#but its a thing

[factorialsotherfandoms]

[top disclaimer - I saw yesterday's whumptober prompt of worked to exhaustion and remembered a bit of my xcom2 with qsmp characters playthrough I keep meaning to type up at least tidier notes for. I haven't yet, but this is a pair of scenes 47 pages in to my 90 pages of notes. Hopefully enough of this makes sense... TLDR: Mike was kidnapped, there's been 2 awful missions in a row where many people get hurt, etc. Warnings for major character injuries, though there are no graphic descriptions.]

It's been a two days since Bogota. If Philza never sees another sewer again, it will be far too soon. Tiny scabs from where the Spectre sent its bugs all through his body still cover every bit of skin, and the larger lazer burns remain bandaged tightly.

Fit is visiting, looking even more exhausted than Philza feels. He's brought snacks, and gossip, and will not go back to bed no matter how much Philza suggests it. It's not like Philza would be lonely - Missa and Roier's mission had also been a bit of a wreck, the entire team of six also in the medical ward for the immediate future at least. Chayanne, too, is about, the young boy currently curled up and asleep on the foot of Missa's bed.

Must be terrifying for the kid, to be rescued from hell only to see both new parents in the hospital in a few days of each other. For Bobby, too; Jaiden was also on the mission with Missa and Roier.

Still, Fit is here, so they make small talk. There's not a whole lot happening on the ship, but they can pretend.

The curtain lifts up, and Philza expects either Chayanne or the Doctor. Instead he sees Cellbit, looking about as close to passing out as Fit. His uniform is smart but his hair is a mess from running his hands through it too often, his face is near gaunt, and his fingers shake where they cling to his tablet.

"Fit, Philza." Cellbit nods to them both.

Philza's wave comes with a wince, Fit's salute with an "oi there what's up?"

"I'm really sorry to interrupt, but we need you for something. Fit, that is. We need Fit."

"What is it?" Fit groans as he tries to peer at Cellbit's clipboard.

The paperwork is hastily tucked away, "there's an opportunity that's come up. We need you to go undercover and get some research done."

"You're fucking joking," Philza immediately cuts in, one arm protectively covering the largest of his wounds, while the other grabs on to Fit. "Cellbit, we just got back from Bogota. You know how bad Bogota was. There's no way in hell this is safe. And everyone who was in Kaduna? Can't it wait a week"

Cellbit at least has the decency to look genuinely apologetic, "if there was another option…"

"What is it?" Fit removes Philza's arm from his own. "I'm not really in top condition; if you just need shit blowing up, Vegetta's a little better off."

"Can't it wait until tomorrow?" Philza asks. "At least then our armour upgrades will be done."

"Phil," Fit's voice drops a little.

Philza knows what being scolded for being overprotective sounds like, but Fit is his friend. His friend, who he dragged through hell, and has been dragged through hell by, and he trusts with his soul.

"It's Mike," Cellbit says, and that has both of them shut up. "We think we have a lead, but from the glimpses our contacts got during the transfer... It doesn't look good. Here."

Fit is handed a tablet, and shown whatever evidence the resistance has found.

"Fuck," Fit whispers the word, rubbing at his face. "There's nobody else?"

Philza is handed the tablet. It's a very short video clip, slightly corrupted. Still it's very clearly Mike, bloody and disorientated and still fighting as he's dragged from one transport van to another. He manages to bite a guard, and for it gets cracked over the head, goes limp and is tossed into the van.

He hands the tablet back, and tries not to think about the implications, or how they probably don't have as much time as this needs.

Instead he runs through the options: Jaiden and the team she took to Kaduna are back, but every one of them is in hospital with him. Forever, Tubbo, and Aypierre are needed on the ship. Mouse is still exhausted, even more dangerous for psi ops than the rest of them to push it. Cellbit himself still has one arm in a sling, and probably should not have left medical yet. A couple of other people, but most are too inexperienced to be sent out in just a duo for what will likely be a multi-week stealth operation. There's Baghera and Foolish, both experienced, but neither is much good at hacking. Which. Will probably be needed, to confirm which facility has Mike, and for how long.

There's Pac, of course, and Philza would put Pac on being the other half of the planned team. Ever since Mike was captured best part of two months ago, Pac has been on one ground mission - and there have been a lot of ground mission. The problem is, without Mike, Pac can be... Not volatile, volatile is Mike when Pac is critically injured and dying on the floor and Mike is too terrified to let anyone past to stabalise him, but reckless. Only with his own safety, but that's a problem itself.

Add in that Pac was /also/ on the mission in Bogota, still recovering from the sheer exhaustion of the test... Philza really wishes anyone else were available.

"There's Pac," Cellbit offers, also frowning. "He found out and wants in."

"If Pac's going, you need to go." The words taste like ash on Philza's tongue. "If it were not about Mike…"

Cellbit nods in agreement.

They can't keep Pac from going after Mike, and the purpose of a mission is impossible to keep secret for long with thirty-odd people crammed into one airship. Forever wouldn't be willing to, either. And to get Mike back but have lost Pac... They cannot do that either.

And Pac needs a stabalising hand with Mike gone, someone to keep him from shattering completely. There's a reason every mission he's been on since, Fit has been there. There's good reason, and everyone knows it.

Fit misses Mike like a limb, too, Philza knows.

Fit sigh, and stretches, and rubs his face, "I hate when you're right. Do I have time for a nap?"

"You leave in twenty minutes, but it's a long flight," Cellbit does seem apologetic, for all he runs his hands through his whitening hair. "The real problem is it's in Australia."

"Fucking hell," Fit groans. "They really didn't want us finding him, did they?"

"But we did," Cellbit reminds them, with a flash of his slightly too sharp teeth. "And they won't keep him. Once we have the coordinates, Forever'll send someone to help you get in and out."

Philza and Fit share a look. Fit looks like the exhaustion has seeped into his soul. It's a danger, going out in the field so tired. To himself, to others, to everyone.

But sometimes, he supposes, there really is no other choice.

Fit breaks eye contact first, "I'll kit up and be at the hanger in ten. Who's briefing us?"

"Not sure yet. Forever's still working out the details, so probably him?"

"A'ight," Fit turns to Philza. "See you later, big boy."

Philza rolls his eyes to mask his concern. "Just don't fall asleep on the job."

He gets flipped off; Philza laughs, and lets them leave.

Two weeks later, Pac and Fit come back - not someone joins them, they come back. They have Mike's location, and an entry point, and the head cracking didn't kill him, but he's being tortured and there's talk of disposing of him soon. Philza wishes that was the worst of it, though, he really does; most people's injuries have recovered so getting a team together won't take long. It's serious, but they can handle it. Hell, he'll voluenteer.

No, the worst of the report is that Pac gives it alone; Fit was rushed straight to medical as soon as they land. He is alive - conscious even - but the wounds are still severe.

Didn't hear a Viper coming, Pac says, was caught and constricted and had his rib cage crushed. And then used a grenade to force it to let go, dropping it at his own feet to force the alien to let go. Pac had been hacking at the time, getting the info they needed, and didn't notice anything until Fit was snatched from the door.

Fit didn't hear it, or so Pac says, too tired, too caught up in exhaustion to hear the threat until it was too late.

And Philza, Philza wishes he was surprised.

#qsmp fanfic #alternate universe - alien invasion #is this xcom2 crossover fic when I still haven't written the reports up? #yes oops #what immediately follows this is rescuing Mike #and Fit is fine in a bit with near-future medicine plus alien drugs #he's less badly off than phil at the start of the fic #but its a thing #not all of the eggs are actually around yet - ramon is notably missing in this fic but it might actually be just chayanne and bobby atm #I forget the exact order of who was where #qsmp x xcom

[tchaikovskym]

I have to admit I never even imagined witches to be evil until I came here on tumblr and read some of y'alls analysis of literature and other media. The whole evil laugh and brewing potions did not connect to being evil in my mind ever. I was just raised with everyone around me thinking witches were cool as hell.

#my grandmother used to tell me that she was a witch and that her daughters and also me were ones too #and tbh i believed that bc she used to take the pain away with her magic #which was just her hovering her hand above the painful place #and istg it worked every time be it placebo or the #im not going to explain the neural pathways that make thermal and tactile sensations lessen the pain #but its a thing #and all my aunts liked witchy stuff #they made runes on pebbles by painting the sigil with a nailpolish on them #my grandmother also told the future by regular playing cards #i was taught the thing where you hold a necklace and ask a question and if it swings one way its yes the other - no #both my mom and grandmother have had at some point protective spells in their wallets #my grandmother always made a protective spell on us when we were leaving #i was taught to always greet and thank the mother of forest when going mushroompicking/collecting berries #me and my younger aunts (i had 5 year difference with the youngest) were always up to some weird stuff #like you know lighting a candle by the window and repearing a phrase to see how your fated one will look like #a lot of things in midsummer with flower crowns were done for luck or once again to predict the future #oh and the whole holding a metal object that started turning in your hand when you went above underground water junction #there were. a lot of things. #oh and we even collaborated with ghosts #and we had two completely black cats when i was little #and i remember i once found a part of an animal skull on the ground and i felt overjoyed #so yeah thats how i never even imagined witches could be evil #until late teens

[phanlight]

#the way to break through the wall of perfectionism is to post things that arent even near your personal publishable standard #so thats i'm afraid what this is #i know it isn't perfect it's far from it #but its a thing

[givemeabite]

Spent most of my January in hibernation, resting and enjoying some of lifes simple pleasures like the South African summer, new bedding, fresh fruit and lots of tea and coffee. In spite of everything going on in the world, I'm grateful. It was a good month.

#not sure what this is #but its a thing #january 2024 #dark academia #cottage core #nature core #i have managed to fuse the aesthetics

[gerudospiriit]

[Just remembered a thing from several days ago now but:

When were you all planning to tell me that lynels, at least the ones in the depths as I've only seen this one do it, could fucking teleport?]

#[ ☀ ˢᵖⁱʳⁱᵗˢ ᶠʳᵒᵐ ᵇᵉʸᵒⁿᵈ ;; ᵒᵒᶜ ] #i was freaking out and amuaed at the same time #and im sure my family thought i was going crazy #BUT ITS A THING

[redjaybird]

[casually remembers the ways in which Jay is actually pretty damn fucked up]

#ooc #like a lot of times on here you see the banter and his stubbornness but not really the REALLY problematic shit #besides the murder #thats pretty problematic in a normal world #but the really fucked up thing is the worst of him will show up when he has a partner #not all of the ships (different verses) have seen that shit yet #but its a thing

[nostomannia]

I was talking about stretcher bars the other night, and how Solita might handmake them in some verses, and just so everyone knows what they look like-

For the most part they can stay together without having to use glue, along with a canvas that's going to be stretched overtop it.

The sloped face goes inwards, it's to keep hard edges off the canvas itself so they don't start showing through on the painting itself. But yeah.

When I talk about Solita carving stretcher bars for herself, I mostly imagine the interlocking bars like this since they last longer, and also gives the ability to use stretcher keys if the canvas ever ends up getting loose.

#fawn speaks || ooc #I Cut My Teeth on Secondhand Sentiments || Character info #i made stretched canvases in the past #it was quite fun #theres a tool to help stretch the canvas and get it taught so you can pin it to the frame #I didnt have that i had to do it by hand #but its a thing #a little physically taxing from having to hammer together the frame and then stretch it over the frame

[devouringyourson]

interesting the ando/r trailer is getting praise for looking so much better than the other sta/r w/ars shows as you can see the practical locations and sets and lack of stagecraft technology and sure moralise about it but it's actually quite significantly down to a fundamental culture difference between american and british crews particularly in production design and art depts like most disney + plus used rubber weapons you could see the mould lines on the props and camera tracks in shot etc but british props teams literally build the full metal sword or set piece, more location stuff due to larger location depts and regional incentives we kinda do shorter stuff higher quality everything is set up for that idk if I can explain but I'm glad people are noticing cos it's definitely a commented upon phenomenon in the industry

#this is so niche #but its a thing #that streaming 'look' is just an overeliance on digital backdrops cgi and harsh coloured lighting to disguise rushed constuction #but film and often british hetv crew which overlap crews way more literally make the shit and you can tell

[willgrahamscock]

not now kitten, daddy's about to have a mental breakdown from seeing the prices at the grocery store

#alex says things #ITS OVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[just-spacetrash]

the 'what if you played it a little risky' post literally Changed my life but i cant fujkign find it in my blog because its. a tiktok screenshot

#like literally every time ive hesitated sending a text or complimenting someone or stuff ive thought of it #like youre right. what if i played it a little risky what do i have to lose in doing a nice thing!!!!!! ur so right!!!!!!!! #but its forever lost cos i cant search it with any words cause its an image #misery and pain. you know how it is #my post

[s-lycopersicum]

Untitled by Pas (paxiti), on May 23, 2018

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#i've seen this reposted so many times #often missing pieces and never in its entirety #and the timestamps too the timestamps are important #going by the xkcd ten thousand rule i wonder how many people have never seen the whole thing #original #art #twitter:paxiti

[angelicgarnet]

the way people online talk about autism is getting really weird, like do they know that neurotypicals still have interests? that someone being passionate about a hobby doesn't mean they're autistic? you guys know that right

#woof #like self diagnosis is one thing #but saying someone is autistic because they talk about a specific hobby a lot is weird (and waters down the actual definition of autism) #and its no different than saying someone has ocd bc they organize their books alpabetically #or saying someone has ADHD because they got distracted by something #and people who aren't even autistic are honestly getting way too comfortable with autism jokes

[snowflakeeel]

the holidays are never officially here until i see the christmas light extension cord of death by electricity and I have yet to see it.

#its the male/male cord plug thing #idk im not an electricitologist

[whats-this-mustelid]

I just think that 'animals are living intelligent creatures that have feelings and deserve to be respected' and 'when done properly farming is beneficial to both people and animals and there's nothing wrong with raising and killing animals for food, clothing, and other products' are concepts that very much can and should coexist

#i think a lot of people get too carried away in farming discourse to actually remember both of these things #some people are so aggressively anti-farming that they forget that meat and fur are necessary for some people #and that farming helps prevent overhunting of certain species #but some people are so aggressively pro-farming that they begin to think of animals as objects #that only exist to provide them with a product #animals deserve to be treated with respect and be given the best care possible while they're alive #but that doesn't mean that its a bad thing for them to die

[gerrykeay]

did you know there's a day-by-day timeline of the plot in the dungeon meshi adventurer's bible and TODAY is when it all kicks off

happy falin gets eaten and the gang starts eatin' day :)

#i'll put the full timeline in a reblog for other Nerds #dungeon meshi #delicious in dungeon #admittedly its early but i hadnt seen anyone post about it and someone Needed to #this thing is so thorough you could put together a reread order for a dunmeshi daily. but i didnt do that #or get a 'on this day in dungeon meshi' blog all queued up. i didnt do that either

[toss-a-coin-to-your-stan-account]

hey since it's coming up again: no it's not a good thing that the government wants to ban tiktok. no you should not be glad that the government might ban tiktok. no you should not respond to this with "good riddance" or "hurry up I hate that app". I should not have to explain this to you but the government banning a social media app is still a bad thing even if you don't like the UI or booktok or having to say "unalive" or how you think it's killing the very notion of attention spans. It's still bad. It's bad.

#the amount of times ive seen people be happy they're trying to ban it as if its not blatant censorship is like... #hey did you know that we have these things called brain cells? might be fun for you to try using them #mine #tiktok #tiktok ban #us politics