#the airship release date

[mysterypandastore]

Airship DIY Puzzle 3D Wooden Puzzle is made of high-quality materials and first-class laser cutting technology. The design is novel and unique, which distinguishes it from other 3D wooden toys. There are detailed instructions in the packing box, easy to understand and ensure an easy and smooth assembly process.

[desperatelyseekingcannibals]

A Mads poll with a difference!

A poll of Mads Mikkelsen movies where the selection is based on range of factors, including but not limited to: genre, writer/director, country of release, date of release and 🎉vibes 🎉

Some of the movies may fit in more than one category, so vibes have mostly informed those decisions.

Round One:

Choose your fave!

Let's take a look at some early English speaking roles...

King Arthur is a 2004 UK-US-Irish historical adventure. Setting the legend of King Arthur against the backdrop of the Roman Empire rather than a medieval retelling it revolves around defending the area around Hadrian's Wall. Mads plays Tristan, one of the knights of the round table (and Hugh plays fellow knight Galahad :3)

Clash of the Titans is the Australian-American 2010 remake of the 1981 classic action adventure based on the Greek myth of Perseus. Mads plays Draco, head of the King's guard, tasked with helping Perseus on his mission to save the king's daughter from being sacrificed.

The Three Musketeers is a UK-French-German 2011 retelling of the Alexandre Dumas novel, this time featuring airships whilst not going full steampunk. Mads plays baddy Captain Rochefort, leader of big bad Cardinal Richelieu's guard.

The Salvation is a 2014 Danish Western, filmed in the US. Set in 1871, the story follows brothers Jon and Peter who move from Denmark to the US. When Jon's wife and son comes to join them, they are set upon by criminals which results in a deadly feud. Mads plays Danish war veteran turned Wild West homesteader, Jon Jensen.

Fighters all, but who wins your vote?

[larkawolfgirl]

Crossroads (Clerifa)

Rating: General Audiences

Archive Warning: No Archive Warnings Apply

Categories: F/F, F/M, Multi

Fandoms: Compilation of Final Fantasy VII, Final Fantasy VII (Video Game 1997)

Relationships: Aerith Gainsborough/Tifa Lockhart/Cloud Strife, Tifa Lockhart/Cloud Strife, Aerith Gainsborough/Tifa Lockhart, Aerith Gainsborough/Cloud Strife

Characters: Aerith Gainsborough, Tifa Lockhart, Cloud Strife, Barret Wallace, Red XIII | Nanaki (Compilation of FFVII), Yuffie Kisaragi

Additional Tags: Getting Together, Polyamory, Flirting, Dates

Summary: Aerith hatches a plan that involves a handful of dates, numerous honest conversations, and a galore of stolen touches.

Read on ao3 (recommended since I change POV often and I don't have the patience to add scene breaks here)

Cloud's boots crunched against the gravel as he and Aerith meandered through tranquil streets. Kalm, full of relaxed townspeople, felt like a world away from the turbulent life they led. Like its namesake, it was a brief respite, a stolen moment of calm before the storm that inevitably followed them.

"Hey! Wanna climb the clocktower together?” Aerith suggested with excitement as she tugged at his arm. “ I hear it’s the best view in Kalm.”

She led him to a stone overlook that loomed over the small, quaint houses below. Their footsteps echoed against the stone as they ascended to the top. The view stretched past the town, showcasing the edge of Midgar, the earthen outcroppings surrounding it, and the wild plains with its green landscape that lay beyond. After Midgar’s drab dirt and metallic infrastructure, the sight was as relieving to his eyes as the release he had felt in his lungs from the fresh air.

"Never had much time to appreciate views like this," Cloud admitted, his voice softer than he intended.

"Then let's enjoy it while we can," Aerith said, leaning against the railing. “Funny, isn’t it? How small it looks.” Her voice was reminiscent, clearly missing the city she knew and loved.

He didn’t know if he could ever come to love Midgar, but he could relate to missing your hometown. “It is far away,” he said.

It was unclear if the statement made her feel any better since she turned toward him and changed the subject. “Did anything happen between you and Tifa?” She smiled as if wanting him to admit something.

His dismay must have shown because she continued, “Don’t look so shocked. We’re roommates, you know.”

Cloud turned back toward the view. “She say something?”

He could see Aerith shaking her head from his peripheral. “Not about you two, no. Still, I can tell.” She set her gaze back on Midgar. “I would’ve given anything to have a friend when I was growing up.” She turned back toward him. “Don’t take her for granted.”

They stood in silence for a moment, the only sound the whistling wind which was causing Aerith’s chestnut hair to flutter. The Ancient shifted closer until their arms were touching. Cloud tensed but didn’t pull away.

“We should head back soon, he said, eyes scanning the town below in search of their party members. “The others will wonder where we are.”

“But we just got up here!” she pouted. “Don’t you like spending time with me?”

Heat rose in his cheeks. “That’s not—”

Cloud cut himself off when a thrumming sound instantly alerted his SOLDIER reflexes to approaching danger. Not a second later, airships suddenly littered the sky. Shouts erupted from the streets below as Shinra troopers stormed the town.

“They’re looking for us, aren’t they?” Aerith asked.

“Gotta be.”

His enhanced senses picked up on the sound of doors being kicked in. If they stayed here they would be surrounded.

The flower girl clutched his arm. “What should we—”

“We need to get down, now!” Cloud barked. Aerith nodded, her usual cheer replaced by a steely determination.

After retreating from the clocktower, by a strike of luck, they encountered the innkeeper who showed them to a hidden passage that led out of town. Aerith climbed down first, with Cloud taking up the rear. At the bottom, they found a small earthy passageway where Tifa, Barret, and Red XIII were waiting.

Tifa’s beautiful face lifted at the sight of them. “You made it! All in one piece?”

Barret turned around, his deep voice echoing throughout the small space. “For the love of…Where the hell have you two been?”

Aerith took hold of Cloud’s arm. “On a date,” she explained, her voice chipper even though Shinra was still nearby.

Barret's mouth hung open, his usual gruff composure momentarily shaken. Even Red XIII’s eye widened in surprise.

But Tifa’s reaction was the one Aerith cared about. The woman took a step back, her dark eyes fixed on Aerith in disbelief. “Were you really?” There was a tremor in her voice. Was it from confusion or fear of having lost her chance? Aerith hoped Tifa was interested but she didn’t want to upset her.

Cloud’s reaction was more expressive but still difficult to pin down. Was he surprised by Tifa’s reaction, or upset that Aerith was giving her the wrong impression?

Time for damage control. “Yeah, kinda,” she said in an attempt to assure her that both she and Cloud were still on the market.

The other woman’s shoulders subtly relaxed. She opened her mouth as if to speak, but then closed it again.

“Well, that was the last one!” Barret bellowed. “Least till things calm down. Got that?”

The three of them all nodded in unison. Aerith had to hold back a giggle when Red XIII gave his own delayed nod.

The party set out into the expansive Grasslands, with lush greenery, wild herbs, and colorful flowers. Aerith missed home, but she loved the sight of life surrounding them. It was proof that the Planet still had a chance.

Barret led the way, his heavy boots thudding against the ground, a reassuring rhythm amidst the rustle of grass and the distant calls of wildlife. Red XIII paced gracefully beside him, his fiery tail flicking this way and that, while Cloud walked ahead of Tifa, his gaze fixed forward.

Aerith quickened her pace until she was walking beside Tifa at the back of the group. She nudged Tifa's elbow gently, her smile widening as she caught the other woman's attention. "Beautiful day for a walk, isn't it?"

“Yeah,” the other woman replied in a neutral tone.

"No hard feelings, right?" the flower girl asked gently.

Tifa glanced at her briefly before looking away. "Of course not," she said, but her words lacked conviction.

“It was just a little date. Nothing serious.”

Her friend shrugged, eyes fixed ahead. "It's fine, Aerith. You and Cloud are both free to do as you please."

Aerith shook her head. "That's not what this is about." She touched Tifa's arm. "Won’t you talk to me?"

The martial artist finally met her gaze. Aerith saw the hurt lingering there, but she also saw trust.

Tifa's expression softened. "I overreacted," she admitted. "It just...took me by surprise."

Aerith nodded, relief washing over her. "I'm sorry I sprung it on you like that. Friends?"

Tifa smiled. "Friends."

Aerith leaned in. She nudged her playfully, her voice a whisper meant only for her ears. "You could always ask Cloud on a date too, you know?" The words floated between them like dandelion seeds caught in a gentle breeze.

Tifa's stride faltered for the briefest of moments, her gaze darting sideways to meet Aerith's expectant eyes. A flush crept up her neck, painting her cheeks with a soft rose hue that rivaled the bloom of the wildflowers dotting the plains. "I-I don't think so," she stammered, the quiver in her voice betraying the calm demeanor she tried to maintain. "That's not... I'm not interested in Cloud like that."

But even as she said it, Aerith could tell Tifa's denial rang hollow. She clearly had feelings for Cloud that she was unwilling to confront. The Ancient linked her arm through her friend’s. "If you say so," she said, a knowing smile playing on her lips.

The plains sprawled endlessly under the wide sky containing countless paths they could follow. Aerith's boots crunched softly on the dry earth as she kept pace with Tifa.

"Or maybe," Aerith mused aloud, her voice laced with a teasing lilt, "you'd rather go on a date with me?" Her hand found its way to Tifa's arm, fingers looping around it in a playful, almost affectionate grip.

Tifa's footsteps stuttered, caught off guard by the unexpected twist in their conversation. With a nervous chuckle, she glanced at Aerith. "What? No!" Her words came out in a flustered rush, the corner of her lips pulling despite her best efforts to remain composed. "I already told you I’m not interested in dating right now,” she insisted.

Aerith just smiled, undeterred by her denial in the face of her telling reaction. “I’m only joking. No reason to get so worked up.”

Tifa sighed, rubbing her temples. “I think you enjoy putting me on the spot more than anything else."

"Guilty as charged," Aerith sing-songed, releasing the bartender’s arm to twirl ahead of her, the hem of her pink dress catching the light. "But you can't blame me for trying."

"Trying to do what, exactly?" Tifa asked.

"Trying to see you smile, of course!" she proclaimed, spinning back to face her. "You're far too serious sometimes."

A gentle breeze swept across the field fluttering their long hair. They both laughed as Tifa’s, unconfined as it was, obscured her face as it twisted itself to the mercy of the wind. Aerith reached out, using her fingers to work out the small knots that had formed.

"And what about you, Miss Gainsborough?” she asked with fond exasperation. “Are you interested in dating anyone?"

"Me?" Aerith blinked, feigning innocence before breaking into a wide grin. “Maaybe. I’m just trying to enjoy our journey with everyone."

"That’s a convenient answer." Tifa’s earlier embarrassment faded as she fell into step beside her again.

"Life is full of conveniences and inconveniences," Aerith quipped. "We just have to make the best of what we’ve got."

"Speaking of that, we've got bigger things to worry about right now than dating."

"Fair enough," Aerith conceded, her expression softening. "But don’t rule it out, okay? You can’t just sit around for the right time."

Tifa’s eyes softened with the understanding of her meaning. “Okay.”

The days passed in a blur of travel and combat as they made their way to Junon. Aerith’s suggestion about her going on a date with Cloud still lingered in Tifa’s mind. The way Aerith could so effortlessly bring joy to the group was a special kind of magic. The banter between Aerith and her helped lighten the mood. Their playful exchanges and inside jokes worked to continuously deepen their friendship, despite their contrasting personalities, allowing them to work together better during combat. Perhaps, becoming closer with Cloud was not as much of a distraction from their mission as it originally seemed.

One evening, as they set up camp for the night, Tifa watched Cloud hammer stakes into the ground with concentration. Her heart thrummed an uncertain rhythm, Aerith's words echoing in her mind like a playful ghost. Going on a date seemed absurd given their situation, yet...Tifa couldn’t deny she was intrigued. She glanced over at Cloud who had moved on to sharpening his sword. The firelight danced across his focused face, highlighting his attractive features, causing her heart to give a nervous flutter.

Before she could talk herself out of it, Tifa approached him.

"Cloud," she began, her voice barely more than a whisper.

He looked up, the blue of his eyes piercing even in the fading light. "Yeah, Tifa?"

She hesitated, fidgeting with her gloves. "Can I... talk to you for a second?" she asked, her hands involuntarily clenching and unclenching at her sides.

"Sure." Cloud wiped his brow with the back of his hand before standing up, concern straining the details of his face. "Is everything alright?"

"Everything's fine," she assured him quickly, perhaps too quickly. "I just...” The unsaid words tangled in her throat even as Aerith's encouragement wrapped around her courage giving it a gentle nudge. Just say it, she told herself.

"Take your time," Cloud said softly, and there was an understanding in his gaze that made her heart skip. He waited, the calm in his stance offering her the silence she needed to gather her thoughts.

Tifa took a steadying breath, her resolution solidifying with every pulse of her heartbeat. "I was thinking…maybe we could go out. Just the two of us. Like on a date."

The words hung between them, and for a moment, the only sound was the soft rustle of leaves. Cloud paused, his hands stilling as he turned to face her with a flicker of surprise.

"A date?" His voice held a mix of confusion and curiosity. He straightened, looking at her with an intensity that made her heart race. "What's gotten into you two?"

She forced an awkward laugh and avoided his gaze. “I just thought it might be nice.”

Tifa felt like crawling under a rock, but Cloud's eyes were still on her, waiting for an explanation. She forced another laugh. "Aerith was just teasing me the other day about the two of us going on a date." She gestured vaguely between them. "Got me thinking, that's all."

Cloud raised an eyebrow, clearly not buying it.

"I mean, we've been friends for so long but we haven’t spent that much time together," Tifa continued, grasping for words. "Might be nice to spend some time just the two of us."

She chanced a glance at him. To her surprise, his expression had softened.

"Yeah, maybe you're right.”

Now it was Tifa's turn to look shocked. "Really?"

Cloud rubbed the back of his neck. "We haven't had a proper chance to catch up."

A smile tugged at Tifa's lips. "No, we haven't."

"Alright, we’ll have a date."

"Great!" she exclaimed, her enthusiasm only slightly undercut by the tremble in her voice. "Before we leave Junon?”

“Sounds good.”

Tifa's heart fluttered again, but this time with excitement. She was finally going to get her chance with Cloud. And she had Aerith to thank for giving her that little push.

The group decided to hunker down in Under Junon for a while to take on some side work, so it was easy for the old friends to slip away. Cloud walked alongside Tifa, his hands shoved into his pockets, his mind racing with questions about the sudden shift in their dynamics.

Tifa fidgeted with her hair. "So, where should we go?"

Cloud thought for a moment. “Somewhere quiet.” It made sense if they aimed to catch up by themselves.

“How about the stream?”

He nodded and she began leading them out of town and into a calm grove of trees. Their silence was comfortable yet filled with words neither of them seemed ready to voice. Cloud stole glances at her, noticing the tentativeness of her normally steady stride and the way she kept tugging on her gloves.

They approached a gentle stream reflecting the morning sun. "Nice spot," he said, the first thing that came to mind.

"Thought you'd like it," Tifa replied with a soft tone. They came to a stop at the water's edge, the sounds of the flowing stream mingling with the distant chirps of birds. "Thanks for agreeing to this," she added after a moment, her gaze fixed on the glistening water. "It means a lot."

Cloud nodded, though he remained silent, unsure how to navigate through the unfamiliar territory they were treading. His heart hammered in his chest, and he wondered if she could hear it.

"Is everything okay?" Tifa asked suddenly, turning to look at him with concern.

"Yeah," Cloud said, though the quick response felt automatic. "Just... wasn't expecting this."

"Me neither," she admitted, her shoulders slumping as if releasing a weight she'd been carrying. "But here we are."

"Here we are."

Silence fell between them other than the trickling of the water. They stood side by side, close enough to touch each other, but neither of them moved to bridge the gap.  Cloud’s skin tingled knowing she was so close. The unspoken tension weighed down on them, demanding acknowledgment.

“Look.” Her voice was barely above a whisper as she pointed at a bluebird perked on a low-hanging branch. “Isn’t it cute?”

The tone of her voice instantly reminded him of her saying similar things about stray cats they would find around town. If she had had her way, she would have adopted all of them.

“Fluffy would eat him for breakfast,” he said.

Tifa turned toward him with exaggerated outrage, with wide eyes and hands on her hips. “No, she wouldn’t!”

Bringing his hand to his mouth, he gave a soft chuckle. “Sure.”

Her body relaxed. “I miss her. What pet did you want as a kid?” she asked, tone tinged with nostalgia.

Cloud lowered his head. “Cat.” He said it low enough that if she wasn’t paying attention she wouldn’t have heard.

She turned fully toward him again. “Huh? Then why didn’t you ever take one in?”

“Mom wouldn’t let me.” He never told her that he had begged his mom to let him bring in some of the first batch of stray kittens they had found. He had used Tifa’s gentle heart as an excuse, but he had just wanted to feel like they had something in common.

Tifa smiled and bumped her hip into his. “We probably shouldn’t tell Red that we’re both team cat.”

He looked up and rolled his eyes. “For one, he doesn’t want to be viewed as a dog. And two, I don’t even think he is a dog.”

She didn’t say anything, but the silence was natural this time. Then, “Oh! There’s another one.”

He craned his neck to see where she was pointing, and his shoulder brushed hers in the process. His whole body stilled waiting for a response. There was an intake of air and a slight tremble in her arm.

"So...” There was an extended pause, but she didn’t move her arm away. “How have you been?”

Cloud rubbed his neck. "I've been alright. Just trying to figure things out, I guess."

"Anything you want to talk about?" she asked gently.

"My memory is still pretty confusing and hazy in places. But having you and the others around...it helps."

Tifa smiled. "I'll always be here if you need someone to listen."

Cloud met her eyes. "Thanks, Tifa."

His hand brushed hers as they walked back toward the inn, their fingers flirting with the idea of interlocking but never quite committing to the gesture. Time had escaped them as they talked about the paramount and the mundane, from their shared past in Nibelheim to the uncertain future that lay ahead.

As they approached the inn, Tifa slowed her pace. "This was really nice, Cloud. We should...do it again sometime."

He gave a small smile. "Yeah, I'd like that.”

She beamed and gave his arm an affectionate squeeze before letting go.

They paused outside the door, neither ready to end the night nor sure how to continue it. The air around them was charged with words left unsaid and feelings only hinted at.

"Bye, Cloud," she whispered, stepping forward briefly as if she might bridge the gap between them, before thinking better of it. "We should probably head inside before the others start to worry."

The ex-SOLDIER nodded and held the door open for her. Tifa's cheeks flushed as she stepped inside before him.

Finding her room, she took a deep breath before entering. It was a cherished private room, where she should be able to ruminate on her feelings from the day in solitude, but Tifa knew with full certainty that Aerith would be waiting inside to ambush her with questions. The other woman had a way of wrangling private information from her, and while she hadn’t told Aerith today was the day of their date, the other woman had a keen sense of intuition.

As expected, as soon as she opened the door, she was met with green eyes alight with curious intensity. Aerith bounded over to her and clasped her hands in hers.

“Soooo, how was your date?” It was clear that she was proud of herself for knowing that information without having to be told. Her otherworldly ability to pick up on information she shouldn’t know used to scare Tifa a little, but now it felt as commonplace as the lifestream flowing throughout the planet.

A smile formed on Tifa’s face. “It was nice.”

Aerith’s grin widened and her eyes danced. “Just nice?”

“Uh…It was…” She wasn’t sure how to capture the nuances of their day. “Nostalgic. Relieving? We talked a lot.”

“Uh-huh.” Aerith nodded with her hand on her chin as if she was deducing some grand mystery. “What else?”

Tifa took a step back toward the wall. “What else?”

The flower girl stepped forward closing the space she had created and successfully cornering Tifa both physically and metaphorically. “Yeah, you know, hand-holding,” she squeezed Tifa’s hand as if demonstrating, “kissing?”

Her heart hammered in her chest as Aerith began leaning forward as if she was actually going to kiss her. Right before she made contact, Tifa turned her head away.

Aerith giggled at her reaction. “I’m not going to kiss you, silly.” She twirled a lock of her hair. “Unless you want me to.”

Tifa could feel blood in her cheeks burning through her skin. She quickly changed the topic back to her date. “No! We, uh, just brushed skin a little.”

The flower girl leaned in again with a huge smirk. “Oooh? Brushing skin, huh?”

Tifa nearly died at the realization of what she was implying. “Of course not!” Her voice lowered to a near whisper. “We just brushed arms and hands a bit.”

The Ancient’s enthusiasm calmed by about half. “That’s disappointing.”

For some reason, it got under her skin that Aerith expected more from them. “It was really nice, okay?” she said defensively.

“I’m sure it was. But didn’t you want to do something more? To make it like a real date rather than just spending time with your friend?”

Of course, she wanted that. But she wasn’t sure yet if that was what he wanted. Besides, she didn’t know what was going on between him and Aerith. “What about your date, huh? What juicy details do you have to share?”

She regretted the question immediately. What if she did have juicy details to share? Tifa didn’t know if she was emotionally ready to know that they had been intimate.

“Weell…” Aerith trailed off, turning around so that her braid hovered in the air for a brief moment. “It wasn’t as spectacular as I would have liked either, being cut short by Shinra and all. Buut, I did manage to hold his arm before it was over.”

Tifa didn’t realize she was breathing out in relief until Aerith pointed it out.

“You really like him, don’t you?” Her eyes and voice were soft now, full of that nurturing aura that sometimes made Tifa want to fall against her and let all of her pent-up pain out.

The bartender ducked her head. “Is it that obvious?”

Aerith giggled. “To everyone but the man in question. I don’t know how he can be so oblivious. Sometimes I don’t even think he knows I’m flirting.” Then her expression turned serious. “It won’t hurt to be more straightforward. Push him a little. Just be careful with him. There’s a lot of hurt buried there.”

Tifa swallowed the lump forming in her throat. “I know. But I’ll be there for him, no matter what.”

Aerith’s smile was heartfelt as she pulled her in for a quick hug. “Good. I’m happy for you both.” She stepped back, eyes shining again. “So? When’s the next date?”

Tifa chuckled, shoving at her shoulder playfully. “I don’t know. I figured I’d let him process this one first.”

The flower girl nodded. “Wise choice. Can’t scare him off too quickly.” She winked and Tifa shook her head in amusement.

It was always so easy with Aerith. Much easier than with Cloud who acted so much like a bristling cat ready to run away at the slightest movement. But Tifa didn’t understand why it felt this way. She should be jealous of her, shouldn’t she? Wasn’t she? Unlike her, Aerith was open with her affections and didn’t shy away from pushing Cloud past his comfort zone to make her point across. It scared her because it felt like any day she would lose the man she had been reaching for since childhood. He always felt two steps away, just out of arm’s reach, while Aerith was always there within her personal space. Not just there, and not just accepting that they both liked him, but actively supporting Tifa’s feelings.

It shouldn’t make sense.

Tifa's gaze fell to her wrist where she tugged at the elastic of her glove. “Aren’t you jealous?”

“Of course not. There’s no need for that,” Aerith answered in a tone too light to be forced. “I want you two to be happy.”

“But you like him,” she pushed.

Aerith nodded. “I do. But that doesn’t give me any right to deny your feelings, especially when you’re so right for each other.”

Tifa supposed there was logic to that. What good was there in fighting with each other? They should leave it up to Cloud to decide how things ended. “You’re right. We’re friends, after all.”

The other woman grinned and hugged her arm. “Best friends!” Blood rushed to Tifa’s neck when Aerith pushed her head up against it.  “And as best friends, I think we deserve a date, too.”

It took a moment for the other woman’s words to register. It wasn’t unusual for friends to spend time together, but in Tifa’s experience, it was the first time a friend outing had been called a date. Was that something unique to growing up in Midgar, or did Aerith have some ulterior motive here? “You…want to go on a date with me?” she asked with uncertainty.

Aerith let go of her and tilted her head to the side. “Why not? It’ll be fun!”

“I don’t know…” she said slowly.

“Come on, live a little!” She gave her arm a playful shake. “It doesn’t have to be anything serious. Just two gals being pals.”

What harm was there, if it wasn’t a serious date? Besides, Tifa had to admit that the idea of spending more time alone with the bubbly woman did sound appealing.

“Alright,” she answered with a playful roll of her eyes. “I’ll treat you to a date.”

Aerith’s grin widened and she began bobbing up and down on the balls of her feet. “Yes! And what a treat it will be!” Suddenly, she moved in and stole a kiss on Tifa’s cheek. “Get ready for the best date ever!”

Tifa brought a hand up to her cheek, still warm from her touch, as she watched Aerith practically skip out of her room.

What did she get herself into?

Tifa got up early the next morning and knocked softly on Aerith’s door. “Aerith? Are you awake?”

“Coming!” came her chipper reply.

When the wooden door opened, Tifa was met with an unexpected sight. The Ancient was in a baby blue nightgown that draped over her gentle curves like a cascade of stardust, shimmering in the light with an otherworldly allure. It whispered secrets unspoken, tempting yet untouchable. Her smooth arms were on full display and her chestnut hair was down and still mussed from sleep. Even her smile was mellower than usual.

“Come in.” She stepped aside so that Tifa could enter the room and shut the door behind her. “Want to help me pick?”

Spread out over the bed were two different dresses. One was a darker shade of blue than the nightgown she was currently wearing and the other was rose pink. If she had to describe Aerith by color, she’d choose pink. However, now that she saw her in the blue nightgown, she wondered if that color brought out more of her natural beauty. The pink one was pattered with flowers while the blue was solid.

Unconsciously, Tifa licked her bottom lip as she imagined her in each of them. The pink would give a fresh appearance, soft and breathable, while the blue would make her look mature and sophisticated.

“Pink,” she blurted before she could say the opposite. The blue was distracting…dangerous somehow.

“Good choice.” Aerith’s voice was rich like honey. She picked the dress up and reached around her neck as if ready to change right there in front of her.

“What are you doing?”

Unperturbed, the Ancient kept smiling. “Changing, silly.”

“Shouldn’t you go in the bathroom, or have me leave, or something?” Tifa hated how hot her cheeks felt. She was sure Aerith was loving getting a rise out of her.

The other woman moved in close. The hem of her nightgown brushed against the bare skin of Tifa’s thigh sending shivers through her. “Why? We’re both girls, aren’t we?” Her face was so close they could have touched.

Yeah, but…Tifa’s mind couldn’t come up with a good reason to explain why she shouldn’t watch Aerith get changed.

Taking her silence as an answer, Aerith stepped back and began lifting her nightgown off. At the last second, Tifa’s brain pulled itself out of her daze and she spun around before seeing anything indecent.

She could hear giggling behind her and forced her mind away from the picture it was trying to fill in on its own.

“How did you get these?”

“Cloud and I made a bit of extra money back in Wall Market. I wanted something nice for special occasions.”

“Special occasions?”

There was a rustling of fabric. “Days like today.”

“What about the dress you wore back then?”

“That was a rental, same as yours.”

Then Aerith was in front of her holding out her trademark pink ribbon. Her head was in a cute tilt. “Do it for me?”

They sat down on the edge of the bed. Tifa worked her fingers through her silken hair. It felt relaxing and intimate. It brought back memories of practicing different hairstyles on her mother before she passed. She had loved doing hair so much, that she used to beg the neighbor girls, and sometimes Cloud, to let her play beautician. After leaving Nibelheim, she hadn’t had many opportunities until meeting Barret and Marlene. The little girl was more than willing, but there was only so much that could be done with her short cut. Aerith’s long, thick hair held endless possibilities.

Tifa played with the ends before folding them over her fingers to begin braiding. “You’re normal braid, right?”

The other woman shook her head. “Your choice.” She could hear her smile in her voice.

What would suit her? Anything probably. Tifa had an idea. Her fingers began folding her hair again. “Hopefully, I still remember how to do this.”

Aerith touched her hand briefly. “I trust you.”

Tifa’s heart sped up at the praise. Carefully, she worked her hair into a double half-French braid. It came in on both sides before working down the back while the remainder of her hair flowed naturally.

“Do you like it?” she asked, feeling nervous.

The flower girl touched the tight braids and smiled. “I love it. I’d never be able to do it this well.”

Tifa scratched her cheek. “I can teach you if you’d like.”

Aerith latched onto her side. “Definitely. That can be our next date!”

Tifa gave a nervous laugh. “Okay.”

Downstairs they met the rest of the group gathered in the inn lobby. So much for slipping away undetected.

Barret glared with a sour expression. “Looks like I was right.”

Great, another lecture. “Right about what?” Tifa asked.

“You and SOLDIER boy were gone half the day yesterday. Now you come down here dressed for a soiree.”

Tifa looked at Cloud. His face was tense, his arms crossed, and his eyes stared into hers with a burning intensity. Was he mad?

“You said not to relax until we were safer,” Tifa said.

Barret grunted. “Yeah, well we ain’t exactly safe yet.”

“Oh, come on!” Aerith said. “Lighten up! We’re just having a bit of manageable fun. Maybe you should have some too.”

He rolled her neck. “Any suggestions? Not like I have a pretty date to take out. Unlike the rest of you, apparently.”

Aerith smirked and took Tifa’s hand in hers. “Sorry, the lady’s taken for the day. But I’m sure you can find something else fun to do.”

“By the Lifestream, it really is a date.” He looked over at Cloud before looking at the two of them again. “I don’t know what’s goin’ on with you three, and maybe I don’t want to know. Just be smart and be safe, got that?”

“Yes, sir!” the flower girl saluted with chipper enthusiasm.

“Of course. Thank you for worrying about us,” Tifa said with genuine appreciation.

Barret’s muscles eased and he waved his hand dismissively. “Now, get on with it. The sooner you leave the sooner you’ll be back.”

Red XIII padded up to them, tail swishing inquisitively. “How fascinating. I was not aware human courtship rituals extended to same-sex pairings.”

Tifa could feel her face growing warm. “That’s not exactly…”

“Why not?” Aerith asked. “Does it seem strange?”

“Hmm.” Red thought about it for a moment. “Not particularly. I was just unaware.”

Aerith leaned down and scratched behind his ears. He must have been in a good mood because he didn’t protest and even swished his tail in response. “I’m sure you’ll find someone too, one day,” she whispered.

Tifa’s heart clenched, remembering that he was supposedly the last of his kind. It put things in perspective that she should be grateful to have a complicated love life rather than a non-existent one.

Red nuzzled his nose against her hand. “Thank you. Be safe.”

“We will,” Tifa promised.

Everyone was watching them, but the glow of Cloud’s eyes was the last thing she saw on their way out.

Cloud waited a moment before heading toward the inn’s entrance.

Barret let out a heavy sigh. “Don’t tell me you’re gonna tail ‘em?”

Cloud only barely turned to face him, hand poised on the door handle. “So, what if I am?”

The gunman grunted. “How’d I get caught up in this drama?”

Cloud didn’t bother to answer that. He wouldn’t call it drama anyway. It wasn’t as if any of them were fighting. If anything, it was the opposite. He was…confused to say the least. “I’ll make sure nothing happens.”

“Sure you will.”

He’d lost time from the conversation, but it didn’t take long to spot Aerith’s flower dress among the crowd. Keeping a safe distance away, he watched the two women stroll through town. Laughter floated in the air, light and carefree.

Tifa looked more relaxed now that she thought no one was watching. He could see excitement reflecting in her red eyes as she took in the wares of the market. She looked more at ease than she had yesterday, when she had seemed concerned she might do something she regretted. Yet, Cloud could tell there was still some hesitance each time she moved too close to the other woman.

Aerith, on the other hand, was as eager and affectionate as ever. It seemed that she was taking every opportunity to reach out and touch her, locking a stray hair behind Tifa’s ear, brushing their fingers together as she handed her something, or even locking arms so she could lead her in another direction.

Each time, her touch lingered longer than necessary, and Tifa would offer a polite smile and tinted cheeks.

It was puzzling.

He observed them enter a small café, the bell above the door chiming. Lingering across the street, he watched Aerith lead Tifa to a table with a hand on her back. He looked down at his own hand, imagining what it might feel like to do the same. The thought was terrifying.

When their drinks arrived, the Ancient whispered something into Tifa’s ear, causing her to let out a startled giggle.

Maybe this was just how girls were together. He wouldn’t know having spent most of his life as a loner. But no matter how he thought about it, everything going on was Aerith’s ploy. But for what? Did she just enjoy flirting and seeing their reactions? Yet, Tifa seemed to be enjoying herself too much for it to be so simple on her end. Did she actually like her back?

His hand clenched unconsciously at his side. It was fine. That was her choice.

But then Aerith’s thumb wiped a crumb from Tifa’s lips and something hot curled in his gut. It took every ounce of self-control to remain where he was.

Her lips are mine.

The thought came before he knew it, leaving him immobile with the realization.

Feeling simultaneously cold and hot, his eyes zeroed in on Aerith’s hand as it found Tifa’s beneath the table. The bartender’s eyes widened for a second in surprise before she settled into the peaceful comfort.

Cloud tried not to think too much about his feelings. He feared if he did they might consume him from the inside out. Besides, they already had so many problems to worry about. But now, he didn’t have much of a choice.

He loved Tifa.

He’d liked her ever since they were kids, but he hadn’t realized how much until this moment. It wasn’t just their shared past and trauma, he liked Tifa. Her heart, her determination, her resolve, and the way that she gave him the time and space he needed.

He didn’t want to lose her.

The two women exited the café. He still had not moved, so Aerith’s eyes easily found him. She smirked, but it wasn’t intimidating or boastful as if she had won a competition. He couldn’t be certain what she was telling him, but he had the feeling she was happy he had seen.

The longer their date went on, the more flustered Tifa felt. Why did Aerith have such a strong effect on her? She was gorgeous, like sunshine, and confident in a way she greatly admired. But this wasn’t simple admiration. She could have excused it as self-consciousness if not for the way her skin heated and tingled every time the spellcaster touched her. The only explanation was that she liked her.

So, she liked girls now. She could handle that. What was harder to handle was what exactly was going on between the three of them. Aerith liked Cloud—she said so herself—and yet everything she was doing screamed that she liked Tifa.

Had she lied to get her to let her guard down? She didn’t want to believe that. The martial artist had never known her to lie.

Eventually, her stomach started to growl so they stopped for a snack from a food truck. Tifa fingered the edge of her pastry, building up her nerve. “Aerith, can I ask you something?”

“Of course!” Aerith said through a mouthful of caramel apple.

“It’s just…you’ve been extremely touchy today.”

Aerith tilted her head, looking thoughtful as she finished chewing. “Does it bother you?”

“No, No!” Tifa said quickly. “It’s nice, just…unexpected.”

She grinned. “We are on a date, after all.”

Tifa swallowed. “About that…do you like me?”

Once again, Aerith took her hand as if it was the simplest thing in the world. “Yes.” There was no doubt in Tifa’s mind that she was being sincere.

“I thought you liked Cloud…”

“I do like Cloud,” she said simply. “But I also like you.”

She couldn’t like both of them, could she? And yet….wasn’t that what Tifa just realized? It wasn’t like her feelings were synonymous, though. She liked Aerith as a person and couldn’t help feeling attracted to her charm and beauty. But Cloud was different. Cloud was someone she had been reaching toward for so long. He was…a lifeline in the unsteady waters of her life. So, no matter what she was feeling for Aerith, she wasn’t about to throw her feelings for Cloud away for that. Not unless he specifically turned her down.

“Thank you,” she said after a long pause. “I still want to give things with Cloud a chance, though.”

“I thought so. That’s why…” she trailed off to hum to herself, “next time, we should go on a date the three of us.”

Tifa blinked. “All three of us?”

“The more the merrier, right?”

Aerith was giddy with excitement over their upcoming group date. It was her idea and Tifa still seemed on the fence, so it was up to her to get Cloud on board. She was still trying to think of the best way to suggest the idea to him without scaring him off when they reached Barret’s hometown. The atmosphere was somber, and it would have been in poor taste to go on a date there given what Barret was going through.

Opportunity struck when they reached the Gold Saucer. The neon lights flickered over an equally colorful carnival. The happy buzz of patrons was infectious, and Aerith couldn’t contain herself any longer, slipping an arm through Cloud’s and Tifa’s.

“Come on! Let’s have some fun!”

Tifa hesitated a moment, looking at Barret’s new permanent grim expression.

Aerith lowered the tone of her voice. “We can’t do anything for him right now. Let’s just try to enjoy ourselves.”

Tifa took a breath. “You’re right.”

"Let's test Cloud’s riding skills!" the flower girl exclaimed with a twinkle in her eye, leading the way with a bounce in her step. Her enthusiasm was infectious, and despite their initial hesitation, Cloud and Tifa found themselves swept up in the excitement.

The game consisted of a stationary G-bike and a virtual headset. Cloud climbed onto the G-bike, feeling over the familiar controls.

"You can do it!" Tifa encouraged, her voice rising above the din.

"Get ‘em!" Aerith whooped.

Throughout the simulation, Aerith's laughter danced around them. She would lean close to Cloud, whispering tips into his ear, half of which ended up distracting him more than anything. Each time he missed because of a started reaction, a beautiful bubble of laughter came from Tifa’s lips.

When the simulation came to an end, and Cloud climbed off the G-bike to claim his victory, Aerith threw her arms around both of them in an impromptu group hug. The warmth of their bodies mingled, and she could see the way he tensed at the double proximity.

"See? I told you you’d win!" Aerith said, releasing them but keeping her hands on their shoulders.

"Yeah, thanks to your good luck," he said.

"Or maybe it's just because we make a great team," Tifa said, a smile softening her features.

For a moment, there was a pause as if all of them were contemplating the definition of their team. Aerith didn’t want things to turn too serious, though. Today was for having fun!

"Time to claim your prize!" she declared, tugging at their sleeves as she darted toward the prize booth.

Cloud’s gaze alternated between the giant green Cactuar plush and the two women beside him.

“Which lovely lady am I giving this to, sir?” asked the friendly attendant.

The decision felt surprisingly weighty under their expectant eyes.

Before he could even signal to the attendant, Aerith’s hand darted out, claiming the stuffed Cactuar with a victorious laugh. “Oh, Cloud! It’s perfect!” she exclaimed, hugging the plush to her chest. Her emerald eyes sparkled, and her lips curled in a wide, genuine smile that was impossible not to return.

Tifa's reaction was more reserved—a warm, supportive smile that didn't quite reach her eyes. He noticed the subtle dip in her enthusiasm, the slight downturn of her lips that vanished almost as quickly as it appeared. It wasn't like Tifa to seek prizes or attention, but there was something in that fleeting look that tugged at his conscience, compelling him to rectify the imbalance.

"Wait here," Cloud muttered, already turning on his heel back toward the arcade games.

"Cloud?" Tifa's voice held a note of confusion, but he was already lost in determination.

The next game was another simulation. This time he had to fly a spaceship while shooting as many enemies as he could. Cloud lined up his shots with the focus of a battle-hardened SOLDIER, blasting target after target. His mind was clear, his aim true; each successful hit fueled by the desire to see Tifa’s smile brighten, to feel that he had made things right between them.

With an explosion, the boss fell, and the clerk behind the counter gave a low whistle. “Impressive shooting,” he said, eyes wide with respect. “Pick your prize, champ.”

Cloud didn't need to look—he pointed straight at the large, plush Tonberry, its lantern held aloft as if guiding him toward clarity.

"Nice choice." The clerk handed over the soft creature to his waiting hands.

He returned to where Aerith and Tifa were standing, the former still joyously squeezing her Cactuar. Tifa looked up as he approached.

"For you," he said, a little gruffly, thrusting the Tonberry at Tifa with all the grace of a stumbling newborn Chocobo.

"Cloud..." Tifa's eyes lit up, her smile now reaching all the way to her gorgeous red eyes. She accepted the plush with a tenderness that contrasted sharply with Aerith's exuberant display. "Thank you," she said, her voice imbued with a warmth that settled comfortably in the space around his heart.

Cloud watched as Tifa pulled the Tonberry close. Whatever battles lay ahead, he would fight just as fiercely, to protect those smiles—their happiness—no matter what it took.

"Looks like Cloud’s the only one without a souvenir now," Aerith chimed in, her eyes sparkling. "Why don't you show Cloud what you can do, Tifa?"

The challenge hung in the air, and for a moment, Tifa's competitive spirit flared. She handed the stuffed Tonberry to Aerith with care before turning toward the battle simulator.

"Alright, let's see if I've still got it," she declared, flexing her fingers as she approached the gamepad.

Tifa's movements were graceful and deliberate, every punch and kick executed with precision as digital adversaries fell one by one on the screen.

"Go, Tifa!" Aerith cheered and Cloud watched on, mesmerized by her skills.

With a final, triumphant strike, Tifa's virtual opponent shattered into pixels, and the victory fanfare echoed through the Gold Saucer.

The male attendant stared at her with an awestruck expression. “I’ve never seen anyone manage that! The pick of the prize is yours.”

Tifa scanned her choices before settling on a stuffed Chocobo with bright yellow feathers and grumpy-looking eyes. “That one!” she announced.

The attendant frowned. “You sure? This one over here’s cuter, isn’t it?”

She shook her head. “I want that one.”

He shrugged, handing the plush over. “Suit yourself.”

"Here you go, Cloud," Tifa said, offering the plush to him with a playful glint in her eye. "It looks just like you."

"The Chocobo?" Cloud asked with raised brows.

"Your hair," she replied with a teasing grin, "It's practically the same color. And that grumpy expression."

A giggle burst from Aerith and Tifa couldn’t help but join her. Cloud looked down at the Chocobo and then back at Tifa, his lips twitching into a rare, unguarded smile that made her heart soar.

"Thanks, Tifa," he said. "It's perfect."

Aerith's green eyes lit up when she leaned in close, nudging them both playfully in the direction of the towering skywheel that pierced the skyline. "Come on!" she urged, her voice excited. "We can’t leave until we’ve ridden that!"

The trio approached the line for the skywheel, where a uniformed usher stood guard like a sentinel over the couples waiting their turn. "Sorry," the usher said, glancing between the three of them, "this ride is for couples only."

Undeterred, Aerith stepped forward, a smile on her face. She reached out, grabbing Cloud's hand and then Tifa's, linking them together as if they were parts of a chain. "We are a couple," she declared boldly, her gaze challenging. "Doesn't this look like a date to you?"

The usher’s eyes widened slightly, taken aback by the force of Aerith's conviction. Cloud could feel the warmth of Aerith’s hand in his own, her touch both reassuring and unsettling as she blurred the lines of their relationship with her infectious enthusiasm.

Tifa's hand felt delicate yet strong in his, her calloused fingers a testament to the battles they had faced together. Both women looked at him now with shared determination.

And there, amidst the flashing lights and cacophony of the amusement park, Cloud found himself silently agreeing with Aerith. This strange, wonderful moment did seem like a date, or perhaps a silent promise.

The usher's mumbled response was barely audible over the sounds of the bustling Gold Saucer. "Well, the rulebook doesn't explicitly state anything about a three-person... arrangement." She scratched her head, clearly out of her depth with the Ancient’s relentless charm and insistence.

"See?" Aerith said, her voice a playful sing-song as she leaned in, her eyes twinkling with mischief. "We're just expanding the traditional definition of a 'couple.' It's innovative!"

Cloud could feel a blush creeping up his neck, not entirely sure if it was from embarrassment or the thrill of the unconventional dynamic that Aerith so confidently presented to the world. Tifa, equally flustered but managing a small smile, remained silent, her gaze flickering between her two companions.

"Alright, alright. I suppose I can overlook the policy this time," the usher conceded with a resigned sigh, waving them towards the entrance of the skywheel. "But don't go telling everyone we make a habit of this."

"Thank you!" Aerith beamed as they made their way past him, pulling a flustered Cloud and Tifa onto the gondola.

The usher shut the door as soon as they were inside the compartment. The enclosed space suddenly felt smaller, as their reality narrowed down to the three of them.

Immediately, Cloud took a seat so that the other two had room to move.

Tifa gracefully sat down on the opposite bench, her hands clasping in her lap. Her profile was etched against the colorful blur of lights as they began their slow ascent, giving her an ethereal glow.

Aerith stood for a moment, her head tilting as she regarded her partners. This was a vital choice, one that could make or break her strategy.

She glanced first at Cloud, his broad shoulders stiff with a mix of anticipation and uncertainty. Then her gaze shifted to Tifa, whose quiet strength was as evident as ever. The air was thick with unspoken questions, their earlier interactions hanging between them like threads waiting to be woven into something new.

"Choices, choices," she mused, breaking the silence.

Aerith smirked at her impishness as she settled herself snugly against Cloud's side. The ex-SOLDIER's response was immediate—a subtle but hasty shuffle away, creating an irritating gap.

"Cloud," she chided gently, her voice carrying the playful rebuke of a mother to her wayward child, "where do you think you're going?" With deliberate ease, she scooted yet again in his direction. Her movement was purposeful, silently expressing her intention.

His blue gaze darted to her, the corners of his mouth twitching in a sheepish half-smile that suggested both embarrassment and an amused resignation to her whims.

Riding the high of her success, Aerith set her Cactuar plush on the floor with care before patting the limited space beside her. "Come on, Tifa," she beckoned, her tone light and welcoming like the summer sun.

The woman hovered at the edge of her decision, her gaze flickering to the empty space. “Wouldn’t that be dangerous?”

"Live a little!" The flower girl laughed. "If it starts to tip, I'll move over."

Trusting in Aerith's words, Tifa set her own plush down and took her place beside her, the balance holding firm as if welcoming the change. They were now squished together on the seat, arms and legs touching.

A faint blush painted Tifa’s cheeks. Her dark eyes held a mix of emotions—uncertainty mingled with excitement.

"There, isn't this cozy?" Aerith said cheerfully.

The martial artist forced a smile, trying to hide her discomfort. "It's a little tight..."

"Nonsense, we fit together perfectly!" Aerith declared. She rested her head on Tifa's shoulder affectionately.

Tifa tensed up again.

On Aerith's other side, Cloud sat rigidly, staring straight ahead out the window. She gave his arm a playful nudge.

"Oh, lighten up you two! We're supposed to be having fun together."

She tilted her head up towards Tifa, gazing at her fondly. The woman met her eyes briefly before looking away, cheeks flushed.

The skywheel continued its lazy rotation as the three sat pressed together in awkward silence. Aerith hummed softly to herself, perfectly content nestled between Tifa and Cloud. She reached out, her hands seeking theirs, her touch light but firm, an anchor in the sea of uncertainty that often surrounded them.

"I'm so lucky to have both of you here with me.” She interlocked their hands in her lap with a happy sigh. “This is nice. It makes me really happy.”

Tifa glanced down at their joined hands resting atop Aerith's thighs. “It is nice,” she agreed, offering Aerith a small smile.

Aerith beamed back at her. Then she turned her bright eyes on Cloud expectantly.

He shifted slightly but didn't pull his hand back. After a prolonged silence, she gave his arm a little nudge. “What do you think, Cloud?”

He pressed his lips together. “It’s…fine,” he murmured without looking at either of them.

Aerith grinned and settled against the seat, satisfied enough with his response.

In the quiet that followed, the only sounds were the distant murmurs of Gold Saucer's patrons and the occasional creak from the skywheel. It was as if the very air recognized the sanctity of the connection they shared. It was a moment of peace amidst chaos, a respite granted by fate or perhaps by the sheer will of the flower girl who sought to sow seeds of happiness wherever she tred.

Cool air brushed against their faces as the skywheel continued its gentle ascent into the night sky, a stark contrast to the warmth of Aerith's hands clasping theirs. Cloud gazed out of the window to the glittering spectacle below, his gaze distant, contemplative.

He took a deep breath, the air cool and thin at their lofty height. It was as if the altitude had cleared a path through the fog of his thoughts. Shifting in his seat, he glanced between Aerith and Tifa with a conflicted expression. The silence stretched on, only the faint music and voices from the ground in the background.

Finally, Cloud spoke up cutting through the quiet with the sharpness of a blade. "What exactly is this? I can’t get a read on you.”

Aerith turned to him, her head tilting inquisitively, a strand of her chestnut hair drifting across her cheek with the motion. "What do you mean?"

He could feel the weight of the question hanging over them, as tangible as the hand she still held. His blue eyes searched hers, seeking answers in the depths of her unwavering gaze.

His brows furrowed as he struggled to articulate the confusion that knotted his chest. The gondola creaked subtly overhead.

"Every time I think I understand," Cloud started, his voice steadier than he felt, "you change the game." He gestured vaguely with his free hand, the movement encompassing the strange, shifting dynamic of their trio. "One minute you are pushing Tifa and me together, then the next you're holding my hand."

Aerith's lips curled into a knowing smile, eyes alight with an unwavering confidence. She glanced down at their joined hands, her grip gentle yet firm as if anchoring him amid his swirling doubts. "Holding both of your hands," she corrected softly, her voice laced with significance as she emphasized the word both.

The simplicity of her statement, paired with the warmth of her touch, left Cloud momentarily speechless. It was an acknowledgment of the unspoken truth she had been hinting at all along. He hesitated, caught between the familiarity of Tifa's presence and the enigmatic allure of Aerith's.

In the quiet that followed, he realized that perhaps the answer wasn't meant to be found in words, but rather in the silent understanding that passed between three souls bound by a common goal.

Tifa's voice was hesitant, tinged with vulnerability. "So, you actually want to…"

Aerith turned to face her. "Darn. I thought I was being pretty clear with all the flirting. Yes, I want to be with both of you," she answered sincerely

Cloud's pulse quickened, the revelation sparking through him like an electric current. The confines of the gondola seemed to shrink, drawing them into a closeness that went beyond mere physical space. He searched Aerith's face for any sign of jest but found only open honesty in her emerald gaze. Cloud's eyes stay fixed on their joined hands, his thumb absently brushing against Aerith's knuckles.

Tifa, meanwhile, appeared frozen, her eyes wide as the words hung between them. Her lips parted slightly, a breath of surprise escaping as her hands started fidgeting. In that moment, Cloud realized the true gravity of what the Ancient had confessed, and the weight pressed upon him as heavily as the sword he bore.

The slow creak of the skywheel sounded above them, a reminder of the world continuing on its axis, indifferent to the delicate balance of hearts. But for Cloud, Tifa, and Aerith, time seemed to pause, waiting patiently for them to navigate the complex web of affection they had woven together.

"Even if you like two people you have to choose," Cloud said finally, his voice barely more than a whisper.

Aerith tilted her head, studying him with those eyes that always seemed to see right through him. She reached out, her touch light on his shoulder, a gentle nudge that somehow managed to stir the air around them. "Says who?" she asked, an impish twinkle returning to her gaze. "Sounds like you're in the same boat."

Cloud caught the faint scent of flowers as she leaned closer, the familiar aroma wrapping around him like a comforting embrace. He could feel the warmth radiating from her skin, the subtle invitation in her proximity—both soothing and disarming. Yet, it was her words that truly unsettled him, because deep down, he feared she might be right.

He felt the slow churn of the gondola as it reached its zenith, the world sprawling beneath them like a vast, intricate tapestry. His gaze lingered on the horizon, where the last embers of daylight clung to the sky. But it wasn't the view that had his heart racing—it was the question hanging in the air, an unsolvable riddle posed by Aerith's playful yet piercing stare.

"No, I'm not," he said, the words feeling thick and clumsy in his mouth. It was a denial, but even as he spoke, doubt threaded through his resolve like poison through veins.

Aerith's eyebrows arched, and her lips curled into a knowing smile—a silent challenge that seemed to echo around the enclosed space. "Oh? Then tell me right now, who do you like more, me or Tifa?" Her voice demanded an answer Cloud wasn't sure he could give.

He looked between the two women - Tifa, his childhood friend with her kind smile and unwavering loyalty—and Aerith, the flower girl who breezed into his life and saw through his aloof facade in an instant.

The answer undoubtedly should be Tifa. And yet, when he tried to bring her name to his tongue, doubt held him ensnarled in its grip. Cloud's pulse hammered in his ears, a relentless drumbeat that matched the rhythm of the gondola's creaks as they swayed gently in the sky.

The compartment dipped slightly, a soft groan of metal yielding to the evening breeze. His eyes flicked away from Aerith's expectant gaze, his hand tightening on the railing as if he could find some anchor in the cold steel.

"I...I don't—" His words broke under the weight of his uncertainty.

Tifa's hand brushed against his, a silent gesture that pulled him back from the precipice of his thoughts. "It's okay, Cloud," she said, her tone carrying reassurance. "Be honest."

Cloud turned towards her, her gentle expression offering a haven from the storm of his emotions. In the dimming light, her eyes reflected a quiet understanding that spoke volumes more than any words could.

"No, I...Tifa..." His voice faltered.

"It's always been you, Cloud." Her confession was soft, yet it cut through the cacophony of the amusement park, reaching straight to his core. "Even when we were kids. All I ever wanted was to be closer to you."

The confession lingered between them, a thread of truth that pulled at the fabric of his carefully built walls. Cloud's chest swelled with a mixture of emotions he couldn't quite name—a cocktail of relief, longing, and something far more vulnerable. Her words echoed in the secret chambers of his own heart, spaces he'd locked away behind stoic silence.

As the skywheel began its descent, the world tilting back into motion, Cloud realized that with Tifa, he didn't need to choose—because the choice had already been woven into the very fabric of who he was, inseparable from the bonds they shared.

The gondola's slow turn afforded them a view of the glittering lights below, but within the confines of their shared space, it was as though nothing else existed.

“I liked you too.”

Cloud's shy admission hung in the air, almost tangible in its weight. Tifa's eyes widened, her pulse quickened, and for a moment she wondered if she'd heard him correctly. The stoic warrior, always so guarded with his emotions, had just laid bare a piece of his past she had never seen.

"You did?" she asked, her voice a mixture of hope and disbelief. A frown creased her brow as confusion set in. "But you never wanted to play with me and the others."

His gaze faltered, drifting away from hers and out toward the horizon where the endless sky met the distant mountains. In the fading light of the dusk, his features were softened, stripping away the harsh lines of battle and revealing the boy she once knew. The one who watched from afar, the one whose silence she had often mistaken for indifference.

He looked back at her, a vulnerability in his deep blue eyes that she had only glimpsed in rare, unguarded moments. "It wasn't that I didn't want to," he said, the words slow and deliberate as if he were choosing each one carefully. "It was just... hard to step into the circle. To be one of you."

Her heart clenched at the confession, understanding dawning on her. She remembered those days, the laughter and the games, and how there was always one who lingered just beyond the edge of the group, his presence like a silent shadow.

"Cloud..." She reached out tentatively, her hand brushing against his arm, offering comfort without words. He needed to know that the boy who watched from a distance had always been a part of their circle, even if he hadn't realized it himself.

Cloud's hand hovered in the space between them, an inch from Tifa's own. "I was too shy," he admitted, finally letting his fingers brush against her skin. It was as if a barrier had crumbled at the touch, one that had stood between them for far too long.

Tifa's lips curved into a gentle smile, and it was like the dawn breaking after a long, uncertain night. "Then I'm glad you aren't still too shy to talk to me."

"Me too," he said, his voice soft but steady.

Aerith's grin was a beacon of warmth in the dimness as she extended her arms, drawing Cloud and Tifa into an embrace that spoke louder than any words they had shared. "Sometimes you don't need to talk," Aerith said, her voice a soothing murmur that resonated with the sentiment of her hug.

Cloud’s arms wrapped around both women with more tenderness than she expected from a SOLDIER.

Tifa's arms immediately encircled him, but when it came to Aerith, she hesitated, the briefest flash of uncertainty settling in. Then, making a conscious decision, Tifa let go of her reservations, reaching out to complete the circle. Her hand settled gently on the woman’s back, completing the trinity of companionship.

The skywheel cabin gently swayed as Aerith's laughter, light and airy, filled the small space. The city lights below painted their faces in a palette of distant stars and neon dreams. Cloud, his usual stoic self, sat with his back straightened, the corners of his mouth twitching into the faintest of smiles.

"See, you both like me too," Aerith said, playfulness dancing in her eyes as she regarded them both.

Cloud shifted uncomfortably, his gaze briefly meeting Aerith's before casting downward, where the city seemed to sprawl endlessly beneath them. "I didn't say that," he muttered, his voice almost lost to the hum of the skywheel's machinery.

The flower girl’s smile didn't falter, her emerald eyes reflecting unspoken knowledge as she leaned back against the seat. “You didn’t have to.”

Cloud's fingers, still intertwined with Aerith's, twitched ever so slightly as if they sought escape or perhaps a deeper connection.

Tifa's chuckle broke the silence. "She has a point.”

"You know what else you don't need to talk for? Kissing," Aerith suggested, the word slipping from her lips effortlessly. She looked at Tifa with a playful tilt of her head, her eyes glinting. The atmosphere, thick with anticipation, seemed to pulse with each beat of Tifa's heart.

Before Tifa could process the full weight of Aerith's suggestion, she found herself gently nudged forward. Her friend’s slender hand on her back was both a force and a comfort.

Tifa's breath caught as the distance between her and Cloud narrowed to mere inches. Cloud's gaze held a question, his own uncertainty mirroring hers, yet there was something else there—a silent longing that spoke volumes.

Time seemed to warp, bending around them, granting them a bubble where nothing else mattered.

"Cloud," she whispered, a name that felt like a key unlocking something deep within her.

He leaned forward ever so slightly, his blue eyes reflecting the fading light, searching her face for permission. The space between them vibrated with the potential of what could be, and at that moment, words were indeed unneeded.

Tifa's pulse hammered in her ears, and she wondered if he could hear it too. The closeness was intoxicating, the warmth of his breath mingling with hers, an unspoken invitation hanging precariously in the air.

A gentle prod at Cloud's back broke the stillness. That was enough; it tipped the balance. With a resolve that seemed to surge from his very core, Cloud closed the gap, his lips meeting hers in a kiss that felt like the mending of two fragmented stars.

The world outside their embrace fell away, leaving only the softness of his lips against hers, the tender pressure that spoke volumes more than any words could convey. Years of hidden glances and quiet yearnings culminated in this single, perfect moment.

Tifa grasped his shirt, steadying herself in this inexplicable reality, as she kissed him back with the urgency of years of pent-up emotions. In contrast, Cloud’s hand cupped her cheek almost reverently, as if he was afraid she was an illusion that might disappear under too much pressure.

As they slowly parted, breathing each other's air, the world seeped back in—the hum of the skywheel, the distant laughter from below, the presence of their companion. Aerith's eyes danced with unrestrained joy, her voice lilting with triumph. "Finally! You look great together by the way."

Tifa’s cheeks flared, but a radiant smile broke over her face. At long last, she and Cloud had bridged the distance looming between them. Whatever paths lay ahead, she knew they would walk them side by side.

"So," Aerith asked, eyes darting eagerly between them, "would one of you like to kiss me next?"

Cloud’s hand tensed ever so slightly around hers as he processed the question.

Though posed lightly, Tifa knew there was vulnerability in the question. Her smile wavered for only a fraction of a second, before she replied, “Sure, why not.” She gripped Cloud’s hand, an unspoken assurance.

Aerith's lips curved into a triumphant smile. With assertive determination, she leaned in, closing the distance between them. Tifa's eyes widened when she made contact, but then, slowly, she melted into the kiss, feeling time slow around her.

It felt entirely different from her kiss with Cloud. While they had fit together like pieces separated for too long, she and Aerith were like coffee and milk, swirling together to make something rich and flavorful.

As they parted, a soft sigh escaped Aerith, and Tifa's cheeks grew warm at the dawning realization of the new, uncharted territories their relationship might explore.

Cloud's gaze lingered on the two women as they separated, an expression of wonder etched across his face. His heart thumped loudly in his chest at how much the sight affected him. They were both so beautiful and together they were enough to risk sanity. His mind was still struggling to process the relationship they were forming, but he knew that he didn’t regret it.

Aerith licked her lips. It was a small, subconscious gesture, but he envied her ability for such fearlessness. "Your turn, Cloud. That is if you want it.” Her words resonated deep within him.

The air between them crackled with an electric charge, a current fueled by the unknown. his hands clenched and unclenched in nervous anticipation as he worked up his courage. He took a breath, his resolve solidifying.

All it took was a nod, and Aerith was inching forward, the deliberate slowness of her approach a stark contrast to the swift, bold kiss she'd shared with Tifa moments ago. It gave Cloud time to back away if he chose. In that suspended moment, he observed the yearning that seemed to beckon his spirit to drop its guard.

Their lips touched, and it was a slow bloom rather than a spark—a question asked and answered at once, affirming the pull of their connection. Cloud's heart, often shrouded in the fog of past regrets, beat with a clarity that resonated in the gentle press of their kiss.

After a blissful moment, Aerith drew back, catching her breath. The world rushed back in a dizzying rush of color and sound. Her eyes shimmered with stars, and her breath escaped in a contented exhalation that seemed to carry every unspoken dream she held dear. "Thank you, Gold Saucer!" she exclaimed.

Tifa pressed against the cool glass of the skywheel compartment, tracing the outline of distant lights that twinkle like gems strewn across the dark velvet landscape. "Oh yeah," she murmured, her voice tinged with wonder as she gestured toward the sprawling vista beyond their suspended cocoon. "We've been missing all of the sights."

Together, they set their sights on the shrinking skyline, a painting in motion, the vibrant colors and flashing lights of the attractions painting a picture of life lived without regrets.

Aerith laughed. “We’ve been too focused on each other.” Her hands remained warmly enveloped around Cloud and Tifa's, an anchor in the vastness of the night sky. The world below them—a canvas of glittering lights and distant laughter—seemed both infinite and intimate from this height.

"Look there," Tifa whispered, leaning closer to the glass. Her breath fogged a small circle on the pane as she pointed out a particular flare of light that danced along the horizon. "Isn't it beautiful?"

Aerith's eyes followed the trajectory of the bartender’s finger, a soft smile playing on her lips as she shared in the delight of the sight.

"This view's better," Cloud murmured, his voice barely audible.

Both women turned to him, and the smiles that graced their lips were reflections of one another—warm, genuine, and filled with an affection that was as bright as any light shining below. In that moment, the dazzling displays of the Gold Saucer faded into insignificance beside their simple joy.

The lively chatter outside grew louder as they approached the ground.

"We can always come again," Aerith said, motioning toward the window where the world outside beckoned for more adventures. "But it's your turn to pick our next date."

Cloud shifted in his seat, the weight of her suggestion settling upon him like the buster sword he so often carried—a burden and a responsibility, yet something he wouldn't part with for the world. He met her gaze, then Tifa's, feeling the pull of their shared journey drawing him closer to both.

"Our next date, huh?" he echoed, a faint smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. There was a hint of color on his cheeks, perhaps from the thrill of the rides or the warmth of the moment, and for once, it seemed as though the ever-stoic soldier was allowing himself a thread of anticipation for what lay ahead.

The skywheel's door swung open with a creak, and the trio stepped out into the carnival. The cacophony of game stalls and joyous screams from distant rides enveloped them once again.

Tifa's gaze lingered on him, a smile breaking across her face promising future escapades. "I know just the place," Tifa said.

Before Cloud could respond, a sudden force yanked at his arm, spinning him towards a whirlwind of energy. Yuffie, ever the embodiment of uncontained spirit, had appeared seemingly out of nowhere, her hand latching onto him as if he would disappear like a ninja in mist. Her eyes were alight with the kind of zeal that typically preceded some wild scheme.

"Cloud!" she whined, her voice a pitch that could rival the high notes of the roller coaster screams. "You've gotta help me! Scouted the whole area and there's only one materia. Only problem is it's worth a buttload of GP. Tell me you've got 'em."

Cloud felt the weight of his empty pockets metaphorically, if not literally. He met her expectant gaze, where hope danced in her eyes like the flickering lights of the arcade games around them.

"Sorry. I used them all up," he said, his words flat and final.

“You did?” Yuffie's shoulders slumped, her grip loosening in defeat, though her spirit, Cloud knew, would not be dampened for long.

Her eyes darted to find their prize, landing with disbelief on the colorful plushies in the women’s arms. "Toys? Seriously?" Her voice pitched high, tinged with the kind of mock outrage only Yuffie could master.

Aerith, always the peacemaker, stepped forward with a grace that seemed to calm the immediate vicinity. Her hands cradled the green Cactuar plushie. With a gentle thrust, she presented it mere inches from the ninja’s face, her eyes radiating with delight. "They're just adorable, aren't they?" Her smile was infectious, radiating warmth that beckoned even the most hardened warrior to recall innocence long forgotten.

The Cactuar's round eyes and stitched smile bordered on comical, its simplicity a stark reminder of life's simpler pleasures amidst their convoluted quest.

Yuffie's eyes lingered on the plush Cactuar, her initial anger giving way to a brief, whimsical respite before snapping back to her usual energetic fervor. She shook her head, dispelling the enchantment of soft fabrics and cute designs with a singular, determined jerk.

"Wait! That's not the point!" She jabbed an accusatory finger towards Cloud, her voice rising with passion for the true treasure they all sought in their travels. "Materia is a way better prize than those." Her stance was set, defiant, and unyielding, a warrior unwilling to concede the battle for magical trinkets that held the power of gods. "That settles it." Her gaze locked onto his, filled with the fiery challenge that always seemed to simmer beneath her youthful exterior. "You're gonna earn more points and win it for me."

Cloud stood, arms crossed over his chest, a contemplative frown etched upon his features as he regarded her. With a steadfast resolve that had carried him through countless fights, he met her stare, unwavering.

"Not happening," he said, his voice flat and final.

Yuffie's shoulders slumped ever so slightly, the fire in her eyes dimming but not extinguished. She knew when a battle was lost, yet in the depths of her ninja heart, the war for precious Materia was never truly over.

The ninja’s brows furrowed in a mix of indignation and disbelief, her arms falling to her sides like deflated balloons. "But you won them prizes," she accused, her voice pitching high as she gestured toward the oversized stuffed toys clasped in the women’s hands.

Cloud shifted his weight, the faintest hint of a sigh escaping him, his gaze lingering momentarily on the plush Cactuar Aerith clutched with possessive delight. The corners of his mouth twitched, betraying the stoic facade he so often wore. "That's different," he replied, the depth of his voice contrastingly calm against Yuffie's crescendo of frustration.

The afternoon sun cast long shadows across the trio, creating a silent audience of their elongated forms stretched over the Gold Saucer's vibrant walkway. Despite the jovial atmosphere surrounding them, a tension palpable only to those bound by battle and shared purpose hung in the air. Yuffie's eyes darted between the prizes and Cloud, searching for an understanding that seemed just out of reach.

Yuffie's eyes narrowed, her lips pursed in confusion as she prodded for a clearer explanation. "How so?" she complained, her voice laced with a mixture of curiosity and exasperation.

Aerith's gaze subtly shifted towards Tifa, her emerald eyes reading the unspoken dialogue written across her friend's face—a blend of amusement and anticipation. With the grace of a blooming flower, she stepped closer to Cloud and wrapped her arm around his, her fingers gently squeezing the fabric of his sleeve. "Because we're his girlfriends," she declared with a playful tilt of her head, her words floating on the air like a melody.

Cloud's stance stiffened at Aerith's touch, an internal struggle briefly flashing across his features before settling into a quiet acceptance. The setting sun bathed them in its golden hue, casting an almost ethereal glow on the scene that unfolded, while the sounds of the bustling Gold Saucer faded into a distant murmur.

"Whaat?!" The word burst from Yuffie like a shuriken, swift and sharp, as she ping-ponged her gaze between the three of them. Her hands fluttered at her sides, mirroring the chaos of her thoughts—a whirlwind of disbelief and astonishment that seemed to echo in the cacophony of Gold Saucer’s arcade symphony.

Tifa's lips quirked up just the slightest bit, a silent chuckle at their friend’s theatrics. She met Yuffie’s wide-eyed stare with the calm warmth that always seemed to radiate from her when she was confident in her footing. "It's true," she affirmed, her voice steady yet gentle, like the undercurrent of a stream that carried depth beyond its surface serenity.

Cloud shifted uncomfortably, his gaze briefly finding the colorful patterns on the cobblestones beneath their feet, before he managed to lift it back to the trio. His hand, still enclosed by Tifa's, gave an almost imperceptible squeeze—a quiet acknowledgment of the reality they had woven together.

“Oh my god! Oh my god! Oh my god!” Yuffie's exclamation was so fast it sounded like one giant word as she bounced on the balls of her feet. Her eyes were wide with a hunger for details, the kind of insatiable curiosity that had always been her hallmark. “How the heck did this happen?”

Tifa's response was laced with a hint of amusement, and she offered an easy shrug. "I guess one thing just led to another," she said, her voice tinged with the laughter she kept at bay. Her gaze drifted to Cloud, sharing a private look that held volumes of unsaid words—a shared history that had suddenly taken an unexpected turn.

The ex-SOLDIER’s attention, meanwhile, remained divided, his expression a complex tapestry of confusion, surprise, and something else—perhaps a dawning realization. His eyes flicked from Tifa's soft smile to Aerith's playful grin, and he couldn't quite suppress the way the corner of his mouth twitched upwards in response.

The Ancient watched the exchange, her green eyes dancing with delight. She wrapped an arm around Tifa's waist and leaned in, her head resting lightly against Tifa's shoulder in a display of affection that seemed to embolden the ninja’s incredulity.

"Come on, you can't leave it at that!" Yuffie pressed, her hands now clasped together as if in prayer for more juicy details. "There's gotta be more to it, spill!"

But Tifa simply shook her head with a upturned lips. "Some stories are better left untold," she suggested, squeezing Cloud's hand once more as they stood together, united in their shared secret and the adventure that lay ahead.

Yuffie's eyes narrowed in mock defeat, her arms flopping to her sides as she kicked at a stray pebble. It skittered across the cobblestone path of Gold Saucer, mirroring the sharp twist of her lips. "Damn, I'm definitely not getting that materia now," she muttered under her breath, loud enough for the others to hear.

Cloud turned to regard her with a raised brow, his spiky blonde hair catching the gleam of the neon lights above. "Why's that?" he asked, the echo of curiosity threading through the gravelly tone of his voice.

The ninja folded her arms across her chest, tilting her head back to meet his gaze. Her eyes, usually so quick and vigilant, held a glint of playful accusation as she shook her head with a dramatic sigh.

His gaze lingered on her, waiting for an answer. There was a certain stillness to the group, a collective pause as the Gold Saucer buzzed and hummed around them, its lights dancing off the faces of passersby who were lost in their own adventures.

Yuffie shifted her weight from one foot to the other, her eyes darting to the women before settling back on him. "Cause I bet 500 GP you were going to get with Aerith," she said, her voice carrying a note of defeat wrapped in reluctant admittance.

A crease formed between Cloud's brows, his hands unconsciously tightening into fists at his sides. The notion that someone would wager on the outcomes of his tangled relationships seemed absurd.

"You had a bet?" he asked, the words slipping out more like an accusation than a question. His blue eyes, sharp with a mix of surprise and annoyance, pierced through the facade of Yuffie's usual carefree demeanor, seeking something deeper, something true behind the playful banter.

The ninja girl met his stare head-on, the corners of her mouth twitching upward in a half-hearted attempt at her typical cheeky grin. But there was no mistaking the underlying hint of sincerity; this was more than just a game to her.

Yuffie's nod came with a certain resignation, her ponytail bouncing slightly as she acknowledged the truth. "Yep. Barret bet you were gonna get with Tiffa. And Red thought Aerith and Tifa were gonna 'cause of that date,” she explained, her hands fidgeting with the hem of her oversized shuriken holster, a telltale sign of her discomfort.

Tifa crossed her arms over her chest, a small, knowing smile playing on her lips. The warmth in her eyes couldn't be mistaken for anything but fond amusement as she took in her confession. She turned her gaze toward Cloud, who remained silent, his spiked blond hair catching the glint of the artificial lights of the Gold Saucer. His expression was an unreadable mask, yet there was a softness there, a hint of vulnerability that wasn't often permitted to surface.

"Then none of you lost," Tifa said, her voice steady and sure, a contrast to the chaotic energy that always seemed to swirl around Yuffie.

Her statement hung in the air for a moment, a simple declaration that seemed to settle some unspoken tension among them. It was an acknowledgment of the complicated web of relationships they had woven together, an acceptance of whatever form their connections might take.

Yuffie's eyes widened, an exaggerated pout forming on her lips as she processed Tifa's words. She tossed her head back, a playful huff escaping her as she conceded to the complexity of their intertwined affections. "I guess you're right," she said, the corners of her mouth twitching in a reluctant smile. "Or we all lost. Either way, you three won the jackpot."

“I couldn’t have said it better myself,” Aerith said beaming.

“Well, alright, your three have fun.” Yuffie shuffled away, grumbling to herself about GP.

The night air of the Gold Saucer was filled with the sounds of distant laughter and the mechanical symphony of arcade machines, yet, at that moment, the gentle giggles of Aerith and Tifa seemed to rise above it all. They stood close, shoulders brushing, the glow from the amusement park lights casting soft shadows on their faces.

Aerith's lips curved with delight and a hint of victory. "I couldn't have said it better myself,” she agreed.

Tifa's giggle melded harmoniously with Aerith's, a sound as comforting as a warm blanket at the end of a long day. Cloud’s cheeks warmed with genuine happiness.

They had a long road ahead of them, but he wouldn’t have wanted to face it with anyone else.

[satoshi-mochida]

Frontier Hunter: Erza’s Wheel of Fortune free update and paid DLC announced - Gematsu

IceSitruuna will release Frontier Hunter: Erza’s Wheel of Fortune free update “The Legacy of the Demon King” on September 12, followed by the paid downloadable content “The Mother’s Trial” on an unannounced date to be confirmed soon, the developer announced.

Here is an overview of the update and downloadable content, via IceSitruuna:

Free Update: “The Legacy of the Demon King”

“The Legacy of the Demon King” update starts after the final boss fight when everybody’s celebrating the victory, resting, and preparing to get back home. The universe has a different plan for Ezra however with a mysterious figure showing up out of nowhere to warn her that signs of the Divine Punishment have emerged. Ezra doesn’t know yet that the wheel of the Demon King’s fate has already started spinning wildly…

New hidden areas within eight levels such as The Glowing Forest, The Mysterious Cave, The Desert Prison, or The City of Ghouls.

Over 20 new, powerful monsters with their corresponding magic cores.

Elsa will now be able to inherit Eva’s weapon.

Extremely powerful new weapons, armor, and accessories will push the main team beyond their limits.

The rumored hidden boss will not only make an appearance but also defeating him will reward gamers with a new swimsuit for free!

Plot tweaks waiting to be discovered.

Paid Downloadable Content: “The Mother’s Trial”

Once done with the new content available in the free update and still craving more, gamers will be able to purchase the paid downloadable content “The Mother’s Trial.” It’ll be the only paid expansion for the game where players will be able to face Elsa’s mother in an epic battle, taking place in the virtual training room of the airship. There, Elsa’s mother will test how much her daughter and disciple has grown. Gamers will be able to take this challenge multiple times. The downloadable content launch date will be announced soon.

Frontier Hunter: Erza’s Wheel of Fortune is available now for PlayStation 5 and PC via Steam, Epic Games Store, and GOG.

[dragon-creates]

Okay, so! It's my birthday this Sunday coming and I'll officially be turning 20! (god I'm getting old already) So I have plans to release a new bowuigi one-shot by that day as a birthday present from me to all of you! I've actually been working on this since May but have been caught up with other fics that I'm still currently working on and helping my family, but I'm really hoping to get it done by Sunday, if not I'll give you all a sneak peak and try to get it done by the end of the month instead. As for now, here is the summary to let you see what's in store.

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Congratulations! If you have received this invitation, that means that you have been invited to the wedding of King Bowser and Prince Consort Luigi! The wedding will take place at the Darklands castle 11th of June at 12:00PM sharp. Wear your best formal attire, a gift for the happy new couple and a smile. Hope to see you there!

King Boo let out an inhuman screech as he ripped up the letter.

“Ready my airships!” he screamed at one of his subjects, jumping at the sudden noise, “I want my armies to be ready by the date of the royal wedding!”

Or

King Boo finds out that Bowser and Luigi are getting married and decides to enact on some revenge.

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Anyways, I’ll see ya'll soon and have a lovely rest of your day!

[thisisnotthenerd]

Dimension 20 Episode of the Day: 5/21

Today's Episode is: Escape from the Bloodkeep, Episode 4, Airship Ambush

Original Release Date: 5/21/2019

The Quick Synopsis: The Vile Villains fight it out in the sky above Ro'ro'ro'ro'ro'kin'drath aboard the Siren, flagship of the Forgotten Fleet. A battle for inheritance ensues as enemies and former allies alike make their moves.

Quotes:

"All right. Tavian, look, I can be mad at you because of the original reason I was mad at you which is after years of sitting through our regal tutors, he was like, I don't wanna do this. I'm gonna be an artist, I'm not gonna be here and at the last moment, stealing the throne from me? But what really grinds my gears is how you sent me out on a scouting mission to just leave me out in the dark." ~ Markus St. Vincent

Markus scanning around:

Give me, give me a perception check real quick.

At advantage.

Ooh, really? Oh, nat 20.

Yeah!

Galfast Hamhead is right behind you.

[silveragelovechild]

BLUE BEETLE (Minor Spoilers)

I was unsure if I wanted to see “Blue Beetle”. Is it one of the last of the old DCEU movies? Or, as suggested by recent articles, the first of the new DCU films under James Gunn and James Safran.

Well, the movie was green lit by Warner in 2021 to be part of mid-budget films to be released exclusively on HBO Max. But with the regime change… and lucky for it, with Safran as a producer, it got a theatrical release date.

As I’m not a fan of Warner/Gunn’s new direction for DC Comics movies, I hesitated. But because the Blue Beetle features the Jaime Reyes version of the character, Warner’s first Mexican superhero, I felt I should at least see it.

First, does this feel like an introduction to a new DC Universe? Flat out, No. The story is set in a fictional city in the Florida Keys, and except for very minor passing references to Batman, Superman, and the Flash, there is no sense of the outside world and the heroes that might inhabit it. So this movie is largely standalone and could exist in any of DC’s multiverses (included the Arrowverse).

What sets this movie apart from other superhero movies is its focus on “La familia”. We have Jaime, his sister, mom and dad, Uncle Rudy, and Nana the abuelita - and they all love each other very much.

This is both good and bad, because like the Shazam-Family in Zachary Levi’s films, Jaime is never on a solo mission. He has to share a lot of screen time and plot with his family.

As Superhero family go, this one is extraordinary… Tio Rudy (played by George Lopez) is a veritable tech genius (someone actually refers to him as Doc Brown). And Nana? She’s played by well known Mexican actress Adriana Barraza. Her character was once a “revolucionista” who can handle a machine gun twice her size. As I don’t recall any revolutions in Mexico in the past 50+ years, maybe in her youth grandma traveled to Nicaragua in the 1980s to fight with the Contras.

These additions are meant to be playful, but each needs a setup, and an arc and conclusion which make the movie less and less about Jaime.

Xolo Maridueña is charming as Jaime. His devotion to his family is his defining trait. Once the alien scarab takes over his body, he’s constantly trying to stop it from killing anybody. An odd juxtaposition because in Tio Rudy’s and Abuelita’s action scenes, they don’t hesitate killing (remember that machine gun?).

Susan Sarandon plays a generic corporate villain and offers nothing special. Her #1 henchman is played by Raoul Trujillo. He eventually becomes a red version of the Beetle (don’t you hate it when the villain becomes a copy of the hero). He and Jaime have many fight scenes (CGI versus CGI like in the Iron Man movies).

The ending gets bogged down in too many fight scenes:

Jaime’s sister versus generic henchmen

Tio Rudy versus generics henchmen

Abuelita versus generic henchmen

Jaime versus generic henchmen

Jaime versus Raoul Trujillo (twice at the end and at least 4 times across the movie).

In all, I thought “Blue Beetle” was just “okay”. Certainly better than “Quantumania” and “Thor L&T” but not has good as either WW movie or the recent Flash (which I enjoyed quite a bit).

NOTE:The plot references the Golden Age Blue Beetle (Dan Garrett) and the Silver Age version (Ted Kord) but neither appear. But we do get to see Kord’s airship, the Bug, in action.

Post Credit Scenes: Shortly after the credit start, there is a scene referencing Ted Kord. At the very end of the credits, there is another bit that is not worth waiting for (trust me!). And there are NO cameos by any other heroes or actors.

Best Line:

“My name is Sanchez, pendeja!”

[d20-eotd]

Dimension 20 Episode of the Day: 9/22

Today's Episode is: The Seven, Episode 6, Belles of the Baronies

Original Release Date: 9/22/2021

The Quick Synopsis: The Seven Maidens are invited to a masquerade ball aboard the Rombosa, flag airship of the Baronies, but not without some uncomfortable discoveries along the way.

Quotes:

Rekha describing Penny after her encounter with Laertes:

[gesturing to Becca] Deeply emotional, I'll never see my family, and then [gestures to Brennan] the man in the pant [leg, singular] shitting a horse out.

[novankenn]

Unnatural (v2-Epilogue)

(Chapter List)

MATURE CONTENT WARNING : This story deals with some disturbing themes. Check the tags. IF any of these are triggers for you or will disturb you... then DO NOT READ!!

Using Anna’s abilities to basically step through walls, Jaune was able to procure a completely fresh set of clothing to replace his blood soaked ones. Anabel was still gushing over the pain she had unleashed upon Jacob Dahmer. She was particularly proud of ripping out a section of his spine, before in her final act tearing his diseased heart from his chest. Daisy they knew had been traumatized by viewing Annabel’s actions, but the young girl’s hate for Jacob gave her the strength to weather the display of brutality before relenting and calling Emergency Services.

It was about three days now, since the events of that night. Since, Jaune through Annabel had promised Terra revenge on the condition that she take care of Jaune’s mother. He had watched the news reports through the plate glass of a storefront window.

“An investigation into the death of prominent coach Alyssa Gacey continues. However, verified through multiple sources, and a press release from the agent of Pyrrha Nikos, it has come to light that Coach Gacey was a sexual predator, often taking advantage of her own charges. The charges she was entrusted to protect.”

“In an official statement, the Argus Police have confirmed that there are multiple allegations against the late Alyssa Gacey, some dating back over a decade. It was also announced that due to the violent nature of her Death that the Police are continuing their investigation under the premise that this was a revenge killing.”

“In other news…”

Jaune had to suppress a maliciously sadistic grin at that news. That vermin’s victims have gotten real justice, and any potentials from the future were now safe. Moving off, he made his way towards the airship terminals. He had a promise to keep, and even though it was going to empty his savings, he was going to see his word honored. Through a conversation with Annabel, they had come to the consensus that Vale would be the best place to flee to.

He was just in the process of purchasing his one way ticket when security arrived at the ticket kiosk. Jaune knew instantly that his mother had put out a missing person’s report, and that upon the ticket agent confirming his identity, security had been summoned. It seemed like overkill to have four officers arrive, but Jaune surmised with suggestions from Annabel that he had been listed as a runaway.

“You stupid idiot.” Jaune admonished himself under his breath. Just now, realizing that his age probably also prompted the notification to security. Unwilling to fight, or showcase any of his abilities against average people doing their jobs, Jaune with slumped shoulders allowed himself to be escorted away.

/==/

Jaune was literally choking under the combined pressure of hugs from his mother Saphron and his stepmom-to-be Terra. They were both openly sobbing, which was making it very difficult for Jaune to also not start crying.

“Don’t you ever do something like this to me again.” Saphron whispered into his ear. “You’re my most precious gift, I can’t lose you.”

“You are family to me too, Jaune… I love you just as mush as I love your mom.” Terra whispered into his opposite ear. “We’ll discuss things when we get home… but you’re coming home.”

“But…” Jaune was finding it hard to form any words or even rebuttals to their comments.

“You and Saphron are going to have to explain everything to me.” Terra continued to whisper, “I need to understand, and maybe then I can accept this…”

“And if you can’t?” Jaune whispered back.

“I don’t know, but I need to know everything first, and then we’ll cross that bridge.”

“Let’s go home.” Saphron stated with teary eyes as she released her son from her death grip. “Let’s go home.”

/==/ A/N : And with this Volume 2 is complete. After I do some working out a few things... namely how to justify Terra accepting/ignoring Jaune's activities, I'll work on Volume 3. Volume 3 will either be in Vale prior to Jaune's Beacon attendance, or a mix of Vale and his early attendance at Beacon. Anyway hope you enjoyed this, and if you think there is anything I could have improved upon, feel free to let me know.

[khira-queen]

Day #3 - Tempest

"Waengrina Doenstyrmwyn, cap'n o' th' Sahagin's Shriek, an' a downright fearsome shipwright. Was a privateer fer th' Maelstrom up until a few turns back. She'd been runnin' a small shippin' outfit on th'side, reckon she saw the war's end comin' an' made plans t' hang 'er axe up early. Found quite th' profit it turns out. Last any saw of 'er she was on an' airship t' Ul'dah a fortnight ago. "

"I'm guessing she's gone missing then?"

"Dead. Th' Brass Blades found 'er body sprawled on 'er inn room floor three sun's ago. Thankfully th' Flames caught wind an' found it prudent t' send word t' Maelstrom Command."

Khira sat hunched in a Maelstrom office, or at least a broom closet that had been hastily converted into one. It was barebones at most, crates for chairs an a rickety workbench for a desk. Yet however cramped she felt, the looming Roegadyn across from her must have been far worse off. The night before, Khira's office had received an urgent summons to Limsa Lominsa requesting her aid in a delicate matter. She'd considered refusing, a last minute boat airship to Vylbrand wasn't cheap, and it wasn't as if she didn't have other work to attend to. But a Grand Company favour had value of its own.

"Sergeant Saelzfaeld, your summons implied this was a delicate matter for the Maelstrom but so far it seems like your dead woman go too rich too fast and wandered into a viper's den." She shrugged at the officer. Murder investigations weren't a rare request for someone styling themselves as an investigator, but this sounded like a messy affair rife with mercantile politics. "As I'm sure you must be aware from Maelstrom records, my skills are of a magickal nature. Why go to the trouble to call me all the way here?"

Saelzfaeld grimaced as he shifted uncomfortably, the makeshift box seat beneath him creaking under his bulk. "Truth told y' weren't my first pick Miss Lhizahla. At first I'd 'oped to keep this whole affair internal, but circumstances forced me 'and." He fished around under the workbench a moment, pulling out a broadsheet dated the sun prior. The main headline stood out; 'Tempest Trader Drowned in Desert Jewel".

"Wait... drowned? In Uld'dah?" Khira's confusion was as plain as Saelzfaeld's exasperation.

"So it seems, aye. 'ccordin' to th' Blades' released reports, Waengrina was found bloated an' belly up, top floor o' th' 'ourglass, filled t' the gills with salt an' bile." The roegadyn scratched at his neck, almost sheepishly. "Jacke-"

Khira raised a finger, cutting him off. "You should have led with the cause corporal, I would've agreed right away." A hint of a smirk crept across Khira's face subconsciously. Mundane murders among merchants weren't noteworthy, not in Ul'dah. But this was abnormal, which made it interesting, and Khira was nothing if not morbidly curious. "You definitely have my attention, but before I sign on I must know. What's the Maelstrom's stake here? Why does a Grand Company care about the death of a privateer turned profiteer?"

The corporal clenched his jaw, as if he was being forced to give up some grave personal secret. "Yer' right in sayin' Waengrina got rich quick. T' put it simply, she'd been takin' 'er pick of Garlean magitech under th' table while privateerin', used it t' get an edge in on shippin' times an' drive down' market price. Word was she was lookin' t' expand out from coastal work t' continental." He took a breath, staring Khira down "We' care s' much 'cause a right storm is brewin'. Dependin' on th' culprit, this could start a bloody trade war 'tween th' Black Sails. Or worse, 'tween Limsa Lominsa an' Ul'dah."

[scrollsfromarebornrealm]

Prompt #4: Off the Hook

CW: violence, blood, gore

----------

Sebastian ripped Zantetsuken free of the hired thug's corpse, twirling the blade to block another attack coming in from his right side. Faster than mortal eyes could see, he drew back and sliced, bisecting the other thug in half. The two halves of the man's corpse fell to the floor, joining the rest of his fellows. Odin's Dominant exhaled, rolling his shoulders. Blood dripped from Zantetsuken, it soaked his clothes, and it was splattered across his face like paint-drops.

"I was supposed to be on the airship by now." He griped, the tone of his voice making it sound as if he was complaining about the weather. More than likely he'd missed the flight, which meant another night in Limsa. Which now was not a good idea.

So rather reluctantly, Sebastian had rented an apartment at the Topmast under an assumed name, and had lain low for the better part of a month. He'd found out more about what had happened at Aleport--it seemed Riven had Primed in response to a Limsan eikon-hunter weapon that had been in active use. Fortunately she'd had the wits to haul arse. And after tearing Vylbrand apart, it had been declared by the Malestrom that the mysterious Eikon had fled for Aldenard.

But to be honest, staying here was not wise to begin with. Flicking Zantetsuken to get rid of some of the accumulated gore, Sebastian continued walking though the apartment, which was now littered with broken furniture, blood spatter, and the various body parts of his attackers. When he'd first arrived, it had been his full intent on following Riven--especially since word of the Aleport incident had made it to Sharlayan as he was leaving. But Sebastian's body had betrayed him--exhaustion from the sudden release of years of stress, his hindbrain seizing upon the fact that he was safe, safe, safe and free-- And while he had wanted to pursue his charge, Sebastian knew that he was effectively worthless. Odin's strength could only suffuse him for so long, he needed to rest and recover.

Sebastian fully intended to follow. Had been preparing for it, in fact. Then he'd gone out to get some supplies and had come back to find his apartment filled with unwanted guests. The gunbreaker's gaze dropped to a nearby corpse, taking in the features.

Yellow and green armor. Sheathing Zantetsuken, Sebastian knelt beside the beheaded torso, aether shimmering around him as Odin's power retreated. Forum Member Albright's people? I know he has quite a few henchmen on this side of the Indigo Deep. What looked like a broadside was sticking out of a pant pocket, and Sebastian reached out for the rolled up paper. Standing up, he unrolled it to read the contents, being careful not to splatter any blood on the sheet.

"...Oh." He breathed. It was a newssheet from Sharlayan, dated a week prior. The primary story detailed the early results of a preliminary investigation into the illegal research that had been carried out on Eikons and their Dominants in Labrinythos. It seemed as if the Forum was working on getting themselves off the hook, all the blame was being laid at the feet of now-ex Forum member liato Tyrer...and Sebastian's ex-lover, Lacelle Glycen, rumored to have fled to Eorzea. A reward was out for the two men's arrest--along with a request that the duo be turned in alive, as they were also persons of interest in another case involving a missing woman.

Forum Member Astrid DeGlass's granddaughter. A sneer crossed Sebastian's features, and he crumpled the broadsheet in a fist. Purple flame appeared, hungrily devouring the paper, and Sebastian spread his fingers, watching the ash fall to the ground. He'd ruminate on what this meant later. Right now he needed to shower--immediately, grab his things and leave. At max he had roughly about an hour and half, two tops--before the stench of death drifted into the other apartments.

I'll have to risk the Vesper Bay ferry then.

[ainyan]

FFXIVWrite Day #17: Free Write

Personal Prompt: Funk

The week apart had given her too much time to think. Too much time to brood. Even with Thancred sending constant text messages, chat messages, and even the occasional email, Kal’istae was too certain that this trip he’d needed to take for ‘work’ was little more than a convenient excuse to ease things off. Not that she could blame him. Two dates in and they were already talking relationships. Who even did that?

Not her, nope. Clearly, it had just been chemistry and the heat of the moment. And with distance and time between them, they had both seen the light.

So why was she so damn miserable?

The knock at her door startled her out of her funk, and she leaned over the back of her ratty old couch to glare at the door. She was half-tempted to ignore it, but when the knock came again, she groaned and hauled herself up. “It’s ten at night,” she muttered as she slumped up to the door, “and I’m sulking. Go away.”

The last was said as she opened the door to Thancred’s surprised face. “I mean,” he said hesitantly, “if you really wa- oof!” He was cut off as he suddenly found himself with an armful of Kal’istae. The Au Ra scaled him like a tree, wrapping her arms around his neck and her legs around her waist as she yanked his head down and covered his mouth with hers.

He barely had time to lean into the kiss, however, before she slid down and stepped away, covering her mouth with her hand and staring at him with wide eyes. “Ohmigods,” she babbled, “I’m sorry, I couldn’t help - I didn’t mean - I just saw you there and I was missing you and ohmigods shoot me now.”

Thancred didn’t think; for once, he let pure instinct, pure emotion guide him. As she backed up, he followed, catching her about the waist. As he drew her against him, her voice felt silent and she gazed up at him mutely, her expression half-anxious, half-hopeful. When he smiled, she exhaled, and when he lowered his head, she raised herself up on tiptoe to meet him.

There was hunger; there had to be hunger. They had both wanted too much, too long, too hard for there to not always be that underlying hunger. But it was tempered by sweetness. It was muted by affection. It was buried deep beneath gentle reconnection. And when he finally released her, she clung lightly to him to maintain her balance as he lowered his forehead to hers. “I missed you,” he murmured.

“Oh gods,” Kal’istae replied, and shut her eyes. “Oh gods, I missed you too.” They stood like that a moment longer, then she slowly lowered herself back to the ground, plucking absently at his wrinkled dress shirt. “I thought you were coming back tomorrow.”

He kept his hands loosely around her waist, gazing over her head into the apartment behind her. “I finished what I had to do and found someone to trade flights back with,” he replied. “Came straight here from the airship terminal. Which I suppose,” he added wryly, “is rather obvious.”

She croaked a soft laugh, then tugged at his shirt. “Come on in,” she invited, carefully not looking at his face as she slipped out of his hands and grabbed one, walking backwards and drawing him after her. He just as cautiously avoided her gaze as he followed, booting the door shut behind him with his heel.

Once inside, she released his hand and turned away, seeming lost. Before he could say anything, however, she shook her head and ran her hand through her hair, grimacing. “I suppose it’s too late to bemoan how I look,” she muttered, all too aware of the loose pajama pants and ratty old t-shirt she habitually wore when staying in alone. “Go have a seat,” she invited, “I’ll get you a drink. Hard or soft?”

Glancing down at himself - his tie loosened, his vest and shirt wrinkled from travel, his shoes scuffed, he grinned wryly. “I wouldn’t worry about it. You look beautiful, as always. And soft, please; hard’ll put me right out - I’ve already put in sixteen hours today.”

She half-turned, then shook her head and started for the kitchen. “And you came here instead of going home?”

He was tempted to follow her, but instead headed for her couch, sinking into the battered cushions with a deep sigh, and immediately understood why she kept it. It may have looked thrashed, but damn if it wasn’t the most comfortable thing he’d sat on in days. “Yes,” he replied simply as he stretched out and lay his head upon the embroidered pillow. “I wanted to see you.” His voice began to slur at the edges. “I needed to see you.”

Kal’istae paused while rummaging in the refrigerator, blinking rapidly to ease the unexpected prick of tears before digging up a can of soda and nudging the fridge shut with her hip. She debated getting him a glass, then shrugged and padded into the living room with the can. She placed it on the coffee table, then a soft sound drew her attention and she turned to look at him.

He was stretched out on her couch, snoring lightly as he slept. Without thinking, she leaned over him and tugged the knitted throw off the back of the couch and spread it over him, gently tucking him in. He sighed softly and shifted, and when she leaned down and brushed the fall of silver hair from his face, his lips curled in a faint smile. After tugging off his shoes, she pressed a kiss to his forehead, then replaced the soda in her fridge and made her way to her own room, where she read until she, too, fell asleep.

FFXIVWrite2023 Day #17: Extra Credit

OCs: Kal'istae Miurani

NPCs: Thancred Waters

AU: Modern Day w/ @sasslett

[ -- Master Post: FFXIVWrite2023 -- ]

[humblemooncat]

FFXIV Write 2023: A Journey of Remembrance Day 4: "Off the Hook" ♫

"Humor me a moment, will you?"

The two walked hand-in-hand through Hawker's Alley, having wandered the city since the airship arrived that afternoon. Ki'to had a twinkle in his eye, whether mischievous or no, G'raha couldn't tell.

"Dare I wonder where you're leading me if I say yes?" he asked, bemused.

"Somewhere close by. Just allow me a stop at this stall first" Ki'to replied, his hand slipping from their grip to slink over to a produce stall.

As G'raha followed him, he noticed the merchant trading hushed whispers with his husband before pulling a basket up from behind the counter to hand to him. Ki'to handed him a bag of coin and turned back to grab his lover's hand again, the basket hanging from his other arm.

G'raha gave him a quizzical tilt of his head, to which Ki'to simply replied with a grin. "You'll see. Now, let's go!"

---

"The docks?" G'raha asked, "I had figured you'd lead me to a seedy tavern or something with how you were looking"

Ki'to laughed, "I wouldn't do that to you. At least, not on this trip"

"This trip, eh?" the accusatory tone only made Ki'to grin wider.

"Tell me, do you remember the last time we all gathered here?" he asked, changing the subject.

"Of course. 'Twas before we embarked to Sharlayan"

"Indeed" Ki'to turned to the view before them, "One of many voyages I've taken from these docks. Sharlayan, Kugane, occasionally even to Thanalan" He gave a loud whistle and wave to one of the dock workers, "And not least of all, the many fishing trips"

The sea wolf waved them over, a small vessel beside him in which lay a couple fishing poles.

"You're taking me fishing?"

"You did say you'd humor me"

"Debatable"

---

The sun was on its way below the horizon as the two reeled in their last catches of the day, floating quite a ways from the docks of the city.

As Ki'to pulled his off the hook and lowered it into the water, he watched as it wriggled free of his grasp and swam away.

"Nothing quite like the freedom of being let off the line after being pulled along so long" he mused, eyes still on the water as it shone brilliantly in the last bits of sunlight.

G'raha released his own catch, looking up at his husband. "Sometimes the line is comforting, leading you through the vast ocean"

Ki'to smiled wistfully, "For a while, sure. But better momentary indecision in the face of too many choices, than to be pulled forcefully where you wish not to be" He leaned over to the basket from earlier, "But enough melancholy metaphor, this was meant to be a nice date" The clinking of glasses preceded a wine bottle as they were pulled from the basket.

Questions bubbled up and died on his lips as G'raha looked on at his lover, framed beautifully by the dying light. "Right..."

"The Admiral recommended this one. It's apparently very light and not too dry. I was never one for the dry wines" as if to punctuate his point, Ki'to's tongue poked out in disgust, "Join me for a glass under the stars before we go?"

"Of course, Love" G'raha perked himself up, "So that's what was in the basket. I had wondered"

"That and some little snacks to go with it. I asked the Admiral to order them before we arrived" Ki'to explained, "She knew better than I what paired well with what, so I asked her to surprise us"

"You trust her with these choices, I take it" G'raha asked, taking a glass from him and taking a sip.

"Among others. Like those shorts you like so much" Ki'to said with a grin, hearing an almost spit take from him.

The two continued to laugh amongst one another as they enjoyed the wine and each other's company, only rowing back to the docks once they'd had their fill of both.

Despite everything trying to fight against me today, my brain and crimes both, I finally got this done!

Today's destination: Limsa Lominsa <3

[dispatchdcu]

Negaduck #2 Review

Negaduck #2 Review #negaduck #darkwingduck #ducktales #comics #news #art #info #NCBD #previews #reviews #Amazon #dynamiteentertainment #dynamitecomics

Writer: Jeff Parker Art: Ciro Cangialosi Publisher: Dynamite comics Price: $3.99 Release Date: October 25th, 2023 If you’re interested in this comic, series, related trades, or any of the others mentioned, then simply click on the title/link to snag a copy through Amazon as you read the Negaduck #2 Review. THE DISPATCH Last time, Negaduck stole Taurus Bulba’s airship, as well as his evil plan to…

[modernmisadventures]

Chapter 15: Sharing Secrets

The week apart had given her too much time to think. Too much time to brood. Even with Thancred sending constant text messages, chat messages, and even the occasional email, Kal’istae was too certain that this trip he’d needed to take for ‘work’ was little more than a convenient excuse to ease things off. Not that she could blame him. Two dates in and they were already talking relationships. Who even did that?

Not her, nope. Clearly, it had just been chemistry and the heat of the moment. And with distance and time between them, they had both seen the light.

So why was she so damn miserable?

The knock at her door startled her out of her funk, and she leaned over the back of her ratty old couch to glare at the door. She was half-tempted to ignore it, but when the knock came again, she groaned and hauled herself up. “It’s ten at night,” she muttered as she slumped up to the door, “and I’m sulking. Go away.”

The last was said as she opened the door to Thancred’s surprised face. “I mean,” he said hesitantly, “if you really wa- oof!” He was cut off as he suddenly found himself with an armful of Kal’istae. The Au Ra scaled him like a tree, wrapping her arms around his neck and her legs around her waist as she yanked his head down and covered his mouth with hers.

He barely had time to lean into the kiss, however, before she slid down and stepped away, covering her mouth with her hand and staring at him with wide eyes. “Ohmigods,” she babbled, “I’m sorry, I couldn’t help - I didn’t mean - I just saw you there and I was missing you and ohmigods shoot me now.”

Thancred didn’t think; for once, he let pure instinct, pure emotion guide him. As she backed up, he followed, catching her about the waist. As he drew her against him, her voice felt silent and she gazed up at him mutely, her expression half-anxious, half-hopeful. When he smiled, she exhaled, and when he lowered his head, she raised herself up on tiptoe to meet him.

There was hunger; there had to be hunger. They had both wanted too much, too long, too hard for there to not always be that underlying hunger. But it was tempered by sweetness. It was muted by affection. It was buried deep beneath gentle reconnection. And when he finally released her, she clung lightly to him to maintain her balance as he lowered his forehead to hers. “I missed you,” he murmured.

“Oh gods,” Kal’istae replied, and shut her eyes. “Oh gods, I missed you too.” They stood like that a moment longer, then she slowly lowered herself back to the ground, plucking absently at his wrinkled dress shirt. “I thought you were coming back tomorrow.”

He kept his hands loosely around her waist, gazing over her head into the apartment behind her. “I finished what I had to do and found someone to trade flights back with,” he replied. “Came straight here from the airship terminal. Which I suppose,” he added wryly, “is rather obvious.”

She croaked a soft laugh, then tugged at his shirt. “Come on in,” she invited, carefully not looking at his face as she slipped out of his hands and grabbed one, walking backwards and drawing him after her. He just as cautiously avoided her gaze as he followed, booting the door shut behind him with his heel.

Once inside, she released his hand and turned away, seeming lost. Before he could say anything, however, she shook her head and ran her hand through her hair, grimacing. “I suppose it’s too late to bemoan how I look,” she muttered, all too aware of the loose pajama pants and ratty old t-shirt she habitually wore when staying in alone. “Go have a seat,” she invited, “I’ll get you a drink. Hard or soft?”

Glancing down at himself - his tie loosened, his vest and shirt wrinkled from travel, his shoes scuffed, he grinned wryly. “I wouldn’t worry about it. You look beautiful, as always. And soft, please; hard’ll put me right out - I’ve already put in sixteen hours today.”

She half-turned, then shook her head and started for the kitchen. “And you came here instead of going home?”

He was tempted to follow her, but instead headed for her couch, sinking into the battered cushions with a deep sigh, and immediately understood why she kept it. It may have looked thrashed, but damn if it wasn’t the most comfortable thing he’d sat on in days. “Yes,” he replied simply as he stretched out and lay his head upon the embroidered pillow. “I wanted to see you.” His voice began to slur at the edges. “I needed to see you.”

Kal’istae paused while rummaging in the refrigerator, blinking rapidly to ease the unexpected prick of tears before digging up a can of soda and nudging the fridge shut with her hip. She debated getting him a glass, then shrugged and padded into the living room with the can. She placed it on the coffee table, then a soft sound drew her attention and she turned to look at him.

He was stretched out on her couch, snoring lightly as he slept. Without thinking, she leaned over him and tugged the knitted throw off the back of the couch and spread it over him, gently tucking him in. He sighed softly and shifted, and when she leaned down and brushed the fall of silver hair from his face, his lips curled in a faint smile. After tugging off his shoes, she pressed a kiss to his forehead, then replaced the soda in her fridge and made her way to her own room, where she read until she, too, fell asleep.

The seductive scents of sizzling bacon and cooking eggs drew Thancred from his exhausted slumber, and as his eyes blinked open, he stared muzzily at the dull white ceiling above his head. A fan spun lazily just at the edge of his peripheral vision and the faint sound of music tickled his ears. When he shifted, he found his arms bound and fought against an instant of panic before he realized that he had been tucked in beneath a blanket.

Absurdly touched, he carefully untangled himself from the soft knitted thrown, admiring it as he tossed it lightly over the back of the sofa. Rising to his feet, he skimmed his hands through his hair and grimaced at the slightly greasy feel of it; he hadn’t showered since early the previous morning, and a long day of travel had left its mark.

Then the scent of coffee struck his nose and he forgot all about the grit and grime of travel. On silent, sock-shod feet he traipsed across the short distance between couch and kitchen. There he stopped in the entryway, captivated by the sight of Kal’istae’s swinging hips as she hummed along with the soft music playing from her phone, spatula in one hand as she stirred a pan filled with golden, fluffy eggs.

“... -n’t wanna break your heart,” she sang softly in a relatively pleasant voice as she set the utensil aside and yanked open the fridge, bending over slightly to peer in, “wanna give your heart a break…” The lyrics fell off into humming again as she reached in and came out with a dish of butter and a diet soda. Turning back, she spied him in the doorway and gave a soft shriek, barely keeping a hold of her burden. “Gods! You scared me.”

Thancred held up his hands, stepping slowly into the kitchen. “My apologies - so many apologies,” he added. “I can’t believe I crashed on you like that.”

Her face softened and she set aside the butter and the soda and reached for a dish towel to wipe her hands clean. “I wasn’t expecting it, but it wasn’t a problem,” she assured him. “Fortunately, that couch is a lot more comfortable than it looks.”

His lips curved. “Seriously. And not to intrude on your amazing hospitality further, but is that coffee I smell?”

Kal’istae wrinkled her nose. “It is, and fortunately for you I have a small stock I keep for guests, because I detest the stuff. But I’ve noticed you sometimes have a cup when you visit the school, so I figured you might be one of the addicted multitudes.”

He couldn’t help himself. Moving in, he cupped her hips in his hands and leaned down to press a kiss to lips parted in startlement. “You, my dear, are a goddess among women.”

Smirking up at him, she reached up and patted his cheek, then indicated an upper cabinet. “Mugs are up there. Let me just finish here and we can sit down and enjoy breakfast.”

He reached up into the cabinet she indicated, pulling down a clean mug while she returned to her eggs and bacon. After pouring himself a cup of coffee and doctoring it with some sugar, he leaned back against the counter and sipped at it, watching her thoughtfully. “Busy week?” he finally asked her.

“Mmm. No more so than usual. One of my kids almost blew out a window, but that’s pretty par for the course. It’s why my rooms are triple shielded and the glass was enchanted during the initial melt.” She gave the eggs one last stir, then turned off the burner and set them aside. A quick press with paper towels to the bacon set on a rack helped to clean off most of the remaining grease. “Sourdough okay?”

As she turned to get his answer, the thick loaf of bread in her hands, it struck him. He’d come to her straight from the airship terminal, not even pausing to change his clothes. She’d let him in, and when he’d passed out on her, she’d tucked him in, taken off his shoes. And now she cooked him breakfast with a sunny smile and no hint at all of disdain or disappointment.

Ah, hells.

He set his coffee aside, then crossed to her, reaching out to pluck the loaf from her hands and set it on the counter. She frowned up at him confused, then her eyes widened when he reached down and jerked her up by her hips. “Hold on to me,” he said earnestly.

“Thancred…”

“Hold on to me!”

She held onto him, her arms looping around his neck, her legs hitching around his waist as he dragged her up and against him, covering her mouth in a hot, hungry kiss that held nothing of the soft sweetness of the night before. She resisted only briefly, then on a soft moan finally gave in to it, and to him. Her lips parted beneath his and tongues tangled, teeth scraping as they devoured one another, breakfast forgotten in the rush of passion. He shifted until he could slide her onto the counter, then dropped his hands to brace himself, grinding against her as they continued to feast.

As the last of their breath petered out, they finally parted, gasping for air and leaning drunkenly upon each other. Thancred closed his eyes and pressed his forehead against hers, curling his hands into fists to prevent himself from grabbing for her again. “Kali.”

Her arms loosened, sliding away from his neck until her hands pressed against his breast. She sucked in lungfuls of air, struggling to regain her breath - and her equilibrium. As her name whispered out on his breath, she closed her eyes and sighed. “Thancred.” When he opened his mouth, she took a guess at what he was about to say and closed her hands around his shirt, jerking him forward slightly. “Don’t say it. Don’t you dare apologize.”

When his pale gold eyes flickered open, he found himself staring into a pair of resolute indigo eyes edged in lavender. “If you’re certain.”

She tilted her head, brushing her lips across his. “This is nothing that would not have likely happened last night had you not been exhausted.” Pulling back slightly, she released him, then leaned away. “I still want to talk, though, before… before.”

He leaned in to nuzzle against her cheek, then stepped back, turning slightly as if to pick up his coffee to hide his hands as he carefully adjusted himself. When he turned back, coffee in hand, he caught sight of her knowing smirk. “Of course,” he said equitably, “but I’d rather not waste the breakfast you’ve gone to such trouble to make.”

Sliding from the counter, Kal’istae dusted her hands together. “Of course not. Now, sourdough?”

He smiled at her over the rim of his mug and tried to ignore the butterflies that did pirouettes in his stomach. “Yes, thank you.”

They sat at the table, plates heaped high and extra toast set on a plate between them. As he had during their dinner date, Thancred elected to sit catty-corner to her rather than across. They made small talk as they buttered their toast and began to eat, but eventually the conversation shifted as he’d expected. “Did… everything go okay?” Kal’istae asked hesitantly as she scooped up the last crumbles of egg from her plate.

He remained silent a moment longer, contemplating his own empty plate, then grabbed another piece of toast from the communal basket. “As well as could be expected, under the circumstances,” he finally replied. “You understand, I can’t tell you details…”

She reached out to place her hand over his and he trailed off into silence. “If anyone understands the rights of your patients, it’s a teacher,” she murmured. “Just tell me what you can - what you want to. Or nothing at all. I won’t take it amiss.”

But he wanted to. He desperately wanted to. “It wasn’t as bad as it could have been. The child is alive, and in safe hands now. It will be a long road to recovery, and I may have to take a few more trips to consult before Joshian feels comfortable handling it by himself - but he’s doing a good job. It’s a tricky one, but I think the kid’ll make a full recovery. Or as full as one can, given the circumstances.”

She lowered her gaze to her own plate and used the last of her bread to mop up what few pieces of egg and bacon remained. “Yes, it isn’t always easy to come back from things, even though people always say kids are more resilient. I think kids are just better at faking it than adults are.”

Thancred watched her quietly, not bothering to hide the compassion in his eyes. “You’re not wrong,” he agreed. “A child who has experienced trauma often knows how to hide what they’re thinking and feeling, knows what to say to make everyone believe everything’s okay. A lot of times, their health and even their life depends on it.”

She abruptly shoved back from the table and rose to pace. He remained where he was, watching as she strode from the dining room into the living room beyond. Her loose indigo robe flared about her as she marshaled her thoughts, and he did nothing to distract her. Finally, she turned and beckoned for him to join her. He did so.

“Look around you,” she invited. “What do you see?”

He hadn’t had a chance before now to really take a look at her apartment. Hadn’t wanted to; his eyes had all been for her. Now he stood before her couch and turned in a slow circle, studying the space in which he stood with a psychologist’s eye.

There was color; lavenders and seafoams, light pastels that contrasted nicely with the rich dark woods and leathers of her furniture. Several prints adorned the walls - landscapes, mostly. Sharlayan, he noticed, featured prominently, but there was one he particularly liked of Ul’dah’s stark and sere surroundings.

And there were photographs - Kali as a teenager, as a young adult, by herself, with friends, in a group. He was amused to find a picture of her in an affectionate embrace with his childhood best friend, and resolved to call Jacke as soon as possible and tease him. But it didn’t take him long to realize why she’d wanted him to look. Of family photographs, there was only one - a formal portrait of herself and her adoptive family.

He, of course, knew the Professors Miurani; they both taught at the Studium, and he’d sat their undergrad classes during his own time there. He knew their children, too - the daughter better than the son, but he didn’t think he’d be telling Kali that any time soon. But more telling than the fact that there was only the single family photo was the fact that Kal’istae had held herself apart from them during the shoot. Although the lady professor’s hand was possessively draped across the young Au Ra’s shoulder, the girl had stood several ilms away from the tight bunch of Elezen, a lovely young teenager with an unexpectedly serious mien.

A single formal portrait, and no candids. Yet it hadn’t been the Miuranis who had held themselves aloof from their young charge. “Why?” he asked softly, tearing his gaze from the portrait to meet her sad eyes.

Tucking her hands behind her back, Kal’istae paced a few steps more, then sank onto the couch, curling up in a ball. He moved to join her, careful to leave several ilms between them as he sank onto the soft cushions. She wrapped her arms around her knees and gazed at him in silence, then shrugged jerkily. “I don’t know. And I mean that quite literally. I don’t know anything about why I was the way I was that first year or so. I was…” She trailed off, frowning. “Rescued, I guess.  When I was seventeen - or so they think was my age, anyway.”

“Rescued from where?”

She didn’t look at him. “Garlemald.” His skin chilled and he fought not to show anything on his face as she continued. “Or rather, their annexed territories in Ala Mhigo. From what I was told, I was one of seven survivors found in a facility they suspect was used to develop bioweapons.”

Gods.

“Everyone else was… dead…” she continued, her voice flat and her eyes blind as she gazed beyond him, beyond the room, beyond the city. “And the other six with me… didn’t last long. I’m the only one who came out of it unscathed.”

He scowled. “Hardly unscathed,” he countered with unexpected harshness, and closed his eyes, searching for his balance. “Just because there were no physical repercussions, it’s clear that the experience left a mark on you.”

Her eyes focused on him and she gave him a faint, humorless smile. “You are, of course, correct. I was… not catatonic, but in shock when the researchers who found me brought me back to Sharlayan. It took them weeks to coax me back into some semblance of sense. I know they spoke of sending me to Doma, or perhaps Thavnair, of finding me an auri family - then they tested me.”

“And no doubt found you to be highly intelligent with an enormous aptitude for magic,” Thancred replied blandly. She shrugged at him. “And that’s when they found you a family in Sharlayan willing to adopt you, even with the possible repercussions from your past.”

She sighed. “I suppose you know all about that.”

Thancred reached out and hooked a finger beneath hers, gently tugging on it. Her eyes tracked to his. “It’s an uncommon story, but not an unusual one. Sharlayan is not known for its charity - but they are known to provide every opportunity to those they find meet their admittedly lofty standards.”

Wrapping her finger around his, she gazed down at them. “Not entirely true,” she argued. “Sharlayan is very charitable - as long as those who need it stay off the island.” When he conceded her point, she smiled faintly. “Back on topic, however, it has been twelve years since they found me in that facility - and I remember nothing. Nothing from before the moment that I awoke in the hospital, confused and scared out of my wits. Not even my name,” she confessed.

He remembered something of the incident, but he’d been in his first year of college and more concerned with acing his classes and seeing how many girls he could talk into his bed, and he’d paid little mind to the news beyond the island. “Obviously, you adapted.”

She shrugged again. “What choice had I? Adapt or die; those were my two choices. And for my first year, I wasn’t entirely certain which it would be. To call me unstable would have been kind. The Miuranis put up with a lot of baggage from me; I’ll never stop being grateful that they didn’t give up on me, and saw me through the worst of it.”

Wordlessly, he released her finger, then slid his hand beneath hers instead. She allowed him to twine fingers with her, then shifted her position until she could curl up beside him. He draped his arm across her shoulders and drew her in. “You’re worried there’s still something of that inside of you.”

She rested her head against his shoulder, closing her eyes. “That, and we never found out why I alone survived with no ill effects,” she murmured. “That mystery alone makes me a bad bet for any kind of relationship, Thancred. Not to mention the fact that we have no idea who I am or what I come from.”

He stroked her hair, closing his eyes as he turned to press his lips against her hair. “We all have dubious mysteries in our pasts, Kali. I can no more tell you where I came from than you can. I’m fairly certain my parents were gang members; either Pirates, or rivals killed by Pirates, but I don’t know anything more than that. I was in and out of the orphanage in Limsa from the time I was three until the day I tried to pick the pocket of an old Elezen man.”

Her eyes opened to slits. “The rumors are true then?”

His chuckle vibrated through her and she unconsciously curled closer. His arm tightened, trapping her against him. “True enough. Louisoix caught me with my hand in his pocket; the old man had to have used magic,” he mused. “No one had ever caught me before. But he did. Grabbed me by the scruff of my neck and hauled me up. I don’t know what he saw in me. I never asked. But he hauled me onto the boat with him and took me back to Sharlayan. Adopted me then and there. Offered me his name, but I wanted my own. So he dubbed me Waters, because the first time he saw me with any expression other than a scowl was when I was staring up at the statue of Thaliak in the harbor.”

He fell silent, waiting for a response, but she offered none. He almost thought she might have fallen asleep, then she shifted beneath his arm and he loosened his grip, anticipating her desire to rise.

Instead, she slid onto his lap, twisting until she straddled his thighs. Pressing her hands lightly against his hips, she gazed into his eyes. “It doesn’t bother you, does it.” It wasn’t a question. “That there’s no telling from whence I sprang. That no one knows what happened to me. That I know nothing of who or what I am.”

He reached up and buried his hands in her hair, watching as her eyes fluttered closed. “You are Kal’istae Miurani, daughter of Sharlayan, graduate of the Studium. You are Kal’istae Miurani, teacher of magic, wielder of mysteries.” He tugged on her head, drawing it down until her mouth hovered less than an ilm above his own. “You are Kal’istae Miurani, the woman I’m starting a romance with.” He hesitated, then breathed out a soft laugh. “The first woman. The only woman.”

She sucked in a breath. “I think I like that woman,” she murmured, eyes lighting up.

“So do I,” Thancred murmured, and closed the slight gap to cover her mouth with his, stealing her words, her breath, and her thoughts.

“I should probably get going.” They hadn’t moved much in the past hour; Kal’istae remained straddling his lap, though her robe had found its way to the floor, along with his vest and tie. His shirt was mostly unbuttoned, and the shoulder straps of her loose sleep tank had been nudged down to pool about her elbows. Both his pale golden skin and her dark indigo showed signs of generous attentions from lips and teeth.

She lifted her head, gazing lazily into those citrine-colored eyes. He lifted his hands and skimmed his thumbs along her jaw, tracing up over the blades of her cheekbones before dragging her head down for a kiss. She hummed against his lips, shifting on his lap and causing him to suck in a breath. “Probably,” she murmured, her voice husky.

He didn’t stop her when she slid from his lap, though he did not immediately follow, all too aware that standing up would prove… difficult… at that moment. Instead he tilted his head back, looking up at her as she pulled up her straps and adjusted her shirt so that not quite so much of her breasts were exposed. “I want to see you again.”

She finished drawing up her strap and turned to look at him, watching him as she crouched and hunted around for her robe. “I should certainly hope so,” she teased lightly. When he gave a quick smile at her retort, she relaxed slightly and plucked up her robe, rising and swinging it around her shoulders. “What did you have in mind?”

“I’d like to cook you dinner.” That gave her pause, and she tilted her head to one side, studying his face. “Yes,” he added at the look on her face, “I can in fact cook. I find it soothing, and when you live alone, you either learn to cook, or you spend way too much money on take-out.”

She glanced towards her kitchen. “Indeed,” she agreed. “When?”

He finally got his body under control and rose, reaching down to rebutton his shirt. “Tonight, if you don’t have other plans.” He fastened the button over his breastbone, but left the rest undone, letting his collar fall open to frame a throat marked by love’s bruises.

Reaching up, she touched one of the spots where a shallow indentation of her teeth curved around his jugular. “I earmarked the evening for you,” she admitted, blushing as he grinned with pleasure. “I knew your flight would be in later this afternoon; I’d hoped maybe I could talk you into coming over for dinner. And a talk.”

He reached up and covered her hand, then drew it up to his lips. “Well, so we moved those plans up a few hours. I’m game to make new ones. Dinner. My place. Say… sevenish?”

She nodded. “Dinner. Your place. I’ll bring dessert.”

He hummed. “Sounds like a plan. I’m thinking pasta - it’s a specialty of mine. Greens. Some wine. Some talking,” he murmured as he laid her hand on his shoulder and caught her waist, twirling her lightly in place. “Some dancing. Maybe a movie. Maybe more.”

Swallowing against the heat that flooded her body, she smiled up at him, swaying in time with his movements. “Maybe more,” she agreed, and his arm tightened around her. “Maybe, Thancred.”

Laughing softly, he bent to brush his lips over her forehead. “I’ll take a maybe. I see no need to rush,” he reassured her. “As far as I can tell, we have all the time in the world - I can wait until you’re ready. It will be,” he added as he dipped his head lower, his lips pressing lightly to hers, “be worth any wait.”

“Oh my, that’s a lot of pressure,” she said breathlessly.

Straightening, he shook his head. “I have no doubts at all.” Releasing her reluctantly, he crouched down and found his vest and tie, folding them together and draping them over his arm. “Alright, then. I’ve some shopping to do, and laundry - and I probably need to clean,” he added with a grin. “I haven’t had to make up the place for company in some time.”

Her eyebrows raised in polite disbelief. “Given how often I understand you have company, I find that hard to believe.”

He snagged her around the waist and drew her in for a kiss. “Kali, my dear, I’ve been trying to get you to go out with me for a year. Do you really think I’ve been sleeping around that whole time and risking the chance you’d think me anything less than utterly sincere?” He grinned at her dumbfounded expression. “Consider that, darling.” He gave her parted lips another hard kiss, then released her. “Sevenish. I’ll text you the address. See you then.”

She stayed rooted in place, staring at him as he turned and strode towards the door. Even as he opened it and slipped outside, shutting it behind him, she couldn’t seem to find any words to articulate her shock.

Long after he’d left, she finally unrooted herself. “Wait,” she said feebly to the empty air, “what the fuck?”

[pixelgrotto]

Cool Cold War Ninja

Capcom's Strider series holds the distinction of starring one of the coolest ninjas in video games. Hiryu feels like he was designed to look as rad as possible, from the blue suit to the red scarf to the tonfa-esque cypher blade, and his appearance was partially influenced by Spawn (another hero engineered to radiate style) because Capcom character designer Harumaru saw some Todd McFarlane books one day. Even Hiryu's name (飛竜, "flying dragon") is cool, mostly because it taught me that 竜 is the Japanese simplified form of the Chinese 龍, a character in my own name.

But despite his coolness, Hiryu is better recognized for cameos in the Marvel vs. Capcom series instead of his own franchise. This is most unfortunate, especially considering that Strider's one of the earliest video game examples of a cross-media property. Way back in 1988, Capcom greenlit a Strider comic with the help of the Moto Kikaku mangaka group while also assigning two internal divisions to helm an arcade game and an NES title. The intent was to make Hiryu into a hero who would span multiple mediums and be recognized everywhere, from the printed page to the pixelated screen. And that sorta worked, but not as well as Capcom hoped.

The first and most famous Strider - the 1989 arcade release - begins with Hiryu gliding onto the towers of the Kazakh Soviet Socialist Republic in a truly iconic bit of spritework. Within three seconds, you're hit with an array of action as Hiryu strides forward, explodes enemies in half with his cypher, and does a signature flip where all of his limbs flail outwards in a mid-air cartwheel. The action and setpieces never let up, and over the span of the game's five levels, Hiryu fights a council of politicians who morph into a multi-limbed robotic centipede, runs from mountain avalanches, explores dinosaur-filled Amazon jungles, hitchhikes a ride on an airship, and battles robotic anti-gravity cores in the fringes of outer space.

Strider is a blend of a hundred different things that the developers considered cool. But beyond all of the set pieces, the factor that sticks out to me the most is the Cold War futurism that drips from every level, feeling original but somehow dated at the same time. What other games start with your character infiltrating the "Kazakh Federation" and end with them fighting the sorcerous Grand Master Meio, a dude who seems like a thinly-veiled stereotype of a communist dictator gone wild? What other games commit to their "born in a geopolitical era of tension" vibe by featuring speech samples in multiple languages, including Russian, Japanese and Mandarin? Strider came out right before the fall of the Berlin Wall, and you can feel it. On that note, I don't think Kazakhstan has appeared in any other franchise as much as Strider. Honestly, the world would probably be a better place if more people associated Kazakhstan with Hiryu's adventures instead of Borat.

Strider didn't receive a decent conversion for home consoles until the Sega Genesis/Mega Drive in 1990, and the NES "port" that came out around the same time wasn't a port at all. Instead, NES Strider is an early Metroidvania, and one that I actually enjoy a fair bit. This opinion goes against the norm, since while I can recall NES Strider getting lots of promo in Nintendo Power when I was growing up, popular internet consensus these days tells you that it's a broken game with controls that feel like they're stuck in a beta phase.

I can't refute that - NES Strider's controls stink, especially when you're forced to pull off a wall jump that's impossible to do unless you have perfect timing. (Thankfully it's only a mandatory move at two points.) The game's also got a weird glitchiness about it, with enemies respawning at an utterly aggressive pace and the edges of the screen flickering way too much every time Strider moves an inch. The bugginess of NES Strider supposedly kept its impending Famicom port from ever being released, making it a rare example of a Japanese game that sold in North America but not in its native country.

And yet, the ambition to NES Strider is admirable. The trend of backtracking through levels and using items to unlock previously inaccessible areas might be commonplace now, but it wasn't in 1989. The plot, while burdened by a messy English translation, also features far more of a story than any other game in this franchise thanks to its heavy basis in the Strider manga. (Which is pretty cool, by the way, and partially readable in English thanks to a fan scanlation of its first three chapters.) Instead of simply facing Grand Master Meio, Hiryu's got to dig out corruption from the ranks of his organization, and it's nice to actually get some insight into his companions, from a fellow Strider named Kain to a guy named Ryuzaki who left his Attack-Boots in China.

Strider never blossomed into one of Capcom's sequel-studded franchises of the '90s. The NES game was a bold but flawed experiment that didn't get much traction, and while the arcade game performed okay, many of its key developers left the company soon after its release. In the European market, though, arcade Strider received dozens of ports for home computer systems that really couldn't handle it, like the ZX Spectrum. Tiertex, a local developer behind a handful of these ports, got the rights from Capcom and made Strider II, a sequel with shockingly bad level design which also goes under the name Journey from Darkness: Strider Returns. Capcom effectively retconned Tiertex's work with an in-house Strider 2 in 1999, riding off of the wave that Hiryu received from his inclusion in Marvel vs. Capcom.

Released for the arcade and Playstation, Strider 2 seems to take place two thousand years after its predecessor, with the Hiryu the player controls a clone of the original. It's never entirely clear, as the plot was clearly just an excuse to have Hiryu fight a reincarnated Meio. Forgettable story aside, the game spans as many environments as the first Strider, and the opening level sees Hiryu fighting terrorists in Neo Hong Kong to the beat of some darn good music which sounds suspiciously like the Ozzy Osbourne song Shot in the Dark. There's also a rival Strider named Hein who wears an all-white uniform in a nod to Hinjo, the main character from Tiertex's Strider II, which is a polite ode to a game that Capcom has all but disowned nowadays.

My biggest issue with Strider 2 is that each level is divided into small chunks, with the player forced to sit through loading screens while the next segment loads. Most PS1 games released during this era suffered from long loadtimes, but it's annoying to deal with the same thing in an arcade game. Maybe the load screens are meant to give players a breather before the next spree of button mashing, but I feel like the game's pace suffers tremendously. It's hard to fall into the same "blaze through, slice 'em with the cypher, do a billion flips along the way" rhythm that the first Strider inculcated when you've got to wait five seconds after every major encounter.

Strider 2 released during a period when action platformers were nearly nonexistent in the arcades, and a 30-minute experience - which is about how long it takes to beat the game once you know what you're doing - wasn't going to really cut it on the PS1. And so the series went back into dormancy until 2014, when Capcom once again enlisted the services of a third party. Double Helix Games' Strider is yet another retread of Hiryu versus Meio, but there's a surprising ton of DNA from NES Strider present. These go from the music, which features an awesome remix of the NES game's level 1 Kazakh theme, to the decision to make Hiryu's journey into a full-fledged Metroidvania.

Double Helix clearly poured a lot of love into their work, and I give 'em props for that NES inspiration. But there's something missing from the experience, which is probably why you don't often see 2014 Strider on lists of the best recent Metroidvanias. Unlike the world-spanning levels of the other Striders, this one takes place solely in Kazakh, which is large but very samey. As a result, the game feels padded despite not being terribly long, and the in-game map is far too confusing due to different planes that Hiryu can jump across. While Metroidvanias are one of the few genres that tend to activate my completionist tendencies, I never felt the need to explore every nook and cranny or snag every ability. It's a shame, because Double Helix was almost there in melding Strider's disparate gameplay styles and finally bringing Hiryu back to mainstream stardom. But they didn't stick the landing, and Amazon Game Studios bought Double Helix right after Strider released, ensuring that the devs probably won't ever get the chance to improve on their formula.

It's been almost a decade since Hiryu got his own game. He most recently showed up in Marvel vs. Capcom Infinite, and Capcom threw Strider fans a bone with the character Zeku in Street Fighter V, who has a Hiryu-style skin and is said to be the dude who founded the entire Strider order. All of this is neat, but it's baffling that Hiryu - despite being one of the coolest ninjas in gaming - has never had a solo title truly take off since his debut. Some of this might be due to the fact that Capcom has to credit (and presumably pay) Moto Kikaku whenever Hiryu appears, and one could argue that the original arcade game's balls-to-the-wall action and high difficulty don't have a place in Capcom's catalog any longer, or at least aren't as money-printing as new Monster Hunters and Resident Evils. But I think you could easily make something like Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice starring Strider Hiryu, and I wish someone would. After all, we're talking about one cool ass Cold War ninja here, and he deserves to shine once more.