#the urge i had to make this puppet au THE URGE-

[lookforsomeoneelse]

New Simulated Universe Update (SAHSRAU btw)

Can you tell i made a d in english? because I didn’t. Sorry about that. Anyway, I had some brainrot about how busted our blessings would be in sahsrau SU, because, like, everybody and their mother in that au would basically throw everything they love out of the window for us to throw a single glance at them. Also, this takes inspo from other works. Yeah, yeah, I’m a plagiarist, I know.

Let’s say you play Honkai: Star Rail. You’re a big fan- you’ve been playing since launch, have an excellent team comp, and have cleared all of the story and side content.

However, the game’s been… in a content drought for a while, roughly about 3 months without a single update- not even a patch or bug fix! That’s odd. Hoyo would have normally announced at least a single character by now, wouldn’t they?

And, getting extremely bored, and with nothing else to do, you seriously consider taking a break from the game. After all, there’s nothing to do.

Except farm. And you’re getting tired of even that.

But just then, a miracle happens- or at least it’s a miracle to you. The game finally gets an update. You’re confused- they should have announced that in some shape or form, but you also get excited. What have they added this time?

And then you find out, much to your dissatisfaction and/or disappointment, that they just doubled down and just added in a new version of the Simulated Universe, called “Simulated Universe: New Game +” to “fix” the lack of content- they’re just making you do SU again- but hey, they also added another Aeon along with it, so that should count for lore!

So you go and wait for it to download and open it up.

When you do, you’re notified in game of a text message from Herta. Uncharacteristically, its tone is noticeably off from how she normally acts- practically begging you to please please please come to her office- because apparently, she’s dug up some info on this new Aeon that’s apparently been around for the longest time, and she’s finally managed to obtain enough data to create a simulated version of THEM- thirsty for something to do, you oblige, using a space anchor to reach her. Surprisingly, there’s only one available for your use.

Once you actually arrive, a cutscene plays, depicting Herta, once again very much out of character, grabbing on to the trailblazer’s arm and practically dragging them across the space station to her office, the widest grin on the puppet’s face. “Huh,” you think to yourself, “She must have struck gold if she’s acting all crazy like this.”

Once you actually make it inside- Herta finally gives you a complete explanation of what’s happening- she’s “finally” dug up enough information about this Aeon that you “should already know” and that you should also “start immediately.”

You do, and you’re met with a new path for blessings- Guidance, and holy cow, is-is that 300% break effect and 180% damage and 50% crit rate boost? What? That’s insane- what is the dev team doing with their game???

Obviously, you pick it- it’s the only option available, and even if there were other options, this one would likely be the best.

As you and your party traverse through the station, and obtain absolutely absurd blessings- all damage dealt will have the character gain a shield equal to half of that permanently, follow up attacks trigger twice, all characters gain a self-revive- it’s really bad balancing on Hoyoverse’s part, and it’s the greatest power trip you’ve had while playing this game so far. But it’s also getting boring. One shotting everything isn’t exactly the best thing to do on loop, and the game throws you a bone in the form of finally meeting the Aeon that Herta was talking about.

However, before that happens, Herta pulls you aside- and you can’t believe it, but she’s even more out of character now- hell, she’s fangirling, saying stuff like “I’ve been waiting for this moment ever since I was a baby” and urging you to give the Aeon the absolute utmost respect- and to never forget to do it.

As it turns out, the so-called “interaction” between you and THEM is just dialogue describing how you will always serve and praise them for all eternity- and you seriously take into consideration getting whatever the hell the writers have been smoking over the past couple months to put this down on paper and call it a good idea.

Weirded out by very strange design choices, you decide that it’s time for a break after all is said and done, and close the app.

If this is the legitimate road that Hoyoverse is going down, you’re worried about the future of the game.

You should really be more worried about your future, sweetie. After all, they’re all working so hard to bring you to them through that screen.

They love you. So so much.

[otomes-world]

Longing

Hello everyone! I had a strange urge to write something, so yes.. AU belongs to @shiny-jr I'm just interpreting. This is also my parody to the five stages of grief. Another sentient twst works are here. Enjoy 0/

Upd: I've finally got permission to post this thing! But.. I forgot about it.. and I'm no longer like it.. and it's so small.. but, yeah, let it exists.

Disbelief.

It was the first emotion that began to creep into consciousness with a light touch from just hearing about the “shutdown.” The player just took a break, was busy, preparing for exams, tests, work, whatever. Causing panic out of nowhere was stupid. This had already happened more than once, but..

The hours merged into days. Days became weeks. Only the most stubborn began to count beyond the month. The mistrust and fear began to be felt stronger than before. More and more often insidious “what ifs” were spinning in head.

You were only gone for a short moment. Maybe a little longer this time, but you would come back. You would, except… Yuu turned into the doll they always were. A puppet whose only value was in you, who controlled it. When there was no point in denying, a storm broke out.

Indignation.

Anticipation caused hearts to experience previously ignored emotions and heads to question. What could be the reason? Could something happen in that inaccessible world? Do you feel the same confusion, unable to connect?

Could you become bored with their existence?

Did you choose them, him, over someone else? What exactly made you hesitate? A beautiful singing voice? Looks that could challenge the Evil Queen? Fame? Wealth? What?

Was the effort really not enough to captivate you, to make you pay attention? Place in your heart the desire to stay. Is it really his fault or is it yours?

Grief.

Bitterness replaced frustration. The one that was ripping chest, made him want to cut his own throat open if it would give any peace of mind. If it would strengthen confidence of your return.

When it seem that the empty vessel was about to break, hope still glimmers at the bottom. When the ear listened to every rumor, rustle, speculation, even if it was false. When the one he least want to see looked at him from the mirror.

When he didn’t want to, and most importantly, couldn’t stop. Gave up. Let every attempt, broken hope plunge him into the abyss of despair much deeper than the last time. Getting back on feet became more and more difficult. Sometimes the thought of acceptance flashed but gaving up the most desired thing was hardly possible. Even if the chances that no one would understand and that everything would burn out were higher every moment.

Longing.

Yearning invariably replaces suffocating pain. Very reluctant, denied by all means.

When there was nothing left in tired beating heart - not a single drop - only memories of the time spent with you through Yuu. Then he still did not understand other people's adoration. He thought that this would bypass him. However, like everyone else, he couldn’t resist the eyes, your eyes and no one else’s, looking at him in a special way. As if in the world of colored pixels he was worth something.

A smile involuntarily plays on his face, although he barely had enough strength to maintain an imitation of life. In moments of overwhelming loss, pride insisted: you were not worth it. You were not worth all the torment, all the tears he shed. You were not worth.. but this was a blatant lie.

When everything around him would merge into one colorless heap, when he himself would cease to exist. The only thought at the last moment would be dedicated to you. Therefore, as soon as the news of the appearance of an impostor who dared to pretend to be you reached the exhausted mind, remained only... rage.

[hydrasra]

Not from this world

SYNOPSIS: waking up in liyue felt like a dream. though it quickly turned into a nightmare.

DISCLAIMER: this is just an idea that popped in mind while I was rereading my POST about lumine's friendship with the other archons in a sagau! impostor! gold blood! au. tho with a slightly different take at the start. I might work further in it depending on my creative battery. some swearing here and there, may be more oriented, some ooc moments here and there maybe. LUMINE IS THE CHOSEN TRAVELER. no gender mentioned for the reader. NOT BETA NOR PROOFREAD (shocker)

me in a post: I'm not going to post for a small while

also me: *gets randomly hit by an idea and has an urge to write it down*

ii. REUNIONS AND ANSWERS

news about an impersonator looking like the creator spread fast to sumeru, fast to the acting grand sage first. however, he frowned, that had nothing to do with him.

why should he worry about that? those in charge will catch the impostor eventually once he makes matters go public.

and that's why, during a meeting with the lesser lord, she enquired him about what was bothering him once said meeting was adjourned and she pulled him aside.

"nothing is bothering me, lesser lord kusanali," was his reply.

she smiled up at him, eyes closing, "if that truly was the case then you wouldn't be frowning," she let out a small giggle.

if alhaitham didn't know any better, he would have actually confused his lord to an actual child, and not an archon.

weighing the pros and cons of telling his archon about what has reached his ears first and foremost, and his colleagues as well, instead of the grand public.

truly, there were no cons against telling nahida.. so he did.

she only reassured him that she would look further into the matter and to not worry about it nor tell the public until she was certain she understood what was going on.

"you called for me, greater lord kusanali?" wanderer asked as soon as he stepped inside the sanctuary of surasthana and was greeted by her at the door.

she did not even try to correct him, "I need you to accompany me inside to irminsul."

he frowned but nodded nonetheless.

"I want to find out what is going about the rumoured impostor," she started walking to the center of the room.

more confusion seeped inside the puppet's mind as he followed her, "impostor?"

nahida looked at him from over her shoulder, "someone is, apparently, impersonating the divine creator."

all that could be heard was footsteps. running footsteps.

some were angry stomping almost, some were faster than most. only one stood out: it was light, and if agile could be a sound, it would be those footsteps.

and luckily, it belonged to you.

"where to?"

the wanderer flew to some, what it looked like on your end, random direction. if it weren't for his vision glowing, you would have lost sight of him in the unusual darkness of the night.

thinking about it now, why was it so dark? even the light provided by the moon did almost nothing to light up the world it seemed. was teyvat angry and trying to protect something? someone? you and your companion maybe?

"just a few metres more, your grace," you heard him said as he too decided to run along with you. his footsteps sounded, almost imperceptible however, mechanical.

you could only nod as beads of sweat rolled down your face and the wind caressed your body.

"quick, in here!" another familiar said and when looking at the source, you saw nahida opening the leaves that acted as doors of an abandoned hut, a device floating besides her and producing light.

without a single ounce of hesitation, you immediately grabbed wanderer's hand and made a turn to the right. nahida opened the doors further with the help of her device that immediately turned its light off once you both were safe inside.

however, it wasn't safe yet. the angry running footsteps could be heard. they weren't far now. all you could do was hold your breath, no matter how much you wanted to take a deep breath and finally relax a little after running for what felt like hours, your survival instinct just wouldn't let you do so, not until you were sure they were out of earshot.

"where did they go?!" they were right beside the well hidden hut.

"we lost them!" a raged filled voice could be heard

"keep on looking," that was a familiar voice, someone you treasured in the game and spent hours to build, to make stronger. so that's how they repay you?

'i see how it is, xiao.'

"we will have to let the authorities in sumeru know they the impostor is now in their land along with a companion," keqing's voice could be heard, stern and frustrated.

you looked around and barely saw anything, only the silhouettes of your... friends? as questions slowly filled your head, 'why can't they leave me alone? what did I do?'

retracing your steps from ever since you awoke into the world of your favourite game, you found that you did nothing wrong. maybe you the only mistake you made was to step into liyue harbour while smiling and was simply greeted back with polearms pointed at you and them screaming at you for impersonating someone. but who?

"argh! let's just retreat for now," one of the soldiers said as they all seemed to agree and walked away.

"I will let the tianquan know and ask her to deliver a letter to sumeru's officials," keqing spoke, determination present in her voice, "this impostor is to be eliminated at once."

as their voice faded into the distance, you finally let yourself heave a sigh of relief as nahida made her device light up once more, finally allowing you to see inside the small hut.

wanderer was squatting near the door, peering outside and nahida was looking at you, a small smile on her face.

oddly enough, this was comforting.

"evening, your grace," the archon bowed and that made you frown.

"why are you bowing to me?"

"it is a sign of respe-"

"please, don't. it makes me uncomfortable," and nahida only nodded at your words.

it was quiet for a few minutes as you pondered what was happening then you spoke up, making everyone in the room to turn and look at you, "why did you both call me 'your grace'?" and at the genuine confusion and curiousity, nahida spoke up once more after sharing a look with wanderer. was irminsul wrong about you?

"it is your title."

you shook your head, "last time I checked, I wasn't born with a silver spoon in my mouth nor am I royalty."

before nahida could speak once more, wanderer cut her off, "didn't you create teyvat? you are our creator and the one that guides us, it is only fair for us to call you by your title."

'create teyvat?'

you understood the guiding part as that was, in a sense, true, though you did not create teyvat.

"I did not."

silence once more, then the knowledge archon spoke, "what is it that you mean, your grace?"

"I did not create teyvat but I... I guess you are correct about me guiding you?"

and that prompted you to explain it to them; how teyvat was created by a group of people, not you, how they wrote each and every single person's in this world past, present and future. but that only seemed to make nahida look at you fondly.

"so there are more creators?" wanderer asked, frowning and you simply nodded.

"in a way? they aren't gods, they are all humans, like me."

"but you aren't human," nahida said as she took a few steps and stood in front of you, staring up at you in determination, "and the proof is on your leg."

ather words, you frown in confusion and looked down at your leg, your jeans had been cut through and you had a cut as well. your eyes widen at the small amount of blood trickling down your leg and sipping through your jeans.

it was gold.

"how did the hunt go?" ningguang asked from her seat in the jade chamber, expecting to hear good news from the yuheng as she kept on writing in the scrolls that contained important information.

the silence that greeted her was what prompted the tianquan to look up, "well?"

"we lost them both," xiao spoke, appearing behind keqing and giving her a scare.

although that was a funny sight, ningguang couldn't find it in her when she heard his words, "what do you mean by that?"

keqing cleared her throat, "we lost them both in the forest near sumeru."

"did you hear? there's an impostor that showed up in liyue," donna expressed to marjorie who nodded.

"I did! I also heard that they are hiding in sumeru and that some weirdo with an anemo vision helped them out."

"how could they help out an impostor when the real creator has been quiet instead of offering them to appease the creator's anger?!" donna exclaimed, huffing right at the end.

lumine watched and listened from afar as those two kept talking, "an impostor?"

"huh?" paimon looked up from eating her food, "waf d'you meaf?"

"don't speak with your mouth full."

swallowing down her food then letting out a satisfied sigh, she asked again, "sorry. anyway what did you mean?"

lumine glanced at donna and marjorie as donna went back to standing behind flora to keep an eye on the child, "those two were speaking about an impostor."

"impostor?"

"something about someone impersonating teyvat's creator."

"who in their right mind would impersonate the creator?!"

lumine let out a snort, "maybe lunatics like you."

"hey!"

as paimon went on a ramble, lumine got lost in thought. was that why you haven't guided her on the right path today? though a day for you could be months for them, should she, perhaps, say months instead of today?

it wouldn't hurt to visit sumeru and ask nahida, right?

══ ❀•°❀°•❀ ══

[lamemaster]

The Magician

Request: I feel like it's required for phantom of the opera to be maglor lol! A mask and cloak to hide ears, the light of the Trees,(which could also be why s/o thought of him as an angel!) and his scarred palm. Singing his hauntingly beautiful tragedies into the night, that is where our 'Christine' learned to sing. How very fitting. *Low key inspired by silmapens art of him doing theater*

Pairing(s): Maglor x Reader / (Spoiler) x Reader

Genre: Phantom of the Opera au (hehe)

AN: Fall event yayyyyy~ (Also the way I had half of this thing written before the request is not real. We share the same brain cell anon)

The Shadow, the Wraith—there are many names for the phantom that haunts the halls of Kalis Hala. A sprite whose steps echo at the untimely hours of the night.

Some call him a spirit, others claim he is a man from the East with long, flowing hair, while whispers tell of a doomed elf.

But the theater and its ghost remain inseparable. Entwined in rumors is the Shadow, whose words and music transformed a ramshackle puppet shop into the most esteemed theater in the kingdom.

A legend that holds within it the dreams of hundreds and the tears of thousands. Its backstage hums with the chatter of its artists, its seats brimming with patrons that multiply with each passing day.

Behind the rich, velvety curtains, you stand, clutching a letter. From your confidante, the one whose angelic voice, heard by many, is yet to be linked to a face. The one whose name is engraved on the door of Box Five.

His voice found you in your darkest hour. In the attic of discarded props, you first encountered his mournful notes. And that was how you met him. Ghost to many, the Magician to you.

But tonight, as you prepare to face the crowd for your debut as the lead singer, your heart pounds with uncertainty. In your grasp lies the Magician’s letter—his demands and requirements for tonight’s show.

Your name, written boldly as the lead—a demand that unsettled many. For an unknown nobody from the company to take center stage. Amid the glares and whispers, you murmur his name.

With your eyes closed, you conjure the fleeting image of his flowing black robes of mourning, his nimble fingers wrapped in silken veils, an unchanging presence during your secret meetings. His voice, unlike that of any mortal. His songs that could make you weep, laugh, or slumber at his will.

In the middle of the second act, your eyes find him, and your heart skips a beat.

With renewed fervor, you sing for him, a smile threatening to break across your lips. The rest of the show passes in a blur. As soon as the final note fades, you rush to your changing room, as fast as your feet will carry you.

In the crowded hallway, full of sweaty, euphoric actors, you somehow end up in his arms. You drink in the sight of him as his arms wrap around your waist.

The knight of your dreams.

Tonight, he has decided, tonight will be the night he reveals himself to you—his angel, away from Valinor. The bearer of his songs.

Maglor had watched you perform from the rafters, from the safety of rooms unknown even to the oldest patrons.

Tonight, when the world craves to hold you, he will be the one to claim your time and affection.

And perhaps, in time, you will come to love him—his mask, and beyond. The scars of the Silmaril may yet be healed by the kiss of your lips. You are his salvation.

He waits for you in your changing room, hidden behind the mirror that leads to his secret tunnels. Tonight, you will see him in your reflection.

Barely resisting the urge to claw at his mask, Maglor waits. Any moment now.

From minutes to hours, to the pale sprinkling of dawn, he waits. But you do not come.

His mind races with scenarios—wild, maddening thoughts. Has someone dared lay claim to his prodigy? Did he not make his intentions clear to the patrons?

It isn’t until later that he sees the reason for your absence. The gleaming knight of Rivendell. Once Lord of the House of the Golden Flower—Glorfindel. Seated in the box closest to you, his gaze fixed on you, your careless, fleeting glances in his direction tinkering with your faltering notes.

Your changing room, once overflowing with roses from Maglor, is now invaded by the cheer of the Golden Flower.

With clenched fists, crescent moons imprinted on his palms, Maglor watches as you effortlessly fall into the arms of the golden lord, who tucks back your wayward hair with aching familiarity.

"You must meet him," you prattle cheerfully to the blurred figure of your phantom. "Glorfindel is a friend. A savior. I wouldn't be here—"

Your words die in your throat as an unseen force seizes your lips, silencing you. Panic floods your chest as you look to the Magician. The usual warmth in his presence has been replaced by a chilling cold.

"You skipped four notes tonight," he declares, his voice like ice. "Is this the time for such cheer?" His words echo harshly in the attic.

You stare at him, helpless. It had never crossed your mind that your Magician—the source of your music and song—could wield such cruelty. He had always been your muse, never your fear, despite the rumors that clung to his name.

"Do not succumb to distractions. Stay away from the lordling." His sneer cuts deep, giving you no chance to respond. "Do you understand, my Lark?" he asks, finally releasing the grip he held over your words.

Gasping for air, your gaze meets his, laced with the sting of betrayal. The bond you had so carefully built with the shadow of Kalis Hala now feels fragile, fractured. Beyond the veil, you see him pacing, agitated.

"He is a friend, like you are," you plead, your voice soft. "Glorfindel will cause no harm. He is dear to me." Your words carry the weight of memories—of the time when the elven lord had saved you from the plague that ravaged the village of your birth. "I will not falter again. There will be no err in my music. Not because of him."

"I am the owner of this theater. I am the source of your fame, the music in your words. It would do you well to remember that, my Lark. Do not dismiss my words so willfully." His voice hisses like a venomous snake, fury so intense it feels as though centuries couldn’t contain it.

"Now throw away those jarring yellow flowers and rest for the night," he commands. The rage evaporates, replaced by the familiar tenderness you once knew, leaving you bewildered by the ghost of the opera.

You do not reply. Nor do you offer him reassurance. You will not abandon your friend over an unwarranted tantrum.

That night, you ignore his words for the first time. Leaving the pearls untouched on your dresser, you pull on your shawl and slip into the chilly night, finding yourself on the director’s mare, racing toward the manor on the outskirts of town.

In his arms, you are delightfully human. He can feel the steady rhythm of your heart, and his thumbs trace the warmth of your flushed cheeks. Unbothered by your sweat-slicked brow, Glorfindel presses his forehead gently against yours. "You were marvelous," he whispers, his voice full of elvish delight.

You truly were. Your songs, your voice, the graceful movement of your limbs in perfect sync with the dancers—it was something he would never forget.

Perhaps Lúthien was the fairest elleth to ever walk on Arda, and her dance enchanting enough to lure Beren. But to Glorfindel, you surpassed all legends. He loved you for reasons he couldn’t fully explain.

Why had his reborn heart bound itself to a mere mortal? A woman he had plucked from the very brink of death, whose faint pulse he had nursed back to life.

He loved you because, when everything else in Arda seemed to wither under the corruption of darkness, you lived. You clung to life—and to him.

His thoughts are interrupted by sudden screams. Chaos ripples through the theater, and the sickly sweet smell of death fills the air.

On the stage lies the broken body of a guardsman, crumpled and lifeless. A note is stuffed into his frozen mouth, his face twisted in eternal terror.

Words, elegantly written:

The Elven Lord must return.

The message leaves you pale and trembling in Glorfindel's arms. Your eyes dart around the empty stage, scanning the deserted seats, dread curling at the edges of your mind.

And then as if the familiar sense of dreadful choking returned with the burning gaze of your Magician. His presence- unwavering in the shadows, prowling in on your world.

[larothoughts]

fem!jiggy thoughts (part 1: qinghe nie)

this is part of a larger mdzs au i definitely do NOT have time to write completely. but i've been turning it over in my head for days at this point and it needs to be written down else i forget everything.

basically, how drastically things would have changed with a genderbent meng yao.

(the following timeline is a mix between canons; basically it's the drama timeline without the yin-iron/puppets. but i'm even less familiar with the mdzs timeline as i am with svsss so forgive me for any errors;;;)

the brothel

now i fully believe meng shi, smart as she was and living in a brothel, would've done all she could to hide meng yao's true gender from the madam and her coworkers. this was her son, only meng shi is allowed to bathe him, his father will come back to retrieve him one day. secretly, she still taught meng yao that her father was a great man; that one day she wouldn't need to hide as he will surely take her in.

sisi, the only other person aware of meng yao's true gender, would've seen a young and already-pretty meng yao and been emboldened to pull her aside: 'do not go to lanling jin once your mother dies. not even being his daughter will protect you from jin guangshan.'

because jgs has a reputation amongst brothel workers, the working women of lanling, everyone except for the women he bedded and charmed. if meng yao had been a boy, then maybe sisi would've been assured that the worst jgs could do was throw him down koi tower. but as a girl, when meng yao was as pretty as her mother? no. absolutely not.

so when meng shi dies, sisi sneaks out a still cross-dressing meng yao and urges her to run as far away from the madam's reach as she could. she was still passably androgynous in her youth, but the minute the madam realized she was a girl, she'd force her to take on her mother's debt in her place. so meng yao runs.

qinghe nie

now sisi may have stressed the importance of not going to lanling jin as a no-name girl with a pretty face, but meng yao is tenacious. if she could build a reputation as a cultivator, then surely her father would at least be willing to hear her story out. to acknowledge her as a member of his family. (because meng shi was right too; if meng yao was legitimized as a jin, being a woman would no longer be as dangerous as it was for her now. she would have the power to finally dress and act the way she wants.) the yunmeng jiang sect is a bit too close to home for her comfort, so she goes to the next best sect accepting civilian members: qinghe nie.

one would think NOT being known as a bastard son of a whore would make her experience here much better. it doesn't. sure, the og!qinghe nie bullies liked to use his status to torment meng yao, but in the meritocratic no-bullshit environment chifeng-zun has established, it's strength that ultimately matters. and in both the og universe and in this one, meng yao just isn't as strong as the other recruits. being weak, effeminate and too-differential are all frowned upon traits for a man to be in qinghe nie; but in this au, meng yao would rather be bullied for weakness than be forced to give up cultivating altogether. it's not like female cultivators aren't allowed, just that female cultivators in qinghe nie are held at a higher physical standard. if anyone found out she was actually a girl, they'd take one look at her soft and petite frame and remove her from the ranks entirely. so meng yao grits her teeth and tries to make herself useful no matter how humiliating it is when her fellow disciples treat her more like a servant than a comrade.

then, nie mingjue comes across her half-dressed. she's mortified. the one person who should never know her real gender just walks up behind her, all because the other disciples had set her camp up across the pond as more bullying and she figured she'd use the privacy to her advantage. rather than demand answers or react with violence, however, chifeng-zun just frowns.

"I wasn't aware there were women in this squadron." "There... aren't," Meng Yao answers. She flushes slightly when Nie Mingjue's gaze flickers down to the still-visible swell of her breast, barely hidden beneath the robe she'd yanked over herself in panic. There is an awkward silence, one that fills her with skin-crawling dread. She has half a mind to throw her dignity away entirely and beg for mercy on her knees, but the man surprises her by turning his gaze away from her body out of... out of respect? The idea of a man not ogling her the way all men ogled women is strangely endearing. "Your name?" the sect leader finally says. It briefly crosses her mind to lie. It'll be a difficult but not impossible task to slip away from this squad and pretend to be recruited into another under a different alias. She's an expert disguise-artist when given enough time and determination; her work helping the brothel sisters prepare for the night beforehand was testament to that. Meng Yao wants to lie, because that's always been her first instinct in the face of danger. But from the way everyone spoke about Chifeng-zun, the righteous Nie Mingjue, Meng Yao suspects lying of any kind here may be her actual undoing. "Meng Yao," she answers him, decisive. "My name is Meng Yao."

the inner circle

no one is more shocked than meng yao when, only a few days later, chifeng-zun reassigns her to his personal squadron. he sees her contributions, recognizes her worth, and promotes her into the ranks as an inner disciple. and the cost of this promotion--and therefore unrestricted access to the nie library, where meng yao could finally, finally get her hands on a cultivation manual better suited to her than the dumb one handed out to new recruits--is the added job all members of chifeng-zun's squad must partake in sooner or later: babysitting nie huaisang.

in fact, this is her main job. meng yao is briefly offended that chifeng-zun assumes her gender makes her the perfect babysitter. she's only mollified at the promise of (1) aforementioned access to the nie library as an inner disciple, (2) the sect leader's promise to keep her true gender a secret from everyone but huaisang and (3) her job is less babysitter and more last-line-of-defense, the same as all his other squad members. the difference is, nie huaisang hates having to put up with the usual burly, no-nonsense nie cultivators silently judging his foppish pursuits. they ruin his aesthetic!

meng yao is still annoyed that mingjue assumes her being female means nie huaisang will better allow himself to be guarded (because feminine pursuits means he would prefer a female guard??) but... the man is trying. and having unrestrained access to both the young master and the sect leader is an advantage she'd be insane not to secure. even if her sudden promotion makes her relationship with the lower-ranked nie disciples even worse.

almost perfect

these years are, in hindsight, some of the best of meng yao's life. she dotes on huaisang as if he's her own little brother, finally manages to cultivate her golden core, and finds pride in clearing away qinghe nie's hidden enemies. she has mingjue's admiration and trust, and holds enough sway with the non-disciples to see her plans put into action. things are almost perfect, but for a few things: the lower-ranked disciples still view meng yao as a snake that slept 'his' way to the top of the hierarchy; and nie mingjue refuses to take her as his wife.

well, refuse is a strong word. more like 'will not offer,' a predicament huaisang laments alongside meng yao because just look at her! she'd be a perfect nie-furen! also i know you're sleeping together da-ge, yao-jie is discreet but you certainly aren't! no one even entertains the idea of meng yao being taken in as a concubine; the moment one of the mostly powerless nie elders tries to bring it up (a civilian, mingjue? a man??) the nie brothers shut it down.

the lack of proposal is not out of disrespect. it's because nie mingjue knows he's going to die young. marrying meng yao would require her to reveal her true gender to calm down the nie elders, and once known that information can't be taken back. leaving behind a widow and a non-combatant brother is a far more dangerous situation than leaving behind a non-combatant brother and his trusted attendant. leaving behind a widow related to jin guangshan is even worse. that power-hungry bastard would use any opportunity to gain ground, and his grieving daughter in qinghe nie would put the entire sect in jeopardy.

(mingjue would like to think meng yao would have more loyalty to qinghe than that, but even through rose-tinted glasses he knows meng yao is a practical woman. if it ensured her own safety and possibly huaisang's, she'd open the gates of qinghe nie herself. that was the entire point of meng yao telling him her background, a warning disguised as her detailing how useful she could be. it makes mingjue uneasy, the idea of what meng yao would do if backed into a corner. so he spends as much energy as possible to keep that from happening.)

the fall

meng yao takes nie huaisang to the gusu lan lectures again and again. tensions with the wen sect keep rising. xue yang is captured and taken into the qinghe nie dungeons, only to be broken out by wen cultivators less than a day later. in the ensuing battle, mingjue catches meng yao murdering the same former squad mate that used to steal credit for her victories. he sees her smile, her purposeful use of a wen-style attack, and how easy it is for her to switch from confident to 'terrified' once she realizes he sees her. the shift shakes something fundamental in him, the realization that this woman he loves is so capable of putting on a mask. that she put a mask on in front of him, when she'd once vowed never to do so unless it was for the good of the sect.

murdering the captain of her former squadron was not for the good of the sect.

before he can confront her, xue yang cuts his way through the last of the nie defenses and leaves one last parting gift via declaration: that wen rouhan was quite interested in the beautiful woman who'd stolen nie minjue's heart. that she could do so much better in nightless city, if she ever found herself wanting.

the aftermath of the escape is devastating. meng yao eschews dignity and does what she thought of doing the first time her gender was revealed: she gets down on her knees and begs for mingjue to let her stay as a nie disciple. already word has spread throughout qinghe nie and the wider gentry that meng yao is not just a woman, but a devious and power-grabbing one. that she hid her gender to get close to the sect leader, then engineered a perfect reveal to catch his attention. that she could have easily seized control of the entire sect before anyone had any idea of the threat she was.

mingjue, meanwhile, doesn't know what is and isn't true. he's questioning everything about meng yao, even their first meeting as insinuated by the rumors. it hurts him deeply that he can no longer trust her word; and it hurts her to lose his regard so absolutely.

in a world that favors men, mingjue wouldn't hesitate to kick male!meng yao out within the day. in this one, fem!meng yao is instead locked in her rooms until mingjue can come up with a solution that won't end in her certain death. because despite huaisang's begging, he is firm in the fact that meng yao cannot stay. not even taking into account mingjue and huaisang's feelings, the outrage amongst the nie disciples is enough they'd likely rebel if she remained. mingjue does not want to see meng yao slain by a disciple of his own sect. he doesn't, against his better judgment, want to see meng yao slain at all.

lanling jin

in a great twist of fate, huaisang points out the best solution is the plan meng yao gave up on so many years ago. for better or for worse, meng yao's name is now known across the gentry. she'd been a high-ranking member of qinghe nie for many years, is valued by both brothers and is still respected for her intelligence. mingjue keeps silent on the matter of their broken trust, their long-lasting affair, and any rumors other than the fact that meng yao is a woman. instead, he sends meng yao to lanling jin with a retinue of disciples from his personal squadron, as well as an apology gift for besmirching the honor of jin guangshan's daughter.

he sends her to koi tower with a glowing letter of recommendation and an earnest request for jin guangshan to take care of someone both nie brothers care about greatly. jin guangshan reads the two letters through gritted teeth, sat in front of the stoic nie retainers bracketing meng yao on either side. with meng yao's name and accomplishments on everyone's minds, with the thinly-veiled threat of nie retribution in those damn letters-- jin guangshan cannot hide her away as he would his other bastards.

he has no choice but to accept meng yao into lanling jin as his daughter, even with his wife glaring daggers at him all the while.

it is the last gift mingjue is willing to give meng yao. if not his hand, fulfilling her dream is the next best thing he can offer. unfortunately, as with most things in meng yao's life, it is simply not enough.

a few weeks later, the cloud recesses burn.

[rosebloodcat]

Weirn Wally AU: Lacking Lies

Ao3 Link

Wally felt an itch at the back of his neck.

Someone was watching him.

He had a fairly good idea of who it was too. In hindsight, he really should have expected it.

Canceling the picnic with Julie and Frank suddenly would have raised some confusion, even if "not feeling well" was a perfectly reasonable excuse. That shadow from two nights ago had been stronger than he was used to in the hamlet.

It had laid him out pretty well, he was still smarting from the shot it managed to land on his side.

He hadn't had the magic to spare to make himself look like a puppet and join them at the flower fields the next morning for the picnic. He hadn't even had the energy to leave the house. Claiming that he thought he’d caught a day cold of some kind should have been a perfectly reasonable excuse. Nothing that should have been given more than a second thought when they saw him out and about the next day.

So, Frank's unusually intense stare on his back was worrying.

Wally ran through his mental notes, still keeping part of his concentration on his disguise while meandering toward the bodega. (The last thing he needed was to lose his hold on that in the middle of town. Aching side or not.)

Had he slipped somewhere and Frank had seen something? 

He had made sure to slip out long after dark. Dressed in clothes that didn't resemble his day-to-day wear. Got back before sunrise, wrapped up the few injuries he'd gotten while fighting, and grabbed enough sleep to drag himself out of bed to call Frank and Julie at a reasonable hour to avoid suspicion.

He had all his bases covered, from what he could remember. Why was Frank watching him so intently?

He let out a quiet huff. He was overthinking this.

Frank was probably just keeping an eye on him because he’d said he was sick. Wally would probably do the same thing if he heard one of his neighbors had suddenly fallen ill and canceled an event like that.

He gave his head a small shake to banish the worry, waving idly at Howdy as he stepped inside the bodega and headed for the store section he knew had what he was after. He’d made sure to read up on some new facts for this shopping trip, he really didn’t have a head for jokes today.

Assorted Vegetables, mustard seed, basil, garlic…

He looked up and the shelf Howdy had stocked the cooking oils on, fighting back a frown. Why did Howdy always have to stack it so high up? He knew how tall most of his clientele were…

(He wished, not for the first time, that he had picked a taller form for this world. But it was far too late to change it now. Small was what he’d gotten and he just had to live with it.)

He stretched up to grab the cooking oil he was after and winced at the way his side stretched. He let out a quiet, pained breath lowering his arm again. No, he couldn't reach for it with that arm. He tried to switch which arm was holding the basket, only for another twinge to shoot through his side.

Sharp footsteps made him tense as a presence appeared beside him. Out of the corner of his eye, he could see Frank's bright yellow sweater vest.

"I believe this was what you were after, Wally?"

The weirn blinked, registering the bottle of oil he'd been reaching for being presented to him. And the quirked unibrow of the cloudy grey puppet holding it.

“Ah… Thank you, Frank. That was the one I was reaching for.” Wally adopted one of his usual, relaxed-looking smiles and took the bottle from his neighbor, carefully dropping it into his basket. That was the last thing on his list. Frank hummed at him and he fought back the urge to squirm under his stare. “Is there something wrong, neighbor?”

“Not exactly,” Frank idly commented, tilting his head slightly. “Julie was rather disappointed about you not being able to make it to our picnic the other day. So, after your call, I suggested rescheduling it for when you were better. If you still want to join us, of course.”

Wally felt some of the tension leave his shoulders, and his smile became more natural. Yes, this felt more in line with what he was used to from Frank. And he did still want to enjoy the picnic with them both.

“Ah, that would be lovely. I felt very bad about not being able to join you, I’d be happy to help plan another.” He shifted slightly, the dull ache in his side making itself known again. “Perhaps next Wednesday would work for you both? I can make something special to bring with me, to make up for missing the last one.”

By then, my side will have healed up.

“Oh? I’m sure Julie would love that. You don’t share your cooking very often.” Wally inclined his head at that, still smiling. He slowly started making his way back to the front of the store, Frank following a pace or two behind him as they continued making small talk.

Their conversation paused as they reached the counter, Wally “paying” for his groceries with some art and painting facts he was reasonably sure Howdy had never heard before. The caterpillar accepted them at the very least, so he considered it a success.

He carefully took the bags from Howdy but was further surprised when Frank took some of them as well. He considered trying to take them from the dower man, but…

It seemed his painkillers were starting to wear off. Which made carrying so many bags on his own rather painful. And there really wasn't any harm in letting Frank help. So he quietly thanked the frowning puppet and led the way outside and to his house.

The walk was quiet, but it wasn't uncomfortable (that Wally could tell). 

It was one of the things he’d always liked about Frank, even if it didn't happen very often. It was nice to just enjoy the quiet with someone on occasion.

“Wally?” Frank asked idly. The weirn let out an acknowledging hum, not feeling like breaking his own silence yet. “May I ask something of you?”

The edge of his mouth twitched at that. Oh, when was the last time he’d gotten to use this little joke?

“You have, but please continue.” He heard Frank let out a small huff.

(It wasn’t a good joke, he knew. But it usually got a few amused chuckles when he pulled it out.)

“Next time you have to cancel, please don't lie about why you can't join us,” Frank said, a tinge of irritation in his tone. Wally stopped dead in his tracks, turning sharply to face his neighbor.

“What… What do you mean by that, neighbor?” Frank's brow tilted at him, his expression thoroughly unimpressed.

“Wally, you canceled the picnic because you’ve hurt yourself,” was the dark-haired puppet’s response. His smile tightened at that.

“That’s silly, Frank. Why would you think-”

“Wally, you're limping.” Frank cut in with an exasperated sigh.

Now that it had been pointed out, Wally became hyper-aware of the state he was in.

Yes, he was in his usual clothes but he was favoring one side over the other as he moved (especially now that the medication was wearing off). And his clothes weren't as neat and clean as he usually preferred, the pompadour he always had his hair was messier than normal a few loose hairs falling into his line of sight. His eyes itched in the way that said he probably had some shadows under them, likely from the rough sleep due to his side before he’d had to drag himself out of bed to make the call…

Okay, now that Frank had said something he could see how easily his lie would have fallen apart once the detail-oriented puppet saw him. Everything would quickly add up to something being wrong.

(He wanted to smack himself, how had he missed this?! It was his own body, for pity’s sake!)

“Ah…” His smile turned a bit more sheepish while he mentally scrambled for a reasonable explanation that Frank would accept. What could he tell him that would make sense?

Frank sighed at him, seeming to not notice the subtle panic Wally was dealing with.

“Next time, just tell me the truth. I can understand that you don't want to worry Julie but I would appreciate a little more honesty from you.” He gave Wally another searching look and he struggled to not fidget. “How did you even hurt yourself in the first place? Were you trying to move furniture around by yourself?”

Wally latched onto the excuse the moment Frank said it.

“Uh, yes… I wanted to move my bookshelf. I thought I emptied it before I started trying to move it, but I missed a few books at the top and…”

“And they fell on you.” Frank finished, nodding along.

“Yes. I didn't want to worry anyone, so I didn't say anything about it. It’s a bit sore, but nothing really bad.” Wally assured, trying to sound more genuine than he knew he was being.

Frank sighed in that exasperated but somehow fond way he always did about his neighbors. The sort that said he wasn't mad at them, just disappointed that they hadn't thought something through.

(He used that sigh with Julie a lot. And Howdy. It was also distinctly different from the sigh he let out over things that Eddie did. Or the one he used for Poppy worrying over silly things.)

“Of course you did. Next time you should just ask for help, Wally. I'm sure Eddie or Barnaby or Howdy would have been happy to help if you’d asked. They’re certainly strong enough to move a bookshelf without too much trouble.” He side-eyed the small artist for a moment, and Wally fought back the urge to wriggle. “And they’re tall enough to see if any books had been missed.”

Wally smiled sheepishly at the look, even as the usual weight of discomfort settled in his stomach at having to lie to his neighbor. (It was a familiar feeling. One he’d gotten very good at ignoring over the years.)

“Well, I hope your side heals up soon. I'd imagine it's quite annoying.” Wally nodded at that. It certainly was.

The rest of their walk was spent in silence until they reached home and Frank handed off the bags he was carrying to Wally. He knew that Wally was particular about putting things away on his own, so there was no point in offering to help with it. The weirn gave a quiet thank you, after which Frank wrangled a promise to call if he needed anything while he was healing. Which Wally gave with little fuss.

(He wouldn't, he could handle himself just fine. But hearing Wally say that he would do that would settle the man’s nerves, so he still said it. (Not a true Promise, just an assurance that he would call in the future.))

The two finally parted ways with the click of a door, and Wally finally let out a breath of relief and let go of his spell once he was sure Frank was far enough to not see him.

He let himself slump against the front door for a moment, just breathing slowly.

A lamp nearby rattled and he felt the familiar ghostly feeling worryconcernquestion brushed against the edge of his mind.

“I'm fine, just sore from the medication wearing off. I need to take another dose soon.” He pushed off the door and slowly made his way to the kitchen to put away his groceries. He could take another potion once everything was in the correct cabinets. Doors opened of their own accord, his astral trying to make everything easier for him.

More feelings drifted over their bond, this time accompanied by a curious tug toward the front door. He inclined his head, smiling gently.

“Ah, it's nothing to worry about. Frank was helping because he noticed I was hurt. I forget how observant he is some days, he definitely thought something was up. I’ll need to be more careful around him for a bit.” He murmured gently, resting his hand against the wall comfortingly. He wished his astral could separate from the house so he could properly brush his hands over him, but the sun was up and their neighbors would notice if “Home” suddenly went still. “It shouldn’t be anything to worry over, I was able to assure him.”

A cupboard door thumped worriedly by his head, more flickers of questionconcernnervous flitting over the bond.

“No, Frank doesn't suspect anything about how I got hurt. He's just being kind and worrying over me. Like good friends do. Like all the people here do. Everything’s fine. I’m sure of it.”

~~~~~

Frank sighed to himself as he walked out of Home’s line of sight, shoulders slumping slightly.

Wally had lied again.

Really, he wasn’t as good at it as he seemed to think he was. Though, admittedly, he was hurting so that probably hadn’t helped him in coming up with a good story to feed Frank to fool him. He supposed it would work for Julie or Barnaby, as they rarely dealt with bookshelves or rearranging them and wouldn’t know that what Wally claimed wasn’t possible.

Some books fell on him, honestly.

He might have believed it if Wally had claimed Home had accidentally knocked something into him while trying to help, but not an accident from trying to move a bookshelf by himself. If that had been what happened, then the books would have fallen on Wally’s head or shoulders or his back, not his side. Not below his arm in a place that would be pulled every time he tried to move or carry things.

No, something else happened to hurt their resident artist. His eyes narrowed in thought, a hand rubbing at his chin.

The question was: What was it?

AN: I've finally finished the first bit of writing for the Weirn Wally AU!! I've had most of this for a while in my docs, but I figured now was as good a time as any to finally post it. I still wanna talk about this au and the fun little details I have on the brain. But it seems like I'm the only one who's interested in the Weirn Books.

I welcome all questions and comments.

[houndfaker]

actually i think i should ramble on some of the groundwork for the weird kym swap au thing because im doing it kinda weirdly

so typically with swap aus you fully change around how everything works but im a fan of “maintaining certain story aspects and trading others” so that’s what im toying with here

not everything is in a perfectly preened timeline yet since i just came up with the idea Yesterday but i made some strides in establishing certain parts

asw kikuno was dispatched the night that death got loose, takeharu (and his young daughter, refusing to be left at home) observing the battle that would take place on the moonlight bridge at what was thought to be a safe enough distance. a stray attack lands by them, thankfully only knocking takeharu unconscious but unfortunately resulting in the death of the accompanying kirijo bodyguards. when kikuno is able to restrict death into mere essence, only one healthy vessel remains. the asw, automatic and relentless, approaches mitsuru kirijo who is hunched over her fathers unconscious body, afraid and crying, and uses her to seal death.

this is where the divergence really starts happening. after the incident, only mitsuru is able to clearly remember what occurred, and she doesn’t comprehend what kikuno did to her because she’s a child. what she does comprehend is that last she saw kikuno, she was hurt and limping toward her. so she starts asking what happened to her and if she can see her. takeharu initially refuses as he isn’t sure why she’s so bent on seeing her, but ergo research, catching wind of this, urges him to let her visit the lab. he eventually allows it.

mitsuru visits kikuno consistently as she receives repairs. her memory is corrupted as a result of overexerting herself amidst the situation, but she is left with an instinctive feeling like she has to be beside mitsuru, has to protect her. she expresses this to the researchers working on her multiple times when mitsuru isn’t present.

after mitsuru awakens (the scenario is the same with those key differences; she awakens while protecting her father, but penthesilea briefly becomes thanatos and goes wild) kikuno is not put away, but refurbished for the purpose of becoming mitsuru’s bodyguard. takeharu’s orders. he knows an attachment has formed between them, and that mitsuru, stubborn as she is, will not be letting up from the research going into the dark hour anytime soon. he has a lot more Fear in this timeline due to his negligence that night on the moonlight bridge.

mitsuru doesn’t have access to the velvet room until sees begins operation, signifying the true start of her ‘journey’. usually when a wildcard awakens this happens right away but given how young she was and how she wouldn’t really be fully utilizing the power of the wildcard until sees is official and active, this seems like the best way to go about it

asw kikuno has had a lot more time to develop than aigis in canon. but because she sees herself wholly as a tool to serve, she still experiences moderate setbacks in the actualization of her own humanity. it does make the later revelation regarding what exactly she did to mitsuru (which mitsuru has likely blocked out by the main events of p3) that much more devastating. 6 long years of protecting her, was it all her programming in service of the seal and not the one she had considered herself so devoted to? what is she without that purpose? can she even look mitsuru in the eye after it all crashes down on them?

wildcard mitsuru is quite a bit more uh. well her already deep guilt is probably not made any better by the fact that she’s a wildcard. all of the extra weight on her shoulders of having a special version of an already rare power and whatnot definitely make her feel at least a little like a puppet on a string for fate. it’s only befitting, though, right? the heir of the very group that wanted to harness death so badly being instrumental in the true elimination of the dark hour…all this to say she is walking a bit of a tightrope with her mental stability LMAO. the back to back of ikutsukis betrayal/takeharus death and then the eventual reveal of harboring death itself for years and years back to back are going to be soul-crushing to say the least.

eiichiro takeba didn’t have children in this timeline, but he did want for one rather badly. so badly in fact that his desires affected that little piece of death he was constantly in near contact with, and influenced what eventually would be her shape before his untimely death. appriser yukari is the daughter he never had. (i know this is so silly and a stretch but i think it’d be fun)

appriser yukari is different without the full extent of canon yukari’s backstory. i think she maintains much of her attitude (perhaps more things passed down from a mixture of eiichiro’s influence and her presence within mitsuru?) but she’s quite a bit more friendly and well yk oozing charm as a peppy little transfer student. she’s drawn instantly to mitsuru, who is fresh off of losing her drive for everything. yukari just wants to make her smile again. (again? she hasn’t seen her smile before, though. she’s been nothing but tired and gloomy since they first met. well, she kinda feels like it’s fate, in a way. like she was destined to come into mitsurus life at that moment and pick her up. it’s like a mushy romance cliche…)

more to come…happy to take suggestions on other roleswaps for this because I’m having fun rearranging the lore to fit, and i was realy only focused on the kym aspect.

[riderofblackdragons]

Day 2 - Paralytic Drug

Another one in the Experiments in Blood au! I am playing fast and loose with these prompts tbh, and ive realised that the last time i wrote proper angst i was both unmedicated and therefore depressed af, so this month might not actually be all the whumpy lol

Hope you enjoy!

Tonight was the night. All three vampires knew it, could feel the anticipation. Tonight they were getting out of here - or at least, Damon was. Both Kol and Enzo had passed Damon their shares of blood for the past year, even as Damon had tried to refuse Kol’s. And now, a year on, it was the New Year’s party for the Augustine Society.

One of them, most likely Damon as he’d been the best behaved the past month or so, would be brought upstairs, and paraded around like a puppet. Escape would be easiest there, with so many humans gathered, and only a single ankle chain and the threat of punishment to keep him from it.

It was carefully plotted, of course. Kol and Enzo also wished to escape, and Damon was to come back down after them when he’d finished off the guards and scientists upstairs. They’d carefully planned to be rowdy and uncooperative with their jailers, to make Damon seem like the best option for this party.

They only knew if it had worked, or not, when the night of the party itself came. The guards came, and for a second it seemed as thought they were going to pick Kol anyways, who was nearly grey with how little blood he’d gotten over the past year.

Desiccation, as he’d told them, would be setting in soon after the party, if he didn’t get enough blood in time. Death would follow, but it was a death the ordinary vampire could wake up from, and so definitely wouldn’t harm him in the long term.

In the short term, well… That depended on what the scientists did to him whilst he was still desiccated, and therefore unable to properly heal himself until he got more blood.

Thankfully, their plan when off without a hitch, Enzo watching as Damon was, in the end, chosen for his good behaviour, their captors not even once considering that they could possibly be smart enough to orchestrate anything like this. If all went well, they wouldn’t realise until they were dying, staring up at their former victims in their last moments.

And then, all of a sudden, it all went wrong.

It was the typical New Year’s party. Random members of the Augustine Society milled around, some having the guts to come up to Damon and have a proper look. Some even had a private conversation with Dr Whitmore, standing close by Damon, ready to show off his prize to anyone who asked.

The problem was one of the men who did so.

“You’ll stay here and be good for me, won’t you?” The man, nearly unrecognisable from the other suit-wearing men in the room, peered into Damon’s eyes, and the vampire could almost swear he was being compelled. “Not cause any trouble?”

It sounded like a question, but both knew it wasn’t really one. This man was no different to the rest, even asking Dr. Whitmore about observing in his experiments.

No! Damon screamed into his mind.

There was no way he wanted this man anywhere near him, and he desperately hoped that the doctor would refuse him. But luck was not on Damon’s side, and the doctor agreed. At that moment, Damon knew he had to be getting out of there, before this man came back the next day and helped slice him open. Or worse, slice open one of Damon’s fellow captives. There was just something about him that gave Damon a bad feeling, and he was somewhat used to listening to his gut feelings.

It felt worse, when he tried to move, to lunge at this off-putting man. Damon’s eyes widened in panic, his mind urging the rest of him to do anything. But his body didn’t repsond, instead staying completely still, as though he was paralysed.

His mind flashed back to the words the man had said. Stay here and be good drifted across his ind. Don’t cause any trouble.

In front of him, the man hummed in delight, as if he knew that Damon was trying to break free. He straightened his jacket lapels a little, smiling as the doctor discussed him coming back to the lab the next.

He did move on, finally, when his name was called by one of the other members of the society, and he politely excused himself with another indescribable look at Damon. As his shoes clicked on the floor away from him, Damon tried to commit the name to memory. Elias, they’d called him.

He’d have to tell the others, later. When the party was over, and he had to deliver the news that he’d failed at escaping.

[cosmica-galaxy]

How would the trio (Hank, Sanford, Deimos) react to the player playing co-op mode with their friends.

If this was the Salty AU, I think it would be similar to how Salty described it.

The other vessels would be jealous of the one that has the Player all to themselves, especially since they would most likely be Player 1, which can't change vessels in the game.

If the Player has three friends minimum to play the game with, all of them would be taken up and Player wouldn't be able to switch at all either. Which would probably frustrate the other vessels, since they are being puppeteered around by "false players" instead of their one "true player".

If we ignore some of the rules from Salty's AU, I think it would come as a major surprise to the self-aware crew that there's MORE THAN ONE PLAYER.

They were simply under the impression that the Player was a singular being with higher powers until the other strings appeared and took hold on the free vessels. It's a strange sensation for all of them to have a Player assigned to them. Each one being told what to do and moving in a much more efficient manner because of it. They're shooting more accurately, getting hurt less, and are actually organized in their assaults.

It makes them wonder what the Player actually IS. They can't see them, but they can feel them. Are they one soul or many in a singular being? Where did these other Players come from? Are they extensions of yourself or other beings entirely?

It gives them eldritch horror levels of thought as they try to picture what the Players look like. Can they put a face to it? Do they even HAVE a face? How can ALL of them possess bodies? How many more exist out there and what powers can they all wield in unison?

If this was in the time before they knew the Player's voice or what they looked like, this would be TERRIFYING. One is not so bad, seeing that their allies all still had their free will. But now that they're ALL being puppeted, it's like putting your fate into a stranger's hands. The movements are too choreographed, like the Players are somehow communicating with one another despite not speaking.

Not only that, but seeing the strings that they aren't familiar with branch out from nothing and latch onto a viable host must be terrifying. Especially since it's not the same strings they're familiar with. But each of them carry that same warmth that their original Player has. Like a warm firm hand is wrapped around them and guiding them through the world. It carries the same resounding light and comforting warmth that their Player does, which is probably why they believe they are an extension of the Player.

This also doesn't end the surprises. Because imagine that Deimos and Sanford go on a mission together and there's three Players. Color them surprised when VICTOR of all people shows up on their mission. When asked why he was there, Victor probably just says something ominous like "I felt like I was...called here."

The same goes with any variations of Hank Wimbleton. Wank and Pank literally show up out of nowhere to assist Hank...and Hank...doesn't attack them. For some reason, he tolerates the other Hanks, despite the innate urge to kill them. He knows that it's because of the strings and their otherworldly properties. The two Players needed vessels...and they called for some...and his copies answered their calls.

In short, in the Salty AU, vessels are disgruntled if they can't have their chosen Player to be with. Their "True" Player. The others are merely unwanted puppeteers that the vessels have to tolerate or put up with while the chosen vessel gets their 'true player' all to themself.

But if one takes liberties with it and in the Self-Aware aspects of the AU, multiple Players would be a terrifying concept. Especially if it's during the time where they don't know what the Player looks like or sounds like. It just goes full on cosmic-level horror for them as they are all puppeted around by these invisible but powerful beings with unforeseen motives.

If the three return to Doc, and with the information that there's MORE than one Player out there, the Doctor himself may grow surprised at the news.

How can there be more...and how many do they NOT know about are still lurking around just out of their sight?

A chill would linger in the air and Doc would be afraid of the answer to that question, no doubt.

[allykakamatsu]

I can fix him, probably

KH X GI AU: A rough summary of how their first meeting went down-

Below the cut, a slightly more serious drabble about this.

Also please support me on ko-fi here

Of all the things I expected when I agreed to get those artifacts for Lady Kokomi, finding a different set telling the story of someone who's story sounds a lot like what mine would've turned out like if Roxas and Axel hadn't befriending me somehow only comes second on the weird surprises scale, the first being the fact that right after I read said story I got attacked by a boy about my height with purple hair and a really big hat. He also has lightning powers that could give Larxene a run for her money so I am very grateful that I am not a slouch in a fight because aside from one pretty bad hit he got on my cheek at the start the fight's been more or less even.

I can tell he's starting to get tired though, so I quickly summon Forget Me Not and go for a big slash, and while he mostly dodges it does knock him back onto the floor, so I quickly point the end of my Keyblade at his throat before he can try anything again.

"!! Hmph, not bad," he reluctantly admits, "not even a Vision in sight yet you managed to knock me down. Not sure if I should call you brave or stupid for doing that but it clearly worked. Who the hell are you?"

"Xion, and you aren't half bad yourself. Now, mind if I ask who you are and why you attacked me?" I fire back as I get a better look at my opponent. His clothes look standard enough for Inazuma albeit really well made, but what really catches my attention are his elbows. They're ball joints. Is... is he a puppet like me?

"My name isn't your concern, though if you want something to call me just stick with Balladeer," he replies sounding awfully smug for someone being held at Keyblade point, "and I was just trying to get my shit back but you got your hands on it."

"Awfully violent for something you could've just asked for," I tell him as I realise something, "but wait, these things, they're yours?" With that I put the golden set I found alongside Lady Kokomi's on the ground in front of him.

"Yup, that's it." He confirms and I resist the urge to drop my Keyblade. The person from the artifacts, the one who almost had me crying over what happened, they're still alive?! And... honestly a bit of a brat but honestly after everything I can't really blame them. Still, by what I heard after his friends betrayed him he found himself in really bad company so now I wanna do what I can to get him a better influence, like my friends were for me.

"Hello! Earth to Xion, you've been staring at me like a dead goldfish!" Balladeer shouts snapping me out of my thoughts as he puts his hat back on.

"My bad, just realising some things," I apologise as I dismiss Forget Me Not and start forming a plan, "and I didn't realise these were yours, so you can have them back no problem, but you did attack me for flimsy reasons, so you owe me."

"Owe you-?! Ugh, tell me what it is and if it's not stupid I'll agree." Balladeer reluctantly agrees after sounding so flabbergasted.

"You, me, we're heading to my place and we're gonna talk more over Seasalt ice cream!" I tell him with a grin making him look shocked and confused.

"Seasalt- you know what I hate overly sweet things so maybe that will cancel it out," he sighs after processing that, "but how do I know this isn't a trap?"

"Well, ignoring the fact I just met you and wouldn't have the time to arrange one," I tell him with a slightly smaller but still hopefully warm smile, "from one puppet to another, I promise I'm just here for a good time. Also taking down the Shogun but that's for another day."

"!! Ignoring your good taste in who to take out, you too?," Balladeer asks in surprise and when I nod to confirm he relaxes a little, "..... fine, I'll come, but only for an hour, after that I have a right to leave."

"Fine by me, let's go!" I agree as I grab Lady Kokomi's artifacts as we exit the domain. I may end up jinxing it, but I think this may be the start of a beautiful friendship.

[disastersteps]

giving anita a cane for revelations and forseen future really changed the dynamics and thoughts in regarding of mortujulita, both in present, and in happy (future) ending AU of mine-

for starters, ortega would def try to make amends- she knew she hurt anita, even more than that- she recognized she hurt them by exposing them and breaking their trust. i imagine her seeing anita walks with a limp, guts to the guilt, shame, and 'this shouldn't happened' feelings. and the worst of all? anita is going to be snappy at her further so unless ortega finds a way to regain their trust (and their heart.)

mortum, on other hand... i am active ignoring the puppet situation because right now, anita does want mortum's friendship- because they never feel happy than to be with her, hanging out with her has made them wished they're anita and not aoyun- and now mortum knew who they are. mortum seeing anita with a cane, still not ready to trust but had a urge to reach out and says 'its not your fault' and seeing them flinch back away, cane tightly against their hip- she knew that they knew. anita hurts her, of course they're being. a bit distant, wary, and trying to be respectful to mortum's personal space.

anita being snappy at ortega because she broke their trust while anita being wary and afraid of what mortum will says because they broke her trust is so fun to see and as a player, a lowkey stress to how imma wrangle that situation whEEZES

....and it's so interesting but i think im enjoying this.... early stage of whatever the fuck is this leading to a hopeful mortujulita- i think it's gonna take a lot of talk, trust, and proving yourself, and all of it, villian or hero or whatever, while also glances at a certain [redacted] from revelations' short demo this everything... on... that....?? /lightheart

but also anita would started off hating their cane, but sooner or later, they will embrace it and they will be more confident with it over time- sure their right leg is completely fucked but at least, they have the diginity and being themself- Harbinger- Anita- altogether.

[catsafarithewriter]

A/N: PART 7 of the bedlam au is short today, but I also wanna share that I am now posting this to AO3, updating it whenever I have a chapter's worth of scenes :)

X

The Bedlam lets the puppet strings slacken and the marionette falls limp.

Curious.

His attention had only been distracted for a moment, and the puppet had slipped past his control in that time, urging his prey to flee and almost costing him his meal. He is not angry though – no, the puppet is his creation, and any fault is his. He must have been the one to err in his spinning.

He runs the web through his fingers, testing it for weakness and finding it flawless. The marionette is perfectly crafted, an echo of the best friend, tweaked only in her knowledge of the Bureau and its occupants. She is everything his prey wants her to be – caring, teasing, boisterous, no barriers between them – just another temptation to draw her further into his world. There is no reason the puppet should have acted out.

Even so, perhaps some editing won't go amiss... just to make sure there's not a repeat of today. He recovered it well enough – well enough that he's sure the human will return once more – but there's no point making unnecessary risks.

He discards the puppet. There will be time to weave it into better shape later.

Now though, it's time to see what meddling creature has been caught in his web.

[dee-in-the-box]

Hellooo <3333

Could we get some Jack and Peter content pretty pleaseeeee?

i'll do so for my version of "canon" and for the Brother's Shadow au.

here we go:

Normal:

Jack:

he smokes. quite a bit, might i add.

he lets Dee swear (with permission), because why not.

i think i've mentioned it before, but Jack is transmasc. and also fat/chubby. because Yes.

Jack's hair is supposed to be a mullet. i just can't draw hair too well.

after getting revived by The Real Fredbear, he ended up getting paw pads, his nails turned more into claws than regular nails, his teeth got sharper, and he can make some Really Convincing dog noises. if you ever hear me talk about how "The Real Fredbear assigned Jack to be a partial dogboy," this is what i mean. i like to think this was partially because Blackjack took the form of a dog.

he lost his tooth from a fight in high school.

Jack actually knew that there was some Odd Shit going on with Dave and Henry, but never figured out what exactly went down. when he listened to Henry's tapes...well, he finally figured out what was going on! and it pissed him off!!

Jack feels pity for Dave when they finally run into each other again, considering...All Of That Shit.

Jack has a stuffed cat that he carries around as a sort of comfort item. it was meant to be a birthday gift for Dee on her sixth birthday.

my version of Legacy actually still hates Henry. to put it one way, if regular Jack was giving Henry the middle finger by going "I'll fix your mistakes and set the souls free," then Legacy tried to give Henry the middle finger by going "I'm going to make what you did look like a fucking joke."

Jack is a monsterfucker. i will not elaborate (see: Dave)

Peter:

Peter didn't believe that Jack killed Dee for even a second. he knew that Jack was working that day to begin with, but even then, Jack would never do anything to hurt Dee.

Peter actually sued Henry's ass. and won.

he doesn't like Henry.

he thinks Jack has the weirdest taste in men (see again: Dave).

he really doesn't like the fact that Jack smokes and drinks so much.

had Jack not been wanted by the police, Peter would've let Jack stay with him and Caroline.

Peter's got Guilt over what happened to Jack and Dee.

Peter somewhat recognized Jack when he worked at Freddy's, but he couldn't tell how at the time.

Dee, as the Puppet, would sometimes slip up and call him "Peter."

Brother's Shadow au:

Phone!Jack:

he wasn't properly programmed, so he can still swear. he's still an amnesiac, though.

he could recognize Dee and Dave, but didn't know how he could recognize them.

he and Dave flirted again.

Jack died because he confronted Henry about Dave again, and didn't back down when Henry told him to drop it. Henry knocked him out and put him in the Fredbear suit, and then kicked it a few times after Jack woke up. you can probably guess the rest from there.

he doesn't recognize Henry, but he does feel the urge to call him a bitch a lot. so he does.

he and Dee would take smoke breaks together.

(Black)Jack (Bear Edition):

he took the form of a bear this time, and is basically Shadow Freddy.

he's basically this au's version of the Puppet.

he wants to murder Henry So Fucking Bad.

he Has threatened Henry before about what's gonna happen if he ever tries to harm Dee.

he dragged Henry to the Void at the end of Dsaf 2 after Dee and Henry's fight.

he follows Dee around to give her some comfort. she didn't know it was him for years.

generally pretty chill. unless you're Henry, in which case he is very not chill.

Peter:

he thought Dee looked weird with short hair, but couldn't tell why.

he'd usually be the one to tell Dee and phone!Jack to get back inside during smoke breaks.

he has Brotherly Instincts for Dee and Jack, but doesn't remember why.

he and Jack bicker a lot as Phone Guys

there ya go! everything that comes to mind :]

[n4talia-chaparro]

LIL AU RAMBLE UH--

since someone (Kai) in my inbox mentioned Tommy from the first CU movie I had a few things to say about that bitch ass character.

I ALWAYS wanted to draw a few background characters from the movie since their designs are well-made compared to the show, well never had a chance to put any of them for my future projects. Since Tommy is mentioned now I wanna ramble and share my ideas-

OK OK SO ABOUT TOMMY-

I think Tommy should be part of the surviving team or sum. He is probably well known for hiding in the locker like a fucking coward he is. I think the idea of him hiding in those lockers or any safe hiding spot fits the AU so well. It reminds me of this one old and nostalgic indie horror game that was released in 2015-2016 where you have to hide from 3 little ugly-ass muppets that are like a rip-off of sesame street or walk through a tight-ass hallway. I think it's called 123 Slaughter Me Street. I think????

It also reminds me of a few indie horror games, especially a new one that came out THIS YEAR. Uh maybe Last Monday by Alex Craig-

UH AND MURDER HOUSE BY PUPPET COMBO-

Enough of the game um but "What does the game have anything to do with the au" WELL GOOD QUESTION even tho you didn't ask but I'll answer it anyway!!!

There are 3 or more categories for each character. I'll only mention 3 because I don't know if I can mention all of them in one post like this but anyway.

There are 3 categories;

Survivors, dead, and the KR org members.

Each character belongs to the category depending on how the story goes (I think?). JUST LIKE ANY OTHER HORROR GAMES OF COURSE-

If Tommy never got seen by the man himself and didn't come out of the locker, he belongs to the survivor category. I just realized that if Tommy has been hiding in there for a long time, even if he was witnessing all those gruesome scenes through his locker door and holding the urge of vomiting, cuz obviously the damn AU itself contains gore like any normal horror games...

(What the fuck did you expect the au to be, family-friendly? If you are one of those cowards who will complain, get the fuck out)

AHEM. Tommy, on the other hand, is the type of person who finds a place to hide like any protagonist of the damn game whenever a monster/serial killer is finding them cuz when it comes to finding a way to head to class without seeing caught is the only thing that makes him scare because Tommy always been scared of Krupp in the movie and ends up hiding but with GP... my man had to run for his life before he goes to the wrong direction BRUUH 💀💀💀

But the dumb question is.

"Which category fits Tommy???"

He may be in the survivor category but at the same time, there's a chance he will fall in the KR.org category. Just hear me out.

There could be two options if Tommy was alive. He would choose being fucking killed and accept his faith OOORRRR be alive except he is forced to be part of the KR org where Harold and the other 4 members are.

We don't know if Tommy will trust Harold (well Harold was dragged and forced so pls keep that in mind he is forced to betray any victims) or any student because he is unaware of the KR group. All he knows is that he has been hiding inside his damn locker 24/7 and had to hear screaming and guts splattering around.

Which is silly because I don't know. Nobody fucking knows. Tommy is either a survivor or a victim whom GP NEVER had the chance to interact with because Tommy hides so well that GP doesn't even sense it. UNLESS the victim is very lost in the hallway and doesn't know where to hide or find someone for help and then doesn't sense any red flags from Gp. Even if he is a murderer he knows how to trick his victims and I'm sure Tommy will end up falling for it but did it happen in the storyline if GP was with the other MISSING CHILDREN?

I don't know. That mf has been hiding in there what did you expect- so uh I think that's all?

This is pointless ik but I wanna keep rambling and talking LOL

Silly note: which category fits him the most- pls let me know I'm curious and I don't mind any suggestions from y'all ! :ppp

[yes-i-have-thoughts]

My Friend the Alternate

So the CWAAA AU, eh

I heard a song called ‘My Friend the Ghost’ about a month ago and immediately tie it to this AU. I had to either draw something for it or write about it, and since I can’t draw to save my life rn (random art style deterioration my behated) I’m gonna write instead

I’m not as caught up in this AU as I should be, I am ashamed to say. But regardless.

TW for suicidal thoughts and references to source events. Please do not tag as ship, this is purely platonic

We get along like peas in a pod, sounds kinda odd, but when I need a friend

He bounces in and starts playing host-well, look who’s standing here! My friend the ghost.

“Will you just-GET SOMEBODY OUT HERE!! A detective, a SWAT team a-a-the US army, I don’t CARE anymore just HELP ME!!” “We’re going to send you help, sir, just stay calm. Everything will be alright.” Mark wanted to throw the phone against the wall with the operator in it. He pulled on his already-messy bangs, the pain just making him more agitated. “You have been saying that for three days. NOBODY has come to help me. NOBODY.” “I apologize, sir, but we are running low on units-” A knock came at the door. Mark winced as he bit his already-bleeding lip. “Shit. The honeymoon is over. Look-please, I am begging you, just send one person to-” There was an unmistakable click of the person on the other end hanging up the phone. Mark threw his in infuriated despair and watched it clatter against the far wall. A few pieces went flying and landed on a certain safe where he kept a gun paranoia drove him to buy. Of course, the gun was now sitting on top of the safe, one last magazine sitting inside. Mark stumbled his way over to the pistol as if he were being manipulated by a puppeteer. The knocking turned impatient, then into hammering; all ignored by him as he stared at the gun in his hand. No one was going to come get him. The rest of his family didn’t even know what was going on. He suddenly wished against all hope that he had gone with them, that he had taken the trip with them, maybe he could have saved himself. He wouldn’t have been able to stop what happened to Cesar, but he could’ve saved himself. Too late now. The clock struck midnight as he made up his mind. His mother’s grandfather clock sounded slower than usual as it sounded out the hour like a death toll. He reached for the doorknob with shaky hands, gripped it like a lifeline, swallowed his pride and threw the door open. He barely had time to register the massive shadow in front of him before it bowled him over and caused Mark to pull the trigger early, putting a hole in the ceiling. Some giant, shadowy feline creature was soon propping him up with one hand and glaring into the darkness beyond his doorway; it’s muzzle split by a jagged mouth and rows of sharp teeth. Hatred and anger came off this thing like waves, yet the weight on Mark’s shoulder was so familiar it made his heart ache. It was a simple thing he and Cesar would do-put some of their weight into the hand on the others’ shoulder to ground each other. It was cheesy, it was stupid and it worked. The creature spent a moment daring the darkness to do something before the mouth closed and seemed to become erased. The eye that Mark could see widened to look more akin to a friendly cat’s and the creature nudged him with its head, almost like a nuzzle. “Are you okay?” Of course. What did he expect? Three days of being tormented by his friend’s voice, it wasn’t about to stop just because this one decided to pay nice. Though Cesar’s voice coming from it sounded...Different. It wasn’t hollow or teasing, it didn’t sound like it was coming from a record player, it sounded just like Cesar was right next to him. Cesar’s warm, worried voice came from this thing like there was a hidden speaker on it and he was watching from somewhere else. He resisted the urge to look out the window for him. He already knew what was going to be there, it wasn’t going to be Cesar. As if sensing the teen’s confusion, the creature nudged him with its head again. “C’mon, don’t just say nothing. Did I hurt you?” “Did y...Uh, no.” “Good. Did anyone out there hurt you?” “N-N...No.” This was ridiculous. Here he was, having a conversation with what seemed to be an alternate that had his friend’s voice down pat. It even looked like him, if you ignored the obvious void: the fluffy black hair, the worried grey-green eye, the way it was scrunched up earlier as the creature threatened whatever horrors were beyond Mark’s door... Hold on. “Cesar?” “Took you long enough to figure it out.” The alternate nuzzled him again. “Usually you’re more attentive.” “But y-how did y-I thought you were-?” “Long story.” Cesar patted his shoulder and crouched like a predatory cat as something in the darkness snarled. “Now stay back. I’m gonna get you out of here if it’s the last thing I do.”

[paulagnewart]

Sonic the Oz-Hog Act 1/12: Never Forget Your Firsts!

Sonic Super Special issue 3 AU Publication Date: 14th January 1998 Price: $3.95

It's January 1998. The Rural Fires Act had come into effect just in time, for the nation's traditional summer of sports were only superseded by its traditional summer of bushfires. Both east and west coasts had taken a hammering through a combination of record breaking heatwaves and arsonists, leading to at least four preventable deaths. Residents praying for rain got more than they bargained for within days when fires gave way to weeks of floods and cyclones.

Any kids looking to escape the ravaging weather would be disappointed; 1998 was the first summer in nearly 20 years of waking up to a host-less morning show. After one complaint from moral guardians too many, beloved wisecracking puppet Agro was booted from his own program, with Channel Seven instead offering repeats of Gargoyles, The Jetsons and All Dogs Go to Heaven. The lack of Agro meant Channel Ten's rival program Cheez TV had little to worry about, and it showed with their own January lineup of Transformers Generation Two, Spider-Man and The Tick repeats.

Having vowed to never introduce a 10% tax on all goods and services under their watch, John Howard’s conservative Government prepared to backflip on their election promise. A move destined to make teen wallets even lighter when buying CD singles of that month's chart-topping song, Aqua's Doctor Jones. Personally the already high price of CDs was of little concern back then, instead more worried about accidentally sleeping in Saturday mornings and miss another installment of The Dinky-Di's quest to stop Earth's number-one eco enemy Mephisto. Sadly if ratings were any indication, I was the only one waking up early enough to watch anyway.

Names including “Beetleborgs”, “Extreme Dinosaurs”, “Venus DeMilo” and “Pokemon” were unheard of, though would certainly go on to pester parents by year's end. SEGA World Sydney, Australia's largest indoor theme park and last refuge for everyone's favourite rodent, was crawling towards its first anniversary. Two new final volumes of Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog, a series which hadn't aired on TV in years by that point, trundled onto VHS with all the invigoration of an afterthought. In short the high-speed hedgehog's classic heyday was coming to an end.

Yet things weren't all doom and gloom. For fans still yearning that new hedgey action, Archie Sonic continued to thrive among the mass of imported titles jostling for pole position on newsagent shelves. Quantities were plentiful and demand remained strong, even through a whole dollar price increase by year's end.

As the title boasts, life is built on firsts. Those unforgettable turning points destined to remain etched within our minds. Be them first kiss, first job, first concert or even first Star Wars action figure. When we grow old, the urge swells to reflect or even revisit those small, beautiful starting points. It's a feeling Archie certainly shared, with their appropriately first comic to reach Aussie shores that year: Sonic Firsts.

For a publisher who spent decades following the Mad Magazine bread-and-butter approach of constantly publishing past material, it’s surprising Archie took so long adding their best-selling title to the reprint rotisserie. Within its fancy 48 pages, Sonic Firsts offered a quartet of classic adventures invaluable to new readers while attempting to smooth out what eventually became continuity snares. Michael Gallagher and Scott Shaw! kicked things off with the eponymous Don't Cry For Me, Mobius, a fine starting point for the comic if ever there was one. Rabbot Deployment saw Shaw! superseded by Dave Manak and the introduction of Bunnie, who was granted something of a backstory when such things for anyone outside Sonic and Sally was rare. The pair returned for their flatulence flaunting The Lizard of Odd, an otherwise standard tale if not for Super Sonic's debut. Mike Kanterovich and Ken Penders brought it home with This Island Hedgehog, a straightforward misadventure which nobody could've guessed at the time just how important (or bloated, take your pick) a certain Rad Red's life story would become.

For some newsagents the switch to Sonic Super Special's permanently numbered quarterly format proved difficult to grasp. This issue was often solicited by retailers as Brave New World, raising more than a few eyebrows on parents who already forked out for that edition. It was unusual but ultimately humourous in hindsight when years later, the first eight issues of Sonic Universe were billed as Sonic X. But more on that another time.

The Special was a success for Archie. It showed there was a market for reprints among Sonic fans, even if it took several more years to truly milk its potential. Fans could fork out the standard price for their 48 page floppy, or if feeling a little more extravagant, shell out double the price for a comic book shop exclusive 'perfect-bound' edition. Touted by Archie as "Sonic's first ever Trade Paperback", the simultaneously released special boasted heavier cover stock and a minimally-formatted introduction by former editor/writer Paul Castiglia. If that wasn't enough, both versions were later reissued (either 1:1 perfect reprints or just unmoving warehouse stock, you be the judge.) to comic shops among a slew of 'back catalogue' miniseries and specials around late 2004. Marvellous.

In all, Sonic Firsts was a nifty if unintended celebration just in time and right on the mark for Archie Sonic’s 5th anniversary. The future was bright and the only way was up. Juuuuuust pay no heed to one of the Special's writers banging on about reprint royalties when this issue was announced. They certainly did. :P

Next Time: Take a flier to the comic's future as everyone's favourite embattled Echidna faces a deeply personal dilemma. A true clash for the ages which left both fans and editor reeling from its outcome. Will things ever be the same again? Will this description quit with the cheesy song references? Unlikely.

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