#the legacy arc

[duckapus]

For those wondering, the reason Worm's weakened form looks so much like Glitch is because after his defeat he absorbed the chunk of Glitch's code that he took from her (which you might recall is why she died and fused with Red Doomguy to create Antivirus) so he could survive his injuries. Chip, Bandwidth, Dave and Antivirus will not be happy when they find out.

[forthedancingandthethriving]

"Big sis, look, look! I can do fire magic!"

Oh gods, she was hallucinating again. Blotch grimaces, ears pinning back. The venom from Garyboy, still being in her system, wasn't doing her any good. She either had the chills or a fever, neither ever good, and she was pretty sure she had nearly thrown up again.

"It looks beautiful, Tama! You know, maybe you can be in the queen's court when you get older."

Blotch squeezes her eyes shut. It's a hallucination, she tells herself. Tama is gone.

"You think so?"

"Of course! She raised our Songbird since she was a child, who's to say that she wouldn't take you in and teach you?"

Blotch let's out a shuddering sigh, tail wrapping around her leg. She can hear something, someone else talking, but she doesn't even bother with it. Alongside the pain from the venom, she knew fully well that she may inevitably end up meeting her curse limit.

"Big sis.. will you join me?"

Blotch keeps her eyes shut, holding back tears. Tama is gone, Tama is dead.

"Of course I will, little sis."

And I might be joining her soon. Blotch's tail falls limp, and she hangs her head.

[mikachusblog]

⋆˚꩜｡🎓⋆.˚

[valtsv]

i'm a disgusting little centrist when it comes to the was shrue's family real or fake question because to me that matters much less than the way it illustrates the experience of paranoid stress psychosis. like i never want a definitive answer because it just doesn't really matter. do you understand me. like. either way, they experienced that loss and heartbreak. they were confronted with an unflattering portrait of themself as a destructive absence in other people's lives, sacrificing human connection for sociopolitical status. they were exploited and had their mind fucked with and were made vulnerable to manipulation. answering that question makes no difference to the fact that what they experienced was real and horrifying to them. they were vulnerable and someone noticed and took advantage. there is no absolution nor satisfaction to be found in certainty, only further pain and regret. the end outcome is the same.

[haliaiii]

The modern prometheus

[duusheen]

It’s been a while since Pandora last heard from her family, and suddenly, her mom texted her. Her mom… someone Pandora knows doesn’t care about her at all. A part of her is disappointed it wasn’t her dad, but on the other hand… Pandora didn’t expect Hope to be the one inviting her to the wedding, and that small gesture alone was enough to make her heart ache 💔

[jastervhett]

Mandalorian Bounty Hunter Jango Fett & The Clones

Wanted to post this to show that during his origin story in the classic 2002 video game Star Wars Bounty Hunter, Jango Fett did indeed care about the Clones. Jango said he was "proud" of them; he even let this be known to his son Boba Fett.

(Unlike the in-universe narrative claiming Jango cared nothing about the Clones & the only Clone Jango ever cared about was Boba.)

In the following Cutscene Storyboards from Star Wars Bounty Hunter, Mandalorian Bounty Hunter (And Prime Clone Template) Jango Fett said his Clones were a damn fine Army, ready for battle. When Jango discussed this with Boba, Jango told him: "You shouldn't feel sorry for them. I don't. I feel…Proud."

And I❤️this from @fox-trot talking about Jango Fett & his concerns with the lives & treatment of the Clones….

Jango Fett consistently fought the Kaminoans over reconditioning/ decommissioning. In the early days he managed to convince the Kaminoans to change the expected standard, allowing for more leniency regarding deviations in physical appearance, speech patterns, behavior, temperament, etc. This saved many lives. He also regularly stepped in & rescued clones scheduled to be reconditioned for ‘aberrant’ behavior or mental health concerns. The Null ARCs & Delta Squad were saved from death because of his intervention. He also had a secret operation where he smuggled at-risk clones off of Kamino.

[corruptedcodelines]

Ark was on the hunt. Using every skill she had as a System Monitor and a Renegade, she had been working hard to track a program without the program knowing that she was there. Unfortunately, that meant that she had to hang back further than she'd like to, but it was the safest option right now, until she got a better understanding of the situation. If she was correct, this program had a chance to be Tron, which meant she had to be on her best game to stay out of his notice.

This was a risk he shouldn't be taking right now.

He kept his head down as he wove his way through the crowds, his helmet rezzed only over the bottom of his face to keep programs from recognizing either of his appearances. He didn't want to draw undue attention as... either... of his faces.

Well... one was hos face anyway.

He kept his senses flowing through the Grid with every step, his eyes sharp as he tried to find any trace of the being that had been haunting this sector. If his information was correct... they could have another virus problem... if not... well then the worst that could happen would just be a random program having a laugh-

He felt his code shift unsettlingly, his steps stumbling for a moment as his processes slowed by just a nano.

Following. Behind. Careful.

He frowned to himself, continuing on his way down the populated street as he casually looked around. This place wasn't extremely popular by his standard... but it was still hosting twenty or so programs all going about their lives. Nothing... quite out of the ordinary just yet.

Suspicious...

He clenched his teeth, glaring down at his shadow.

You stated that before... and there was no one within a twenty click radius.

Silence for a long moment.

Female. Blue circuits. Blackguard Walk. Following.

He shouldered past a group of young programs gathering at one of the energy bars, their voices loud enough to almost drown out the voice in his head as he shielded his eyes against the lights. He stretched out his senses again to the Grid, closing out the bustle and digital noise of the Common Finctions to hone in on anything brighter.

[aingeal98]

"Cass would hate Jason." Yep, sure makes sense. At his peak they would have been bitter enemies. Even now when he's not killing, his existence hits enough of her emotional sore spots that I could see her disliking him.

"Cass would hate Talia." I'm blowing up this entire website and everyone's phones.

[aurorangen]

A career change. It could be a good thing for Robbie. Earlier in the week, Renee messaged him about a new job opening for a forensic scientist company that she is connected to. He has a relevant degree and experience in the medical field from analytical chemistry to toxicology, it all sounded very exciting to him! Robbie mulled over his application, checking he had all the details before finally sending it off.

[duckapus]

New Legacy Arc Character: Garyboy

So, in his current state, Worm isn't in any shape to actually catch anyone, which is a problem since stage one of his plan requires catching Blotch to use as bait for the Overseer. So he upgrades one of his older, simpler virus designs using an eggplant as the base, creating a recolored copy of Larryboy that he dubs Garyboy...and afterwards admits that there's no way to make that sound intimidating.

He has the same color scheme as the Alter-Ego monster from the 2D Larryboy cartoons,

(this unauthorized fucking thing) but with the more complex(and unfortunately capeless) costume design of 3D Larryboy(the original Larryboy, not weird Netflix show Larryboy), slit pupils like a snake, a mouth full of sharp teeth instead of the single square tooth, and of course a normal sized head instead of...that.

Garyboy's Super Suction Ears are prehensile, with the extendable cords being able to move around like tendrils (or snakes), and the actual plunger cups can grow snakelike fangs that can inject malware potent enough to stun a Moderator. You do not want to know what it does to PCs and NPCs.

The reason for all the snake details is because before his upgrade he was a mass-produced snake-based virus named Hydra, which had exactly the ability that you'd think it would with that name. Garyboy can tap into that old programing if he's in a jam, sprouting duplicating snake heads from his back to aid in combat. Unfortunately this would sort of ruin the evil doppelganger thing he's got going, which is needed for the moment so they can begin the plan while still laying relatively low, so he's saving that particular trick for when he really needs it.

The only things Larryboy has that Garyboy doesn't are Alfred and the Larrymobile, and he's working on closing the gap for the latter in his down time.

[forthedancingandthethriving]

(:>)

"Blotch? Can I have your attention, please?" Overseer calls from his little stand, looking at some command boxes.

Blotch turns their head before walking over, tail flicking. "What's up, Seer?"

"When are you going out again?" Overseer asks, voice it's normal calm, but Blotch had known their friend long enough to know when he was nervous.

"Soon. Why do you ask?" Blotch frowns. "Is something wrong?"

"Just.. be careful, please?" Overseer. "I.. There's been some concerning behavior from a universe elately. I would tell you, but.."

"Your limits?" the cat smiles gently.

"My limits.." the Program sighs.

Blotch smiles and stands next to him, wrapping an arm around him. "Come on, I'm always careful!"

"Blotch, please."

Blotch frowns as how desprate Overseer frowns. As he turns his head to look at them, and their ears pin back at seeing how desperate his eyes look. Despite not seeing his face at the current moment, she knew full well he had a matching expression.

"Alright." They nod, voice soft. "I promise."

"Thank you." Overseer nods back.

He pulls them into a hug, and they jolt, eyes going wide. They then smile and return the hug, patting his back. They nuzzle Overseer's cheek before pulling away.

"Alright, I've gotta get going. I'll message you once I'm there."

Blotch fiddles with their bracelet before activating a portal command. They wave to Overseer, who returns it before they walk through and it closes behind them.

Overseer stares at the space before he turns his head away, expression under his hood nervous. "Blotch is capable. I don't need to check on them. They're fine."

He exhales and lowers his head, closing his eyes. "They'll be fine. I mean.. it's not like they're going to get kidnapped or anything... right?"

[katabay]

james bond! what a concept! lots to discuss about wrt james bond. imperialist anxieties around legacy and decay, the shift in the movies from imagination of the futuristic to luxury branding as identity, etc. etc. endless topics for discussing in there.

and uhhhhh. so You Only Live Twice is a mess, but it's kind of fun talking about why it's such a mess. however. HOWEVER. Benson's Blast From The Past? ohhhhhhhhhhh the hate-hate relationship I have with that one, I've been frustrated with it for ten years and it's not even fun to talk about why it's frustrating lmao.

that said, James Suzuki has all the same pieces that have me obsessed with Metal Gear's Kazuhira Miller. so. well!! this is hell and I'm stuck in it.

anyway, extremely canon divergent AU or something where James Suzuki doesn't get killed off like a cheap plot device and we get really REALLY gnarly about the family stuff and the US gov't. also there's industrial espionage, insider trading, & a briefcase that everyone wants.

[redux-iterum]

Charred Legacy: Epilogue

(AO3 counterpart here.)

The sky arched over the earth in an impressive display of colors. Cinderpaw was situated outside of the Mother in a way where the massive legs kept her from seeing the horizons on either side of the world, but the sun’s glow was fighting hard to retain its gold and red, while on the other end stars crawled into the sky higher and higher in the deep blues and purples of night.

Cinderpaw’s eyes drifted between the stars she could see, connecting them with invisible lines and forming inexact silhouettes. She wondered if the stars ever made the shape of a cat or some other animal. Maybe that would make StarClan a little self-centered, to actually make a cat out of cats, but what else was a feline, really? At least, that was what Yellowfang had always said.

“Oh!”

She looked back down. Several cats were approaching, two of them crossing the road together. The smallest of them, a pair of patched cats, were coming around the corner of the Mother’s left leg. The older one, grey-and-white, was the one who had spoken.

“I did not expect you to be here so early,” he said in his soft, slightly creaky voice. “Apologies for making you wait.”

“Hi, Fognose.” Cinderpaw waved her tail and stood up. “I actually got here yesterday. Firestar had his ceremony and we thought I should stay here to save myself a trip.”

“Good idea,” said WindClan’s seer, a handsome dark brown tom named Buzzardface. He looked just as impassive as the rest of his Clan, but his words were kind. “Sorry about your mentor. Heard after the Gathering.”

“Yeah…” Cinderpaw sighed. “Thanks. I’m just glad the stars let me help name Firestar.”

“They know you’re not a fool.” Mudcloud said, another patched tom (this time dark brown) from RiverClan. His pleasantly round face squished in a bit with amusement. “If Yellowfang herself didn’t come down to swat you, I’m sure you did it right.”

Fognose and his apprentice, Littlepaw, both chuffed.

“She didn’t, luckily,” Cinderpaw said with a purr.

Fognose reached Cinderpaw. She saw a dim grief in his eyes. “I do hope she watches over us tonight. Her best apprentice ought to receive her name with her mentor present.” Before a heavy pause could rest between the seers, Fognose cleared his throat. “Now, I am to give you your name, and I know we have more than one option for you. You could be a -belly, and you could change your name entirely to honor your leg. I remember that you talked about that, once…”

“Well, actually—” Cinderpaw lifted a paw. “I have a different name I’d like, if I’m allowed.”

The toms all fell silent, looking at each other curiously. Fognose tilted his head.

“I know it’s a weird request, but I’d like to be given -pelt.” At the slightly confused squint from Buzzardface, Cinderpaw hastened to add, “Yellowfang’s old name was Murkpelt when she was in ShadowClan. I want something to honor her with for the rest of my life, and I think having part of her name with me is the best I can do.”

Mudcloud blinked. “You want your name to not be your own?”

“I do,” Cinderpaw said with a firm nod. She added to Fognose, “Please.”

Littlepaw looked up at his mentor, gauging his reaction. Hesitantly, he offered, “I think it would honor your mentor, sir.”

“It would,” Fognose murmured. His eyes warmed as he regarded the taller Cinderpaw. “Very well, then. At your request.”

“Best get started.” Buzzardface started off for the mouth of the Mother, the other seers following him.

The walk inside those tunnels, with the absolute lack of sensory input, alarmed many apprentices and warriors. Cinderpaw herself strolled along with confidence, having a faint impression of being gently held in the belly of a queen, even if it was absolutely freezing in here.

The party reached the cave of the Moon Stone in what seemed like no time at all. Fognose turned and stood with his back to the Mother’s heart, while the other seers sat to the side and Cinderpaw stood across from him.

I know my lines, she thought. I know them. I do. I just wish they weren’t so long. Warriors don’t have to deal with this…

“Mirra, the Three, and StarClan,” Fognose began, startling her. “I ask that you bear witness to our ceremony tonight, and bring blessings to this young seer.” He looked at Cinderpaw. “Why have you come to our Mother’s heart?”

Cinderpaw straightened up. “I ask for my name promised to me in the light of the moon and stars.”

She got that part right; Fognose looked pleased. “What have you done to earn your name?”

“I have been taught to read the mysteries of leaf, feather, and light, in the stones of my soul,” Cinderpaw replied. “I have learned the law of our mothers’ mothers. With everything I see in the light of the stars, I shall earn my name.”

“How will you use your name?” Fognose asked.

Cinderpaw felt a warm glow in her chest. “I will guide my cats in the path of starlight. I will speak what I see. With this, I shall use my name.”

Fognose leaned a little forward. “Who do you ask to honor your name?”

Here came the big one. Cinderpaw took in a deep breath. “I ask the Endless Watcher for the courage to bear my name well in the light of the sun. I ask the Pathcarver for the discretion to bear my name well in the light of the moon.” The glowing warmth intensified. “I ask the Twilight for the voice to bear my name well in the path of starlight.”

Fognose turned his head to look at the other seers, who were all watching intently. “Do we agree to bestow this apprentice with the name of a seer, and all it entails?”

“I agree,” said Buzzardface.

“As do I,” Mudcloud said.

Littlepaw simply nodded. Apprentices didn’t have a voice in the ceremony, but he had an eager look on his face when he watched Cinderpaw, like he was imagining his own naming.

Fognose turned back to Cinderpaw, his big eyes crinkled. “Blessed apprentice of the stars, that which you ask for will be given. In the heart of the Mother, under the eye of the lady Suriin, in the light of our lord Rokhar, I call you by your name.” He bowed his head. “Welcome, Cinderpelt. May StarClan light your path.”

The chant had less voices in it, but they echoed in this cavern enough to drown out a warrior’s cheer. “Cinderpelt! Cinderpelt!”

The warmth flared into heat, just for a moment, before softening and fading entirely. Cinderpelt bowed her head to Fognose in turn as the other seers gathered closer.

“Blessings and congratulations,” Littlepaw said to her. “ThunderClan will be proud of you when you come home.”

Cinderpelt ruffled his head-fur. “And I’ll be proud of you when it’s your turn.”

“With that,” Mudcloud said, “we ought to dream now.”

Cinderpelt went up with the others and touched her nose to the Moon Stone—she’d never get over the blast of ice flowing through her body as soon as she made contact. She backed up and sat down, facing the stone, while the other seers laid down around her and shut their eyes.

As Yellowfang had instructed her so long ago, she shut her own, but didn’t go to sleep. Instead, she breathed in and out slowly, the world around her seeping into her body. Every hair on her pelt was touched by something different: a swallow taking flight from the Barn’s entrance, a doe raising her head from the grass and watching a distant bush suspiciously rustle, the wind carrying the scents of far-distant lands down the moor and into the forest. She followed that wind, racing without moving a whisker, and entered the forest, listening and seeing from the darkness of the Mother.

---

It’s just not fair.

She walks aimlessly, her path indiscriminate, stepping one direction and turning in another. Pain and hunger and ennui cling to her essence, dragging her down by her long, blue fur until she’s fighting with everything she has (and it isn’t much) just to keep from sinking to the ground and lying there until she fades.

She’s a failure. She devastated her Clan, forced them to struggle amongst themselves without a leader. She had sworn so long ago that she would never wrong them again, that the kits were gone, that she wouldn’t even look at Oakclaw. She had done so well for so long, and then…

And then this—this form of hers now. Skeletal, her fur greasy and matted, her eyesight agonizingly dull. She can hardly make out a bush in front of her.

How could she have let this happen? What is wrong with her?

Here is the end of her legacy: a shriveled-up bag of bones that left her charges with no one to protect them, no one to lead them.

It took her days to come to her senses; she thought she was still alive, just sleeping, when she opened her eyes and realized her body wasn’t there anymore. She wandered into camp, and only the young and old remained. The warriors were gone. Were they fighting each other for the leader’s spot? Where were they?

And then she saw them walking back into the forest, auras dark and haunted and exhausted. They said nothing to each other as she watched them. She didn’t follow. She was afraid to.

The weights tighten their grip on her soul and yank her towards the earth. She’s forgotten what it was to feel pride and joy at this point. What is there but regret, shame, failure? She used to be someone, and she died as no one. No, worse - as a disappointment.

Maybe… maybe lying down wouldn’t feel so bad for a bit. For forever.

Then heat rests on her shoulders. She blinks, her despair momentarily forgotten, and looks around in confusion. The heat grows, and with it the forest brightens as a form of sunlight steps past ThunderClan’s border.

She stands straight, bristling her matted fur… but, as she squints and strains her eyes, she realizes she needn’t bother.

The form is smaller than usual, quiet and serene, ginger fur smooth and soft. She recognizes the wiry build, the verdant eyes, the gentle, loving aura radiating off of him. He walks calmly, his head high and tail higher, determination setting his face into something nearing majestic.

She knows that light.

“They chose you,” she near-whispers. “You’re… you’re…”

“Firestar now.”

She looks up. On the edge of the forest, standing in the grass of the neutral grounds, is a familiar form: a handsome, tall, warm brown tabby with merriment in his starry eyes. She stares at him. Her paws move without her instruction.

“Sorry to interrupt your descent into wraithhood,” he says as she steps closer. “You were taking a while to get to us.”

“Oakclaw,” she breathes. With that single word, and with every step, the weights begin dropping off of her, one by one.

“Bluestar,” he says, casual and amused, but with that underlying tenderness she remembers from so long ago. “I’m glad I got to you in time.”

The former leader of ThunderClan feels her posture straighten, her knots untangle. “I was worried about my Clan. I couldn’t leave without knowing that they’d be okay.”

“They’ll be okay.” Oakclaw brushes his muzzle against hers, purring. “They made the right choice, and he’ll take care of them just as well as you did. Maybe even better.” He pulls back to look at his beloved with fondness. “You’d be amazed at what they’ve gotten up to since you’ve been gone. I can tell you all about it, if you come with me.”

Bluestar hesitates, just for a heartbeat… but the pull of the material world is gone. She glances back, noticing her form filling out again and fur glowing, just to watch the firelight fade into the woods, before turning back to Oakclaw and saying, “Happily.”

Oakclaw presses his forehead on her neck, their spirit-energy flowing into each other with the simple contact, and starts walking with her, heading for a rising path of starlight coming from the Gatheringplace’s center. Bluestar’s steps are stronger, more deliberate, more regal, like she remembers, like others remember her. She doesn’t look back again as they head for StarClan, tails twined together. She doesn’t need to.

They’re going to be just fine.

[duusheen]

The beginning

As always, here’s what you came to see lmao

[deathbypufferfish]

Proving a point gone wrong... 🤕