#three guards

[holly-fixation]

Three... Guards? Ch13

Summary: Tifa finds Cloud at the train station in Sector Seven. It’s the first time she’s seen him in seven years. But he’s not alone. Three silver haired boys protected him. Three silver haired boys that triggered memories of her hometown. Of steel through her chest. Of SOLDIER First Class. Of Him.

They must escape while they still can.

Please Enjoy!

Inspired by the prompt by @im-totally-not-an-alien

Chapter 13: City Escape

The elevator rang as the party entered the second highest floor of Shinra HQ. Without hesitation, Genesis and Strife sprung into action, knocking every receptionist and security guard unconscious, and Barret destroyed the security cameras. 

“Tie them up,” Strife ordered as he aided in the task he commanded. Red and Barret looked at each other and shrugged. Tifa stepped up, Loz following and helping as they collected wires. Aerith watched Yazoo with a hand placed on his shoulder, the engraved nameplate still firmly within his grasp. 

“We need to find a way down,” Red mentioned, almost leaning toward the glass elevators. 

“Gotta go up to go down,” Barret explained. “The president's keycard’s the perfect way to do it.”

“Then let’s not waste any time.” Their leader stepped forward, moving the staff members to the center of the hall with his right hand, the smallest silver child still supported by his left. “What do you know about the president’s office?”

“It's a large waste of space with one desk near the helipad,” Genesis answered first. 

“Oh good, it didn’t change-” The older blond cut himself off, blue eyes wide. 

“What’s wrong?”

“...Let’s find out,” Strife avoided the question as he, Tifa, and Loz tied the employees together for one final measure. Once again, Strife and Genesis led the group, Barret at the ready to block out visuals. Though in all honesty, they didn’t have too much extra time. Security would only be delayed with their preparation, not prevented. Someone would notice the camera malfunctions. It was only a matter of time. 

The group climbed up the final staircase, red carpet muffling their steps. Strife pushed open the double doors at the top, revealing the massive office decorated with thick pillars and black tile. At the far window sat the president’s desk, President Shinra shocked and scrambling the moment he caught sight of them. 

Genesis practically flew across the room, grabbing the president around the neck and forcing him to step away from the desk. “Ah ah ah, can’t have you grabbing any weapons, can we? Or maybe trigger the silent alarm?”

Bullets destroyed the security cameras. The party stepped forward. 

“Genesis Rhapsodos. What a surprise. Aren’t you supposed to be in the gutter with all the other failed lab rats?” The commander in chief feigned strength but failed to contain the fearful crack in his voice.

“Good to see you too, Mr. President. How’s your son doing? Still trying to learn how to fight? Say, do you think he can take on a former First? I’d love to see him try.”

“We didn’t get to talk much last time,” Barret joined in. “Feelin’ like listenin’ now?”

As the group zeroed in on the Shinra, Strife glanced between the man and the doors repeatedly. 

“Pathetic,” President Shinra huffed, trying to wriggle out of the SOLDIER’s grip. With Tifa’s encouragement, Loz hopped behind the desk and searched through the drawers. 

“Look. I’ll let you off easy today. Make a simple statement about how Shinra knows it’s killin’ the planet, and get us a car to get outta here. Sound good?”

The silver child handed the redhead two computer cables. 

“Perfect. Thank you.” Genesis immediately restricted gilded hands. The extra silence the president.

Loz turned back to the group, holding up a retractable lanyard with an ID slipped in a plastic pouch. “Found his keycard…” his voice was still shrouded in grief.

“Thank you, Loz,” Tifa gave an attempt at a smile. Luckily the boy reacted with the same fluttering confusion as always. At least that was still effective. 

“This is wrong,” Strife stated, nearly in shock. 

“What is?”

“He’s supposed to be dead already.”

“Who kills him?” Strife’s young self questioned immediately, and if Strife was in his shoes, he would do the same. 

“Sephiroth.”

“Who disappeared after Mother did…” Yazoo finished at barely a whisper, clutching the metal closer.

“But what would that change?” Aerith asked. “He's only one person.”

Strife thought for a moment, wishing he could word his next statement softly. “...This is the president that approved the fall of the Sector Seven Plate. And the Sector Five Plate. Just because we stopped them doesn't mean they won't try anything like it again. Keeping him in charge is…dangerous. The current Vice President won't allow plans of mass casualties. Trust me.”

“He's more useful alive than dead,” Barret countered. “He can at least shut down a few reactors!” 

“We don't have enough time.” Cloud adjusted the boy in his arms. “We need to get out of here before security arrives.”

The president grunted before attempting to open his mouth, but the wire muffled his voice. 

“But who's going to do it…?” Tifa realized softly. “I mean, even in AVALANCHE, killing the president wasn't the goal. It's not going to stop the other directors from running the same reactors…”

“I'll do it,” The Crimson Soldier volunteered, though the cat-like playfulness vanished from his voice. 

“Hold on a minute-”

“This man allowed the science department to ruin the lives of everyone I knew, including myself. I've done many horrible things, but as they say, you regret the things you didn't do too, yes? And I regret letting you live just as much as all I did.”

The group looked at each other. The flower girl that cherished life found herself turning away, guiding the long haired boy who followed her every caring command. The bartender held the largest boy's hand and led him down the stairs of the desk. The gun armed man glanced at the red furred creature they rescued from the labs. The beast shrugged, a pitiless stare given to the Commander in Chief. The smallest silver boy balled his hands in the purple SOLDIER sweater. The blonds nodded to each other before nodding at the Crimson Soldier. 

“To become the dew that quenches the land

To spare the sands, the seas, the skies

I offer thee this silent sacrifice.”

With a swift slash of a crimson blade, the gilded corpse fell to the ground. 

“Now how are you planning to get out of here?” Genesis questioned casually. 

“In my time, we used the Hardy Daytona and three wheeled pick-up truck in the lobby,” Strife explained before glancing around. “...Shoot…”

The group looked at each other. There were simply too many of them for one truck and one motorcycle. 

“I can take one of you, but I’m afraid one is my passenger limit.” The man in red mentioned. 

“We won't have to get far with all of us…” Cloud thought aloud, his hand absently trailing the child's medical robe. “If I can get one of security's motorcycles…”

Aerith turned to Genesis, her bow bobbing with a tilt of her head. “Can you take any of us? Any at all?”

“Of course.”

The girl in pink glanced at the man with a gun for an arm.

There was a pause. “Oh hell no.”

Tifa perked up. “She's right. Barret, if space is the issue-” 

“I don't know this guy! Why can't he just take the boys?”

Genesis glanced up, almost reminiscent. “It would be a very rough ride. Especially once Shinra starts firing on us.”

“Ride on what?” 

Even Strife didn't know the answer to that question. 

The Crimson Soldier let out a small sigh before extending his arm, a massive crooked wing expelling from his back. Ebony feathers gently glided through the air. 

Everyone stepped back. The two older boys nearly hissed. 

“What the hell?!” Barret's question boomed through the office. 

“Strife found me in a secret underground lab and you’re still surprised? Shinra's experiments did this to me. I'll explain when we are not actively running out of time. According to Strife, you ran to Kalm after escaping Shinra in his time. I'll fly west to divert the army and we'll meet you in Kalm when things die down.”

“Barret, you don't let anyone talk down to you either. You’ll keep him in line,” Cloud mentioned, softening the father's resolve. 

“If you try any funny business, pretty boy, I'll blow your head clean off.”

Genesis brushed his hair into place. “I’ll take that as a yes.”

Cloud and Strife glanced around the room. There were still so many of them. Cloud, Red, and the three boys would barely fit in the truck. But it would have to do until they could steal another vehicle. 

Loz opened his mouth, but Yazoo grabbed him, silencing him with stern eyes. 

“Let's put this keycard to use,” Tifa held up the item as she spoke. See you in Kalm, Barret.”

“Good luck,” Barret grumbled as Genesis opened the doors to the helipad. The rest of the group claimed both elevators and rushed down to the lobby, half ahead and half waiting behind to catch Shinra’s forces off guard. 

* * * 

The first group obeyed the command to freeze at the bottom level of the lobby, completely surrounded by troops ready to fire. The head of security walked straight through the defenses and mocked the escapees. The team stood at the ready, waiting for Strife’s entrance. 

“Tell me, what is this ragtag group of misfits I see before me?”

“Ex-SOLDIER.”

“Local florist.”

“Lab-rat dog.”

The boys didn’t even answer, Loz clutching the vial of ashes as Yazoo tightened the headplate. Kadaj barely moved, only tightening in Cloud’s hold. 

“And the ‘Sephiroth Remnants’ Hojo wants back,” Heiddiger spoke for them. “Where are the others?”

“Wouldn’t you like to know, meanie!” Loz shouted.

“Adorable. Very mature.” The director barked a laugh before ordering his men, “Capture the children and the Ancient. Feel free to kill the rest.”

Aerith took Loz’s right hand and Yazoo’s left, blocking the clear path forward. The director scowled at her sacrificial display before a rumble suddenly rang through the room. With a rev of the engine, Strife sprang into action on the Hardy Daytona, knocking down all units as he maneuvered the bike like an extension of himself. Each troop fell to his sword and skills as Tifa started the truck. Only the director remained standing when Strife turned away.

“Get in!” Tifa yelled once she was close, throwing the door open. The largest child launched into the bed, but the middle one was taken by the red beast by the scruff of his clothes. Both boys sat against the glass to protect what they could of Mother. 

The flower girl took the passenger seat before holding out her arms. “Let me take him, Cloud. He’ll be safer up front.”

Kadaj strained the fabric of Cloud’s sweater, his breath strained and audible. 

“Just until we’re home free. I promise,” The ex-SOLDIER quickly but carefully lowered the boy into Aerith’s lap, deliberately removing the child’s hands. She swiftly moved the boy between her and Tifa on the seat and slammed the door. Cloud hopped into the bed as Kadaj shivered, curling into the tightest ball the boy could manage. 

They barely fit, but for now, it was enough. 

Strife led the charge, knocking back the last security officers and shattering the glass with the fusion sword. Red and Cloud tried to shield the boys from the shatter as they launched through the air and roughly landed on the abandoned expressway. 

“Everyone okay?” Aerith turned back. 

“Can’t complain,” Red answered immediately. “No one is injured.”

“We’re not in the clear yet. Take a breather but be ready.” Cloud watched the skies and the onramps. Drivers kept their eyes on the road, but passengers adjusted within the larger vehicle. 

Yazoo slowly placed the headplate into Loz’s lap. At the protest and surprise, he simply lifted his pistol and glanced at the road. 

“Are you sure?”

“I have better aim and we both know it… Keep it safe…”

Loz nodded softly, holding both of Mother’s remains to his chest. Red gave the boys a curious, sorrowful look, but when turning to Cloud for an answer, none was given. The ex-SOLDIER remained on watch.

In the front cabin, Aerith slowly revealed a green materia to the child at her side. 

Once mako blue eyes caught the orb, he shook his head frantically, squeezing into himself. 

“Just a small, normal healing spell, okay?”

Another shake of silver hair. 

“I can control this spell way better than the other one. You’ll be safe. And I’ll stop it right away if something happens, alright?”

Kadaj ducked, holding his head against his knees. 

“One cure,” She pushed. “Just one and if you even feel a little itchy I’ll stop, okay?”

The boy didn’t move. Three seconds passed without a proper response before the orb in the flower girl’s hand began to glow, and a soft green swirled into the boy’s heart. The driver cringed in preparation, but the boy did not make a sound.

He glanced at the girl in pink, silent and confused. 

“See? Now we can heal you up once we’re out of here. I’m so sorry I hurt you.”

Tifa sighed in relief, but Kadaj looked down. 

“We've got company!” 

Drivers checked their mirrors, and passengers turned back, watching Shinra approach on multiple motorcycles and fully armed trucks. Helicopters whirred in the distance, out of sight but certainly on the hunt. 

Fusion Sword and Buster Sword at the ready, anyone who could prepared for the fight as the drivers stepped on it. Beyond the capacity limit, the pickup truck could not accelerate as quickly or maintain as high of a velocity as the Hardy Daytona, and Strife needed to fall back in order to protect them. 

“I'll keep them away,” Strife shouted as officers drove up from behind. “Focus on the road!”

Bullets shot through the air, Strife weaving and drifting through the expressway to take down every last enemy on the road. The occasional shot from the long haired Sephiroth remnant no doubt aided their escape. Everything was the same until the helicopters caught up with them, launching explosives to catch their party in the blast. Tifa swerved repeatedly, trying to avoid the fires while maintaining top speed. 

It was only a matter of time before flames surrounded them for a moment, most occupants yelling in pain and bracing for impact. 

“Tifa, get close to one of the troops,” Cloud commanded. 

“What?! Are you crazy?!”

“Too much is going on. You need to keep everyone safe. We can draw their attention. They won't have the manpower to aim for all of us.”

Strife knocked another troop off of a Shinra sanctioned motorcycle and caught the handlebars with his blade. “Get on!”

Cloud launched, the truck jostling as if hitting a bad pothole from the force alone. 

“Be careful, Big Brother!” Loz shouted from his spot next to the red creature before ducking under a new wave of bullets.

The blond landed on the vehicle and Strife swiftly removed the blade. Every second they wasted on this transition meant more firepower focused on the truck. Cloud grabbed the handlebars with his left hand and the Buster Sword with his right. Together they swept through Shinra's ground forces, men knocked off their vehicles and rolled on the unforgiving pavement. 

Yet again, the company adapted. 

“Brace!” Red yelled, pinning the two boys against the cab with his body. Tifa tried to swerve, but the rockets landed in an impenetrable line on the road. 

Everyone screamed as they ran through the fire. 

“Tifa!” Cloud shouted first, barely acknowledging his own pain from the flames. 

“We're okay! For now… I don’t know how many more hits this thing can take!”

Cloud turned to his future self. “Can you reach those helicopters?”

Strife scanned the curved walls of the expressway and tightened his grip on his sword. Not enough. “Stay in the back. I'll disperse the fires.”

“That won't be enough.” 

“Do you have a better idea?”

He didn't. With multiple helicopters communicating attacks at once, each reload threatened everyone's lives. They couldn't turn back. No exits existed on this decommissioned highway. They needed a miracle. A guardian angel. 

Bullets rained down upon the circling aerial blades, one helicopter colliding with the other before another attack launched. The team looked up, searching for the source. A man in red with one black wing carried a one armed man through the air. 

“Long time no see!”

“Barret!” Tifa couldn’t help but look.

“We couldn’t just leave you with these assholes!”

“You looked like you required assistance.” Genesis flapped his wing and the two rose in the air, ready for the next strike.

From both above and below, their party was unstoppable. From the smallest troop to the latest and greatest in weapon technology, the team shook Shinra’s defenses and met in the plains beyond the city of mako. 

.

.

.

.

To be continued…

Three Guards Chapter List

Author’s Note: Well, this is the end of Remake! I made a plan long before Rebirth launched and I plan on continuing it. Some Rebirth elements will appear, but the whole ending just does NOT fit with my plan. …for now at least. I won’t go into spoilers without warning at the beginning of a chapter. For now, you’re all safe! I hope you’re enjoying this story. It’s a lot of fun. 

I’m starting my first real job soon! I won’t be able to update as much but I’m very excited to enter the workforce. I won’t be abandoning any of my current stories. I promise.

Thanks for reading!

[zorangezest]

transformers one but it’s in the shattered glass universe so it’s basically just d-16 watching his three best friends descend into madness

had to redraw a few scenes

continued

[carbon-corrie]

Fox: I need a break

Literally everyone else: Mental break it is!

[chloesimaginationthings]

Michael Afton draws FNAF tape girl for Vanessa,,

[poorly-drawn-mdzs]

None of our hands are clean

[First] Prev <–-> Next

[padfoot-lupin77]

We as a fandom don’t talk enough about this line cause what do you mean they haven’t seen each other in over a decade and in their first interaction she calls him her shining Jedi knight? And then he tells her she’s beautiful?? I’m so not normal about them I love them

[eashgirl]

As much as I love DPax and Oplita,Low-key can we talk about these three though? Because tf One gave a lot of potential for StarWaveWave.

It's just simply how they are always together,in every single scene they are present throughout the movie,they are always together the only time they were separated was when Starscream got captured and even then Soundwave and Shockwave were always together,when they finished the rescue attempt alongside Orion and Elita the three of them immediately reunited/regrouped and continued to fight alongside eachother,they were thrown aside in different directions when Optimus fought them but not even a few minutes later when Megatron orders the High Guard to follow him they are once again standing next to eachother. Implying that literally after they managed to get back up they immediately ran back to eachother lol.

Literally don't separate them.

Even in the storyboards when they helped D-16 restrain Sentinel,and when they fought Optimus they are coordinated in the sense they don't pause for a minute,after one gets taken down the other immediately follows up with an attack,no one really forces them to always be next to eachother nor does Starscream yell at them to do that they just naturally choose to stand by eachother out of choice whenever given the opportunity, their battle movements are also pretty coordinated as they have eachother's back during the palace attack scene in the background Soundwave takes down a drone trailing Shockwave and Starscream follows up by shooting down one following Soundwave.

It's these subtle hints of camaderie that's what interesting about them as a ship/ot3. In the sense they will always have more history with eachother than they do with Megatron.

Since Alpha Trion outright said the war against the quintessons has been going on for thousands of cycles, even if we assume the three are not THAT old, they should atleast be around a couple hundred cycles old, as to be regarded as legendary warriors who are still remembered for their feats by Bee even after so many cycles. Which meant to get as high as in their ranks they've likely been working in the High Guard for a LONG time and have known eachother for so many cycles.

Shockwave also tried to interfere during Dee and Starscream's fight but Soundwave stopped him as much I believe he did that because he found it funny and enjoyed a brawl like any other Guard, I think it's also so because Soundwave kind of gets where this is going, Starscream at the time was not really trying to kill D-16 so he was holding back, trying to boast infront of an audience to give off a show of strength for their enjoyment,Soundwave has likely seen him do this a million times when he gets battle hungry before so he doesn't see the need to interfere if they get a good fight,that is before Dee took out the cannon.

One thing that I like about this continuity is it's Megatron who is the newer one to already pre established dynamics within the High Guard,which adds interesting potential for storylines, he's the one who needs to integrate himself and form a completely new dynamic around his new army.

The way I see StarWaveWave is mostly the Waves low-key getting annoyed with Starscream's antics,which is kind of the case in canon they definitely would bicker a lot because that is a given,but at the same time there is that camaderie as they've been working alongside eachother for hundreds if not thousands of cycles long before Sentinel's betrayal and even longer before they even met the quartet and became Decepticons before their own fall from grace they knew eachother before everything went down when life was still somewhat good for them before the Primes died,so there is also like some care underneath all of it even if they wonder why they are tolerating eachother at times. Or alternatively Wavewave and their angry jet boy. They have a dysfunctional relationship.

Soundwave appears to be the most reasonable out of the three of them he's low-key one of the reasons why they've survived this long,and Shockwave has a temper and gets irritated quickly (although that is understandable to an extent )but since he's not by this point devoid of any emotions there are many instances which shows he really does care and given how his reaction to Elita and Soundwave he doesn't have a problem following orders if it makes sense,and Starscream is well Starscream enough said but he does have competent strengths as a leader since he did keep them alive for 50 cycles and there is also the detail that in the storyboards the High Guard only made the move to follow Megatron out of Iacon after Starscream told them to follow their new leader same as in the movie he's the first one to hail Megatron, there is room for some fun interactions.

Just a short post about why I love this ot3. Although I really do just ship them in the qpr way, because of my aroace hcs for all three of them but really I need to see their relationship more,and I need to see them trying to have a weirdly twisted mentorship with Megatron since he's still pretty inexperienced in war even if he has the qualities of a leader.

[snowcoming]

'omg dick was trying to put tim into arkham' and 'omg dick put jason into arkham next to to the joker' like bbg the only one having a bad time in arkham was dick himself 💀😭

[kensatou]

silly sport full of silly people

bonus:

[puppyaulait]

Flower shop x tattoo shop (and the little emo gang)

[holly-fixation]

Three... Guards? Ch 17

Summary: Tifa finds Cloud at the train station in Sector Seven. It’s the first time she’s seen him in seven years. But he’s not alone. Three silver haired boys protected him. Three silver haired boys that triggered memories of her hometown. Of steel through her chest. Of SOLDIER First Class. Of Him.

The Grasslands laid before them with one fowl obstacle.

Please Enjoy!

Chapter 17: The Grasslands

Just after noon, the team reconvened at the very inn they began their day of rest within. Each member carried at least one new item to ease their journey, though Strife's information of what was to come was limited at best when Cloud was present. 

“Checking out?” Broden asked from behind the counter. “Was everything to your liking?”

“Yeah.” Cloud handed the owner the remainder of owed Gil. 

“Excellent. But before you go,” the man reached below the counter and handed the blond a device with a small screen, a few buttons, and three small dials. 

Cloud analyzed it, searching the top and bottom. 

“It's an item transmuter from the old republic. It converts various materials into more practical items. Shinra can't track it. I'm sure it will be useful on your journey.”

Strife held out his hand in a silent request for the device, inspecting it as well. 

Meanwhile, Barret sensed the burning stare from the long haired remnant currently holding a full sack of consumables.

“Loz…” Yazoo mumbled under his breath as he gestured to the bag. 

“Yeah. I got it.” Without missing a beat, the largest of the three took the load. 

“He's right. It's too old,” Strife announced, returning the machine. “But why give it to us?”

“Two former SOLDIERs and AVALANCHE?” The owner countered. 

There was a small pause before Cloud nodded. “Fair enough.” He turned to the door. 

“One more thing,” the owner stopped him. 

“You've given us so much,” Aerith mentioned. “We shouldn't.”

“This is nothing.” Broden reached under the desk and flicked some kind of switch. The wall by the grandfather clock slid back and opened a pathway down. “Head down through the tunnels. Shinra won't know where you popped out. You'll be far from the beaten path but I'm sure you'll find your way.”

“Thank you,” Tifa chimed in. 

Cloud led the way, the party following into the dirt and pipe filled tunnel below Kalm. However, Strife remained in the lobby for a moment longer. 

“Have any family? Friends?” 

The owner's mako eyes turned away. “Just a friend.”

“You should go see them.”

Broden shook his head. “...I don't want her to watch. It's better this way.”

One ex-SOLDIER and one that knew his own truth, both understood. Strife left without another word. 

* * * 

The sprawling grassy plains laid before them, hills blocking their view of their next destination. The windmills by the cliffs and the ruins of a republic bridge greeted the group at the end of the tunnel. 

“Wow…” Aerith practically ran for a better view, stopping as she searched the land and the never ending sky above. The grass, the flowers, everything was more lively than her comparatively small garden at home. “Look at it… even after everything we've done to it, it's still going strong!”

“It may seem that way.” Red joined her. “But in reality, it's barely hanging on.” 

“Until we put a stop to Shinra!” Barret announced loudly. 

“Until we stop Sephiroth.” All heads turned to the man in red. “What he can become if he gains the Gift of the Goddess will be devastating.”

“But Mother's dead…” the eldest of the three boys stated sadly, slowly. 

Genesis shook his head. “I've seen first hand what the Planet's power can do for an experiment of Shinra.”

“Care to elaborate on that?” Tifa chimed in. 

However, the former SOLDIER took a step away. 

“We can't waste any more time. We need a chocobo to cross the marsh and get to Junon,” Strife forced them back on track as he took the lead, the group quickly falling into place behind him. 

“What's in Junon…?” Yazoo asked. 

“A passenger ship. The only way to the Western Continent without a boatload of Gil.”

The two elder remnants turned to the man in red with powerful looks. 

“I can only take one person and I cannot guarantee you'll feel well after six hours of flight.”

“Weren't you a SOLDIER?”

“One person comfortably.”

“Focus.” Cloud glared back at them. “Keep an eye on the sky or keep an eye out for monsters.”

Yazoo kicked a pebble toward a small pack of orcs down the side of the path, the clacking alone sending the monsters into sudden panic before fleeing. “I'm sure we can handle it…”

“Battle every single creature in our way,” Strife commanded. “It'll only get harder from here. You need experience.”

“Aye aye, captain!” Aerith saluted with perfect posture before trying to conceal a giggle. Tifa covered her own laugh as well. 

“You sure that's necessary, blondie?” Barret questioned. 

“If you want The Planet to be here next month, absolutely positive.”

* * *

The stench of the ranch bombarded the team before the fence came into view. Manure, hay, chocobos, all potent scents were undefeatable in the natural air. 

By the goddess was the name ‘fowl’ true to the air around the pesky birds. 

The party entered through a decent sized gate in the fence, decent enough for two chocobos and a wagon. 

“Well howdy!” An old man in overalls placed down a hammer and nails next to the welcome sign. “Y’all seem like a colorful group of characters. What brings ya down here to old Chocobo Bill's Chocobo Ranch?”

“We need some birds to cross the marsh,” Strife stepped forward. “How much?”

The owner sighed, whipping the sweat from his brow. “On a normal day, I'd ask ya ta cough up three hundred Gil each and bid ya your merry way. But the Zormer's be active, I'll tell ya, and my birds ain't goin’ anywhere near it without Piko.”

“What's Piko?” Aerith asked, leaning forward with her arms behind her back. 

“Piko's a brave young bird. The whole flock'll follow him since they know he'll protect ‘em. The problem is the damn bird is too brave for his own good. He's the fastest Chocobo we have but he's not without his quirks.”

“I’m guessing he ran out?” Tifa asked.

“Right on the nose, ma’am.”

Strife sighed. “If we bring him back, can we rent the other birds?”

“Shoot, if y'all bring him back, I’ll let ya take them for free. Just for the day, though! Gotta make a livin’ somehow, ya know?”

“We'll take it. Thanks. Where did you last spot him?” 

“Down by the tall grass to the south. Bunch of wild chocobos like to hang out there. Y'all’ll know they're wild. If y'all think this barn smells bad, you're in for a world of hurt!”

Following the owner’s directions, the party spotted a group of three chocobos feeding in separate grass patches. Cloud crouched behind the distracted creatures while the rest of his team watched from a distance Chocobos didn't deem them a threat. 

Chocobos were skittish creatures. If his party would stop talking, maybe Cloud could actually accomplish his goal.

“If big brother scares them again, can Genesis try to communicate with his wing…?” Yazoo suggested. 

“...I take offense to that.” Crimson arms crossed.

Aerith held a hand to her chin. “Well… Would it work?”

“Not even remotely.” Genesis scoffed with a flick of brown hair.

“I still say I can handle this,” Red commented. 

“Please don't eat the chocobo, Mister Thirteen,” Loz begged, genuinely upset at the concept. 

“What?” Red's voice seemed to crack before he composed himself. “I will not eat the chocobo.”

“Hey, Strife, can you handle this?” Barret asked. 

The older blond shook his head. “This is new to me. I usually just throw some greens at a chocobo in danger and save it from fiends. That and the lure materia.” 

“He can handle this. Especially if we stop talking,” Tifa defended, her scolding making the boys wince. 

“Those chocobos are not concerned with anything ten feet away,” Red explained. 

“There's a materia specifically for catching chocobos…?” Yazoo chimed. 

“Shhh!” Barret's hiss and angry glare silenced everyone. “Y'all can't keep it together for ten minutes!?”

“Well…”

“Nope!”

“Come on!”

“There's not much else to do….”

“You can't keep me quiet.”

“Sorry…”

All of them answered at the exact same time and Barret almost screamed in frustration when they finally heard the warks they needed.

Cloud remained on the chocobo and trotted the bird toward his team. “Let's head back.”

Aerith and Loz cheered at the victory.

Kadaj ran to the chocobo and grabbed its leg. Cloud jumped down and placed the child up on the large bird, leading the group and the catch back to the farm. 

* * * 

“What do you mean you can't?” Barret questioned. 

“Sorry, pops.” The teenage boy running the stables explained. “We can't give yall all our chocobos at once. Not our fault your party’s too big.”

“How many can you spare, Billy?” Strife stepped in before Barret could shout at the unfairness. 

“Five birds will have to do. All yall’ll have ta buddy up.”

Strife glanced around before confirming with a sigh. It really was easier to travel before. “That'll work. Thanks.”

Ten riders. Five chocobos. 

“Can I sit with Genesis?” Loz asked immediately after the team led their rides outside the safety of the stable. 

“No,” came the answer from every adult. 

The eldest triplet pouted and silenced. 

“You two,” Strife pointed at the two remnants not clinging to his past self. “Quiet and turn around.”

“But-”

“Quiet. And turn. Around.”

Reluctantly, they obeyed. Strife turned to the group and gestured. 

Cloud rolled his eyes before joining Kadaj on the first chocobo they acquired. 

Aerith stepped forward with her hand in the air. Strife let out a small sigh but nodded. 

However, Tifa shook her head, practically hiding behind Barret. 

Genesis also stepped forward. Red turned to Strife and nodded. 

“Alright, boys,” Aerith called and the two remnants turned. “You guys are with me and Genesis. Do you want to choose who gets who?”

“Genesis!” Loz claimed immediately. 

Yazoo exhaled softly, silver hair falling off his shoulders. “Very well…”

The eldest ran to the man in red while the middle child settled for the woman with the bow. 

When Strife turned away to claim his own chocobo, the lab dog they saved was already perched atop the bird.

“I'll drive.” 

Strife shrugged and hopped up behind Red. 

The team finally began their way forward, heading south to the monsters that lurked beneath the murky marsh. 

.

.

.

.

To be continued…

Chapter List 

Thanks for reading!

[scliffe]

I know most of us (including me) laughed (quite a lot) on this scene because; Earl Ciel “Sebastian-Kill-Them-All” Phantomhive of all people, is saying something like this about killing people? It sounds so fake and ridiculous right? Hypocritical, even. But I also think it’s rather empathetic of Ciel to say this in front of the Weston boys because he understands that these boys did not murder out of evil intent; it was a crime of passion, not premeditated. I’m sure that in Ciel’s eyes, these upperclassmen of his are still much more innocent than he is—and so when he speaks to them, he is speaking to “normal people”, not serial murderers. But while Ciel does not see the prefects as evil people, he doesn’t infantilize them either. He does not empathize with them trying to justify their actions; because things like school values or reputation is not a worthy cause for these boys to kill someone over. At the same time Ciel may not personally care about the lives of Derrick Arden and the others, but he does not think students should turn into murderers over such menial issues.

In comparison, when he speaks to Joker in BOC, he was unfiltered and candid—he’s speaking of something he personally believes; that deep cynicism and distrust in humanity. Unlike the Weston students, Joker’s actions were premeditated; he planned to kidnap children—knowing they would be abused and turned into some sick plaything before brutally murdered—and methodically eliminated witnesses to avoid getting caught. Joker knew exactly what he was doing when he organized these crimes to sacrifice others for his family’s lives. And yet the way Ciel spoke, he wasn’t passing judgement on Joker at all; he acutely understood the despair of facing injustice with no one lending a helping hand; the desperate wish to protect one’s family and loved ones above what’s considered to be morally correct by society; he knows better than anyone else how hell is paved with good intentions. This too, was incredibly empathetic in a strange way that only Ciel could be. Although Joker lamented their fate as abandoned orphans living in an apathetic society, Ciel does not pity them and thus did not simply reduce them to gullible victims of their circumstances. He did not justify Joker’s actions, and he did not justify his own actions in killing Joker and the circus crew either—he was incredibly self aware and fair; equally as ruthless to other people as with himself. He understood that everyone acted in their own interests. By removing complicated principles of morality out of the equation, he is able to see things clearly and act decisively without ridiculous notions of human morality. After all, what use does he have for it when his soul is already damned anyway?

Ciel keeps away from people and refrains from making personal attachments; and yet he is still very empathetic to each of them without even meaning to. In the flashbacks, he was also depicted to be a sensitive and kindhearted child. Despite everything he has gone through, he still retains a bit of that gentleness and sincerity from his childhood; which I think comes with being naturally emotionally intelligent—he has an unusually acute insight on people which certainly helps his business acumen, and ironically also helps him know how to lie and act in front of other people. While Sebastian is a “master of understanding human desires”, Ciel understands the complexity and most basic nature of humanity better than anyone else; which forms both his cynicism and his own brand of empathy.

[seekuh]

re-activating my moss-overgrown art blog to drop off some of the kcd pictures I've been working recently

[billandtedsgayjourney]

been watching person of interest and it really is rife with 'living weapon sees himself as a stray rabid dog (derogatory) and those who love him see him as their guard dog (affectionate)' metaphors

[tales-of-the-ghost-zone]

DP X DC crossover prompt

Sam and Tucker, thanks to living in Amity Park and being overshadowed and controlled by ghosts so many time, had become very liminal. Until an accident while trying to stop the newest ghost enemy led to the two of them becoming halfa’s. Sam’s ghost form looks like what she looked like during the whole Undergrowth thing. And Tucker’s ghost form looks like his King Tuck design.

After a reveal gone wrong, Danny, Sam, and Tucker flee Amity Park. The trio run away to Gotham, and using money Sam managed to snag from her account before they left, they buy a nice sized building right in the middle of Crime Alley. They decide to turn it into a bookshop and cafe. There’s a garden/greenhouse attached to the back end of the building where Sam grows all her plants and herbs. Tucker has his own tech room in the basement alongside Danny’s tiny lab space. They live together in the apartment above the bookshop/cafe.

One day while out on a walk, Danny stumbles across two tiny twin half formed baby ghost cores. They’re nothing more than tiny little balls of glowing light at the moment. Baby ghosts that are just starting to form but are nothing more than cores at the moment. But they seem to be slowly fading. Danny refuses to let them fade away into nothing. He scoops them up, infuses them with some of his ectoplasm to get them going, and then shoved them into his chest for safe keeping and so that they can be close to his own core which starts slowly feeding them energy.

Danny rushes back to the shop and drags Sam and Tucker to the upstairs apartment and shows him the baby ghost cores he’s found. The three all agree that they’re going to help these cores develop into actual ghosts. They switch off on who carry’s the ghost cores around. Some days it’s Danny. Some days it’s Tucker. And some days it’s Sam. Each of them feeding the cores a little bit of their ectoplasm to help them grow.

One of the cores feels distinctly female and has a purplish blue glow to it. The three start jokingly calling her violet. The other core has a distinctly male feel to it. It’s an orangish red and has a small crack along one side of it. Danny jokingly said one time how he (the baby core) kind of looked like Nemo’s egg at the beginning of Finding Nemo and ever since they’ve been calling him Nemo.

The two cores have been developing very slowly, both seemingly unable to absorb the needed ectoplasm, to form into full ghosts, quickly. The trio is fine with this, they can be patient, and wait to meet their twins.

Then one day there’s some kind of massive ghost attack. Maybe a cult or something attempted to summon the ghost king but messed up the summoning and accidentally summoned something else. The Justice League try and fight the thing, but they’re no match for this ghost monstrosity. And the JLD aren’t available to help for whatever reason. The trio decides to step in and help. They kick the crap out of the ghost pretty easily and send it back to the ghost zone. Then Danny, in his King Phantom garb (crown of fire, whispy white fire like hair, a regal looking version of his hazmat suit, the ring of rage on one finger, and a cape around his shoulders, the outside being pure white but the inside looking like the vastness of space) approaches the cult and rebukes them, telling them how even if they had managed to summon him he never would have helped them take over the world.

After that the trio become members of the Justice League. Thanks to some of Danny’s previous time travel shenanigans, and Danny being the ghost king, and Sam and Tucker his consorts/mates(?) the Justice League all think that the trio are ancient eldritch ghost gods.

And then one day when the trio are in the Watch Tower with the rest of the League their twin baby ghost cores come up. Maybe it was time to switch out who was carrying them, and mid meeting or lunch or whatever, Danny just reaches into his chest, pulls out two small glowing orbs. He cradles them close to his chest for a moment, looking at them lovingly, and whispering something soft to them in ghost speak. Then hands them over to Sam, who does the whole cradle them close and whisper softly in ghost speak before shoving them right into her chest.

They look up from this to see the whole League staring at them wide eyed and confused. Danny just casually explains that those are their children but they’re still forming so the trio needs to keep them close to their cores to help them grow, but they like to switch up everyday who carry’s them. Every member of the Justice League becomes super protective of the trio after this. They see it as the three essentially being pregnant (sort of), and they don’t always know which one of them is carrying the baby ghost. So best to just be protective of all three. The trio finds this kind of amusing and a touch bit sweet.

When the twin baby cores finally develop into actual baby ghosts, the two kind of look like a mixture between Danny, Sam, and Tucker’s ghost forms. Though Violet has dark purple hair and eyes and Nemo has bright orangish red hair and eyes.

[dreamlogic]

@sleepnoises reach into your local dirt where you may find a friend and boy