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angelicalchaoticabyss · 3 years

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Heaven, Hell, and Fallen angel cats.

(Sexes)

Males: Angels, these sweet boys reside in Heaven and are typically light, white, or pastel colors. Their wing size range from small and light to big and fluffy. They're normally very friendly and it's rare for them to be aggressive. It's also rare, but still possible for a Heaven cat to be dark colors, or a mixture of dark and light colors.

Females: Devils, these lovely ladies reside Hell and are typically dark, murky, or monochrome colors. Wing size range from small and thin, to large and thick. They're normally aggressive, rude, sassy, and unkind and it's very rare for them to act in any positive way but not unheard of. A hell cat can very much feel love or form bonds but their way of showing it is not in the typical way (I.E normally show it subtly or Tsundere like.) It's also very rare but very possible for a Hell cat to have light, pastel, and monochrome colors.

Non-binary and other: Fallen Angels, these beings of other gender identity (or multiple pronouns such as They/them and She/her) can live anywhere really. Hell, Heaven, Earth, they typically do not care as long as they find the environment comfortable enough. They're a mixture of both, having feathered demon wings and no restriction on color shade. They have both halos and horns as well. Fallen angel cats body can actually change and shift based on gender identity (Example: Non-binary would have no sex organs and reproduce through recycling genetic material)

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Breeding/The Mating Frenzy: Heaven, Hell, and Fallen angel cats reach sexual maturity at 100 years of age and their breeding season starts in June and ends at the beginning of August. The kits are born in October and depending on the gender, they will grow up in either Heaven or Hell. If they come out as the Fallen angel the parents will actually stay on Earth together to raise them. After kits are born, the partners will normally leave each other, but even though it's rare it's still possible for the partners to stay together some just get along that well if none of the kits are Fallen angels. The females are the stronger and bigger of the species and they attract males with their fluffy tails that get exceptionally fluffier during breeding. Here's where the mating frenzy comes in, during the season Hell cats and sometimes the Fallen angel cats are VERY irritable from sexual frustration and need to reproduce (asexuals are exempt from this), If a male comes and they don't think he matches the cat's standards they will attack until either the Heaven cat leaves...or dies.

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Sexual dimorphism:

Hell cats: Females of the species have arm and leg fur that resemble formal gloves and thigh high stockings, they also belly fur that wraps around the back that resemble a corset. Their tales are typically large and fluffy but can be thin or sleek. They have large venomous fangs and can even spit this venom at others. Hell cats can choose to not inject venom if they just want to give a warning bite. They typically stand to 6'6 ft tall but the tallest recorded stood at 7'6 ft tall.

Heaven cats: Males have arm and leg fur that resemble simple men's gloves and boots, they have belly fur that wrap around to give the appearance of a formal vest. Their tales are often thin and sleek but some have longer fur. They have a heal kiss that can repair small or minor injuries and some rumor that their tears can revive the newly deceased. Typically males stand at 5'1 ft tall and the tallest recorded stood at 5'5 ft tall.

Fallen angel cats: They're appearance actually remains rather androgynous, they have arm fur that resembles fingerless gloves and the leg fur would be different depending on the pronouns used, leg fur for non-binary would actually be different based in the cats personal style preference. Their height ranges from 5'1 ft to 6'6 ft, though the current tallest stands at 7'1 ft tall.

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Extra info: Heaven, Hell, and Fallen angel cats don't really interact with other species, especially humans though that's not always the case. Hell cats typically act aggressively if they sense danger or any other species near them. Heaven cats will either fly away or turn invisible until either the possible threat leaves or he senses no ill intentions. Fallen angel cats react really just based on the individual's personality. Heaven cat's powers include, invisibility, healing, singing that can make anything fall asleep, and teleportation. Hell cat's powers include, invisibility, teleportation, mind control, possession, super strength, and super speed. Fallen angel cats can mix of both while a shared power is shapeshifting/perception manipulation for all three.

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Monarchy: Heaven and Hell cats have a rather simple leadership system and very similar to humankind. Heaven cats are ruled by a King and or Prince, said leader is born into the position. Due to the fact that Hell cats do not live in Heaven, there has never been a reported Queen or Princess in Heaven. Hell cats are ruled by a Queen and or Princess, once again said leader is born into the position. There has never been a reported King or Prince in Hell. However, if the King of Heaven cats or Queen of Hell cats do not have an heir to their throne by the end of their lifetime (Which is rather rare), then a new heir will be born into a lower or middle Heaven or Hell cat family. The child is easily recognizable and their position is known since the moment they are born, though the parents will show some shock due to them not knowing they would bare the new heir to the throne. Fallen angel cats really have no leader and only follow the current ruler if they're in Heaven or Hell.

Heaven cat heirs: When or if a Heaven cat has to be born outside the royal family, then they tend to look very different from their normal Heaven cat counterparts. When the heirs are born in a normal family then they will always be a combination of purple, yellow, and blue (including shades of said colors). They will also have two halos instead of one. Said halos will float around their ears. Next, the heir with have four wings instead of two, these wings are very large and tend to droop on the ground are golden with a colored tip. In VERY rare cases, the heir will have six wings and a third halo floating around their tail.

Hell cat heirs: When or if a Hell cat has to be born outside the royal family, they will look different from their fellow Hell cat counterparts. When the heirs are born into a normal family, they will always be a combination of warm sunset colors, mainly orange, red, and blue, However, raspberry, yellow, and yellow-green are also possible, along with the occasional purple. The young princess will also have large fluffy bat-like ears and a very large fluffy tail. Gradients are very common with these heirs. Their wings are are rather boney and they also have boney plating here and there around their body like a type of armor. In very rare cases, the heir will have a second set of horns on the sides of their head.

Birthright age: The heirs of course do not get the throne until they reach a certain age, but the age is still rather young because of their species. Heaven cat heirs can assume the throne when they are 90 years old. Hell cat heirs assume the throne when they are 85 years. A council of five rules until the heirs have reached the proper age.

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Health and life expectancy: Heaven Hell, and Fallen angel cats are near immortal beings and can live for a very long time. However this can change due to how healthy they are, this range is different for the males and females.

Males low health/below average: 9000-10,000 years

Males normal health/average: 100,000-200,000 years

Males very healthy/above average: 500,000-900,000 years

Females low health/below average: 9000-10,000 years

Females normal health/average: 700,000-820,000 years

Females very healthy/above average: 1,000,000-1,800,000 years

Fallen: Age averages for Fallen angel cats are generally in between both Heaven and Hell cats, though sometimes they can live a bit longer than an above average Hell cat.

Heaven, Hell, and Fallen angel cats rarely reach a point of low health due to their abilities and special endurance, they also have a powerful immune system. Hell cats also eat a healthy diet of souls, magma, and meat. But, they can eat other things liked baked goods from time to time. Heaven cats eat a healthy diet of veggies, fruits, and positive feelings, they don't like meat but adore baked goods. Fallen angel cats eat just about anything they want with no strict diet restriction but healthier food is still recommended or constant unhealthy food.

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Classes: The Heaven and Hell cat species have a variety of classes, some roles only going to certain classes. These will be listed now. (Fallen angel cats typically have no classes, they're either on Earth with no strict society or just found their place in the classes of Heaven or Hell)

Heaven commoner: Any class

Heaven merchant: Middle or high class

Heaven orphan: Low or middle class

Heaven outlaw: Low class

Heaven mage: High class

Heaven shop keepers(varies): Middle or high class

Heaven council: High class

Heaven royalty: Ultimate authority

Hell commoner: Any class

Hell merchant: Middle class

Hell orphan: Low or middle class

Hell outlaw: High class

Hell mage: High class

Hell shop keepers(Varies): Low or middle class

Hell council: High class

Hell royalty: Ultimate authority

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Religious stand points: Depends on the individual and views on religion.

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Conclusion: This use to be a closed species of mine but now this is a species and lore ref for me to use. Though if anyone wants me to make them a Heaven, Hell, or Fallen angel cat let me know and I'll think about it. ----- Random oc facts: Ireland: My sona and the mascot for Hell cats. Lory’s most trusted. Rogue: Bad bitch, Ireland’s friend. Takashi: Better than my real brother. Queen Lory: Wings and bones are made of gold, dominatrix that’ll step on you and make you like it but secretly has low self-esteem. King Arkus: Golden feathers and markings, scared of Lory.

#hell cat #heaven cat #fallen angel cat #oc #fc #feline #anthro #demon #angel #fallen angel #open species #I guess?#idk anymore #I just love my kitties #no human medicine cat heal a Hell cat's venom #only the kiss of a heaven cat or healing venom of a fallen angel cat can heal it

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mangolover · 3 years

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May I pls request prompt 8 for Ray? Thank you

Hey, thank you so much for the request!

So I did an oopsie... I wrote over 1500 words in this because I just got carried away by my emotions and sad songs I like to listen to. The angst was just calling me. I had to stop myself because this could easily be over 2000+ words and then I don’t think it would really suit the rules? This is “breaking” them as well, but it’s too late for regrets now.

I hope you will enjoy this!

50 Followers Drabble Event, prompt #8 with Ray Blackwell

If you wish to check out the offical “50 Followers Drabble Event”, press here

Title: Misunderstanding

Prompt: “I haven’t seen you in days.”

Fandom: Ikemen Revolution / Ikerev

Pairing: Ray Blackwell x gn! reader

Genre: Angst

Warnings: Implications of cheating, heartbreak, mental breakdown (briefly)

Spoilers: none I believe

Word Count: 1500+ (I screwed up okay)

Description: You were sure he was cheating so you ran away and hid with the help of Loki and Harr and decided to go back to Land of Reason in a few days, only to meet back with Ray and finally see that it was all a big misunderstanding.

I really screwed up on this one considering word count.

Also, this has a bit of an open ending, you can let your imagination run wild and let this get fluffy or be pure angst.

Misunderstanding

You raced through the crowd, desperately trying to escape him. He was nothing more than a liar! He lied to you that there was nothing going on between him and that mysterious woman you saw him so many times already out with in Central Quarter, only for him to either deny it ever happening or to just tell you some vague lie. Well now you couldn’t take it anymore. You saw them in each other’s embrace next to the jewelry shop and your heart just broke into million pieces. Now you only wanted to escape them, to escape those thoughts that she’s better than you, that you’re not good enough for Ray anymore. Tears have blurred your vision and you could only notice a lot of people turning to stare at you, clearly recognizing you as the King of Spades’ long-term partner.

You needed to figure out where to go, where to escape. And the first thing that fell on your mind was Forbidden Forest, no one goes there, it’s perfect to try and collect your thoughts. And so, you bolted towards it, hoping Ray has not noticed you and decided to go after you, you can’t listen to any more of his lies right now.

There you sat on a root of tree and put your head in your hands, choking on your silent sobs. You still didn’t want to disturb the nature and its creatures. The realization of everything has finally washed over you like some tsunami and you were left with nothing but ache in your chest and feeling of emptiness alongside a million questions. Maybe that was all your imagination and they are just good friends, preparing you a gift for your birthday, right? But your birthday is not that soon and he would tell you who she was in that case. You were getting lost in your thoughts as you blankly stared at the dirt in front of you, not even noticing Loki slowly sneaking up on you.

You flinched when you saw him crouched in front of you, his mismatched eyes full of worry gaze into yours, when he slowly removed your hands away from your face.

“Y/n, what happened?” he was genuinely worried, but you couldn’t find your voice to answer him and instead you just let out a sob before throwing your arms around his neck and burying your face in his shoulder. This left him surprised and he didn’t know what to do, if someone saw you like that it wouldn’t be good, but one glance at you and he knew he had to take you back to his and Harr’s house to calm down. He wrapped his arms around your back, “hold on, we’re going to be home soon, okay?” He used his magic and ran super-fast back to his house. There he instructed you to sit on the sofa and gave Harr a worried glance. Harr quickly averted his gaze and went into the kitchen, returning after a few minutes with some tea and slices of bread with apricot jam, placing them on a small table in front of you.

Back at Black Army’s headquarters, Ray returned back to his office with a shopping bag in his hand when the sun had started to set, only to be met with Sirius’s worried gaze.

“What’s up Sirius? Did something happen?” He asked in a serious tone, his mood quickly changing.

“Did you see y/n? They’ve gone out this morning and haven’t yet returned.” All the possible alarms set off in Ray’s head and the bag fell from his hands, hitting the floor and revealing the shiny dark blue fabric. If you did not return, does that mean you ran away because of his little secrets that he had because of the big surprise he was planning? There was a feeling of dread in his chest and all the color has drained from his face. Sirius’s eyes widened in disbelief and he called other officers, organizing a search party for you, you needed to get back or Ray would break.

Few days have passed and you told Harr and Loki everything, resulting in them lending you a helping hand and letting you stay in their spare room, while Harr also put a magic shield around their house so no one could find you. You wanted to just go home to Land of Reason and tonight was the night of a full moon. Loki got you a thing from the Land of Reason back from your room in Black Army after using his magic. You were really grateful for the two men helping you and not pushing you to go and meet with him just yet, you were hurt and needed time to heal and the only way to grant he doesn’t find you until you’re ready is by that wormhole.

So, when the night rolled around, you said your goodbyes and Loki helped you to the rose garden, you asked him to not use magic to teleport or use super-speed, just so you could see Cradle one last time. And he liked that idea because of his secret plan that you didn’t know anything about. As you walked you could see so many posters from both the Red and Black Army, they were all searching for you, they were all your friends and they all wanted you to come back safely. And due to the full moon, there was even more guards patrolling the Central Quarter.

When you somehow did make your way unnoticed, you hugged Loki and thanked him once again for his hospitality for the past few days. You made your way sneakily to the garden where the wormhole was supposed to open only to find, who you assumed was Ray standing in front of the light. His hair was a mess, his uniform has seen better days and when he noticed your presence and turned around, you saw that his eyes were red from endless crying but they seemed so cold at the same time and he was deathly pale.

Your breath hitched in your throat and you didn’t know what to do. How did he know you’re re going to be here? You couldn’t do it anymore, there was a small smile on his lips and it petrified you, is he going to fed you some more lies? Or has he finally decided to eliminate you? You weren’t even sure if that was the Ray you know anymore; all you know was that you wanted him to just disappear.

“Y/n, you’re okay?” His voice was hoarse, but he was clearly relieved and happy? Was he glad you’re okay? He took a step towards you and you instinctively took a step back only to see the hurt flash across his face for a few moments before he averted his gaze. “I haven’t seen you in days.”

“That’s the first truth you told me in weeks” your voice was cold and you didn’t even know where you found it, but here you were, talking back to highly respected king. “If you’ve decided to speak the truth now that I am leaving, will you finally be honest and tell me if something’s going on between you and that woman?” Ray’s eyes widened in surprise.

“I told you there is nothing going on between us” you rolled your eyes. “It’s a misunderstanding, let me explain y/n, please.” He was begging you to let him explain, but you weren’t ready for more of his lies.

“She was helping plan a big surprise for you, I had planned to do it for so long, I just wanted it to be perfect, because you only deserve perfect.” Tears started gathering in the corners of your eyes. “No, stop lying to me! Please Ray, why can’t you just tell me the truth for once?!” You grabbed your hair and raised your voice. You can’t take any more oh his bullshit, he needs to just tell you the truth.

“I promise I’m not lying y/n!” Now he was crying as well, slowly inching his way towards you, “please look at me, I can prove it to you! Look!”

He got on his knees and put his hand in his on his jacket’s pocket, pulling out a small box, your vision was too blurry to make out any details, you were shaking your head from side to side and murmuring something to yourself. He opened the box, “I wanted to ask you this for so long y/n, will you marry me?” He tried to crack a smile, his eyes pleading you to say yes and you finally calmed down a little, casting your gaze down.

You were at the loss of words, you couldn’t accept it, but you didn’t want to refuse it either. Maybe it was all just your imagination, deep down you still wanted it to be that, you still cared for Ray. But you were so close to just making a run for it and you would be home, away from all of this, away from this mess, finally alone to collect yourself.

And so, you had to choose, give it one more try and accept his proposal, or return to Land of Reason and let both of you break because of a misunderstanding?

#50 followers drabble event #🥭#ikemen revolution #ikemen revolution ray #ray blackwell #ray blackwell x reader #ikerev #ikerev drabble #ikemen revolution ray drabble #ikemen revolution ray angst #ikerev ray drabble #ikemen revolution drabble #ikerev ray angst #ikemen revolution angst #tw cheating #tw implied cheating #tw mental breakdown #tw arguing #Ikerev angst

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chrismerle · 5 years

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WHOO, GOOD OMENS FIC.

i have a very particular way of writing one shots, in which they don’t really end, so much as they just stop once i decide i’ve made my point. anyway, i’ve read like a billion ‘what happens after the bus ride?’ fics but i decided to write my own anyway.

this is mostly just sort of rambling and there’s no plot to speak of, but sometimes that’s just how you gotta figure out their voices. //shrugs

regardless, if you like what i do, maybe buy me a ko-fi?

The bus ride back to London is quiet, at least where a certain angel and demon are concerned. Partially because it had been the sort of day that was hard to put into words, but mostly because Crowley was asleep on Aziraphale's shoulder within roughly a minute of the bus rumbling on its way.

Aziraphale can't fault him for it. Holding a flaming car together for 40-some miles through sheer willpower (and, Aziraphale suspects, no small amount of loyalty; nothing could spend so much time around the supernatural and remain entirely inanimate, and the Bentley had always known she was loved). Stopping time. Teleporting three people to the astral plane. Teleporting them back. Restarting time. Aziraphale wanted to sleep for a year just thinking about it, and it wasn't even a habit he had adopted.

So yes, suffice to say, Aziraphale lets him sleep, at least until the bus eventually pulls to a halt at their stop. Technically speaking, there isn't a bus stop directly in front of Crowley's building, but that's where the bus stops regardless. It's not as if it's supposed to be there anyway, so it's not such a huge thing, really.

Crowley is...some semblance of awake as they both make their way off the bus, though it took a bit of prodding to get him there, and he has to be led by the hand to get him up to the flat. By the time they reach the proper floor, he is at least functional enough to wave at the proper door, though he doesn't protest when Aziraphale simply miracles it open.

The flat is...spartan, and none of the furniture that is there looks comfortable. That doesn't stop Crowley from tumbling down onto the only couch and going unconscious as if someone has flipped an off switch. He's in a heap, limbs curled awkwardly and sort of bunched into a corner of the couch. It's as close to coiling as he can get without changing his shape. Aziraphale leaves him be.

He makes tea and pokes around, the mug clenched in his hands. He cleans up the mess by the door, spares an admittedly soppy smile for the statue from the church, has a private giggle at a very different statue, and coos at the plants for a bit, before he runs out of things to do and has no choice but to let his thoughts start spinning.

Crowley sleeps for perhaps an hour, and Aziraphale hears him halfheartedly swearing himself awake from where he is sitting on the floor of the plant room. The mug is empty, but still clutched in his hands, just to keep from fidgeting. Ostensibly, he's admiring the plants, but mostly they're just keeping him company as he devolves into an existential crisis. Mostly it's him trying to puzzle out how one can be too benign to be a proper angel. He hasn't been making a lot of headway, so he's rather looking forward to a distraction, truth be told.

Crowley melts beside him, sans glasses and jacket. They're pressed together for a moment, shoulder to shoulder, arm to arm. And then he plucks the mug from Aziraphale's hands and sets it aside on the floor, and melts further until he's draped over the angel's lap.

"Going back to sleep, my dear?" Aziraphale asks, and he means for it to be wry, but it's mostly fond.

Crowley ponders the question for a moment before he decides, "Nah. Still gotta put together...well, something at least a bit plan-shaped." He squirms like a serpent until he's on his back, spine arched over Aziraphale's crossed legs so his head is nearly on the floor. Were he literally anyone else, it wouldn't be remotely comfortable (and...possibly rather damaging?). "Not sure anything'll work, but. Well."

"We didn't utterly botch raising the Antichrist just to go gently into that good night," the angel translates dryly.

"Right," the demon snorts. "We'll give 'em hel--" He pauses, mouth twisting, before he shrugs against Aziraphale's lap. "Well, we'll give 'em something."

"A terrifying prospect," Aziraphale assures him, just a touch too earnest to take at face value.

They lapse into silence after that, or at least as silent as London allows it to be. The plants regard them warily, before cautiously relaxing for the time being. Eventually, one of Aziraphale's hands finds Crowley's hair, and Crowley gives up on keeping his eyes open shortly afterwards.

It's not so much that there have been any huge revelations. Or there have, rather, just not with regards to each other. Despite what recent events might say about them, neither of them has ever been stupid, and they've known each other long enough to pick up on every tell. They know.

Aziraphale loves Crowley. Has for...well, for some amount of time, at any rate, even if he didn't put the pieces together until Crowley first asked for holy water. He suspects Crowley has known since Aziraphale gave him the holy water.

Crowley loves Aziraphale. Has for longer than the angel really wants to contemplate, and Aziraphale figured it out with a case of books that by all rights should have been blown to smithereens, but were spared for no other reason than because they would make Aziraphale happy.

They know this. But they've also always known that it's a bit of a tightrope walk, keeping their respective head offices at arm's length. So they, too, have remained at arm's length, until the near miss of the end of the world and the knowledge they would likely be dead in a day meant they no longer had to worry about plausible deniability.

Crowley proves he's still awake when he muses, wistful, "She was a good car." His shoulders shift as he heaves a sigh.

"It was a good shop," Aziraphale commiserates quietly. "Almost poetic, that they...both..."

He doesn't realize his fingers have stilled until Crowley squirms like a sulky kitten. Aziraphale gives him another scritch. "Crowley," he begins, slowly, musingly, "what's the most easily accessible method to kill an angel? The proper way, not the inconvenient way."

Crowley cracks an eye open. "Hellfire, most likely," he answers carefully. "Why?"

"And for a demon?"

"Well, that's an easy one," the demon scoffs, eyes darting briefly back towards the front room. "Holy water."

Aziraphale hums a distracted affirmation. "And, at a guess, what's the approximate effect of hellfire on a demon?" he wonders.

Crowley is looking at him properly by now, eyes wide as he catches up with Aziraphale’s thought process. Slowly, he grins, broad enough that his fangs are on display, and maybe a little bit manic. "It wouldn't do a damn thing," he answers gleefully, before abruptly flailing his way upright, still partially sitting on Aziraphale's lap once it happens. "But will it work?"

"You have the boniest--" The angel stops before he finishes the statement and clears his throat. "Does either head office really know enough to spot the difference?" he asks airily, because that's better than the disappointment that would otherwise take its place.

Crowley cocks his head to one side, and he's quiet for a moment, before he offers a distantly contemplative, "...Huh."

"Exactly."

#good omens #good omens fanfic #crowley #aziraphale

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bronyinabottle · 5 years

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ENDING OF THE END + THE LAST PROBLEM + SERIES END THOUGHTS

Well here we are, the final episodes of the entire series before MLP heads off into uncharted waters of an entirely new 5th generation. The future of MLP is uncertain, there’s absolutely no guarantee and I’d even say it’s inevitable that G5 even if does turn out good. Does not quite hit the same lightning in a bottle G4 did. It’ll be a hard act to follow. Especially given how well the ending was executed. For I truly believe that the two-parter is the best one since Twilight’s Kingdom and the series finale itself is the best single episode since Perfect Pear in Season 7.

Let’s get started with the two-parter first though.

THE ENDING OF THE END

I think the real genius about this two-parter is how it ties just about everything from the past 9 seasons together. Just in the first scene you get Chrysalis placing distrust between types of ponies akin to the Hearth’s Warming tale as she did in the previous Summer Sun celebration episode from this season. It takes having seen most episodes to get everything and know all the cameos. Finales are of course supposed to have some sort of payoff for a lot of things. Throughout this thoughts I may take note of many instances.

The villain team-up while it was first established in the opener can be applied to having big mentions to the finales of Season 2 (Chrysalis), Season 4 (Tirek), and Season 8 (Cozy). The few remaining villains not to be reformed or in the case of Sombra… dead.

The first big twist showing up with Grogar being Discord all this time. It’s certainly strange to have them sort of hype up Grogar only for him to turn out to be an established character and in fact on the Heroes side all along. Though I believe the logic was Discord trying to reform the three by having them experience friendship together like they almost did at the end of Frenemies. And if it failed well it’s another of his “tests” for Twilight and the others to topple over that he’s been doing on occasion since Season 4, though he probably wasn’t expecting to lose his magic amidst all that. On Grogar though, it was a bit weird that we really weren’t getting a lot much about him and even if he was actually a threat they’d have to put some sort of focus on why he’s a bigger threat then the villain team-up (And it’d either playout that the Mane 6 work with the villains once they realize that Grogar’s worse for Equestria then the villains. Though nothing indicated what Grogar plans for Equestira were that destructive, since it was simply instructing the villain trio to use teamwork to defeat the Mane 6. When in reality he was Discord trying to make that teamwork reform them in all likelihood. Like Discord said later he had good intentions, but once again his actions almost resulted in the end of Equestria as we know it just like in Twilight’s Kingdom. Albeit to be fair in Twilight’s Kingdom there was enough reason to believe that Tirek gave him something the ponies still weren’t at that time.)

Finally getting back to our ponies proper, Twilight’s first action this episode is to give Spike the role of royal adviser. You know me regarding Twilight and Spike by now, you just know I love this for all sorts of reasons. ^^

The crazy, superpowered Chaos Cozy moment was pretty funny. It’s also a great setup for something later in the two-parter that’s just as if not better.

But not long before the battle begins.Cozy heading straight for Twilight and the others with Alicorn magic. Tirek easily beating the founders of Equestria, and while she puts up the best fight out of them. Starlight still falls to Chrysalis (Though not without some pretty nice one-liners)

Result is that the rest of the Mane 6, Discord, and a magicless Celestia and Luna hold up a barricade just long enough for Twilight to teleport out as the first half of the two-parter ends.

It’s quite nice that Tirek’s first concern is with Twilight still out there. He probably remembers after the events of Twilight’s Kingdom that there’s a danger of Twilight having some sort of secret trinket or something else that will save Equestria.

Even though the situation they’re in is kind of Discord’s fault. He at least seems to still have quite a bit of cleverness that we remember from his Season 2 debut by tricking Tirek to fire off a blast he can reflect to maybe help free a pony and just so happens to free a pretty powerful one in Starlight.

The Mane 6 get to escape and get to Twilight but amidst some angst about the situation things start looking even worse as the Windigoes sense the distrust that the villain trio has placed in Equestria. It takes some convincing, but Twilight heads the charge against some pretty big odds. And a pretty clever Pinky and the Brain reference (Almost wish Chancellor Neighsay was there for that, given he was Brain’s voice actor)

I like the different ideas Chrysalis and Tirek had about the windigoes which gives an insight on what kind of villains they are. Chrysalis wants to them to stick around to break ponies of Equestria spirits where once they’re defeated by Chrysalis the ponies will have no choice but to bow to her or else she may let the Windigoes come back or something else. While Tirek doesn’t underestimate how hard they might be to control and wants to take them out right away cause they may very well be an obstacle for even an all-powerful villain. A frozen wasteland may not be as ideal to rule over as a normal defeated Equestria after all. But before they can even think of challenging the windigoes the Mane 6 have arrived to challenge the trio for the final battle.

The battle itself is well-done and funnily enough has some resemblance to a part I did in Return to Saddle Arabia where most of the Mane 6 and Spike are about to be blasted to oblivion before some kind of magic shield protects them. Granted it’s not exactly the most original idea to go with a scene where the heroes bravely face potential death before some miracle came in. But I like that a few things I’ve done in Genie Twi had something like it happen in canon.

But anyway yes, the unicorns of Equestria have came together to provide a shield. You have Neighsay, Trixie, Moondance, Tempest, Twilight’s parents, Sunburst’s Mom, and Twilight’s old Canterlot friends (Heck even Flim and Flam are helping which may be a little surprising since you’d expect them to just try to profit. Though arguably maybe they’re just going to try to use the publicity of having helped save Equestria to boost their buisness). And back behind them. Are Yaks, Changelings, Dragons and Pegasi. It’s also very clever for the Changelings to become the Main 6 to help confuse the villain trio as to where the real ones are.

And the reason they’re all here to back up? It’s all thanks to the school of friendship from Season 8 along with the Student 6 there to keep everyone together despite the attempts to divide everyone. The ultimate lesson in education helping prevent people/ponies of different kinds of places and entire species in the case of Equestria to come together. While Season 8 wasn’t the most solid season of the show, the role it plays in this finale really gives it a solid purpose that is better way of saving Equestria then the majority of the two-parters where a miracle mcguffin is used to do it. I still love Twilight’s Kingdom a lot but while I’m still deciding whether I like this two-parter more or less then that one. Ending of the End for sure has the better ending, as Twilight’s Kingdom still kind of uses a mcguffin-esque ending with the Rainbow Power which never shows up again outside of a dream sequence. The thing that saves the day is set up over like two seasons, while the Rainbow Power was generally just keys throughout random parts of Season 4. Which is still great. But the school helping is the end after having been established a while ago is a much better setup.

This was the setup from the superpowered Cozy. Pinkie getting it briefly xD Hilariously burying the depowered villain trio with a giant cupcake. While most see the comic where Pinkie was a chaos princess, I also kind of see something similar when I was introducing Genie Pinkie for Ain’t Never Had Friends Like Us.

But yeah, instead of being reformed. Tirek, Cozy, and Chrysalis will remain in stone for probably a long time. Will they get another chance someday like Discord did who was in a similar situation? Who knows, that’s likely up to fanfic authors to decide that now. There is somewhat of a controversy about this. Though given people have had enough of villains being reformed. Wish granted I guess? Though I think most of it surrounds Cozy since she is just a little filly. Unless the “Season 10” MLP comics get around to it, we won’t know Cozy’s history though so we don’t exactly know how Cozy got this way. And perhaps it’s just easier to assume she’s a born psychopath, though the sad look on her face before she’s petrified probably doesn’t help said controversy. All we can really say is, hey they weren’t reformed after all. You happy now? :V If you want a show that literally reforms every villain, I guess there’s always Steven Universe. And arguably some of those villains did much worse then any Friendship is Magic villain ever. Not to be mean to Steven Universe since I do like that show, but you do kind of have to realize they’re even more lenient on the reformations then Friendship is Magic.

With the battle over, Twilight delays the coronation for some time until Canterlot’s castle is rebuilt. And decide to take a good long break at Donut Joe’s shop. The same place they went to after the first gala the Mane 6 went to. Which is certainly a nice touch.

Overall, just a really awesome two-parter of which we haven’t seen since Season 4. Most of the ending with a bang came from this. But coming just right after, is the closing single episode. 22 minutes entirely focused on closing out the series on a happy epilogue.

THE LAST PROBLEM

Whenever there was discussion about what a series finale for the show looked like. I don’t know if there were many diverse ideas. But there were always two ideas on my mind: A timeskip that shows what the world of Equestria is like years in the future especially after we know Twilight’s a princess where she’d be at the very least Cadence sized. Or a sort of final farewell, where all 6 have their own stuff to pursuit. Which the latter became slightly muddled on somehow they’re still able to teach when some of them already have full careers. But nonetheless the Finale did kind of hit both in a way. Where yes much of the episode is about a time skip but we also get a flashback where the Mane 6 are worried about Twilight having to be in Canterlot now. With less time to spend with her friends.

I must say first of all Twilight looks pretty great Celestia-sized. It would be nice to know just how an “Alicorn puberty” works but maybe that’s a job for the “Season 10” comics. Spike’s design on the other hand seems to received mixed responses for the most part. Nonetheless, he’s a muscly dragon friendship ambassador that says he’s been trying to bring peace between a dog species (Diamond Dogs) and a cat species (Abyssinians).

Gallus is now in the Royal Guard. A showing that Equestria has truly diversified.

But anyway, we meet Luster Dawn. Someone Twilight calls her top student who sort of repeats some of Twilight’s own thoughts on friendship during the pilot. It’s a sort of history repeats cycle here going on here.

Anyway, while I still love this episode. I do have to admit there’s something I don’t quite get about the moving part. The tree of harmony gave Twilight a whole castle that’s even themed on her. If she was just going to sit at Canterlot. Why was the castle made in the first place and what will Twilight’s ponyville castle be used for? Just for when she happens to be visiting there occasionally? Do her friends use the castle? Just a little strange to leave a castle that’s perfectly fine and even still in Ponyville for just about everything to work out. Perhaps it’s just a little much to move the capital and a way to kind of keep Ponyville to it’s roots as a generally more outdoor town with less of the royal hubbub. (Then again, because of how the Mane 6 there. So much happens because of it). I guess it’s kind of similar to why have Twilight’s castle when they could of just refurbished the old Castle that was in the Everfree. These ponies sure know how to waste perfectly good castles don’t they heh.

Anyway, we’re getting to real bittersweet part of the flashback. Twilight’s going to be the new ruler of Equestria but being in Canterlot means it’s not going to be a simple walk to see her friends any more. She hopes to see them worried about it just like her. But they seem to be handling things just fine. Unbeknownst to Twilight, they’re just hoping to make Twilight feel better despite the fact that it’s their worries that would make Twilight feel better. The 6 have a good group cry together before they realize the talk has nearly made them late for the train. They even spin past poor Starlight who had a present for Twilight which would have to be opened later. The rush however will have consequences as all the things the rest set up are getting messed up now that they’re aren’t there to head things up. The coronation has lots of things go wrong, but I wonder if at this point the population is generally used to things going wrong with the canterlot events with these 6 like with the Gala. They screw up the formal event but when it comes to saving and leading, Twilight’s done good enough for Equestria.

And now we get to seeing where the rest of Twilight’s friends are in the timeskip!

To the surprise of many, the only one 100% confirmed to be married is Pinkie. Who went with Cheese Sandwich and even had a child (There seems to be a controversy regarding the gender given Big Jim said the script says Lil’ Cheese is male despite having a filly snout and eyelashes while Josh Haber has said no gender was specified. Perhaps we should just say Lil’ Cheese is trans.. if it weren’t for the fact that always gets even worse responses from transphobics). But yeah, while I was never one to heavily ship Pinkie with a character. If I had to see her with anyone. Cheese Sandwich was one that came to mind as a great choice. (Even if we would of thought if any of the 6 were happily married it would be Rarity.) Apparently between Pinkie and Maud, the Pie sisters want someone similar to them. We know anyone that’s just as grumpy as Limestone? Or just as shy as Marble? (That isn’t Big Mac for already married reasons)

Which speaking of which Rarity comes by with some grey streaks in her mane and Tail. Looks like all that stress making dresses late at night has caught up to her heh.

Then Rainbow Dash and Applejack come in at the same time. Some are saying they are a confirmed couple buuuuut it feels like the episode plays it a little too vaguely to say that for sure. They argue like an old married couple yeah, but in all fairness. They’ve done that all series long pretty much. I hope none of you fans of Appledash get mad at me by saying it’s not exactly confirmed here but you’re as free as I am in expressing the opinion on what’s going on here. I may have seen somewhere that Appledash was originally going to be more explicitly shown, but as is we can only take what we see from the final version of the episode. You’re free to suggest they are a couple, but I think I needed more then few dialogue and looks to say that. It’s shipping fuel at the very least, but not concrete like Pinkie and Cheese. But anyway, Rainbow Dash seems to be the new captain of the Wonderbolts after assuringly Spitfire retired and AJ’s still on the farm as always.

Same with regards to the Fluttershy and Discord ship too. Though it might have a slight bigger leg to stand on then the AppleDash thing given the hint from the Angel episode a while ago and the lunchbag with cute drawn faces is there. But otherwise hard to confirm or deny either way. If you think they’re together then they are, if you think they aren’t. That’s all fair.

Anyway, the present that Starlight had was a book of memories that seems to have like enchanted photos of moments throughout the series. Which is pretty cool. Though of course Twilight doesn’t want to leave it off on just the photo album.

Before we get to the very ending, it’s probably something to cover up another slight controversy about this ep: The implication that Twilight will probably outlive her friends. Since Twilight is indeed Celestia sized now and the rest are obviously older with grey hair in the case of Rarity and bags under their eyes. It’s true that this can be saddening to think about, but it’s kind of only bad if they had like shown Twilight see their gravestones after they’ve passed to leave us all sad before the end. Where as it ends here it’s just that they’re older. I know it doesn’t exactly help to know such a future will eventually happen to Twilight. But we must remember that Faust has mentioned that Twilight taking over Celestia’s role was the way she wanted to end the series. And the staff made sure they follow a lot of what Faust wanted. There’s only 3 ways they could of adhered to “Twilight won’t outlive her friends” as said in the Meghan McCarthy tweet. Where either Twilight sacrifices herself to save Equestria from the final threat, the rest of the 6 also become Alicorns, or Twilight somehow vouches to give up her Alicornhood to become a Unicorn again. All of which have their own problems.

Twilight sacrificing herself wouldn’t be unprecedented since it’d be similar to if DBZ had ended with the Cell Saga when Goku’s sacrifice nearly defeated Cell. While Goku’s sacrifice wasn’t what defeated Cell for good, it’d still playout that the main character of the show we’ve seen grow died in a noble sacrifice. Which offers a touching ending but may be a bit of a very sour note to end on for the little girls who look up to Twilight. They’d at least have to make sure Twilight has some sort of Force Ghost type thing, but nonetheless kind of hard to really go for.

If the rest became Alicorns it sort of cheapens Twilight’s own ascension moment. Not to mention it sort of goes to “Every girl wants to be a princess!” which isn’t exactly the case. Maybe arguably things like Flurry Heart being born already kind of cheapened it. But I don’t know it’d just be weird to have like Rainbow be big while still on the wonder bolts. Or a princess Applejack doing the stuff on the farm.

And as for Twilight demoting herself, that sort of makes everything from the Magical Mystery Cure to near the end of Season 9 entirely pointless. Which for people still salty about Twilight becoming an Alicorn might enjoy, it wouldn’t for those who were just fine with Twilight being a princess. There are many areas of the show that some believe the show jumped the shark. Even I’d say the way they executed Starlight’s rise to a recurring character kind of boggled down the show for a good while. But for those who hung on after MMC, there was still plenty of fun we got from the series.

I guess besides these three options maybe you could bring up if Twilight had never become a Princess. Though before she became a Princess we never really knew for sure what Twilight was being groomed for by Celestia. Before Season 3 happened all we could see is maybe she becomes some sort of Grand Wizard ala Starswirl the Bearded after having helped Celestia bring her sister back. But advertisements for Season 3 mentioned a “true destiny” for Twilight And that’s what this was. Some of the stuff people were worried about back when MMC happened have come into fruition here. But even with the fact that there will be a flood of sadfics about when the time comes when all of Twi’s friends pass. It feels like it’s something that was coming anyway. I might be a bit biased on this front though given my own blog has Twilight become a genie before she even became an Alicorn where she had to choose between staying a genie and eventually seeing her friends pass or staying a genie for Spike as well as the massive reserves of magic she’ll have over the years. I can understand everyone’s concern about the implication of Twilight outliving her friends. But whole those still bitter about MMC will shake their fist, we must remember again we see no gravestones. We simply see aging friends at the end of the series. Even with the fact Twilight will outlive them. Twilight still has plenty of time left with them before it all happens. The whole thing gives it a whole bittersweet feeling admittedly, but I wouldn’t say the ending’s ruined by this implication.

Now it’s time though for the final song of the series. And what a note to end on. It’s absolutely one of the most beautiful songs of the series. The chorus always seems to somewhat well up tears in my eyes even beyond just knowing this was the final scene of the episode. The song’s just emotionally powerful in that way. In the midst of the song we also see many older versions of the characters. An older version of the kids from the CMC to Diamond Tiara, and Twist. Pound and Pumpkin Cake older. the older Student six along withe said CMC who seem to be the new teachers at the school. Big Mac and Sugar Belle have their own child (On a sad note you can see Granny Smith’s neck accessory around Applejack as well as Goldie Delicious who’s around Apple Bloom. Both seem to have passed away from old age by this time)

Now what’s really cool is the screen where the 6 come across the screen where the ponies their associated with throughout the series are shown. All the characters that were particularly touched in one way or another by the 6 ponies we’ve come to know over these long 9 years of the show. We see pinkie’s family along with Cheese Sandwich, Gilda, and Cranky. In Fluttershy’s we see Discord, Tree Hugger, the Parasprites, and Iron Will. In Rainbow’s we see the Wonderbolts, Daring Do, Quibble Pants and his family, Derpy, and Tank. In Applejack’s we even see her deceased parents, Autumn Blaze, and Coloratura. In Rarity’s we see Fancy Pants, Saffron, Capper, Ember, and Coco. And of course for Twilight we see the princesses, Moondancer, and heck for the first and only time in the series we see Sunset Shimmer (Albeit it’s kind of sad that this is the only main show appearance for her. I thought I heard somewhere that at some point they were going to show her too and reveal she’s the new principal of Canterlot High. In which I feel could of been a funny dialogue thing where she could say “When I was young, I was sure one day I would succeed Celestia. I just didn’t think it’d be like this!”.

And as Luster Dawn goes to her friends, the sun sets on the day as the Mane 6 all look on. And the book from the very first episode closes. And thus, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic was over.

FINAL THOUGHTS

This was just a great ending of the series. As I’ve said before iI’m glad it got to end on this sort of note rather then being cancelled out of nowhere with an ending not quite as satisfying as this. Magical Mystery Cure could of been our series finale had the fans not supported the show so much. Some of the stuff we got would of been implicated of happening anyway if indeed the series ended with *BOOM!* Twilight’s a princess but I think it really helped to see quite a bit of aftermath of Twilight struggling with the promotion until she’s finally ready to step into Celestia’s shoes as the new ruler. We should remind ourselves time and again that’s how Faust wanted the series to end and while this show isn’t perfect and there are times in the shows where stuff dropped and episodes that missed the mark. There are usually amazing episodes throughout that has made following the series worthwhile.

And while G4 as a show is over there is still some comics to look forward to. We’ll also hopefullly see how G5 turns out. Though even if it fails, perhaps one day Hasbro will throw us a bone and do a nostalgic special with the G4 cast again. They’ve sometimes done it for Transformers. Hasbro should have the message sent on what made G4 so successful and they’ll try to somewhat replicate it’s success. Though they’ll certainly have an uphill battle with an all new staff and a hard act to follow.

I’m really glad I found this show all the way back in early 2011. It’s been so much fun following the characters as well as meeting new friends online who shared love for the show and even going to conventions related to all this. There’s still some fandom stuff to be done on my part even extending to next year as I’m not quite done with Genie Twilight yet. It is heavy thanks to this show being great for me that I’m gladly working on a little hobby blog for about 7 years or so. Thank you DHX, Hasbro, and everyone else involved with the show’s run for a fantastic show. We’ll never forget as the magic of friendship grows within all of us.

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rhosinthorn · 6 years

Text

Pumpkin Spice and Everything Nice?

‘I’m on a mission to find the best tasting pumpkin spice latte, want to join me?’

Sakura was rounding the corner of the student union when she heard the yelling.

“I’m on a mission to find the best tasting pumpkin spice latte!” a familiar looking upperclassmen was shouting from atop the chair dragged into the middle of the student union’s porch as others shuffled by as quickly as they could, averting their eyes. “Who wants to join me?”

Next to her, Sasuke hunched down even further in his sweatshirt, as if he was trying to disappear, tugging his hood up to cover his hair. “Why is it always me?” he groaned.

Snagging his sleeve before he could teleport away the way he always did when faced with uncomfortable situations, Sakura tugged him forward. “Come on grump,” she teased, heading for the doors of the student union. “You’ll be better once you’ve got some food in you.”

They had almost made it to the door when their luck ran out.

“Sasu-cakes!” Shisui crowed, abandoning his previous post in the center of the porch in favor of an easy victim. “I have a task for you!”

“No. No way, I have class.” Sasuke’s eyes were slightly wild, and his nervous twitch was back. Sakura had thought he had been trained out of it, but apparently one encounter with his cousin was enough to bring it back. “Find some other poor soul to be your victim.”

“But my little duckling,” Shisui wailed, draping himself all over his younger cousin, who froze immediately. “I need a buddy, and Itachi’s in class.”

“No.”

Before Shisui could throw a tantrum worthy of a three year old (Sakura knew he’d do it, she’d seen it before), Sakura intervened. “I’m free for the afternoon, so I’ll go with you,” she offered, conveniently leaving out the midterm she had the next day that she probably should be studying for. “Where do we start?”

“Here!” Shisui perked up immediately, abandoning Sasuke in favor of looping his arm through hers. “We’re starting with the Pit, and working our way around campus to finally finish up back here at Starbucks.”

Sasuke’s teeth grinding was almost audible as the trio made their way into the building.

He was still grinding his teeth as Shisui lounged in the chair next to him, rhapsodizing about the pumpkin spiced coffee clutched in his hand. Honestly, the elder Uchiha could put wine connoisseurs to shame, the way he talked about depth of flavor and notes...Sakura was almost impressed.

She’d be more impressed if she wasn’t constantly feeding Sasuke fresh chopsticks because he kept breaking them in irritation. Although, considering Shisui had been provoking him throughout the ten minutes they’d been seated, she was amazed those chopsticks hadn’t been used to stab someone.

Under the cover of the table, Sakura slid her phone out of her pocket and sent off a quick text.

[dr haruno] send sos 2 hot topic

[dr haruno] b4 he murders hamlet

It only took a quick second for it to vibrate in her hand, and she grinned as she saw the response.

[darwin award] kk

[darwin award] jailbreak 2 hard 2 arrange 2day

Half a second later, Sasuke’s phone, in clear display on the table, vibrated, and he lunged for it like a dying man to a life preserver.

“The idiot’s panicking over his calc exam,” he announced, already slamming the lid on his half-eaten fake chinese food and picking up his backpack. “I need to go rescue him before he jumps into the river.”

It wasn’t the best excuse either of them had ever come up with, but it worked. Before Shisui could really protest, Sakura was gathering her own garbage and motioning to Shisui. “Let’s head for the cafe in the library,” she suggested as Sasuke made his rapid exit. “I think they’ve got coffee and lattes, and I’ve been meaning to try their pumpkin chocolate chip bread.”

Obediently, Shisui allowed himself to be led away. “You made notes about what I was saying though, right?”

“Of course. What type of experiment would this be if it wasn’t properly recorded?”

The tables in the tiny cafe in the main library were crammed full of students panicking over midterms, so Shisui’s analysis of the coffee and latte that he had collected was witnessed by the crowd of desperate students filling the all-hours study space across from it.

On his thirteenth minute of lecturing, Sakura cast a wary glance at the students occupying the table across from them, several of whom looked suspiciously wired and as if they hadn’t left that table for three days, given the clutter, general unwashed appearance, and overall demeanor of a cornered wild animal. Given that they seemed about ready to let loose a hail of assorted school supplies if Shisui didn’t shut up, she escorted him quickly to the next location. Her biology professor was a hard-ass who would require her death certificate to allow her to retake the exam, and unfortunately, whatever the crazed students might do, it was improbable that they would manage homicide.

The cafe in the engineering building was much more secluded; most of the students cloistered in the adjacent computer labs with headphones, easily-portable snacks, and their own coffee makers in the room with them. Shisui was able to wax poetic about his latte in peace, as Sakura munched through her second slice of pumpkin-chocolate chip bread and made notes on Shisui’s oration while simultaneously running through her flashcards.

That is, until Shisui realized that he did not have her full attention and draped himself across her lap.

Startling in surprise, Sakura dropped her flashcards on his face, which was suddenly in her lap. The rest of him was sprawled out across the rest of the battered couch they had been sharing, and his latte had been set on the table in front of them. He was lucky that her legs, with her feet also on the table, had been pinned, so her reflexive twitch at finding him well inside her personal space hadn’t sent the drink flying.

“Sa-ku-ra,” he said, voice stretching out in a sing-song across the syllables of her name. “Are you paying attention to me?”

“You just said that this had less pumpkin and more cinnamon than the one at the library, but much less nutmeg than the one in the Pit, which is good because that one tasted like someone had dropped a bucket full of nutmeg in the coffee,” she recited dutifully, retrieving her flashcards. “See, I was listening.”

“But you were looking at something else,” Shisui wiggled as he whined, shifting his head to a more comfortable position on her thighs and relieving some of the pressure from where his shoulders had previously been. “I thought you liked spending time with me?”

The pout that followed should have been illegal for a fully grown twenty-something.

“Shisui,” Sakura began, trying to muster her resistance. “I do have an exam tomorrow, and as you can see, I am capable of multitasking.”

“But Sa-ku-ra,” he whined, commandeering her hand and placing it on his head. Obligingly, she ran her fingers through his hair. “I thought you wanted to spend time with me…”

Just then his phone beeped, and Sakura caught a glimpse of the screen as he pulled it out of his pocket.

[weasel] How’s your grand plan going? Has she hit you with anything yet?

Raising her eyebrow, Sakura glanced down at the Uchiha in her lap, who she was gratified to see looked somewhat sheepish.

“Tell him about the flashcards,” she recommended dryly, lifting his upper body just enough so that she could slip out from underneath him. “See if that gets you any sympathy. Ready to finish up at Starbucks?”

She should have expected that Starbucks would be the second most-crowded place on campus, given the proximity to midterms, but it at least allowed her to claim a comfortable armchair and keep an eye on the adjacent one while making Shisui wait in the line from hell. Spotting him sandwiched between a pair of sorority girls, who were busy making eyes at him and the frat boys in front of him, she delighted in the anguished look on his face.

Usually, he was probably one of the smoothest talkers on campus, able to charm, flatter, and cajole his way through any situation.

Stuck listening to trivial bullshit like the snippets she could hear, he seemed to be going slowly insane.

Serves him right, she thought with a smirk, reaching for her phone. Snapping a discreet shot of Shisui, she dropped it in the group chat she shared with her two best friends.

[dr haruno] <picture>

It only took a minute for Naruto to send back the picture, now covered in enough pastel hearts that it wouldn’t look out of place in a middle school girl’s locker. Sasuke’s response was a significantly subtler thumbs up.

[Hot Topic] y r u still there

[Hot Topic] u can run away

[Hot Topic] nobody would blame u

Before she could respond back, Naruto was back.

[darwin award] y u make out w/hamlet

Glowering, Sakura punched out her response, unaware that the poor grad student who usually got stuck teaching her biology class was slowly backing away from the empty seat next to her, coffee clutched in his shaking hand.

[dr haruno] wtf

[dr haruno] i was not!!!

[dr haruno] who tf said i was????

Another chat notification popped up. Normally she had the notifications for the group chat from her dorm muted, but they had been organizing a movie night for yesterday so she had unmuted them. Opening the chat to mute it, she clenched her phone so hard she was certain the case was going to leave imprints on her skin.

[ramen king] <picture>

[ramen king] see

[ramen king] pictures don’t lie

[ramen king] u were totally making out w/hamlet

The picture was a grainy shot from somewhere behind the couch she had occupied at the coffee shop in the engineering building, taken probably as Shisui was busy flopping onto her lap. From the angle and the bad camera quality, it did sort of look as if there was something going on between them.

Before she could respond back to Naruto in either chat, the dorm chat exploded.

[k9 king] whoa sakura

[k9 king] u move fast

[k9 king] <picture>

This time it was another picture, taken moments later and from a different angle, showing Shisui’s head in her lap, turned towards her.

[bombshell] y didn’t u tell me?

[bombshell] he’s hot

[bombshell] + y r u letting him put his head in ur lap like that

Notifications for her private chat with Ino started going off as well, but Sakura was too distracted trying to put out the fire in the group chat to deal with her roommate.

[YOUTH!!!] y not me????

[YOUTH!!!] i was going 2 bring u flowers

[Hyuuga Neji] Shut up Lee.

[Hyuuga Neji] She’s been trying to politely refuse since you met.

[cinnamon roll] Neji! Be nice!

[mulan] stfu both of u. w2g S

[bombshell] do u think he would set me up w/his cousin?

[bombshell] either 1

[bombshell] we could double?

[mothman] You should shut up now Kiba. You might need to leave the country.

[firecracker] back off bitch, sasuke’s spoken for

Movement next to her drew her attention away from the shitstorm that Naruto had caused by not paying attention to which chat was open, and Sakura scowled as she saw the spare seat she had been saving be taken by a pair of frankly terrifying graduate students, one of who seemed to be currently sporting stitches. Deciding that discretion was the better part of valor in that case, she turned to look for another pair of empty seats.

“Hey, I brought your lemon loaf and tea,” Shisui announced as she was half-standing, eyeing a pair of chairs that were about to open. “Thanks for saving the seats.”

Before she knew it, he had set their drinks and food down, slid into the armchair she was attempting to vacate, and tugged her back onto his lap. Sakura squeaked in surprise, ashamed of the sound she made, and fell back into his chest as she lost her balance.

“Missed me that much?” Shisui teased gently, and popped a chunk of lemon loaf in her mouth when she opened it to respond. He was chewing on his own bite, she realized, and frowned at him around the lemon loaf.

“Taxes,” he replied as he swallowed. “Only fair. Now, onto the final test.”

Swallowing, Sakura grimaced as her phone blew up, vibrating so hard it fell off the arm of the chair and into the small space between them. Reaching for her tea, she took a sip, and then grabbed her phone, afraid of what she was going to find.

Shisui flinched as it vibrated again, spluttering on his coffee, but she ignored him as she scrolled past the argument over Sasuke that Ino was having with Naruto’s cousin, Lee’s wailing, Neji’s caustic put downs, Hinata’s pleas for peace...and then she found another picture.

[sharkboi] <picture>

[sharkboi] update: they’ve relocated to starbs

[sharkboi] + they’re cozy

[sharkboi] look @ the luv

[sharkboi] <picture>

[chef] did u kno that feeding the so w/the leftover half of a sweet sweetens the love?

[bombshell] <3

[mulan] <3

[cinnamon roll] <3

[k9 king] ur gross choji

[mothman] Shut up Kiba

[sharkboi] update

[sharkboi] totally just groped him in public

[sharkboi] <picture>

Her head shot up as she saw the blurry shot of her reaching for her phone, the actual action hidden by their bodies, only the suggestive trajectory of her hand remaining, enough to damn her in the chat.

[bombshell] getting frisky!

It only got worse after that, and Sakura closed her eyes and resolved to murder all of them at the earliest possible convenience.

“This one’s the winner,” Shisui declared, nodding to his latte. “Nothing can compete with the original.”

Caught completely off guard, Sakura stared at him wide-eyed until he indicated the drink. “Remember? The thing I’ve been dragging you around all afternoon for?”

His quest. “Right,” she said weakly, ignoring her phone as if vibrated furiously. “I’m glad you’ve figured it out.”

“Isn’t it grand?” Shisui declared, shoving another piece of lemon loaf into her mouth. “I had a lot of fun.”

“Sure,” Sakura scanned the crowded area, looking for Suigetsu. She may not be able to do anything about the pictures he’d already posted, but she could make sure he never would post again. “It was.”

She surprised herself by actually meaning it. Shisui had been...fun to be around. Not as crazy as she had remembered him being when they were all in high school, although Sasuke would probably disagree. They had spent a fun afternoon together, and the treats he bought her as bribes weren’t unwelcome either.

A phone beeped again, and he shot her an apologetic look as he jostled her getting it out of his pocket. There was a moment of silence, and then he whistled.

“Why did my cousin congratulate me on my first public groping?” he asked, and Sakura wanted to throw every single phone around them into the river.

“My hallmates are idiots,” she ground out from between gritted teeth. “And they’re all going to go home for winter break in matchboxes.”

“I think the kid over there with the white hair is spying on us,” Shisui said brightly, giving a wave. Sakura whipped about and made sure that the grin she shot Suigetsu was savage. The little shit was going to find out the hard way not to cross her.

“I’ll make sure he learns his lesson.”

“You really didn’t have to do this.”

“Of course I did,” Shisui protested, holding the door for her. “You kept me from being murdered by angry college students on three separate occasions. And don’t think I didn’t notice you letting Sasu-cakes escape by sacrificing yourself.”

“That’s what the pumpkin chocolate chip bread was for,” she pointed out, climbing the stairs to the fourth floor (what type of building has four floors, with wheelchair accessible bathrooms on the fourth floor, but no elevators? Really?) “And all of the other things I made you buy me.”

“Pfft,” the Uchiha flapped his hand at her. “Those were bribes to make you accurately record my notes on the lattes. Anyway, what kind of gentleman would I have been if I hadn’t seen you safely to your door?”

“The only dangerous thing in this dorm right now,” Sakura raised her voice so that anyone behind the closed doors would be sure to hear, “is me.”

Reaching her door at the end of the hall, she turned, key in the door, to look at Shisui. To her surprise, he was much closer than she expected, almost on top of her, a hungry look in his eyes.

“That was...far too attractive,” he mumbled, eyes fixed on her lips. “If you don’t want me to kiss you, speak now.”

Giving her a moment, he pressed forward, lips brushing hers. First gently, but then more insistently, caressing and coaxing her into willing participation. She had always known he was attractive, but had never figured he’d be interested in her, when he had his pick of the myriad of girls that surrounded him. After the disastrous crush on Sasuke that had thankfully subsided into unbreakable friendship, she had decided Uchiha’s were too much trouble to date, and instead worked on establishing an amicable working relationship with Shisui and Itachi, to make her life less boring when Naruto and Sasuke inevitably abandoned her during their squabbles.

Sakura found herself twining her hands in Shisui’s hair, the only Uchiha she knew that sported curls instead of the obnoxiously straight hair his cousins managed. As she tugged lightly on it, drawing him closer, he complied pressing her into the door as his hands came to rest on her hips.

In her pocket, her phone started vibrating again, but she was too busy kissing Shisui to care.

#shisaku #halloween 2018 #naruto #this was supposed to be for last year #procrastination for the win #tis the season for pumpkin spice everything

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neural-novella · 5 years

Text

The Marked 4

During the night the city’s colours melt from purples and reds to yellows, whites and oranges. Around midnight I arrive at a bar in some lonely district. Would have thought I’d be used to the smell by now, been here enough times. My favorite spot in the city, it’s secluded, secretive and cheap drinks.

The owner and bartender is a short stocky woman, she’s also a great information broker. I order my drink with a tip for a tip. I ask her who’s the best one around her for telepathy magic, specifically long distance. She nods towards a hooded figure sat on a stool to the right of the entrance. I thank her and pay her a well deserved tip as I make my way over to the hooded character.

“I already know what you came to ask” They state.

“A true telepath, I bet you are already in everyone here’s heads... however what you believe I came to ask and what I will actually ask you are different.”

I can just see enough of their face beneath the hood to catch their wince as they repel against my own telepathy. Just because this guy is good doesn’t mean they have an instant all access pass to any and all of my conscious and subconscious thought. In a city of Mages we are all taught the basic telepathic defenses required to fend off threats like this, I’m adequate enough in mental magics that I can easily counter any mental probe or attack.

“My memories won’t help you and any information you believe you gleamed from my mind was false, planted by my own magics” I confirm.

They grin, “so what is you wish to ask of me? It would appear your own magics are more than sufficient.”

“I can’t contact anyone I cannot see, I do not have focus upon them, nor create it. I need you to implant an idea into two individual’s minds.”

The hood is removed revealing a tanned, brown hair young girl, maybe 19 or younger. “I can do it, for a price”. Her brown eyes interlock with mine, Another mental attack being prepared. Before I allow her to attack I already bombard her head with all the details required. Simple enough, Telepathically link to Lee and Grimmal, Implant the idea of going on a scouting mission in the city.

My idea is to simply have the Marked catch the Mage Hunters before they get to close, to allow for them to evacuate and escape. If I were in any way to contact any of the Marked at this point in time the Council would know sooner than the Marked could act.

The girl looks away, caught off-guard by my mental capabilities and processing the information I have thought to her. She nods and returns a mental message, “Not here, not now. The price is 50 anima materials”. I stare at her, thoughts of negotiating go through my head, 50 anima materials are enough to make a powerful magical weapon. I am at a loss here though and I have to agree lest the Marked be caught unawares. I confirm with her the price and set out of the bar in search of a place to buy the materials she has asked for.

About 12 hours later, Not long now til the Hunter’s will descend upon the Marked warehouse. I am startled in my apartment by a voice “They got your message, they got out and they will survive for now.” I turn to see the girl in her hood again. I pass her the bag of rocks, “What do you intend to use these for?”.

“I owe a debt to someone, I believe they plan on using them to build a portal between here and some place in a human city.” she replies.

“The Magus Council will figure that out before it finalizes.”

“Yes, none of these things are our concern. Your message was sent, I will pay off my debt.”

I pay her my well wishes for her future, she snatches the bag of rocks from my hand and disappears into a shower of white sparks as she blinks away. She’s right, my message was the most important thing here.I guess it’s time to go find where the Marked have ended up before the Council hear from my brother that no one was there. I take a deep breath and teleport myself to the rooftop of the city I first met Lee upon.

As soon as I open my eyes Lee is standing in front of me, red faced and filled with dread and anger. It’s as if i have lied to him, told him so much to gain his trust only to report The Society’s location to the Council so that they can destroy it. There’s no way to tell him that it wasn’t the case however just by being here he should know I had little to no part in it. I try my best to calm him. I eventually ask “Where is everyone?”.

He grabs me and throws me from the building into a nearby alleyway. He jumps down soon after. My instincts manage to summon enough magic to cushion the fall but it was an unexpected shock. Lee lands 2 seconds later with the elegance of a cat landing on all fours. He nods towards a door half obscured by the ground in which it is recessed. I make my way over to it and he continues. “I assume it was you who gave us the idea to scout the city limits? Either way we did, within an hour several groups reported sightings of Mages making their way towards The Society with intent. We took the news and did what we could. There are several safe houses throughout the city, the populace has been separated amongst them and will be kept here until we are sure it is safe. As for you, we can no longer trust you... That said you did something to at least get us to this point and you have been nothing but shown respect towards me. I am happy to remain in contact for now.”

I glance over to him with my hand firmly on the door. “I would like that, I’m sorry this happened. I swear I was trying to stop this, things didn’t go to plan.”

A gust of wind rushes through the alleyway, causing the clattering of dumpsters and debris. A side effect of being a Mage, you’re emotions fuel your magic and can easily get out of hand if not checked. My anger and frustration towards the Council for this grievance is one such instance of uncontrolled emotions manifesting into this gust of wind.

“May i go in and see them?” I ask Lee. He gestures his hand to say “go for it” and walks into the street on his side of the alleyway. I crack open the heavy door. Inside is a dark and deary scene. Mothers cuddling toddlers and babies some orphans, others adopted or even their own. Brothers, sisters, fathers, uncles, aunts. People with no connections... they are all huddling together. Supporting each other. Refugees of a war they started by simply existing.

To one side I see a figure standing alone. I recognize her silhouette from my meeting with Grimmal, Sable. I go to speak with her and she calls over to me “You are not welcome, get out”. I ask her where I can find Grimmal, there are things I need to speak with him about, things I need to explain. The Council will find these Marked and they will kill them, even in the city center the Council will give orders regardless of the collateral. She sighs, “Look around you, look at what you’re kind did to us. Because of you these people’s happiness, their homes, shops were destroyed. Their lives shattered.”

“The Council are monsters” I rebuke “If you are going to have a chance against them, in a war for survival. You are going to need my help therefore I need to speak to Grimmal.”

She rolls her eyes, “No one will trust you with another safe house location, the fact Lee brought you here was more his misguidance than a decided upon decision. I will contact Grimmal, I’ll contact all of them. As soon as they are finished destroying what is left of your Council’s dogs.”

And with that I leave them too it. She’s right about me not being welcome any more, seems to be catching. And my brother was right about facing the Council head on but none of this can continue, from now on I’m done trying my best. I will do whatever it takes to slow or even stop the Council in their tracks. But first I need to return to the Mage City before my brother finds out I disobeyed him and left.

#author #short story #novella

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imagine-loki · 6 years

Text

Mitigating Circumstances, Chapter 7

TITLE: Mitigating Circumstances

CHAPTER NO./ONE SHOT: 7/? (masterlist | AO3)

AUTHOR: manager-of-mischief

ORIGINAL IMAGINE: Imagine having been Loki’s childhood sweetheart after meeting him at the Royal Academy of Sorcery. Odin had always disapproved of you because you were from a poor village on the outskirts of Asgard. As a result, he sent you away to become a Valkyrie to ensure that the two of you would never marry and destroy the family’s image…

and

Imagine Loki developing feelings for you after initially dismissing you. However, he realizes that it’s too late when you start courting Thor. But is it really too late for him?

RATING: T (will be M eventually)

NOTES/WARNINGS: sensual but sfw

Cathrein was up earlier than usual on Sunday. She didn’t even stop for breakfast before teleporting to the library. Loki was already waiting, impatiently pacing along the aisles of books. He turned to look at Cathrein the moment she arrived.

“There you are.”

“We never agreed on a time,” she said sheepishly.

I wonder how long he’s been waiting.

“I had little to do this morning. Shall we?” he asked, holding out his hand.

She took his hand and nodded. His seidr snaked out from his fingertips and surrounded her as well, wrapping them both in cool, sparkling energy which slowly focused into a teleportation spell. This was the first time he had ever channeled a spell through her, and it was exhilarating. Cathrein closed her eyes and revelled in the energy. For a split second, during the jump from library to city center, the world was just her and Loki, connected as one.

The moment was broken by a wall of sound. Vendors selling various goods, people talking, loud walkers, and rapidfire bargaining all combined into the sound of the city. She opened her eyes slowly and took in the city. The palace loomed over the square, seeming infinitely tall and impossibly grand. There were more people in this one square than the entire population of Illisk. Cathrein had never even seen ten gold coins in one place, but everything cost at least twice that. She unconsciously tightened her grip on Loki’s hand.

“Welcome to the main square,” he declared. “This is the epicenter of Asgard’s trade.”

Cathrein was more focused on the fact that Loki was still channeling another spell through her, this time a shapeshifting spell. Because they were both enveloped in the shift, they saw each other in their usual forms, but to every outsider they were just two middle-class merchants strolling through a market. The street seemed infinitely long, and every stall had something different to offer. The morning slipped by without either of them noticing. Somewhere between the potions stall and the dagger stall, Cathrein’s stomach growled. It was practically lunchtime already, and she hadn’t eaten since the previous night’s dinner. The smell of food wafting through the air didn’t help.

“Hungry?” Loki asked with a smirk.

“Yes.”

Why am I suddenly nervous?

He smirked and said, “Me too. What would you like?” He swept his free arm across the market in a gesture to indicate that nothing was off limits.

“Anything this expensive must be good,” she replied, noting the prices listed on every stall. “You choose.”

“That’s what bargaining is for,” he explained, walking up to a seafood vendor.

“A shrimp skewer, a large piece of salmon, and half a dozen clams, please,” he told the vendor in a picture of confidence.

“That’ll be sixty gold coins,” came the gruff response.

Cathrein felt a flicker in the shapeshifting spell and realized that Loki had exposed his princely appearance to the vendor.

“I would ask that you reconsider your offer.” His voice had dropped into a lower register, and every word was dripping with power. It sent shivers up Cathrein’s spine.

“Of course,” the vendor replied, looking down. “Fifteen gold coins, your majesty. That’s all I can do without losing my livelihood.”

Loki wordlessly handed over the requested amount and left with a basket of fresh seafood. Cathrein eagerly lifted the cloth covering the food and looked at it. Illisk was a landlocked town, which meant that seafood was rare and incredibly expensive.

Smells good, looks strange.

“I assure you it is both safe and delicious,” he said, reading her apprehension, “but if you prefer, that stall sells bilgesnipe.”

“I trust you, but I’m curious as to what expensive bilgesnipe is like.”

When they neared the stall, they could see that there was small text under the large “Roasted Bilgesnipe For Sale” sign that read “Sourced from Illisk.” They gave each other a knowing look.

“Where in Illisk is your meat from?” Cathrein inquired, curiosity getting the better of her.

“It’s artisanally hunted bilgesnipe from a very small shop called Raolon Teronia Exotic Meats. They have a very limited supply of the fattiest bilgesnipe. It’s excellent for roasting. Most of what they catch goes directly to the palace kitchen, and we get what little is left,” the vendor explained.

Cathrein broke down into tears of laughter, Loki chuckled along, and the vendor stared at them both, completely confused. They ended up ordering one portion and adding it to their basket.

I have to write a letter home. It seems the family business has paradoxically improved since I left.

Their food gathering expedition ended after they acquired some fresh roasted fall vegetables from a farmer’s garden stand. Loki then stowed the basket in a pocket to another dimension, just so that they wouldn’t have to carry it wherever they went.

“One last thing,” Loki said, mischief glinting in his eyes. He tightened his grip around Cathrein’s hand and reinforced their shapeshifting spell.

“What?” Cathrein asked as he kept walking at their usual pace.

“This.” A flick of his hand and a spark of seidr later, Loki was holding a bottle of fine Asgardian wine.

“It’s illegal for us to be here, it’s illegal for us to drink, and it’s illegal for you to steal,” she admonished.

“But this’ll be such fun,” he replied. The grin that spread across his face was infective. Cathrein tried to resist, but found herself smiling too. There was something distinctively exciting about breaking the rules with him. He placed the bottle into the same pocket as the basket and led her away from the market.

“We’re walking to our destination?” Cathrein gasped, feigning incredulity. “Where is Loki and what did you do to him?”

“I presume you haven’t seen the ocean before,” he remarked, ignoring her question. She nodded in response.

“We’re walking because I want to,” he said. There was an air of finality in his tone.

Cathrein wasn’t complaining. She could spend an eternity walking through the constantly shifting views and never be bored. The breeze picked up as they neared the ocean, but the warmth of Loki’s seidr intertwined with her own kept her comfortable. There were no words to be exchanged during this journey; they were together but separate, seeing the world in their own way while sharing each other’s company. After about two kilometers, they rounded a corner of the palace faced the Bifrost itself. The rainbow bridge was even more spectacular than Cathrein had imagined, and her mouth fell open in a gape once she registered the sight.

“This is… wow,” was all she could say.

Loki was more focused on her reaction than the bridge itself.

“I can see the Bifrost from my room in the palace,” he explained. “I’ve seen it more times than I can count.”

They stood there for a few moments so Cathrein could fully take in the view, then proceeded to head down the steep almost-cliff that lead to the ocean below. Their destination turned out to be a small cave halfway down to the water. It was isolated and shielded them from the wind. Loki pulled a large green blanket, the basket, and the bottle out of the dimensional pocket and placed them on the ground. The tension and drama of the Academy faded away as Cathrein sat down on the soft blanket, dragging Loki with her. He finally released her hand, breaking the seidr connection between them and cancelling the shapeshifting spell they had shared. They scooted closer to each other to make up for the lost contact.

After a few moments of silence, they both reached for the basket of food. It only after the first bite of bilgesnipe that she remembered how hungry she was. Loki was slightly more dignified about his eating, breaking things off in manageable chunks and placing them delicately in his mouth.

“So,” Loki began, tugging the cork out of the bottle of wine with his seidr, “how was your date with Thor?”

“He invited me to dinner with you and your family, but I’m sure you’re already aware of that,” Cathrein replied with a shrug.

“What?” A flurry of emotions flashed across his face, and she immediately regretted starting with that particular detail.

“I thought you knew,” she replied softly, not knowing what else to say.

“Well then, congratulations, Cathy,” he all but snarled, looking away. “Welcome to the family, sister.”

Everything about this seems wrong.

Cathrein tried to laugh it off and it worked, but only because neither of them dared pursue the topic further. There was another lull in the conversation, during which Loki poured both of them some wine and handed her the shrimp skewer he had been holding. It was alarming how easily he could set his face back into its default smirk and push away the emotions that had surfaced.

Cathrein held up her glass and the skewer, looking back and forth between them. When she saw Loki’s confused face, she explained her dilemma.

“I haven’t tried either of these things and I don’t really know which one to try first.”

“You’ve never tried shrimp?” Loki was incredulous. Cathrein shook her head, blushing slightly.

“Illisk is landlocked. I’d never even seen the ocean until today.”

“Try the wine first, then the shrimp. I selected them as a pairing,” he said.

“Well then.”

Just to annoy him, she dipped the shrimp directly into the glass of wine. Loki immediately responded by casting an impenetrable force field to prevent the two from touching. The look on his face was priceless.

“Never do that again,” he growled. It was the same intimidating voice he had used with the vendor.

I’d do it again just to hear you tell me not to. Norns, what has gotten into me? That didn’t even make sense.

She ultimately decided on the wine first, though it hardly mattered. They were both delicious, and there was enough for more than just one taste of each. The food and wine was gone in what felt like minutes. After a couple glasses of wine, they were beginning to unravel.

“I’ve heard that Amora and Fandral call each other ‘dearest lovebird’ and ‘darling warrior,’” Loki said, trying to keep a straight face.

It wasn’t really that funny, but Cathrein found herself laughing so hard she fell sideways onto Loki.

“Well Thor called me ‘darling’ yesterday,” she said, having completely forgotten the fact that the date was an off-limits topic.

“Did you know that ‘darling’ is actually derived from an old Midgardian word for ‘minion?’” he asked. “It doesn’t suit you.”

“No, it does not,” she agreed.

“‘Cathy’ doesn’t suit you either. It’s a rather ladylike name and you are anything but.”

Cathrein responded with a lazy shove, made weaker by the influence of the alcohol.

“Well then, since you’re so enlightened, what should I be called?” she asked, resting her head on his shoulder.

He thought for a moment.

“Reina,” he declared his expression softening. “It means ‘queen’ in a very specific region in Midgard. And you will be a queen, Reina.”

She pulled her head off of his shoulder to look him square in the face.

There’s probably some reason why I shouldn’t say what I’m going to say next, but who cares?

“I hope you get the throne,” she whispered, leaning toward him.

I should really stop leaning before I do something I’ll regret.

She didn’t stop, but neither of them felt any regret when their lips touched.

#Loki #Lover #Angst #Submitted fic #submission #Mitigating Circumstances #chapter 7 #manager-of-mischief

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addiehour · 6 years

Text

title: jennydarling & (the) r1pper

pairings: hmmmm can we guess

summary: put jenny & giles into my favorite AU (met playing a video game), playing my personal favorite rpg... which is where all the ingame chatter comes from. and don’t you think giles might be a little more confident behind a screen?... tons of easter eggs from the game, buffy, studio killers, and... one david copperfield trick.

notes: HAPPY BIRTHDAY CELIA! @jenny-calendar i love you lots and lots; you gave me a home and a place in this fandom & even better, a friend in you and that’s something i’ll always remember and appreciate; thank you so much for making it this far and brightening up so many people’s lives ♡

brief glossary:

tank = player who takes most of the damage (& redirects it towards themself if necessary) in order to protect squishier targets with less health

tank mage: there’s no term for an offensive (as opposed to defensive) mage so this is the best available one rip

hs = request to heal a player

pots = potions

gg = good game

Whisper messages = this game has no IMing; just a different color in chat and messages nobody can see... so like IMing, just not on a different window/screen

pvp = player-vs-player (in the game i’m using as a base, you’d apply for official pairings to make sure you got someone with the same level range, and it’d be 2v2)

wb = welcome back

tully’s = a real live actual chain of coffee shops

warrior = high defense, low range, high attack

mage = low defense, medium range, medium-high attack (depending) and ability to heal

ranger = medium defense, high range, medium-high attack

She doesn’t care if he is the r1pper, he is a self-entitled jerk and a complete creep and she is not going to play backup for him anymore. If he asks her, a tank mage, for heals one more time, she is just going to--

r1pper: hs

“Augh!” She rips the headset off and leans back in her seat. Okay, so she’s the only mage in this battlefield. Okay, so there’s three people total. Okay, so he’s taking some damage from the Thorns Curse on the egg that he’s trying to attack. But she’s trying to attack it, too, and now he’s going to get all the EXP, and he expects her to heal him?

jennydarling: use pots

r1pper: all gone

She groans, leaning back in her seat. Okay. Here we go.

jennydarling: i don’t have hs

r1pper: ???

r1pper: are you... serious?

jennydarling: yeah i know i’m a mage with no hs

He gets the last hit, and of course he’s been dealing the most damage because he’s been playing for six years and has probably invested thousands of dollars into this stupid game.

xwatcher2: gg

xwatcher2: thx for playing with us r

r1pper: nw

Another reason she Hates This Guy (fame aside, irritating attitude aside) is the way he talks. It’s dw: don’t worry. Nw??? no worries? Just type it out. Or use the normal abbreviation. But of course on him it’s ‘cool’. And he gets thanked for existing.

The ranger begins switching through different costumes. Jenny and r1pper’s characters stand awkwardly, not saying anything. She wants to shoot laser beams at him, but the best the game has is a little face that looks like it’s crying, and also the one you use when you’ve snuck up on somebody and killed them in two shots. So she says nothing, and when the game warps them back to the Village, she gets ready to teleport somewhere where she can train for three hours and not think about stupid famous r1pper and his stupid famous face (currently outfitted in a decorative eye patch she knows for a fact costs over a million Gold on this server) when she sees the little purple message pop up in her chat window.

Great, now he’s Whispering to her.

r1pper->jennydarling: you made a mage account with no hs?

She frowns. Yeah, and what? She tells him exactly that, and there’s a pronounced pause.

r1pper->jennydarling: I thought the whole point of having a mage account was to be able to heal

jennydarling->r1pper: well you thought wrong

jennydarling->r1pper: maybe i just like mana

It’s true. She tried being a warrior once, thinking it might be ‘easier’, but aside from being treated slightly better, the main difference was that she could only use skills after landing a shot with the normal Attack function, and that took forever on a low level. Warriors need to be trained skillfully, and you only have a couple options for attacks, anyway.

Mages? Now, mages are flexible.

She tells him that, too, and he types back haha. Like, what, it’s funny? He just can’t admit that she’s right. Or is totally incompetent at online communications, which is something else she’s also heard, on those forum boards you can’t escape his name on.

LAN0SCAST1E

yeah if you actually talk to him he talks kind of funny

TW0M

funny how?

LAN0SCAST1E

funny like, he spells everything out. he also doesn’t know how to use most abbreviations; he says it took a long time for him to learn. but it’s also a cool break from the rest of the internet

TW0M

huh

‘Huh’ indeed. Jenny spends another half hour arguing with this weirdo about the ‘point’ of using mages before she tells him that maybe he should try using a mage account himself before he goes off at her about what mages are ‘for’, and also to go soak his head. That’s as creative as she can get without the filters catching it.

r1pper: well, thank you for talking to me, anyhow

r1pper: perhaps i’ll see you later

jennydarling: Perhaps I Shall Also See You Later, My Dearest Sir R1pper.

(And it takes forever to type capitals on this game, so she hopes he knows she means it.)

r1pper: dearest!

r1pper: well, i certainly prefer this to fighting

r1pper: good day

And then he logs off, so when she sends are you fucking kidding me it not only censors out the swear, it also tells her USER HAS LOGGED OFF in big yellow NPC text.

Jenny rips her headphones off, makes several violent banging motions with them, and then jams them back on her head as gently as possible because they are expensive and she doesn’t want to break them.

Jenny manages to avoid r1pper for a full week before she applies for PvP and ends up, unbelievably, with him. She prays they can do this without talking, and they do-- and for a moment, it’s easier than with anybody else; she doesn’t have to explain that she can’t heal, and he doesn’t expect any healing: with two tanks, they overtake the opposing side easily, killing first the squishy mage and then their tank.

r1pper: good thing i decided to stock up on pots

jennydarling: a warrior without pots is just an arrogant idiot

JENNYDARLING->CENSOR: a warrior without pots is just an arrogant *****

jennydarling: wow this game is pathetic

r1pper: and now i get to guess what you’re calling me

r1pper: does it start with an f?

jennydarling: too many letters

jennydarling: but close, and i’d call anybody that if they expect every mage in the battlefield to heal them

r1pper: i’ve touched a nerve

r1pper: metaphorically speaking.

r1pper: and i’ve also not gone anywhere near the nerve (anything to do with mages or healing)

r1pper: this is impressive

jennydarling: oh, die

r1pper: that’s just what i’ll do if every mage refuses to heal me

jennydarling: i’m ONE MAGE. let people have their own free will

r1pper: a passionate defense.

r1pper: let people follow tradition?

r1pper: reason?

r1pper: game design?

The system boots them back into the village, where both of them get lost in a crowd of people, and Jenny walks off to find someone to sell her victory pendants to. She has a full set of them now, which means it’s time to get her 50,000 gold, which she will use to save up for a new staff because she is hoping that the prices will drop in the next two weeks.

She’s just hit the OK button on the trade when another Whisper message pops up:

r1pper->jennydarling: hello

jennydarling->r1pper: do you stalk all of your fans?

r1pper->jennydarling: you’re a fan?

jennydarling->r1pper: touche. do you stalk all of your haters

r1pper->jennydarling: i wouldn’t say that, either

jennydarling->r1pper: has anybody told you you talk like if a british bulldog became mayor

r1pper->jennydarling: as a british person, i take offense to that

jennydarling->r1pper: but you don’t take offense as a bulldog or the mayor

r1pper->jennydarling: witty response loading. in the meanwhile, i have a bed to return to

jennydarling->r1pper: with or without a legion of hot chicks who follow your every move and claim you’re the best player to ever grace our humble w

The chat cuts her response off there, and she has to respond with a simple bye, which is unreasonably polite for her and looks unreasonably impolite on screen. But even with the phrase deleted, she can’t help thinking more about it, and also feeling grateful she didn’t get the chance to send it after all.

What do you know? r1pper has a blog.

Jenny finds this out while searching for a tutorial on how to finish Kulin’s quest in the Mushroom Marshland, because she’s been wandering all over the beach and in the lighthouse and absolutely nothing has dropped the Kneecap she’s looking for. She’s not even sure what kind of thing would drop a kneecap. There are skeletons, but they’re bosses and she’s hoping she’s not going to have to deal with them.

Find a party, r1pper suggests. Go together; the skeleton men are likely too difficult for one (even high level) player, especially as opposed to a balanced group of about two rangers, a mage, and a good tank (or two, depending on your level. Better to be safe than sorry). I have now completed the quest twice, and...

It gets worse from there, but the most absolutely awful thing has got to be the twenty comments begging r1pper to be in their party. Or guild, or genitals. Well, the genitals comment is only one person, and it’s probably a bot, but it still frustrates Jenny. She’s been playing this game for almost a decade now, and for what? For some guy with a weird way of talking to out-popular her? She hates him.

Which is also why she asks him to be in her party for the quest the next time she sees him log on (you know, after the barrage of wb r1pper, wb rip!, wb r1pper <3, and assorted other greetings that make her want to vomit).

r1pper->jennydarling: right

r1pper->jennydarling: you understand when i wrote that guide i was under the impression that a mage would heal the tank

jennydarling->r1pper: haha

jennydarling->r1pper: bring pots

r1pper->jennydarling: are you serious?

jennydarling->r1pper: yes. bring your friend

r1pper->jennydarling: ethan?

jennydarling->r1pper: wow i totally expected you to say ‘which of my thousands of friends, and women who want to do me’

r1pper->jennydarling: *and men

jennydarling->r1pper: ????

r1pper->jennydarling: you’re leaving out the men. this is outrageous

r1pper->jennydarling: what kind of social justice mage are you?

jennydarling->r1pper: HA. HA.

jennydarling->r1pper: you get 2/3 if we kill that many; i just need one kneecap for the quest

r1pper->jennydarling: alright

They get four, in the end (being high-leveled and all), and give the last one to Ethan, and Jenny walks away thinking maybe the whole experience wasn’t all that bad. So she goes to r1pper’s blog to find out what he recommends for tanks, and of course it’s all warrior-based and the mage-related advice assumes they’ll be behind the warriors, at all times. Jenny leaves a strongly-worded comment and trusts that he’ll know it’s her.

They join forces a couple more times before Jenny asks if r1pper has any social media. social media? he asks, and then says i don’t have any. And she says you have a blog, and he says, well, i wouldn’t call it anything social, and she says very funny now give me your phone number.

They don’t call each other. Jenny feels like it would just be weird. Instead, they trade stupid phone messages throughout the day. She sits in the library, scrolling through teaching jobs online (looks like a Computer Science/English double major doesn’t actually get you set for life), and occasionally receives a saw this and thought of you (accompanied by pictures of various spitting cats) or just in case (screenshot of a guide for ‘Beginner Mage Players’) or, once, for my biggest fan-- plus a signature so blurry that Jenny can’t even make out the first letter.

She has a guess, though.

jenny: does your name really start with R?

r1pper: yes, actually

jenny: wow

jenny: do i get to find out what it is now?

r1pper: absolutely not

r1pper: you would laugh at me

jenny: and now i’ve got to know

jenny: is it randy

r1pper: good lord

r1pper: no. not half as bad as randall

jenny: randall???

r1pper: it’s what randy is short for

jenny: of course it is

jenny: tell me your name

r1pper: under no circumstances

jenny: tell me what you’re signing, then

r1pper: i’m moving, as it happens

r1pper: a new job in sunny california

jenny: hey, norcal or socal?

r1pper: i feel very uncomfortable telling my most vocal critic that

r1pper: you might break into my home and leave dirt on all my belongings

jenny: (busts every window in south california to find you)

r1pper: that would be frightening

jenny: yay! i live in socal too

r1pper: this is the most excited i’ve ever seen you

r1pper: well, ‘seen’ you

r1pper: for that, if you give me a county, I’ll reciprocate

jenny: who has time for that? i live in sunnydale by the high school

r1pper: really!

r1pper: soon that will be me as well

jenny: wow, nuts

jenny: you know what this means, right?

r1pper: your search will eventually turn up my home and you will burn it to the ground, chanting about mage oppression all the way?

jenny: WE SHOULD MEET UP.

Jenny flips her phone over, rolls her eyes, and doesn’t worry about the texts until she hasn’t gotten a response in five minutes.

r1pper: i don’t think that’s a very good idea.

Oh, of course he doesn’t.

jenny: you’ve been wrong about all your ideas so far

r1pper: not the secret path to the pirate ship on the beach

jenny: fine. not that

jenny: but this isn’t about secret paths

r1pper: it’s about me not knowing if you’re secretly a child!

jenny: say what

She realizes, with a jolt, that she actually hasn’t thought too distinctly about r1pper’s age. She assumes he’s not as old as her, obviously, because what other thirty-five-year-old would waste their time on this, but now it’s hitting her that he might be a teenager.

Not with that speech style, she tells herself, and then tells r1pper that she is a fully grown adult and she has her own house. He relents.

r1pper: so what is your master plan?

jenny: you arrive at my house, i eat your head

r1pper: very attractive.

jenny: how do i know YOU’RE not a kid

r1pper: who just bought an apartment?

jenny: ...fine.

(Okay, she should’ve thought of that. Whatever.)

r1pper: anyway, coming to a stranger’s house is out of the question

jenny: your mommy won’t let you?

r1pper: my common sense won’t let me

jenny: does your common sense let you drink coffee?

r1pper: no, as it happens

jenny: sorry

jenny: what

r1pper: i don’t drink coffee. i drink tea

jenny: right, british

jenny: still not an excuse

r1pper: it isn’t an excuse. it has nothing to do with the fact that tea tastes good, and coffee tastes like pig swill

r1pper: pardon my french

jenny: you’re

jenny: so wrong i don’t even know where to start

jenny: at least let me buy you coffee

r1pper: wouldn’t that be complying with the patriarchal subjugation of mages, or something?

jenny: maybe so

jenny: tully’s on monday at 10 am, and if you’re not there i tell everyone i know ingame that you have a +crit potion fetish

r1pper: i’m tempted to force your hand to see if anyone would believe you

r1pper: it’s possible you’d only lose your few remaining guild members

r1pper ranked the top seven guilds recently, using some kind of Microsoft Excel sheet that was too complicated for Jenny to understand more than the first column of. He gave the excuse that he didn’t actually know of more than seven highly influential guilds, and then tacked on an ‘honorable mention’ for Jenny’s guild, which he knows full well is just her and three other people, no matter how hard she tries to get everybody else to join. For the last six days, she’s had people harassing her to get in, then immediately dropping out when they see it has no members.

jenny: ha. ha.

jenny: show up or else

r1pper: threats! now you see why nobody joins your guild

r1pper: you have to be more personable

jenny: and you’re so personable??

r1pper: actually, yes

r1pper: when not repeatedly harassed by mages

Jenny doesn’t have much of a response to that other than to tell r1pper that he’d better show up at the cafe next week, and she’s going to get him the sweetest possible coffee and so help her he is going to drink it. r1pper says he’d rather stick with his potions, and Jenny slaps her phone down and doesn’t talk to him for an hour.

It’s only while standing in line for her (and his) drink that Jenny realizes she has no idea how she’ll recognize him. She orders a vanilla latte along with her own espresso anyway, thinking that there’ll be enough people who want a vanilla latte later for her to just pass it off onto them in case of an emergency.

Fortunately, she doesn’t have to worry. In the time it takes for her to get her drinks and get back to her seat (behind her laptop, which displays a meta about the game’s stats system she’s been working on), someone has materialized in the seat across from her.

“Oh,” she says, putting the drinks down. She finds she didn’t have a witty opening line planned, and has to compensate. “That was fast.”

“I used my recall scroll,” he says, smiling slightly. He looks a lot more nervous than her, but he does have the promised British accent, which makes Jenny feel considerably closer to her usual confidence.

“And you’re in your level-forties,” she quips, sitting down and sliding him his drink.

“Ouch,” he says, pointedly not touching it. He has light brown hair-- which is the real age giveaway, because it’s thinning-- and glasses. She wouldn’t have expected glasses on the world’s number one RPG star. And a dad sweater-- Jenny wouldn’t have expected that on r1pper, either.

“I feel like I could stand to know your name now,” Jenny says after a moment. r1pper shifts uncomfortably.

“Um-- Giles. Rupert Giles.”

“Rupert?”

“Now you understand--”

“You think Rupert--”

“--why I refused to tell you!”

“--is better than Randall?”

“Yes,” he says, and sits back. “Did you poison the coffee?”

“I didn’t poison anything,” Jenny says, flipping her hair. “Rupert.”

“Well, if you’re going to say it like that, we may as well revert to using our usernames,” he mutters, lifting the top of the cup.

“You don’t do that,” Jenny says, and he stops.

“What?”

“Don’t lift that. It’s going to spill on you and burn you.”

r1pper--Rupert--whoever-he-is doesn’t look like he really believes her, so she shrugs and replaces the cap as best he can.

“Um-- so the rest of my guild is fighting a boss right now,” Rupert says, sort of staring out the window.

“Gee, and I’m so sorry to keep you from it,” Jenny mutters, taking a much longer sip of her espresso than is ever necessary.

“No-- No, I mean that I-- I canceled, to meet you.” He laughs quietly, looking at his cup. “I’ve been coached on how to talk to you.”

“Oh, really?” Jenny takes another sip. “Tell whoever did it that they did a bad job.”

“Everybody in my guild joined in, as it happens,” Rupert says. “I have been told to ask if you like Mexican food.”

“Sure, yeah,” Jenny says. “Do you want to go get some?”

“I feel like it pairs badly with coffee,” Rupert muses, and then takes a sip. “Oh, God.” He scrunches his entire face up and doesn’t de-scrunch it for several seconds.

“It’s sugary,” Jenny tells him.

“So you did poison it,” he says, putting the cup down. “Am I expected to drink this?”

“All of it,” Jenny says. “That’s why you have a Small.”

“And you have... the opposite,” Rupert notes, gesturing.

“I’m very good at what I do,” Jenny says, half-emptying the cup in one gulp. “God, that’s good.”

“This is frightening to watch.”

“Listen--” Jenny puts her cup down for a moment. “If you want to go get Mexican or something--”

“My coaches didn’t ask if I liked Mexican,” Rupert says. Then he adds, “but I don’t mind it, so if you’re offering--”

“I am,” Jenny says, very firmly. She also tosses her hair a bit, for effect. “Next week?”

“I’m starting my job next week.”

“Ooh, let me guess.” Jenny sits back. “Programming?”

“Absolutely not. It’s a, um, daycare center.”

She leans in again. She’s actually not sure she heard. “A what?”

“For the... for the elementary school. You know, aftercare. And then before that it functions as a-- as a preschool, you know--”

Jenny snorts.

“Have you told your guild?”

“Why would I?”

“Because nobody’s going to believe me if I say r1pper works at a daycare,” Jenny mutters, taking another sip. She considers trying Rupert’s drink, but then thinks twice, mostly because it really does have a lot of sugar.

“Right,” Rupert says, fidgeting with his drink. He pulls the cardboard coffee sleeve up and down his cup, and then mentions, “I tried playing as a mage.”

Jenny tries not to act surprised. “And?”

“And it was more difficult than I thought. I’m sorry.” He pauses, and Jenny is just managing to figure out how to take all this when he adds, “You can have my username on that account-- it’s 3619737. I didn’t want any... similarity to my other username. And it’s virtually impossible to remember.”

“Right,” Jenny says. “So you’re... asking me to help you level up?”

“That is exactly what I am asking, yes,” Rupert says, flushing more than when they were talking about getting Mexican food together.

“Can’t use your famous guildmates, I guess,” she mutters into her cup.

“Speaking of guilds,” Rupert says, “I was thinking of asking you to join mine.” And then he takes another sip of his drink, and coughs. “As I said: poison.”

“Clearly the sugar’s going to your head.” Jenny finishes off her cup and tosses it into the trash from across the room; the barista gives her a dirty look.

“Putting your skills as a mage to good use,” Rupert notes, and Jenny looks at him. “Ranged attacks.”

“Oh, shut up. And you know I’m working on my own guild.”

“That’s one way to put it,” Rupert says. “Please let me pour this out.”

“No,” Jenny says. “And what exactly would your guild be offering me?”

“A party member whenever you need one,” Rupert says, “and probably some help if someone tries to player kill you on the beach.”

“I can take care of myself,” Jenny says, crossing her arms.

“I know you can, which is why I’m asking you to join. I wouldn’t take on anyone who needed help.”

“I don’t--”

“I didn’t say you did,” Rupert says, half-smiling. “But you have a talent for dragging me into arguments.”

Jenny mutters something irritably and tucks a strand of hair out of the way.

“Fine,” she says, eventually. “I’ll consider it.”

“That’s all I am willing to ask.” Rupert gets up, giving his cup an odd glance. Jenny sighs; he takes it with him when he leaves. She squints after him to make sure he doesn’t toss it out the second he shuts the doors.

Two days later, Jenny is being plagued with Whisper messages.

thebigb->jennydarling: is it you

havefaith->jennydarling: hey do you know r1pper

westofthemoon->jennydarling: it’s you???

fredonly->jennydarling: omg found you

Jenny responds to as many people as she can with confusion and gets directed to r1pper’s latest blog post, which-- fine-- she said he could make.

Recently I met another player ‘IRL’ for the first time. It was an interesting experience, though not one I would likely repeat too soon (before anyone comments asking). She was very nice, although she bought me what I still believe is a poisoned drink, and...

Fine. Read the post, see r1pper updated the list of guild members, 2+2=Jenny.

But it still weirds her the fuck out.

thebigb->jennydarling: wait are you and r1pper dating

jennydarling->thebigb: NO

thebigb->jennydarling: oh okay cool

jennydarling->r1pper: do you deal with this all the time

r1pper->jennydarling: deal with what

jennydarling->r1pper: whisper messages

r1pper->jennydarling: yes; i don’t respond to most of them

r1pper->jennydarling: block them if they’re giving you trouble

r1pper->jennydarling: ...you’re getting whisper messages?

jennydarling->r1pper: thanks to the fact that everyone thinks i’m dating a certain someone

r1pper->jennydarling: who?

jennydarling->r1pper: oh nevermind

r1pper->jennydarling: well alright

r1pper->jennydarling: friday?

jennydarling->r1pper: still happening

r1pper->jennydarling: oh, good

r1pper->jennydarling: i just wanted to be sure

jennydarling->r1pper: yeah

jennydarling->r1pper: nw.

#calendiles #jenny calendar #buffy #. HAPPY BIRTHDAY 2 MY DARLING CELES!#. also this is the One and Only time i will refer to him as 'rupert'. we all know i hate that name #. also also: jenny joining the scoobies perhaps?#. :3c #benfic

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khrow-shinku · 3 years

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The Great War S10

D&D 5e Campaign

The Great War

Session 10

Our heroes wake up from the strangest dream, about a manbearpig , fishsticks and Kanye being a gay fish. The party as they get ready to head out to continue their journey notice their packs are a bit heavier. However before any of them could examine their packs they heard a roar from outside the tavern. As the party runs out to see what is going on, the bartender asks them what they want to eat. Most get a banana thinking they need to eat and run. Rin doesn’t wait on hers to be handed to her and gets a banana to the face when the bartender throws her banana at her. Rooklus catches his banana in his mouth. Once outside the party is greeted by a giant mechanical bear. Tinkerman explains this is nothing to worry about, this is what rune has been working on for him, it is the upgrade to his suitcase he always carried around and serves as his mobile tinkering shop. Rune then steps in through the top of the bear somehow shrinking as he steps into it. That sorted, the party begins looking through their packs finally and notices cheese and a note with 3 words on it in each of their packs. Each set of 3 words is different and can only be read by the person whose pack it was found in. Confused by these words that, while they can read them they have no clue what they mean, decide to seek out divine help. Many of the party seek out Vivec, Rin asks her mother as she has some other questions regarding her new… unusual look that happened to her overnight. Selune simple says to blame her grandpa. Rin is confused by this and tries to get more info about said grandfather but in typical deity fashion gets the run around and not a single straight answer. Vivec manages to give people… semi clear answers as to what the words are about. Although he too is pretty vague, and Rin begins to suspect this is just how dieties are. During this time elsewhere in the world, Ara had finished up her research at the capital of Urildyr finding nothing new there. So she booked passage to Tartraye, which wasn’t leaving until the next day. So Ara decided to visit the local stripclub and enjoy herself after that crazy dream she had last night. She also noticed while reaching for drink money from her pack that she had a wheel of cheese and a note with 3 words on it. She just shrugged it off and kept drinking and enjoying her time until she began her 3 day journey to Tartraye. The party then heads to a dungeon that Rooklus heard rumors of causing problems and many adventurers have gone missing when exploring it lately. Once they arrive at the dungeon they find it filled with enemies everywhere. The monsters numbering easily over 100. The party begins taking out enemies left and right. The girls, Biska and Rin head north clearing corridor after corridor of enemies. Tinkerman and Rooklus had headed south, Angra took a deadend that turned out to be a sub-boss to the dungeon. Angra realizing he had bit off more than he could chew retreated. It was about this time that Rooklus had made it back and assisted Angra. Tinkerman cleaned up the dead bodies as they were killed. It seemed as though his new bear workshop had a cleaning function and it would slurp up the bodies into its mouth which were then deposited into his workshop to be gone through later.It is at this time that JJJ who had been waiting outside got impatient from watching the door to the dungeon and came in to see what was taking so long. He too assisted Angra and Rooklus who found this sub-boss was a bit tougher than expected. Once the sub-boss was defeated. Angra whistled for the girls to head back this way, there were stairs on the south end that went down stairs. Unfortunately… his whistle awakened something that was best left sleeping. As Biska was making her way back while Rin finished off the last few enemies their direction, she came face to face with a giant bird that had crashed out of its cage, she attempted to take a few shots at it but the bird seemed completely unphased by it. Angra did some quick thinking and activated his magical Rook that created a dimensional space overtop of the bird that kept it from being able to interact with the party for the next 8 hours. So they party took this time to rest and come up with a plan on how to deal with this bird.

The party now well rested and with a plan in mind went to work. Everyone got into position and then Angra lifted up his magical Rook and ran back to a safe hiding spot and whistled which lured the bird his direction and let the party know it was time. Biska then believing that her 3 words had something to do with throwing her voice attempted to use it and it worked and she threw her voice while safely hidden drawing the bird down to the place the rest of the party had setup the ambush. Once the bird walked into position JJJ jumped out and yelled at it, Fus Ro Dah, which sent it flying down the hallway where Rooklus shouted his phrase and went charging at the bird full speed in a straight line trampling it and he stopped right in front of JJJ. It was at this point that Rin, who had been told her words held the power of wind... used her words and created a cyclone that sucked up the bird and trapped it. The party then unleashed their whole fury onto the bird, hitting it with everything they had and their different element damage types kept changing the nature of the cyclone. It was a firenado, then a hurricane, then a lightning cyclone. It kept changing from one to the other keeping the bird from being able to find its way out and damaging it constantly. Finally the bird escaped and it started to run away and the party chased after it and managed to almost defeat it and then it suddenly burst into flames, turned to ash and disappeared. It was nearly morning by this point so the party rested again using this time a magical queen piece found on the sub boss before venturing down the stairs as this battle with the bird had taken a lot out of them. After a good rest the party headed downstairs and there they found even more monsters and a barrier. The corridors were narrow here for the most part so a couple party members stayed back and waited for the barrier to fall as the others went ahead to find a way to bring it down. Several enemies later they came across a mage whom after a bit of tough resistance went down. The party then found a magic orb that turned off the barrier when it got close to it. Rooklus who had stayed back quickly charged through the other corridor behind the barrier which was larger and allowed him to grow into his full size as he rampaged down the hall using his 3 words to give him speed beyond speed. He then had the misfortune of slamming into an archdemon. It was at this time the entire floor dropped and the party found themselves in a colosseum like area and an archdemon who had expanded to his full size which dwarfed Rooklus. Rooklus went to attack the archdemon but was told to wait by Rin. There was something… familiar about this archdemon to her. Feeling the tiny aasimar’s eyes burning a hole into him the demon looked at her and asked “Little one why do you stare at me so intently?” in abyssal. Rin, whom to her knowledge didn’t understand the abyssal language somehow understood him clearly and even responded to him in abyssal saying something about him was familiar. He explained that she was similar to him; she was part archdemon. Rin stunned by this and looking to avoid a fight that would surely kill them all. She asked that he please spare her party, they had only come here because adventurers keep going missing. The archdemon explained that it was the other beings inside the dungeons doing, not his. She also told him she would be willing to stay with him and learn of her other half that she wasn’t aware of if he would spare her party and allow them to leave. While this conversation was going on no one understood any of it but them two, and Rin kept going in and out of common and abyssal as she talked at first before going full abyssal. Tinkerman’s helmet couldn’t make out hardly any of it as his helmet did not recognize the language. Also while all of this was going on the others were all tense, weapons drawn ready to fight if they had to. The archdemon then reached out and touched the center of the symbol on Rin’s forehead and she collapsed and began convulsing. Everyone got even more tense and Tinkerman asked what did you just do to her, is she going to be ok? The demon told him in infernal that he gave her what she had asked she had just received a few thousand years of information about demons and archdemons including the particulars of mating and sex of all forms down to every last detail. Rin stopped convulsing and got back up dazed and a bit scrambled. “It's ok just too much info in a short time frame. I’ll be fine. I just need a min, whoo that is a LOT of info.” It is at this time that the big ass bird from before came back again and dropped into the arena with everyone and grew in size to the point it was matching the archdemon. What happened next shocked the entire party as the archdemon began fighting the bird. The attacks and blows were so devastating the party could tell had they fought either of them, they would have surely died within seconds. After many blows the archdemon defeated bit the head off of bird killint it and the party clapped. Rin for some strange reason felt the urge to say go daddy go while watching the fight, but she didn’t have a father… immaculate conception by a female goddess into a female mortal. This confused Rin very much. The archdemon then teleported everyone back to the first floor along with a hefty amount of treasure. They gathered up their treasure, left the dungeon and set up the rook piece again as it had recharged in a small clearing to camp for the next 8 hours and rest before going back to town.

#d&d #d&d5e #The Great War #homebrew #campaign #session 10

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thesffcorner · 6 years

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Dishonored Retrospective Part 5: DLC Changes and the Knife of Dunwall

The first four parts of this retrospective covered the base game. Part 5 will look at the DLC, specifically its changes in the first installment, the Knife of Dunwall.

Dishonored got two story expansions: The Knife of Dunwall was the first, followed by the Brigmore Witches. Both are set in Dunwall, and in both you play as the assassin Daud.

The expansion starts a lot of trends and improvements that become staples of the latter games, like the villains, the inclusion of some sort of gang conflict, the introduction of corrupt/black bonecharms and favours/contracts.

The first and most notable one is that we no longer have a silent protagonist. I like this change a lot, not least because it would have been incredibly weird to have Daud voiced in the original and not in the expansion. Michael Madsen reprises his role and he’s even better in this DLC; he gets more lines and more time to shine and develop Daud’s voice and character.

There is a lot of debate surrounding voiced vs silent protagonists, but personally I prefer the latter. It helps cement the character’s personality, and actually allows for dialogue and real interaction. Instead of pressing 1 of two prompts in response to someone just standing in front of you and talking at you, you can have an actual ‘scene’ with dialogue and personality and ‘gasp’ character development.

The change from Corvo to Daud marks another improvement. While you technically can still play as Corvo in Dishonored 2, it’s clear that Emily is the intended protagonist, which makes each instalment have a different lead through which we experience the world and story.

Speaking of, let’s quickly go over that!

Story:

The Knife of Dunwall (KoD) takes place right after Jessamine’s murder. Daud is already having second thoughts, not helped by a visit from the Outsider who mentions the name Delilah. He starts trying to figure out who or what Delilah is, and this quest takes him from the bowels of the ports to the glittering streets of the Financial District.

Brigmore Witches (BW) takes place directly after and sees Daud go on the offensive, for his final confrontation with Delilah, now that he knows who and what she is.

Unlike the original, the story here is more of a mystery rather than a revenge, which I really like. Daud has already done the deed; not only has he killed Jessamine, he has had an entire lifetime of killing that he can’t easily (or at all) make up for. So figuring out who Delilah is and how she ties in with Hiram Burrows and Jessamine isn’t just for the player’s convenience of having a plot; it also literary is about saving Daud’s soul, whether you chose to play a redemptive or destructive path.

Gameplay:

The chaos system is the same from the previous game, but the extremes have slightly changed. In the original, doing a non-lethal playthrough earned you an achievement called Clean Hands, whereas here it’s Cleaner Hands. It’s fitting, both because Daud is after all, as assassin, but also because from what I know you can’t do an entirely non-lethal playthorugh.

On the flip-side, high chaos still allows you to destroy everyone and anything, and gives you a different ending. I don’t know how different the ending is, since I’ve never played on high chaos, but I do know that the ending is already hard on low chaos so I don’t need or want an extra challenge.

In terms of gameplay, there are a lot of small changes that I found really improved the experience. First off, Daud has more weapons that are non-lethal. He has his chokedust, and his electric bolts, and his shock mines, which are ironically, more options than what Corvo had. Additionally he doesn’t have a crossbow; he has an Assassin’s Creed style launcher in his sleeve.

Daud, like Corvo is marked, but his abilities are slightly different. His Void Gaze combines Corvo’s Dark Vision and the heart, highlighting both enemies and runes; Blink teleports Daud in a slightly different way, by slowing time; and Summon Assassins which again, similarly to an ability in Assassin’s Creed summons Assassin helpers.

Like Corvo, Daud also can upgrade his abilities with runes and bonecharms, except this is the first time the developers include corrupt and black bonecharms. These give advantages but also have downsides, like wasting more mana or depleting health or generally having some downside that the player has to balance out. I personally don’t find bonecharms that useful outside of a collector standpoint, so I’ve never had an issue with the balancing, but I do think it’s a neat addition, especially on higher difficulties.

As for the enemies, there are quite a few new ones. For starters KoD doesn’t have any Wheepers, but instead there are Overseers, City Watch and most importantly a new gang called the Hatters. We’ll talk more about both of these when we get to characters.

In BW, Wheepers make a return, along with more Overseers and City Watch, as well as two new group which I absolutely adore, because as I said in my Dishonored post, this is the first time we get female enemies! The two groups are the Hatters’ rival gang the Dead Eels, and Delilah’s coven of Witches.

Characters:

Daud is our protagonist, and he is a more interesting presence than Corvo, if only because he actually talks. He makes quite a few jokes too; my favorite is him telling two of his assassins who want to betray him to the Officers that he’ll come quietly.

Daud’s main conflict that follows him through both expansions, is his misgivings on killing Jessamine. He starts questioning the life he has lead and wondering how much of what he has done has been his own choice and how much has been subtly guided by the Outsider. There is a lot of debate about whether his decision to go after Delilah and stopping her from taking over Emily is really altruistic or motivated by a selfish, shallow need to ‘redeem himself’, and either way you land, the fact that there is this much discussion in the first place speaks of good writing. While there is some question of how ‘good’ Corvo is, you can actually play him entirely non-lethally and it’s easier to get on board with a wrongfully accused character than a man who has spent a good 30 years of his life killing. But I like that a lot about Daud, and the questions that he himself raises about faith and responsibility and regret are all fascinating themes that are way more interesting than anything raised in the base game.

Other important characters are: Delilah, Billie Lurk, Lizzy Stride, Barister Timsh, Thalia Timsh, Burndry Rothwild, Nurse Trimble, and the Old Geezer.

Level Breakdown:

The Knife of Dunwall has three levels, while the Brigmore Witches has four. Like before, we have a mix of city levels and single location levels, and some of these, like the first level of KoD and the third level in BW are on par with Flooded District in length.

The game starts with a short cut-scene and a visit to the Void. The Outsider is not happy with Daud; it’s clear whatever affection or relationship the two have had has long since ended, and it’s especially funny as the Outsider is about to mark Corvo to essentially replace Daud.

There is no Hound Pits Pub-like area where Daud can relax and shop, so you start each level with an upgrade screen. This is where we are introduced to Favors, a concept that gets even further developed with the Black Markets and Contracts in the sequel.

Favors are small things that Daud can pay for to make the game slightly easier or open up different paths of playing, such as purchasing extra tanks of whale oil to be put in a specific location or having a bonecharm hidden somewhere in the level. They are useful and can sometimes be done without, but sometimes, especially on medium chaos they make the job a lot easier.

A Captain of Industry:

The first level sees Daud breaking into the Rothwild Processing Plant and Refinery. The man who owns it, Rothwild is a ruthless businessman who is in the process of rather brutally crushing a workers strike in his factory. What Daud needs from Rothwild is actually information about his boat called Delilah.

The roofs outside the factory is where we first meet Billie Lurk, hands down the best character in this entire series. Billie is one of Daud’s assassins and point-woman, the best and smartest of all his Whalers. She is a snarky, no-nonsense person who will question Daud and banter with him during and in between missions.

For now, she informs Daud that punch cards are revoked because of the strike, making it difficult to get inside.

This is a good time to talk about the new enemy of this area: the Butchers. They are an imposing, lumbering yet fast gigantic enemies who kill you in a really gruesome way by burring their circular saws in your flesh. These enemies were horrifying the first time I played this level; their design is genuinely great, and makes for a fun contrast with Rothwild once you actually get to see him. The game sets you up to think he will likewise be a gigantic butcher, but instead is a skinny man who looks less intimidating than Piero.

Entering the Slaughterhouse isn’t easy and required you to acquire a punch card. This also potentially lets you see the prison where those who dared go on strike are held; again some rather gruesome imagery which at this point is par for the course for this world.

The Whale Butchers are like the regular Butcher’s jacked up cousin. They have a gigantic saw in the front and the engine of a tallboy in the back and are one hell of a monstrosity to fight. Best to avoid or bolt them. The Slaughterhouse itself is huge and contains a lot of interlocking rooms; it’s a perfect example of a single location level done right.

There are several side-quests to be completed here, one of them being putting a whale out of its misery in the Refining Room where he is being slowly electrocuted and leaking oil and bodily liquids on the floor. This space is incredible and grim as hell; the Butchers, the sounds the whale makes, the enormity of the room, it’s all a brilliant piece of world building. It’s probably my favorite area in the whole DLC.

The rest of this level involves Daud exploring the Slaughterhouse and finding Rothwild involved in an argument with Abigail. Abigail is a union representative, sent to deliberately start the fire that was the strike to undermine Bundry. Her involvement in this level gives you a ton of options as to how you want to deal with anyone. It also presents you with an interesting choice.

If you decide to play non-lethally, you will be met with scorn and resistance from everyone you encounter, especially, at the start Billie. Here, Abigail mocks you for the decision not to do what she asks, which is essentially, not just killing Bundry, but also blowing up the Refinery along with every single Butcher that’s still trapped inside. Talk about overkill lady!

In return she offers to tell you about Delilah, but there is another way. You can knock her out and then take Rothwild to the very chair he has been using to abuse his workers and shock him until he talks. Then you can put him in a crate sent to the western part of the Isles and be on your marry way.

Well… sort of. Additional enemies appear as you exit, and if you avoid them, you get to experience Overseer’s music box. This was a weapon that appeared in the base game but wasn’t utilized much (other than the first level). Here it appears quite a lot; it dulls the assassins’ senses and makes it impossible for Daud to use his powers. A chokedust grenade will be enough of a distraction to let Billie escape the Overseers who have her trapped.

Eminent Domain:

With the information Daud got from either Rothwild or Abigail, you now know that the boat used to belong to Barister Timsh, a friend of Hiram Burrows who was Delilah’s lover. However recently he has been trying to get rid of the boat and a lot of other things, and learning that you are suddenly interested in Delilah, prompts his niece, Thalia to seek you out.

The level starts with you and Billie taking out some guards. Thalia is waiting for you on the other side of the wall of light, so you have to make your way there.

SHUT IT OFF. That’s the main advice I’ll give you, because if you don’t, there is no way to get back to the Waterfront, and you will essentially break the game. Do it and save yourself the frustration.

Thalia is waiting for you in a small square, harassed by a Hatter. This is where using Void Gaze really helps, because if you take out the Hatter immediately, you will be ambushed by two more who, if you’re not careful, will start a gang war.

Disposing of the Hatters lets you talk to Thalia. She will tell you that Timsh was so obsessed with Delilah, he rewrote his will to leave his entire estate to her. She wants you to kill him and replace the will which is maybe a problem if you’re playing Cleaner Hands.

Before you can worry about that though, there is the slight issue of getting into the Financial District. You need a key, and the key has been promptly stolen from the City Watch by the Hatters. This brings you into Hatter territory, where stealing the key from Chauncy is a lot harder than it sounds. Depending on your chaos level Chauncy will change location and getting to him can be tricky. Once you do manage it, you can enter the Financial District.

Since the assassins have been planning a hit on Timsh for a while, you have a scope location already set up where you can talk to Billie and stock up on weapons and gear. Before you do that, it’s good to save one of Timsh’ former ‘friends’ from some City Watch, since he gives you an alternative to killing Timsh. Essentially Timsh seized the friend’s property unlawfully, and he wants to repay the favour, using some forged documents and a bag of dead rats.

This is also the place where you can talk to the Outsider. Billie will make some snarky comments about your face while talking to, as Daud calls him “the black eyed bastard”, and now you can really go after Timsh.

Let’s talk about the way I did it. Blinking from the apartments across to Timsh’s fourth floor will land you right in front of the room with Delilah’s statue. Because Timsh wanders the house, there is a good chance he might be on this floor too. Knock him and the guards out, steal his key and replace his immunity document with a forgery. Use Delilah’s statue to talk to her; this is your first interaction and she’s pretty great at self-aggrandizing.

Now all you have to do is take the will and dump the rats in the air duct in the basement. You can watch General Turnbull hilariously arrest Timsh and you are done my friend. Return to the sewers (though beware the Butchers who will appear as revenge for what you did to the Slaughterhouse).

I love this level. It’s a lot of weaving from building to building, carefully knocking out or avoiding enemies and some very entertaining scenes between Delilah and the Outsider. I like city levels the most because they are best at showing the world, and seeing the rich part of Dunwall was immensely entertaining. It adds another level to the world building we got in the base game. While I did love it there, most of the city levels were set at night and crawling with City Watch; it’s nice to see that Dunwall was still a functioning city while Corvo was out killing people.

The Surge:

And now, we get to the third and final level of the KoD. I won’t lie, the first time I played this level, I hated it. It’s very hard and it combines a lot of my least favorite things. It’s a single location level, that reuses a location (the Flooded District) and it’s a level full of enemies. For playing Cleaner Hands, this was a nightmare.

However, the plot here is good and it’s probably the best-known beat of the whole series, and it informs so much of what happens in the BW and the sequel games. So let’s start.

Billie Lurk informs you that the Overseers have taken over the Flooded District; someone has betrayed you and your base, and Daud’s first priority will be to find out who. You climb out of the chain and follow Corvo’s footsteps and get to see the massive number of Overseers. There are two main goals of this level; getting to Overseer Hume and freeing as many of the captured assassins as you can.

How you deal with the Overseers is a personal choice that I won’t even attempt to influence; I started out painstakingly taking them out one by one, until I figured out chokedust works really well to disorient groups and then either shoot or choke the Overseers while they are distracted. This goes double for Overseers who carry the music box, because they can only be attacked from the back.

You locate the assault plans in the house next to the makeshift platform and find out that Hume was tipped straight to your hideout. To take Hume out, it’s best to use the three story building directly opposite the hideout and use the open window. Once you take the letter he carries you can return to the roof and order your assassins to either kill or knock out the remaining Overseers.

And now we get to the moment. Billie reappears and informs Daud that the Overseer Hume moved too early; more Overseers should be on their way, but with Hume defeated it’s too late. Daud asks again how the Overseers knew where to find them and Billie admits to betraying you.

I love this moment. That Billie betrays Daud was unfortunately something that was spoiled for me, but I still thought it was a great beat. Billie has been your point woman the entire time, bouncing off ideas and plans in every level. To find out that she and Delilah wanted to kill you all this time is a big blow, especially because Billie doesn’t seem sorry to have done it. She explains that she thought Daud’s refusal to kill has made him weak and she was going to take his place. But seeing the change and his defeat of the Overseers convinces her that he isn’t and deserves better.

Delilah bamfs out, with a ridiculously over the top warning that she will “crush your cold heart and walk into your skin” and you get a choice; spare Billie’s life or kill her.

I said before that I didn’t like the DLC’s ending choice, and that’s in great part because of this one. There is a different weight to deciding Billie faith when you are Daud; she directly betrayed you, and if you died a lot in this level like I did then you have a lot of personal reasons to be angry with her. It’s a better motivated choice, and the weight of what decision you make, will really inform the way you interpret Daud’s character. Either he really is starting to change, and is sick of killing, or he is still just the same vindictive man he was before.

Another big debate is what type of relationship Daud has with Billie. The game leaves this open to interpretation, and honestly, I think it’s for the best. While I do lean a lot towards the fatherly, there is a case to be made that their attachment is romantic, but at the end of the day I think it’s irrelevant. They cared for each other, and being betrayed by someone like that will be a heavy blow, no matter how you interpret this attachment.

With KoD over we can go over to part 6 and the Brigmore Witches.

part 4 < > part 6

#dishonored #knife of dunwall #moni talks #dishonored retrospective

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feywildatheart · 6 years

Text

Nenîth,

Pika and I found ourselves with some time on our hands today, as Elyn found a jam session here on Veled Kerverion that she wanted to participate in and left us to our own devices, which was perhaps an error in judgment on her part.

Pika started the morning off by looking for a newspaper that might carry news of Rugira Prime, though she seemed disappointed by what she found. I didn’t suppose that I would find anyone on a space station able to tan my displacer beast hide, which hasn’t yet created a terrible mess in my pack, but honestly, it’s only a matter of time. And in any case, we weren’t expecting to remain on the station long enough to complete the tanning process, even if there were someone able to do it. I was able to find a very obliging tailor, however, who helped me clean the hide up some, and provided some more information about what I might expect to pay someone to make something out of it. Pika wandered off while she and I were doing that, and came back looking very pleased with herself, and announced quite cryptically that we’re going to have an early morning tomorrow. I can’t get a straight answer out of her about what she has planned, but if that grin on her face is anything to judge by, I suspect I’m right to be nervous.

Neither of us had much of an agenda for the day, beyond those two tasks, so we wandered the station some, and found an acolyte of Savras with a table set up and some cards and a sign advertising free readings.

Pika seemed dubious from the start, though honestly, when she’s in the company of someone who can inflict harm on people with nothing but a well-placed insult, not to mention a teleporting dog, I can’t understand why a little bit of fortune telling seems incredible to her.

She didn’t put up too strenuous a protest, though, so long as I didn’t encourage her to give it a try, so I sat down at the table and was introduced to Khimal, who offered me my choice of three-card spreads, either addressing a specific topic I might want insight on, or else reading on my past, present, and future. I don’t know that I have anything weighing on me heavily enough to bother asking about, and if I do I don’t know that I’m able to articulate it enough to even form a question, so I chose the latter, and Khimal shuffled the deck and had me choose three as I wished.

I laid down the Harp for my past, which Khimal said was associated with the universe, and sometimes with uncertainty but eventually leading to harmony, which certainly seems apt enough, at least the uncertainty party. I suppose only time will tell about the harmony. For my present, I drew the Crossed Blades, and Khimal said that was a card associated with conflict, confrontation, and hard choices. It was all I could do not to give a bit of a wild laugh at that, considering we’re all still sore and shaken from that fight with the necromancer. But, too, Khimal said the card isn’t necessarily reflective of bad circumstances, only one indicating that difficulty is present, which seems apt, too.

The card I drew for my future is the Bell, which is the one I’m least certain, but I suppose that fits, doesn’t it? The bell, apparently, indicates the passage of time, with a clarity of thought and intention. I don’t know if that’s what my future truly holds for me, but I hope it’s true. It’s sort of what I’m out here looking for, after all, isn’t it?

Pika contained herself until I’d finished with my reading and offered Khimal a few coins in exchange, and then she dragged me off, and we spent much of the morning wandering through Veled Kerverion while she tried to teach me to walk with poise, which frankly seems like a losing battle, but I’m willing to keep trying so long as she’s willing to keep having patience with me. I fear all I really succeeded in was making a fool of myself, but I did my best and tried to ignore the glances of those we passed, until we encountered a shop with a large sign out front looking for help of some sort, and my endurance failed me and I made a very blatant show of interest in learning more about the advertised job.

It was fairly obvious that Pika saw through me completely, and she didn’t exactly approve, but I must have done well enough to satisfy her because she indulged me (though she did comment that perhaps it would help me to listen better, which is honestly unfair, listening to something doesn’t make you good at it, I am listening to her, and I’m trying, but it’s not easy for me like it is for her! If it were easy for me, she wouldn’t need to be daisy-chaining me in the first place, would she?)

In any case, the poster led us to a Gnomish wizard named Saburkena who was looking for assistance in finding and retrieving some gems and rings of theirs that had gone missing. They had apparently set wards on their building to prevent theft, so they knew none of the missing items had left the building, and had thus determined that they must be inside the walls somewhere. They had potions of diminution that we could take, that would make us smaller even than a woodmouse, small enough to go inside the walls and travel through them as though they were roads and tunnels. In exchange, they promised a portion of whatever gems we recovered, and our choice of one ring from whatever ones we managed to return to them. Pika offered to simply punch the wall instead, but Saburkena seemed distressed by the prospect and asked her not to, lest they anger their landlord.

We drank our potions, and Squirt gamely let me feed him one as well, and after a very disorienting moment we found ourselves shrunk down so small that Saburkena, even though they were a gnome, towered over us like the tallest of the trees in the Feywild. They showed us a place in the wall where there was a crack we could slip through, and we ventured inside.

It took us some time of wandering heedlessly, unsure of where we ought to be headed to find what we needed, but eventually I found some rat tracks in a bit of dust on the ground. Squirt’s nose was more help than our eyes in the darkness inside the wizard’s wall, though there were enough smells coming at us from all directions that it did little to help us choose a direction.

Eventually we came across a pair of rats digging in the tunnel, and rather startled them I’m afraid. They seemed alarmed and wary by our appearance, and we were wary back, but when they didn’t immediately move to try to attack us, I cast speak with animals on myself and ventured to try diplomacy. I told them that I was sorry we had startled them and we didn’t mean to intrude, and we were only looking for some of our friend’s things that had gone missing.

The rat seemed distressed and insisted that they hadn’t taken anything from our kind, which I’m afraid took me a moment to register, but once I had realized what it said, I asked it if there were more people like us, more tiny people, and it said that there were, which threw me for quite a loop, let me tell you! I asked if it could take us to them and it agreed, but seemed somewhat bewildered by us, and treated us more or less how you might a lost and confused child who had to be led by the hand and watched after.

The rat wanted assurance that it wouldn’t be injured by the others, which seemed no less than fair, and I swore to it that we wouldn’t raise a hand to harm it, and that if anyone else did we would fight in its defense. It was perhaps a bit presumptuous to make that promise on Pika’s behalf, but the rat seemed reassured, in any case, and led us through the tunnels until we reached a series of palisades that had been crafted out of toothpicks, though at our size they seemed as big as tree branches. It said it had to leave us there, or risk injuring itself on the sharpened points of the palisades, but that it would wait for us on the far side to ensure we arrived safely — like we were wayward children indeed! It was endearing, to be honest, and I found myself quite fond of the rat by the time we parted ways.

We snuck through the palisades, trying to approach the doors on the other side without being noticed, and made it through the first set easily enough, but Pika got hung up on the second and lost her temper and punched it. It was pretty impressive how the pike just shattered at a single blow, but it was also very loud, and so much for our attempts to be stealthy. And— Well, Pika was so uncharacteristically graceless, and I was still a little stung from that comment about not listening, and so I made a point of standing tall and keeping my chin high and using every trick she’d taught me to stride through, just to show her. And, well, she wasn’t even mad at being needled at all! When I turned and looked back at her, I don’t think I’ve ever seen her look prouder, or more pleased.

After making it through the last of the palisades and to the doors, we found them barred from the inside, and could hear measured footsteps on the other side, like a guard pacing as he kept watch.

Pika, apparently deciding that since our cover was blown anyway, we might as well just announce ourselves, pounded her fist on the doors and declared that we were ambassadors from a foreign land. Pretty much all I could do was stand a step behind her with Squirt and try to look abassador-ish, but I don’t know how well I pulled that off.

Two guards came out of the doors to see what all our fuss was about and Pika got all courtly and charming with them, like she does sometimes, but then she went and told them that we’d come searching for stolen goods, and gave them a grin that was about as comforting as a beholder’s, and honestly, even I knew better than to do that. It was inevitable at that point that the guards grabbed their spears and made like they were going to attack us, and there was little else for me but to sigh and draw my bow.

It didn’t take more than a few arrows, and a few blows from Pika and a bite or two from Squirt, before we’d knocked out both of the guards, and somehow managed not to attract much attention in the process, either. Pika picked up one of them and threw him over her shoulder, and I struggled to heft the other one up onto Squirt’s back and then followed after her as she strode on inside, continuing our search for someone in charge we could speak to.

We found a pair of doors soon enough, one of them fairly ornate and decorated, the other plain but showing signs of frequent foot traffic. And we figured the ornate ones were probably the more likely to lead to an audience hall or some other seat of power, and so I gathered up every scrap of confidence and bluster that I had and threw the doors open and strode inside, ready to face whoever was on the other side and carry on Pika’s bluff about being ambassadors who had been most grievously welcomed, and nenîth, I felt amazing.

It was all wasted, of course, because we hadn’t found an audience hall at all, but instead a treasury, and while there were numerous gems that seemed likely to be the ones Saburkena had lost, there wasn’t a single soul in there to witness my display, except Squirt and Pika. They seemed appreciative, at least.

We briefly debated whether we should take possession of the gems then, or leave them for later and risk having to leave them behind should circumstances require that we make a quick escape. Pika pointed out, wisely, that our claims of ambassadorship might be made somewhat less credible if we were carting their unconscious guards along and we’d helped ourselves to their treasury, so we left the gems where they were and continued on to the other, plainer set of doors to try to find someone we could speak with.

Those doors led to what seemed to be a residential area, with homes and streets and a few people wandering through them, though no one seemed to take particular notice of us. We found another set of doors, plain like the first, and when I tried the handle and found them unlocked, I squared my shoulders and gathered myself up again and threw them open just like before. And this time, thankfully, there was someone on the other side to witness my entrance! His name turned out to be Kenneny, and he seems to be very new to the role of a guardsman, and I think he was suitably intimidated by my arrival, and I strode right on up to him and played the indignant emissary as I snapped that we were ambassadors come to speak to their leader and that we had been attacked and we were righteously offended at the treatment we had received, and oh, I was glorious. I think poor Kenneny’s knees actually trembled, though he mostly seemed bewildered rather than rushing to get someone with authority as he wondered where we would have even been ambassadors from. He did also beg us not to hurt him, which may have been more because Pika had her unconscious guard draped around her neck like a scarf than because of anything I’d said, but I was pleased with myself all the same.

I did feel sorry for the boy, though, who looked like he may have been standing his first watch ever and might have cried to find it going so wrong so suddenly, so I assured him that we’d only fought the guards because they’d drawn their weapons on us, and that we had no interest in hurting him or anyone else, and that we weren’t his problem and he should go find someone in charge to speak with us so he could get back to his post.

Pika had to pour on the charm to convince him, but eventually he took us inside and presented us to a lizardfolk named Haska, who seemed very reasonable in the face of Kenneny’s terror and the guard hanging around Pika’s neck. We explained the situation with Saburkena and Haska seemed contrite and concerned by the accusations of theft, and asked us if we could tell him what sorts of things had gone missing, but I was suspicious because he asked us that with one of Saburkena’s rings hanging right there over his head like some sort of wall decoration. Still, I couldn’t find any overt reason to act on my distrust, so I explained the situation further with Pika, and he seemed reasonable about it all and offered to speak with the people on our behalf and convince them to give up the gems and the rings, if we could persuade Saburkena to leave about whatever scraps of metal or cloth he had no need of, so that they could make use of them. That seemed an entirely reasonable request to me, and he’d also said that while the people of that homestead were naturally the size they were, that he was like us, except that he had somehow shrunk and then become stuck that way. I can’t imagine how such a thing would happen, but I figured if what the people there really needed was materials to work with and craft from, I could provide them with that easily enough, and I fished a gold coin out of my coin purse and offered it to him, and told him that the spell that had shrunk us to their size would only last for two hours and then we, and all our possessions, would return to full size, and so while the gift might seem paltry at the moment, in a few hours time it should give them a great deal to work with.

Haska took the coin and seemed to approve, and sent Kenneny off to summon the council to hear our offer. Once they’d come we explained everything again, though they seemed somewhat less immediately won over by the trade Haska had proposed. Pika offered a second gold coin out of her own purse to sweeten the deal, and I offered to make up for them losing the magical protections that the rings provided by negotiating a truce with the rats, since the one I’d spoken to earlier seemed to harbor no ill will towards these people at all, and seemed only scared and wary of them, and had thought us one of them and lost and confused and hadn’t harmed us but had escorted us ‘home’.

That, at last, they seemed to find worthy of the trade, and we all agreed to the deal. They gave us use of a cart as well, to load the gems into, and Haska and Kenneny accompanied us out with it, Kenneny as escort and Haska so that we could ask Saburkena if they knew of anything that might help him return to his original size.

We found the rats at their tunnel again and I explained the proposed truce to them, that if they were willing to keep their digging and scavenging to areas that hadn’t already been inhabited by the people, that the people would in turn leave them be and not attack them. They seemed interested but wary, which was entirely reasonable, I’d think, and asked for some sort of proof that the people meant it. I floundered a bit, because how can you prove something like that? But eventually I must have said the right thing, because my rat friend agreed to go pass our offer on to the other rats, and bring back their response.

While we were waiting for him to return, though, and I had a moment to let my thoughts wander back over my previous conversations with them, I all at once realized that when we’d first encountered the rats, I’d asked about the missing rings and gems, and the rat had assured me that they had taken nothing from our people. But it hadn’t occurred to me then that, because he thought Pika and I members of this community of tiny people in the walls, he wouldn’t have associated us with Saburkena, and his promises meant nothing, as far as having stolen from them went. So when he returned, I asked if perhaps any of his fellow rats had ever taken anything from ‘the big guy who lives beyond the walls’, and he seemed distressed by the suggestion and said that it had just been laying around, and they hadn’t known it belonged to somebody, and that it was keeping their nest warm and they needed it. I sympathized with him, and told him so, and he somewhat grudgingly said that if we spoke with Saburkena and they could describe it, and in doing so prove that the ring had been theirs in the first place, and if they could give them something else to keep their nest warm in exchange, then they would return the ring to them.

So off we went, out of the walls and into Saburkena’s house, and we gave them their gems and the rings we had recovered and introduced them to Haska and asked about the ring that the rats might have, and they described it to us and, after a moment of doing something off elsewhere in their shape, returned with a small enchanted item that radiated warmth, and said that the enchantment should last for a long while but that if it ever faded, the rats need only to poke their noses out and they would re-enchant it for them.

So we took that back into the tunnels to meet with the rats, and described the missing ring of warmth, and told them Saburkena’s offer, and the rats agreed to the trade and came out with the last missing ring, and so we carted that back out to Saburkena, who dispelled their potion and we found ourselves returned to our normal sizes, although Haska, I was disappointed to see, was not. Saburkena seems intent on working with him to identify the source of the problem and find a solution, though, so at least he seems to be in good hands.

And, true to his word, Saburkena gave us half of the gems that we’d recovered, and our choice of the three rings, which were the ring of warmth and also a ring of fire resistance and a ring of protection. Pika and I exchanged scarcely a glance before we both agreed as one on the ring of protection. I think either she or Elyn could benefit from it greatly, but Pika seems to want it for herself, so that she doesn’t have to place quite as much a demand on Elyn’s healing abilities, which I suppose is fair. I’m content to let them fight it out between them, if they want to, and am only glad that one of them will be at least a little bit better protected than they have been.

In any case, that was the end of it! And I find I am more than a little exhausted from having run around playing diplomat between three factions for a few hours, but I’m glad of it, too. We saw everyone satisfied, and several truces negotiated, and no one attacked anyone else except us with those guards, but honestly I blame that on Pika. I don’t know that the life of a diplomat is one for me, though, it was very stressful carrying the fates of all three of these groups on my shoulders, knowing it could all go terribly wrong if I said the wrong thing to the wrong person.

I’m going to go find Elyn now, and ask how her jam session was, and then I am going to go sleep so much, and hope that whatever tomorrow brings, it doesn’t involve me having to negotiate a thing. I’m much happier leaving all that to Elyn, and even to Pika, but it’s good to know that it’s something I’m capable of doing, when the need arises. I’m proud of myself, nenîth, and I think you would have been, too, if you could have seen me.

All my love,

Maliah

#in character

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libraryofrewrita · 7 years

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Chapter 17: Explanations

The sunlight shined through the window as the group stirred from their slumber.

“What’s the plan for today?”

“We need to discuss a few things, but I want to discuss them in a private area where no one can interfer with us or give you weird looks.”

“Nocturne Hospital?”

Whisper shook his head.

“No way. That place gives me the creeps. Mount Wildwood?”

“No, they’re setting up the festival today.”

“Timer’s and More? Mr. Goodsight already knows about Yo-kai and he probably wouldn’t mind letting us hang around there.”

“Yeah, but he has other customers coming in and out of the shop.”

“The alcove where we met Noko?”

“Well, there aren’t that many Yo-kai there, so it could work. We can eat lunch there too while we’re at it.”

After getting permission to go out for the day, the group walked to Downtown Springdale. It was still pretty early, so they decided to see if there was anything they could do until lunch.

*****

The woman looked up and asked,

“Oh, it’s nothing too bad. It’s just that need Black Syrup for something I’m considering serving here and I don’t have any on hand.”

Nate dug into his pocket and pulled out a small cup of Black Syrup.

“Is this enough?”

Ms. Frost nodded and said,

“Yes, thank you. Are you…two familiar with the area around Catfish Pond?”

Nate and Katie nodded, although they did notice that she had paused before saying ‘you two’, as if she wasn’t sure if that was correct.

“I also need some Refreshing Herbs. I heard that they grow around the area. I would head up myself, but I have to do some testing with the Black Syrup you got for me.”

“Oh, sure. We can do that for you.”

Ms. Frost bowed and said,

“Thank you. Just be careful while you’re up there. The festival is being set up today.”

As the group left, she hummed and looked at a paper she had in her hand that also had a picture of the two kids.

It’s safe to talk about Yo-kai matters with Nate Adams and Katie Forester. However, if you want to see for yourself, ask them to do you a favor, perferably a non-dangerous one.

- Kit Barton

*****

The group had teleported to Mount Wildwood through the Mirapo at Downtown Everymart and they walked by the festival being set up. Thankfully they had arrived at the time where people were just looking for places to set up the stands. The group walked by quickly and after looking at a list of currently active Mirapos, decided to just go through the Mirapo at the Abandoned Tunnel after they received the Refreshing Herbs. They walked up to Catfish Pond and found a strange plant that after a quick search, Whisper confirmed to be the Refreshing Herbs Ms. Frost needed.

“Okay, let’s get these plants to the lovely Ms. Frost before something happens.”

Just as Whisper said that, they saw a Mad Mountain.

“What are you doing trespassing in my training grounds?!”

The group was visibly panicked.

“W-we were just getting something for a friend. We were actually about to leave right now!”

Unfortunately, they were thrown into a battle that they believed was uncalled for. After using the right moves, they managed to stop the battle.

“That was really uncalled for, Mad Mountain! We were going to leave anyway. You didn’t need to bring us into this fight!”

Before Mad Mountain could say something, he was suddenly hit with a ball of ice and was knocked out cold. The group decided to take advatage of it and ran for their lives before Mad Mountain woke up and brought them into another battle. On the bridge above them, Ms. Frost was standing there, having witnessed the whole thing.

Well, I didn’t intend to make them battle Mad Mountain. I didn’t even know he was in that area, but I did get to see how strong they were. Hmm…I do need to repay them somehow…

*****

They walked back to Frostia’s Place and handed the Refreshing Herbs to her.

“Here you go. We had…a little trouble getting them, but they’re here with you now.”

Ms. Frost dug into her pocket and handed Nate and Katie some money for helping her. As they were pocketing the money, they realized that one of the coins looked suspiciously like a Yo-kai Medal. Whisper checked it on his Yo-kai Pad and said,

“That’s a Frostina Yo-kai Medal! Why would Ms. Frost have one? Unless…”

Ms. Frost gave a knowing smile.

“Yes, I’m a Yo-kai, but that’s not my medal. It actually belongs to my little sister. I want her to see that not all humans are bad and as much as I really miss battling, I have a business to run now.”

She called to her side a small girl who matched the picture on the Yo-kai Medal. She could easily pass for a human child if she wanted to and while she was quiet when she was introduced to the group, she did go with them willingly.

“Take good care of her, okay?”

“We will!”

*****

They went to the Eyepo hanging around the Downtown Everymart, switched out Cadin for Frostina, and went down to Nom Burger to pick up some lunch since it was getting around lunch.

“Why couldn’t there be a Mirapo at Nom Burger?”

“It’s best to not question it, Nate.”

*****

After picking up lunch, they used Mirapo again to go to Shoten Temple and they headed to the hidden alcove, where it was only Noko hanging around. After giving him a Nom Burger, he squeaked happily and dragged it away to eat in peace.

“Okay, now that we’re alone, we can talk about a few things.”

Whisper sat down and started to think to himself.

What do we discuss first? The recent Yo-kai crimes? Kyubi tricking us into fighting Massiface? Katie’s ability to sense auras? That mysterious Yo-kai that’s been helping us?

Whisper glanced at the group and sighed.

Well, I should start with something that they’ll probably have more information about.

“Katie? How long have you been able to sense auras? You never really brought it up until recently.”

Katie took a sip of Soul Tea to wash down the fries she had been eating and said,

“Well…I’ve actually been able to do it since I was younger, although I can’t recall specifically how old I was when I started sensing auras. Of course, I didn’t know what auras were back than, so I just called them feelings. I learned that what I was sensing were actually called auras when I was around eight or nine. I did hear my grandmother say that my grandfather had the same ability once, but I’m not sure if that’s true or not. It’s not like I can ask him myself. He died before I was born.”

Nate nodded solemnly. His grandfather had also died before he was born, so he understood why Katie was frustrated at not being able to talk to someone that could help her.

At least Whisper can help us understand her ability better.

Whisper was typing something on his Yo-kai Pad as Jibanyan sneaked a peek at what Whisper was typing.

Note: Katie’s ability to sense auras seems to be genetic, but she is unsure. I’ll help her with developing her powers as best as I can.

Jibanyan quickly looked away before Whisper could notice the blush on his face.

Aaaannnd my crush on him is growing.

“Well, I’ll do what I can to help you with your aura sensing.”

Whisper mentally checked that off the list and went on to a different topic.

*****

Time had passed as they discussed everything that had happened and they agreed on the following:

1. The recent Yo-kai crimes could have just been typical Yo-kai hi-jinx, admittedly at a higher level than just inconveniencing humans.

2. The mysterious Yo-kai, which they hadn’t seen in awhile, might be an ally, considering he helped them avoid certain death.

3. While they don’t know the full circumstances for Kyubi’s ploy, he really didn’t need to trick them into battling Massiface for him. He could’ve just asked or tested them beforehand and then asked.

“Okay, now that’s been settled, although I can’t help but feel that there’s something bigger going on. From what the Koma Brothers had told us about their reason to come here, it seems that there’s some sort of turmoil in the Yo-kai Realm, but why is it getting to that point?”

As much as they wanted answers, the group knew that if there were any, they wouldn’t show up right away. Either they will never find out the answers or the answers would come later. Either way, they had to be on their guard. If it ever got worse than what they had experienced, they had to be ready, no matter what.

****

A poster for the festival landed near Lucas’s feet and he picked it up. For some strange reason, he had a feeling he would be safe there as he looked around, hoping that he wouldn’t be attacked again as he walked away to get ready for the fesitval.

*****

“Nate? Are you ready to head to the festival?”

“Yeah! Give me a second!”

Nate smoothed out his festival wear, a red kimono with light blue stars on the sleeves, and walked out of the room, bumping into Whisper.

“Oh! Hey, Whisper! I’m so sorry for bumping into you like that…Whisper? Are you okay?”

The Yo-kai Butler had been about to say something when he saw what Nate was wearing. In his dazed state, Nate had disappeared and was replaced with an older man that Whisper remembered well.

W-waitington?

'Waitington’ didn’t speak to Whisper. He just extended a hand to him and placed it on his face. The touch seemed to knock Whisper out of his daze and he saw Nate giving him a concerned look.

“Are you okay, Whisper?”

Whisper nodded and said,

“Sorry, Nate. I was distracted by something. You look wonderful.”

Nate was just glad that Whisper was okay as he went downstairs to get Jibanyan and head to the festival to meet Katie and the Koma Bros, but if he had been paying closer attention, he would’ve noticed a small tear falling from Whisper’s eyes.

Previous Chapter: https://libraryofrewrita.tumblr.com/post/166091948179/chapter-16-mirapos-dilemma Next Chapter: https://libraryofrewrita.tumblr.com/post/166568610209/chapter-18-the-festival-and-the-extreme-dare

#yo-kai watch #yo-kai watch au #rewrite #au #chapter 17

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tempest-loupnoir · 7 years

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Really long character survey

Tagged by @sirgyrodegearloose I don't know 10 roleplayers to tag, and this is so long I'm not ask anyone to put in the time, hehe. BASICS. FULL NAME : Alexandra Dragora Calandrina NICKNAME : Lexi AGE : 20 BIRTHDAY : ETHNIC GROUP : Pekin duck NATIONALITY : Romanian LANGUAGE / S : English (that’s woefully all the mun is fluent in), French, Romanian SEXUAL ORIENTATION : Demi straight ROMANTIC ORIENTATION : Demi RELATIONSHIP STATUS : dating CLASS : witch. Upper middle in Transylvania but in Calisota, she does not have much, so she lives with her aunt. HOME TOWN / AREA : Marmatia (made up town), Transylvania CURRENT HOME : living with her aunt, Letitia Weyard PROFESSION : Student/witch PHYSICAL. HAIR : black, falls to the middle of her shoulder blades EYES : Blue sclera like any Pekin duck. Violet irises NOSE : Orange beak. It's slightly shorter than Donald Duck's FACE : Uh… round? Covered in feathers? LIPS : See nose COMPLEXION : Pristine white feathers. BLEMISHES : mole on her back that stays hidden under her clothes. SCARS : she has played with fire, fenced with a sword, shot arrows, rode horse back, climbed trees, played with baby dragons and a shape shifting wolf and numerous other creatures as a kid, so she has some faint shiny scars under her feathers. TATTOOS : None. HEIGHT : hm. Scrooge is three feet, so that makes Fenton Crackshell close to four feet? I think of Lexi as being about Fenton/Drake Mallard's height, so she is tall for a female duck but still tiny compared to most other inhabitants in the duckverse. WEIGHT : Scrooge is twenty pounds. Lexi is taller but not as muscular as he is so I guess she would be about twenty pounds too. BUILD : trim FEATURES : Big blue sclera, shiny long hair that usually has a small braid holding it away from her face (thank you, Goku-San for the idea), usualky smiling. ALLERGIES : some mushrooms and flowers like lilies make her sneeze. Some animal saliva makes her break out but she knows how to treat her reactions. USUAL HAIR STYLE : small braid holding hair away from her eyes. Usually down and loose but may be tied back in a pony tail or loose bun. She experiments with different hair styles USUAL FACE LOOK : Curious USUAL CLOTHING : at home, she usually wears like dark gothic dresses or warm sweaters and jeans. In Calisota, she's been wearing sundresses, t-shirts and jeans, and whatever else is available to her from throft shops or hand-me-downs from her aunt. PSYCHOLOGY. FEAR / S : Failure, loss, ridicule ASPIRATION / S: make her parents proud, be someone's hero, find someone who can be her own hero and emotional support, become respected in the wizarding community, create a new signature spell nobody else knows, POSITIVE TRAITS : Generally cheerful and bubbly, inquisitive, independent thinker, kind, creative, motherly NEGATIVE TRAITS : Easily intimidated, can become stubborn and irrational when protecting someone, shuts down mentally or faints when overly stressed, sometimes uses too much energy, makes rash decisions to protect friends MBTI : ISFP Introvert(6%) Sensing(3%) Feeling(59%) Perceiving(22%) (x) ZODIAC : Virgo TEMPERAMENT : Sanguine? Doesn't really describe her well (x) SOUL TYPE / S : Helper, Creator, Spiritualist (x) ANIMALS : penguin? (x) VICE HABIT / S : major sweet tooth, picks at her fingernails when she is nervous, may go without eating if she is too stressed FAITH : Christian GHOSTS ? : Has seen some AFTERLIFE ? : yes REINCARNATION ? : Not without magic ALIENS ? : Yes? POLITICAL ALIGNMENT : totally confused by them. ECONOMIC PREFERENCE : ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ SOCIOPOLITICAL POSITION : Everyone deserves to be treated with basic decency. Beyond that, ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ EDUCATION LEVEL : finished high school. Still in wizarding college FAMILY. FATHER : Azkadell Calandrina MOTHER : Evilene Weyard SIBLINGS : a twin brother in the Negaverse. None in the Darkwing universe EXTENDED FAMILY : too many to list. Magica and Poe De Spell are cousins. Letitia Weyard, Sergei Calandrina, more to be added once they are named. NAME MEANING / S : "defender, protector" HISTORICAL CONNECTION ? : her great great grandmother was one of the weird sisters King MacBeth took advice from FAVOURITES. BOOK : The Shadow Within (Light of Eidon series) MOVIE: Beauty and the Beast 5 SONGS : "End Of The Line" "When You Believe" "Carol of the Bells/Bells of Notre Dame" "Go The Distance" "I Want To Know What Love Is" DEITY : Jehovah HOLIDAY : It was Easter but I think Halloween will become her favorite once she understands it. MONTH : June SEASON : Spring PLACE : Wherever her best friends are WEATHER : partly cloudy and breezy. She loves sunshine but she's sensitive to light and heat. She loves feeling the wind in her feathers. For her, 62 degrees F would probably feel warm. She is learning to appreciate 80 degrees and sunshine. SOUND : epic music, birds in the trees, laughter SCENT / S : Freshly cut grass, conifers, baked goods, the sweet scent of her wolf's fur TASTE / S : Fresh fruit, anything sweet or salty and savory FEEL / S : (I'm not sure I understand this one). Um...the silky texture of her hair as she plays with it ANIMAL / S : canines, gryphons, otters, NUMBER : 7 COLOUR : purple EXTRA. TALENTS : She's an empath. She physically feels the emotional and even physical pain of others, to the point that she can become incapacitated by the stress. She also can get glimpses of a person's personality by touching them and connecting with them telepathically. Rarely she will get a brief, blurry glimpse of the future, but she never knows the time frame for that occurrence. She can turn any object to flowers, or set it on fire. She can teleport objects and ride a broom (badly as she does not have a good sense of balance). She's studied hard to learn how to heal wounds and illnesses. BAD AT : Dancing, gullible, naïve, easily distracted, ignoring her empathy to focus on solving problems, time management, hiding her emotions, lying, TURN ONS : Not getting into that here. TURN OFFS : Not getting into this either. HOBBIES : equestrian, archery, playing with animals, flying around on her broom, dabbling in arts and crafts. TROPES : Morality Pet, Action Girlfriend/borderline Protective Girlfriend, borderline She Loves You and Everyone (she has limits. Some villains are unlovable, as she found out the hard way), Magical Girl AESTHETIC TAGS : purple, blue, wolves, starry nights, frozen north, California dreaming, goth, witch, DuckTales, Darkwing Duck, Magica DeSpell, Morgana Macawber, empath, GPOY QUOTES : what is GPOY? FC INFO. MAIN FC / S : I don't know what any of this means? ALT FC / S : ? OLDER FC / S : ? YOUNGER FC / S : ? VOICE CLAIM / S : Liz Callaway perhaps? GENDERBENT FC / S : Don’t have one MUN QUESTIONS. Q1 : If you could write your character your way in their own movie , what would it be called , what style would it be filmed in , and what would it be about ? A1 : As much as I'd love to toss her into the DuckTales universe, I think most of the main cast would be wary of her. She does look a little like their adversary Magica De Spell, and magic can cause even more problems than it solves. She would be fun to pit against Gizmoduck, as she'd spend most of her time trying to fix his blunders and protect him from real threats while he is giving his speeches about justice. I think her current storyline (young woman leaves oppressive home environment in pursuit of self discovery and happiness and makes friends and enemies in her new foreign environment) is pretty much the type of movie I would put her in. A cross between the aesthetics and look of Tangled, with the adventures from Aladdin the series would be ideal for Lexi. Q2 : What would their soundtrack / score sound like ? A2 : Lots of moody piano and strings, with deep drumming. Sort of like the Legend of Zelda or Eragon soundtrack, but with some light hearted, playful riffs like Tuomas Holopanien included in "Duel & Cloudscapes" in the album "Music Inspired by The Life and Times of Scrooge" Q3 : Why did you start writing this character ? A3 : I created her with the help of a friend on Skype back in 2013. Originally she was going to be an immediate relative of Magica DeSpell, but once I found out Magica has nieces and cousins like Minima and Matilda, I revamped Lexi. My friend Sasha came up with the nickname "Lexi" since it sounds playful and can be a pun on Hex. Q4 : What first attracted you to this character ? A4 : I love her personality. She's bubbly, optimist, and genuinely caring about both people and animals, and that is someone I would love to be friends with in real life. She's confident and motivated enough to teleport to her friends' side and fight their battles with them, but humble enough that she would never dream of seeking glory and fame. Q5 : Describe the biggest thing you dislike about your muse. A5 : She cares too much and has too little self confidence. She lets her parents' opinions of her and other people weigh her down, and make her feel weak and useless. Good grief! Q6 : What do you have in common with your muse ? A6 : Empathy and low self esteem. She is basically a super powered, much more motivated and outgoing, smarter, more optimistic version of me. Her roller coaster emotions come from me and so do many of her personal interests. Like I said before, I'd love to be best friends with her in real life, but I think my habits, silence, and negative feelings would adversely affect her and she would have a hard time being around me. Q7 : How does your muse feel about you ? A7 : She would probably be torn between wanting to kick my keister and hug and comfort me most of the time. Q8 : What characters does your muse have interesting interactions with ? A8 : Offline, Lexi has become friends with Darkwing Duck, Launchpad McQuack, Bushroot, @freddiebuckster 's character Harmonizer, my OC Agent Carol Torres, another friend's SHUSH Agent and pilot OC plus that pilot's Negaverse version, Negaduck, Magica and Poe De Spell, etc. I think one of my favorite odd interactions was with an older, frail Negaduck who no longer felt the need to murder or steal. He was just a cranky, achey old duck who had never known friendship or kindness. Lexi was very motherly with him, tending to his injuries, and providing him with clothes and food before taking him back to her friends. She has a similar motherly relationship with Bushroot, providing him with an enchanted charm that gives him back his original human appearance for a few hours at a time. Online, she is still developing her friendships and relationships. She has a very sweet relationship with her boyfriend, and his friends. She tries to prevent him from making mistakes and she tries to fix things when he does mess up, but she finds his cheerfulness and reckless bravery so endearing that she can't help wanting to be around him. He helps her recharge and relax when she's overwhelmed by stress from school studies or from empathizing too long. They care about and rejuvenate each other. Q9 : What gives you inspiration to write your muse ? A9 : Listening to movie and game soundtracks, and reading over past roleplays. I also have a list of roleplay ideas I'd like to do with her. She's one of my main muses so it is usually pretty easy to step into her character. Q10 : How long did this take you to complete ? A10 : About four hours (spread out over two days.)

#lupineleigh's oc #Lexi Calandrina #character profile #character survey

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quonit-aceattorney · 6 years

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1-5 Reaction

Rules:

Q = Me, Quonit.

BF = Bardic Feline, the friend that made me spend 30 dollars on the game and whom I am messaging

I don’t use those when I send the messages close enough my username doesn’t appear.

Any typos (unless they are funny and part of the conversation) will be fixed.

Index

—

Q: I'm doing the next one sorry for all of the messages

wow what was even that opening

what girl?

febuary 2017. I remember this month well.

Q: Who's this girl?

hey she looks like an adult! Second girl without her main feature being boobs :D

no mai is dead I took her spot though, she was in the tutorial level.

:D yay am I better

YES INDEED

yes phoenix please I like this girl a lot

i didn't know my name could also come with one m!!! My name is Emma, I had no idea people could also be named Ema with one m

aww so she isn't an adult I still like her though

phoenix please she's only like 10 years younger than you

BF: Hahahaha yeah, Ema is the Maya stand in for this case

BF: She returns for the fourth game, which takes place 7 years after the third game

BF: Still not very busty, even in her mid twenties haha

Q: :O Interesting!

I like Ema.

Q: What age of people did they think were gonna play this game? If kids then why does it seem they talk down to them so much?

I'll get back to playing

Q: oh so that beginning scene actually meant something

She's know Mia because she was kinda well known

okay why is she bad

how did she even get in teh office in the first place?

hahahaha no im not trading my badge for 50$

what do you mean ''yet''

Q: I LIKE LANA

HER OUTFIT IS GREAT

Q: it's obviously a coincidence that the two siblings are so alike, but if it motivates you then sure I wanna get to the second game

Q: you're telling it from the witness' perspective Lana. Do you remember what happened? What was your motivation?

Q: hi cowboy detective please don't kick me out

what

I AIN'T SCARED OF NO GUN LET ME EXAMINE

Q: why are we having this stepladder conversation again

Q: this office looks like Edgeworth

Q: maybe you wouldn't be low on money if you did your job

Q: five thousand???

MAN edgy must be rich!

BF: The stepladder debate is one of the running gags of the series haha

Q: interesting!

Q: that and Phoenix (and later Apollo and Athena) presenting his badge every chance he gets, and cross-examining non-human witnesses

Q: yaaaaay I liked cross-examining the parrot.

I still can't believe they let me do that

Q: wait a second the bundle doesn't come with the fourth game just the first 3

oh well it's still a lot

Q: examining the examined. This could be useful.

Q: yeah, no, just the original trilogy

Q: alright, makes sense. Are they still making games for it?

BF: the fourth game came out well after the original trilogy ended, and it only JUST got an updated port to iOS and the 3DS e shop

Q: great an adult woman with a main feature being boobs. I liked the other ones more.

ah, alright. how good/bad is the anime I'm curious

BF: and yes! in the main series, there are six games total...five and six only came out in digital form for the US, no physical release

don't focus so much on the boobs, it's just drive you crazy

and Angel really isn't THAT busty, she's just got a bust emphasizing outfit

Q: huh, alright. If I feel like it maybe I could get them.

fine. I'm not eating whatever she just handed to me though, she doesn't seem very trustworthy true I guess, not really as bad.

BF: she very much does that on purpose to put you off your guard, btw

she's not EVIL

but she's smart as hell, and she's not necessarily on your side right now.

Q: oh so it's intentional, alright that's more forgiving than the developers just wanted another boob-joke.

Q: angle please we're looking for evidence please stop freaking out Ema

Q: yaaaay edgy! I knew this was your office!

BF: hahaha yep

his office is as frilly as he is

Q: "this office looks like edgeworth"

why is there a dead body in your car that car looks too dirty to be yours it isn't even purple

BF: oh and to answer one of your comments from last night when I was asleep...Phoenix/Edgeworth is an overwhelmingly popular ship, to the point where it can become a bit annoying if you ship either of them with anyone else.

or if you like any of the rarer pairings, period hahah

Q: edgy we know you didn't do it I'm on your side and always will be

except when you're not on my side

With how his dialogue was set up in that chapter I am not surprised how much of the fandom ships it.

Q: Phoenix that was a very cruel joke, remember the case two months ago? Very cruel.

Q: gumshoe isn't dead lol must be mia's fualt he randomly appeared in my head, same with maya

Q: ya why do random flashes of random people keep appearing

how do i investigate this

BF: hah...if it's the bit I think it is, that's just Phoenix connecting him to the INCREDIBLY NEAT AND CLEAN OFFICE

BF: which Gumshoe totally takes times out of his day to keep tidy because that's just the kind of stuff he would do for Mr. Edgeworth, pal!

Q: Well I bet the lunchlady and edgeworth and I'm investigating while edge is in his office.

possibly but phoenix actually commented on "why did i just have ___ randomly appear in my head". whatever I'll keep looking

I guess!

BF: gumshoe just a big old loyal puppy who loves Edgey

lol no that's the reason hahah

Q: gumshoe!!

still needs a better name

Q: I need to copy paste my reaction in a place I'll be able to easily get to later because this will probably be very valuable to me later on.

(Edit: Fuck me for making me do this)

Q: edgy tell me what the trophy thing is

no mumbling

edgy you did good why are you being so defensive over the shield

Q: well the fact it's broken could be important so please tell us

Q: oh ya! I can examine the examined now :D

Q: well 5:12 and 5:15 are very close to each other so this is important that they are so precise

who's this cartoony cop!!! he doesn't look like he's drawn in the same style as everyone else in the game!

Q: noooo i want the report

Q: Edgeworth in the Wild: A Documentary

Q: YABADABADOO

Ema why

Q: huh, so apparently phoenix doesn't just teleport? man that must be so annoying when I don't know where I'm going for them

Q: blue badger looks like a pokemon that is why he seems familiar

Q: yaaay i found gumshoe

ema knows too much poor edgeworth indeed, I hope soon he can get a break

dance till you die

Q: "they make a good pair" so I guess this game isn't against gays, cool.

Q: well i mean the letter probably will get us somewhere if this game is going to progress

Q: oh so is Angel dating Marshal? What a turn of events

yaaaay i can get in now

...I just realized I can use headphones on a DS... Interesting....

Q: the music hahaha. Marshal theme song

Q: don't think too hard on cannibalism and you'll be fine

Q: Marshal is fun

BF: hee hee yeah, I like him.

Q: "well if phoenix showing his badge to everyone is a running joke guess I better help with that by showing it to everyone".

This case is pretty fun so far, not even a single irritating thing yet

BF: LIke Ema and Lana, Jake Marshall is actually deliberately made to be sort of a nod to another pre-existing character haha.

BF: and yeah, Rise from the Ashes is a good case! I remember finding some of the trial segments to be tricky, but overall, it's solid

tQ: "Noe to self: when finding evidence, think of Texas"

who is this pre-existing character?

BF: and it makes good use of the new mechanics that were introduced for the DS

Q: it does!

BF: you won't meet him until the third game haha

but yeah...Ema and Lana are clearly meant to be nods to Maya and Mia

BF: Jake, less obviously, is sort of a nod to Godot

Q: and thankfully this gets Phoenix motivated again

godot... who's that? I should probably know

BF: Godot plays a MAJOR part in the third game, you'll know him the second you see him.

He...stands out.

to put it mildly.

Q: can't wait to meet him

when will the Y guy (shack guy DL-6) appear again he's already pretty interesting that's probably spoilers

BF: Yanni Yogi? He only appears in that case, sadly.

though there's a background reference to him in one of the spinoff games.

BF: He's one of Zarla's faves

Q: I assumed... he seems pretty interesting, sad he had to leave so soon. As you saw I was REALLY shocked when a character zarla drew appeared that I didn't even know would be in the game... sad to see him leave so soon.

Q: forgot to talk with Marshall, maybe I can progress through this

oh yay the autopsy report

Q: tell me about yourself marshall, how long has your cowboy career been going on?

why would you kick out gumshoe!!!

D: I don't know if I should break the news to him or not

Q: well that isn't even an option so

the detention center doesn't even update ever

Q: uuuhhhhgggg I hate being stuck like this where can I goooo

Q: still stuck >:( It's been almost an hour

quonit

just let me gooooo

03/24/2018 (Two days later)

Q: FINALLY I DID SOMETHING there was a note in the trunk but it seemed to have done nothing... don't even know if the two people I can talk to would react to it.

as i suspected it did nothing >:(

I think the phone is the key but the only thing it will let me examine is the trap!!!

03/24/2018

Q: I asked my brother to help and he FINALLY HELPED

He found another scroll bar on the examination thing that I never noticed and found it :D

Q: no cowboy pls i really worked hard to get this far

Q: phoenix has a phone? how come we can never use it?

...what do i do with the phone?

how did my brother turn it

= and -... where are those buttons?

Q: going to my brother

Q: why not press the button again???

Q: where do i gooo

Q: i give up I need to draw

BF: hahaaha

BF: aaaah sorry I've been busy unpacking boxes

I wouldn't have even thought to tell you about those double screen investigation rooms!

there are like...at least two of those in this case.

the car park area and the evidence room

Oh, and because this took me FOREVER to figure out when I played it the first time: when you dust for finger prints, you blow the powder away by blowing into the mic on the DS

Q: I don't expect anybody to be on while I send messages. Do not worry, I do not expect responses immediately. Also packing boxes??? did you move :O

double screen investigation rooms? tell me more. If you mean ones where you have to move the screen I did do that a lot... and yet I still can't find much. I finally got the phone in my inventory and tried to check the last call but it still won't do anything THANK YOU FOR TELLING ME THAT IN ADVANCE I GARENTEE I WOULD'VE GOTTEN STUCK

Q: Where I am si that I think I have all of the items in my inventory. A full page and then the phone on the next... am I missing something? I heard that Ema is supposed to tell me that I have everything I need

BF: aaah if you are in the car park, one place you need to check is the muffler of the car

Q: muffler? I got the paper that was in the back, I'll examine the car more I guess

BF: and yeah, the game usually gives you some hint when you've found all the things

BF: I forget if you can get it now or not, but there's some cloth shoved into the tailpipe of the car

Q: dont' think i can thanks though

I'll tell you what I have in my inventory and you tell me what I'm missing for the first part

Q:badge, id card, knife, shield trophy thing, parking stub, blue badge pannel, goddman's autopsy report, note from the back of the car, and cell phone

BF: hmmm....and you've shown absolutely everything to everyone and poked at everything on every available screen?

Q: yeeeesssss

:( I'll try again

BF: (oh and to answer your earlier question, yes, I did move into my house today)

Q: yaaaaay

shouldn't there be a wiki or something for this that says what to do

BF: if you are absolutely stuck, I'd look up the Games FAQ walktrough

Q: :(

why does this game make me so stuck all of the time

BF: https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/ds/925589-phoenix-wright-ace-attorney/faqs/44304 here, this one is spoiler free, you just gotta get down to the right case

Q: :D thank youuuu

Q: :O HEY IT WORKED

HOW DID I NOT NOTICED THIS

Q: Lana why are you not on edgy's side

Q: of course you don't know everything going on here phoenix, if you did we would win but right now we don't win

this game but we know everything beforehand

Don't believe your client, just believe in them. got it.

Q: oh ya angle exists i forgot about her

BF: haha FIGURING OUT WHY LANA IS DOING WHAT SHE'S DOING IS A BIG PART OF THIS CASE

Q: BACK

I had to trim the grass in the front yard. We got an actual letter saying that we needed to so that was odd. It's done now though

angel will never stop talking, and Edge doesn't seem as annoyed as some of the others. huh.

oh my god judge can't you be a little more professional ARE YOU EVEN ALLOWED TO EAT RIGHT NOW

Q: you decline every offer phoenix until an impossible one pops up. Phoenix why

Q: If you hate prosecutors so much then maybe you could help me

please I'm begging

Q: wait you have more then one boyfriend

did i hear that wrong

ugh so she does

"care to join" If that is what I have to do to get information out of you!

BF: hahaha

yes, Angel and her many boyfriends

Q: Ema's notes are funny

BF: this boyfriend, that boyfriend, the other boyfriend

you know, as you do

Q: "the yet another boyfriend is still open"

I'd like to know who is who

Q: wait isn't B block for defense attorneys not visitors?

Q: how she names them reminds me of the chicken 'mine'

"That's mine, that one's also mine, that's another one of mine, that one is yours, and that one is not yours." we actually considered naming our chickens that haha

Q: Ema is learning my table-slamming technique.

Q: "my boyfriend worked in the photography division" WHICH boyfriend?

Q: "Prosecutors are, by nature, well-versed in the location of a man's vital organs" I already had to prove with twice Edgy did NOT murder anybody!

yes phoenix kill the egg

Q: okay so i learnt as much as I could while pressing, and there seems nothing wrong... I need to find the objection item

Q: THE LEFT-RIGHT HAND TRICK

ALWAYS WORKS

Q: EDGEWORTH

HOW COULD YOU SILENTLY SAY OBJECTION YOU HAVE BERTAYED ME

ALWAYS OBJECT

Q: of course it was planned! We already established whoever the killer is planned to do it in edgeworth's car

Q: "mommy, are prosecutors bad people?" hahaha oh my god

yes lets tell the audience how to commit murder

edgy that pun was terrible and you know it

Q: Ema what is that note

you can't smell his breath from over here what

I do have an objection!

Q: I'd like to know how she got into the food business

Ema you're on MY side

Q: remember?

Q: it's so rare when the thing I immediately think of and object with actually works and the characters see what i see

Edgy you look like you're on my side

Q: Ema do you hate me

Q: The person that seems most on my side in this case is f***ing edgeworth and he is actually the one pitted against me so you're all failures.

Q: >:(

I got so stuck at this part and had to retry a few times and I finally gave up and went to the tutorial and that isn't helping

FLOOR PLANS WHY DON'T YOU WORK

Q: :(

Q: Why can't I just gooooo none of the evidence I have works at all

Q: I PROGRESSED AND I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT I PRESSED

UHHHH

Q: OHMYGOD THE FLOOR PLANS FINALLY WORKED

WHAT CHANGED

Q: she'd lie because as I said she has a grudge

Q: five minuets???

wow that's a long time

Q: if you have evidence please tell me

how was this judge hired

WHY THE SHOE WHY DO YOU HAVE HIS SHOE

what is this blood type it could also be common

Q: why does edgy continue to seem like he is on my side lol

Q: that brings in the question: how many lunches do you actually have in there

Q: if it does how come she was blee- oh ya the hand injury

Q: ohhh to wash away the bloood okaaaay

now to defeat you edgy

Q: Okay so more then one photo, I NEED MORE PHOTOS.

Q: Mia thank youuuuu

oooo the fun music started playing, im onto something

Q: "Yeah! (I'll think later" is the best line in the game

IT SUMS UP THE THOUGHT PROCESS WHEN I PLAY THE GAME

Q: Salmon swimming upstream in a river of quicksand

ya sounds like Phoenix

Q: the muffler in the muffler

Bad feeling about following advice given to you by Marshell??? What a silly thought!

Is something wrong edgy? why are you so upset?

what is bothing you Eedgy pls tell me

OH MY GOD ANOTHER SUPRISE CHARACTER HOW HOW IS HE IN ACE ATTOURNY WHAT ??????????????????????????????????????????????????

is he just gonna stand there or...?

Q: Udgey... that's a new one

afriad indeed, terrified I might say.

Wrighto... also new

Q: when i send my live reaction to the game should i have more context to what is going on

Q: rereading it i think i should

Q: I've been taking more pictures of art I wanna send you but it still isn't doing anything

Q: Alright so i opened the Ace Attorney save file and I have no idea where i am. I'm pretty sure this is right after the first trial

tiny village... where am i and why

i think this isn't my file??

BF: I was about to say...

Q: ruinion and turnabout?

what? something is wrong

BF: if you are in a tiny village, the only one I know of is Kurain. and you don't go there the first time until 2-2

yeah, you are in game 2 there

that's Maya's village.

Q: we fixed it!

My brother wanted to play and he mistook the game two save files as extra save files and he just decided "fuck it im not waiting for her to finish" and just started playing through

interesting :o

OH YA WE'RE TALKING WIT THIS GUY :D

swimming? why that specifically?

little worthy? is that a name?

DISTRICT OF THE POLICE UH NO I DON'T KNOW THIS GUY

aww so if he's number one he probably won't be on my side :(

damon gant, I like this guy

OH YA I forgot about edgeworth! Worthy haha didn't think of that nickname yet. I'll add it to the list. He must be very scared of this man

BF: hahah yesss Gant is great.

Q: so a muffler is a scarf? is that just another name for a scarf or is it a type of scarf?

he just keeps standing there and blinking

edgy back on this feet, finally stopped just sitting there silently in what I'm assuming is anger and fear

BF: it's a type of scarf. I can't tell you what exactly makes a muffler a muffler though. they just wanted to use the pun, though, I think

aaah the Gant stare.

Q: they seem to love naming puns, not just the people's names now.

"That's not fair!" There are a lot of things that aren't fair in this world, edgy.

Q: A WRITTEN APOLOGY

That kid from earlier in the audience: mommy is this how trials usually go? Mom: no. I am not even sure what is going on.

BF: hahah trust me, the pun names get more intense with each game.

Q: I feel bad for edgy haha

I can't wait

oh my god SOMEBODY JUST OPEN THE KNIFE

Q: THEY ADDED A CLAPPING SOUND FOR HIM

I DID NOT EXPECT THIS

Q: ...the note may have something to do with this

but along with everything else i think of in this game it's probably wrong

nah okay

Q: time to look through my items another 20 minuets and hope the character see what I see

Q: when in doubt press on everything

Q: good job ema! I'll examine the knife!

Q: SL-2... something similar that wasn't a tag. again was it the note

OH MY GOD IT WAS THE NOTE

Me and gant both love 'objection'. I'm still mad at Edgy for that. I will hold it against him forever.

BF: hahaha NEVER FORGIVE YOU EDGEWORTH

BF: you and your habit of updating the autopsy report

Q: "Do you have evidence?"

"yes! (I'll think later)" is still the best line in the entire game

a habit of mine? is that not something everybody does?

I feel so honored being told "I win, Wrighto!"

BF: heh

Q: :D He'll tell me about the knife now!!!

Q: I only get to hear bout one thing.... better choose wisely.

Where the victem was found could help, seems like it could work How the victim was killed could be a little more risky but all of these are pretty good When the victim died... it could also be 5:15, and I could find a way to show it was planned... but I'm not sure

there probably wont be any consequences though

I'll roll my di

Q: it's 1 so i guess we're going with that

Q: didn't we GO to the evidence room?

Gant: :long stare: Gant: You two make a great pair! I swear this is intentional. It's not even just that chapter.

Gant: hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Gant: :long stare: Gant: Sure why not! well alright then! I'm learning about it unofficially :D This is already very casual so why not

Q: why is the victims gender there

that is unimportant WE WANT TO KNOW ABOUT HE MURDER

Q: Gumshoe won't die Phoenix he was in the credits!

Q: alright now not only is edgeworth being called worthy he's being called little worthy

do these two know eachother???

Q: that id is the same as the one we have here >:O

Q: :D the fun music is playing

Q: EDGY REMEMBER WHEN HE SAID HE COULDN'T TELL YOU WERE THE CORPS WAS FOUND

IT'S ALL ON YOU EDGY IT'S ALL ON YOU.

Q:EDGY WHY DID YOU JUST SHOO OFF MEEKENS

IT'S STILL ALL ON YOU BUT MUCH MORE DIRECTLY YOU THIS TIME

Q: oh my god NOW WE'RE DOING NICKNAME PUNS

Q: hehehe FINALLY Edgy looks like the fool instead of me :D

Q: What i think happened is that they were killed, and their body was dragged through the back of their care, and brought here

oh boy angel's back

Q: Oh my god ANOTHER CASE

WE ALREADY DID DL-6 UGH THIS MUST AT LEAST HAVE AN INTERESTING STORY

Q: What I think happened: somebody killed the detective, put the body in the back of edgy's car, Edgy drove back to where he should, left, later the girl opened the back. something about her stabbing him.

Q: no that doesn't fit

screw this case

Q: oh no I'm defending Meekens now too???

Meekens just looks a lot more cartoony then everything else

Q: why did they let him bring a megaphone

Q: oh so goodman's the villain.

BF: uhhhh...nooot exactly, no

Q: i learnt that quickly

I found gant again! he has his own theme song. Sounds like a king.

Q: Honestly I still feel bad for Edgeworth, hope he gets out of this.

Q: uhhhggggg I just got stuck i really wanna figure this out fast instead of wandering around forever. Not sure if it's just with me or if this game just needs better... instructions maybe?

Q: In court when your stuck press everything. In over world when stuck talk to everyone again, present every piece of evidence again, and examine everything again. Then still find yourself stuck.

BF: this case is one of the worst for that sort of thing, I'll admit. I've played it multiple times and there are still places where I forget how to proceed

Q: I don't like using the tutorial at all but I've had to use it twice to proceed, at least I have that. When this game came out people would just be stuck and never get to f***ing leave, and when they did they would be like "THAT WAS IT THE WHOLE TIME I MUST BE DUMB". Are the later games better at this?

Gant: If somebody just walked up to me and asked for 50$, i'd give them 50$! in that case can i have 50$

Q: You know I want to get to the evidence room but why not let's just sit here and talk with Marshell for another 6 hours

Q: I can finally go the the evidence room yaaaay

Q: See, Gumshoe's got the right idea on those 50$

BF: it varies by case, I'm not going to lie!

Game 2 has some added trickiness because it introduces a new mechanic during investigation mode.

said method is a touch more refined in the third game.

Q: in your opinion what is the best game (random question)

general stuff happens, i didn't comment on it

Q: I'm sorry, the game wants me to go to the secret room, do all these things, get no sign that I found then all, and then go to edgeworth's office???

HOW ARE WE SUPPOSED TO FIGURE THAT OUT

Q: fine a little bit of a clue but this case really wants players to get stuck

Q: OH MY GOD WHY IS THE BELLBOY HERE DOESN'T HE WORK SOMEWHERE ELSE

Q: hahahaha I can see how you got stuck when the game told you the blow, It did NOT specify in the mic.

Q: non bloody prints???

I can't choose any of the fingers and all 5 are bloody! what do you want me to do im stuck on this sceen

Q: my brother helped :D

BF: heh

BF: Um...my favorite...well, tough to say. Obviously, I'm particularly stuck on game 2, though on retrospect game 4 is pretty fascinating (both for what it is and what it could have been)

BF: Generally speaking, most people agree that game 3 is the best of the original trilogy, though (game 2 isn't hated, but it has this ONE CASE that is near universally hated)

BF: Of the spinoffs, I'm personally partial to the second Ace Investigations, though that one you can only play in English via a fanpatch

I'm still playing game 6, so I don't know how I'd rank that one just yet

and there are two spin off titles that I have no way of playing in English at all right now, which is frustrating. No idea where I'd rank either of them. but the animation for those is PRETTY.

BF: Oh, but if you get a chance, one game I strongly recommend that was created by the original creator of Ace Attorney that isn't an Ace Attorney game (though it is allegedly set in the same universe) is a game called Ghost Trick.

Q: Interesting! I'll be sure to check out ghost trick. I wonder if I'll be able to tell what the hated case in 2 is when I get to it...

BF: hahah I'm willing to bet you'll figure it out. I personally liked the case, but it has some issues for sure

Q: alright. I was gonna start playing again if you still want me to send you the endless messages that give you no context to where i am or what im reacting to

BF: AMONG said issues is that it does what no other case had ever done before it, and it has a couple of cross examinations where you can get frigging penalized for a bad PRESS

Q: oh no D:

BF: It warns you when you get to it, but it's still really annoying

taking away my ability to badger the witness without repercussion!

but yeah no, feel free to ramble, I'm just here working and rewatching episodes of the Maxx

Q: >:(

I saw a post and thought of the judge from this game. "The judge could sentence you guilty for murder wearing hello kitty pajamas under their robe and you would never know” yaaaay

Q: About to go to the court thing. FINALLY lana is back it's been a while >:(

Q: oh yay lana gets to be a witness

nvm im a moron the cartoon guy i forgot his name gets to be

MEEKENS YOU'RE NOT THE KILLER

THAT IS NOT AN OCCUPATION RIGHT

Q: there seems to be a lot of talking down to kids in this game :(

Q: why do people let him bring his megaphone

same answer with the kid and his sword

Q: i mean i like the blue badger

Q: bet the tape won't help much

HEY ITS ANIMATED

well hey it was a little helpful

Edge: :slams hand on desk: What the hell was that wriggling piece of plywood!?

my new second favorite line

Q: the problems was he was wearing gloves

probably not that's what first comes to mind though

Q: or the light was already on

Q: gloves were rubber? how did i not notice that

Q: why would he need the gloves in there if he was goodman

Q: he could've stolen the card

who is the 777... card at the top

Q: WHY IS THE KID STILL IN THE AUDIENCE

WHY TO PARENTS TAKE THEIR KIDS TO MURDER TRIALS I'D LIKE TO SPEAK WITH THIS CHILD AND EXPLAIN TO THEM THAT MAYBE YOU SHOULD'VE ACTUALLY WENT TO THE TRIAL WHERE I DEFENDED EDGEWORTH IF YOU STILL THINK HE'S SO BAD

Q: :D I think edge just complimented me, it's probably going to turn into an insult though so ill just enjoy it while i can

Q: fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuck youuuuuuuuu

Q: the fake killed goodman not lana

no that wouldn't work dammit screw you

Q: HEY GUMMY HOW ARE YOU

NO GUMMY STAY

HEYHEYHEYHEY HEY WHAT

awww lana's finally being useful

Q: Ema don't run it's just a serial killer

Gummy why >:(

saaave pooiiinnt

oh my god Marshell i forgot his personality

Q: please provide me with a reasonable explanation why there were bloody handprints of yours in the evidence room (and no ID saying you signed in but i think i just missed something on that)

Q: somebody actually messes up in grammer in court and one of them yells objection but its about the grammer and they keep fighting about i

Q: edgy don't worry just let me get to my menu my lack of experience means nothing

wait is he giving me advice? is he being nice???

Q: noooo just let him beeee

or not his reasoning was okay though

Q: At first i was sad to find out it was his brother now im just thinking COWBOY PROSECUTOR THAT WOULD BE FUN

Q: what do you think happened to your brother jake

Q: MY DEFENDANT DID NOT KILL HIM AND YOU KNOW IT

YOU JUST DON'T ACKNOWLEDGE IT FOR MONEY

you know i could put that anywhere in almost any case and it could still work (with a pronoun swap but aside from that)

Q: ARRRRRGGHHHHHH

Q: OH MY GOD I FORGOT ABOUT YOU

YOU DO GET THIS IS PROBABLY ILLEGAL RIGHT

Q: edgy is being very nice to her yay

I MEAN EMA YOUR NOT USELESS YOU STOPPED HIM FROM GIVING THE VERDICT TWICE

THAT WAS SOMETHING NOT EVEN MIA COULD DO HE GAVE THE VERDICT AND I BEAT HIM ANYWAYS THOUGH SO :/

Edgy is used to me making claims with the idea "I'll think about it later" in mind of course hes going to scoff at everything i say

I PROBABLY WOULD

YA THREE WHILE PAGES OF EVIDENCE THAT'S A LOT

Q: hey hey jake's back i was wondering where he went

Q: "Just one moment! I will not let such far-fetched balderdash in my court room"

HAHA VERY FUNNY JUDGE. AS IF THIS IS THE MOST FAR FETCHED THING YOU'VE SEEN HERE.

YAAAY PHOENIX GOOD JOB

Q: why is everybody immediately blaming edgy again I already defended him from two murders WHEN A VERDICT WAS ALREADY GIVEN

Q: stop being so mean to edgy

Q: hi lana please help me

ocassionally what what i didn't understand what they said i need to know

awww how dare you now your going to get all three of us in trouble

Q: that kid in the audience actually as an adult took the weirdest trials hes been to and put his own characters in it and made it into a game

oh my god the noise of the crowed is so terrifying because it's on repeat i need to turn the sound off

Q: saaave

Q: good think ema isn't dead

Q: Ema it’s not yours its your sisters putting blame on yourself just leads to depression okay

Q: to lana. MAYBE SHE'LL FINALLY BE USEFUL

YAAAAY

Q: Deal with the devil as a minor so that when your older he doesn't have a legal claim to your soul.

that's unrelated and unhelpful but

Q: now to show you every single piece of f***ing evidence

Q: or not

HI MARSHELL

Q: do do do

do do ddoo dodo doo dodo do doooo ddo do dooo dooo doDOdodoooo

(Edit: do do doooo

do doooo

(now go reread it from the top with those last two as the start) )

Q: no marshel come baaaaaack

noooooo

Q: I just wanna get to 2-4

quonit

Things are going well!

HE STARTED LUAGHING IM SCARED

LHIS LAUGHING IS TERRIFYING

Q: :D Thank you Jake!

Q: Well gant does make a good point

Also about you paying my rent Edgy

Q: I wonder if there are anymore choices or it it's just dialogue.

did I win??

Lana smiled at me :D

"stop it mah you're embaressing meeee" is how this dialogue feels like

Q: yaaaaay I win

Q: awww ema I she'll say she's proud of you too

Gummy you keep doing this

bring him back

Lana :D

Q: Maya will be very proud of me when she comes back

awww hugs!!!

wait edgy was hiding why is he angry

aww ty

Is Lana making you scared I'm pretty sure she was your boss at some point or something I forgot at this point

Q: oh nooo Gant make Edgy scared of who he might be in 10 years. Somebody teach him not to do that.

Q: Aww thanks Lana

the difference between you gant and vampire is that you have friends doesn't that makes you feel better

Q: bye edgyyyy

Edgeworth you keep saying that and it's wrong every time >:( please stop breaking promises

what a storybook ending

OH HI GUMMY

couldn't you make edgy do it instead i don't have money

BF: Did you notice you could do fingerprint powder on the bottom screen during the credits?

Q: ya! Can i blow it too?

BF: Make bonus images appear haha

Yep!

Q: :D

After this i need to sleep this is fun though!

time for game two :D

Q: will blue badger get to stay though is my question

Q: Hey so Angel will be on my side, it will just be in the next game!

Q: I really do think the judge it wearing hello kitty pajamas under that robe

Q: credits done! That was very satisfying :D

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jotawakening-blog · 7 years

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3 Septober, 5A 169: Down, Down to Goblin-Town...

To start with, a few words about the arrangement of Dorgesh-Kaan. The city is built in tiers around a large, ovaloid central cavern that serves as a marketplace. As size goes, it is impressive: its population must be double that of Lumbridge, and perhaps the equal to that of Falador. Though there are no natural light sources, the place is wired up with coils of copper connecting orbs that are induced by some magic to emit a steady glow. (These are dimmed at a time of day that roughly corresponds to night on the surface.) As for the inhabitants, they are almost without exception friendly and rather more cultured than the average commoner of Lumbridge, and while their first encounter with a real live human tends to be jarring, curiosity usually wins out over any anxieties HAM or simple fear of the unknown might have given them.

After a breakfast of giant frog legs (a dish oddly similar to the gnome specialty, albeit missing the spices) I make up my mind to have a walk around the market square and talk with some of the locals. The first ones I run into are two councillors, Ur-Taal and Ur-Zek, who are deep in conversation about Ur-Tag’s ambitions not only to keep the gates of the city open to humans, but also to seek closer relations with the dwarves. Ur-Taal seems to think it’s a rather good idea, yet Ur-Zek has reservations about such radical openness: humans will be difficult enough to deal with, he argues, and adding dwarves to the mix won’t help. Also, dwarves built and delivered the machine that almost drowned the city so very recently! So never mind that they’re not technically surface dwellers, he says, there’s a dangerous precedent being set. I don’t butt in, but it’s clear to me that Ur-Tag will have a fight on his hands to ram through more radical changes to the cave goblin way of life before the shockwaves from the current ones die down.

Just off the market square, dug into the cave wall, is the small, cozy abode of a Dorgeshuun named Oldak, who seems to be a dedicated inventor. So much so, in fact, that two figures I know quite well are there visiting him when I come in! The first is, of course, Zanik, who’s back from another trip to Lumbridge. This time, she brought back some runestones, which it turns out the cave goblins are unfamiliar with. Oldak, having studied them for a bit, has discerned their basic properties and is wondering aloud how rune essence came into existence: what great force could have imbued the essence with its power? That’s a question neither I nor the other visitor has the answer to, sadly. The other visitor is a human, one of the first handful to come through the gates of the city, a human I know well: Ariane! She greets me, and tells me she was in the area when she heard the Council of Dorgesh-Kaan was opening the gates and that she came at once upon hearing the news. We share a few remarks, just between the two of us, about my efforts to complete the Tower of Life and the ethical implications of using its powers to create new life, at which point she leaves for the market, leaving me and Zanik to our chat with Oldak.

Oldak turns out to be a kindly fellow, though rather too keen to lapse into technical detail using terms that are completely unfamiliar to me as a human. He tells me of his initial experiments with the runes Zanik had brought him, and what I gather is that he’s had most luck with the law runes. He did something what most human mages would have thought crazy, mere waste of runes or invitation to magical disaster, and ground the runes into powder. When he threw the dust on the ground, he found he would teleport to random places in the city! With some more experimentation, he was able to perfect the process and eliminate the element of randomness, and now he’s willing to make teleportation orbs for adventurers who provide him with two law runes and some molten glass. Sadly, I’ve got no glass stored up, but I thank Oldak and make a note to come back when I have some.

The next building over, on the level of the market, is the bank, which by the terms of the accord signed yesterday has joined the Bank of Gielinor network. They’re still ironing a few kinks out, but it’s amazing that I can withdraw and deposit stuff in the cave goblin capital as easily as I can in Lumbridge! And however strange it is to think, without my intervention it might not have been possible at all!

In the main square, I speak with some of the locals. Most of the regular folk are either ambivalently curious or appreciative of my deeds, but among the martial types I sense an undercurrent of resentment. Some of the rank-and-file members of the guard seem to blame the opening of the city gates, though the influx of humans has barely even begun, to an increase in crime in the city. Meanwhile, their leader, the captain of the guard, notes warily that the Council has been pressuring him to break a longstanding Dorgeshuun taboo and transform the city police force into a standing army, in response to the threat from the surface. Oh dear— I hope the Dorgeshuun can preserve what makes them great in these turbulent times, but I get the unpleasant feeling there may be more upheavals ahead.

Around the centre of the main square, I run into another council member, Ur-Vass. He seems to be of the pro-openness faction, or at least has nothing to say to me but thanks for my efforts alongside Zanik. Maybe he’s just being polite, though. Anyway, he rushes off and I head to the market, which seems to be the most bustling part of this happening city. Despite all the mining that the Dorgeshuun have set up outside the city gates, the main item on sale here appears to be food: my first encounter with cave goblin cuisine! It is, as one would expect, very reliant on the ingredients that are abundant in the Lumbridge caves, but quite diverse for all that! For instance, there are frog legs, bat kebabs, frog burgers between slices of mushroom, cave slime soup, frogspawn gumbo and wall beast fingers on sale, all in the first few stalls I visit! I buy a sampling of each, for a fine dinner later on.

Besides these foods, the market also offers some local handicrafts, including frog-leather armour not too unlike the kind I had made for me a while back, and lamps. By talking with the lamp merchant, I learn a bit about the lighting system that keeps Dorgesh-Kaan illuminated. The principles on which it operates escape me, but magic is involved, and the lighting orbs are made of glass with a copper filament inside. The technology is not perfectly reliable, though, and occasionally the orbs burn out and need to be replaced. I’m told there’s a wire-making machine somewhere in the city that’s used to make the filament.

Most interesting, though, are the goblins who throng me, asking me to sell them surface foods. I don’t have much on me right now, but I bring out a cabbage and one of my gnome battas and show it to the goblin gourmets. Before I can make a sale, though, the manager of the marketplace refuses to let me trade unless I gain Council authorisation! This, fortunately, turns out to be a mere formality, and Ur-Vass, who happens to be passing by, quickly sets things right. Unfortunately, the prices the goblins offer aren’t very good, but I sell the goods at a discount anyway. It’s only fair, if I get to sample their food, that they should get to sample mine.

After I finish trading, I leave the market, and on my way out run into Zanik again. She’s just come back from the mines, where a really, really big frog was causing trouble until she chased it off. An adventurer’s work never ends, even when one is a cave goblin! Well, she goes off on her business and I continue on, past a delegation of human merchants come to satisfy the goblins’ craving for surface food. They’re an equal mix of Misthalians and Kharidians, and they’re all quite protective of their turf and not very friendly, so after studying them for a short while, I move on.

There are a few side passages into small residential areas, which are mostly empty at this time of day, the residents being mainly out in the common areas and taking care of their business. In one of the dwellings, though, I run into a member of the Council, a female goblin by the name of Ur-Meg. She confesses to me that she is worried about the decision the Council just took. While she’s happy to have us humans visiting the city, she cannot help but worry that the new openness will bring other, unwanted visitors. In a whisper, she tells me who these are: the G-O-D-S… It’s a legitimate worry, as I learned from Zanik not long ago, but fortunately, I have good news for Ur-Meg: the God Wars have been over for over two millennia now, and the gods no longer interfere in mortals’ affairs, at least not overtly. That seems to set Ur-Meg at ease, and she tells me she hopes I’m right about that.

I leave and continue down a side hallway, which terminates at a modestly sized shop that’s filled from floor to ceiling with bones of all shapes and sizes! It’s the sort of place you’d never find on the surface, but that would make a certain elderly guy I know squeal for joy if he knew it existed. The place is owned by a goblin named Barlak, and he’s got a business proposition for me. Specifically, he’s clean out of exceptionally large bones, the kind that make great structural supports, and he’s willing to pay me a decent sum of money if I bring him some, as well as teach me some goblin construction techniques to sweeten the deal even more. In addition, he’s looking for large shells, which can be crafted into useful stuff, and will pay extra for them, as well as give crafting advice, if they’re of sufficient quality. I don’t have any really nice shells or bones to trade right now, but I’ll definitely keep this place in mind!

Since I’ve seen most of what there is to see at ground level, I double back through the market and plaza and head up the grand staircase at the far end of the cavern onto the upper tier. Just at the head of the stairs, I find the large, stately building of the Dorgeshuun Council, and head inside. Nothing is going on inside at the moment, but the opulence of the decor and the large meeting table leave no doubt about its purpose. The only person there at present is the Council scribe, who is using the downtime in his duties to work on what he claims will be the definitive history of Dorgesh-Kaan. In connection with that, he asks me a few questions against the HAM cult, and takes my answers down stoically, even as I’m telling him how the organisation considers him and his countrymen monsters.

In return, he tells me a bit about his work in service of the Council (a body, it turns out, of seven members) and relates to me his research on the city’s history. At first, he relays the information I’d already found out, about how the Dorgeshuun were one of the goblin tribes caught up in the God Wars. He gives me a bit more detail on how the tribe came to live underground, though: apparently, a Dorgeshuun general named Bloodfist was handed orders from the Big High War God that would have meant the destruction of the tribe. Refusing to comply, he marched his army to a fissure in the ground and stood at its mouth, shouting defiance against the gods. The Big High War God, angered, smote the ground around him, killing the general, but also closing the fissure. His lieutenant, Strongaxe, led the tribe into the caves until they found this cavern and founded a settlement in it.

In the early years of the settlement, the scribe continues, the Dorgeshuun were ruled by generals, much like on the surface. A new general would succeed the old when he defeated the old in single combat. The generals were advised by a council of elders, but as generations passed and it became clear that the Dorgeshuun were no longer an army, many of the tribe came to believe that the Council, not the generals, should have supreme authority. The people voted to become a republic, but General Bonehelm refused to give up his hard-won power, and a civil war began. The sides were about evenly matched: while the republicans commanded the support of most of the population, the military had all the best warriors and weapons, including magical equipment brought down from the surface. In the initial fighting, Bonehelm was driven out of the city itself, but established a base nearby. Once his forces had regrouped, the general launched a bloody attack on the city using troops mounted on giant frogs, but was once again repulsed. The war would have continued, except that General Bonehelm, in mining out his base, had compromised the structural integrity of the cavern he’d made it in, and the roof collapsed on his withdrawing army, killing the great majority of them. The Council, secure in its power, took over the governance of the city, and there has been peace among the Dorgeshuun ever since. Hm— there must be something special about the Dorgeshuun, for them not to have had a major war in all this time since then!

I ask the scribe about recent history. He recounts the events I was caught up wth, starting with the accidental tunnelling into Lumbridge Castle in the 29th Century since the goblin city’s founding. His account is mostly accurate, though with a few odd details: he confuses humans with ogres and calls Duke Horacio ‘General’. Still, he fills me in on a few details I didn’t know from the cave goblin perspective: that the decision to open the gates stirred a lot of controversy among the people while it was deliberated, and that it came down to a very narrow 4 - 3 split on the Council. But, in the end, what’s done is done, and history, for better or worse, marches on.

I thank the scribe for his most insightful account and continue my tour by having a walk around the upper tier, which turns out to be a quiet residential area, where the more well-heeled cave goblins seem to live. The only place there that’s significantly busy is a goblin nursery, where the children of the Dorgeshuun are raised collectively. I say hello to the kids; they’re pleasant enough, but pretty shy about strangers, especially a stranger from the surface. I play with them a bit, then move on, back toward the Council hall. There, to my surprise, I run into Zanik again, right by what turns out to be her house! She invites me in, and we talk for a while about what Juna told her, that she is destined to lead all goblins into a new age. ‘All goblins’, Zanik says. ‘Not just the Dorgeshuun.’ She’s puzzled about what it all means, but when she spoke to Juna about it, she just told her that when the time is right, everything will become clear to her. Which, of course, is no help to her right now. I confess myself uncertain as well of the meaning behind Juna’s words, but tell her that should anything happen, I will be on hand to lend her and the Dorgeshuun all the support I can. Zanik thanks me and excuses herself, then takes one of Oldak’s teleportation orbs and vanishes off somewhere, no doubt on her next adventure.

There’s one part of the city I haven’t yet explored, and that’s the industrial area to the south of the marketplace. Though I’m getting tired, I head down there at least to have an initial stroll around. Unlike the other parts of the city, this one is noisy and sooty, even with the excellent ventilation facilities the Dorgeshuun have put in over the centuries. Prominent against one of the walls is the contraption used to spin metal bars into wire. It’s spinning fast and looks quite dangerous: one misstep and it’s likely to rip your fingers clean off. Beside it is the city’s forge, staffed by a goblin whose sole authority it is to keep all the metal items in the city in good repair, and the responsibility of his position is telling on him. I reassure him that it looks to me like everything is working quite properly, then leave the forge and continue my tour of the area. Heading over to the other side of the district, I find a sand-pit that ought to give me everything I need to make molten glass, the essential raw material for Oldak’s teleport orbs! Nearby, finally, are the communal kitchens (it’s probably a ventilation thing, not only a manifestation of the collectivist bent to cave goblin culture), where the food sold on the market is prepared. The smells coming from there make me quite hungry, and I’ve covered basically all of the city today, so I backtrack to the market area for another meal and return to my quarters as the lights are being dimmed to rest for the night.

#runescape #journal #roleplay #dorgeshuun #city

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