack caught up with her as she stopped a short distance ahead. Beyond the line of trees lay a compact spaceship, which was still smouldering gently from its journey through space.

"Autobot or Decepticon?" Jack asked thinking that it might another Bot like Wheeljack but if it wasn't the case the Decepticons may have gained a new member that they do not know of. "Can't tell," admitted Arcee. "Wait here" . Jack watched as she equiped herself with her left energon blaster and rose up from her crouched position,darted out from behind the trees walking slowly towards it while turning her head left and right her optics darting from both directions on high alert, whereas Jack was glancing left and right in worry with fear in his eyes not knowing what to expect on his side Edelgard and Darkus remained calm knowing that panicking will not help as they kept their guard up.

Arcee, blaster in hand arrived near the side of the ship still quietly walking by keeping her body low and her weapon raised high and sprinted towards the ship

She spotted a small ramp underneath the ship and ran towards it, as she slid from a small hill landing exactly at the entrance, she smiled to herself knowing that her stealth approach and the element of surprise is in her favor and now came out of hiding with a serious expression aiming her blaster at whatever might be inside, and slowly entered the vessel seeing that it was empty only her strut steps were heard as she kept entering deeper.

Jack was getting fidgety with all of the eerie atmosphere around he looked at Edelgard whose arms are folded and never said a single word since Arcee left, he couldn't see the look on her face because it was concealed underneath the hood of her black coat.

"Strange... This ship for some reason resembles a spider" Edelgard thought out

"What is a spider? And why did you compare the ship to the aforementioned creature? " Darkus asked in curiosity as he had no idea what the creature is.

"Big, hairy, black or with other colors like brown, fangs, eight legs, spins a web,weaves nets, crawls up walls, poison its preys with venomous mandible bites that is their whole deal, not to mention with its scratches and angled spikes positioned against burnt trees, it does really duplicate a hairy spider in a certain angle."Edelgard shared her view to Darkus about why she thinks that the ship looks like a spider in her eyes.

As if sensing someone staring at her, she glanced through her red goggles at Jack who is still uneasy that Arcee hasn't returned, seeing him in this state made her uncomfortable, yet knowing he will stay like that she decided to say something to distract him from the discomfort he is feeling even though she was not in the mood for talking.

"Stop twitching, she will come back soon after she is done with her thorough search inside the space vessel" Edelgard reasoned in hopes of stopping his restlessness,which succeeded as he stood up straight, yet Jack wanting to confirm something with her so he turned to her and asked.

"What do you think?"Jack asked her from the right as he now felt calm because of what she said about why Arcee is taking so long.

Edelgard turned to him and replied, "Why are you asking me?"

"You're the one with a cautious look and silence as long as the grave... So you think that ship's trouble?" Jack retorted with a raised eyebrow.

She just rolled her eyes as she stared at the ship for any distinguishing marks on the hull "Considering this vessel has not made a smooth landing, nor a happy one for that matter I would say the captain had either put it in autopilot mode but it short circuited during the voyage, he or she do not seem to be distressed being in a foreign world."

"Still... Could be a Bot or a Con?" Jack wondered aloud about which Cybertronian is siding with who.

"Beats me " Edelgard said plainly as she shrugged her shoulders.

"Okay... Strike the two obvious choices? Could it be another kind? Like an Alien that Cybertronians know of?" Jack inquired again wanting a clear answer.

"Possibly. But I dare say that it is a Decepticon who is a free agent of some sorts." Edelgard deduced quickly.

"What makes you so sure about this?" Jack said in surprise at how fast she figured it out.

"One, if the captain was an Autobot would not the base have contacted us in advance or Doc Bot at least gave us the heads up that there was an unknown beacon coming from that vessel like how Sword Bot came in contact as soon as he received the call. Two, whoever it is he or she do not want to draw attention to themselves from both factions since no sides seem to have been aware of the crash landing, and it would seem they attend to keep it that way. Three, Decepticons have shown recently a dissension among the ranks meaning that our mystery Cybertronian is one who enjoys playing solo acts like your guardian is. " Edelgard explained to the young adults at how she founnd out easily.

"Hey! Arcee is no solo act! " Jack defended not liking the comment.

"Tell that to her teammates whom she always ditches to show off" Edelgard snapped back, which made Jack frown as he said nothing as he knew she was talking about the race and doesn't seem to let him hear the end of it.

Moments later, Jack and Edelgard saw her emerge, but instead of running back to them, they found her stumbling as if her struts became wobbly losing balance in each step she took, she leaned against the ship's hull and stared into space. She was in shock.

"A-a-arcee?" Jack strutted worriedly as he ran where she was standing, Edelgard following him behind with a suspicious look on her face.

"Arcee?" called Jack in a hushed voice, but Arcee wasn't listening. She was remembering events that happened a long time ago, back during the war against the Decepticons on Cybertron...

Evil, cunning purple eyes shining at her out of the darkness...

Large insect-like metal legs scuttling towards her...

A familiar bot cuffed to the ceiling who was battered, bruised and drained of his paint job showing nothing but gray.

The purple optic bot grinning and hissing in delight with her optic widening in glee.

A claw raised in the darkness, ready to attack...

And finally Energon is now splattered on the wall.

The two-wheeler shook her head off from her vegetative state and began to shake it off knowing that she had to get her act together and take action hastily.

When she didn't respond to Jack's cries,he ran over to her. "Arcee, what's wrong?"

Slowly, Arcee turned towards him her optics closed. He had never seen her look more afraid. "I know who this ship belongs to," she told him with an ominous tone that carried fear in it.

Her optics snapped open and immediately reached out to her audio receptors with her two left digits activating her communication link.

@mk-wizard @escapistsatellite What do you think?

12 notes · View notes

chloe-spade · 22 days ago

Text

Part of that World: Poor Unfortunate Souls

Shoto gasped as he saw the beautiful lights that flashed into the sky without a second thought. He couldn't help but stare at it, but his eyes widened once he saw the source. It was a ship, a real life, not sunken down into the ocean.

"A real ship," Shoto murmured to himself.

"What in the world?" Momo gasped in shock, looking at the ship. "Why ios there a ship here?"

"Who cares!" Natsou panicked. "If they see us, we'll be doomed."

"Tell that to Shoto," Momo sighed as she watched the mermaid prince swim towards the ship.

"What-! Oh you have to got to be kidding me.." Natsou mumbled.

Momo and Natsou followed Shoto towards the ship, not particularly excited about being near humans and the ships that filled their seas. But Shoto wasn't as fearful; he was actually quite excited. Once he arrived, he managed to find a ledge to sit upon, looking into a gap between the railings.

Shoto gasped as he saw boots dance upon the wooden floors of the ships and a plethora of musical instruments playing delightfully in the air. The smell of something sweet filled his nose, as many had a delightful treat in their hands.

"Hey Oh!" called out Denki, who was flying ahead.

"Denki?" Shoto acknowledged. "Hush, they'll hear you!"

"Hear me? They wouldn't even understand me!" Denki laughed, landing by Shoto. "But enough about me, what are you doing here, Shoto?"

"I had to see them. At least before Father notices," Shoto answered. "And look how happy they are. Being able to dance so happily without much of a care in the word. Unlike me."

"Hey, don't sell yourself short," Denki said, patting Shoto's back.

A loud noise caught Shoto's attention. It was quite a creature; based on what Denki had told him, Shoto remembered it as a dog. It was rushing towards Shoto.

Shoto moved back, but not so that he could jump back down. He watched how the dog stared at him with a smile, which gave Shoto the courage to touch the fur. He was amazed by how soft it was.

"Where did you come from?" Shoto whispered to the animal.

"Victory?" called out a voice. "Where are you, boy?"

Shoto's eyes watched as the dog ran past many humans to one particular human, and he couldn't help but stare.

The human was handsome—very much so. He had green hair, matching kind eyes, and a voice that laughed when his dog happily licked his face. Shoto felt his eyes soften and sighed happily.

"Look at him." Shoto spoke up, his voice meek.

"Uh, looks a little furry to me." Denki shrugged.

"No," Shoto chuckled, moving Denki's head to the human. "I was talking about him."

"Oh. My bad, my bad. I didn't see him." Denki chuckled.

Shoto watched as the human was accompanied by his friends.

"Happy Birthday, Izuku," said a friend with short, lovely brown hair.

"Thanks Ochaco," Izuku grinned. "I'm glad you managed to come over to my ship. I know you probably prefer to be with your parents."

"Oh, I wouldn't miss this for the world," Ochaco beamed. "I love birthdays and you are one of my closest friends, Izuku. Why would I ever miss this?"

"Well, I know you for one," Izuku answered. "And you like helping your parents."

"Hey, it's only one night, and they want me to have fun," Ochaco answered happily. "But they did say happy birthday."

"Indeed," added another friend, Tenya Iida. "It is indeed your special day and as your friends, we always have much fun during these times."

"I know, Iida," Izuku blushed. "I am so grateful that I have my friends with me."

The trio stopped as he heard the spoon hitting against the glass. Everyone on the boat looked over at Shota Aizawa with a glass of wine in his hands.

"Good Evening," Shota said in his usual deadpan voice. "I am happy that many could attend Prince Izuku Midoriya's special occasion on this nice but hot summer night."

Many laughed at the deadpanned delivery, but let him continue.

"As Izuky reaches the age of kinglyhood, we are happy to announce that we hae our gift for our beautiful prince this evening and we like to present it to you."

"Thank you," Izuku smiles. "But I don't need gifts to be happy with my friends."

But Izuku's smile almost faltered as the statue of himself was revealed. It was unsettling, with Izuku looking over at the stone version. Its expression was blank, and the clothing was exaggerated, with puffy sleeves, a cape behind his back, and a sword on his side. It was like looking at the people's version of Izuku, but the real Izuku only managed a cough.

"Thank you, Mr. Aizawa," Izuku stammered. "It's quite a thoughtful gift from you."

"Yes, it is." Aizawa sighed. "But your mother and I were hoping this was gifted at the wedding."

"Aw, right, the wedding," Izuku hesitated. "I…right. The wedding."

"What's with the face?"

"I don't know why but I don't see myself marrying Kacchan," Izuku admitted. "I know he and I have been friends since forever but I just don't feel a connection to him."

Izuku sighed and sat down on the ledge, where Shoto stared up at him with loving eyes that Denki was worried about.

"Maybe I was hoping I was finding someone who I can love." Izuku spoke into the Sea. "To be with someone who loves me just as much as I love them? It would be a dream come true to find the person…maybe they are waiting for me to meet them."

Shoto gasped and blushed at it, but he couldn't help himself. He was happy to be with humans, but seeing Izuku speaking about love like that was different. He could feel the same way.

"Look, Aizawa, if I want to meet someonem I want my heart to pound. Pound like lightening!" Izuku proclaimed.

The lights in the sky blasted, and soon after that, the ship caught on fire. Everyone gasped as the fires began to spread instantly, the sails instantly burning, and smoke filled the air. Shoto gasped and jumped down into the Sea, meeting Natsou and Momo.

"What happened?"

"Father must've been informated about the ship," Natsou guessed. "We should go before things get worse."

"But what about the humans?" Shoto asked. "We can't leave them here. They'll die."

"Who cares, Shoto?"

"They are like us," Shoto defended and swam closer.

They watched as the humans got onto smaller boats and sailed away from the burning ship. But Shtot watched with bated breath as he saw Aizawa practically screaming at Izuku to get on the boat, but Izuku ran back.

Ignoring his brother's constant screams, Shoto quickly swam towards the boat. When he did, he saw Izuku running into the flames.

"Come on, Victory!" He heard Izuku call out. "Stay with me, boy!"

To Shoto's surprise, he saw the dog jump onto the ocean beside him. Victory whines sadly but once he saw Shoto, he slowly swam towards him, scared.

"Hey, it's alright, Victory. Just stay with me, and I'll take you to your friends." Shoto whispered and helped the dog to a nearby boat, lifting the dog but keeping himself hidden from the human eyes.

Victory barked happily as Ochaco grabbed him and held him close to her chest as the fires burst into flames and a silhouette of a body fell into the ocean.

"Izuku!" Ochaco cried.

Shoto swam deeper to see Izuku slowly drifting into the Sea, eyes closing. Panicked, he swam over and grabbed the human, lifting him to the air above the Sea. He watched as the ship sank into the Sea. Shoto didn't pay any mind to the damaged ship as he swam towards a nearby beach. Shoto sighs in relief and puts Izuku down on the sand.

Shoto feels the sunlight on his back as he examines the human, trying to determine whether he is alive.

"Oh what a storm!" cried Denki. "If I stayed there any longer, I thought I was gonna lose my feathers."

"Shoto!" gasped Momo as she swam closer. "Where did you go?"

"Saved a human, that's what!" Natsou spat. "Father is going to be mad at us."

But Shoto doesn't acknowledge his brother as he continues to look at the human, and he looks over at Denki.

"Was I too late?" Shoto asked.

"It's hard to say," Denki said, lifting the human's foot and rubbing his face into it. "Oh…I can't figure out a heartbeat."

"No, look," Shoto gasped, seeing Izuku's chest lift. "He's breathing."

Shoto grinned and looked at the human once again, swooning. "Look at him. He's so beautiful."

🐚

What would I give

To live where you are?

What would I pay

To stay here beside you?

What would I do to see you

Smiling at me?

Where would we walk?

Where would we run?

🐚

Momo looks over at Natsou, whose mouth widens in shock. She carefully lifts his chin to close his mouth. She is just as shocked and can't blame Natsou for his reaction.

🐚

If we could stay all day in the sun?

Just you and me

If I could be

Part of your world

🐚

Izuku's hands met Shoto's. He opened his eyes to see his savior sing such a beautiful melody, but Victory's bark scared the man away, and he heard a splash in front of him.

"I found him!" he heard a man scream. The familiar man rushed towards his side and helped him up. "What happened to you?! You jerk!"

"Kacchan…" coughed Izuku. "I…I saw someone."

"Saw who exactly?" Katsuki asked, helping Izuku up.

"I," Izuku heistated. "I don't know but all I know is that he has a beautiful voice. Like an angel…"

"Now I know you hit your head," Katsuki murmured. "Come on, let's go home. Your mother's worried sick about you."

Izuku coughed and let Katsuki help him towards the castle.

Shoto watched from a distance alongside Natsou, Momo, and Denki. Natsou was currently freaking out and Momo was comforting him, understanding his panic.

"Let's just make sure Father doesn't know." Natsou gulped. "You won't tell him."

Momo nodded her head in agreement.

"I won't tell him and we'll stay in one peice." Natsou concluded.

Shoto closely lifted himself on the rock, looking at Izuku one last time.

🐚

I don't know when

I don't know how

But I know something's starting right now

Watch, and you'll see

Someday, I'll be

Part of your world

🐚

Izuku gasped as he looked back, hearing the melody ring in his ears pleasantly. But Katsuki forced him forward, not giving Izuku enough to listen to that beautiful song again.

After that, the nurses took care of him, and other than a minor concussion from the ocean, Izuku was quite alright. But his mother, Inko, begged him to stay within the kingdom until the wedding.

Izuku agreed and looked over at the ocean, remembering the song in his head. The person was beautiful, though the shadow had obscured their facial features. He saw blue and grey eyes staring down at him and a soft hand on his cheek. But Izuku was confused about it all.

But some rest could do him good.

🐚

Shoto and Natsou were rightfully lectured for being gone all night but calmed down when Natsou explained that they were in a nearby cave with Momo confirming their lie.

Enji groaned, and Shoto was subjected to extra training as punishment, but he couldn't care less. He saw a human, a beautiful human, who was just kind. Shoto had never felt such kindness in a human before, but it was the warmth he wished for. It wasn't unusual that he started to daydream and ignore his training, but he didn't really think of anything. This time? He was thinking of Izuku and fantasized about being with him all day.

It was only a day, and Enji noticed.

"What is with him?" Enji asked his eldest daughter.

"I have no clue," Fuyumi answered, searving Seaberry tea. "But I might have a reason."

"And what could be a reason?" Enji scoffed.

"Well, maybe it seems impossible, but I think Shoto may be in love?"

"Hm. you are rihht it is impssible," Enji admitted. "But I suppose that improves his relationship with Momo, and that's for the better."

Fuyumi nodded and looked at her younger brother. She felt a pit in her stomach but decided not to think about it.

🐚

Izuku didn't want to disobey his mother, but he walked down to the beach where he was found. He couldn't get this mysterious voice out of his head, and his mother expressed that she wanted to meet this person who saved her son, but Izuku couldn't even put a face to a name—and he didn't know the name either.

Izuku's search for this missing person was the only thing that occupied his mind.

🐚

Where did he go?

Where can he be?

When will he come again?

Calling to me?

Calling to me…

🐚

Izuku feels the water on his feet and looks at the ocean. That's where the person saved him, but there were no signs of him anywhere, and Izuku couldn't help but want to.

🐚

Somewhere there's a boy

Who's like the shimmer of the wind upon the water

Somewhere there's a boy

Who's like the glimmer of the sunlight on the Sea

Somewhere there's a boy

Who's like a swell of endless music

Somewhere he is singing

And his song is meant for me

🐚

Izuku walked around the beach, feeling the water swirl around as if to pull him to the mysterious voice.

🐚

And his voice

It's sweet as angels sighing

And his voice

It's warm as summer sky

And that sound

It haunts my dreams

And spins me 'round

Until it seems

I'm flying…

His voice!

🐚

Izuku gasped as he heard the same voice again, harmonizing as if the mysterious stranger was nearby. Unfortunately, he wanted to follow it but knew what his mother would say. When he closed his eyes, he could see the stranger's silhouette.

🐚

I can sense his laughter

In the ripple of the waves against the shoreline

I can see him smiling

In the moonlight as it settles on the sand

I can feel him waiting

Just beyond the pale horizon

Singing out a melody too lovely to withstand

And his voice

It's there as dusk is falling

And his voice

It's there as dawn steals by

Pure and bright, it's always near

All day, all night

And still, I hear it calling…

His voice

🐚

Izuku sighs as he begins to walk away, saddened by the reality that he will never find that person again. But if he does manage to see him, it is guaranteed that once he finds the stranger, Izuku will marry him. But as he walks away, he feels that thought slipping away.

🐚

Strange as a dream…

Real as the Sea…

If you can hear me now

Come set me free…

Come set me free!

🐚

"Izuku! There you are," Iida sighed in relief. "I was worried about you."

"I'm fine, Tenya, just thinking," Izuku mumbled, sitting down. "I guess I am not thinking clearly, huh?"

"What's happened?"

"I keep hearing his voice," Izuku explained. "And it's so beautiful that I could just drown for it. I keep having dreams about him and I….I want to marry him."

"M-marry?! Izuku, for one, you are engaged, and two, you are falling for a stranger who simply saved you!"

"I know! That's why this is so hard for me!" Izuku groaned. "I mean, I care about Kacchan, don't get me wrong, but I can't see myself marrying him. I mean, considering our childhood, I have grown since then, and I don't like him that way. But he is also royalty, and I have to marry royalty."

"I know," Tenya acknowledged. "I'm sorry."

"Please don't apologize. I just can't see it, " Izuku lamented. "But I want to make my mother happy, and I can't just break her heart now—not with this wedding so close by."

Tenya nodded and sat by Izuku, letting the sounds of the waves continue their conversation.

🐚

Shoto hummed as he started to pick up a nearby flower. Natsou and Fuyumi watched this unfold, and Fuyumi grinned happily.

"Look at him," Fuyumi cooed. "I never see him this happy about marrying someone. I knew he would a connection to Momo."

"Oh, how I wish that would be the case," Natsou muttered, frowning.

"What does that mean, Natsou?" Fuyumi asked as she heard Natsou's statement. "Are you keeping something from me?"

"Well, I have sworn to secrecy as I don't want father to find out."

"Natsou," Fuyumi groan.

"Alright, only you," Natsou sighed. "Shoto, Momo and I went up to the surface-"

"You know that's forbidden!"

"-I know, so when we did, we saw a human ship and Shoto went closer and somehow met up with a human. Then he saved that same human and turns out he had fallen in love with the human he saved!"

"In love? With a human?" gasped Fuyumi. "Oh, but you know I-"

"Just this once, Fuyumi," Natsou begged.

Fuyumi sighed to herself but nodded her head. She can't let her baby brother be harmed by their father again, so it would be best to keep it a secret for her sweet baby brother.

"I'll do it."

🐚

"Momo, you have been such a great daughter, but why are you so silent today?" Kouki asked sadly. "Are you sad that you are engaged?"

"No, Father," Momo answered. "I am grateful that you look after me. It's just something else."

"What is it, my dear?" Kouki urged. "I hate to see you so guilty aout something."

"Heh, you noticed?"

"I'm your father, of course I noticed," Kouki swam towards his daughter. "How about I help you?"

"How?"

"You can tell me what's on your mind?"

Momo hesitated but couldn't lie to her father even if she tried. So she turned to him and looked at him firmly. "You must never tell anyone about this. I promise to keep this a secret."

Kouki nodded and sat Momo down as she began to explain what had happened the previous day, which was only enough detail that Kouki could not tell anyone. To her credit, she told him about the ship and nothing else.

"Oh, my dear. I am just happy you are safe," Kouki smiles. "But please don't go up there again. I can't bare the thought about losing you to thise barbarians."

Momo smiles and hugs her father, happy to at least get that out of her chest.

😈

"Hm, Shoto is getting off to easy," the sea witch muttered. "I'm not surprised really. That man cherishes Shoto like a golden statue in the Sea." He then grinned as an awful idea sprew into his head.

"Oh, how about a plan a little dirty?" he laughed wickedly. "Just a small little note and a location spell. Oh, my dear little eels,I hope you remember the location.."

Blue light shined through the cavern as a magical note was created and sent to King Enji. The Sea laughed manically as the note flew away as he planned the next stage of his plan.

😈

"Momo, I don't think you have to gift me anything," Shoto spoke as Momo led him to his cavern.

"Oh hush!" Momo giggled. "I found it and I knew it would be perfect for your collection."

"My collection?"

Momo smiles and covers his eyes. She carefully leads him inside the grotto, ensuring the light makes her new surprise notice.

"Ready?"

"Yes..?"

Momo smiles and uncovers Shoto's eyes. Shoto let his eyes adjust and gasped as he saw the statue of Prince Izuku right in front of him in his grotto.

"Momo, you didn't." Shoto gasped and swam over to the statue.

"Oh, I had to. I found it after I talked with my father and I knew I had to get in inside."

"How, it's quite heavy." Shoto acknowledged.

"Please, I may be petite, but I am incredibly strong," Momo giggled. "But go on, enjoy!"

Shoto swims to the statue, swooning over it. "Izuku…oh, I wish that I could meet you in person. I know you must be such a wonderful person…someone that I can..just eb with."

Shoto giggled to himself and hugged Momo.

But a looming shadow caught them both by surprise as Enji glared down at him, the Sea around them getting warmer as Enji's anger grew.

"To think that my prized son, my prodigy, my future king," Enji started. "Has collected stupid flith like this!! What have you been doing!?"

Shoto didn't answer as he put Momo behind him.

"Answer me!!" Enji screamed, his anger rising.

Unfortunately, Enji's eyes wandered to the human statue in the center of the grotto, and his trident glowed an angry red.

"I cannot believe it," Enji growled. "I give you such a beauiful bride, and yet my son has fallen for a human! Not just a human, a human male, no less!! Shoto, you will dispose of these disgusting items or I will myself!"

"No! You have no right to tell me what to do with my hobbies!"

"Ugh, I can't believe that note was right! You have collected human items and fallen for a human man! Don't you see how dangerous this it? A human could kill you, Shoto! They should never mix!"

"I don't care!" Shoto protested. "I can't help that I love him!"

That was when Enji saw immediate red and raised his trident high.

"Fine! If you can't listen to my words, you will listen to the shatters of your collection!!"

Despite Shoto's cries and pleas, Enji's trident beamed a powerful blast that destroyed everything around them. Glass shattered into multiple pieces, paintings ripped and torn, and so many others crashed and burned around them. Still angered, Enji glared at the human statue, and that's when Shoto tried to grab the trident. But it was too late, as the statue blew up, causing crumbles of rocks on the ground, so Shoto started to cry.

Enji glared coldly at his son. Without saying anything more, he left the grotto, leaving Shoto to sob.

"..Shoto." Momo whimpered.

"Please leave me alone," Shoto cried, his voice hoarse from his screams.

Momo only nodded and swam away, leaving Shoto alone with his destroyed collection. Shoto's sobs were the only noise for a while, but he didn't realize that two new visitors entered.

"Poor child," hissed a nearby voice.

"Poor, sweet child." added another raspy voice.

Shoto lifted his head to see two dark eels swirl around him as they continued to speak.

"He has a very serious problem, hasn't he?"

"Hmm, if only.."

"There were something…"

"We could do."

"Who are you two?" Shoto whimpered, wiping his tears.

😈

Sweet child

Poor child

So tragic

So misunderstood.

Dear child

Sad child

Life's looking

Shall we say

Not good

No.

Who will ease her woes and worries?

Who will help get her man?

Sweet child.

Perhaps the Sea Witch can!

😈

"You can't possibly mean…" Shoto hesitated.

😈

He knows your dreams

😈

"Father says his magic is evil," Shoto mumbled.

😈

She'll grant your prayer

😈

"Please, I have to go!" Shoto gulped and tried to swim away, but the eels stopped him and turned him towards the damaged statue.

😈

He'll cast a charm

A tiny spell

Why the alarm?

No one will tell

No one will care

It's your affair.

Sweet child

Dear child

Poor child

Sad child

We'll bring you to her lair right now

Bet in half a sec

Your prince and you are reconciled.

Together

Forever

😈

The left eels gave him the face of the broken stone, and his heart still felt sad. Shoto knew that if he did this, he'd be able to feel the warmth he desperately needed.

"Take me to her!" Shoto settled.

😈

Sweet child

😈

Shoto felt himself lift himself up and follow the eels. His eyes were focused on what was ahead of him. He couldn't hear anything else, and as he went deeper and deeper, the more sturdy and confident he became about his new choice. He could only blame his father for everything and vowed he had to take that risk if this was the way to escape him.

"Here we are.."

"Pirnce Shoto."

Shoto followed the eels deeper, and as he entered, his breath hitched as he saw saddened souls cry and wail with the ground, each a weed. Many wailed as Shoto kept swimming, some even trying to grab him as he approached.

Shoto looked around at the grotto and was impressed by how this escaped his father's eyes.

"Are you going to stare?" echoed a voice.

"..No, I'm sorry."

Shoto gasped as a hand appeared in front of him. He grabbed his hand and was pulled forward to a cauldron spewing gas.

"My sweet brother."

Shoto gasped as the sea witch revealed himself. His cyan eyes glowed in the darkness and looked deep into Shoto's.

"Touya?"

The sea witch smiles and hugs his little brother. "Yes, that's me. But I would prefer it if you called me Dabi. Just to avoid it,next time."

Shoto nodded, wiping his tears. He felt his brother's arms wrap around him. carassing his hair.

"You do not need to tell me what had happened," Dabi reassured. "I saw everything."

"Even the…" Shoto hesitated to say.

"Even the destruction of your beloved grotto," Dabi said, wiping Shoto's tears. "I have a way to cure what you need."

"You do?"

"The only way to get what you want," Dabi started. "Is to become human yourself."

Shoto gasped and looked up at Dabi. "Y-You can do that?"

"My dear, sweet child, it's what I do--it's what I live for: to help unfortunate merfolk like yourself." Dabi laughed. "Poor souls with no one else to turn to…"

😈

I admit that in the past, I've been a nasty

They weren't kidding when they called me, well, a witch

But you'll find that nowadays

I've mended all my ways

Repented, seen the light, and made a switch

True? Yes

And I fortunately know a little magic

It's a talent that I always have possessed

And here lately, please don't laugh

I use it on behalf

Of the miserable, the lonely, and depressed

😈

"Pathetic," Dabi sneered as Shoto looked away, his eels laughing. But his face turned sorrowful once Shoto looked back.

😈

Poor unfortunate souls

In pain, in need

This one longing to be thinner

That one wants to get the girl

😈

Shoto watched as Dabi created illusions to show some of his clients, and he fixed them instantly. If he could help them, Dabi could help Shoto, too.

😈

And do I help them?

Yes, indeed!

Those poor unfortunate souls

So sad, so true

They come flocking to my cauldron

Crying, "Spells, Dabi, please!"

And I help them

Yes, I do!

😈

Shoto looked at the happy merfolk, but Dabi sighed as he looked down, holding his hand out. The illusions shrugged and shook their heads. Shoto looked at Dabi, confused, but Dabi explained.

😈

Now, it's happened once or twice

Someone couldn't pay the price

And I'm afraid I had to rake 'em 'cross the coals

Yes, I've had the odd complaint

But on the whole, I've been a saint

To those poor unfortunate souls

😈

Shoto looked back at the weeds protruding from the floor, now realizing what they were, but Dabi pulled him away.

"Here's my best offer, babykins. I know a spell that will turn you into a human for an entire week. Now, it's got a procedural clause, sort of a "squid pro quo." Before the sun sets on the third day, you've got to get dear ol' princey to kiss you. If you do, you'll stay human forever."

Shoto's eyes look back at souls. "And if I don't."

"Nothing drastic, darling, I'm sure. . .," Dabi chuckled, checking his contract before chickling. "Oh, look--small print: "Your soul is mine forever, and you're doomed to spend eternity in my watery, hell-soaked lair." Lawyers! Don't you just love 'em? Of course, there is one more thing. . . my fee,"

Shoto gulped, "But I don't have anything!"

"I'm not askin' for much, Only. . . your voice." Dabi offered.

"My voice? But if I give away my voice, how can I ever--" Shoto panicked.

"Well, you can simply go home," Dabi chuckled. "Go back to the cruel King Endevor. Or you go join the humans and feel the freedom…"

😈

Come on, you poor unfortunate soul

Go ahead!

Make your choice!

I'm a very busy man

And I haven't got all day

It won't cost much

Just your voice!

😈

"My voice?" Shoto whispered, looking at Dabi as the fog around them became green.

He was so lost in thought that he couldn't hear his older brother calling out to him, but Dabi had Shoto's full attention as the golden scroll entered his line of Vision.

😈

You poor unfortunate soul

It's sad, but true

If you want to cross the bridge, my sweet

You've got the pay the toll

Take a gulp and take a breath

Go ahead and sign the scroll!

Flare and Flame--now I've got him, boys

The boss is on a roll

You poor, unfortunate soul!

😈

Shoto steeled his nerves as he grabbed Dabi's pen and wrote his name on the contract. After he signed, he watched as Dabi blew it away, transforming it into fire.

"Beluga, sevruga, come winds of the Caspian Sea!" Dabi chanted as the cauldron sprew, reacting to the newly added ingredients. "Larynxes, glaucitis, ad max laryngitis, la voce to me!"

Shoto watched as two ghostly hands appeared out of the cauldron, ready to be used.

"Now, sing! Sing your voice over to me!" Dabi commanded.

Without much thought, Shoto starts to sing, his voice vocalizing in the air.

"Sing and keep singing!"

Shoto continues to sing, watching the hands swirl around him, making him apprehensive, but he lets them enter his throat to take his voice. Shoto feels his throat as the ghostly hands take away his voice and put it in Dabi's necklace.

Dabi cackles as the hands begin to engulf him in flame. Shoto looks down at his tail, watching it transform into legs on the spot. But as the fire disappeared, he realized that he couldn't breathe, trying to move.

Luckily for him, Natsou grabbed him and started swimming, leading Shoto into the air. Shoto gasped for air as he rested on Natsou, feeling the warm air and the new sense of freedom he had once craved.

#my hero academia #boku no hero academia #mha #bnha #shoto torodoki #momo yaoyozoru #izuku midoriya #mha dabi #touya todoroki #bakugou katsuki #the little mermaid au

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