#they've left me no choice seriously

[roosterr]

white flag ✹ ch 2

note: thank you all again for the support on this series im seriously so grateful <3 not sure how to feel abt this part but pls enjoy anyway <3

pairing: ghost x gn!reader

wc: 3.0k

no use of y/n readers callsign is 'stingray'

summary: the gang goes out to the pub, and against your better judgement you decide to tag along. you end up having far too much to drink and ghost has no choice but to look after you.

warnings: ghost is less mean (but it's still ghost), the usual angst, hurt/comfort, arguing, some ambiguous drunken confessions, mentions of throwing up but i kinda skipped over it

ao3

【prev】 || 【next】

the relentless buzzing of your phone next to your head wakes you from your slumber. you groan, squinting at the screen to see soap's name on the caller id. you answer and lift the phone up to your ear, rubbing your eyes with the other hand as you pull yourself up to sit.

"hey! where are you?" soap's voice is almost deafening in your ear as soon as you pick up, you have to hold the phone away from you to save your hearing. "y'are still comin', right?" the faint noise of a crowd can be heard in the background, reminding you of what soap's question means.

you check the clock on your phone and wince at the time; it was almost nine, and you were supposed to meet them at the pub at eight.

"ugh," you clear your throat, your voice croaking from having just woken up, "yeah– yeah, i'm coming. just gimme, like, fifteen minutes."

"awright, l.t. said you was still asleep," soap chuckles, clearly amused by your sleep-addled state. you sit up and throw the blankets off your legs, swinging them over the side of the thin mattress and beginning the search for some clean clothes.

you hadn't gotten out of bed all day, opting to stay in your comfy pyjamas and barely leaving the living room except to briefly eat and use the bathroom. after the the disaster that was yesterday, you felt you deserved to have a lazy day for once.

"oh, so he already left without me? why am i not surprised?" you grumble, balancing your phone between your cheek and your shoulder as you pull on some trousers.

"he said he didn't wanna wake you!" soap is half laughing as he replies. you have to hold back your scoff as you put him on speaker and drop the phone onto the coffee table as you quickly put your shirt on.

"yeah, okay." your voice is dripping with sarcasm, and you can't help but roll your eyes, even though he can't see it, "i'll be there, hanging up now, buh-bye."

you just about hear his muffled 'bye!' before you press the red button and shove your phone into your pocket. 

you really didn't feel like being social right now, but maybe being around your friends and letting go is what you need right now. you could just ignore ghost – it's not like it'd be hard, you were fully expecting him to completely avoid you all night. knowing him, he'd probably make you walk home by yourself again.

the walk to the pub is uneventful, thankfully dry, and it takes you twenty minutes instead of fifteen. you feel a little bad for making them wait, but they've been there over an hour already, an extra five wouldn't hurt.

the noise of the crowd hits you as soon as you walk into the old building, and you hope it isn't noticeable the way you frown at the sight of how packed it was. you were feeling even less like socialising now that you were actually here, but it was too late to turn back now. your eyes scan the room, searching for your teammates in the sea of people. you spot a familiar mohawk fairly quickly, and begin pushing your way through the crowd to the booth he and gaz are occupying.

you glance towards the bar and price and ghost both there, too locked in conversation to notice your arrival. you'd have to find price later to say hello.

"sting, you made it!" soap's cheery voice brings you back to the present. he pats your shoulder as you slump into the seat next to him, and gaz slides your usual order across the table to you.

"ordered for you a minute ago." gaz smiles, leaning forward on his elbows, "figured you could use it."

"you're legend, gaz, honestly." you chuckle in response, taking a drawn out sip and relaxing in your seat. as much as you would rather still be in bed right now, you couldn't deny you needed it.

"you okay? you look a bit worse for wear." gaz asks, his gaze turning serious as he takes in your exhaustion.

did you? you hadn't actually looked at your reflection before you left the house, you simply hoped that you didn't look too dishevelled and didn't think twice about it. you suppose the bags under your eyes must be quite heavy after the nosedive your life seems to have taken lately.

"charming, thanks for that." you mutter, teasingly raising your brows at him as you take another sip of your drink.

"sorry, sorry," he and soap both laugh, before he regards you with a more concerned look, "but seriously, you doin' alright?"

"i'm fine, just tired, you know how it is." you dismiss his question with a wave of your hand, hoping he'll drop the subject and you can get started on forgetting about the events of this week. "sorry for being late, by the way."

"make it up to us with another round?" soap wiggles an eyebrow at you, tilting his empty glass at you and nudging your arm. 

"since you asked so nicely," you say with a lighthearted roll of your eyes. they both give you a triumphant 'thanks!' as you slide out of the booth and begin making your way through the crowds of people to the bar.

as you approach, you see ghost standing by himself at the bar, a black surgical mask cover the lower half of his face, and before you can stop yourself your legs are already leading you to the empty spot next to him. as usual he doesn't acknowledge you, but you can't find it in yourself to care through the buzz of the alcohol in your system.

you flag down the bartender and order the drinks for the three of you while adamantly trying to ignore the large presence next to you; you'd barely started on your first drink, but you were going to need more than that to get through this, especially if you and ghost were going to be dancing around each other all night.

the next couple of hours are filled with you downing drink after drink, steadily becoming less and less intelligible as the night progresses. at some point gaz excused himself to go chat with price at the bar, leaving just you and soap at the table. though you couldn't see ghost when you looked over, you had no doubt he was lurking in some shadowy corner somewhere, just watching.

"he's just so…" you wave your hands around, willing johnny to somehow understand your point as the words escape you, "...y'know?"

"do i know?" he laughs, obviously very amused by your drunken state.

"mean! he's rude and uncooperative, and it pisses me off." you groan, pressing your fingers into your temples. venting to someone about ghost was somewhat cathartic for you, even if that someone was his closest friend.

"aye, that's not how you really feel though, is it?" soap raises his brow, that insufferably teasing smirk on his lips as he gives you a light nudge.

"wha–" you gawk, freezing in the motion of downing your drink – you'd lost count of how many you'd had at this point. you narrow your eyes and glare at him, "garrick… he grassed didn't he?"

"you think i needed him to tell me?" soap laughs again, and you feel your cheeks heat up at the thought that you were really that obvious. "but seriously, you should talk to him."

"i should, right? i mean… we live together, it's not unreasonable to ask him to be civil."

"exactly!" he exclaims, making encouraging gestures at you with his hands. "maybe you two can get a bit more than civil," he grins mischievously and wiggles his eyebrows at you, earning an embarrassed groan from you.

"oh, shut up soap." you hiss, gulping down the rest of your drink in one go. "i'm not drunk enough for this…"

after that conversation, your concept of time truly left the building, along with any reservations you had about moderation. eventually you do find time to say hi to price, though you think he was probably laughing at how out of your mind you were rather than the hilarious joke you told him.

you're not sure what time it is when gaz, soap, and the captain track you down to say goodnight, leaving the pub with much more coherency than you when ghost drags you out with him.

the freezing temperature hits you as soon as you step over the threshold, but thankfully there's more than enough alcohol in you to keep you warm.

you started the night fully intending to give ghost the cold shoulder, but that was hours and however many drinks ago; now you were long past the fun part of being wasted and the depressive nature of it all was hitting you hard.

"i wish you– you didn't hate me…" you mutter, dragging your feet as you follow behind ghost. he's not walking as quickly as he did yesterday, but even in your inebriated state you can tell he's making sure to stay ahead of you.

"i don't." he replies dismissively, evoking an exasperated, albeit rather dramatic sigh from you. of course he was going to argue about it, owning up and apologising would be far too mature.

"y–" you hiccup, "yeah you do," frustration lacing your voice. you slow your pace until you completely stop walking, staring at the back of his head with narrowed eyes.

"i don't hate you, sting." he sighs, half turning his body to look at you. "come on, keep walkin'." he gestures with his head.

"ugh…" you groan, but comply and stumble forward catch up to him again "then why're you such a fuckin' prick all the time?" you glare at the side of his masked face now that you're walking next to him.

he says nothing, doesn't even look at you. if you didn't know any better, you would doubt he even heard your question.

"i don't hate you, y'know…" you mumble,  crossing your arms over your chest. "even though you're so– so horrible to me all the time." the urge to cry overwhelms you, your eyes falling to your boots as you shuffle along.

"i'm n–"

"you are!" you interrupt, throwing your arms out to the side and stopping in your tracks again. "every day you say shit to me, i don't– i don't get it! i don't know what to do…" you sniffle, dragging a hand over your face and taking a wobbly step backwards, away from ghost. "why can't you just be nice? like everyone else?"

the night air is cold, and so tense you can almost feel it. ghost's hands curl into tight fists by his sides as he stares you down. 

"i'm your lieutenant, sting, not your mate." he states it like a common fact as he reaches an arm out to you, stepping towards you. "you're drunk, come here."

you don't let him get close, however, and take another few steps backwards. "but you're friends with soap, and gaz, and even the captain!" your eyes well up with tears, and despite your best efforts to stop them, you feel the hot sting of them rolling down your cheeks. "what did i do wrong? why can't you like me too?"

again, he does nothing but stare at you. he blinks once, then twice, in what you might call shock – if you could see his face through the way the world spins around you.

"i like you!" you cry. "i always have, and you– you don't have to like me back, but please," you close your eyes in an attempt to alleviate your sudden dizziness, "just stop being such a dickhead to me! you make my life so difficult, and– and miserable!"

"sting…" ghost mutters, watching as you crouch down on the pavement with your head in your hands. he steps closer again, reaching a hand out to awkwardly pat your shoulder. "is that why you got yourself hammered tonight?"

"yes!" you whine through your tears, your head still swimming and causing you to sway slightly. "like you care!"

"listen," he begins, but you quickly cut him off by lurching forward onto your hands and knees on the harsh pavement.

"i'm gonna throw up–"

✹✹✹

"i'm sorry," you blubber, feeling rather pathetic where you're slumped next to the toilet, "please don't kick me out," tears still fall into your lap, but you gave up wiping them away a while ago.

"what?" ghost mutters from next to you. his calloused hands were keeping you upright from where he's crouched beside you on the bathroom tile. "why the fuck would i kick you out?"

"be– because i'm annoying, a– and you hate me…"

he sighs, "do you really think that lowly of me? how many times have i gotta say it before it gets through your thick skull?" he gently raps his knuckles against your forehead, "i. don't. hate you."

when you only sniffle in response, he sighs again before shifting to sit with his back against the bath next to you.

"well you could've fooled me…" you mutter, letting yourself lean against his side when the effort of keeping yourself up gets too much. you feel him flinch slightly and tense underneath you, but he doesn't move.

"i'm not good with…" he pinches the bridge of his nose, his head tilted downwards and his eyes squeezed shut. "i'm not kickin' you out, alright? no matter how much you piss me off." he pauses, and all you can do is watch him with your mouth slightly agape; this is the most he's ever said to you in one go since you met all those months ago. "and i shouldn't have run off last night. i just… i didn't realise you actually wanted to be friends… with me."

"bu…" your voice trails off, train of thought completely abandoned when he looks over and meets your gaze with his rich brown eyes.

"you're… you– i, er…" his eyes dart away from yours, finding a spot on the wall behind you to stare intently at. a sudden wave of exhaustion floods your senses, dropping your head onto his shoulder and allowing your eyes to fall closed, interrupting whatever thought he was trying to articulate. "fuckin' hell, alright… you're drunk, let's just get you to bed, eh?" his voice is just about audible as he manoeuvres your arm over his shoulders and lifts you to stand with practically no input from you.

he all but drags you out of the bathroom, and if you had any shred of coherency left within you you'd be mortified that he had to take care of you like this, but that's something for you to deal with in the morning.

you're pulled into the the living room where ghost drops you rather unceremoniously onto the sofa-bed, tugging the blankets from underneath you and settling them on top of your already half asleep form.

"night ghosty…" your sigh is muffled with your face buried into the pillow, but he pauses in the doorway when he hears it.

"goodnight, sting." he mumbles, before quietly shutting the door and letting you drift to sleep.

you wake up the next morning – or rather afternoon, since it was already one o'clock – with an absolutely splitting headache. it was expected, obviously, but it didn't stop you whining in pain as you sat up and clutched your head. how much did you end up drinking last night?

last night. right. it was all coming back to you now. you'd cried at ghost again, for the second night running, and even though he said he wasn't kicking you out, you would seriously prefer living on the streets to facing him right now.

you reluctantly emerge from the living room and squint at the bright daylight, groaning pitifully when your head pulses. maybe you should save yourself the trouble and just go back to sleep.

"so, you survived the night." ghost's voice calls from the kitchen, sounding incredibly unimpressed. you cringe at his words, naively hoping that he'd pretend the night before didn't happen like you so desperately wanted to.

"did i?" you grumble, walking through the doorway to find him sitting at the kitchen table, clad in his usual balaclava. you lean against the counter and massage your temples, "feel like i've been shot…"

"maybe you'll keep your head on straight next time. i don't want a repeat of that."

you purse your lips. "right…" you mutter, no energy left in you to come up with a retort.

"i had to drag you home, cryin' your eyes out." he gets up as he speaks, grabbing his cup and skirting around you to place it in the sink. he keeps his distance, but you see him watching you from the corner of your eye. "anyone would'a thought i was kidnappin' you."

"oh god…" you bury your face in your hands, your face heating up with the humiliation of the memory, "i'm sorry,"

"s'alright." he mumbles, still opting to gaze out of the window rather than meet your eyes. you blink in surprise at his short dismissal, but before you can formulate a response, he speaks again. "have a shower, sting. you stink."

you open your mouth to argue, but quickly forget about that idea. he was right, of course. without another word, you scurry out of the kitchen and lock yourself in the bathroom. you drag your hand over your face, willing the floor to just swallow you whole already.

you might as well have just died in your sleep, because you can't see ghost letting you live any of this down for as long as you live; though, as you stand there contemplating fleeing the country, you notice that he hadn't been nearly as pissed as you'd expected him to be this morning. you'd anticipated him grilling you about how careless you'd been and how irresponsible it was to drink that much, but the light teasing you'd endured just now felt more like the kind of banter you witnessed between him and soap, or gaz.

you can't help the giddy smile that overtakes you, your killer hangover nearly forgotten in favour of the thought of him finally letting you get close to him.

taglist: @sofasoap , @siilvan , @mockerycrow , @i-love-ghost , @projectdreamwalker , @achelois-is-here , @adamsloverboy , @thatchickwiththecamera , @chickensandwich69 , @batmanunicorns523 , @tiny-kasper , @dezibou , @pampeop , @cumbermovels , @goth-boi-atlas , @berryjuicyy , @guiltgoreglory , @postmodernrevolutionist , @ghostlythots , @untoldshortsofthefandoms , @isseisslvt , @prodyng , @neteyamsb1tch , @delilah-grimes , @sunflowerqueen1416 , @luvssemma , @ghostslittlegf , @imonmykneessir , @dimitriene , @kenz-ee , @eistro-phobia , @rzmarona , @alanalanalanalanalanna , @dommmymommy , @carolelacroix , @1234ilikecowsthanyoumore , @cathnoneofyourbusiness , @madsothree , @geisterfvhrer , @lazyninjaphilosopher , @aliilium , @koi-feish , @chaoticgoblindev

if your name is crossed out, i can't tag you for whatever reason, sorry!

[ms-demeanor]

since twitter has become actively hostile to its users, so they came to tumblr, and reddit has become actively hostile to its users, so they came to tumblr, what do we do now that tumblr is becoming (more) actively hostile to its users? i’ve been here for over a decade so i know tumblr users are the type to cling on despite everything and revel in undoing every change, but i’m so tired of the way this website breaks the way it fundamentally works in order to appeal to new users. the twitterfication of the site seems so much worse than when people jumped ship after the porn ban, and even then, only small communities (and twitter) cropped up as solutions. you might not be the person to ask for a definitive answer, but i figured a tech blog might be interested in considering - what do we do when there’s nowhere left to go?

Okay so, I mean this very seriously: how has tumblr meaningfully become like twitter?

I don't personally find the sidebar view obnoxious and it seems to me like just another layout change that's pretty typical to tumblr. New users are getting signed up with a bit more emphasis on algorithmic feeds, but that is still very easy to change (MUCH easier than on any other social platform) and the algorithm has been there for everyone for quite a while, we just typically don't notice it because a lot of long-term tumblr users don't go into the "for you" feed.

I don't think that tumblr *has* fundamentally broken the way that it works to appeal to new users. My dash now is still very much like my dash in 2019, and still very much like my dash in 2018 (though much less pornographic). Reblogs are still reblogs, likes are still likes. Replies, for all that they seem like they've been around forever, are new and good and I think they work well. I'm irritated that the notes menu doesn't have a "view all" option but I think that's a worthwhile tradeoff for an easy way to see tags.

I *do not* understand why tumblr has broken linking back to previous reblogs but I don't think that's out of an effort to act like twitter; it is a bizarre choice that I dislike and don't understand but I also don't think that it has fundamentally changed the way the site works and i mean you've been around long enough that I'm sure you've had the same experience I have of going into the notes of a post and randomly clicking until you found a version that you wanted to reblog without a bunch of bullshit at the bottom. Tumblr has always kind of sucked, this change DOES suck but it doesn't suck in a way that is particularly novel or insurmountable. (For instance, I think this change sucks MUCH LESS than when they made posts with links invisible to the search, that is something that is genuinely bad that has been long lasting but doesn't get brought up much in lists of the ways that tumblr has gone wrong)

Tumblr *is* changing, but I think it is changing more incrementally and less terribly than other parts of the internet. I also hate the floating clown, the login walls, the dash-only view for blogs (you can't archive it and I HATE that), and - to an extent - the new lightbox on mobile. And I dislike that less than I thought I would but I don't think it's a fundamental change that necessarily impacts my interactions with the site - it *adds* a feature that I don't care for but it doesn't *break* anything that I require to have a good time on tumblr - in that way I think of it very much like Live. People hate Live so much and I find that perplexing because it is so easy to simply ignore it.

But that's not really your question; that's just some stuff I want people to think about because as much as tumblr has changed in the last two years it is nowhere near as fucked up as the recent things that twitter and reddit have pulled.

So, as to your question: where do we go?

Well. Not to be an extremely old person on the internet, but damned if I don't miss email lists. And forums. God I miss forums. Neither of those things has all the bonuses of platforms like twitter or reddit or tumblr or facebook, but they were great ways to hang out with people you liked on the internet.

The internet is changing. I can feel it, you can feel it, I'm pretty sure we're all like cattle in a field lifting our noses and hearing some distant rumbling and becoming slowly aware that it's almost time to run. There's a coming stampede and it isn't here yet but you know it's on its way. You're not imagining that, that's how things feel right now and there are a shitload of things contributing to it.

Things like SESTA/FOSTA and KOSA (which has not passed yet but is a big red flag waving on the horizon) have been eroding away the way that users on various platforms can function. Some platforms have consolidated in ways that harm users; some new platforms have popped up and shaken up the map of the internet; some platforms are being torn apart brick by brick by owners who don't care about the users. It kind of seems like people are actually looking up and realizing that advertising is A) bad and B) doesn't actually work and I think we're running straight toward another advertising-based crash like we saw in 2017. It feels like all the desperate things that tumblr is doing is just rearranging deck chairs on the titanic as the internet as a whole starts to sink into the ocean.

Honestly, I don't think it's that bad. I think it *feels* bad, but I think we're looking at a slow whimpering death of the platforms, not a bang. I think tumblr is going to hang on at least for a few years and I think it's going to end up like livejournal and myspace, which both still exist as websites that are recognizable as updated versions of the sites they were in 2004-2010. The thing that I think would really, honestly hurt tumblr in a fundamental way is if it moved to a more algorithmic and data-sales based model of advertising, and I think that's still pretty distant. I think Automattic is aware that killing the chronological feed would be the one unforgivable sin that would cause a mass exodus and a final crash, and I think when we see that, when we can't just scroll through the feed and see what our friends did that day in order of when they did it, that's when the party is over here.

But that's still not answering your question.

So, where do we go? What do we do? Well, for now, I'd say it's a good time to get contact info for your friends across various platforms. Get email addresses, get phone numbers.

Now is also the time for you to set up a personal website. NeoCities is currently the best place to do this, though it takes a lot more effort than just starting a blog on tumblr. I think that various oldschool blogging sites like Wordpress and Blogger/Blogspot/whatever the hell the google one is are a better place to have your emergency backup than a more platform-y platform if you aren't up to doing something with NeoCities.

If you've got the ability to do so and a group of people who are interested in the same core subject, set up a forum. There's a decent amount of off-the-shelf forum software out there and a text-and-small-images forum isn't prohibitively expensive, but it's never going to be huge and you're never going to have the kind of spread and virality and random connections that you would on a platform with millions or billions of users.

If you can't set up a forum, setting up or joining a discord server for your friends is a decent enough option at the moment, and may be a very good option for people who are looking to keep their interactions more private.

But yeah i think right now is a great time for people to start setting up their own personal websites, to start visiting actual webpages again, to start bookmarking their friends' websites, and to start collecting contact info that isn't tied to platforms.

[raynesbunny]

WHAT MAKES THEM EMBARRASSED?

Mashle headcanon!

💌: GN!reader, fluff

⚠️: Ooc and maybe cringe, slight suggestive on Orter's part?

Requested by: @rainee-da

Characters: Orter Madl, Rayne Ames, Abyss Razor

Others: Guess who's back! I was thinking of finishing all the short stories before going back, though— but I don't want to keep you guys waiting! I'll feel very bad if I do so｡:ﾟ(;´∩`;)ﾟ:｡ Angst Rayne A. x reader coming soon! Still fixing a lot of errors<33 Enjoy reading, pookies!(≧▽≦) (this is my first time writing a headcanon so please do leave a message if there are errors!)

—

Orter Màdl

♡ It's almost impossible to make this man feel embarrassed; he hardly shows any expressions regardless of what others do—always wearing a straight and serious face! Many have attempted to make him laugh and smile, but their efforts have always been in vain, no matter how much they've tried. It almost seemed like expressing emotions is against the rules to him!

♡ And then there's you, his dearest, his partner, his beloved, his darling, his sweetheart, his sunshine, his angel, his lover, the one who melted his icy heart and kept it warm—the only one capable of evoking emotions within him that he never thought he would experience someday. (although, this rule-obsessed man cannot bring himself to admit it openly!)

♡ If there's one thing that can make Orter feel embarrassed, it would be your unexpected, sneaky and quick yet soft kisses and pecks!

♡ Whenever you peck his cheek, his brain momentarily stops functioning, and his heart flutters. His body freezes (and a faint blush is visible on his cheeks) at the touch of your soft lips against his skin.

♡ Your innocent and delicate feathered kisses drives him wild, but he would never dare to utter a word about his longing for more of those adorable little kisses!

Extra:

♡ Today was another busy day for the young man, Orter Màdl. Well— busier than usual that he had forgotten to bring his lunch with him.

And here you are, now in his office to deliver the homemade lunch to your hard-working lover, along with an encouraging letter you poured your heart into creating!

Upon noticing your presence, Orter averted his gaze from his work and looked up at your approaching figure with a small bag in your hand.

"What brings you here?" he asked.

"You forgot your lunch at home, and I won't allow my man to work with an empty stomach, so I decided to bring it here to you," you replied.

Orter remained silent, choosing to turn his focus back to his paperwork. However, his shoulders seemed more relaxed now, and his facial expression had softened. That sight alone was enough for you to know that he was grateful, and he doesn't need to express it through words or pay you back.

(The pile of paperwork on his desk bothered you. You seriously wanted to help, but this stubborn boyfriend of yours would not let you, and you were left with no choice.)

(Last time, you tried helping him, but it only ended up with you wrapped in his sand magic.)

"Here's your lunch, by the way. Don't forget to eat it at lunchtime," you said, placing the small bag with his lunchbox inside on his desk. When you heard no answer, you glanced at him, seeing that he was focused on his work.

This seemed to be the perfect time to take the chance and sneak a kiss.

As your lips were about to reach his cheek, Orter turned around (on purpose), causing your lips to meet his instead.

You were about to pull away immediately, only for the desert cane to grab your wrists, pin you down on his desk and deepen the kiss, preventing you from moving and keeping the kiss from breaking. Leaving you breathless and blushing, a flustered mess.

—

Rayne Ames

♡ Just like the rule-obsessed divine visionary, he's often cold and serious. But believe me when I say that he isn't cruel! He's just having a hard time expressing that he actually cares for the people, especially those whom he's fond of, interested in, and of course- you.

♡ Speaking of you, you are his everything. He'd do anything to keep you safe, make you feel loved, respected, and comforted! Even with his busy schedule, he'll find a way to prioritize you, no matter what. (You matter the most in his life, aside from his rabbits and Finn, of course he'll prioritize those who are important to him.) Though, there are times that he must attend to his duties first, but he'll be sure to make it up to you! It just takes some time, and hopefully you'll understand.

♡ And when I say you're his everything, I mean; you're his joy, his comfort, his warmth, his flower, his world, his dream, his reason to smile, his strength, his motivation, his star, his light—

♡ If there is something that makes this man embarrassed, it's the way you know or understand what he wants (sometimes mentioning it) and letting him know that you have given him your consent!

♡ He will hesitate at first, but will give in as soon as he knows that you are certain. Like those days where he was staring down at your lips with a troubled expression, and this will never go unnoticed by you.

♡ You held yourself back from laughing, it was truly an adorable and amusing sight!

♡ You would press your forehead against his, your lips parting to mutter the words that you have given him your consent.

♡ Rayne's face would turn bright red, his gaze snapping to you with a look of embarrassment. He cannot believe he got caught again!

♡ You chuckled at the expression on his face, but your laughter died down when Rayne immediately brought his lips to meet yours in a gentle yet firm kiss, the contact sending a warm shiver down your spine.

Extra:

♡ You were playing with Rayne's pet rabbits in your shared room, wearing the comfortable rabbit hoodie that matched with your boyfriend but in your favorite color.

"There! All done!" You chirped and stroked Usao's fluffy fur, staring at all the rabbits decorated with ribbons in awe.

"[Name.]"

At the sound of his voice calling your name, you turned around to face him. Once you did, you're met with himself close to you, the sudden closeness making your eyes widen in surprise and confusion. "Is something the matter?"

(It was hard reading him this time, not even a single clue was visible! Is he doing this on purpose?)

Said boyfriend shook his head before gently taking your hand in his, caressing it tenderly.

He closed his eyes and brought your hand up to his lips for him to place a soft and long kiss.

The kiss lasted for a while and it took you some time to process what just happened. When you did, you found yourself stunned and flustered.

—

Abyss Razor

♡ Believe when I say THAT THIS MAN GETS ALL FLUSTERED WITH EVERYTHING YOU DO. (You were just too much for his heart to handle, he might explode in embarrassment.)

♡ Even the simplest, smallest things you do, like getting close to him, holding his hand, or even a gentle poke on the cheek, headpats, or your compliments, cause him to freeze in embarrassment or leave him trembling and a stuttering mess. (Even your smile and voice!)

♡ The last time this happened was when you were combing his hair and you stopped when you caught a whiff of the scent of his hair.

You drew closer to him, hoping to smell that pleasant fragrance again.

"Say, Abyss, what shampoo do you use?"

♡ He responded with silence, you were just too close to him! Close enough that his brain stopped functioning!

♡ Abyss.exe has stopped working.

♡ You are welcome to shower this lover of yours with affection, but please have mercy! He has zero experience when it comes to this! (Your affections for him might be the cause of his death /j)

♡ He is so adorable, please don't ever hurt him. Cherish him with all your heart, for goodness' sake! He deserves all the love and care.<33

Extra:

Your fingers brushed the silky strands of your lover's hair, tucking it behind his ear before clipping it with a ribbon. (I live for the coquettish display<33)

Once you were done, you gasped at the sight of your lover with his hair neatly down and a ribbon clipped in place.

"My goodness! You look beautiful, my love, as always!"

"Even with my cursed evil eye?"

"Nonsense! I find your evil eye unique and beautiful! Even with or without that, you will always be a beauty in my eyes, both on the outside and the inside!"

Just as he was about to respond, you gently placed your finger on his lips and embraced him, burying your face in his stomach.

"Hush! Don't even think of saying those words. Your cursed evil eye has nothing to do with who you are! You have done nothing wrong! If no one else will accept the whole of you aside from Abel, then I WILL. I do not care what that evil eye of yours will do to me, I am willing to embrace everything in you. I will always love you, even with all your flaws. Nothing and no one can change my mind and my heart—"

You stopped yourself from rambling when you felt a sudden drop of liquid fall on top of your head.

"Abyss?"

You sat up to check on him, only for panic to rush through you as your eyes met his face that is soaked with tears.

"Did I say something wrong? Please, don't cry and tell me what's wrong! It pains me to see you in tears!" (You might cry too /j)

Receiving no response from him, you were left with no choice but to embrace him in a hug, hoping that it could provide him solace.

Abyss wrapped his arms around you in return, his tears soaking the fabric on your shoulder. (Which you did not mind at all.)

He could never be more grateful than being accepted despite the flaws he bore, especially his very own evil eye.

—

I'll add a few more characters for this headcanon after writing the second angst I'm planning to write! I hope you enjoyed reading my first headcanon! Have a great, wonderful day or night, lovelies!💌

[fushiglow]

Gojō Satoru's rude awakening

I'm refusing to let myself seriously entertain the possibility that Gojō can come back after chapter 236. However, that's because I'm trying to protect my future self from disappointment, not because I think it's implausible — and I really want to talk about this image!

A couple of days ago, @runabout-river shared an interesting theory about what might happen next for Gojō. The post itself is well worth a read, but it was the choice of the above image that really set my mind alight. This scene is fresh in our minds after the anime adaptation of Hidden Inventory, and timing is clearly never an accident with Gege Akutami. So, why is it relevant now?

We see Gojō giving himself over to his past, lost in his happy dreams of his youth, only for Megumi — Gojō's first student and a symbol of the future that he envisions — to bring him back to the present by telling Gojō, "You're the one who called us here, please don't go dozing off."

In other words, "You're the one who dragged us into all of this, don't go pretending this isn't reality just because it's nicer in the past."

In my immediate reaction to 236, I said:

Gojō's dying bloody smile shows he's at least happy in his final moments. [...] Although, if Gojō actually is at peace in death, maybe that's the reason Gege will bring him back. He'll *never* let that man be happy, I swear.

It was just a joke, but seeing @runabout-river's post made me realise that Akutami has already set a precedent for 'punishing' Gojō for looking backwards. When he's dreaming about his past, Megumi scolds him and brings him back to the present. When he 'lets his mind wander' to his blue spring in Shibuya, he literally gets locked in a box where time doesn't pass, only to immediately find himself at the bottom of Japan's deepest ocean trench when his students bust him out to fix the problem he created.

As a side note, in both of these moments, the anime adaptation played a melancholy version of Gojō's Limitless theme — the audio representation of Gojō's youth. I'll eat my hat if it doesn't play again when chapter 236 is eventually adapted (I shared some more insights into some of the easter eggs hidden in the season 2 score in my mini review of the Hidden Inventory soundtrack if you wanna read).

If Gojō dies here, looking backwards to his youth, then he's taking the easy way out and that's what I find hardest to swallow about 236. Gojō leaves what is potentially the most difficult conversation he'll ever have — telling Megumi the truth about his father — to Shōko. He leaves his students to deal with the fallout of his failure to cremate Getō's body. He's saddling the people he loves with the responsibilities he leaves behind, and that's not fair.

However, we won't know if that's what's happened for sure until the whole story is told. Gojō doesn't mention his students in this chapter, and lots of people were bewildered that he seems unconcerned about their safety in a world without him. While that could simply be explained by his faith that they've "got it from here", there's a chance that he genuinely didn't think about it and he's about to get a rude awakening as his punishment — hence, "I pray that this isn't just a delusion".

I would *adore* it if Shōko dragged him back to life kicking and screaming, hauling him away from his pleasant fantasy of youth to tell him, 'No, you and Getō don't get to leave me behind to pick up the pieces again'. Because isn't that Shōko as a character? The one who's left to pick up the pieces in their wake? The one to heal the wounds and lay the bodies to rest while everyone forgets she's even there?

It would be the most character development she ever receives, and I'd love to see how Gojō and Shōko's dynamic changes when he's not the 'Strongest' anymore. So, in Shōko's own words:

[cuubism]

Dream makes Hob Prince Consort in the Dreaming, but does not tell Hob because why would he ever communicate anything. It's just ceremonial anyway. Right? Right.

Anyway Hob lives in blissful ignorance for several years. Sure all the Dreaming denizens are super nice to him but that's just how dreams are, right? It's cool. Nothing weird here.

Then Dream goes missing. Hob's freaking the fuck out -- the last time Dream went missing was fucking Not Good after all -- and as if that wasn't bad enough, Lucienne comes up to him and is like, so... Lord Morpheus left you in charge of the Dreaming in his absence.

Hob: this better be a fucking joke

Lucienne: no, you're prince consort so according to the royal scriptures of the Dreaming you're in charge.

Hob: hang on I'm WHAT so I'm WHAT

Hob: was Dream AWARE of this when he made me consort

Lucienne: *derisive look*

Hob: but I'm just a GUY I can't run a dream realm *shakes fist at absent Dream* my beloved asshole you can't just drop this shit on me oh my GOD

Lucienne: well someone's gotta do it. To be honest I'm still tired from last time.

Hob: well. Uh. *shrugs* guess I'm running the Dreaming now?

----

A year later Dream returns. Hob's been looking for him the whole time but it was kind of fucking difficult when he also had to run a whole REALM.

Turns out Dream was fine he just went on like, a jaunt to another galaxy for dream inspiration and forgot about time dilation in space travel. No big deal. Anyway.

Dream gets back and he's like oops hope Hob hasn't struggled too much, that was only supposed to be three days... lol...

So turns out Hob is not very good at being a King in the way Dream is but he IS very good at just bringing major Dad Energy to all the little dreams and nightmares, just being like the Cool University Professor of the entire Dreaming. So Dream gets back and Hob has managed to befriend EVERYONE in the Dreaming. He's hosting "family dinner" at the palace? He's doing Forums where people can bring their complaints? He instituted set work hours to create work life balance?

Dream is like What In The Democracy Is This. What have you done to my realm.

Hob's like We're Vibing! :) Come on we're having a blast!

And drags Dream to a fucking party going on at the palace? There are drinks? They're doing karaoke? Is Dream having a stroke?

It's all so foreign that he almost calls down a tornado and just obliterates the palace. But Hob pulls him close and makes him dance to the music, and leans in and says, "You know it doesn't have to be all fire and brimstone and seriousness all the time. It's okay to show them you love them."

And Dream is like "I DO love them they're my creations."

And Hob is like, "I know but it's also okay for them to SEE it."

Dream looks around at the ridiculous party. True to Hob's words, the dreams and nightmares look more relaxed and happier than they've been in a while-- at least, when Dream's been around. He wonders what else he doesn't get to see. What they're afraid to show him.

He says, "I went to the Andromeda galaxy for new dream inspiration, but perhaps I should have been looking in you, Hob Gadling."

Hob's like "aw that's sweet-- hang on you went to the WHERE???"

Dream just chuckles and doesn't elaborate, and Hob gives up and pulls him close again, holds him and dances them to the beat of the swing music one of the Music Dreams has just put on. Dream says, "I see that while your leadership skills are... unconventional... I made the right choice in leaving you in charge of the Dreaming."

"Yeah, about that, next time you're gonna spontaneously make me Prime Minister of some place can you let me know in ADVANCE??"

"Well, you wanted fun. Where would the fun be in that?"

[littlejuicebox]

An Early Highharvestide Feast

(Soft Dom Astarion x Female Reader)

-----

Setting: 4 years after BG3, "good" ending, Unascended Astarion x F Reader Notes: Took a break from my WrenxAstarion fic to write this Thanksgiving-themed (kind of but not really... lol it just worked for the plot), one shot. This idea was playing in my head, and I had to get it out. Hope you all enjoy and have a happy Thanksgiving! This might end up being a Part 1 of a mini story. I'd like to do the fluff scene with all their friends around and imagine the lives they've lived. I love to see comments about what you liked in the story, it inspires me for other fics. Rating: Mature 18+ / smut Word Count: 2.5K

-----

You’re in the kitchen, flowers strewn about the marble countertop as you arrange the bouquets for tomorrow’s banquet. It’s been four years since you’ve seen everyone at the same time, and finally, finally, the old gang will be back together in one room in less than 24 hours. Your heart practically soared in anticipation... a Highharvestide banquet in your very own home, with your favorite people in the world. You wanted everything to be just perfect.

The planning had taken weeks. Astarion had left the menu to you, of course, apart from the wine and alcohol selection. He had taken that from you quite early on and it had been more than a tenday before he solidified his choices between his frequent business meetings and your political events. He’d focused heavily on guiding you both in politics and expanding your wealth the past few years, while you focused on gardening and improving Baldur's Gate... plus navigating the lack of anonymity in your life.

Admittedly, you’d stumbled clumsily through your change in status, from unknown woman to Lady Ancunin, while Astarion glided into the position like he’d simply left his post for a long vacation. You’d been happy to take the lead in the wilds while a tadpole was lodged in everyone's brains, but you were even happier to hand the reins to him once the city was safe. And you were always proud to tell your friends that he’d navigated the two of you through the changes quite well.

In fact, he'd just purchased a second property outside of Baldur’s Gate with aims to start your very own winery; his pet project that he loved quite dearly. It was beautiful to watch Astarion approach something with such passion and vigor. After becoming the heroes of Baldur’s Gate, it had pained you that he could no longer stand in the sun. Not as much as it so obviously pained him. His mask was carefully crafted, and yet you often saw right through it. You hoped that perhaps one of your friends would bring news of a cure for his condition to the feast.

He had always been adamant that he’d make the same choice over and over again, but guilt still stabbed you like a dagger to the gut when you saw him watch the sun rise from the deepest depths of your manor or caught him studying your tan lines from your many hours spent out in the garden, your own personal pet project, specializing primarily in night blooming plants.

Astarion’s voice pulls you from your reverie as he enters the kitchen with Scratch trailing behind him. His vermillion eyes are focused on a scroll in his hands as he grasps a bone from a jar and tosses it into the dog’s bed. Scratch obediently settles himself into the plush mattress, content to gnaw away at the treat.

“Darling, your dog went after the chickens again. One of the staff had to run him down and then give him a bath. We may want to seriously consider a trainer. Command beast works all well and good when you’re around, but not everyone has that skill set in their repertoire, dear.” His tone carries just the slightest tinge of annoyance; you two have had this conversation before. But you know in his heart of hearts that Astarion loves the blasted dog perhaps more than you do.

You glance at Scratch, currently focused on giving you his best look of feigned innocence. The look reminds you quite a bit of another white-haired miscreant standing in that very same kitchen and you chuckle. Distracted, you feel the miscalculated slip of your hand as you reach for a particularly thorned flower stem. The punishing sting causes you to wince and pull in a sharp intake of breath. Blood blooms in buds of red on your fingers and the scent catches Astarion’s attention immediately.

His eyes are alight as he chides you. “You really must stop bleeding everywhere, my heart. It’s distracting.” He places the scroll down and comes to your side, grasping your hand in his to examine the damage.

“Perhaps if you helped me with these arrangements like I’d asked, I wouldn’t be in this situation, my love.” You respond with a soft huff, but you extend your hand towards the vampire, already quite aware what his next move will be. He bends to lick the red droplets from your skin before he kisses the knuckle of your hand. Astarion will never waste such a precious thing, that much is certain.

“Perhaps if you more frequently used the staff -- that we pay quite well, might I add -- to do things like tend your garden, put all these flowers in vases, and perform any number of menial tasks, then you wouldn’t be in this situation.” The vampire retorts with a raised eyebrow. “All of this is below your station now. It truly pains me to see your beautiful hands doing such things, my dear.”

You smile as you close your eyes and whisper a healing incantation, sealing the superficial wounds with minimal effort. You swivel in your seat and turn to face your husband, eyebrow arched to mirror his own, voice slipping into a coy register. “And what, Lord Ancunin, would you rather see my hands doing?”

You won. You could see it in the darkening of his eyes as he placed his hands on either side of the counter and pressed forward to look at you, red eyes flitting between yours.

Astarion had ebbed and flowed in his sexual appetites, especially in the first few years of your union. He had been plagued by panic attacks and night terrors something awful; they still occurred but not with the same horrid frequency. Your many nights of herbal teas and "flower child" magic, as he so lovingly called it, eased the suffering. You’d been content to ride the waves of desire with him, and it seemed more recently, as the two of you adjusted to domestic life, his appetites had returned with force.

His face hovered just inches in front of yours, eyes alight with a combination of adoration and lust as he pressed a soft kiss to your lips before pulling back and running his eyes greedily down your body, cocking his head as he fantasized about any number of dirty things. “I have several delicious ideas for those hands, darling.”

The flowers were scattered on the ground, along with a broken vase in an instant. The vampire hoisted you up with relative ease before placing you onto the cool, marbled counter. His hands grazed up the side of your silken gown and then delved under the hem to explore your bare skin. He quickly found his way to the junction between your thighs and a pleased, rakish smile crossed his face.

“No underclothes, Lady Ancunin? You truly do desire to test my patience today.” His eyes locked with yours as he knelt in front of you, draping your legs over his shoulders and pushing your dress up to reveal you to him fully.

You would have to enlist the help of the staff tomorrow afternoon. The tradeoff was well worth it, you thought, as your silver-haired husband bowed his head before you to run his tongue against your slit, a little hum escaping him as he tasted your warmth. He ran his tongue up to your clit, his lazy, languid strokes pressing into you. Always such a tease.

“Astarion…” You murmur, bucking your hips toward the vampire as your hands found silver curls of hair and took hold.

A smile snaked its way across his lips as he continued his torment. You were wriggling, desperate for more, which the elf adamantly denied you, his hands gripping into your thighs as he brushed his feather light tongue against you once more. Just enough stimulation to keep your attention, but not enough to provide any relief.

“My love..” Your tone is practically begging for him to give you more.

“Mm, darling. I do believe I need to show you what else your hands could do, don’t I?” He grabs your hand and yanks it towards your sex, where he guides you to play with yourself. Hungry red eyes watch the show as arousal begins to drip from you onto the countertop. He slips two long fingers deep inside your cunt and curls them slightly, pumping the digits in and out, which earns him a delightful moan. Still on his knees, the vampire removes his fingers from inside your walls and licks your juices off his hand before sliding your legs off his shoulders and standing. He makes quick work of ripping your gown over your head, pressing gentle kisses against the newly freed flesh of your chest. You are now completely barren and exposed to your lover, his lustful eyes stoking the fire between your legs.

His own arousal is now clearly straining against his clothes. Astarion quickly undoes the buttons of his collar and lacings of his trousers, freeing his cock before your hungry gaze. You’re still playing with yourself as you watch the man completely undress before you.

“Now darling…” He murmurs in that sensual tone reserved only for you. He guides your unoccupied hand to the twitching length of his cock and wraps it around the shaft, giving a few experimental pumps into your hand. “What else can your beautiful hands do?”

You take the queue and begin moving your hand around his length. Astarion hisses in pleasure, rolling his hips as he fucks your hand. The vision is quite lewd; you're playing with your own pussy as you pump your lover’s cock in time, your respective arousals just inches from one another but not touching. It's enough to cause the heat in your cheeks and your sex to rise and illicit several excited keens from you. He teasingly moves his length closer to your entrance, pulling away just as the head of his member brushes against you. You want to scream every time he pulls away, the bastard lives to tease you to the edge of desire.

Astarion was watching the scene with rapt interest, absolutely transfixed. His breath was quickening as he pressed himself into your hand, watching the head of his penis sheath and unsheathe itself under your ministrations as your pussy prayed to be plunged into, leaking arousal all over the cold countertop. He was always more in control in these situations, able to keep a firm hold on his desire in a way you never could.

“Look at my little treat, making such a mess on these expensive counters.” He murmured in mock disappointment and mock condescension, eyes burning with excitement. “Play with yourself and show me the mess you make when you cum for me, my sweet.”

You moan, desperate to have him fill you. “Astarion, please. Fuck me already. Please.” You’re keening, fingers rubbing against your clit with vigor. Desperate for something to fill the ache inside you, you remove your hand from your lover’s cock and shove two fingers into your wetness. The stimulation is fantastic and rips a moan from your vocal cords as your head tilts back.

Astarion chuckles darkly at the scene before him. It was no secret that he loved the way you inflated his ego when you begged for him, a writhing mess of wanton desire for his eyes only. The do-good, stoic hero of Baldur’s Gate turned into a desperate, needy little minx under his touch. He never tired of it. “Cum for me, darling. And then you will get your reward.”

You aim to do as he says, using one hand to plunge in and out of yourself while the other rubs frantically at your clit. Your legs are spread wide, displaying everything to the vampire as you push yourself towards release. Finally, the bubble bursts and an orgasm crashes around you, sending waves of pleasure throughout your body and into your thobbing sex. The pulsing seems nearly endless, and you feel the ooze of your juices sliding between your legs as you ride the wave of pleasure. When you come to your senses and flutter your lids open, Astarion's eyes are boring into you with such desire that it causes a tremor of excitement to run down your spine.

In one swift move he has you in a new position. Your feet are on the floor, albeit legs a bit shaky, and your ass is turned toward your lover, body bent at the waist. Your face is pressed into the counter, into the stickiness of your own juices. Everything smells of sex.

A delicious groan escapes from the vampire as he presses the head of his cock into your entrance, ready to take you from behind. “Beautiful... now, let’s see if I am able to make you come undone once more.”

Astarion slams into you with vigor, the force of the movement knocking the wind out of you as he groans in appreciation. Your soaking wet sex offers no resistance and you gasp at the pleasure of the rapid intrusion. He repeatedly drags himself back at a tortuous, languid pace just to thrust himself balls-deep once more, snapping his hips into the flesh of your ass, moaning every time he takes you to the hilt.

“Oh gods!” You exclaim as he picks up the pace, pumping into you with increasing speed, his cock curving gratifyingly along your insides. You feel yourself clenching around him as his efforts push you toward another peak.

Astarion growls and grabs your hand, guiding it once again to your clit. You’re climbing up to a second release as he rolls his hips behind you in an unceasing onslaught.

“There you go, little love. Won’t you cum for me again?” He coaxes in a graveled whisper as his lips and tongue trail down your spine, never once ceasing his thrusts. The vampire’s teeth find a beautiful little spot at the meeting point of your shoulder and neck, and he bites down, just enough to draw blood. The sensation pushes you over the edge and you spasm around your lover, your cunt eagerly gripping at his length.

“Oh! Oh... oh, my love.” The vampire groans as your throbbing sex pushes him over the edge, his final pumps turning sloppy as he spills into you. The two of you are a mess of panting chests and tired limbs for a few moments before Astarion straightens himself up and gently pulls you from the counter, dotting kisses along your shoulder where he left the bite.

"That was wonderful." You whisper, turning to face the vampire as you plant a gentle kiss on his lips.

“Mmh.” Astarion agrees in a little hum as he looks down at you with soft and loving eyes, pushing strands of hair away from your face before holding your chin in his hand and planting another kiss on your lips. The slightest of smiles flits across his lips as he runs his hands down to the curve of your waist. You move to begin cleaning up the mess you two made when your lover grabs your hand and begins to tug you away from the kitchen.

"Now, now, darling. Leave that be. I haven't finished showing you what else your hands can do… and we only have a bit longer before our friends show and ruin all the fun. Seems my Highharvestide feast came a day early." He muses, before eagerly leading you to the bedroom you both share. The flowers would have to wait.

——-

Part 2: Happy Highharvestide Day (all fluff)

[cool-fancier]

Cherries of Mystery

Synopsis: Fans were left in a state of speculation as you and Bada subtly hinted to your relationship on Instagram with cryptic cherry-themed posts. You two took joy in the anticipation as fans analysed every aspect, knowing that the cherry symbols meant for your humble and wonderful love for one another.

Even the slightest actions can excite fans in the world of social media and K-pop idols. Keeping your relationship a secret had become somewhat of an art form for you, a famous K-pop idol, and Bada, her equally famous choreographer and secret girlfriend.

You made the choice to have some fun one nice afternoon by subtly hinting at their relationship on Instagram. You uploaded a picture of yourself with a sneaky, amusing grin on your lips and said, "Lips taste like cherry." You and Bada were making a small inside joke, so it was meant to be mysterious.

Bada, who was aware of the situation, couldn't help but chuckle when she read your post. She made the decision to join in and start her own rumour. Bada took a photo of herself with a cherry-flavored lip balm, the brightly coloured container shining in the dim light. With the caption "Trying out some new lip products today! 🍒💄  #CherryKiss #NewFavorites," she posted the photo to Instagram.

Fans started making connections in only a few minutes. Comments began to flood in on both of their posts.

@Y/NLoveNotes:"Did anyone else notice that they both posted something about cherries today? 👀"

@BadaDanceLovers: "I smell a conspiracy here! 🕵️‍♀️"

@DancingLovebirds: "OMG, my shipper heart can't take this. Are they trying to tell us something?"

@BadaxY/NAdmirers:"I'm convinced there's more to this cherry story! spill the tea, queens!"

As fans examined every aspect of the posts in an effort to figure out the secret message, the interest and excitement reached an all-time high. Even if it was vague, the cherry symbolism was enough to spark their imaginations. It was a clever method for you and Bada to tease fans without drawing attention to your relationship.

The cherry-themed mystery held fans attention throughout the day on social media pages. They investigated Bada's and your posts more and more, getting more and more engrossed in the puzzle.

@BadaEnthusiasts:"Okay, hear me out. What if 'lips taste like cherry' means they've been kissing? 👄🍒"

@BadaSecretAdmirers:"I see you with that theory, but what about Bada's lip balm pic? Is she hinting that she tasted cherries too?"

@Y/NMagicFans:"This is like a K-pop Da Vinci Code. I'm invested!"

You and Bada, meantime, found the fan theories and the amount of attention their posts were getting to be very amusing. You had a nice laugh over the situation in a private.

You: "Babe, it seems like they've onto us. The cherry game is strong."

"Haha, we're turning into quite the mystery queens," said Bada.

You: "But seriously, I really like how they're enjoying themselves. And they have no idea how much fun we're having too!"

Bada: "Our secret is safe, and they're none the wiser."

The mystery behind your and Bada's cherry-themed social media posts only grew as the days went by. Fans couldn't resist acting as amateur investigators in an effort to unravel the meaning of these cryptic messages.

@Badaismine:"Okay, guys, new theory! What if they're just messing with us? Maybe there's no hidden meaning at all!"

@Y/Nwife:"But why the sudden cherry obsession? There's gotta be something more."

@Bada_isY/nwife:"I heard they're working on a new project together. Maybe it's related?"

The speculation ranged from the plausible to the utterly fantastical, and you and Bada couldn't help but smile at the frenzy you had unintentionally created.

You say, "Babe, our cherry posts are the talk of the town!"

Bada: "I find it unbelievable that they are still trying to solve it. It's just too much fun."

You: "Should we drop a hint for them? Or do we let them keep guessing?"

Bada: "Let's keep the mystery alive a bit longer. We'll watch to see how inventive they can be."

And so, the cherry-themed mystery continued to swirl in the K-pop fandom. Every aspect of your and Bada's posts relating to cherries was argued, theorised about, and examined by fans. Was it a humorous tease, a sign of their secret love, or just a joke between them?

The cherry saga was not resolved as the weeks passed. The real significance of those cherry posts may never be revealed to the public, but Bada and You understood that they stood for your love, which was sweet and unassuming like the cherries yourself. That was ultimately all that mattered to you both.

[tobiasdrake]

Digimon Adventure 01x45 - Clash of the Ultimate Levels! WarGreymon vs. MetalGarurumon / The Ultimate Clash

Previously on Digimon Adventure: In a fit of insecurity, Yamato stormed off to go talk to manosphere bros who filled his brain with the most toxic rhetoric you could imagine. Meanwhile, Pinocchimon stamped his foot and started a shit-slinging contest because Takeru wouldn't play with him and ended up getting shit on his face.

Now, the Ultimate Clash of Ultimate Levels begins... Ultimately!

Hoping the kids at home forgot where we left off, we open in a very different position for MetalGarurumon. When last we saw them, Yamato was with the kids while MetalGarurumon was quite a ways away, challenging Agumon to fight.

Apparently what he meant by "I won't miss the next shot" was that there wasn't gonna be a next shot, 'cause he was gonna turn and walk over to Yamato's side as soon as the camera was off him.

Takeru: Onii-chan.... Jou: Q-Quit joking around, Yamato! We're nakama, aren't we!? Yamato: Nakama? Jou: That's right, nakama! The nakama of Chosen Children! Yamato: Hmph. Then here's a question. Who was it that chose us? Jou: It was.... Yamato: If you can't answer that, then how can you call us nakama? Jou: (sheepish) Okay, sure, but....

Jou tries so hard to Senpai this away but Yamato, armed with new Debate Bro artillery, DESTROYS SENPAI in the arena of logic.

In seriousness, Yamato does raise a good point here. The nakama in question are a bunch of children forced together, drafted to fight a war by a mysterious someone that to date has not revealed themselves.

Nakama, the tight-knit bond of a group of people pursuing a mutual activity or goal, is their principle bond with one another. They weren't friends before this. Some individual relationships existed between them; mainly the two sets of siblings and the soccer club kids. But their principle relationship is that of being survivors and siblings-in-arms in this conflict that none of them volunteered for.

You can see the subtitles struggling with the hard-to-translate nature of nakama here. "We're Chosen Children so that makes us friends" doesn't really compute as a line of logic; What he's saying is that being Chosen Children is the mutual activity that our nakama is formed around.

Probably should have gone with "team" for nakama's translation here rather than "friends". This dialogue would have been way easier to translate that way. "Team" doesn't apply to all forms of nakama; The martial arts nakama of Dragon Ball are only occasionally a team. But for shonen protag crews, it's often a good choice.

So Yamato here makes a painfully solid argument: If the foundation of their nakama is shaky than what really are they to one another? "We have to get along because we're Chosen Children" explain to me what that means. Jou can't, because their superiors have been withholding information every step along the way. They've been handled like grunts, given intel purely on a need-to-know basis.

The dub can't resist giving Tai the first word in this conversation he's not yet a part of.

Tai: Calm down, Matt! Don't get so bent out of shape! The last thing we need right now is a hothead with attitude! You've got more important things to think about! T.K.: Everyone's upset. Joe: Look, all I know is that this stupid bickering is giving me a gigantic headache! Matt: Chill out. Joe: Matt, have you forgotten that we have been chosen to be the DigiDestined? Matt: Hmph! And would you mind telling me who exactly chose us for this dumb job anyway!? Joe: I... Uh.... Matt: Come on! I want some answers and you can't seem to give 'em to me! Joe: You have a point there....

As with the end of the previous episode, the vibe is totally changed. In the original, the other kids are shocked and stunned that Yamato is turning on them, and were struggling to even form sentences, but in the dub they fully comprehended what was happening and were outraged by it.

We see that here too. Tai's extra line to kick us off is a full-scale browbeating of Matt for his audacity, with Takeru's stunned "Onii-chan...." changed to back up Tai.

The problem of nakama rears its head here too; They don't even try to make "We're the nakama of Chosen Children" work. They leave any possible interpretation of nakama out completely.

But the dub's version also struggles with the original decision to change Chosen Children to DigiDestined. Destiny doesn't necessarily imply an active individual making choices on their behalf; It can, but it can just as easily be something mystical and unknowable.

Matt would sound goofy trying to say "Yeah, and WHO DESTINED US HUH!?!?"

So Joe's forced to say "We were chosen to be DigiDestined" to allow Matt to pivot to Yamato's armor-piercing "Who chose us?" question. But with the change in vibe, he just sounds whiny. It lacks the power of the original, especially when he follows up and yells at Joe about wanting answers to something that... Like. Didn't have anything to do with his beef until this exact moment.

With Jou soundly defeated, it's Taichi's turn to step in.

Taichi: Jou. There's no point trying to resolve this. Yamato is this kind of guy. Yamato: "This kind of guy"...? You don't know anything about me! Taichi: I do know you! You're just throwing a tantrum because things aren't going the way you want them to. Yamato: (sarcastic) Well, aren't you incredible? Even I don't really understand the kind of person I am, but you know me perfectly!

Of course, Taichi's involvement only serves to escalate matters because Taichi isn't really the "talking things down" kind of guy. His brand of bold recklessness isn't well-suited to de-escalating a tense situation.

Sora steps in to try and be the peacemaker as usual.

Sora: That's enough of that, you two. Taichi: You don't have to tell me that! Yamato's the one picking a fight with me!

Taichi reacts defensively to Sora's scolding, childishly throwing down the "He started it!" line. (In his defense, he is a child. They all are.) He's not wrong but he was escalating it, which is why Sora angled that remark at the both of them.

In the dub:

Tai: Don't waste your time, Joe. Matt's just being a big, spoiled brat! Matt: You're the brat! Why don't you go mind your own business!? Tai: The problem with you is pretty easy to figure out! You're upset because you want to be the boss! Matt: Yeah, like I want to be the boss of THIS sorry group. If any of you brainiacs want to take charge, be my guest. I say we should just take care of ourselves! Sora: Stop fighting, you two! We've got to stick together! Tai: Don't look at me! Matt's the one who started it! He's got a bug up his nose!

The bug goes up his butt but I guess they couldn't get that past the censors.

Matt's still off-script, now advocating directly for dissolving the team entirely and having everyone go their separate ways. This is rooted in the individualist rhetoric that Jureimon fed Yamato; It's what the "Okay but are we even really a nakama?" bit was about.

It's not so far off from the opinions he claimed to have when he was talking to Takeru back at the breaking of the fellowship in the PicoDevimon arc, though his actions towards Jou betrayed his professed opinions then. As Yamato said, he doesn't even understand himself.

"Why don't you go mind your own business?" Matt. My dude. I know new episode who dis but this argument is about you wanting to fight Tai. This is, without question, Tai's business. What is this line?

The argument also (sigh) makes this about who gets to be Team Leader again. A topic that has nothing to do with anything Taichi and Yamato have ever locked horns about.

In any case, something about Yamato attacking him is making Taichi feel attacked so he tries to storm off.

Taichi: I don't have to listen to this! (storms off) Agumon: You've grown up, Taichi!

I'm not 100% sure what Agumon means by that but I think he's complimenting Taichi for "being the bigger person" so to speak and walking away from this. Unfortunately, MetalGarurumon isn't going to let Taichi opt out.

MetalGarurumon: That's not happening!

MetalGarurumon leaps over Taichi and Agumon's heads, landing on the opposite side to block their exit.

Taichi: This is going too far, Yamato! Yamato: Fight me! Taichi: I told you no! Don't you understand that!? MetalGarurumon: (angry) YOU'RE THE ONES WHO DON'T UNDERSTAND!!! Taichi: (startled) A-Are you serious!? Agumon: (steps in front of Taichi) Taichi, stay back!

When MetalGarurumon snaps, he doesn't just yell at Taichi; He directs that at omae-tachi, using the plural suffix -tachi to direct that statement at everyone.

In the dub, Agumon doesn't give Tai credit for his maturity because he's stuck on Tai's misused phrase.

Tai: Hmph! I don't have to listen to this! Agumon: Bug up the nose? That's a bad thing? (Tai and Agumon exit) MetalGarurumon: One moment! (MetalGarurumon jumps in front of them) Tai: WAUGH!!! Don't push me too far! Matt: Oh, I'm scaaaaaared. Tai: You had better be scared! I'm getting really mad! MetalGarurumon: Excuuuuuse me, but what are you gonna do about it?

Taichi here reiterates his refusal to fight Yamato, while Tai starts pushing back and threatening to throw down as an intimidation tactic. But you can't intimidate someone who's already made up his mind to fight you. Tai's threatening Matt with a good time.

The dub here inserts the cut shot of Pinocchimon back up on his tree perch that they carved out of the ending of last episode.

Puppetmon: So! Those little twerps are about to self-destruct! I'll just sit back and enjoy the show!

This is their segue for breaking up the conversation and cutting to commercial. When we come back to commercial, we rejoin MetalGarurumon in the shot from the last line he delivered.

MetalGarurumon: STAY RIGHT THERE!!! Tai: Get real, dude! Agumon: (steps in front of Tai) Watch it! Stand back!

From here, MetalGarurumon lunges at Taichi and Agumon. This is enough to finally push Agumon into Warp-Evolving to WarGreymon. Show Me Your Brave Heart does not play over this evolution sequence; There is nothing to get amped up about in this.

WarGreymon deflects MetalGarurumon's pounce.

WarGreymon: Stop it! There's no reason to fight! MetalGarurumon: You may not have one, but I do!

MetalGarurumon tackles WarGreymon, shoving him back. WarGreymon takes to the sky above, with MetalGarurumon following him up. There, in the sky, the fight begins.

WarGreymon opens with a sweeping kick, though the metallic sound his attack makes on impact leaves it ambiguous as to whether he did any damage. MetalGarurumon retaliates by biting him in the elbow, sinking his fangs into WarGreymon's exposed flesh and prompting him to roar in pain.

In the dub:

WarGreymon: There is no need for us to fight. MetalGarurumon: I must.

This time it's the dub's turn to have MetalGarurumon resigned and matter-of-fact while the original is aggressive and pushy. A funny reversal from the start of their conflict last episode.

Yamato watches the fighting above them. Suddenly, Taichi marches up to him.

Yamato: Finally ready to fight me?

Taichi answers Yamato's question with a punch to the face.

Taichi: Do you understand why I hit you? Yamato: Yeah! It's because you want to fight me too. Taichi: YOU STUPID BASTARD!!!

Today in Japanese vulgarities: bakayarou. As I've mentioned before, Japanese language tends to attack people's actions or words rather than the person themselves. Even using a second-person pronoun can be considered rude in a variety of contexts.

Which brings us to bakayarou. Baka, of course, is the classic "stupid" insult seen all over anime. Adding the yarou modifier to a word is a vulgar way of saying, in a language that looks down on directly targeting words at individuals, "YOU are the thing I am describing." Often times, it gets translated as "bastard".

Like all language, there's a lot of flexibility in how it's used. But there is little ambiguity in screaming bakayarou at someone in the middle of a fistfight.

Taichi punctuates his outburst with a right hook. Yamato recoils from the hit.

Yamato: Sorry for being such an idiot, then!

Yamato punches Taichi, sending him stumbling back towards a tree. He follows up with a left punch, hitting Taichi dead in the face. Taichi recovers quickly, darting to the side to avoid Yamato's third punch and then nailing Yamato with one of his own.

(I'm sorry, Yamato, but I don't actually think you're going to outfight Reckless Bold Action Guy.)

Up in the air, MetalGarurumon swoops around WarGreymon, tackling him from the back and pushing him back down towards the forest.

In the dub:

Matt: What's the matter, you chicken!?

In a hilarious fit of censorship, they cut the impact from Tai's punch and the entire "Do you know why I hit you" to "BAKAYAROU!!!" exchange. They replace it with a shot from later in the episode of Takeru calling out to them.

T.K.: MAAAAAAATT!!! I'm gonna tell Mom that you were fighting! Matt: Sorry, T.K., but I have to do this!

Matt uses his lip flaps from "Sorry for being such an idiot!", then comes back in and swings at Tai for what is, in this version, the second punch. And the last for this part of the scene; We see Tai stumbling back from it, and then Yamato's follow-up swings are also cut. We go straight from there to MetalGarurumon bringing down WarGreymon.

Taichi and Yamato fight offscreen, with the sounds of punching in the background as the others yell at them.

Jou: Both of you, stop it now! Koushiro: Please stop this! Sora: Taichi! Calm down! Taichi: You don't understand what this is about! This punch isn't coming from me. This is FROM PICCOLOMON!!! (Taichi punches Yamato) Taichi: THIS ONE IS CHUUMON'S!!! (Taichi scores a second punch) Taichi: AND THIS IS WHAMON'S!!!

With a third and final punch (Wizarmon doesn't get one, I guess) Taichi knocks Yamato flat on his back. While Yamato tries to get b ack to his feet, Taichi kneels down and grabs him by his shirt.

Taichi: Yamato! Do you really think the Digimon who died for us... (voice breaks) ...would want us having this pointless fight!?

This is a strong moment for Taichi because it connects back to what he was trying (and failing) to say to Mimi and the others back at the graves. Taichi's words were thoughtless, he's bad at empathizing with other people's feelings, but they weren't malicious.

Taichi is grieving. He is as traumatized by all this as the others. But his trauma response is different. Grief has made him vengeful. All that stuff about "We need to take the fight to them and avenge our fallen!" is his way of processing the pain in his heart.

Taichi doesn't want to mourn; He wants violent, decisive closure.

Closeups on Taichi and Yamato's faces show that they're both crying. Taichi's eyes are misting, preparing to water, while Yamato has tears fully streaming down his face. Like Mimi, they're trying to process their own uncertainty, trauma, and grief, in their own ways.

Taichi: Do you understand now? Yamato: NO, I DON'T!!!

Yamato sucker punches Taichi suddenly, forcing him off.

Yamato: I DON'T UNDERSTAND IT AT ALL!!!

Losing himself to his feelings, Yamato starts pummeling Taichi, screaming "Kuso!", the Japanese curse word for "Shit!", over and over with each hit.

In the dub:

Joe: Both of you stop it right now! Izzy: It's ridiculous! Sora: You two are just making things worse! Tai: He's gotta be taught a lesson, and fast! Here, take this!

They pick Chuumon's punch to be the one and only punch he throws, then cut to the shot of Yamato falling on the grass; Skipping over the entire emotional breakdown of their dead friends - Though Tai still brings them up.

Tai: (grabbing Matt's shirt) I'm only doing this to honor the memory of all the great Digimon that have helped us. T_T They trusted us and believed in our commitment! Matt: T_T Tai: We can't let them down!

Matt punching himself free of Tai is then cut, and Matt simply stands up without much fuss.

Matt: (voice breaking) What if we made a mistake!? Ragh!

Too full of emotion to put much force behind that grunt, Matt swings his next punch and we skip the part where he punches his feelings out against Tai's flesh.

While Yamato is indulging in unhealthy coping mechanisms, the Digimon continue fighting above.

Palmon: What do we do? Piyomon: We have to stop them....

MetalGarurumon fires a volley of missiles from both shoulder launchers. WarGreymon is able to dodge one set, but his evasion path takes him directly into the others. MetalGarurumon scores a direct hit on his armored chest.

Tentomon: We aren't strong enough to do anything against their Ultimate forms. Tailmon: Let them tire themselves out. Gomamon: HEY!!! Don't you care about what happens to our nakama? Tailmon: Would we be able to stop them if I did? Gomamon: Well.... Tailmon: Then we have no choice but to sit back and watch. Gomamon: Damn it! You're just a newcomer so-- Tentomon: Stop that! We don't need you to start fighting too!

Hit her with your Marching Fishes, Gomamon. She's probably hungry.

In the dub:

Palmon: This is awful! Biyomon: We have to stop them! (WarGreymon hit by missiles) Tentomon: Unfortunately, they're Mega Digimon and there's nothing any of us can do about it! Gatomon: Best thing is for them to duke it out. Gomamon: I just hate fighting, and we can't let our friends destroy themselves. Gatomon: It's a dog eat dog world, isn't it? Gomamon: (confused) They're not dogs.... Gatomon: The deal is this. You just sit and watch them take care of business. Gomamon: Oh, yeah!? I don't have to like it! Tentomon: Gomamon, get a grip! The last thing we need is any more fighting around here!

Tailmon accepts the futility of intervention because they're too powerful; There's nothing the rest of us can do to stop this. Gatomon cynically tries to normalize their behavior, waxing poetic about life being cruel. That's the kind of sentiment I'd expect from her before meeting Kari.

No longer on the tree top we saw him at last episode, Pinocchimon watches the action from a lower branch.

Pinocchimon: Ehehehehe! Hahahahaha! What children, fighting over nothing!

WarGreymon lands a Brave Tornado into MetalGarurumon's face. Pinocchimon hops up and down on the branch with excitement.

Pinocchimon: Again! Again! Do it again! Keep it up until you both die!

Yamato tackles Taichi to the ground. Taichi's able to roll Yamato over, seizing control of the fight and scoring two solid face punches. Yamato grabs Taichi by his shirt suddenly and rolls backwards, flipping and throwing Taichi to escape the pin.

Takeru: STOP IT, ONII-CHAN!!! Fighting like this is bad!

Yamato answers Takeru by replaying footage of his tree punch from earlier. Finally, Mimi breaks.

Takeru: Onii-chan.... Mimi: (crying) NO MORE!!! Sora: Mimi-chan....

Mimi turns and runs away from Taichi and Yamato, making it a short distance before she crouches down beside a tree.

Mimi: (crying) Fighting and fighting... What do we get out of it!? I can't take it anymore! Sora: (approaching slowly) Mimi-chan...

This time it's Yamato's turn to be thrown off a cliff for making my kid cry.

Technically, it's Yamato and Taichi fighting that's doing this, but let's be real; Yamato is unambiguously the aggressor here, and Taichi tried repeatedly to refuse this fight. Taichi could have stood to be more tactful, but there was no talking Yamato down from this.

In the dub, Puppetmon takes credit for Cherrymon's work. What a dick!

Puppetmon: Hahahahahaha! Hehehe... Aww, I'm a genius! They're all gonna hate each other! HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!

WarGreymon calls Brave Tornado as Terra Force again despite that being a different attack.

Puppetmon: EEEEE!!! Go get him! Oh boy, I love a good fight!

They keep Yamato tackling Taichi to the ground and Taichi reversing the pin on him, then cut away to Mimi's departure. Even T.K.'s line gets cut; I guess because they already moved to to earlier in the episode?

But they cut it sloppily so you can catch T.K.'s mouth closing from delivering the line he no longer has before Mimi turns and runs away. Mimi, meanwhile, starts talking before turning despite not having lip flaps, so the result makes it look briefly like her voice is coming out of T.K.'s mouth.

Mimi: Ugh! I've had it! Sora: Mimi! (Mimi runs and crouches by the tree) Mimi: (crying) I'm gonna sit here and stare at the flowers until everybody starts getting along! Sora: (approaching slowly, sarcastic) Oh, like that's going to help.

They (heavy sigh) make this moment into a laugh line about how ridiculous and overdramatic Mimi is, then have Sora go ridicule her for it. Thanks, I hate it.

While Pinocchimon watches the spectacle up in the sky, Hikari sneaks off to go talk to strangers.

Hikari: Are you guys our enemies? Or allies?

Koushiro - who, I guess, is just bored with the two separate horrible fights taking place - walks over to see what's up with Hikari. He chats with Tailmon.

Koushiro: Who is Hikari-san talking to? Tailmon: I don't know. Hikari: Okay, so you're not an enemy.

Suddenly, a bright rainbow light shines down - The light is faint, filtering through the trees, but it's not unlike the aurora that delivered the children's Digivices on that fateful day in camp. Hikari's body glows brightly, and she momentarily curls into herself as if in pain.

Tailmon: HIKARI!!!

Tailmon and Koushiro hurry to her side, but Hikari continues. She takes off her Crest of Light and holds it up to the rainbow glow.

In the dub, Kari confronts the light a little more aggressively.

Kari: I'm not afraid! Well, maybe a little. (gazes at it in awe) Ahhh... My name's Kari! Please tell me who you are. Do you want to be friends with us? Gatomon: What in the Digi-World is she doing? Izzy: She appears to be conversing with herself. Gatomon: (dismissive singsong) She's losing it~! Kari: You seem to be nice enough! (Kari begins glowing and curls into herself) Gatomon: KARI!!!

Izzy and Gatomon trade roles here, and Gatomon dismissively badmouths Kari which is certainly a choice. >.> Whoever wrote the dub script for this episode decided to make Gatomon surprisingly catty. Uh. You know, in the bad way.

Once Hikari presents her Crest, the glowing gets brighter. It expands, consuming Koushiro and Tailmon before continuing outward.

Tentomon: KOUSHIRO-HAN!!! Taichi: W-What the--

The light takes Tentomon. It takes Taichi and Yamato. It takes Sora, Mimi, Jou, and Takeru. It gives Pinocchimon a tumble because he is not invited. It revokes WarGreymon and MetalGarurumon's evolutions, reverting them to Koromon and Tsunomon before taking them too.

Everyone finds themselves in a great white void, while something begins to speak through Hikari's mouth. It uses Hikari's voice and if you're paying attention to the group shot you can see her lips move but it's super subtle.

Taichi: This is...? Yamato: What sort of place even is this? Not Hikari: Wherever there is light, there will also be darkness. Darkness and light are like the two sides of the same coin. However, if the power of darkness grows larger....

A great blackness suddenly grows and takes over their void. Not Hikari is, of course, talking about your typical "balance of yin and yang" sort of deal. The problem is not that darkness exists but that it has grown to overshadow the light.

In the dub:

Tentomon: IZZY!!! Tai: What's happening!? (Everyone gets taken by the light into the void except Puppetmon) Tai: Where are we!? Matt: No idea.... Not Hikari: In this world, there is a balance of darkness and light. The light represents all that's good in the world and the darkness is the evil. When the darkness becomes larger than the light, it upsets the balance.

Not Hikari here specifies that light means good and dark means evil. A specification that wasn't stated outright in the original... but looking at the behaviors of most Vaccine and Virus type Digimon we've met, it's pretty implied. The powers of darkness have been unambiguously super-evil child-murderers, and not in the morally complex Undertale way.

There is certainly a space for NOT ALL DEVIMONS as a narrative point, but that is not an argument that this show has presented.

The black void overtakes the white, and the kids are left in darkness.

Mimi: It's turned to night! Jou: What is this place!? Did we get pulled into another dimension!?

Valid concern. That has happened to them before.

Sora: Wait! I see something! Taichi: This is... Hikarigaoka!

Floating in the sky above the city, they see Greymon and Parrotmon drifting up into a portal back to the Digital World and making me eat crow from when I said Hikari's Greymon died. I have been remembering this wrong.

You win this round, dub team who hadn't even seen the OVA when they had to adapt the episodes describing it.

Koushiro: That's the bird from four years ago!

He types away at his laptop, pulling up the Digimon Analyzer to finally get a read on that creature that started this all.

Parrotmon is a Perfect-stage Vaccine-type Giant Bird Digimon. Part of the reason that their identity was such a mystery is because they were created for the OVA; Not appearing in the V-Pet, video games, or even TCG until 2000.

At the time of this episode's airing, Parrotmon had never been seen again in any other Digimon media, and wouldn't be until the release of the D-Terminal to tie in with Adventure 02.

Narrator: Parrotmon. A mysterious Digimon who appeared in front of Taichi's group long ago in Hikarigaoka. Their special attack is Sonic Destroyer. Koushiro: They were Perfect-stage....

In the dub, Tai swipes Mimi's line and he and Joe quip about the darkness overtaking the light.

Tai: Whoa! The balance seems to be really out of whack! Joe: So? Somebody find a switch and put the lights back on. Sora: There's something over there! (Hikarigaoka comes into view) Tai: I know this sounds incredible, but could we be home again? (Closeup on Greymon and Parrotmon disappearing into the sky portal) Izzy: I've seen that Digimon before! (type) Izzy: (rundown) Why, of course. That's Parrotmon. He was the mysterious Digimon that appeared in Highton View Terrace approximately four years ago. Now he's completely Digivolved.

Izzy remains terrible at exposition. "Now he's completely Digivolved," he says, as if the Parrotmon up there has achieved a higher form than when they fought Greymon.

Also, "completely Digivolved" raises an eyebrow. Uh. What? Either Izzy is using "completely Digivolved" to refer to Ultimate level even though he knows better now, or he's saying that Parrotmon has become a Mega Digimon.

There are two ways to take this line and they're both wrong, on top of Izzy being wrong for asserting that Parrotmon "being fully Digivolved" is a recent occurrence.

Not Hikari steps forward to offer further explanation.

Not Hikari: Four years ago in your world, a Digitama passed through a tear in reality by mistake. Taichi: What are you talking about, Hikari? Tailmon: That's not Hikari talking to us. Koushiro: Someone is using Hikari's body to speak to us. Not Hikari: My wish is to restore balance to the Digimon World. Sora: Are you the God of the Digimon World? Not Hikari: No, I am not. Just like the Digimon, I am made up of internet data. Unlike the Digimon, we are unable to take a physical form. In other words, I don't have a physical body. That is why I'm borrowing this person's body to speak with you. Taichi: Why Hikari? Not Hikari: She was the only one who could hear me.

There's an interesting switch that happens in Not Hikari's language here. Well, for one, it's interesting that Not Hikari uses the standard gender-neutral first-person pronoun watashi instead of the more girly atashi that Hikari uses.

But, more interesting than that, is the way Not Hikari switches between the singular watashi and the plural watashi-tachi. For most of this explanation, they use watashi. However, when they say "We are unable to take physical form", that's a watashi-tachi.

Implying that whatever the sparkle sparkle entity possessing Hikari is, they are of a kind; There are others like them.

In the dub:

Not Kari: He passed through the dimensional divide. Some time ago, a Digiegg fell through a hole from our world to yours. Tai: Kari, what are you talking about? Gatomon: I think Kari's had too much catnip! Izzy: My theory is that someone else is using Kari's body to speak for them. Not Kari: My wish is that there be peace and happiness for everyone. Sora: I don't understand. Are you some kind of super being or something? Not Kari: No, nothing like that. I am similar to the Digimon. I was produced by data bytes taken from the internet. But there's a difference: Unlike the Digimon, we're unable to take a shape in the form of a physical body. In order for me to communicate with you, I had to temporarily borrow Kari. Tai: Couldn't you have taken Joe instead!? Joe: Hey! Not Kari: I had to take Kari. She's the only one that I'm able to communicate with.

The word Kami crossed the dub team's desk and the best they could come up with to avoid saying God was "some kind of super being". XD

Gatomon is still being shitty and dismissive towards Kari and I hate it.

Tai abruptly slaps Joe in the face for lulz because he's one of the two designated punching bags.

On the plus side, they nailed that interesting pluralization implying that there are more of whatever this being is.

(Officially, this is Homeostasis, but the lore around Homeostasis is vague and confusing, and Homeostasis is never named within the show itself. At least not this series; other entries in the Adventure franchise do identify Homeostasis by name.)

Not Hikari continues to explain things.

Not Hikari: Truthfully, I've been wanting to talk to you ever since you arrived on File Island.

Too fucking bad we accidentally left behind the only kid who could hear them.

That makes two separate attempts to prevent the Lord of the Flies experience from happening to them and give them a more traditional Isekai experience, ruined by present circumstances of their arrival.

Imagine spending like a thousand years preparing for the arrival of the chosen one and then going to take a shit and when you come back the Chosen One is not only here but has gone Feral BOTW Link for lack of guidance.

The children suddenly levitate into the air. Not Hikari levitates slowly over Hikarigaoka with the other kids in tow, as bright spotlights shine down on each of their younger counterparts frozen in time.

Taichi: Ah! That's Hikari and me from four years ago! Jou: Ah! The one on the phone is me! Mimi: That's me! Sora: And there's me! Takeru: There's me with Onii-chan! Koushiro: I'm there too. But these lights.... Not Hikari: They're scanning everyone's data. Yamato: But what for? Not Hikari: Allow me to explain everything from the beginning.

Greymon and Parrotmon disappear into the sky portal. Not Hikari follows them in, with the children levitating up after.

In the dub:

Not Kari: To be honest, I wanted to contact you when you arrived at File Island, but it was completely impossible under the circumstances. (Not Kari levitates everyone over Highton View Terrace) Tai: Wow, it's a blast from the past! That's us four years ago! Joe: Hey, that's me! How typical; I'm on the telephone. Mimi: I was so cute! Sora: Hard to believe we were that little! T.K.: There's my brother and me! Izzy: That's definitely me, but what's with the light? Not Kari: Its purpose is to process all of your vital information. Matt: That's kind of freaky; Why's it doing that? Not Kari: Just follow me; I'll explain it to you.

Solid dub writing. They do a good job spicing up the bit where everyone says "That's me!" over and over. I also appreciate Matt pointing out that Not Kari quietly stealing their metadata while they're watching the fight is fucking skeevy.

Digimon Adventure was ahead of its time. If this was made today, Homeostasis would definitely be selling that shit to advertisers.

Speaking of which, both versions put a commercial break here. Talk about your commercial break cliffhangers! "Yes, I will finally, after 44 episodes, explain crucial details of the plot to you... RIGHT AFTER THESE MESSAGES!!!" Well played, Homeostasis. Well played.

Once Homeostasis has finished pocketing that lucrative McDonalds ad revenue, we find ourselves in a strange yet familiar locale.

Sora: Where... are we? Koushiro: Does this place look familiar to you?

The kids start to look around, but then Takeru spots something.

Takeru: What's that over there?

Shortly followed by the others, Takeru runs over to a glass case containing eight Digitama.

Takeru: They're Digitama! Group: (awestruck) Ahhhh! Koromon: The Digivices and Crests are here too!

Sure enough, each Digitama has a Digivice and a Crest mysteriously plugged into it.

In the dub:

Sora: Where are we now, whoever you are? Izzy: Rather bizarre place, indeed. (The kids look around) T.K.: Check this out! (Everyone goes to the Digiegg case) T.K.: They look like Digieggs! Group: (awestruck) Ahhhh! Koromon: Look! Crests and Digivices! Matt: (annoyed) Okay, this is getting weird! Joe: Oh, and floating in the sky is normal?

Koushiro immediately cottons on to the fact that they've been here before (which they have!). Izzy misses that entirely and just thinks the place is weird.

Matt and Joe get extra lines where, in a rare upset, Joe gets to dunk on someone else for a change.

Suddenly, phantoms of humanoids in cloaks pass by. Jou is the first to see them. He panics, raising his arms with alarm and accidentally shoving Mimi into the glass, eliciting a surprised shriek.

Jou: WAAAAAAUGH!!! Mimi: AGGGGH!!! Jou: W-WE'RE SORRY FOR INTRUDING!!!

The cloaked figures pass by, ignoring them entirely

Gomamon: Hey, what the hell!? You could at least address us! Not Hikari: These people are a video recording. These are images of the past that are being projected into your minds.

Gomamon gets offended that we're not being yelled at for trespassing. XD

In the dub, Mimi doesn't react. She silently accepts being scooted aside by Joe's panic.

Joe: WAAAAAAUGH!!! Okay, it's official; This is definitely giving me the creeps. (The cloaked figures ignore them) Gomamon: What's the matter, fellas? Can't you say hello? Not Kari: These men are just computer images. They are figments from the past who have been digitally transmitted to your present.

Once Not Kari's set the stage for what we're seeing, Koushiro suddenly notices a significant clue as to where we are.

Koushiro: Ah! This is the stone slate that was beneath Vamdemon's castle. Piyomon: The Gate is here too! It's the same room!

The kids hurry over to gaze up at the Gate; Sure enough, it's the very same one they passed through to return to the human world.

Which, of course, explains why Gennai was not only familiar with the Gate but had the keycards to open it in his possession, rather than in Vamdemon's. At some point, like an otaku running away to live in Japan, Vamdemon decided to go straight to the source of his fandom and moved in.

Jou: But what are those people doing? Not Hikari: They're preparing for the time when our world will be overrun by darkness. First, we created the Crests and Digivices out of the data we scanned from you. Sora: "Created"? Taichi: Then that means... You guys are the ones who chose us? Not Hikari: That's right.

Finally getting some real answers, and none of Gennai's runarounds.

In the dub:

Izzy: I don't believe it! This is from Myotismon's castle! Biyomon: Here's Myotismon's secret passage! Joe: Let me guess, those are the elves that make the shoes at night? Not Kari: They're monitoring the positive and negative forces to preserve harmony in the world. We took the information that we scanned from all of you, then we created your Digivices and Crests. Sora: You did that? Tai: That must mean that you're the ones who chose us. Is that true? Not Kari: Yes, it is.

The dub's explanation for what the hooded figures are doing doesn't quite capture the urgency of their work.

In the original, Not Hikari indicates that they knew the balance was destabilizing, and they were doing all of this for the purpose of countering it. They saw things getting bad, and bringing in the humans' data and going through this whole rigamarole was their best idea for how to fix it.

The dub has the cloaked figures simply monitoring harmony as a day-to-day, and also they're making the Crests and Digivices too. Just in case things do get bad, I guess.

Taichi has some follow-up questions regarding their selection.

Taichi: But why were we chosen? Not Hikari: You and Hikari-san made the Digitama that passed into the real world evolve into Greymon. Taichi: That was katteni shinka. Not Hikari: There is no such thing as katteni shinka.

Okay, this is a hard one to translate to English.

If you caught my post about Dragon Ball's Ultra Instinct I mentioned the word migatte as part of the technique's Japanese name. Katte is a root word of migatte, and katteni is similar in meaning. Katteni is autonomous; doing something of one's own accord, without permission or influence from others.

Taichi is saying that Koromon evolving to Agumon and then to Greymon happened arbitrarily; The Digimon evolved all by himself, while Taichi and Hikari were merely passive bystanders. Nothing that happened between them influenced Koromon's evolution in any way.

Homeostasis retorts that. No. That's stupid. Katteni shinka is not a thing. What Taichi is saying is not how evolution works. At all. Either for Digimon or otherwise.

Not Hikari: That evolution did not happen by chance. It was because of your presence that he evolved into Greymon. (Flashback to Greymon v. Parrotmon) Taichi: But... We didn't do anything! We didn't even have a Digivice! Not Hikari: If you think the Digivice is merely a tool for evolution, you are mistaken. (Back to present) Not Hikari: The Digivice matches your personal qualities to your Digimon and enables them to evolve properly.

The dub is going to have a hard time with this section, since katteni shinka is difficult to translate and they have limited space to explain it in.

Tai: Then tell me this: What makes us so special? Not Kari: You made it possible for Greymon to survive and Digivolve, and it couldn't have been accomplished without help from you and Kari. Tai: But he Digivolved without me.... Not Kari: A Digimon can't Digivolve without you. It doesn't work that way.

That is a hard miss. Digimon absolutely can evolve without a person. If they couldn't, the Digital World would be nothing but Babies for miles around.

What they can't do is evolve arbitrarily, without influence from environmental factors. The point of this line isn't that humans are necessary to make evolution possible. It's that Homeostasis witnessed the effect that Taichi and Hikari's influence had on the wayward Digitama and had a Holy Shit Light Bulb moment.

They caused Botamon to evolve into Koromon, Agumon, and then Greymon. But not because evolution wouldn't be possible without them.

Not Kari: The very fact that you were both there made him Digivolve to protect you. Tai: But how? We were just goofy little kids and we didn't even have a Digivice. Not Kari: A Digivice is just a tool that was designed to help in the Digivolving process. It assists you by making you aware of your powers, but it's the special qualities in each of you that really makes it work.

This part is rock-solid. No notes. It's just the other part that had a high bar to clear that they messed up on.

Next, Homeostasis goes on to talk about the Crests.

Not Hikari: The same is true of your Crests. Is everyone aware of what their Crests represent? Taichi: Mine's Courage. Sora: Mine is Love. Mimi: Purity! Koushiro: Knowledge. Jou: Sincerity. Takeru: Mine is the Crest of Hope. Yamato: (quiet, distant) Mine is.... Jou: Friendship, wasn't it?

Jou gives Yamato a friendly pat on the shoulder, but that only makes Yamato withdraw into himself.

Not Hikari: Those are the strongest qualities that each of you had four years ago. But what happens if you lose those qualities? You may end up misusing your Digimon. And if you use those special qualities of yours for the wrong reasons.... Taichi: (gasp) Could it be.... (Flashback to SkullGreymon's evolution) Taichi: Back then, I jumped in front of the enemy so that I could force Greymon to Super-Evolve. But he became SkullGreymon instead. (Flashback ends) Taichi: (with certainty) That was the wrong kind of Courage. Not Hikari: That's right. You've finally realized.

Wait, he only figured out what he did wrong just now?

Well, no, that makes sense, actually. He knew he'd fucked up back then, but they didn't learn the meanings of their Crests until much later. He hasn't had a reason to stop and think about how the virtue of Courage applies to the SkullGreymon incident.

Sometimes you have all the information you need to put the pieces together but it's already behind you and there's more important stuff to think about.

In the dub:

Not Kari: The same thing with the Crests. Can you tell me what your personal Crests really represent? Tai: Well, mine's Courage. Sora: And this one means Love. Mimi: Sincerity! Izzy: Mine's Knowledge! Joe: Reliability. T.K.: I know what this Crest means; It's Hope! Matt: (quiet, distant) Well, mine is.... Joe: Wasn't it called Friendship? (pat) Not Kari: All of that's true, but there's more to it than that. Every one of you has strengths and weaknesses. We took each of your strongest qualities that you possessed four years ago, then we made a Crest for that. Tentomon: Oh! I get it! Not Kari: If that trait is lost, then Digimon might become corrupted. Tai: Ah! That happened! (Flashback to SkullGreymon's evolution) Tai: When I tried to make Agumon Digivolve by throwing myself in front of his enemy! But then something weird happened; He Digivolved into SkullGreymon! (Flashback ends) Tai: (with certainty) And now I realize that was pretty foolish. Not Kari: But the important thing is that you learned from it.

Yep, that's another miss.

Dub Homeostasis claims that SkullGreymon happened because Tai lost his Courage. That's. Not. What happened there. Tai losing his Courage is what happened at Datamon's pyramid. Completely different event, and one that did not result in SkullGreymon.

SkullGreymon was the result of Taichi's Courage becoming corrupt.

Meanwhile, Tai's big revelation here is that jumping in front of the enemy was a stupid thing to do. That's. No. That's not his revelation; He already realized it was stupid way back when. It's the connection between that event and the virtue of Courage being corrupted that Taichi suddenly made here.

Jou steps forward to assess what they've learned.

Jou: So all of this work was to amplify the qualities we already had in the first place.

Yamato, still haunted by his inability to connect with his Crest virtue, wanders away to look at his Digitama, Crest, and Digivice in the case.

Tsunomon: Yamato...?

Not Hikari joins him, followed soon by the others.

Koushiro: I understand why Taichi-san and Hikari-san were chosen, but the rest of us didn't make a Digimon evolve. Not Hikari: After examining everyone's data, we determined that you shared commonalities with Taichi-san and Hikari-san. The meaning behind it is still a mystery to us.

I take it back; Even Homeostasis seems to struggle with comprehending the plot. This answer is basically a shrug. "What made us choose the rest of you? There was something about your data. I don't know what."

In the dub:

Joe: All this time, we've been wracking our brains trying to figure out stuff about ourselves that we already knew! Ha! That's a fine how-do-ya-do. (Matt walks away) Joe: Huh? (Matt stares at the glass case.) Tsunomon: Who knew? (Everyone joins him.) Izzy: Prodigious! I see why you chose Tai and Kari, but the rest of us never made contact with the Digiegg so why us? Not Kari: When we examined all of your data, we came to the conclusion that you had something in common with Tai and Kari. But we're not quite sure what it means. All we know is that you've proven yourselves to be very capable.

Joe managed to mangle his line so hard that I have no idea what he's even saying.

But the exposition is pretty much 1:1.

Takeru steps forward to examine the Digitama in the case.

Takeru: What are these Digitama? Not Hikari: You can't tell? Patamon: Is it us? Not Hikari: Yes. Palmon: Which one is me? Tsunomon: We can tell by looking at the marks on the Crests! (Piyomon and Gomamon find theirs) Piyomon: That one? Gomamon: This one's mine!

Piyomon's Digitama is covered in hearts because of course it is.

In the dub:

T.K.: Who do these belong to? Not Kari: Isn't it obvious? Patamon: I have a feeling it's us! Not Kari: Yes. Palmon: Wow, which one's me? Tsunomon: I think the answer's in the Crests! (Biyomon and Gomamon find theirs) Biyomon: Look! This is me! Gomamon: And that's mine!

Very faithful translation; Near word for word.

Unfortunately, things did not go well for the Chosen Children project.

Not Hikari: However, the Dark Masters learned about our plan and they came here to find us.

The doors open and Metal Empire forces spill into the room. Despite having been told that these are phantoms of past events and are not really happening, the kids still panic and scatter. Takeru trips and falls, prompting Patamon to let off an Air Shot at the Metal Empire soldiers to try and cover him.

Not Hikari: These are also video recordings.

The way Homeostasis has to say that again in their completely neutral matter-of-fact voice 'cause children be slow is sending me. XD Maybe you should have drafted some adults for your war.

The Metal Empire forces open fire on the hooded figures, blowing them up with rockets.

Taichi: Shit! So because they're video recordings, we can't do anything but stand here and watch!?

Taichi's blood is expectedly boiling at all this carnage. Koushiro, on the other hand, already has his laptop out because NEW DIGIMON JUST DROPPED. He starts with the brown one.

Guardromon is an Adult-stage Virus-type Machine Digimon, though the Analyzer makes an error and lists them as Data. This may have to do with the fact that they debuted in the Digimon World video game, where they were in fact Data Vaccine actually what the fuck.

I guess the anime just. Split the difference between Digimon World Vaccine and Metal Empire V-Pet Virus. XD

In any case, Guardromon is one of the two Metal Empire Adult Viruses.

Izzy: That one is Guardromon. Narrator: Guardromon. A Machine type Digimon with iron-clad defenses. Their special attack is Destruction Grenade.

Also it's super easy to miss when they're in motion but can I just say that the Destruction Grenades are hilarious? XD Someone was like "This is my Vaccine Digimon, he shoots little cops that explode," and another person went, "Nah bro that goes into the Virus bin."

The silver Digimon, meanwhile, is Mekanorimon. Like Bakemon and bakemono, this is a play on an existing word: norimono, which means "vehicle". Mecha Norimono.

Mekanorimon is the other Adult-stage Virus-type Digimon from Metal Empire, and this one the Analyzer gets right. If your poorly cared for Hagurumon is well-trained, you get Guardromon; If not, Mekanorimon.

Yamato: Here comes another one! Narrator: Mekanorimon. A powered suit Digimon that can be piloted like a vehicle. It uses its Linear Lens to fire its special attack Twinkle Beam.

Under the assault of explosion cops and Twinkle Beams, the cloaked figures are quickly overwhelmed.

In the dub:

Not Kari: Yes, but I'm afraid I have bad news. The Dark Masters got wind of our plan and have worked very hard to defeat us. (Metal Empire forces enter; Kids scatter and flee) Not Kari: Save your breath; They're computer images! (Metal Empire starts killing everyone) Tai: What!? Just because those guys are computer images, we have to sit back and do nothing!? Izzy: (on the brown one) His name is Guardromon. Izzy: (rundown) He's a Machine Digimon and his armor is constructed of solid iron. Absolutely nothing can penetrate that can of beans! Matt: HERE COMES SOME MORE OF THEM!!! Tentomon: (rundown) This is no space-age vacuum cleaner! Meet Mekanorimon. His Twin Beam will annihilate anything! Which makes housework a breeze.

Homeostasis's second line here is delivered as a scolding, rather than a comically matter-of-fact reassertion of information already provided. So it lacks the funny.

Guardromon's diegetic rundown claims that he's invulnerable... because he's made of iron. I mean, iron's great, don't get me wrong, but it's kind of basic? Especially this soon after the fantasy metal "INVULNERABLE CHROME DIGIZOID" was such a big thing.

The reason this happened is because the word in question, 鉄壁 teppeki, has multiple meanings. It literally translates to "iron wall", as in a literal iron wall used in a military fortification, and it means an impenetrable defense.

So they had word which could be saying Guardromon is made of iron or could be saying Guardromon's defenses are impenetrable, and they hedged their bets and went with both.

Meanwhile, Tentomon is too busy quipping to mention that Mekanorimon is a pilotable vehicle. Which. Is. Kind of. Important. Information. For events that will follow.

Also Mekanorimon's attack is "Twin Beam" despite there only being a single beam because I guess the dub team didn't like the twinkle.

While all this devastation is unfolding, Jou suddenly lets out a shriek.

Jou: AHH!!! IT'S PIEMON!!! Stay back! Stay back! Ahhhh go away! Gomamon: We're okay. Sora: It's just a video recording.

Piemon approaches the case with the Digitama. Letting out a wicked laugh, he shatters the case and collects all of the Crests.

Taichi: He's stealing the Crests! Mimi: Can't we do something!?

Suddenly, one of the cloaked figures charges at him with a sword.

Cloaked Man: PIEMON!!! THOSE AREN'T YOURS TO TAKE!!! Piemon: Gennai.... Takeru: THAT'S GENNAI-SAN!?!?

Gennai slashes at Piemon, but he's too slow. Piemon easily darts around Gennai's swing, then presses a strange black orb into Gennai's back. Gennai grits his teeth and grunts in agony as the ball enters his body.

He takes another swing at Piemon, who backs off. A Mekanorimon comes up behind him; Gennai dodges its Twinkle Beam and leaps up on top. Prying open Mekanorimon's cockpit, he yanks a Bakemon out of it and tosses the useless ghost aside.

Gennai: Out of the way!

Gennai slips inside the Mekanorimon himself, then scoops up all of the Digitama and Digivices.

Piemon: DON'T LET HIM GET AWAY WITH THE CRESTS!!!

...apparently he also has the Crests. To be honest, I'm not sure how he would have grabbed those. They were last seen in Piemon's hand, and Piemon thoroughly outfought Gennai.

In the dub:

Joe: AHHHH!!! PIEDMON IS HERE!!! DON'T COME ANY CLOSER!!! SHOO!!! GO AWAY!!! Gomamon: Relax, he's just an image. Sora: (snarky) Yeah, save your screaming for the real thing. (Piedmon goes for the Crests) Tai: He's going to steal the Crests! Mimi: Oh no! (Piedmon takes the Crests) Cloaked Man: Piedmon! Hands off those Crests! Piedmon: Gennai! T.K.: That man's Gennai!? (Gennai attacks, gets black balled, then hijacks Mekanorimon and escapes with the loot) Piedmon: Follow him! Don't let Gennai out of your sight!

Sora dunks on Joe but to be fair, they've been told twice now. This was legitimately an embarrassing moment for him, even if Original Sora was too kind to say anything.

Gennai takes to the skies with the Digitama, Digivices, and I guess the Crests somehow. The other Mekanorimon and Guardromon pursue him, trying to shoot him down.

Not Hikari: Let's follow them.

A near-miss causes him to lose a single Digitama and Digivice, which plummet to the continent below.

Tailmon: Ah! That's me! (Tailmon's Digitama falls, and is not recovered) Tailmon: So that's why I grew up alone.

Piyomon flies up behind Tailmon and gives her unexpected headpats.

Piyomon: But we're together now! Tailmon: (smile) You're right.

Awww.... ^_^

In the dub:

Not Kari: Let's follow and see what happened in the past. (Enemy rockets cause Gennai to drop the Digiegg) Gatomon: That's my Digiegg! (Gatomon's Digiegg falls, and is not recovered) Gatomon: So that's why I was brought up all alone... That explains it.... (Surprise headpats) Biyomon: Cheer up! We're together now! Gatomon: (smiles, giggles)

Pretty much 1:1 faithful translation.

From there, Gennai escapes to File Island.

Taichi: it's File Island! Not Hikari: After that, many, many years passed until....

Which... is a 100% barren, frozen hellscape. Must be winter, I guess, 'cause it's sunny and grassy by the time the Partner Digitama hatch.

We see Botamon's egg hatch first.

Koromon: I hatched!

From there, the Babies go outside with their Digivices and bounce them playfully.

Koromon: I remember! We were waiting all that time. For Taichi! Tsunomon: Yamato! Piyomon: Sora! Gomamon: Jou! Palmon: Mimi! Patamon: Takeru! Tentomon: Koushiro-han! Koromon: Day after day, we'd wait patiently for their arrival! Until one day....

The babies bounce the Digivices high into the air, but instead it's the children who come plummeting down.

This is probably not literal, but a metaphorical representation of what they were doing. We cut from that to literal flashbacks of the Partners meeting the children in the woods, way back in episode 1.

In the dub:

Tai: It's File Island! Not Kari: After Gennai rescued the Digieggs and Crests, many years passed by until finally.... (Botamon hatches) Koromon: I was born! (The Babies go outside and bounce their Digivices) Koromon: Oh wow, I remember that! It seemed like I waited forever for Tai! Tsunomon: For Matt! Biyomon: For Sora! Gomamon: For Joe! Palmon: For Mimi! Patamon: For T.K.! Tentomon: For Izzy! Koromon: We didn't think they would ever come! Then suddenly, out of the blue, they arrived with a bang!

Again, 1:1 faithful. Though most of this is just yelling character names.

With that, we're caught up to where the children began their involuntary excursion into the Digital World.

Taichi: So that's what happened. Not Hikari: What is the Dark Masters' ultimate goal? How do we save the world? All we can do now is look after the peace of the Digimon World and try to build a system that can repair the damage before it takes place. Taichi: What do you think we should do from here? Not Hikari: I don't know. But I believe that, by relying on yourselves, you will find the answer.

Helpful. Thanks for the history lesson; Wish you had more practical advice for us.

In several years' human time when we're arguing over how to handle Meicoomon, try to remember how you were like "Uhhhh I have no idea how to solve things YOU GOT THIS RIGHT?"

Homeostasis gives off mad "It's my first day but also everyone else quit so please be patient while I figure out how to job" energy. They know the backstory better because they were there for it but they are as helplessly drowning in uncertain waters as the kids themselves.

The Forces of Darkness are rising. They don't know why the Forces of Darkness are rising. They don't know how to make the Forces of Darkness stop rising. And one day they saw two toddlers get along well with a Digimon and went "UM UM UM UM MAYBE CHILD SOLDIERS!?!?!?"

The reactor is melting down and the only person we have on-site is an intern. Well, that and exactly one survivor from the massacre who unfortunately has an unidentified Milk Dud of Doom turning him into a decrepit pervert or whatever it did to thim.

In the dub:

Not Kari: The question is, what exactly are the Dark Masters planning? We are working day and night trying to find out. For now, all we can do is guess and try to outwit them before something terrible happens. Tai: Whoa! Well, if that's true, what should we do now? Not Kari: It's hard to say, but I believe you'll all find an answer on your own.

The dub omits mention of Homeostasis's long-term goal to "build a system that can repair the damage before it takes place". Though they don't go into detail, they apparently have ideas in place to prevent something like the Dark Masters from happening again... if we can figure out how to make the Dark Masters stop happening in the the meanwhile.

Homeostasis is trying to create a vaccine against future instability, while using the Chosen Children as panic-button antidote against current instability.

(This, of course, ends up being Huckmon in Adventure Tri.)

But this doesn't make it across into the dub, which simply says that Homeostasis doesn't know what the Dark Masters are up to but is trying their best.

Returning to the woods where they started, Hikari wakes up in Taichi's arms.

Taichi: Hikari...? Tailmon: Are you okay, Hikari? HIkari: Onii-chan... Tailmon.... Taichi: You're okay! Tailmon: Thank goodness.... Sora: Are you hurting anywhere? Hikari: No... Is something wrong, all of you? Taichi: I-It's nothing. Hikari, about what just happened... Hikari: What just happened? Taichi: Oh! If you don't remember, then never mind.

Smooth, Taichi. Rolling that 12 Charisma score for all it's worth. XD

The dub places its final commercial break here, at the end of Homeostasis's trip into the past. Solid choice.

Tai: Hey.... Gatomon: Are you gonna be alright? Kari: ...oh, hi there. What's wrong? Tai: You've come back! Gatomon: We missed you! Sora: Did it hurt? Kari: No... What do you mean? Tai: Don't you remember? Well, that's alright. Kari: Remember what, Tai? Tai: Never mind. Don't you worry about it.

I like how casual Kari is here. Like, so far as she understands, she just fell asleep suddenly and then woke up to everyone crowding around her for some reason.

Now, on to unfinished business. Taichi stands up and turns to face Yamato.

Taichi: Yamato. Now we know why we became the Chosen Children. Yamato: Yeah. Taichi: Like I thought, we're the only ones who can straighten out this world's distortions.

Taichi approaches Yamato, holding out his hand for Yamato's.

Taichi: Yamato. Let's join back up together. Yamato: I can't. Takeru: Onii-chan? Taichi: I... I made a mistake. Yamato: No. This was all my fault.

Yamato turns and walks away, but Taichi calls after him.

Taichi: That's not what I meant! I mean the way I've been behaving up to this point.... (Yamato stops walking) Yamato: It's not my place to say this after how I've behaved recently, but I don't think there's ever a right or wrong way to do things. It's simply that you have your path and I have mine. I have no idea what sort of path is waiting for me. I thought that if I fought you, I'd understand what it is. An apology may not be enough for you to forgive me, but... I'm sorry.

Taichi and Yamato both recognize their faults and how they've contributed to their recent drama, and offer verbal concessions.

In the dub:

Tai: Well, Matt? There's no doubt about how we became the DigiDestined. We saw it happen! Matt: We sure did. Tai: So now the entire world is depending on us! And we all have to save it together! (Tai steps forward to shake Matt's hand) Tai: How 'bout it, Matt? Are we still a team? Matt: ... T.K.: What's wrong? Tai: Hey, let's put the past behind us. Matt: I know, but you wouldn't understand. Tai: Sure, I would! I say that you and I should let bygones be bygones! Matt: That's not the problem, Tai. This thing is bigger than either of us. It's not about right or wrong; I have my path and you have yours! And I'm not even sure where this path is going to lead me but I know I have to find it for myself. But I still believe in all of us; I mean, without any of you, where would I be? This is all just so confusing, and I let it get to me. That's why we fought.

Tai offers no concession for his own involvement in this whole mess.

Matt's supporting arguments are on much shakier ground than Yamato's. "This is bigger than us" and "I still believes in all of us" are arguments for staying with the group when he's supposed to be explaining why he has to leave.

Yamato says that they fought because he was convinced he would better understand himself and find his way to self-improvement through the act of fighting Taichi. Which is precisely what his conversation with Jureimon claimed.

Matt says they fought because he was confused about how much he wants to both leave and stay at the same time. It's a confusing response.

Now, with conviction, Yamato turns to face the others once more.

Yamato: But I want to find my own path. No, I have to! That's why I've decided to leave you all and go alone from here. Just me and Tsunomon. Koushiro: Please reconsider. After all, Yamato-san, your Crest... I mean, your best quality is.... Yamato: Friendship. I know. But friendship is such a meaningless word, don't you think? No, maybe I just don't know what true friendship is. Sora: H-Hey, how about this? We can break into two groups and go from there. Yamato: Sorry, but I need to do this alone. Sora: Oh... Well, I'm sure you'll be okay, Yamato. I believe in you. Takeru: Onii-chan, what will I do without you? Yamato: You're able to take care of yourself now. Takeru: But.... Sora: You're with us, Takeru-kun. Yamato has something he needs to figure out by himself. We should let him go. Takeru: (nod) Mm. Yamato: Thank you. Bye.

With that surprisingly curt farewell, Yamato turns and walks away into the woods. Metaphorically still lost in the mayoi no mori but better equipped to some day find his way out.

I love the reversal here from "I don't need you to look after me Onii-chan" to "But who will look after me Onii-chan?" Where Yamato has been haunted since episode 3 by the threat of Takeru growing up, the perspective of his decision allows him to finally appreciate how strong his brother is becoming.

Sora, ever the peacemaker, tries to smooth this over as best she can.

In the dub:

Matt: It's important that you guys can count on me, but I'm going to do this because I have to! Tsunomon will be with me so I'll be alright. Don't worry, it will be a lot better this way. Izzy: Matt, if you approach this logically, I'm sure you'll reconsider your decision. Your Crest, it's theme is to promote.... Matt: Friendship, I know. But I haven't been too much of a friend, in case you haven't noticed! Maybe it's because I don't know the true meaning of the word, or maybe I've just forgotten. Sora: Here's a good idea. Let's break up into two groups instead of one big one. Matt: I'm sorry, but I really need to do this alone! Sora: Oh... Well, I believe in you and I'm not going to stand in your way! T.K.: What am I supposed to do without you, Matt? Matt: You're a big kid now. You can take care of yourself, T.K. Sora: Yeah, don't worry! We'll be here for you. Besides, you know how big brothers are; They need their own space! Everything will be fine. T.K.: (nod) Mm. Matt: We'll see ya. Goodbye, everyone.

Matt comes off a lot more reluctant to do this. Between "I still believe in all of us", "Where would I be without you?" and now "It's important that you can count on me", he is not doing a good job of selling the reason for why he needs to leave. Which is that he, Matt, is convinced that he needs to, and no other reason.

Dub Sora patronizingly downplays this whole thing to T.K. "Big brothers need their space", she says as if we're discussing Tai no longer sleeping in the bunk bed with Kari.

Original Sora plays this straight with Takeru; Yamato has something he needs to go do, and we should support him.

Once Yamato's gone, it's time to get moving again. Except Yamato's departure is giving someone else ideas.

Taichi: Well, we should get moving. Ganbatte! Let's fix those distortions in the Digital World!

To get the nakama marching, Taichi gives everyone the good ol' ganbaru, the Japanese social construct of perseverance through great hardships via hard work and dedication.

But one person isn't interested in ganbaru anymore. Mimi hangs back, following slowly before she stops walking entirely. Realizing she isn't with them, Sora turns back, prompting the rest of the group to halt.

Sora: Mimi-chan? Mimi: I'm sorry, Sora-san. I can't. Sora: You can't? You want to stay here? Mimi: Mhm. Others may get hurt and die. I don't want to see that again.

Mimi's voice is quiet and vulnerable. She knows she's letting the others down with this decision, but she can't do this anymore.

Without missing a beat, Senpai steps up to do his job.

Jou: Then I'll stay too. Koushiro: Jou-san! Jou: It's dangerous for Mimi-chan to be here by herself. I'll do what I can to convince her to return, then we'll meet up with the rest of you. Is that okay? Taichi: Yeah. We're counting on you, Jou. Jou: YES!!!

Jou is so excited that Taichi signed off on his plan, he shouts and runs for where Mimi is.

Gomamon: JOU WAIT FOR ME!!! (chases)

Eager to get the fuck out of this party, are we, Jou? XD

The dub, as usual, can't lean on ganbaru. But they've got something just as good for American cultural values: military lingo, which this arc's been leaning in heavily on.

Tai: We'd better move it, troops. We've got the world to save! So we're down one DigiDestined; That's no problem. We can do it, right? (Mimi hangs back) Sora: Hmm? Mimi? Mimi: I'm sorry, Sora. I'm not going. Sora: Huh? Why not? Come on, what? Mimi: Well, I just don't want to see anybody else fight or hurt themselves. I hope you understand. Joe: Then I'm staying too. Izzy: But why? Joe: It's not safe for Mimi to be here all alone. I'll make sure she's okay and then, hopefully later, we can rejoin you guys. Okay? Tai: Okay. Good luck, Joe. Joe: Thanks. (runs off) Gomamon: Wait for me! (chases)

Despite having far more reasons to be excited about leaving these fuckers behind, Dub Joe does not scream exuberance at the top of his lungs as he quits the party.

To avoid the 'D' word, Mimi's "I don't want to see anyone get hurt or killed again" becomes "I don't want to see anyone fight or hurt themselves". She can't even say she's afraid of them being hurt by others?

As the group further fractures, Patamon shares his concerns.

Patamon: Everyone is separating again. Piyomon: And just when all eight of us were finally together. Tailmon: You guys don't get it, do you? Piyomon: Huh? Tailmon: The roads we take are different, but our destination will be the same. We'll all get there, no matter how thorny our paths may be.

Tailmon's final words lead us out. With one last glance at Jou and Mimi staying behind, the remaining five soldiers in our nakama stride onward.

Man, escaping from her abuser and reuniting with the crew she was meant to be with has done wonders for Tailmon's outlook. Amazing how that works.

This line has so much pathos coming from her. In the woods that Vamdemon found her in, no less.

In the dub:

Patamon: Gee, now we're all gonna be split up again! Biyomon: Just when we were finally all together! Gatomon: You may think we're separated but we're really not. Biyomon: Huh!? Gatomon: The roads might be different but the place we end up in is the same. I mean, think about it. If they truly are the DigiDestined, they're destined to be together once again. At least, that's the way I hope it works out. Narrator: Is Gatomon right? Or is this the end of the DigiDestined!? Tune in to the next Digimon: Digital Monsters.

Fucking-ass killjoy narrator! XD I like how he asks that question then just says "Tune in" without promising any answers, because the Breaking of the Fellowship is not something that will be resolved any time soon.

Also love how Tailmon drops some hopeful philosophy while Gatomon's just like, "Look, it says 'destiny' right there in the name... that we made up for the dub." But then admits that she, like Tailmon, is just running on hope at this point.

There is no sound reason in either version to believe that Yamato, Mimi, and Jou will come back, but a kitty-cat can hope.

Assessment: Man, I hope you did not come into WarGreymon vs MetalGarurumon hoping for a Versus bout because that is the least important thing that happens in this episode.

The titular fight provides a backdrop for the much more interesting fistfight between Taichi and Yamato, giving them both plentiful opportunities to project what's going on with each of them.

This was a great episode for Taichi. Not just for the characterization he got to express verbally, but also for the choices he made in the end. Remember that when this started, he was yelling in Mimi's face and freaking out about Yamato wandering off because "The eight of us must be together to defeat the Dark Masters!"

By the end of this episode, after having it out with Yamato and talking with Homeostasis, Taichi owns up to his own problem behavior just as Yamato does. Then he stands back and lets three people leave. In fact, when Mimi says she wants out because she can't stand to see anyone else die, he doesn't say a word to her. He accepts her decision without question.

I think it was the SkullGreymon thing that did it, personally. Learning that there's a wrong kind of Courage made Taichi reflect on his behavior and gain a sense of perspective towards how he treats his crew and what he expects from them. That's my interpretation.

Whatever the case, Taichi demonstrates remarkable growth not just for what he said to Yamato but for what he didn't say to any of them.

Yamato, of course, still has a long ways to go. Which he knows, and is the reason that he left.

And this officially kicks off the Jou and Mimi side-quest. Which was the last part of the show that I've been super anticipating.

The dub, expectedly, struggled with this one. They have a hard time with lore-heavy episodes and half of this episode was just Homeostasis explaining the plot. There's a lot of good information there that builds out the backstory of how they got here (and one irritating shrug), but it is a lot of narrative exposition, which is the dub's biggest weak point.

Still, they did better than expected. They had their missteps here and there but there were also multiple expository scenes that came through solid. Like Taichi, the dub showed improvement.

[pandorasword]

Chaeri as the 8th and youngest member of BTS.

Chaeri's Masterlist

Web article

June, 2023

The K-pop community is abuzz with questions and speculations as Chaeri, the only female member of BTS, and the leader of Ateez, Hongjoong, have not been seen together for quite some time. Adding to the intrigue, recent reports suggest that Chaeri's contract as Ateez's choreographer with KQ Entertainment has come to an end.

Fans are left wondering about the reasons behind Chaeri's departure from her role as the mastermind behind Ateez's captivating dance routines. While she proved her talent and left an indelible mark on the group's performances, the sudden silence surrounding her professional life is leaving many perplexed.

Furthermore, the once inseparable couple of K-pop is raising eyebrows with their apparent absence from each other's lives. No sightings, no public appearances together, and no social media interactions have fans concerned about the status of their relationship.

In a world where idols' every move is scrutinized, the mysterious circumstances surrounding Chaeri and Hongjoong's recent actions are only fueling the rumor mill. Fans are eager to know if there's a rift between the two or if they are merely keeping their personal lives private.

As the duo's fans eagerly await any updates or official statements, the K-pop world is on edge, hoping for clarity and reassurance. Until then, the question marks continue to grow, and the mystery deepens, leaving everyone to wonder what's next for Chaeri and Hongjoong.

Twitter: Search results on #Chaejoong

💭 The total lack of updates about Chaeri and Hongjoong is seriously, like, causing me to lose it! Seriously, somebody, anyone, pretty please, shower us with some news about our nation's couple 🥹

💭 I am totally convinced that they're taking a break from the spotlight to have some super sweet quality time together, just the two of them! 🥰💕 Ahh, my fangirl heart is bursting with happiness at the thought! 😻💖 I'm beyond excited for their comeback, 'cause I know they'll be back stronger and happier 🌟💪 Let's all send them all the love and support they deserve

💭 I can't even deal with the fact that Chaeri won't be Ateez's choreographer anymore ❤️‍🩹

💭 I'm keeping my fingers crossed for Chaeri and Hongjoong to surprise us with some good news soon! They've been through so much together

💭 It's strange not seeing them together lately. I hope they're both doing well and that their relationship is as strong as ever!

💭 I hope Chaeri's decision to leave the choreographer role was her own choice and not due to any conflicts with Hongjoong

💭 I hope the media will give them space and not speculate too much about their relationship. They deserve to have their privacy respected

💭 Honestly, I think Chaeri and Hongjoong would be better off without each other. They don't seem to fit together, and it's time they moved on

💭 I can't wait for them to break up. Maybe then we can stop hearing about their relationship and focus on the music

Hongjoong at the airport after the article was published

Twitter: Search results on #Chaejoong

💭 Hongjoong's response has me even more anxious. I hope everything's alright with Chaeri

💭 Those who are fans of Hongjoong know that that smile on his face is a facade. HE WAS REALLY NERVOUS

💭 Maybe it's just a private matter they don't want to share with the public. Let's trust they'll handle it together

💭 Stop saying he was upset because they broke up, the reporter was clearly invading his personal space and assuming false information, Hongjoong did wisely to ignore him

💭 I won't believe they broke up even if they release an official statement. they are THE match

💭 I hope they're taking care of each other. It must be hard for them to deal with rumors and speculation

💭 I hope Chaeri finally realized that she deserves better 🤡

💭 We should remember they're not obligated to share every aspect of their lives with us

Chaeri on Weverse

Bouncy Challenge

Comments section

💬 ATE AND LEFT NO CRUMBS

💬 Yunho and Mingi don't care if their captain and Chaeri are still dating, they will keep being their babies 😩

💬 lets all clap for this woman who, before leaving her role, blessed all of us by putting together this choreo

💬 The fact that she can perform male group choreography better than men 😮‍💨💀

💬 we deserved a challenge with Chaeri and Hongjoong

💬 BABE WAKE UP CHAERI BOUNCY CHALLENGE JUST DROPPED

💬 I WANT THE BEHIND THE SCENES OF THIS TIKTOK

taglist: @alixnsuperstxr | @bts-dream | @enchantingbrowneyedgirl | @ycuvi | @cosmicwintr

[di-42]

Fiction recommendation!

March Marvelous Fictions

The wonderful stories I've read in March, hope you like them as much as I did! Tagging the writers whose Tumblr username I know so they know they are loved and appreciated.

WIPs:

My Heart Was Always Yours by @addledmongoose

It's a slightly alternative universe where Aziraphale and Crowley have somehow never met each other until the present day and each thinks the other is a human.

Each of them has been tasked by their respective head offices to retrieve Raphael's trumpet and each of them wants to find and destroy it. The trumpet will be sold on earth at an illegal auction and in order to gain entry to the auction they have to pretend to be married.

This fiction has it all: characters' personalities are spot on, humour, wit, dynamic, romance, everything!

At the beginning you might feel slightly put off by the first person narrative but give it a couple of chapters and it will flow.

You won't regret it!

Rated M.

The Escort by VinyamaDN @vinyama-23

Human AU where Crowley is an escort and meet Azirapahle via his job. This fiction has a deep level of introspection, it can go from very angst-y to very funny in a matter of two lines and it's a wonderful journey!

Rated E

Complete works:

Infernal Escapes by Journeytogallifrey

Human AU where Crowley works at an escape room company. Aziraphale has always wanted to try escape rooms and finally does. You will have to read it to know the rest but this was such a lovely story, very low angst and a happy ending. I believed I did squeal in excitement at the nod to the whovians in the Roman room chapter.

Rated: Teen and up.

The Lies I Would Tell For You by vampiremama

A season 3 fiction with a beautiful, heartbreaking prologue but do keep reading, there's a happy endong! Azirapahle and Crowley find each other again and work together to stop the second coming. Lovely and imaginative.

Rated: E

Between The Devil And The Deep Blue Sea by @adverbian

Lovely, lovely, lovely short fiction where Aziraphale and Crowley are finally free from heaven and hell but are still... well, Aziraphale and Crowley! So, it's not like they've talked about their feeling for each other. Until someone else expresses interest in Aziraphale and Crowley loses it! Funny and heartwarming!

Rated: E

The Christmas Wedding Scammer by @aracloptia

Human AU where Crowley is an unemployed florist whose name is very similar to the incredibly famous and successful retired wedding planner Antonio Cowley. Anathema and Newton are planning their marriage and Aziraphale is the maid of honour. Oh, and gabriel is the priest celebrating the wedding. I loved the humour in this fiction and the way it captures the characters' personalities. Absolutely delightful.

Rated: Teen and up

Fire, bridges and other sensible idioms by KiaraMGrey

This wonderful, funny, witty fiction had me hooked up from the first sentence! Aziraphale has a new neighbour and things don't run smoothly. Hilarious enemies-to-lovers human AU with some of the best hot scenes I've ever read. Seriously, go and read it!

Rated: E

My wee fiction, Second Chances And Second Choices

Not half as good as any of the others I'm recommending (Or the ones I've left out) but it's my baby, so... Kind of season 3 fiction, post (failed) second coming. Aziraphale is hoping this is the beginning of his life with Crowley but Crowley seems to be of a different opinion. Until old enemies turn up at Aziraphale's door. Low angst, happy ending. I wish it had better humour, I wish some bits didn't feel as much of a stretch as they do but fair enough.

Rated: Teen and up.

Collection:

Bad Communication by Nebz_AlphaCentauri @alphacentaurinebula

This collection has three season 3 works: Bad Advice (Up There With A Suggestion Box); Bad Management (Up There With Not Allowing Questions); Bad Communication (Almost Ineffably Bad But Not Quite).

The stories are set a week after Aziraphale goes to heaven. One is from Crowley's POV, one from Aziraphale's POV and in the third one they finally talk. Funny and Heartwarming.

Rated: Teen and up.

One shots:

They Almost Made A Miracle (1941) by Koala2all

Lovey take on what happened at the bookshop after the magic trip.

Rated: E

Back At The Bookshop by @scottishmushroom

Lovely take of what could happen if Aziraphale went back to see Crowley.

Not rated.

I hope you enjoy these amazing stories and if you do don't forget to let the writers know!

[marcussour]

Random thoughts about episode 100

Loved the complication of the mission with the whole "there's a faction of wizards within Aeor that are loyal to the prime deities and want to use their god destroyer specifically to kill the betrayers". The look on everyone faces as it dawned on them what was actually going on was brilliant.

I can't think of a better person to play the Everlight than Ashley (they've all been brilliant, as their respective gods, but there's something about Ashley's performance that has left me crying a couple of times already). Those subtle -and not so subtle- shades of Pike Trickfoot are brilliant.

I knew that Tal said before that his monk build was wild, but geesh. Also, Nick's multiclass build for the Dawnfather was insane.

SLITCH!!!!

Look, I know it was the lowest hanging fruit, to think that Hallis was gonna be either Ludinus, or in some way connected to either FRIDA or FCG, but I'm kinda glad it hasn't happened. Like, I know that we're bound to see either of those 3 referenced in some way, and my mind immediately drifted to Hallis, but I'm glad it wasn't that easy choice (granted, it still might happen and it might be a good reveal, like, the notion that Ludinus directly interacted and basically was saved because of divine intervention would be a nice twist, but still).

Loved the notion that, of all the things Ludinus decided to show the Bells Hells in the present, was the aeormatons speakeasy/sex club, and I respect it.

No, but seriously, that was a great detail, not only the dash of color and life and joy among the brutalist architecture of Aeor, but also the fact that it mostly came from aeormatons, but also some aeorian folks, even demons and celestials. And it was the work of art from the Archeart, while also basically being a Temple or a site of worship in more than one way.

Also, Abu's killed it with his monologue about death and beauty. The notion of finding meaning and sense and beauty and the divine in the finite was glorious.

Overall I'm really like the way the seed of the idea of the Divine Gate has already been planted, and this idea that, actually, the gods directly influencing the material plan is not a good thing in general. It does leave me thinking about what kind of conflict that might generate with the Dawnfather. I love Nick's portrayal of Ayden's as someone devoted, compassionate, calmed; but you can clearly see flashes of arrogance and pride.

I'm still waiting for a Bolo from Aeor reference somewhere.

"You hold within you a poem so beautiful that it could convince reality to kill a god" - Brilliant

I'M HUNGRY

We all know that The Emissary is basically a sentient nuclear bomb, right?

It would've been kinda funny if The Emissary had met Hallis, only for the mandatory Hidrogen Bomb vs Coughing Baby meme (and imagine if Hallis was Ludinus).

I'm still waiting for some kind of double crossing from the Betrayers, especially Asmodeus or Lolth. Also, this is wishful thinking, but maybe an appearance of mention of Zerxus. Dunno, kept thinking of his visions and the battle between Asmodeus and the Dawnfather.

[something-tofightfor]

Everybody's Waiting For The Next Surprise: Take A Chance And Roll The Dice

Pairing: Joel Miller x Female Reader (JTGTBG)

Word Count: 11.9k

Summary: Thanks to you, Joel and Ellie's first Halloween in Jackson isn't going to be just another day ... but in your attempt to surprise them and do something special, you bring up a few things that they've been unable to put entirely behind them.

Rating: M. This is a TLOU story - even though there's no actual violence in this.

Warnings: This story contains spoilers for TLOU season 1 and TLOU Part 1, but doesn't get into anything from the second game.

Author's Note: This was supposed to be a one shot, and I suppose you could read it that way - but there is another part coming, and it's gonna be spicy.

Takes place in the JTGTBG universe between Help Me Get Away From Myself and Your Eyes Outshine The Town.

Thank you for reading!

Song Suggestion: “This Is Halloween” by the cast of The Nightmare Before Christmas

“You’re seriously not going to let me take two?” Arms crossed over your chest, you stared at the woman standing in front of you. “I can’t remember a time when -”

“First come, first serve. One per person. You know the rules.” She sighed, shrugging her shoulders and then pointed at the sign on the wall that reiterated her message. “I can’t just let someone walk in here and take all of them.” 

“I don’t want all of them, Penny. I need two.” You knew what the issue was - knew exactly why the woman was being such a stickler to one of Jackson’s most loosely enforced rules - and you also knew you wouldn’t get her to budge. “One extra. For -”

“For Joel?” She laughed, the sound bitter. “Why don’t you have him come in and get his own?” 

“No. Not for him. For Ellie, Penny.” Stepping closer, you jabbed a finger in the direction of the small, fenced in area just outside of the main barn, where you’d left your first choice. “For a little girl that’s probably never gotten to have her own pumpkin on Halloween.” The look in her eyes changed for a moment but then Penny shook her head again, staring directly at you. 

“No. Rules are rules, and just because you’re friends with Tommy and Maria and fucking him, that doesn’t mean you get special treatment around here.” A large part of you wanted to argue further, but you had a feeling that if you did that, you’d be walking away from the barn empty handed. And I need at least one. 

“Fine. Have it your way.” Pointing at the doorway, you rolled your eyes. “I’ll take my one pumpkin and get out of here, Penny. Are you going to stand in the doorway and watch me pick it out, or -”

The woman didn’t speak, instead moving so that she could look out the window and at the piles of bright orange pumpkins that were waiting for people to claim them. Seriously? 

Heading back outside, you began to search through the selection, testing stems and looking for a larger option that had ample carving space. If you only got one, you wanted it to be the perfect pumpkin. Because she deserves it. 

It only took a few minutes for you to choose, picking one that was slightly taller than it was round, the stem curved enough that you could use it to lift the lid. Holding it up in Penny’s direction for emphasis, you made sure the woman saw what you’d chosen before you stuck it in the cart you typically used for groceries. 

You wanted to give the woman the finger on your way back toward the sidewalk, but instead chose to be the bigger person, fingers closed around the handle of the cart as you headed in the direction of Joel’s house. I cannot believe her. 

Lost in your thoughts, you didn’t hear the voice calling your name until someone grabbed your arm, their fingers closing around the material of the light jacket you wore. “What the fu-” Immediately letting go of the handle and reaching for the knife you always carried on your belt, you spun on the sidewalk, groaning at the sight of Tommy Miller beside you, both of his hands raised, palms out. 

“Whoa, it’s just me.” The man backed off, a grin spreading over his face. “I’ve been sayin’ your name for almost a block, what’s up?” 

“I could have stabbed you.” Covering your face with one hand, you shook your head. “Jesus, Tommy.” 

“I’m sorry.” He laughed, moving closer. “But seriously, what’s up? You look like you’re on a mission. Where you goin’ with that thing?”

“I… wanted to surprise Ellie.” Laughing, you bit your lip. “Figured I’d take two of these to their place, and show her how to carve. Everything I’ve heard about the QZs and FEDRA school make me believe she’s never done it before, and I just thought … her first Halloween here? Thought she might like it.” 

“There’s only one in there.” He frowned. “You going to share?”

“I’m going to have to. Penny’s in the barn today, and she’s sticking to the one per person rule, even though they’re not both for me, and bringing Ellie here to get one would ruin the surprise and waste a ton of time.” Tommy stuck a hand on his hip, and for long moments, all you saw was Joel, their stance so similar it was uncanny. “I could ask Joel to come and get one for her, but like I said, I wanted it to be a surprise. And since I’m heading out for a patrol the day after tomorrow, we’ve gotta do this tonight.” 

“C’mon.” He gestured to your cart. “Wheel that thing back with me. I’ll get you another pumpkin.” 

You knew better than to argue, and so you did what he asked, the two of you returning to the barn. Penny was waiting for you at the door, her arms still crossed. “You’re not going to change my mind, Tommy. She’s already got her -”

“It ain’t for her.” Tommy shrugged, running a hand through his hair. “Haven’t gotten mine yet this year. You gonna tell me no, too?” The woman’s eyes flashed in the late afternoon sunlight, and you could almost see the smoke coming from her ears, but she stepped to the side, gesturing for Tommy to pass. “I need your help in here. I’ve always been shit at pickin’ a pumpkin.” 

Fighting the urge to smirk at the other woman as you passed, you pushed the cart up against the front of the building and then stepped into the yard, watching as Tommy bent down and started looking through the gourds. “Make sure it has a stem. And make sure it’s not rotting anywhere.” He hummed in agreement, easily hefting a few of the larger ones out of the way. “It should probably sit flat, too. That way it won’t tip over.” Chewing on your lip, you leaned in and whispered your next sentence. “I picked one out for Ellie already, and it’s by the side of the building, but -” 

Tommy straightened up, turning to face you. “You shoulda said that before. I’ll take that one instead of pretending I know what the hell I’m doing.” There was no stopping your laugh, and only seconds later, Tommy’s arm was around your shoulders as you led him back to where you’d left the second pumpkin. “Oh, that’s a good one.” He squeezed your arm before letting go, bending at the knee to pick it up and hold it close with one curled arm. “She’s gonna love it.” I hope so. 

“The special treatment you get is unbelievable.” Penny’s voice cut in, the woman’s tone frigid as she glared at you. “I don’t understand it. We all live here. We should all get -”

“What I don’t understand, Penny, is why you’re taking out the fact that a grown man made the decision that he didn’t want to be with you on a teenager that has nothing to do with it.” Tommy rarely raised his voice in public, but the tone he was taking with Penny shocked you. “There isn’t any special treatment. This friendship - my wife’s friendships - don’t determine what goes on in Jackson, the same way that the way you feel about someone else’s relationship choices shouldn’t impact how you do your job.” He stepped closer, shaking his head. “Get over it, Penny. Be an adult. There’s much more important shit to worry about, ain’t there?” 

She watched you in stunned silence as the two of you passed her, Tommy depositing the pumpkin into the cart atop the one you chose. He stepped next to you when you got to the sidewalk, shoving his hands into his jacket pockets. “Thank you.” Voice quiet, you let out a long sigh. “I’m sorry you had to step in. It was stupid. I should have -”

“It’s not stupid, she’s acting like a fuckin’ high schooler.” Tommy nudged you with his elbow, glancing over. “They fucked twice when he was still trying to come to terms with everything he dealt with over the last year. He told her that’s what it was. It’s not like they were dating, and she’s treatin’ you like you stole him from her.” 

He was blunt, but it was one of the things you loved most about the younger Miller. “Joel does what he wants, Tommy. I’ve only known him for a few months, and even I know that. Nobody - except maybe Ellie - could make him do a damn thing he didn’t want to.” 

He chuckled at that, nodding. “He was the same way with Sarah. My brother’s always been stubborn as shit, but that little girl had him wrapped around his finger from the day she was born. Never thought I’d see him that way again, but watchin’ him with Ellie since they got back?” Tommy’s smile was sad, the man returning his gaze to you when you stopped at the corner. “It hurts, but in a good way.” 

You understood - reaching out to squeeze his arm. “Seeing you with Ellie and Joel has been great too, Tommy. I’m glad you got your family back.” He looked torn for a few seconds but then smiled again, blinking back tears before he leaned in to hug you tightly. 

“Always had a family in Jackson, even before they got here.” You felt his lips on your forehead and heard him sniff. “Startin’ with you.” He backed away, watching your expression as your lower lip trembled. Damn you, Miller. “Now go. Ellie’s gonna be done with school and her work soon, and Joel should be coming back in from that house he’s fixin’ on the other side of town not too long after.” Glancing up, you checked the position of the sun and then nodded in return. 

“Thank you, Tommy. For doing this for Ellie, and for … what you just said about me.” Wetting your lips, you closed your eyes. “I’m sorry you won’t get two pumpkins this year. Maria’s going to be disappointed.” 

“She won’t.” His smile widened, the dimples on his cheeks deep. “We planted our own this year. They’re smaller than this, but still good enough for a couple pies and some bread.” 

“Sneaky, sneaky, Tommy Miller.” You both laughed, Tommy hugging you again before he stepped back, turning toward his house. “Tell Maria hi, and that I’ll see her when I get back.” 

“You can tell her yourself.” He turned his head back to look at you over his shoulder. “I switched with Abraham. It’s you ‘an me on patrol, so she’ll be there to say goodbye.” He paused. “Don’t slice your fingers or anything off tonight, alright? I might need you with that bow of yours.” Laughing, you assured him you wouldn’t, and then the man continued walking away from you. 

The news made you happy - you always felt safer with Tommy on patrol. And it’ll make Joel relax a little bit, too. Taking a deep breath, you turned back toward Rancher Street, the heavy cart rolling over the sidewalk in front of you. 

— 

You got everything ready in only a few minutes - laying an old tablecloth over the dining room table, setting the two pumpkins atop it along with a few knives in varied sizes, two ice cream scoops and a wooden spatula with a grooved edge. You’d need a bucket, too, but didn’t want to grab that before Ellie came in. 

Each day that passed made you feel more comfortable in Joel’s house, even when he wasn’t there - and you’d already been given explicit permission by both of them to come in whenever you wanted, which made it even easier. 

Things were moving quickly. You’d shared your first kiss only a few months earlier, you and Joel baring your feelings to the best of your abilities and taking the steps necessary to form an actual relationship, which had culminated the night of his birthday at the 7 Cabins, only a month prior. There were still days when things were difficult, when Joel pulled away or you pushed, and you knew that they wouldn’t end overnight. But we’re working on them. Neither of us has done this in… a long time. 

He’d had Tess and you’d had a couple longer term relationships while in Jackson, but the two of you was different, and you both knew it. And it’s scary. Sipping your drink, you eyed your backpack where it sat next to the TV. But it’s worth it. 

The front door opened and shut, and you heard footsteps in the hall, along with the sound of Ellie’s backpack hitting the ground before she called out your name. “In here, Ellie. Waiting for you.” She peeked in moments later, her ponytail askew and her cheeks flushed. “Did you run home?”

“No. Maybe. I hurried. You said you had a surprise?” She stepped through the doorway, arms crossed over her chest. “What’s the surprise?” So impatient. 

Smiling, you stood and gestured for her to follow you, the girl trailing behind as you moved into the dining room. “I know you like Halloween, Ellie, or at least the idea of it.” She agreed, stopping beside you next to the table though you saw a fleeting look of unease on her face. Wonder what that’s about. “So I thought we could do something that used to be really popular for Halloween, since I’m pretty sure you never have before.” 

“Pumpkins? What are we going to do with ‘em?” She stepped closer, reaching out to run her fingers over the surface of one. “Knives? Are we going to cut them up? Make a pie, or -”

“Pumpkin pie is Thanksgiving. But yeah, I can make one for you if you want. Some muffins and pumpkin bread, too. There should be enough of the insides for that.” Here we go. “Have you ever carved a pumpkin, Ellie? I know you’ve seen them here, but … before, I mean. In Boston?” 

“No.” She turned to face you, her eyes wide. “I have not ever carved a fucking pumpkin. How do I do it? Do I just stab it? Do I -” Laughing, you put your hand over hers, preventing her from picking up one of the knives or reaching for the switchblade you knew she always carried. 

“There are steps, Ellie. That’s why there are two of them, so I can show you.” Her smile widened, the teenager whispering the word cool, and then Ellie nodded. “I do need a bucket, though. A clean one if you guys have it, for the pumpkin guts.” She frowned, blinking. “I didn’t want to use the laundry one, because of the soap, but -”

“I’ve got one in my room.” She pointed. “I use it as a trash can, but it’s pretty clean. Just paper. We can rinse it out first. Let me get it.” She didn’t say anything before turning and sprinting from the room, the sound of the door slamming hitting your ears a few seconds later. Good. She’s excited. 

You headed into the kitchen, deciding to wait for her there, and when you heard the door shut again a little while later, you turned the water on, wishing for the hundredth time that Joel’s hot water tank was functional. “I’m in here, Ellie. Bring the -”

“What do you think you’re doing.” You froze at the sound of his voice, Joel’s tone slightly accusatory. Oh, no. You hadn’t wanted to bring up the pumpkins with Joel, thinking that it would be easier to explain after he saw Ellie carving one of them. It was still difficult to bring Sarah and Joel’s past with her up in most cases - but with those few words, you wondered if that had been the wrong call. 

“Joel, I -” Turning the water off, you spun to face him, eyes closed. “I was just trying to -”

“You were gonna start without me?” Opening your eyes, you saw that he had a pumpkin cradled under one arm, the man fighting back a smile. “And in my own damn house, too.” Exhaling, you felt yourself deflate, the worry turning into relief as you crossed the space.

“I thought you were pissed, Joel. The way you sounded, it … I just …” Reaching for him, you laid a hand on his toned forearm, head shaking back and forth. “I wanted it to be a surprise for Ellie, and part of me thought that if I told you what I wanted to do, you’d say no.” His face fell, but he nodded, looking down at the floor and then back at you. 

“I might have. I haven’t done this in … you know. But I saw the sign on the board remindin’ people to pick their pumpkins up of they wanted ‘em, and I thought Ellie would like it. That girl told me a buncha times about how she liked scary shit even though she hadn’t seen a lot of it. I thought … I thought that I could explain to her what she needed to do.” He bit down on the corner of one lip, frowning. “But you got two of them. How? The sign said -”

“Penny wouldn’t let me take two. Tommy… just happened to be walking by as I was leaving, and he gave Ellie his. I’ve been able to take more than one other years, but not … not this time.” 

“She gave me a hard time, too.” Joel grinned, the corners of his eyes crinkling. “Mumbled under her breath about how we were all playin’ the system, and I didn’t understand but now … I guess I do.” 

He turned and you followed him into the other room, Joel setting the third pumpkin down on the table. “We might need two buckets now. Separate all the seeds from the -”

“I’m back.” Ellie entered the room, holding the black bucket in one hand. “I used the hose outside. It’s clean and -” She finally saw Joel, her smile widening. “You’re home. Did you see the… wait. There’s three. Does that mean you’re going to make a pumpkin with us? Do you even know how to do one? I bet mine’s cooler than yours will be.” 

“Ellie, slow down.” Joel reached out, his large palm landing on top of her head to ruffle her hair. “No way in hell I’m gonna be around you holdin’ a knife if you’re all riled up.” She huffed but took a breath, trying to steady herself. “I do think we should take this into the other room, though. I know this table’s bigger and taller, but we can put somethin’ on the TV. There’s gotta be a Halloween movie in that stack of ‘em out there.” 

“About that.” You bit your lip, rubbing at the back of one hand with your other. “I brought one with me. It’s stupid and it’s mostly for kids, but Ellie, I think you’ll love it, and …” She was already moving - grabbing one of the pumpkins and heading for the other room, leaving you and Joel behind without a second thought. 

“I haven’t seen her this excited in a while. Thank you.” Joel reached for you, thumbing over your cheek. “And thank you for not asking beforehand. I’m not mad. It’s just … hard, y’know.” I do. “You -”

“Will you two quit being mushy in there and come out here?” Ellie called out from the other room, her voice much louder than necessary. “Just kiss her already. I want to cut this thing open.” You snorted back a laugh, but Joel didn’t join, the man’s fingers curling against your cheek as he angled your face to meet your lips with his. 

There was no time for you to get carried away, and you both knew it, but the kiss was exactly what you needed after a long day in the greenhouses and then the encounter with Penny. He lingered, fingers curling slightly against your ear, but when Joel pulled away, it was you that spoke first. “We better get in there. Ellie having access to sharp objects and being annoyed doesn’t sound like a good time for either of us.” 

Joel laughed with you, picking up both remaining pumpkins so that you could grab everything else and follow him into the living room. Ellie had already pushed the table close to the couch, opening up the entire center of the space. “I figured the table wouldn’t be big enough so we could all sit on the floor. But Joel, I know your knees suck so if you need to be on the couch, we can -”

“Shut it, kiddo.” You spread the cloth out, and a few seconds later Joel was on the ground with Ellie, getting the knives, bucket and pumpkins organized. “I might be creaky but that doesn’t mean I need the old folks home treatment yet.” You laughed but Ellie only looked confused, the girl’s eyes moving between the two of you. Of course she wouldn’t know that. 

“Before, Ellie? When people got older, sometimes they’d go live in a place with other people their age. Sort of like a hospital, but it didn’t always involve medical care.” You spoke as you rummaged through your backpack, pulling out a DVD case and a permanent marker. “It was like an apartment building for old people - no steps, larger bathrooms, caregivers on site if they were needed…. It was a nice place for people to go when they couldn’t - or didn’t want to - stay at home anymore because they were lonely or couldn’t get around too well.” You turned the TV on and pushed power on the DVD player, keeping your back to them. “Jackson doesn’t have a place like that. So when Joel’s knees finally give out, we’ll just have to put him out in your garage, and then you get the house.” 

Turning back to face them, you saw Ellie unsuccessfully fighting back her laughter as Joel scowled up at you, his arms crossed. “The two of you. Christ. Unbelievable. I thought Ellie on her own was bad, but -.” 

“Oh, come on. You’ve got a few years left before we have to worry about it.” Grabbing the remote, you took the few steps necessary to get back to them, lowering yourself onto the ground and pulling your pumpkin into your lap while Joel muttered something under his breath that you couldn’t make out. I’m sure I’ll hear about that later. “So this movie was one I watched as a kid. Joel’s probably seen it, too. It’s a musical, sort of but …” Pressing play, you waited a few seconds until the DVD menu popped up, Joel swearing, the sound turning incredulous. I can’t tell if that’s a good thing or a bad thing. “It’s called The Nightmare Before Christmas, but -”

“Christmas? What? That doesn’t make sense.” Ellie scrunched her nose, shaking her head. “You said Halloween. You said -” 

“Give it a chance, kiddo. It is a Halloween movie.” He reached forward, taking the marker from you and using it to draw a circle on the top of his pumpkin. “And I’m positive you’re gonna want to watch it again so you can pay attention.”  Joel handed her the marker, and then pointed to what he’d done. “Make a mark on the top, big enough for your hand and then some.” She started to draw, Joel nodding. “You can make a notch in it or somethin’ so you know exactly how the lid fits, but if you cut it at an angle, it won’t matter.” 

“Yeah, Ellie. Measure twice, cut once.” You winked at her when she glanced up, the girl smiling even though you could tell she was still a little confused. But when you met Joel’s eyes, he was looking at you with annoyance, though his eyes were bright. “Isn’t that what contractors and architects and construction workers -” 

“Fuck you.” He picked up one of the knives, beginning to cut the pumpkin’s top off in quick, sure movements. “I hope yours is too small and you have to make it bigger and then the lid doesn’t fit.” Giving yourself a few seconds to watch him - the man using the knife to deftly cut through the top of the gourd, you chewed on the inside of your lip. It’s so strange to see him using a knife to do something so normal. 

Forcing yourself to look away after moment more of watching the way his fingers looked wrapped around the handle, you drew your circle, too, recapping the marker and then picking up one of the knives you’d brought. 

The familiar sound - and smell - of freshly cut pumpkins filled your nose moments later, and as you cut, you let yourself think back to the years before the outbreak, the times you’d carved pumpkins with your family and friends and the way they’d looked in your windows or on your front steps, candles burning brightly from inside. I miss it. I miss it even now, and - 

“So they’re all dead?” Ellie was watching the TV, her knife sticking halfway out of the pumpkin as the opening song played. “And they just live in a Halloween town? And there’s a skeleton that -”

“Yes.” Shaking your head, you tried  to focus. “I actually had a really bad nightmare about Jack when I was younger. He was in my house and on my steps and I was terrified. But the older I got, the more I appreciated it.” 

“This movie was for kids? These characters are …” She shivered. “Creepy.” 

“She didn’t like ‘em much at first either.” Joel spoke then, his voice quiet. “Sarah. We watched this because Tommy and I grew up with it, but it took a little while for her to understand.” Joel deftly sliced the bottom of the lid, cutting off the attached seeds and guts before tossing them into the bucket. “Then she’d run around the house singin’ this song for weeks.” 

“It’s a catchy song.” Ellie nodded, returning her attention to her pumpkin. “They’re still creepy though.” You agreed, finishing with your lid, too, and then glancing inside at the contents of your pumpkin. So many seeds. Perfect. “Ok, so now what?” Ellie put her lid to the side, looking at Joel. “Cut a face into -”

“Now you haveta clean it.”  You picked up a scoop, showing her what to do. “I usually would scrape as much as I could away and then dump it into a bucket, and then go back and do it again.” Pointing at the spatula, you continued. “And then when most of the insides are out, you use that to thin the walls so that when you cut a design into it, it’s not too thick and you can see the light.” 

She nodded, but instead of picking the other scoop up, she reached inside with her bare hand, the girl’s mouth falling open in shock as she closed her fingers around the contents. “Gross. It’s so slimy.” She didn’t stop, though, pulling out handfuls of seeds and adding to the bucket. Joel made the most of it, reaching for the other scoop and beginning to clean the inside of his. 

You couldn’t help watching as he did it, the muscles in his forearm flexing with each twist of his wrist, his lips pressed together in concentration as he stared downward. Wait a second. Wiping your hands on the cloth, you set your pumpkin down and then stood up, reaching for your backpack. You hadn’t wanted to make a big deal of it, but figured that - as a part of your secondary job in Jackson - it was necessary. 

“I’m gonna take a picture of the two of you, alright?” They both looked up, Ellie’s eyes wide and Joel’s full of surprise. “We’re saving all of these memory cards so that in the future, people will know that we had a life here. That we … still did things like this.” Ellie grinned and then before you could speak, she pulled a handful of seeds and guts out, leaning over to dangle it in Joel’s face. 

He burst out laughing and so did you, the man flicking a couple seeds at the girl as you snapped one photo and then another, checking to see what they looked like before turning the camera off and setting it behind you on the table. 

It took you about ten minutes, but the three of you got the pumpkins mostly cleaned out, the bucket about half-full of orange innards. You grabbed the spatula, holding it up. “We only have one of these so we’ll have to share, but Ellie, this part’s really important.” The girl leaned in, eyes on you. “Scrape the side of the pumpkin that you’re going to carve to make it thinner. You want it to be a little over a half inch thick so that you can cut through it, but not so thin that it’s going to collapse or rip when you move the knife.” 

Joel wordlessly pushed to his feet, the man grunting quietly and using a hand on his knee for balance after a series of quiet cracks. “Don’t say a word. Either of you.” You and Ellie shared another look, the girl sticking her tongue out at the man while he headed for the kitchen. “Be right back.” 

Both of you watched the TV for a few seconds, your pumpkin securely in your lap and Ellie’s laying on its side on the floor in front of her. She was engrossed in the movie just like you thought she’d be, and neither of you heard Joel reenter the room until he said your name, nudging you with a soft kick. “Here.” Looking up, you saw that he was holding a cup out to you, a lopsided smile on his lips. “Brought you somethin’ to drink.” 

It was cider,  but his wink told you that he’d added something to it - and a sniff confirmed at least a splash of whiskey. “Thank you.” He handed Ellie a cup next, the girl eagerly taking it from him and tipping it back against her lips. He set his down on the table and then reached into his back pocket, pulling out two large metal serving spoons and holding one out in your direction. 

“Give the good one to Ellie. She’s never done this before.” Nodding, you took it from him and tossed the one you’d been using to the girl. “This way we don’t have to wait and do this one person at a time.” 

The three of you went back to what you were doing, the sounds of scraping mingling with the dialogue on the TV, and for long minutes, you were content. Joel started humming along first, and when you glanced up at him, you saw that he was still scraping but was eyeing Ellie, his lips turned upward in a soft smile. It would have made a great picture, but instead of ruining the moment, you just watched him, deciding to keep the memory for yourself. He’s doing alright. He’s handling this better than I thought. 

“How’s this, pumpkin master?” Joel tipped the opening in his at you, arching a brow. “That thin enough, or still a little too thick?” Leaning over, you narrowed your eyes while you stuck your hand in, running your fingers along the inside of the pumpkin. Wait a minute. 

“Why are you asking me? You’ve been building things for how many years and you can’t eyeball a -” 

“Needed your seal of approval before I do anything else.” He smirked at you, tipping the pumpkin over above the bucket to empty it once you’d removed your hand. “And you’re so good at giving directions that I -”

“Anyway.” Ellie cleared her throat. “If the two of you are done being weird, I think I’m done. And since I’ve never actually done this before, I really do need someone to tell me if it’s OK.” She chewed on her lip while she waited, and when you made no move to reach for it, Joel set his pumpkin down and held out both hands, taking hers. “I think it’s good, but maybe I need to take more from the bottom and the top, and -”

“Nah, Ellie.” He ran his hand along the interior, shaking his head. “You did it right.” Joel blinked twice and then tapped on the inside, his other hand flat on the outside. “I can feel it vibratin’, so it’s ready to go.” She took the pumpkin back from him and even though she thanked him and smiled, clearly pleased with herself, your focus was on Joel, the man’s eyes cast down and toward his lap, one hand pressed flat against the outside of his hollowed-out pumpkin. 

You knew that Sarah had been twelve when he’d lost her, and that she’d been fiercely independent, just like Ellie. And you also knew that despite the age difference between the girls, Joel teaching Ellie things like carving pumpkins or riding a horse or about old movies for the first time brought up the kinds of memories for him that he’d pushed to the back of his mind for more than 20 years. But this is something parents did with their kids, that families did together, and he’s … shit. 

“My sister and I,” you started, blowing out a breath. “We’d carve a pumpkin each every year.” Joel’s head snapped up, the pain in his eyes fading quickly as he waited to see what you’d say. “Ellie, we were really competitive when it came to stuff - who could swim the most laps, who could draw better pictures, who got their chores done faster … it was ridiculous. But Halloween pumpkins were something else entirely.” 

“Really? You don’t seem … are you saying that we’re having a contest? Because that isn’t fair. I haven’t ever -” 

“No. There’s no contest here. But back then, every year? We’d try to come up with the craziest design we could, carve them in secret and then have our family and friends choose which one they liked best without knowing who did what.” You stared down at your pumpkin, running one finger along one of the grooves. “Even when she went to college and then I did, too, we’d still … there was this website that you could connect with all of your friends on, even if they were in different cities or states, and we’d both post pictures so all of our school friends and family could vote.” 

“Tommy had an account on there, too.” Joel grinned, tapping his thumbs against the surface of his pumpkin. “Used it to hit on all the UT sorority girls at first and then he branched out and only talked to women goin’ to law school.” 

“He must have been building a rolodex for when he needed legal representation.” Joel snorted and you laughed, too, breathing a sigh of relief. Situation deflected. “I can’t imagine Tommy going out on dates. To be honest, I can’t imagine him with anyone but Maria, but that’s only because that’s all I know.” 

“He dated a lot.” Joel used one corner of the cloth to wipe the pumpkin dry, glancing up at you as Ellie focused on the TV, the girl only halfway listening to you. “Got serious a couple times but Tommy was … wild enough for the both of us.” 

“I’m sure you had your share of dates, Joel.” Arching a brow, you smiled at him. “I’ve seen pictures of you from when you were young.” And you’re even better looking now, which seems kind of impossible.

“Lotta opportunities,” he sighed, rolling his eyes. “But like I’ve said, I didn’t take many of ‘em up on it.” He went quiet for a few seconds and then said Ellie’s name, reaching out to touch her arm. “Hey. You ready to start carvin’?” 

“I’ve been ready.” He narrowed his eyes at her but the girl paid him no mind, reaching for one of the knives. “Do I just -”

“You can either just cut, or you can draw a design first.” He held up the Sharpie, wiggling it back and forth. “That way you’d have lines to follow.” 

“I used to trace patterns by poking holes into the pumpkins.” You leaned back, resting your hands on the floor. “And then you rub flour on it so you can see the little white spots and -”

“That’s complicated.” Joel waved his hand. “Draw on it. Cut it out. Done.” 

“We should keep our designs secret.” Ellie’s smile widened. “Like you and your sister did. We won’t have anyone to vote, but I guess we could ask Tommy and Maria.” She pointed at your camera. “You could take a picture of them, too.” Your chest tightened at the girl’s suggestion - even though you hadn’t been thinking of that as an option, it made sense. 

“If … if you want, Ellie. I usually just make a simple face now, but -”

“No.” She shook her head. “No, make it something fun. I’m going to try to. I want to make a -”

“Well now, if you tell us, it won’t be a surprise, hmm?” Joel sighed. “You gonna take this or not?” Ellie snatched the marker from him and scooted back, making it more difficult to see what she drew. “Guess so.” 

While you waited for the girl to choose her design, you eyed the TV, the weight of the pumpkin settled on your lap, both hands still flat on the floor. It felt good to be with Joel and Ellie, and even though you’d continued traditions in the years after the outbreak - celebrating holidays, giving people gifts, attending weddings and funerals and parties - even with Maria’s family, it had always felt a little hollow. But not tonight. Not with them. Not … this. 

The touch of Joel’s hand atop one of yours startled you back into focus, and you looked quickly at him, confused. But he was watching you intently, the man nodding twice as soon as he’d caught your eye. Before you could ask him what was wrong, he mouthed the words thank you at you before giving you a tight smile. He’d picked up on what you’d done - and you were glad, because it meant that the night could go on as planned. “I’m done.” Ellie spoke up then and moments later, the marker went flying past you, bouncing off of Joel’s chest and into his pumpkin, all three of you gasping in surprise. “Holy shit, did that just happen?” 

“It did. Bet you couldn’t do that again if you tried, though.” Joel stuck his hand in after it and then followed Ellie’s lead, moving backwards and turning his body so that neither of you could see what he drew. Ellie was staring at her pumpkin and frowning, the girl’s head tilted to one side. 

“It doesn’t need to be perfect, Ellie. And you can always smooth out rough edges after you finish.” Gesturing to her, you continued. “I suggest starting at the middle of your design and then working out. Much less chance the pumpkin breaks that way.” She nodded, her eyes widening. “Do -”

“Let me have your camera.” She pointed, the girl biting her lower lip before she said anything else. “You took pictures of us, but none of yourself.” You knew that you wouldn’t be able to tell her no and so you handed the device over, Ellie looking at a few of the buttons before she set it down. “When you least expect it, I’m going to take the best picture of you.” 

“Here.” Joel stuck his hand out, the uncapped marker held between his fingers. “Your turn.” You were still undecided on your design - you hadn’t been lying when you said you usually did something simple. But if they’re both doing something a little more complicated, then I will, too. 

It took you a few seconds of thought, but then you figured it out, spinning the pumpkin to give yourself the right surface … and started drawing. 

Aside from the movie dialogue in the background, the room was silent as the three of you carved. When you glanced up at Joel and Ellie, you saw that they were both deep in concentration - Ellie’s frown prominent and the tip of Joel’s tongue poking out from between his teeth. 

It was the first time that the three of you had done anything so domestic together, and the significance of the moment wasn’t lost on you .Next is Thanksgiving. And then Christmas and … 

You hadn’t allowed yourself to be truly excited about holidays in a long time. But this year … I can be. You weren’t officially a member of their little unit, despite your closeness with Joel and your friendship with Ellie. There was still a definite disconnect between the relationship you had with them and what they had with each other, and while you didn’t want to intrude, a large part of you hoped that you’d be invited to partake in more of Ellie’s firsts. And Joel’s, too. 

“That guy’s an asshole.” Ellie’s voice broke your concentration, the sound of it causing you to look up at her and then at the TV, the image of Santa spinning at the center of a roulette wheel filling the screen. “Not as much of an asshole as that doctor thing holding the doll prisoner, but …”

“Yeah.” You laughed, agreeing. “But he’s a good villain” You watched for a minute longer and then returned to your pumpkin, the knife sliding easily through the orange flesh of it. 

Ellie finished first, the girl setting her pumpkin down and squinting at it, head tilted to one side, and you were vaguely aware of her picking up the camera again. But you knew when she took a picture because the flash went off, both you and Joel looking up and at her in surprise. “Oops.” She smiled, checking the screen and then looked back at you. “It was a good one at least.” 

You eyed Joel, the man shrugging and then looking down at what he was doing, and so you did the same. Part of you was anxious to see the picture - there were so few of you from throughout the years, and none of you and Joel in existence - but another part of you wanted no part in it, because of what a picture of the two of you symbolized. 

Just as Jack was beginning his mission to rescue Santa, you finished carving, too, carefully tipping your pumpkin over so that the pieces you’d cut out could fall free. “All done.” Reaching over to grab your lid, you set it on top, eyeing your work. “Just needs a candle, and I’m set.” 

“We’re waiting on you, Joel.” Ellie’s tone was teasing, but when he didn’t even acknowledge her, his eyes cast down on the pumpkin in his lap, the girl looked at you, a worried expression on her face. I know. 

“Hey. Joel.” He finally looked up, the line between his brows deep. “I’ve got two candles in my bag, so you’ll need to get one for yourself. Ellie and I are going to go outside and put ours on the steps. Come out when you’re done, alright? We won’t look until all three are lit.” He nodded, chest rising and falling as he took a deep breath and then released it. “Take your time.” 

“I’ll go out first.” Ellie stood and then picked her pumpkin up carefully, the design facing her body. “Where are the -”

“I’ll bring them.” Jutting your chin toward the doorway, you paused. “Just go, Ellie. I’ll be right there.” She left the room, the door closing softly behind her a few seconds later. You reached for the remote, pausing the movie - and then you turned your attention to Joel. “Everything alright?” 

You knew it wasn’t. You knew that the night had been taxing for him, despite the calm demeanor he’d presented for most of it. But he can’t ignore it. “I’ll be fine.” He smiled, the expression genuine. “Memories is all. Can’t be easy for you, either.”

“It’s not. But seeing how excited Ellie got helps.” Pushing to your feet, you wiped your hands on the front of your jeans, picking the pumpkin up with one arm. “Take as much time as you need, Joel. We’ll be outside. Don’t forget your candle.” He assured you he wouldn’t, and after grabbing your backpack, you headed outside to find Ellie. Your face split into a grin when you saw her standing at the bottom of the steps, both hands on her hips. 

“He’s sad.” She didn’t look up as you approached, the girl’s voice quiet but certain. “Because this reminds him of Sarah, and I’m not Sarah, and -” Oh, Ellie. 

“Ellie, he’s sad because he used to do this with his daughter and now he can’t.” Setting the bag down, you closed your eyes, thinking. “Just like I’m sad that I can’t do with with my sister anymore. But now we both get to carve pumpkins with you. It might not be the same, but that’s not a bad thing.” Crouching down, you made sure the carving was still facing you before you settled the pumpkin on the step above hers and then reached for your bag, flipping the top open. “You’re not Sarah. And you’re not Josie, either. You’re you. And getting to help you with this for the first time is … it’s special, Ellie. For me, and for him, too.” 

“My… friend Riley took me to a Halloween store in this old mall in Boston.” She blinked a few times and then tipped her head up, locking eyes with you. “She knew how much I loved creepy stuff, and how much I’d like it. She just wanted me to see something like that, just once, and then she… and the whole time tonight I was just wondering if she ever got to make a pumpkin. If she ever had anyone to hang out with like this, or teach her what to do.” She swiped at her face with the back of one hand, shaking her head. “Sometimes I think he forgets that he isn’t the only one that’s ever lost someone important.” 

So that’s what that look was for earlier. You knew that there were a lot of unresolved feelings between Joel and Ellie, but that was the first time she’d outright criticized him in front of you and meant it. “He knows, El. But people grieve differently. He hasn’t gotten to do so many of these things for so long, so for him, it’s like the first time all over again. But at the same time, he’s remembering the way it was before.” Reaching out, you settled your hand on her shoulder. “I wish I could say it gets easier, but it doesn’t always.” 

“Even being here?” She blinked back tears, her eyes shining. “Where it’s safe?”

“Even being here. Things are more normal, but nothing will ever be the way it used to be.” Finally breaking eye contact, you put a candle into your pumpkin and then dug for the lighter you’d brought, handing it over to her. “You light yours. And then come and stand behind me, alright?” 

She did what you told her to, the girl handing the lighter back to you once a soft glow emanated from her pumpkin, and then settled the lid into place. She eyed it for a few seconds and then grinned, climbing the steps to stand behind you as you spun your pumpkin forward, lighting the candle and putting the lid on. You stood then, stepping to the side and waiting next to her. “Everything look good?”

“Yeah. It does.” She looked up at you, the girl’s frown deep. “I think I did OK.”

“I’m sure you did.” You stared down the street, the porch lights on the houses illuminated on the route back toward the center of town. The wind had picked up slightly after the sunset, dry leaves skittering down the street, and when you crossed your arms over your chest and shivered, you felt the girl move closer, her arm bumping yours. “Ellie?” She looked up again, silent. “I’m really sorry that you lost Riley. And even if she never got to carve a pumpkin or celebrate Halloween, she still got to take you to that store. She got to do something nice for you - something that meant something, you know?” 

“Yeah.” She sniffled, nodding. “I guess so.” You wouldn’t convince her - she needed time the same way anyone in her situation would have. So you didn’t push, instead tipping your head back and looking up at the stars above you. Even after nearly 20 years, being able to see them so clearly still shocked you - the pinpricks of light twinkling overhead. 

“Sorry it took me so long.” Joel’s voice startled you and your chin snapped in his direction. Both of you watched as he headed down the walkway toward where you stood. “Brought your camera too.” He held it up, the strap wound around his knuckles. “Figured you could take pictures before we go inside.” I will. 

Joel waited for you to take the camera from him and then nodded once, bending over to put his pumpkin down and flip it so that it faced forward. “Here’s the lighter.” Reaching up, he took it from you, the man’s fingertips gliding over yours. 

“We didn’t look.” Ellie spoke up, both of you watching as he stuck his hand through the top opening and lit the wick. “We waited, Joel.” 

“Yeah?” He stared at her, smirking. “‘Preciate it.” Joel rose to his feet, moving to stand next to you. It only took a few seconds for him to slide an arm around you, his hand squeezing your hip as he leaned in to speak into your ear. “Get that camera ready.” Oh, that’s a good plan.  

Turning it on, you spun the dial to the low-light setting, nodding once. “Ready?” You looked over at him and then at Ellie, using one hand to gesture toward the bottom of the steps. “What are you waiting for? You first, Ellie.” 

She was excited - you could see it on her face and in the way she scrambled down the few steps, but you and Joel hung back, just watching. Lifting the camera, you rested your finger against the shutter, and moments later you pressed it, the quiet noise almost inaudible over the girl’s gasp. Got it. Oh, that was a good call, Joel. Her jaw dropped, Ellie’s hand going to her hip as her eyes widened - and then she smiled, nodding faster and faster before she bent down to get a closer look. “Oh, this looks so fucking cool.” Exhaling, she glanced back up at you. “Are you coming? Don’t you want to see -”

Joel nudged you forward, his hand moving to the center of your back, and then the two of you stepped toward Ellie. Oh, of course. I should have known. 

Ellie’s pumpkin was a much better effort than any of yours at her age had been - a few stars, a planet and what looked like the shape of a rocket, all glowing orange from the candle inside. “Ellie… that looks real nice.” You watched her relax - her smile growing, and then you looked over at Joel, eyeing him as he bit down on the inside of his cheek. “You did a good job, kiddo.” He was blinking quickly, his eyes on the pumpkins. “Like yours, too.” 

“Thanks.” Tilting your head to the right, you shrugged. “I was going to do a ghost at first, but then I thought of a bat instead. This used to be so much easier before because we had kits and patterns, and -”

“I knew what it was right away.” Ellie cut in, leaning closer to your pumpkin. “And I like his face.” You thanked her, eyes moving up to the third and final pumpkin, where they lingered. That is not what I expected. 

Joel’s pumpkin was easily the best of the three - no question at all what the design was meant to be. There were no jagged edges in his carving, and when you leaned closer, you saw that there were even spaces on it that he’d etched instead of cutting - the light shining through, though it wasn’t as bright. “Is there anything you can’t do, Joel?” Turning to face him, you let out a long breath. “Putting me to shame over here.” 

That got a brief smile, but Joel didn’t say anything else, his eyes still on the trio of pumpkins. There’s a story here, but … “Joel?” Ellie’s voice was quiet again, the girl shuffling her feet to move closer to where he stood. “I love it.” She paused. “She would, too.” 

He broke away from you at that, silently walking back to the front porch, but when you went to follow him, Ellie’s fingers closed around your wrist, your name following under her breath a few  seconds later. “What, Ellie, I -”

“Stay here. He just needs a minute.” You were still confused, but she spoke again, the girl’s voice low. “Sarah’s room was covered in butterflies. Tommy and Maria showed me pictures. He um.” She sighed. “In Boston, in his apartment? There was one hanging on the window, and I thought it was weird back then because… well look at him. But now … I get it.” 

You stared silently at the pumpkin - the tiny flame flickering from within to illuminate the carefully carved wings and body - and you felt your heart break all over again for the man. On the surface, Joel was the strongest and most capable person you’d ever seen, but just beneath, there was pain and suffering that hadn’t lessened in two decades. How could it? Losing a child would be … “I didn’t know.” Lowering your head, you shook it from side to side. “He never … thank you, Ellie.” 

“No problem.” She squeezed your arm. “I’m pretty jealous that he got all his edges so smooth.” That made you laugh, and before you could stop yourself, you pulled the girl into a hug, her arms winding around you tightly. But she let you go soon after, taking a step back and continuing to look at what you’d all created. “Are you gonna take pictures?” Ellie pointed. “That way we don’t have to keep the candles burning.” 

She was right, and so you moved again, bending down to take photos of them together and individually, biting back tears at the meaning behind Joel’s pumpkin design. With me and Ellie, he still… he was comfortable enough to … “Sorry ‘bout that.” Joel was back, the man’s hands in his pockets. “I got a little …”

“Don’t apologize.” Looking up at him, you smiled. “I got a couple pictures, do you want me to blow these out now?”

“Nah, let ‘em go.” He waved at you. “We’ve got plenty of candles, so it ain’t gonna hurt anything.” Joel paused and then passed Ellie, reaching out to squeeze the girl’s shoulder before coming to stand behind you again. He didn’t speak, but when you straightened up, you watched him - Joel’s jaw ticking, the fingers of one hand flexing next to his thigh. He looked uneasy but kept staring forward, finally closing his eyes and taking a deep breath. “D’you two want to go inside and have somethin’ to eat?” 

“Yeah.” Ellie groaned, already walking toward the house. “I’m starving.”

— 

Hours later, you and Joel had said goodnight to Ellie, the girl sprinting back to the garage after she’d eaten and helped you separate the pumpkin guts from the seeds. While Joel made dinner, you’d explained to her how to prep each portion  - roasting the innards and then pureeing them before portioning them out for later use in baking, and cleaning the seeds off so that you could soak them overnight in salt water before roasting them. 

She’d listened intently, the girl a huge help, and by the time dinner was done, so were you - everything ready to go as soon as you wanted it to be. You promised Ellie a batch of pumpkin-maple muffins before you headed out on patrol, and she made you swear you’d leave them where Joel couldn’t get to them. 

But once she was gone and the house was quiet, there was no way to avoid the conversation that you knew was coming between you and Joel. 

Despite the fact that it was early, the two of you got ready for bed - Joel already under the thick comforter with his back against the pillows leaning on the headboard by the time you climbed in. He was thumbing through the pages of a book, a pair of glasses perched on his nose, but the man set that down as soon as you were next to him, turning his head to the side. “You’re good with her.”

“With Ellie?” He nodded, reaching up to take the glasses off. Part of you was sad to see them go - you thought he looked even more handsome while wearing the pair, but you also knew that the loss meant that he was going to lay down and get comfortable beside you. And that’s even better. “She’s a teenage girl, Joel. I was also one of those a long time ago, so … common ground.” 

“No, you know what I mean.” Laying down on his side, he inched closer to you, reaching up to thumb over your cheek. “You’re patient with her. Just like you are with me. About the shit we don’t know, and the things we’ve … forgotten.” 

“Everyone’s forgotten some of it, Joel. That’s the way it goes. I’ve just had more of an opportunity to do normal things throughout the years because I was here. But you’re good with her, too. I don’t know if I’d call you patient, but … you’re what Ellie needs.” He hummed, closing his eyes. 

“I wasn’t even gonna carve a butterfly. And then we started talkin’ about her watching that movie, and I thought about how much she loved Halloween.” We’re not talking about Ellie anymore. His hand dropped to the pillow between the two of you, fingers curling against the case. “And then I couldn’t stop thinkin’ about her.” 

“It was nice to include her.” Reaching over, you trailed your fingers through the hair above his ear, pushing it back over the top curve. “It means a lot, actually, that you feel comfortable enough around me … around us to talk about your daughter.” Saying her name out loud in front of him was always a gamble, and so you opted not to that night, since he hadn’t either. “And I’m more than happy to give you your space like I did tonight, but …” Settling your hand on his cheek, you nodded. “You don’t have to hide it here. No one’s going to think less of you if you show emotion.” Leaning in, you closed your eyes, pressing your forehead to his. “You’re not alone, Joel.” And you never will be again, if I have a say in it. 

You’d figured that he’d respond with a huff, brushing things off like he did so often - telling you that he was fine, that he understood, that he was used to doing things in his way, but Joel did none of those things. 

Instead, he moved his hand from the pillow, sliding it over your side and around to your back, pulling you even closer. Joel whispered your name, head lifting from the pillow, and before you could react, he was kissing you, lips sealed over yours. Joel always kissed you with intensity - even in the small ones traded while you passed each other in the kitchen, or the goodbye kisses before heading out on duty. They always seemed to mean something, and that night was no different, Joel’s lips parting just before he pulled away to close around your lower one. 

“Thank you.” It was quiet, the words little more than a whisper, but then Joel nodded, repeating them. “Thank you. And I know. I’m just … ain’t used to it.” You knew that, too, nodding in understanding while Joel backed off. He settled against the pillows again, watching you. “We’d always go to the Wal-Mart and get a costume for Sarah a couple weeks before Halloween.” Joel closed his eyes, collecting his thoughts. “Had a photo album of her wearin’ all of them. She was a witch one year, ran a round with a little broom and a hat an’ everything. Knocked the shit outta mine and Tommy’s knees with that thing.” You laughed, trying to imagine a much younger Joel chasing a little girl in a witch costume around. “Went through a Disney princess phase for a couple years. She was a cat and a ghost and a pumpkin, too. Bein’ on my own with her was hard but those …” He inhaled and then let out a shaky breath. “Those days made it all worth it.” 

“Did you dress up with her?” Still stroking through his hair, you wrinkled your nose. “Put on a witch hat or dress like a -”

“Couple times.” He smiled - a real one - and then laughed, closing his eyes. “There was one year where she was that fairy from the one movie … the one about the boys and the island?” It took you a minute but you gasped when you remembered - nodding. 

“Peter Pan? Something bell…” What was it? “Tinkerbell?”

“That’s it.” Joel’s smile grew, his eyes widening. “She was Tinkerbell and she had this wand that shook glitter everywhere … and I dressed up like the pirate - had a wig and everything.” 

“Oh, I would have paid good money to see that.” Laughing, you scooted closer, hooking one of your legs over Joel’s. “Hook for a hand, too?”

“Of course.” Joel arched a brow. “I was the most popular dad at the third grade Halloween party.” 

“I bet you didn’t even need a costume for that.” Wetting your lips, you continued. “Just showed up on a random Wednesday and all the moms probably lost their minds.” 

 “Tommy always used to tease me about it.” Joel sighed, closing his eyes. “He’d come with me to her school stuff sometimes - concerts and assemblies. Or if I couldn’t go, he would. And he said that most times, all the moms were askin’ where I was and -” You couldn’t stop the laugh that you let out, your face turning toward the pillow as you tried to muffle it. I knew it. “Why is that funny?”

“Because, Joel, nothing’s changed.” Wiping your eye with one hand, you rolled your eyes. “Austin. Jackson. I bet even in Boston, people were into you the minute they saw you.” 

“Boston was a little different.” He frowned. “People were pretty worried about survivin’, and …” He trailed off, eyes focused on a space just over your shoulder. What is… “Tess was it for me there. Took me a little while to admit it, but even before then, I wasn’t really lookin’ anywhere else.”

“As much as I wish I could have met her, us crossing paths probably would not have ended well for me, at least where you’re concerned.” Everything Tommy and Joel had told you about Tess made you almost certain that though you would have liked her a great deal, her relationship with Joel would have complicated everything. “But I’m really glad that you had someone like her for all those years.”

“Me too.” Joel went silent, the man staring at you - but the look on his face was one that you were very used to. He was a man that chose his words carefully, and so you’d learned to read his expressions.  Don’t get lost in those memories, Joel. “So.” He squeezed his eyes shut, sighing. “You carved pumpkins with your sister, but what else did you do for Halloween?” 

“You mean as an adult?” Running the top of your foot along the back of Joel’s calf, you grinned. “Wouldn’t you like to know.”

“I would. That’s why I asked.” 

“I went to Illinois, Joel. Halloween was a season there.” He moved his hand up your back, pushing the shirt you wore up so that he could touch your bare skin. “I went to a lot of costume parties in the four years I spent there.” 

“Yeah?” You nodded, your hand sliding down so that you could press your palm against his chest. 

“Yeah, the great thing about a school like that was that if you were a girl, you could literally walk into any party and drink for free and no one would say anything, especially on Frat Row.” He rolled his eyes but didn’t say anything. “I wasn’t one of those girls that tried to see how little I could get away with wearing, though. October in Illinois was cold.” 

“No sexy little nurse outfit?” That’s where your mind goes? Interesting. “Cheerleader? Cop? Isn’t that what college girls all -”

“Maybe the ones Tommy was trying to get into bed.” You hummed. “No, there were plenty of those. I never really saw the point in spending a hundred bucks on a costume that I’d wear once and then shove in the back of my closet, so I picked stuff that I could piece together.” 

“Like?” 

“I went as a cat one year, just a black bodysuit and flats, and then I had ears and a tail. Another year, I went as a vampire and literally wore all black and a cape with a red interior. I had a pair of plastic fangs and smeared some blood on my lower face and neck.” You closed your eyes, thinking. I can’t believe there was a time when coming up with a costume was something I took seriously. 

“D’you ever do a couples costume?” Smooth, Joel. Trying to figure out if I was dating anyone in college? 

“Not a couples costume, no. I was never dating anyone at Halloween. But,” you continued, your smile widening. “My friends and I decided to dress up like … this is so fucking stupid, Joel.” God I forgot about all of this. “We decided to dress up like the Super Mario Brothers characters. A big group of us went out and I wanted to be the ghost, but someone else picked him… so I was the princess. I bought an old wedding dress from a thrift store and dyed it, and -”

“Tommy an’ me went out one year as Mario and Luigi.” 

“Shut up.” 

“No, I swear. Ask him.” Joel laughed with you, sighing. “It was his idea. That was the one night a year he’d always make me go out with him - we split the cost of a sitter, and I stayed out til the bar closed.” Joel and Tommy Miller closing a bar out? I’d love to see that.

“Did you always match costumes?” He chewed on the inside of his lip, the blankets rustling as he moved. “Did you ever have anyone to dress up with?”

“One year. I was datin’ this woman, and Tommy had a girlfriend, so they did a couples costume and we decided to, too. I can’t even remember her name now, but she wanted to go all out… so we did.” Joel’s hand stopped moving, but he kept talking. “They went as Spartans, and if I remember right, they won the costume contest.” 

“Tommy in a skirt?” You whistled, narrowing your eyes. “That man’s legs look as good back then as they do now?”

“He’s married to your best friend, have a little respect.” You snorted though Joel’s mock irritation was barely disguised. “We went as Little Red Riding Hood and the wolf. I got to wear a ripped flannel and some suspenders and my boots, just messed up my hair a little bit and rubbed some dirt on my face. Everyone thought I was that guy from the X-men, but she was happy, so that was all that mattered.” 

Both of you went quiet then, deep in thought. You’d led vastly different lives in opposite parts of the country before the outbreak, but there were so many similarities between you that it was a shock. I wish we would have known each other then. 

“Some of the kids here still dress up.” you broke the silence, meeting Joel’s eyes again. “When the outbreak happened, stores around here were just getting their costumes in for the season, so there were a lot of them, and I guess the people here thought that keeping some was a good idea. They’re all stored in the old elementary school with our surplus supplies. The kids pass them around and we have a little party for them in the main building. They show a movie - Charlie Brown or Casper or something like that. It’s nice. Some of the adults go, too. And they’ll occasionally wear a costume - a hat or a cape or a mask or just … something. It’s stupid, but it’s another thing to remind us what we’re trying to rebuild here.” 

“You go?” He reached up, fingers trailing over your brow and then down across your cheek. “Seems like somethin’ you’d like.” 

“I do. This year, it’s the night after I’m supposed to get back from patrol, so as long as I’m back in time, yeah. I’m going to go.” You wouldn’t suggest that he come with you - but you hoped that he’d mention it to Ellie, or that one of the teenagers would. 

“Good to know.” He murmured the words, thumb arcing over your cheek. “I’m gonna be honest. I would have liked to see you in that vampire costume.” 

“Yeah?” You took a slow breath, watching Joel nod. “Is it the plastic teeth that do it for you?” 

“You guessed it.” He rolled forward, urging you onto your back - but it was Joel that went for your neck, the man’s lips latching onto the thin skin there. You arched your back, pushing your chest against his, and when lips turned to teeth, you couldn’t help the low groan you let out, both hands moving up so that one could sink into his hair. He pulled back a few seconds later, staring down at you - the desire in his gaze letting you know that even though you were in bed, he had no immediate plans to sleep. “Hey, I’ve got a question for you.” 

“Hmm?” You were still running your fingers through the hair at the back of his head, your other hand on his shoulder. “What’s up?”

“How does a vampire like his coffee?” A joke? He’s making a joke right now? “Decoffinated.” 

The room was quiet for nearly five full seconds and then you laughed, closing your eyes and releasing his hair so that you could cover your face with that hand. “You’ve been hanging out with Ellie too much, Joel. That was awful.” 

“I know.” He laughed with you, lowering his head and pressing his lips to your cheek before moving them to hover over your war. “Want to give me another chance to prove that I don’t suck?” 

You groaned, and he did too … but a few minutes later, Joel was busy proving his words true. 

—

Tag list reblog coming soon!

[rainthespiritual]

Electric Love ~ Dot

An American Horror Story AU fic Based on season 2, asylum.

TRIGGER WARNINGS TAKE SERIOUSLY :

Angst, electroshock therapy, torture, it being asylum is itself a trigger warning, depression, forced medication, self harm, suicide, litteraly everything bad like that please be warned thank you 🙏

Plot : You're a patient in the asylum with kit

status : slightly edited

A/n : Idk how long this will be but I plan on making it atleast a couple parts... probably a series..

"Please stop! STOP it!" you cry, trying to pull your arms away from the two guards dragging you. You look around trying to make sense of where you are again but you immediately regret it as it all comes back. The darkness around consumes you and you truly ask yourself if you are in hell.

"No.. no no no NO NO PLEASE LET ME GO!" you scream again and again seeing the same walls you've seen.. again and again, the same place you were condemned to the place you are trapped, like a mouse in some sick maze. Darkness all around you in every corner, lingering in the air even. The same sickening song playing again and again in the common room, making you more nauseous with every note and every tune. The record player taunting you daily, you swear it's asking you to bash it in. To destroy it. You want nothing more than to lift up that stupid ugly thing, over your head and crack.. Oh the release youd feel is almost worth the punishment.

Most of the time you barely can understand what's around you anymore, it's all so familiar but also so foreign. Unknown to you it's a side-effect of the pills they force down your throat, and you sadly have no choice. You either take them or some sick man you don't know will hold your nose closed forcing you to open up to breathe but instead of air, you get the sick salty taste of fingers and medicine that never seems to go away, instead it lingers. Those damn pills taste terrible even just sitting them on your tounge to swallow makes you nauseous. Hell everything about this damn place made you nauseous the people, the smells, the air, the pills, the treatment and you could go on and on and on If you were sober enough.

The irony smell in the air, reminiscent of blood never seemed to go away and you can recognize it on the hands of some of the staff, 'why' you wonder 'why do their hands smell like blood and death'. The answers you've seemed to come up with terrify you to no end so you prefer to ignore it, to take the pills. Even though they don't seem to help much at all.

You open your eyes not even realizing they've been shut, you feel weirdly numb. But not so numb you feel nothing, just numb enough to be dazed and confused just how they like it. Compliant and scared. They say things to you that you now realise mean nothing, 'thisll fix you, you'll be happy.' , 'just let God into your heart and you'll be alright.' but it's proven again and again to be utter bullshit, everything is utter bullshit. You pray over and over begging for forgiveness, begging to feel anything but this, anything but the excruciating feeling of lonliness and utter dread you feel almost constantly and nothing gets better, you don't get fixed. Maybe it's you or maybe it's the life you've lived or the choices youve made. Or maybe just maybe it's nothing at all, just randomly selected torture that truly means nothing at all. Gathering all the strength you have left you try to kick out, but these two men are bigger, stronger, and alot less doped up than you are. The drugs you're forced to take keep you weak so you wont fight back, but that doesnt stop you from atleast trying.

  Finally, you fall limp in their arms knowing what's going to come next, the worst kind of pain imaginable. One that does damage inside and out, melting your brain more and more every day. Sister Jude had caught you the previous day, or maybe week? It's so blurry you can't truly remember. But the gist is she caught you trying to cut yourself with a piece of sharp metal you had found on the floor somewhere, though now you can't completely remember the whereabouts. Stitched up and at least somewhat healed now, Sister Jude decided to resume your treatments. All you can do now is sob, and pray that it is over soon to a God that never listens.

"Please.." The guards finally strap you down, ignoring your pleas and sobs.

 After a while of silence, Sister Jude finally walks into the room followed by Dr.Arden. "Please Sister, please! I'm begging you please don't do this to me, please. I'LL BE BETTER!" you sob even harder screaming as they forcefully open your mouth to shove a mouth guard inside, your screams now muffled unable to speak.

 You look into Sister Jude's eyes with a pleading look, hoping that maybe just for once she will let you off easy with just a couple welts. Her eyes stare into yours and for a moment, just a moment, you feel that she actually feels bad. The looks in her eyes similar to yours makes you want to scream out but you stay silent knowing you won't be heard. Her mouth opens a bit, you assume to speak. But instead she jumps slightly, startled by the scratchy voice of Dr.Arden.

   "Shall we get on with it?" he sounds impatient, his expression looking eager. You shut your eyes, hot tears still running down your face. Even just hearing Dr.Arden's voice sent chills down your spine. Something about him was evil. It  was almost like he enjoyed the torture.

  "Don't worry ___ we'll get you all fixed up," Sister Jude whispers wiping the tears from your sticky face ", you need to accept God into your life fully if you truly want to get better young lady." just like that her face is serious again and the little bit of hope you had is gone. It's good to not have hope in a place like this, but it's only human nature. Dr.Arden brings the tool to your temple, and finally, the torture begins. You scream out, feeling the electricity pulse throughout your body. Until at some point everything turns black, and your mind goes silent. Maybe this is the end.

[bluerose5]

Astarion gets the Twilight treatment. I take my crackfics very seriously here.

...

"A little help over here!" Erys called out, grunting as he shoved at the slab of stone covering the hunter's sarcophagus.

They were deep within the latest tomb on their journey to find a way to counteract Astarion's... aversion to sunlight, and all paths that they followed led there.

Astarion watched him with a smirk, his hands on his hips.

"Oh, I don't know if you need me," he said. "I mean, I do rather like the view from here."

In response, Erys's tail swayed from side to side, draconic wings giving a slight flutter at the praise.

Of course that didn't stop Erys from turning to narrow his eyes at him.

"Astarion, my love, if you want to know whether this is what we've been waiting for or not," Erys crooned, "then you'll help me."

"Ugh, alright, fine. Spoilsport," Astarion huffed, poking his bottom lip out into a pout. "Although, if I ruin my nails on this filthy hunk of rock, then you owe me."

Erys snorted.

"As if I expect anything less."

Astarion joined him, brushing his fingers over the Infernal carvings upon the sarcophagus, familiar enough with the language by now to understand a few of the words.

"What do you make of it?" Erys asked.

"Blah, blah, something about darkness and light, yada, yada," Astarion muttered.

"Well, I'm surprised you got that much right," Erys taunted, taking Astarion's hand and guiding it over the script as he read aloud. "Roughly translated, it says, 'Bring darkness into light at your leisure, but remember that light shall always expose the true nature of darkness.'"

"So..." Astarion hummed. "What does that entail exactly? Will I turn into some sort of hideous beast in the sunlight instead of turning to ash?"

"Hot," Erys said under his breath; and when Astarion glared at him, he asked, "What?"

"Just help me open the damn thing."

Together, they pushed against the slab.

They pushed and shoved until, finally, the stone fell off to the other side.

A crash roared throughout the tomb, and a cloud of dust sprang up into the air.

Astarion and Erys coughed, frantically waving their hands around until they could see the remains within.

A blood hunter, or what was left of them at least.

And on their finger was a ring, emanating some of the strongest magic they've felt in a while.

"Is that—" Astarion started.

"Maybe?" Erys answered.

"Well," Astarion said, "only one way to find out."

He reached forward, but Erys grabbed his hand before he could reach it.

"Wait," he said, "what if the effects are permanent?"

"What?" Astarion asked. "Wouldn't you still love me as some sort of horrific, malformed beast?"

"That's not what I'm worried about." Erys grimaced. "I'm worried about you making a choice that you might come to regret."

"Nothing ventured, nothing gained, right?" Astarion took a deep, bracing breath. "I have to try. I have to know for certain."

After a moment of searching Astarion's expression, Erys nodded, then released his hand.

Astarion reached into the sarcophagus and wrenched the ring free from the skeleton's bones.

They waited for a lone beat, sharing a skeptical look when nothing happened.

"Really?" Erys raised a brow and searched around them. "No hoards of undead to fight? No angry spirits to ward off? That's it? We can go?"

"Kind of underwhelming compared to the other places we've been to get here, I must admit. Not that I'm one to look a gift horse in the mouth."

When it truly appeared as if their theft didn't trigger any world-ending event, Astarion looked at the engraving along the inside of ring, the words upon the sarcophagus embedded within the band.

Astarion prepared himself for the worst.

He squeezed his eyes shut, then slid the ring onto his finger.

Again, nothing happened.

He peeked an eye open and patted his hands against his face, at least relieved when that remained the same.

"Well?" Erys asked, impatient. "Feel any different?"

"Not really," Astarion answered, his lips tugging into a scowl. "Guess we've come to the moment of truth then. That cryptic warning did mention that light will bring out my true nature or what-have-you. It must mean the sunlight will trigger whatever transformation awaits me."

"Are you sure you're ready for that?"

"As ready as I'm going to be."

"Alright, then," Erys sighed, scratching at his beard. "Time to make camp and wait for sunrise, I suppose."

It all seemed way too easy.

They did, in fact, make camp within the tomb —campfire, bedrolls, and all— but the night was a restless one to say the least.

When Astarion wasn't tossing and turning, trying to slip into his trance, he was up pacing back and forth within the darkness.

Erys eventually dragged him back to bed, unable to sleep without him, heavy wings draped over him in an attempt to keep him there.

Only then, in his arms, was Astarion able to rest.

But he was up at the crack of dawn.

Erys took that as a sign to get the hell up himself, yawning as he made his way outside first.

Once the sun rose, he lifted his hand up to shield his face against the first rays of daylight, peering out between his fingers.

He looked back at the entrance to the tomb, where Astarion teetered on the edge between darkness and light.

Erys reached a hand out towards him.

Astarion nodded to him.

He took a deep breath, closed his eyes, and stepped out into the sunlight for the first time in years since their initial journey ended.

Astarion still didn't feel any change, his brow furrowed, confused by this turn of events.

On one hand, at least the change didn't hurt.

On the other, Erys was absolutely silent.

"Erys," He hissed, panic rising in his voice. "How bad is it?"

The silence stretched on.

Then, out of nowhere, the bastard snickered.

"Are you—" Astarion sputtered, indignant. "Are you laughing at me, you bastard?"

"I'm sorry," Erys wheezed. "It's just that, all of that suspense and build-up, and for this?!"

He barked out another laugh, to which Astarion stomped his foot with a huff.

"Sometimes I could just wring that pretty neck of yours. What in the Hells are you talking ab—Oh."

Astarion opened his eyes, only to be met with the sight of his skin, the same as before except for one teensy-weensy detail.

It was sparkling.

"Huh," he muttered, turning his hands back and forth, but there was no denying reality. This was really happening, apparently. "Never read anything about this sort of thing in all of those dusty, old tomes we dug up."

Erys shrugged.

"Perhaps the ring affects different monsters in different ways. Our buddy in the tomb, ole Hunter-What's-Their-Face, was consumed by the curse of lycanthropy in their final days. Either that," Erys guessed, "or the 'true nature' being revealed relies completely on the individual."

He beamed at Astarion in amusement.

"I think I like the second option more. Would make sense that you, of all people, would become the sparkly, glittery vampire."

"Ha! Whatever do you mean by that, my love?" Astarion crooned with a playful bite in his direction.

The sunlight bounced off his skin in a rainbow of color, casting light all around them.

"Only that I absolutely love that radiant personality of yours."

"You don't say," Astarion drawled, then instantly perked up, twirling back and forth as he basked in the morning's warmth. "You know, as flashy as this may have turned out to be, I'd take this over the alternative any day."

Gathering up their supplies, he reached out and took Erys by the hand.

They followed the path that they took to the tomb, their heads held high.

Erys bumped him with his arm.

"Hey, if anyone asks, we'll just say that this is some quirk of your Fey ancestry. That's if anyone has the courage to ask about it with me at your side."

"Heh, it's as good an excuse as any."

"I can't wait until Gale and Shadowheart get to see this at our next tea time," Erys laughed.

"Is that where we're going next then?" Astarion questioned, embracing the freedom to go wherever their hearts led them, however they pleased. "To Waterdeep?"

"To Waterdeep!"

After all, they owed him that special guest lecture of theirs.

[foggymartin]

It's always awful to see pretentious twats on the news, but especially when they talk about things they've had no experience in. Seeing upper class, Christian men go on and on about how we should make Britian a "Christian" place again is out of this world. Seeing upper class (and let's be real, probably Christian) men talk about how people in poverty should just *work in these shitty jobs provided by our fucked government and earn minimum wage* because what are they going to do? They basically don't have a choice. Seeing *upper class christian men* talk about women's rights, gay peoples rights, people of colours rights, like it's some kind of epic tale in a book. They have no fucking idea what they're talking about, for any of it.

Christianity is a fucked religion (controversial, I know) with again, pretentious twats speaking the "words of God" which are a load of shit. Most of the time it's used as an excuse to be a homophobe or a sexist. Okay, David, why don't we follow every single rule ever put into that musty book? Why don't we tell left handed people they're going to hell? Or tell people who are mean that they're going down there? Why is it gay people? Correct me if I'm wrong, the Bible stated "man must not sleep with *boy*" and not "man must not sleep with man." You know, because pedophila feels like more of a crime then *gay people.* just a hunch. Commenting "Jesus loves you" or "find god" on any post that is someone different. An alternative person. It's so stupid. Why do you care? Follow your little religion and fucking leave us alone.

Poverty is a huge problem across the ENTIRE world, and I'm sure that speaks in volumes about how fucked up of a world we are. The fact that these people who are fighting to survive every day are being told to "just work" by people who never had to work a day in their life for shit is infuriating. Upper class people in general irritate me. I think it's the arrogance that they have. They're a bit.. Snobbish, you know? Even from just teenage girls being naive and laughing at poorer kids for not having an iPhone, to rich adults looking down on these people with such disgust. Seriously viewing these human beings as less then their pretty little £1000 poodle. What the fuck. The government taxes people - taxes the poor people who literally can't afford it if they want to eat. And just the normal people. Why not tax the rich more? People say "oh, we do tax them." Not as much? Do they need all that money? Do they really? Why can't they lend some of that "well earned" (passed down from generations) money to people who need it. I'm sure they'll live.

People on the news talk about women and gay people like they're a shit stain on a wall, but I'm sure the stain would get better rights. It's debates about women's rights to give birth, women's rights to wear what they please, women's rights to turn down a man. Literally fucking anything a woman does is shit on by society. Gay people are debated - should being trans be allowed? Is being gay a sin? Hmm, such tricky questions... Why not just let them live? People point out "oh, that school shooter was trans" or "that rapist was gay" not to say that school shootings or rape cases are bad, no no, just to shit on the LGBTQ community. Nobody points out that a school shooter was a white man. Why don't we just say "that school shooter was a horrible person who deserves to die" and not focus on the community they were a part of? Maybe mourn the lives lost instead of rejoice in the fact that you've got new things to hate the LGBTQ community for.

What a pleasant world we live in, huh? I could go on more, but I wont. I'll probably spiral into a ton of stuff about capitalism and why it should be torn to the ground.

Jesus Christ, I wrote more than intended. Happy reading

[85-rend]

hi it’s me, the person who thinks completely normal thoughts about lethal company. Anyway if you have employee oc’s, what is there role in actual moon looting, and how do they treat eachother in the ship. Also do they have a fave piece of loot and least fave monster?

I have 4 employees, a whole crew, so this might get a bit long :)

Fifty-Six :

"Human" (absolutely not)

Ship captain! has the most experience of the whole crew (they've been here way longer than anyone else. longer than anyone could survive this job)

Maybe a little too happy about the job. takes it very seriously

Prefers to go alone hates taking equipment bc it takes up space they could use for something else

prides itself on efficiency . has everything down to a system

looks scary but they're actually pretty nice and soft (both figuratively and literally)

pretty secretive, mostly lying through omission . doesn't like to talk about themself

doesnt like to be seen without the suit and helmet on. it has to happen eventually but it hates it, raises too many questions. it can try to look more human but its not perfect.

has a tier list in its head of every single piece of scrap for deciding priority of what to take back to the ship. it has a second tier list for if it gets hungry

huge soft spot for cute things. likes rubber ducks and plushies and things like that . will make exceptions in it's efficiency and priorities to take them even if they're low worth

Feels like they need to be doing something with their hands constantly

really likes Zachary, they're very close. doesn't want anything to happen to it... will agree to go together with Zachary despite usually preferring to go alone

likes Elliot, she's alright, she works hard. thinks she's a bit too reckless and hard on herself

alright with Morgan. they don't entirely get along but it's not too bad so it's alright . he notices the weird looks Morgan gives him, no clue what that's about.

Zachary :

Masked picked up from Rend after it tried to hide in a ship and the autopilot left

got "hired" by The Company. it doesn't like this. but it doesn't have a choice

it promises promises PROMISES it won't infect its coworkers. but it wants to so bad. it wants to help them. but it won't.

TERRIFIED of The Company building. absolutely refuses to leave the ship there. Fifty let's this slide, it doesn't mind having to carry some extra scrap to the desk

absolutely refuses to wear the helmets, its uncomfortable and its worried it'll get scratched or something . its fine without it,if that was going to hurt them it would've a long time ago

needs to go with someone in the facilities, becomes very distressed if alone for too long

it'll take equipment if asked, but it often forgets to use things like walkie talkies. it also struggles using it (it has a hard time with the buttons and small things like keys are really hard for it to hold)

hates this job and wants to leave but its scared of what would happen

very touch starved and having no other maskeds around has been effecting it.. (if it does see other maskeds on the moons it'll follow them around instead of its crew)

it wants to be closer with the others, at least El and Morgan are cautious around it. they dont really trust it much

El trusts it more at least, if 56 cant go with it it'll usually goes with her instead (also because Morgan usually stays in the ship but if they do go in still Zachary will more likely go with Elliot)

Morgan doesn't trust it much, they've dealt with maskeds before

Fifty-Six on the other hand, Zachary REALLY likes him. he doesn't mind it being around and hes nice to it

Zachary is like the first of the crew to have seen 56 without his helmet after it found him with it like completely torn apart. it was really worried about him, scared it got hurt. 56 was alright though dont worry

Elliot :

ACTUALLY a human

mostly goes by El instead of Elliot

youngest of the crew, not much experience but good with a shovel

pretty confident going in the facility, will often lead or even go alone. but absolutely CANNOT deal with coil-heads or nutcrackers. all that confidence goes away when they have to

he has automatonophobia and scopophobia. terrible combination to have here if im being honest

helmet is slightly dented after she tried running from a thumper and slammed into a metal pipe (did get away from it, shes still alive obviously . but that did hurt)

his nose was like broken before, never healed the same so its kinda crooked (this was before being at The Company, probably from getting in a fight as a teenager)

he tends to be kind of hard on himself, very apologetic when he makes any sort of mistakes.

his hair feels like shit. its been like bleached to hell so its all brittle and shit

none of the crew have anything against El but they did agree that if anything happens shes dies first (they have not agreed on what "anything happens" or "dies" entails though)

respects 56 a lot, almost exclusively refers to it as 'captain' . nobody else really cares about that, its just El who does that

trusts Zachary more than Morgan does, still cautious because she knows what it can do but believes it that its not going to do that

El and Morgan are rlly cool with each other. she likes to listen to them talk about whatever, they know a lot about stuff and El thinks thats cool

Morgan :

also actually human

mostly does ship duty but does also go in the facility sometimes, pretty good at it.

also takes the job seriously, not as much as 56 though. just wants to be safe, make sure nobody gets killed

they were on a different crew before this one. it didn't end well..

very dry and kind of snippy, they do care though just arent good at showing it

they kinda rlly seem like an asshole but will open up to people sometimes it just takes a while

very interested in xenobiology, got the job to get to observe the moons wildlife more directly. theyre fine with doing the rest of it though

really good at dealing with the creatures because of that

despite not being the fighter of the group they have taken down nutcrackers before, El will not so they deal with that instead.

only one on the ship who actually has first aid training. usually is the one to have to deal with that. only ever seen Elliot and Zachary get hurt though, Fifty-Six is somehow always fine

very suspicious of Fifty-Six, knows something's up with him but doesn't say anything because they don't wanna start shit with whatever kind of alien beast it is

cautious as hell around Zachary, doesn't like to be alone with it. they've seen what maskeds do to people and they don't like it.

but they've never actually interacted with a masked for so long so it's.. an interesting experience at least. there's not much documented about them so this is the most they've gotten to know about maskeds

Elliot and Morgan are chill, Morgan will often talk to her about different things. she's a good listener.