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lovelyunknown · 11 months

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Of Memories and Things You Can(t) Remember.

Oh my gosh, we're finally here! For the wonderful @starrjoy and their wonderful @pandoraaucomic. This will have spoilers up til the latest update, please beware.

Synopsis: After laying everything out to Tails, Sonic doesn't really want to sleep.

Word Count: 1,793

Warnings: heavy angst, hurt no comfort

~*~

“Night, Sonic.”

“Night, Tails.”

Sonic pulled the door, which came to a close with a soft click. The sweet smell of fresh flowers lay heavy in the room. There was a vase of them, purple and white, sitting on the dresser across from the bed. At any other time, the flowers would be comforting, but right now their light sent betrayed his senses, giving him a sick feeling in his stomach.

Despite the ill feeling, Sonic forced himself to sit on the bed. The plush comforter creased with his weight and ruffled up to his skin. He didn’t feel much like sleeping, even though he knew full well that everyone else had gone to bed. He didn’t feel much like doing anything, really. His mind was too heavy with memories of things he didn’t realize he forgot.

You don’t realize how little you think of your past until you recount it all. Sonic hadn’t. Not until—and he didn’t tell Tails, because Tails shouldn’t have to know—he had recounted his whole story in a way he’d never done before. Before, when he remembered, it came in unwanted flashes. They were short flickers of what happened and were often fuzzy and vague. Most of the time, they were just feelings—of guilt and sadness… of anger.

But when he told his story to someone else, taking great measures to explain absolutely everything, the memories came flooding back in excruciating detail. He could remember it all, the smell of humid air that coated his fur right before the waves crashed down, the screams that flooded the island as it was engulfed in the tide, the feeling of the water crushing his body and his mind. He remembered the wide eyes and the tense lips of his siblings as they were torn away from him.

It was an assault to all of his senses and if it weren’t for Tails slowly and unknowingly tethering him, he’d probably be in an even worse state.

But the worst thing about remembering everything… was the things he couldn’t remember.

He couldn’t remember the layout of the palace, or the name of the palace guards, or the types of flowers in the garden his mom loved visiting.

But the worst thing he couldn’t remember was his mother’s face.

And he tried. He tried over and over again, flipping his mind through memory after memory, but each time he was left with more fuzzy colors and feelings. Chaos, the feelings. But he couldn’t remember it. Not her eyes, or her smile. Nothing came when he tried to remember her.

And it broke his heart. Over and over. Each time he tried. He forgot about his own mother. The one who loved him and raised him.

Who saved him.

He couldn’t forget anymore, he had to remember. His memories were the only surviving parts of them. Of all the things he destroyed and he–he couldn’t lose any more of them.

He laid down on the bed and drew the comforter over his body. He forcefully shut his eyes and begged his brain one more time to remember, wading through the horrible night he tried to remember his last moments with his mother.

“I love you all…” And he could remember everything. Pandora laughing. water rushing. Sonia’s angry cries. He could see his mother thrusting the sword down. Her back turned away. But…

“And I’m sorry.” No! He—he was being pulled away he couldn’t see. He couldn’t see her face! He was being pulled away, he didn’t see it. He had to see it!

“We’ll be together soon, Darling.” And Pandora was screeching. The world was closing in. His heart was pounding as he struggled in his sister’s grasp to get away as she dragged him further and further away…

And then there was nothing.

Sonic opened his eyes and yanked his comforter off. “No.” his voice cracked. “I can’t—Damn it! I have to remember!”

His breath was shaky, and he was barely holding in tears. His body felt jittery and he just couldn’t stay there anymore.

So, in a quick and quiet motion, he got off the bed and tiptoed his way to his door, opening it slowly. It creaked anyway.

Frustration clawed in his chest, but he ignored it, padding his way into the hallway. If he couldn’t go to sleep, he thought, maybe some water might help. His throat was dry and scratchy. Sonic exhaled sharply. He'd talked the whole afternoon away. And obviously, that didn't agree with his throat.

So he quietly walked the length of the hallway, trying to shake the remnants of the memories. There was no point in wallowing. Especially now that Eggman was doing… something. He took a turn into the kitchen.

He grabbed a glass from the cabinet and held it tight, over-conscious of his shaking hands. He didn’t want to ruin anything else. He didn’t want to be the one to mess up everything—he didn’t…

With a heavy sigh, he grasped the faucet knob and turned it slowly. The faucet creaked and released a small stream of water. The water pattered into the cup, filling it slowly.

The cup was almost half way full when he shuttered on instinct, leading to a chain reaction. The shutter caused his hand to slip, which caused water to splash onto his hand. In his shock, he jumped, tossing the cup back into the sink and leaving him with remnants of those memories. Again.

He frowned and huffed. He turned the faucet off and left the spilt cup in the sink. He didn’t need water that much.

Rubbing his eyes, he turned around and started to leave the kitchen.

With each step, his stomach twisted and tore at him inside. Everything just… didn't feel right. Now with Soni–that water wraith thing, it felt like the world was crashing down again.

Frustration built up inside him and escaped through a pent-up growl. Why? Why, after all these years? He wanted to scream. It just–it wasn't fair. It's never been fair.

And in that moment, when his walking stopped, and he took a moment to breathe, that's when he saw it. His mouth opened, his breath stilled, his eyes flickered.

There, sitting silently in the gathering room, was a purple hedgehog in white robes. Sonic's eyes watered and his breath threatened to give out on him.

His body moved on its own as he raced to the woman's side. Everything was so real. Her soft brown eyes, her hair, her clothes, everything–he could remember.

"Mom…" he breathed as he stopped short of tackling her.

The woman, his mom, looked up at him and joy spread across her face. "Sonic…?" She asked hesitantly.

Sonic couldn't help as tears flowed down his cheeks as he nodded.

A laugh came from his mother, a small euphoric yip as she grabbed her son and pulled him close to her. "Oh, my Sonic. I missed you." She whispered as she held his head to her chest.

Sonic was in shock, but tried his best to keep up. His mother was warm and her touch was soft. He couldn't–was this how it felt? He couldn't believe what he was doing.

He pulled himself off of her and looked into her soft brown eyes. "Mom, how? How did you–How are you here?" He rambled out in disbelief.

His mom squeezed her eyes and sighed. "I… do not know." She said, her smile dropping. "I showed up here and I don't really remember anything else."

That made Sonic's quills stand on end, but he didn't push it. He couldn't. Not when his mother had come back. "Al–alright then. I'm just so happy you're here." Sonic said, his throat raw with emotion.

His mother nodded. "I am too…" her smile returned, "and to see how mature and grown up he's gotten!" She prodded at his side. Sonic couldn't help the giggle that he made. "You've gotten mature, Sonic. I'm so proud of you." She said.

Sonic blinked away his tears. "I just… followed you and mom. You were always such heroes." Sonic said and his lips quivered. "Mom, I'm–I'm so sorry. I ruined everything. I caused everyone to… It was my fault."

His mother sighed. "Oh, Sonic…" she said as she invited him into another hug.

Sonic felt her arms around him and sniffed. "Sonic, I love you." she said. "I know why you did the things you did."

Sonic didn't know what to say to that.

"Heh, you're just like your mother." Aleena said.

That feeling returned and Sonic's quills turned up in response, but he didn't let go of his mom. He was just overwhelmed.

"She was always so adamant about helping those in need." Aleena continued.

Sonic's stomach dropped. He shook his head and buried his head deeper into her chest. This was all a coincidence. He was holding her right now.

"...I wish I was around more."

This couldn't be happening. He couldn't be... He could remember. He wasn't–he couldn't be…

"Sonic…"

Suddenly, his grasp on her started to loosen. He held on tighter and didn't dare open his eyes to look at her. This couldn't be happening. He couldn't… he couldn't do it again! He couldn't be–

"I'm sorry…"

He was sleeping…

And his body lurched.

Suddenly, he wasn't holding onto anything. He was only floating, swaying in some kind of tide.

And he was drowning.

His lungs panicked and filled with the burning sensation of swallowing water as he fought against the push and pull of the current.

Grabbing towards nothing, he screamed for help, knowing no one was there. His voice was drowned out as the last bit of air left his lungs. Black encompassed his vision…

And then he felt nothing.

Light peaked into the room, shaking Sonic awake. And there he was, lying in the plush, comfortable HQ bed. He felt sick to his stomach, but he couldn't move. His eyes filled with unwilling tears that streamed down his cheeks. They puddled on the soft fabric, which clawed at his side. He couldn't help the sobs that escaped his mouth when he remembered it, feeling his mom's hug again. It was like a curse, burned into his memory, and he was powerless as he replayed it over and over again.

Momentarily, his thoughts were broken when a flicky tweets by his window, signaling a new morning. On any other day, in any other place, he'd already be up, ready for his next adventure with his friends. But despite the rising sun, despite all of his friends being right there, he didn't feel worthy of getting up and being 'the hero of Mobius', of being what they want him to be. Maybe… maybe he deserved this.

After all, it was his fault.

#sorry joy #this is payback #sth #sonic the hedgehog #sonic #p!au #pandora au #aleena the hedgehog #if it isn't clear sonic is dreaming for most of this #sonic angst

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thenomadclan · 1 year

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The Death of a Nomad

((So I wanted to maybe do alittle thing for writing, I asked if you wanted to know something about the Nomad Clan, what would be your first question. After a good many questions I decided to use Nomad as a pov for the audience. Anyways I hope you all enjoy^^))

Within a dark room surrounded by cobwebs & littered with dust, sat Nomad with scattered data pads. A clipboard-like device that held vast knowledge recorded, around him all of which were records of all Nomad Clan activities of the days of old. Stretching back to even times were he wasn’t born, when everything on Yautja Prime was considered “normal” and no one was the wiser of the evil that lurked in the shadows. He read many stories both good and tragic, some he couldn’t even believe and thought of some stories as legends or myths. However what left Nomad so struck with conflict that he couldn’t move from where he sat, was “The List of the Dead”.

In short it was a list of any Nomad Clan Member of olds time and cause of death, he was surprised to be holding his biological father and mothers death records. He dared not look at the recordings, but what made him even more disturbed was the death record of Drago, the Original Nomad Clan Leader & now Shaman / Mentor to the reforming of the Clan.

???: “Your not supposed to be here.”

Nomad was quick to his feet and bared his mandibles as well as his claws, taken by surprised but softened when he saw the walking corpse clicking in amusement.

Nomad: “I hate it when you sneak up on me-“

Drago: “Well learn to be vigilant and always on your guard, as a member of the clan you want to revive, a lot of rival clans and enemies want your head and will gladly challenge your life to see you lose it.”

Drago said as he tried lightning the mood but can see and smell the stench of fear illuminating from Nomad. He put on a softer face as he offered his young apprentice and new leader of the clan a seat across from him, to which Nomad accepted. Drago couldn’t help but have his eyes wonder, seeing the many data pads. The Mentor smiled at the stories recorded, but as soon as he saw the death records he was curious and saddened.

Drago: “You know, I’ve been taught that poking around the dead can be very dangerous, you might not like what you find.”

Nomad: “There’s plenty” -tossed the death record of Drago to his mentor- “care to explain why your labeled as dead.”

Drago: “…..well the easy answer is, because I did.”

Nomad: “For 10 minutes, 10 minutes saying how long you were dead. You shouldn’t be able to even be breathing….what happened?”

Drago couldn’t help using his index finger to claw into the chairs arm with his claw, not liking the trip of memory lane. Flashes and vivid imagery had him physically flinching till he began breath slowly, calming himself the best he could as he slowly held his scar on his chest were his heart resided. He looked at Nomad struggling to even form words, Nomad was about to calm his Mentor and try to suggest he doesn’t have to explain, but Drago waves that kindness away.

Drago: “Sorry, the topic is…alittle tortuous to me…my mind…was never right when I came back…but as a mentor I owe you all my honesty.”

-Flashback to the Slaughter of Pandora-

Drago was taken back to the temple he once had, seeing how the cobwebs and dust disappeared and was replaced by jade green and red stone. The layout was heavily Japanese like, he walked through the halls to then see his thrown room. Seeing the old thrown of a Xeno Queens skull along the many armor and weapons he had acquired over many millennia, but the sound of crackling fire as well as the clashing of metal began to ring his hearing. He could smell the smoke and the noticeable smell of iron from freshly spilt blood, he remembered it all to the last detail. Suddenly the sound of crashing wood being turned to splinters echoed through the halls, watching as he saw a old foe who covered himself in mechanical prosthetic metal.

Seeing as he threw a young battle scarred Drago across the room holding as he held a sword made of pure plasma energy from his mechanical hand, the mechanical being known as “The Mountain” began to charge towards younger Drago with his Plasma bolts firing from his palms, with the space closing in the Mountain reaches for Young Drago’s mechanical hand and held it high to completely crush it beyond repair. The light of the Plasma like sword flickered before completely being extinguished, now with Young Drago defenseless, the Mountain started slamming him into walls, the floor and even stepped on his back to rip off his mechanical arm. Young Drago was left in shock and dazed as he got up with one arm shaking, seeing a smug look on the Mountain's face with many more Yautja’s who were Bad Bloods and Enforcers on the Bad Bloods payroll appearing behind Mountain uncloaking.

The Mountain: “Alas Drago....this is where your story ends.” -raises his arm ready to fire his plasma caster along with everyone else taking aim-

Young Enforcer: “Wait....Mountain, this wasn’t part of the deal! We are supposed to take him alive, stand him for trial!” -She said bringing down his hand-

Drago was suddenly taken into the view of his younger self, remember the lines of which he lost spoke, panicked as he tried to stop himself…till it broke from his mandibles

Drago: “Kid.....this was never a capture mission.....you’ve been played....just like I was onc-“

Drago was then suddenly cut off as he felt himself being fired upon by a shooting squad of Bad Bloods. With each shot sent Drago a step back, remembering every agonizing and burning pain till then he landed and collapsed on his throne, when the dust settled Drago weakly took off his mask choking on his own blood and gargling. Even some of the Bad Bloods who were clearly forced into doing this looked on to them look away at the horror as the one who purged Yautja Prime struggled to take his final breaths. The Mountain slowly walked up to Drago and tightly held his dreadlocks, getting a good look at his foe but Drago was then controlled by his past to spit his blood at the machine's face.

Mountain: “Now…was that very nice Drago?”

The Mountain then dug into Drago’s open wounds to which Drago screamed to the heavens and eventually began to slowly go limp. The Mountain would toss Drago upon his throne and left to watch dying as Mountain left out of ear shot, Drago’s vision began to change and began getting cloudy due to the burning smoke around him. The fire was beginning to burn so intense Drago saw a dark figure emerge from it, a creature like him but with 4 arms. It grew ever closer till he could feel the cold and horribly stench breath of a corpse.

???: “Drago…the insane….the immortal….the clanless…the father….and the leader of the Nomad Clan….it seems that the time finally comes for your life of the hunt to end….”

Drago: “Centanu….the God of Death….my time truly has come…tell me spirit….Will I get to see them…is my promised afterlife secured?”

Centanu: “It’s not my place to say…I’m only the collector and guide…please follow.”

Drago was about to say he couldn’t, but just like before, his older self saw his younger body upon his bloody throne. More flashes of light blurred his vision till he was dropped at a large field of grass, his battle scars are no longer apart of him but completely healed. Though his arm was still small with no signs of his mechanical arm, he slowly walked through the field to see alittle farm with 2 buildings.

The pain he once felt through his body disappeared. From the stories Drago had been told about....this was his end, Drago walked down the hill as he felt the prickles of Yautja’s version of wheat, feeling the warm heat brush into his face and the smell, the smell he missed reminded him of home, Yautja Prime. He would stop seeing someone in the distance, a Yautja woman in a dress under a tree looking at the sun. From walking to running, Drago ran as fast as his legs could carry seeing the figure growing closer and closer, till finally he was right behind her looking down at the female and taking in her scent.

???: “Hehehe Drago! What has gotten into you? I knew you liked my scent but that much?”

Drago: “Yeyinde....it’s.....it’s you.....you’re here....”

Yeyinde: “Of course I am, I’ve always been with you Drago....now you are here with me.....you can finally rest my warrior.”

Yeyinde pressed her forehead against Drago's, bringing him to tears, having for the longest time ever broken down into tears hugging the angel. She caressed his cheek and held him closer, there was no better explanation then it felt like he was truly home. He heard his name again being shouted behind him, for who does he see but an old face...Scrapper walking up the hill with a wooden staff. They stared at each other, Scrapper making the first move to hold out his hand.

Scrapper: “It’s good to see you again old Friend.”

Drago: “Get that shit away from me” -smacks his hand-

Scrapper: “wha?!”

Drago: -picks him up and spins him around in a bear hug- “My son.....you’re here too!”

Drago brought everyone into a hug and couldn’t help clicking happily, but what caught his eye was the dark four armed figure looking at him. Centanu walked down the hill, Drago stood up eye to eye with the manifestation of Death. The wind suddenly stopped but it didn’t faze Drago, Centanu looked at Drago back and gave a cold stare. Something didn’t feel right, and when he looked back at his family he saw something horrible, they began to decompose right in front of him. They screamed in agony as Drago tried everything to put them together again, having his mind break even in the spiritual world.

Centanu: “It is not your time Drago…”

Drago: “WHAT DO YOU MEAN! I DIED! THIS WAS MY END! THIS WAS THE HAPPY ENDING I LONGED FOR!”

Centanu: “The gods have deemed you not worthy to die just yet…for there is another….something pulling you back to living”

Drago shouted at him to shut up as he even threw a punch at the god of Death, to which the creature turned into black smoke. The whispers of his words echoed and scrapped inside Drago’s skull, for he began to fall through the ground that shattered under him. The warm lit day turned into pitch black night, once Drago felt he hit the floor he immediately went into a feral like state. Seeing many Shaman and Healers around him, they took him away from it all, his happy ending. Everyone in that room was slaughtered leaving the walls and floor covered in neon blood, on the other side of the glass was The Mountain looking amused, sending his soldiers to subdue and capture Drago. From then on, Drago was kept prisoner and left chained above the ground till he was needed again.

-Flashback Ended-

Nomad: “Wow…I…I’m so sorry…”

Drago: “Apologies will not fix what happened, the gods deemed I am not ready to die…then so be it. I’ve waited a thousand years to see my loved face again…what’s a few more years…I just hope that everyone I lost along the way will be there, making it a bigger reunion.”

Drago said as he felt a crack in his voice, to which straighten up and patted Nomad on the shoulder, saying if he wishes to hear more stories then please ask him directly…he doesn’t like the memories these walls he used to know hold. The two walked out the library and from the shadows a black smoke puffed from the shadows and slithered towards the night sky.

-The End-

@abdxctedd @bunnyraptor69 @black-suns-rim @crowworkz @daswhox @loser-brain @leechandoki @maynixe @queenlybeastly @wolfsnowphoenix @whereisxyro

#yautja #predator #the nomad clan #the_nomad_clanyt #oc #predator oc #yautja oc #the nomad predator #story telling #short story #qna time #questions

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mitchelldailygames · 4 months

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Heroes of Song Devlog Part 11: Picking It Back Up

I set this game to the side for a bit to work on some other projects, but recently have found some new motivation and have been diving back into it! As always, the design principles:

The heroes are cute.

Kindness matters.

The world is weird.

Sometimes you don’t fight. Sometimes you do.

Health is hearts.

Art Announcement

One of the main drivers of my new motivation is that I got art back! Check back here on the Wednesday after Christmas to see the first piece! You can also follow me on the website I continue to call Twitter to see it.

Having something to look at, something to grasp of this world I’ve been imagining, is very exciting and life-giving. On all other projects I’ve released, I’ve either done the art myself or used stock images, so there were always limitations. Having a very talented artist actually create the perfect artwork for this game is incredible. I highly recommend it. 10/10.

The artist is @warrenbutgnome. You should definitely check out his stuff.

Layout or “The Look”

I’ve recently been trying out some layout ideas and feel like I’m approaching something that I like. You can see it below. The pixelation is hiding some of the art I will be revealing soon, and the text isn’t final, but you can get the idea. I’ll just say, I’m sticking with “The heroes are cute.”

I like having the solid color corners so you can easily find chapters. The dots in that solid color field are the forj’d rune numbers for the chapter number. I think overall, this look is pretty clean and doesn’t interfere with the text. This is friendlier and softer than a lot of the stuff I’ve made (especially recently) which I think is good for this game.

The text will be justified, not left aligned. I’ve already changed it on the document. The fonts used here are Da Pandora for the title/chapter headings and Palatino for everything else. I don’t know what else to say about it, but getting this done, even though I’m a long way off from actually finalizing text and laying everything out, is really encouraging. If you have suggestions or feedback, I’m open to it!

Character Sheet

I’ve also been working on the character sheet. You can find the current version of first page, which contains the essential information for a character, below.

Knowing how much space I actually have while looking at the page on a computer is always a challenge for me. I have a tendency to give way too much space for some things and not leaving enough for others. Looking at it now, I see there is much more space for writing out the second piece of gear than the first. That could definitely be improved. Earlier versions had huge boxes for the character portrait/description, and I like it slimmed down.

I liked the idea of coloring in the symbols with color for hearts, effort, and spirit based on how much your max was. Trying it out with just normal pencils is a little awkward, so I might end up making a version that doesn’t have that so I can free up space for writing out move descriptions or songs, runes, and rituals. I’m also not sure how to get a fillable pdf that allows filling up the images for the pools without doing some programming that I don’t know how to do. That’s definitely no the top priority at the moment, but it’s on my mind. If someone reading this knows exactly how they’d do it, I’d be willing to pay to get it done.

Other Stuff

I’ve been tweaking the rules. I’ve been stat-ing out enemies. I’ve even been working out some downtime systems including a community building mechanic and mini-games for a variety of leisure/non-adventuring activities like fishing/hunting, foraging, and cooking. I also made a list of prompts for getting to know your characters a bit better when nothing else is going on. Sometimes you don’t fight.

I was going to get into all of that, but as I started writing it, I realized it really was its own post. So keep an eye out for that down the line!

The world is weird; kindness matters.

--Daily

#indie ttrpg #ttrpg #ttrpg design #ttrpg dev #heroes of song #legend of zelda

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bunnyheaded · 1 year

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vi / luce 𖥔₊୭ ˖ twenty - one, he / fae.

latinamerican ( brasilian ) | genderfluid ( tme ).

layout creds. ♡

interests include, but are not limited to:

genshin impact, honkai star rail, punishing: gray raven, p5 ( haven’t finished the game yet ), ace attorney ( all games + aai, haven't played dgs ), sailor moon, star guardians, the owl house, pandora hearts, vanitas no carte, f*namusea media ( i PROMISE i am normal about it).

italics means it's a special interest!

i may also post about journaling, study notes and some k-pop idols i like, but for the latter i really don't consider myself part of the community anymore.

i also really like typology stuff ( mbti & enneagrams mainly ), as well as astrology & tarot.

stuff i may reblog for my mutuals:

splatoon, pokémon, tmnt, danganronpa, vocaloid, any of the idol rhythm games.

no more hyperspecific dni i'll just start biting people

still, asking that you don't follow if you identify yourself as proship / profic / anti-anti or radfem.

idc about minors following but i don't. really tag nsf/w stuff so... be safe?

also don't ask for my opinions on stuff i don't know how to behave ♡

#🎨#(for fanart)#🎧#(for tunes)#📸#(for pics)#💭#(me posting)#🎥#(general media posting)#(everything after this is an aesthetic tag)#💗#💌#💄#🔖#(writing and literature)#🏷#💬#📦

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trashmouth-toastzier · 1 year

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oi oi hello it was gay month and i had changed the layout of my tumblr for the first time since i created it :)!! then i drafted this post and only just found it now lol

decided to introduce myself a little and make a list of the non-male characters i like since my bio is a list of the fictional men i like >:)

hi im jules (u can also call me volantis), im 23 and im a non binary lesbian, i use they/them pronouns (and iel/yel in french), im british-french 😔✊ and i also speak some german

here are some of my favourite non-men!!!! (any characters who don't use he/him and/or identify as men) fictional characters:

genshin-> keqing, yanfei, klee, yoimiya, hu tao, shen he, yae miko, qiqi, xinyan, mona, lumine, arlecchino, beidou, collei, diona, dehya, faruzan, fischl, lisa, kujou sara, nahida, ningguang, xiangling

honkai star rail-> hook, natasha, bailu, seele, march 7th, herta, jingyun, kafka

honkai impact-> herrscher of sentience

mha-> himiko toga, mina, mei, ragdoll

proseka/vocaloid-> tenma saki, gumi, kagamine rin, hinomori shizuku, shiraishi an, yoisaki kanade, shininome ena, mayu, seeu, kaai yuki

magnus chase/percy jackson-> alex fierro, hazel levesque, piper mcclean

great pretender-> cynthia moore, abby jones

professor layton-> katrielle layton, flora reinhold, lucy baker, goldie potsby-mahn

love live-> tsushima yohane, yazawa nico, arashi chisato, emma verde, hanamaru kunikida, haruka konoe, kanata konoe, nakasu kasumi, tang keke, minami kotori, ohara mari, yoneme mei, mia taylor, tojo nozomi, tennoji rina, kazuna sarah, heanna sumire, watanabe you, ranpha, shirase koyuki, shitara fumi, kirihara yuuka, miyashita coco, hasekura kasane, kikkawa mizuki, tanaka sachiko, saeki reine, nishimura fumie

homestuck :') -> terezi pyrope, latula pyrope, rose lalonde, kanaya maryam, nepeta lejion, meulin lejion, roxy lalonde, calliope

tokyo mew mew-> aizawa minto, huang bu-ling

little witch academia-> diana cavendish, constanze albrechtsburger

bungou stray dogs-> yosano akiko, lucy montgomery

vanitas no carte-> dominique de sade, chloé apchier, amelia

black butler-> meyrin

pandora hearts-> alice, sharon rainsworth

vampire princess miyu-> miyu

tangled the series-> cassandra

it-> bev marsh

ensemble stars-> anzu, narukami arashi

x-men-> kitty pryde, rogue, mystique, emma frost, jubilation lee, polaris (lorna dane)

moomin-> little my, snorkmaiden

saiki k-> mikoto aiura, imu rifuta

dyslite-> feng nuxi, bai liuli, camille, catherine, yuuhime, discboom, elaine, heng yue, intisar, jiang man, li guang, mona, lin xiao, ye suhua

taz-> lup taaco, aubrey little, dani, lydia, lucretia, N0-3113, irene baker, gandy dancer

the raven boys-> blue sargent

pokemon-> jessie, lillie, blanche, acerola, mina, plumeria, klara, marnie, melony, nessa, sonia, opal, iono, nemona, tulip, mela

yuukoku no moriarty-> miss hudson

the magnus archives-> basira hussain, george barker, helen richardson, melanie king, jane prentiss, nikola orsinov, sasha james

teen titans-> raven, starfire, terra, jinx, bumblebee

bee and puppycat-> bee, cas wizard, toast

stranger things-> max, robin, erica

cookie run-> latte, strawberry crepe, scorpion, hydrangea, snow sugar, bellflower, black garlic, spinach, captain ice, snake fruit, kumiho, starfruit, moon rabbit, lychee dragon, pond dino, angel, black pearl, oyster, sea fairy, moonlight, pumpkin pie, cotton, cream puff, pinecone, milky way

idolm@ster-> hoshii miki, kikuchi makoto, takatsuki yayoi

etc... cause if not we'll be here for years (watch me add more when i think of them)

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phoenixblack89 · 2 years

Text

Chapter 8 - Demons With Familiar Faces

I'm back again with a brand new chapter and its one of my very favourite TWD episodes! Whoop Whoop.

BE prepared for some heart break and a fair amount of angst.

Smut incoming in the next chapter eheheheehe

The awesome page breaker was made by @firefly-graphics (stupid Tumblr and their 10 image rule ruining my layout grrr)

TAG LIST: @lilythemadqueen @autocon23 @boondoctorwho @browneyes528 @writingdeadangel @darylsgirl @purple-serenity @fandomsaremykryponite @ @pandora-writes-stuff @littlegodzilla

WARNINGS: Graphic injury talk, ANGST, Typical canon violence, Merle being a racist dickhead.

Phoenix weaved her way through the trucks and cars on the highway leading into Atlanta. She was due to meet up with someone who sympathised with their cause, someone who could tell her exactly the location of the twins and Romeo.

She grit her teeth in frustration as she slowed to a stop beside a pale blue Ford truck and killed the engine. Her hands tugged her helmet off and she cracked her neck loudly. A sharp whistle had her head snapping to the side. A bald man was smiling widely at her from the driver's window. His eyes ran up and down her frame slowly as he licked his lips.

"Well now... That's a mighty fine sight... Don't ya agree Daryl?" the man said turning to another man in the cab, who leaned forward and looked at her before scoffing and turning back to gaze out his own window.

Phoenix felt her heart stop for a moment, like time had stopped. The man, Daryl, was the spitting image of Murphy. Even had the same small mole above his lip except his hair was a few shades lighter.

"You know darlin' I could give ya a ride better than that ole dirt bike could. Give ya a taste of summit real powerful between those thighs."

"Shut up Merle. Leave the kid alone." Her eyes met the intense blue of the Murphy clone as he spoke.

"No thanks. I prefer something that ain't gonna die half way through." She smirked, the Murphy clone sniggering lightly into his hand at the other man's shocked spluttering.

"I ain't ever tended an English rose before... How 'bout it girlie? You wanna me t' trim those thorns?"

"I would... But I prefer an Irish whiskey to Moonshine." She replied, smirking at the man's rapidly reddening face. It was clear as day he wasn't used to facing such rejection.

"She ain't interested, leave her be." The clone said quietly around his thumb.

"Now she just needs to give in to old Merle's charm. A fine ass like that must need a strong man to keep that body warm at night." Merle licked his lips, his eyes centring in on the space between her legs lustfully.

"Pfft... Like you'd know how to have a girl seein' stars and shaking in intense bliss." She snapped with a laugh at the lecherous man. His eyes darkened and he raised his chin, anger flaring in his blue eyes.

"Ya ain't from around here are ya princess so let me give ya some advice -"

The man was cut off as explosions rocked the dark night sky. All eyes being drawn to the city skyline as huge orange and red flames began to light up the outlines of the sky scrapers.

Phoenix felt a tug on her heart as tears welled in her eyes. There goes her chance at finding the boys easily.

"Morning." Lori whispered to Dale as she pulled her boots on before walking over to Carol and Phoenix, who were hanging laundry on a make shift line between two trees.

"I can't believe I slept in." Lori sighed, grabbing some freshly cleaned clothes and tossing them over her shoulder.

"You must have needed it. Feeling all right?" Carol replied quietly.

"Next time wake me, all right? Especially on laundry day." Lori stated, beginning to hang shirts.

"I can manage, I have Phoenix to help. I had an idea I wanted to run by you." Carol said, glancing at the woman.

"Well, come on Carol! Don't leave us in suspense? Is it hog tying Dixon and finally getting him all clean for once? Never see a man so filthy! Wonder if he's as tanned all over..." Phoenix joked, wiggling her eyebrows at the women. Lori and Carol let out a laugh and glanced towards the archer. Daryl raised his head at their stares and knitted his brows in confusion when they turned and stifled more giggles with their hands. "I got some good strong rope we can use to tie him to the tree."

Now there's a fun idea.... Wait... No. Ya mad at him remember. Focus girl.

"You are terrible! What's that idea?" Lori gasped between giggles clutching at a stitch in her side from her laughter.

"That big kitchen of theirs got me thinking." Carol smiled lightly.

"I wouldn't mind cooking in a real kitchen again." Lori sighed wistfully; her eyes drawn to the house.

"Maybe we all pitch in and cook dinner for Hershell and his family tonight." Phoenix and Lori tilted their heads in question at the grey-haired woman. She smiled weakly at the pair as she shrugged. "Kind of looking for things to keep my mind occupied. After everything they've done for us, seems like the least we could do. You mind extending the invitation? Would just feel more right coming from you."

"How so?"

"You're Rick's wife. It sort of makes you our unofficial first lady." Carol blushed, ducking her head slightly.

"Oh, my lady!" Phoenix laughed, bowing towards Lori playfully. "How may I be of service? I cannot allow the first lady to sully her dainty hands with such work!"

The women laughed at the girl as she playfully tugged Lori into a chair.

"Stop it!" Lori laughed shaking her long-haired head. Phoenix bowed once more before skipping off towards her tent. "She seems in a better mood."

"She does. It's nice to see her smile for once." Carol replied, her eyes watching the girl too.

"Morning, guys. Let's get going. We've got a lot of ground to cover." Rick said quietly as the group gathered around the car. "All right, everyone's getting new search grids today. If she made it as far as the farmhouse Daryl found, she might have gone further east than we've been so far."

"I'd like to help. I know the area pretty well and stuff." Jimmy stated, joining the small gathering with hopeful eyes.

"Hershell's okay with this?" Rick questioned the boy, who had a sheepish look on his face.

"Yeah yeah. He said I should ask you."

"All right then. Thanks."

"Nothing about what Daryl found screams Sophia to me. Anyone could have been holed up in that farmhouse." Shane said quietly, his hands placing the bag of weapons onto the car hood.

"Anybody includes her, right?"

"Yea she's a smart kid. Hide, wait for rescue. Makes sense to me." Phoenix smirked; the man glared at her in return.

"Whoever slept in that cupboard was no bigger than yay-high." Daryl motioned to his chest at roughly the height of the girl.

"It's a good lead."

"Maybe we'll pick up her trail again."

"No maybe about it. I'm gonna borrow a horse, head up to this ridge right here, take a bird's-eye view of the whole grid. If she's up there, I'll spot her." Daryl stated, pulling a shirt on over his vest and slinging the crossbow back over his shoulder. He glanced at Phoenix in question and grit his teeth as she pointedly turned her head away.

"Good idea."

"Maybe you'll see your Chupacabra up there too." T-Dog laughed lightly.

"Chupacabra?" Rick's face a confused amused look as he turned to the man.

"You never heard this? Our first night in camp, Daryl tells us that the whole thing reminds him of a time when he went squirrel hunting and he saw a Chupacabra." Dale said calmly, filling the group into the story. Jimmy laughs at the man and abruptly quietens as Daryl's head snapped to him.

"What are you braying at, jackass?"

"You believe in a blood-sucking dog?" The boy questioned.

"Do you believe dead people walking around?" The archer snapped back, his eyes holding pure annoyance at the teenager.

Phoenix glanced between the pair, a smirk fighting its way onto her face. As mad as she was at the archer, she couldn't help but be amused by his ire at the young man.

"Hey hey. Ever fire one before?" Shane snaps as Jimmy reached out towards the guns laid on the bonnet of the car.

"Well, if I'm going out, I want one." Jimmy replied, glancing at the group.

"Yeah, and people in hell want slurpees." Daryl said sarcastically as he walked away. Smiling to himself as he heard Phoenix struggling not to laugh at his joke.

"Why don't you come train tomorrow? If you're serious, I'm a certified instructor." Shane said calmly.

"For now, he can come with us." Andrea said calmly, smiling lightly at the kid.

"He's yours to babysit then."

"I'm gonna help Hershell. I know a fair bit about farming and shit, might buy us some brownie points with the old man." Phoenix said, wandering away with a pointed glance at Rick. Rick nodded with a slight confusion gracing his face.

"All right, Andrea, T-Dog, I want you guys... "

Dammit Dixon! Focus!

Damn girl. Got me all twisted in knots. Shouldn't like her the way I do. She's a damn kid

Daryl thought as he rode the ginger mare through the woods, his eyes scanning along the ridge line for any sign of Sophia. He pulled the trigger on his crossbow and nailed a squirrel to the tree, grabbing it quickly as he rode by.

Daryl slowed the horse as his eyes caught sight of the doll at the bottom and made his slow way down the slope to the river bed. The doll grimy and dirt covered as he held it up. He recognised it from the camp, Sophia never let the thing out of her sight.

"Sophia!" He yelled, standing and turning. He sighed, shouldering his crossbow and tucking the doll into the waistband of his jeans before climbing the slope and getting back onto the ginger horse. He rode forward a few feet before the horse began to falter and stomp. Something had spooked the horse.

"Whoa. Easy, easy." He said firmly, trying to calm the horse as a flock of ravens flew in front of them. The horse walked forward another foot before a snake slithered away under the hoofs as they stamped. The horse threw the man from its back and ran away. Daryl tumbled head over heels down the rocky bank and hit the water.

"Whoa whoa whoa! Son of a bitch." Daryl muttered to himself as he stopped falling and tumbling down the steep slope towards the water. He glanced downwards at his side and groaned. A bolt from his crossbow was sticking through his side.

Daryl wadded through the water and stopped as he reached the other side. He paused long enough to cut his sleeves from his shirt and tie them around the bolt embedded in his torso. He picked up a stick to help him and used it to feel along the bottom of the river bed for his crossbow. He held it aloft once he found it and began panting his slow ascent up the trees lined slope.

Phoenix threw herself down onto her sleeping bag and sighed, her face itched something awful but she didn't find that she cared if it hurt. It reminded her that she was alive and had a mission to complete.

Murphy.... Connor....

Tears sprang to her eyes as she pulled out one of Connor's shirts from her bag and buried her face into the fabric. Her sobs being drowned out by the softly fading scent of the elder brother.

Daryl threw down his stick as it snapped in half, panting in pain.

"Oh, come on. You've done half. Stop being such a pussy. Come on!" Daryl groaned to himself as he reached for a branch. The branch snapped under his weight and he grunted as his body hit the hard, rocks on the way back down the slope. Darkness took hold of him as he landed in a heap in the shallow edge of the stream.

"Why don't you pull that arrow out, dummy? You could bind your wound better."

Daryl blinked as the fuzziness in his head smacked into him full force. He was having difficulty in regaining control of his full senses.

"Merle." Daryl groaned smiling lightly, his eye sight fuzzy and slowly becoming clearer. His head was hurting something fierce. Merle's smiling face leaned over him as he kneeled down.

"What's going on here? You taking a siesta or something?"

"A shitty day, bro." He wiggled his fingers slowly as he replied. His mind still cloudy from the blow to his head.

"Like me to get your pillow? Maybe rub your feet?" Merle joked, prodding him lightly with his hand.

"Screw you." He whispered, fighting against the darkness calling to him.

"Huh-uh. You're the one screwed from the looks of it. All them years I spent trying to make a man of you, this is what I get? Look at you. Lying in the dirt like a used rubber. You're gonna die out here, brother. And for what?"

"A girl. They lost a little girl." Daryl groaned, his mission coming back to him at a lightning speed.

"So... you got a thing for little girls now? Thought you had a thing for Firebug? Damn boy... Gonna break her little heart." Merle laughed down at him.

"Shut up." Daryl whispered.

"'Cause I noticed you ain't out looking for old Merle no more."

"Tried like hell to find you, bro." He hissed, raising his eyebrows slightly.

"Like hell you did! You split, man. Lit out first chance you got."

"You lit out. All you had to do was wait. We went back for you. Rick and I, we did right by you." Daryl defended himself against his older brother.

"This the same Rick that cuffed me to the rooftop in the first place? Forced me to cut off my own hand?" Daryl's blurry vision took in the sight of Merle's hand, the one he had cut off, that was still attached to his wrist. "This him we're talking about here? You his bitch now?"

"I ain't nobody's bitch." Daryl growled.

"You're a joke is what you are, playing errand boy to a bunch of pansy-asses, niggers and democrats. You're nothing but a freak to them. Redneck trash. That's all you are. They're laughing at you behind your back. You know that, don't you? I got a little news for you, son. One day they gonna scrape you off their heels like you was dogshit." Merle gave him a tap against the thigh as his head swam once more.

"Hey. They ain't your kin, your blood. Hell, you had any damn nuts in that sack of yours, you'd go back there and shot your pal Rick in the face for me. And claim that fiery little redhead before someone else did! Bet she'd feel mighty fine under ya..." Merle trailed off, humming with a lecherous lick of his lips. "Now you listen to me. Ain't nobody ever gonna care about you except me, little brother. Nobody ever will. Come on, get up on your feet before I have to kick your teeth in." Merle said, tugging and slapping at his legs.

Suddenly Daryl's eyes suddenly snapped back into focus at the walker attempting to chew at his boot and scrambled backwards away from it. He quickly bashed its head in with a stick before, panting, laid back onto his back.

He paled as the shambling corpse of another walker headed towards him. He reached for his crossbow but there was no bolts anywhere in sight. He hissed as he pulled the arrow loose from his body and pulled on the crossbow wire to load it, he shot the bolt into the walker.

That damn fucking horse Daryl thought as his mind began to clear. His side was killing him as he tied the shirt sleeves around the wound then began eating the squirrel raw, blood smearing around his mouth as he chewed the plump little liver, his mind wandering to a certain Brit's butchery skills. Merle's taunting began echoing in his ears.

"You fucked ya only chance with her baby brother. That sweet girl ain't gonna want ya dirty hands on her soft skin. She ain't gonna cry none if you don't go back. None of them will!" Merle laughed at him, Daryl steeled his eyes and hung the ears off a lace around his neck.

No. I'm gonna fix it. I need to. He thought as he chewed the squirrel raw. I hurt her but I can make it better. I gotta. She's my friend. I can make it right again. I gotta. She's only one I can stand here. I'ma make it right.

Daryl set his face and began to climb up the ridge and make his way back to camp. Each step painful and energy draining. His focus on the red-haired woman fuelling him as well as the doll hanging from his belt.

"Let's go. Son of a bitch was right." He groaned as he tightened the sleeves before beginning to climb once more. He paused near to where he had fallen before, and panted.

"Please, don't feed the birds. What's the matter, Darylina? That all you got in you? Throw away that purse and climb."

Daryl glanced upwards as Merle appeared at the top of the climb and looked down at him.

"I liked it better when you was missing." Daryl huffed out as he clung to the tree branch, his eyes darting to the best possible way to continue his climb.

"Come on, don't be like that. I'm on your side." Merle cooed down at him, a huge shit eating grin plastered across his cheeks.

"Yeah? Since when?"

"Hell, since the day you were born, baby brother. Somebody had to look after your worthless ass."

"You never took care of me. You talk a big game but you was never there! Hell, you ain't here now. Guess some things never change." Daryl growled, swinging himself further up the hill.

"Well, I'll tell you what - I'm as real as your Chupacabra." Merle kneeled down and tilted his head at his younger brother, smirking wildly.

"I know what I saw."

"And I'm sure them mushrooms you ate had nothin' to do with it, right?" His older brother laughed at him.

"You'd best shut the hell up." He growled angrily, the anger fuelling his climb.

"Or what?" Merle growled back. "You're gonna come up here and shut my mouth for me? Well, come on and do it then, if you think you're man enough. Hey, kick off them damn high heels and climb, son. You know what? If I were you I'd take a pause for the cause, brother. 'Cause I just don't think you're gonna make it to the top. Come on. Come on, little brother. Grab your friend Rick's hand." Merle taunted holding out his hand as Daryl was almost towards the top. Daryl climbed over the edge and stood slowly. He glanced around as he panted.

"Yeah, you'd better run." Daryl yelled as he stood at the top of the slope, his side burning as he hissed in pain and began to slink his way back to the farm.

Phoenix wiped her eyes as sleep began to call to her, her emotional outburst had drained her of her good mood and energy. She had just closed her eyes when she sat up quickly.

"Walker! Walker!" Andrea yelled panickily.

She paused and strained her ears as the voices of the others joined Andrea's. As no one was shrieking and there was no sudden call for her to run, she lay back down.

Then the gunshot went off.

She sat bolt up and listened. When no more yells or gunshots went off, she laid back down. She'd find out about it later. Obviously, no harm had come from it. Sleep called her again.

Daryl slowly shuffled his way towards the men approaching him and paused as the men raised their weapons.

"Is that Daryl?" Glenn questioned as the men approached the shuffling man

"That's the third time you've pointed that thing at my head." Daryl growled out as he stumbled a little, the weight of dragging the crossbow making his side flare with pain. "You gonna pull the trigger or what?"

Daryl jerked backwards suddenly ad a loud shot rang out. He landed in a heap on the floor and groaned.

"No! No! No!" Rick shouted, turning back towards the origin of the bullet.

"Rick!" Lori shrieked rushing outside

"What on earth's going on out here?" Hershell yelled furiously as he and Lori ran from the farmhouse.

"I was kidding." Daryl whispered as Shane and Rick pulled him to his feet, letting his arms dangle over their shoulders before giving into the light-headedness and passing out.

"Come on." Shane grunted, Daryl was a lot heavier than he looked.

"Oh my God. Oh my God, is he dead?" Andrea gasped as she ran to them.

"Unconscious. You just grazed him."

"But look at him. What the hell happened? He's wearing ears." Glenn panted as he lugged Daryl's crossbow awkwardly after the men.

"Let's keep that to ourselves." Rick hissed quietly, pulling Daryl's homemade necklace from around his neck and shoving it into his shirt pocket.

"Guys, isn't this Sophia's?" T-Dog questioned, holding up the blood soaked doll for the others to see.

"I found it washed up on the creek bed right there. She must have dropped it crossing there somewhere." Daryl explained, pointing at a creek on the map laid beside him with one hand as the other held the compress against his head. he hissed and jolted as Hershell poked his side.

"Cuts the grid almost in half." Rick breathed out in relief.

"Yeah, you're welcome." Daryl snapped sarcastically, groaning as Hershell prodded him a little harder.

"How's he looking?" Rick asked the old vet as he stood and rolled up his sleeves.

"I had no idea we'd be going through the antibiotics so quickly. Any idea what happened to my horse?" Hershell asked as he finished examining the wound in the man's side.

"Yeah, the one who almost killed me? If it's smart, it left the country." Daryl moaned out as he eased himself to lean more onto his injured side.

"We call that one Nelly, as in nervous Nelly. I could have told you she'd throw you if you'd bothered to ask. It's a wonder you people have survived this long." Hershell explained as he washed his hands, pulling out the needle to finish the stitches.

"How's he doing?" Andrea asked quietly as Dale joined her on the porch.

"He'll be fine. What about you?" Dale smiled, slowly seating himself beside her despite his aching knee.

"I shot Daryl." Andrea deadpanned.

"Don't be too hard on yourself. We've all wanted to shoot Daryl." Dale laughed, causing Andrea to give a small huff of a laugh in return. Neither noticing the small dark haired shadow sneaking out the other door to their left and off into the setting sun.

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The silence of the room was broken only by the sound of cutlery hitting the fine porcelain tableware. The tension in the room was high. Glenn smiled to Maggie as she passed him a note before turning in his seat.

"Does anybody know how to play guitar? Dale found a cool one. Somebody's got to know how to play." Glenn asked innocently, trying to ease the room into conversation hopefully.

"Otis did." Patricia said breathily, her heart clenching at the reminder of her late husband.

"Yes, and he was very good too." Hershell replied, his face a blank mask as he placed his napkin down. The group glanced at Shane, feeling guilty that he had survived while Otis hadn't.

"Phoenix!?" A hand shook her shoulder. Darkness has fallen sometime while she slept. She groaned and turned to the hand touching her. Squinting at the pale faced boy in front of her.

"Phoenix! Wake up!"

"Carl? What? What's going on?" She whispered, ears pricking in case of walkers attacking. Carl looked scared and rubbed his hands together before ducking his head. A habit he seemed to have picked up from Daryl. "Carl? Are you in trouble?"

"No. There's been an accident."

Phoenix sat up, throwing the blanket off her legs and pulling his chin up to look him in the eyes.

"Who?"

"Daryl is hurt real bad, blood everywhere. It's bad Phoenix. He was out cold when Dad and Shane took him in the house! Hershel won't let him leave the bed!"

Her heart stopped. It had to have given how her chest hurt.

"He fell off a horse, down a cliff or summit. Stabbed himself with one of his bolts. Then he got attacked by walkers and pulled the bolt out! He killed the walkers. Climbed back up and walked back here. Andrea shot him! She thought he was a walker!"

The boy flinched back from the icy look in the older girl's eyes. If looks could kill the boy would be stone cold dead. She stormed out her tent, her turning madly looking for the dumb blond who couldn't tell the difference between walker and not. Carl followed her as she stormed about the camp.

"They're up at the house. That dinner thing for the Greenes?"

Phoenix nodded and fury powered her stride as she walked up to the house. Each step pounding the grass under her boots into the ground. Carl sped past her into the house, no doubt to warn them of hurricane Phoenix coming. She could hear Carl inside, yelling.

"Andrea! Run! Phoenix looks like she's gonna kill you!"

She stood on the porch and took a deep breath.

This wasn't her house. She had no right to just march in and call someone out. Maybe punch the smug bitch in her perfect teeth a few times. Tell her what happens to people who attack others. Bring her a taste of the old Boston Saint spirit down on her arse.

She let her breath out and pulled herself to her full height and closed her eyes, raising her hand and knocking on the glass behind the screen door. She waited for a few minutes before steps were heard on the other side. Hershel smiled and cocked his eyebrow as he opened the door.

"Good evening young lady."

"Evening Mr. Greene. Heard there was a gathering tonight. May I come in?" She said glancing at her feet. Manners cost nothing after all.

"I've been meaning to see you about that face anyway. Come on in. We'll eat then I'll clean that up." He held the door open and she ducked inside, pulling her hood down and smiling slightly. "Daryl is awake if you want to see him, I know you two are close, maybe see if he's hungry? You could maybe give him a smile, might aid his healing, raise his spirits." He whispered to her, pointing her in the direction of the room Daryl was in.

She nodded and headed off to see him. She reached the door and took a breath. They hadn't exactly been on the best of terms lately.

Would he want to see her? Probably not. He probably hated her for shooting at him. For running away when Sophia had done the same and still not been found. Probably hated that she hadn't been out looking like he had.

She turned and tears ran down her cheeks as she fled the house. She threw herself back into her tent. Chest tight and heart breaking.

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Daryl turned as he heard footsteps outside his room, he pulled the blanket up further hiding his back and chest scars for when the door opened but it never did. He frowned as hurried steps grew further away. He shrugged and let a lone tear fall down his face. He wished Phoenix had come to see him. Maybe she'd make him laugh like she did when they were hunting or taking watch together. Everyone else had been to see him.

Then he remembered.

Y'all hurt her pretty bad baby brother. She ain't yours no more. Not that she ever was. You gone fucked that up perfectly. Daryl couldn't help but agree as more tears fell and his heart screamed in loss and pain at the thought.

Daryl chewed his thumb thoughtfully as he racked his brains for a way to make Phoenix forgive him as a soft knock sounded at the door. He quickly turned and made sure he was covered as Carol walking in, carrying a tray with a plate of food and a glass of water.

"How are you feeling?"

"As good as I look." He mumbled, shifting his weight off the wound on his back slightly.

"I brought you some dinner. You must be starving." She said quietly, placing down the tray beside him before leaning over and placing a gentle kiss against his forehead. Daryl flinched at the closeness of the woman. Carol smiled weakly and decided to ignore the automatic reaction to her actions.

"Watch out, I got stitches." Daryl said quietly, trying and failing to explain his reaction. Carol smiled at him and walked towards the door, pausing in the doorway and turning to him once more.

"You need to know something. You did more for my little girl today than her own daddy ever did in his whole life." She whispered, tears coming to her eyes slightly. Daryl's eyes drifted downwards in discomfort.

"I didn't do anything Rick or Shane wouldn't have done."

"I know. You're every bit as good as them. Every bit." She said tearfully, ducking her head and leaving Daryl's heart feeling lighter than it had.

Everyone had returned from the house after the meal slowly in pairs or by themselves. Phoenix sat in, what she had come to consider, her tree. The darkness of her clothes and the night making her completely unseen or so she thought. Rick and Lori soon left, Carl being carried by his father, his face buried in his shoulder, sound asleep.

That boy could sleep through anything she thought, waiting for the married couple to get in their tent. She hopped down out of the tree and landed lightly on her feet. A quick glance at the RV to check who was up there, and whether they were looking this way and she slowly crouched her way up to the house. Hidden safely in the shadows, she crept along the edge of the porch and peered upwards. The last light in the house had only just gone out. She snuck carefully along to the back door and stood fully. No one could see her from camp here and she let out a breath. The slow creak of the back door sounded and she jumped.

"Phoenix?" A hissed whisper asked.

"Maggie?"

Maggie shuffled on her bare feet for a moment, looking nervous. Phoenix raised an eyebrow and smiled.

"I won't tell if you don't." The short haired farmer's daughter said.

"Tell what? I'm just grabbing that plate of dinner from you. I don't know what happened after." She smiled, patting the girl's arm slowly as she stepped up beside her on the short porch in front of the back door. "It's in the fridge, right?"

"Yea it is." Phoenix smiled as Maggie blushed. Phoenix slowly opened the door and Maggie grabbed her arm. "Thank you. He's asleep by the way. I checked on him a few minutes ago. Just be out before Daddy wakes up. He wouldn't like it."

"I know Mags. Have fun with Glenn." She laughed, sneaking into the house and closing the door.

She grabbed a fork and her plate out of the fridge, the plate feeling slightly warm to her before making her way to the room Daryl was laid up in. She slowly pushed the door open, thankful it wasn't creaking and slipped into the room.

Daryl lay on his uninjured side facing away from the door, snoring softly. She smiled sadly and made her way around the bed after closing the door slightly behind her. The soft glow of the lamp beside the bed lighting up the room softly. She sighed and sank into the chair beside his temporary bed. She reached out and barely touching, brushed some of his hair out of his eyes. Silently giving him a once over before lifting the foil off her plate.

Sure, would've tasted nicer hot but she was hungry and it was truly a nice gesture of the group to cook for the Greenes. She speared a carrot and stuck it in her mouth.

It was still piping hot...

Maggie you clever, sneaky mare she thought. The woman had clearly heated it a short time ago before she had followed her to the rear of the house. Phoenix sent a silent thanks out to the woman for her thoughtfulness and began to eat. It was truly nice to eat a full and proper meal, made with more than just squirrels and awful tinned vegetables. The mashed potatoes and roasted vegetables hitting a spot in her stomach she had almost forgotten existed. She hummed in delight at the flavours hitting her tongue and enjoyed it with her eyes closed, not noticing one of Daryl's eyes opening to look at her. He smiled and snuggled back into the pillow.

Finally come t' see me then he thought as he drifted off again, feeling content that he hadn't screwed up as badly as he had thought as she relaxed into the chair. Gotta say sorry in morning... Maybe give her summit nice too, maybe she likes flowers... or a nice knife...

Phoenix carefully placed the now empty plate on the bedside table and felt for the first time, in God knows how long, full and safe. She leaned forward on her elbows before slowly rising.

Not wanting to tempt fate but needing to, she sat beside the sleeping hunter and ran her hand through his hair and over his head, being extra careful around his stitches. A small noise of pleasure came from him and she smiled, easing herself onto the bed fully to lay beside him, her fingers never ceasing their movement. As she lay her back against the headboard, his arm reached out and he shifted his head into her lap, his arm thrown lightly around her hips pinning her to her place. He nuzzled her thigh and she sighed, remembering how her missing friend would often do the same when he was sick and she was taking care of him.

She glanced down at Daryl and smiled.

Maybe it's time to move on and let them go...

LINEBREAK COS TUMBLR WON'T LET ME PUT MY PHOTO ONE IN

Glenn slowly climbing the ladder to the hayloft, smiling to himself as he made sure not to drop the blanket tucked under his arm. He was excited as he stepped into the hayloft. His face contorting as strange sounds reached his ears. He stepped closer to the edge, hoping that he wasn't about to see someone he knew in the same situation he himself had been coming here to engage in. His face paled as the sight revealed itself. It wasn't someone getting their rocks off. It was walkers.

A lot of walkers.

He quickly turned, ready to rush back to camp and get the others so they could take care of the issue. He paused as he almost ran face first into Maggie. Her face an angry scowl.

"You weren't supposed to see this"

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razputin-vodello-au-archive · 1 year

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Hi Author, I wanted to check in with you. How have you been recently? Is there anything new or exciting to share ? Are there any games you've been playing recently?

I am doing quite fine. Been dealing with the responsibilities of adulthood, the slow grind of life and my slow, yet inevitable ascension into insanity....

...

Anyway.

It's been great. Been working on a new story, and the reception it's got is amazing. Really makes the creative juices flowing.

Bought a new keyboard, but it's got French layout instead of the Belgian one, so I'm biding my time until I can buy new keycaps so it won't visually bother me anymore.

As for games, I am REALLY looking forward to Destiny 2: Lightfall. Preordered it a while ago.

Other games I'm really hyped for (But might not yet buy): Jedi: Survivor, The Day Before, Atomic Heart, Starfield (I might need to upgrady my computer for that one), suicide squad: Kill the Justice League, Assassin's Creed: Mirage, Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora, Marvel's Spider-man 2, lets add Marvel's Woverine to that list as well, Black Myth: Wukong, and a few others.

#psychonauts #psychonauts 2 #the author speaks #razputin vodello au

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author-with-anime-icon · 1 year

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Somewhat of a personal retrospective on the importance of resetting the status quo in Red vs Blue season 11

I'm aware the title of this first post is a bit of a mouthful, though I'd like to come out swinging on this first personal attempt at a longer-form look back on something very close to my heart. Hey there, hello! I'm not sure who you are, but thanks for giving my words a look. I suppose an introduction of some sort is in order? This is my first time doing something like this after all, and there are some things I should probably get out of the way first.

I'll call myself Awai for now, I like a lot of things, too many things to reasonably go into this moment. That said, here's a vague list of some things worth stating upfront. - You need to play Disco Elysium and Outer Wilds, no excuses. - My banner as of the time I write this is a photo I took in a VRChat world called 'ORGANISM' by DrMorro, if you're one of the lucky few who has access to PCVR you owe it to yourself to visit this world. - Audio Dramas are a medium of storytelling that exists and kicks ass and you also owe it to yourself to listen to Wolf 359 and Halo Hunt the Truth season 1 - You are now under my spell and will support my future creative endeavors financially ($10 Fortnite card please) There's a lot, and I mean a lot more that I could go into but the above about touches on the basic things that are 'important' enough to say now but aren't relevant to what I'm about to go into. To start on why I'm typing all this up in the first place, there's a lot of passion in my heart for the things that enrich my life, and I love trying to put my deep feelings into words for others to understand. I have a lot to share in general and I've eyed this social media platform for a while as giving me the space to properly try doing that with something longer-form. I recently settled on the idea of starting with some kind of detailed text based look at my feelings on something that inspires me deeply. An idea that came to me around the time I wiped the slate clean on my original layout and name for this account, it coincided well with my yearly or so attempts to revisit and pay respects to some of the media and stories I adore. If there's something you could say I peddle, it's wordy thoughts and considerations for the art of storytelling. I love stories of all kinds, I truly believe in the power stories have to explore and deeply express ideas of the human condition, as well as a lot of other stuff and murky philosophical gunk.

It's taken me a while to land on what I wanted to truly try and convey so much feelings on, I was close to doing all of this for one of the many Battle Shonen stories that caught my eye as I looked back on other favorites I hadn't revisited in a while at the time. The airing of the Chainsaw Man adaptation by MAPPA doing well to push me towards these other stories that I absolutely love to bits. Jujutsu Kaisen and JoJo's Bizarre Adventure are some of the titles that really caught my eye. I adore somewhat ironclad but reasonably ambiguous Battle Shonen magic systems that hold up a feeling of continuity and consistency in the logic of a narrative's universe.

Had I gone further with recent attempt at a JoJo re-watch, I would probably be here now speaking about my feelings on longer-form more puzzle-box based approaches to fight scene structures in these types of stories. Life rarely happens as planned, the nature of the beast unearthed a love that awakens explosively ever year or so when I remember this Machinima series close to my heart exists. Take it as you will, I can't put Pandora back in her box, Red vs Blue has some of my all time favorite examples of consistent character writing and worldbuilding, and when it comes into my view it doesn't leave until it's hogged all my attention.

Not to mention the absolutely airtight narrative progression and plot flow that makes my storied knees weak. I've found it insanely hard to not talk about this element of something otherwise very close to my heart for different reasons since it recently re-entered my orbit of beloved stories I revisit often. I don't want to get stuck on my personal connection, even if it might be relevant to a lot of fundamental things at my core as a storyteller and a person. It's funny and insanely sincere with how it's written a lot of the time, rule of cool and conventions of good storytelling aside, there's something very distinct about Red vs Blue that's so tough to crack in such a short span of time. All this as my way of saying, I could spiral into so many lines of thought from here, so for now lets stick to the basics. Why the story of Red vs Blue seasons 11-13 ultimately benefits from a return to status quo in season 11. Light context, Red vs Blue up to the seasons in question was comprised of "The Blood Gulch Chronicles" in seasons 1-5, "The Recollection" in seasons 6-8, and "The Project Freelancer Saga" in seasons 9-10. Building up to the specific story told in seasons 11-13 named "The Chorus Trilogy," our titular Red and Blue soldiers experience the fallout of the shady military program whose presence in the plot underpins everything. So called "Simulation Troopers," our Reds and Blues were soldiers lined up as training for the agents of Project Freelancer. The story up to season 6 roughly focuses on our Reds and Blues dicking about at their military outpost, occasional shenanigans caused by Freelancers and other folks who ebb and flow out of the plot. Come season 6, the Reds and Blues as we understand them have all been moved apart, as something begins to brew under the surface of Project Freelancer.

The project functionally began to fall apart from the inside, with our Reds and Blues unknowingly wrapped up into the heart of the conflict. Contributing outright to the wrongdoings of Project Freelancer being brought to light, the Reds and Blues set out into an uncertain tomorrow after season 10, having picked up new friends and skills along the way. By a teaser at the end of season 10, we come to find the Reds and Blues stranded on a mysterious planet after their transport ship home crashed. They've unknowingly been pulled into a very tense situation, one where the stakes are bigger than ever, and the mysteries are even more mysterious.

After functionally following up on all its promises of worldbuilding and character development in seasons 6-10, Red vs Blue enters a new weird position with a changing of hands between writers. With lots of characters running around doing their own thing in the defined world of Red vs Blue at large, there were lots of places the plot and our characters could go. The heart of the series, its characters and the way they bounce off one another, was intact. The Reds and Blues now no longer tied to immediately investigating Freelancer, their prior purpose as Simulation Troopers completely gone with the death of the project, they're cast into a state of transition, towards an unknown point B. Season 10 ending on such a heavy, plot-dense point, allowed an interesting opportunity for levity to slide in right where the series would need to push on and figure out "what next."

An answer I think works really well for pacing and good storytelling, the series decides to return to its roots of character-writing focused comedy involving our titular Reds and Blues bickering and fighting over space they share together. Albeit instead as soldiers in opposing bases in conflict, they're soldiers marooned on a mysterious planet in opposing bases. There's a mystery brewing under the surface, larger forces in the narrative universe acting on their own, influencing our main cast in ways not immediately visible. While we're looking primarily at season 11, it's worth considering Chorus as a full package to understand why this answer to "what next" works well. The Chorus Trilogy is dense narratively, involving some of the biggest challenges our characters have faced yet. The lows for our Reds and Blues are some of the lowest lows they've ever experienced, as well as the highest highs. Their efforts in bringing Project Freelancer's secrets to light made them heroes, but the events of Chorus are where the Reds and Blues become legends. With so many new characters, lore, and thematic elements being introduced throughout the trilogy, the story needs time to breathe and let all these ideas unfold naturally. And so you get the 'new' status quo, an entire season of lore and plot build-up, masked with genuinely well written comedy and character development. Our main cast, having travelled so much in seasons 6-10, does well from being trapped in a single place thanks to broader plot circumstances. This grounded setting isolates our characters in a way they can breathe and interact and grow on their own in separate from heavy new plot additions and lore, after the already very dense last 5 seasons of plot additions lore and character development.

Our Reds and Blues, changed by their time learning about the truth of Project Freelancer and seeing its fallout upfront, have changed and grown so much over the course of the last 10 seasons. They're still the Reds and Blues we know and love, but they've picked up new things along the way that refresh their interactions, bringing new life into these heavily explored characters and dynamics. Characters like Tucker who was once aloof have turned into true soldiers irrespective of their base circumstances. Tucker is able to tap into his talent for leadership thanks to the events of seasons 6-10 necessitating he do so, which changes the way he interacts with everyone in the main cast immensely. He can still be lazy and disinterested, but he knows when he has to step up to get things done.

While seasons 1-10 of Red vs Blue I wouldn't exactly called appetizers to the plot development of the characters, especially seasons 6-10 they're meals in their own right, they are a precursor to the point where Chorus can push them further than they've ever gone before. See what really makes them tick, get out of bed every morning, ultimately fight for and stay around people you claim you hate. Before our Reds and Blues are split up, cast into the abyss of the plot and the civil war set on Chorus at large, they're given time to truly settle into their newly defined selves, before they're forced to adapt and stand up to high stakes circumstances once again.

All this as my way of being specifically non-specific. Pacing wise, season 11 of the Chorus trilogy is a cleverly utilized pause in intensity that more than justifies itself with setup and character exploration before the really good stuff. It acts as a solid foundation that re-establishes the basis of how our characters interact with and present themselves to one another, as well as subtly ramping up the introduction of broader plot elements that will bloom later down the line. The Reds and Blues will have much more on their plate later down the line, ethically and literally. But that doesn't mean the season before things get heavy can't be dense in its own right. Where season 11 doesn't push the plot forward much towards its final position, beyond setting everything into motion, it does well to push the interpersonal element of the series.

We see how beloved characters like Caboose react to circumstances surrounding the plot, which not only pushes their character depth forward but the series of events that would lead to them entering the civil war in Chorus at large as well. And some of the way things end up is pretty hysterical to, as reasonably written and plotted out as everything in season 11 leading up to the story at large is. To move back to Caboose quickly, I am an especially big fan of the plotline involving him and freckles. Vague vague context again for anyone reading this who might not be familiar with the source material, at one point before the plot of season 11 begins, Carolina and Church end up leaving our group of Reds and Blues without much of a goodbye. Caboose who sticks to Church like glue struggles with his absence and ends up repairing a robot from the crashed ship everyone was on. Him doing this drastically changes the playing field for every character, a new rogue element responding only to a character with strange logic is operating at large, and it can't be stopped because it'll kill you dead.

This idea of giving the very strange Caboose a killer giant robot that he treats like a dog is already pretty funny, bound to lead to some unique character moments with everyone else at large. But then, factor in the fact Caboose is doing all of this because of the very real pain he feels from Church leaving, what starts off as a gag turns into a genuine showcase into who Caboose is. And on top of that, I'll say it again for dramatic effect, one of the weirdest most illogical characters in the series has been granted access to a gigantic killer death robot that forces everyone else to abide thanks to its programming. When another character arc between Washington and Tucker disagreeing on leadership collides with the peak of Freckles' introduction, Caboose is accidentally promoted to leader of blue team, which forces our characters into an absolutely amazing situation of having to take orders from an idiot, or the giant highly volatile robot turns you to ash.

I won't go into it further, I want this post to be short enough for me to not struggle with getting all my points out. But, suffice to say, the character moments and exploration and comedy we get out of just the example above is astounding. Broadly evocative of a commitment to consistent character writing in the season at large, as well as a deep understanding of what a 'pause' can do for how a story feels. I have so much love for Red vs Blue, especially the story of the Chorus trilogy at large and some of its really clever writing tricks it employs. All too much to reasonably go into now, especially after this post is delayed by my standards. I'd like to go into deeper elements of the storytelling/character writing/commitment to continuity Red vs Blue as a whole has, but that's a very loaded thing to say I want to tackle upfront. For now, I'll say that Chorus has a really solid introduction for how otherwise comedy focused it is, but that doesn't mean it isn't something you can take serious, because it's got plenty of moments like that too. All, of course, building up to the actual peak that comes next when our Red and Blue troopers are unleashed into the conflict in Chorus at large. Give the series a watch if anything I said here interests you, there's a lot to love about Red vs Blue, in no small part to the Red and Blue simulation troopers and their stupidly engaging banter. And also maybe some of the other stuff like an engaging narrative and cool fight scenes and consistent character writing.

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