#this new intersect is too powerful bruh

[shewasanamericangirl]

due to the slow fansub schedule, i finally got to watch kamen rider zio episode 24 a couple hours ago! aaaand now that posts seem to be working again, i can retype the lengthy rant that i tried to post earlier. i got unnecessarily worked up over this episode, so here’s some of what i got worked up over!

firstoff, my son, my beautiful little king sougo, was totally adorable in this episode. so proud of you for not flunking out of high school.

that dinner near the beginning was weird. shirowoz cooks and arranges flowers for geiz and tsukuyomi now? is he their butler or what? where were they? it looked like a basement...and to top it off, they’re on one side of a long table like the last supper. wish i could’ve gotten a better look at the food.

i loved the whole dream plotline. rento is a precious wonderful man, NOT JUST A MACHINE SOUGO you butt. shout out to marco-kun for correcting him. marco says robot rights!!

the shirowoz and hora interactions were good. i’d be open to reading ship fic of them...

a little disappointed we didn’t get the “oh hey favorite customer, you changed your hair!” line when junichiro saw shirowoz. but oh, what a pure uncle he is. sougo brings in whatever the fuck kind of weird friends and junichiro right away goes to make tea for them. he’s so glad his nephew has pals. but then he comes back, sougo’s asleep and everyone else left but tsukuyomi.

the backstory about sougo and his toy robot broke my heart...i figured sougo’s fixation with being a king one day would probably weird people out...no wonder his uncle is so happy to see him make friends.

...and tsukuyomi up and wants to move out. </3 i really want to know what her deal is! first, she advocated making peace between sougo and geiz. okay...why was that? was it simply out of a desire to avoid unnecessary death? perhaps geiz is important enough to her that she didn’t want him to bear the burden of taking a life? what was it about seeing zi-o ii that changed her mind completely? i don’t get what drives tsukuyomi at all. what does she value most? what was her life like in oma zi-o’s future that would move her to travel back in time with geiz?? she’s a huge missing puzzle piece in all this and it’s driving me nuts.

seeing all three riders henshining together was dope! kinda wished there’d been a tad more buildup to them working together for once, but eh, guess their needs just intersected.

poor uhr, bruh. yeah, he’s a shit, but this arc was so rough on him. i was all “aww” over hora acting concerned about him, but damn, she just wanted to screw over swartz.

that “i’m scared” line from tsukuyomi struck me as a bit weird, and i realized that’s because you don’t see emotions from her too much. i guess she’s just not an expressive person...? so mysterious...

very curious about this new sougo power! it’s rather like deciding the status of schrodinger’s cat...this could be used to create a happier future!

lonely sougo at the end of the fight...that hurt my heart. kurowoz somebody hug him please.

i needed more kurowoz! one one hand, obviously, the universe was not kind enough to give us two keisuke watanabes, but they had no problem filming scenes with multiple sougos in the same shot...remember sougo hugging himself? im just asking for one shot of kurowoz bitch-slapping shirowoz with the twilight chronicle, cmon toei

while tsukuyomi is the big enigma i’m curious about, kurowoz isn’t off the hook either. yeah, he’s clearly motivated by loyalty to oma zi-o, but where’d that come from in the first place?

(woz nodding off in the cold open was so cute, though!)

@ swartz: where did you get that

@ shirowoz: how did you do that

in episode 25 geiz and sougo re-enact ryu and gai’s pond fight from jetman, kurowoz and junichiro have more cute interactions, and most importantly (thanks twitter!) sougo and kurowoz go out for a romantic candlelight dinner and smile at each other a lot. can’t get the subs soon enough man

as always, a big fuck you to @shylax for making me care about spandexmen

[bluepenguinstories]

Happiness Overload Chapter Twenty-Two

It was the in-between period. Intersection of two breaking points. Everyone has them, and I had yet to have mine. But it was my job, and on some days, my passion, to help others manage theirs.

So what was I doing in this in-between? The answer was that I drew a breath and released. Such times were the moments where I lost myself, lost everything. Aware, but absent. The previous interaction, gone. The next, not here yet. Everything was as in the current.

From the outside of my mind, a ringing in my ear; beside the chair where I sat, the table where the phone lie. That familiar tone, breaking my thoughts, digging into my skin just as my nails were.

“Vesuvius, someone is here to see you,” the receptionist's voice droned.

“Peter?” I wondered. That's who was scheduled to see me next, at least that was what my memory suggested.

“No, not Peter. Peter said he wouldn't be making it today. Don't you remember?”

“Right. Of course I do. Well, what of my next appointment?”

“Called in sick. Do you read your emails?”

I scoffed. “Do. I. Read. My. Emails? Of-fucking-course I do!” My words expressed anger, but I remained calm and my voice soothed throughout.

I checked the schedule on the computer. Indeed, I had at least a couple hours of open availability. I rubbed my forehead and felt the folds of the forming wrinkles.

Why didn't I know that already?

“Very well, Lacey,” I told the receptionist. “Let them know I'll be out.”

Out of the whole exchange, I never thought to ask who said person was. Wasn't that something you were supposed to do? Always know who was asking for you. Know who to expect. Did I have an unknown stalker?

I rubbed my forehead again. It would be better just to find out and let things run their course.

Down the halls, to my left, the door opened with a shove and before I saw who it was, I heard the humming of a familiar tune.

“If you're tired and you know it, clap your hands...” I muttered. As I did, I heard two claps and as I looked over, I saw who it was, swaying their legs back and forth.

“Blanc,” my eyes widened. “What...what a surprise. How have you been?”

“Happy!” Blanc grinned.

Not the response I was expecting. Then again, what was I expecting?

“It's so good to see you. Come on in. We can chat in my office.”

Blanc nodded and bounced off their seat. I walked back through the halls, Blanc following behind, humming tunes I didn't know of.

“You know,” I mentioned. “We have been worried sick about you.”

“Oh? Why's that?”

“I mean, we haven't heard from you in months and you just vanished. We didn't know what happened to you.”

Blanc's smile lowered to a grimace.

“I can tell you once we're in,” they chirped. If that was the right word.

Was it that serious?

We entered the room, they closed the door behind them and sat down. I took my seat across, and stared at who I was facing. There were differences, things I hadn't noticed before: longer hair, blonde streaks that offset the jet black. They wore a flannel turtleneck and gloves, probably to hide the metal arm. Or, just for the fun of it.

“So, what's been going on with you lately?” I asked, more out of curiosity, yet I found myself trapped in counseling mode and began to shake my head, wondering if I was turning this into a session.  “It's been nine months since we've heard from you and here you are, showing up where I work as if it's nothing. Can you even imagine how much we've missed you?”

“Wow...nine months, huh?” Blanc smiled, consuming the words they uttered. “It's as if I've been reborn.”

“What do you mean?”

They shook their head. “I'm not really sure.”

“We all missed you. You know we care about you, right?”

“I know. I'm sorry,” Blanc spoke in earnest.

“You just left one day and none of us knew what happened to you. Do you have any idea how worried we have been?”

“You guys have been the closest thing I've had to a family. I just wasn't satisfied at the time not knowing who I was. I felt like I had to know and I didn't know how, but I felt like once I was away, I would figure things out.”

I gulped. I evaded what was gnawing at me in favor of a separate question.

“How did you get by? What about food? Shelter? Were you homeless all this time?”

“It's kind of a funny story,” Blanc gave a laugh that sounded like a cough. “I was at a park one day when I first noticed it.”

“Noticed what?”

“I was sitting under a tree, hungry as fuck. Like, I'm saying stomach growling, the whole ten yards.”

“Nine,” I corrected.

Blanc ignored my interjection. “I remember saying to myself, 'I'd sure be happy right now if I had something to eat', and just like that, an apple fell out of the tree.”

“It's funny how things work like that sometimes.”

Blanc snapped their fingers. “I thought so too! I remember taking a bite out of the apple, and thinking 'this is good and all, but I'd be happier if I had some pie' and lo and behold, someone walking by came up to me and was all 'bruh, I can't finish this pie and I don't want it to go to waste. You want it?' and of course, I was all 'fuck yeah, mate!'”

“Interesting...”

“I think I've developed super powers,” Blanc leaned over. “It's like whatever makes me happy, I can get! Y'know that whole Spider-Man quote?”

“Not really. I'd have to ask Trent or my wife about it.”

“Well, it's like, if I have this power, I can use these powers to help others!”

“Do you really believe you have these powers?”

Blanc slumped over, gave it some thought. “Hm...maybe not.”

“Even still, I'm glad you've been okay.”

“To tell you the truth,” Blanc's voice lowered from the excitement of just a second ago. “For a while, I wanted to chase this euphoria I once knew, or thought I knew. Thinking that if I found it again, all my problems would be solved. When it never came, I thought that was it, and for a while, I thought of wanting to die.”

“Do you still think that way?”

Blanc shook their head. “No, I've already died a few times, so to speak. I think I'm through dying at this point. Getting a little tired of it, y'know?”

“I see. So what do you think you'll do instead?”

“I think I came to realize that this 'euphoria' that I was seeking was with me all along and I had to figure that out for myself. Now if I could spread this happiness to others, I know I can change the world.”

“Is that what you wish to do?”

“I don't know yet,” Blanc shrugged. “But I think we'll come to a conclusion together.”

“Is that why you wished to see me today?”

“In part. Brainstorming is fun, but I could have done that with anyone. It was more that I know you.”

“So why not go to Trent, or my wife?”

Blanc shook their head.

“Is something wrong?” I asked.

“No, something is very right, and I'm glad I ended up where I did.”

I don't know why, but hearing that brought down a jolting sweat in me.

“Can I ask you something else?”

“Of course!”

“When did you first come to this realization? Did something happen that you think could have triggered these 'powers' of yours?”

“Yes. It's what I came here to tell you, actually.”

“What is it?”

“I remember.”

There it was. I hoped that I didn't let my shock show through, and marched on, stone faced.

“What do you remember?”

“Things here and there. Who I was before. How I ended up here.”

I drew out a slow breath. My apprehension was lifted. “Maybe we can be re-introduced, then. Could you tell me a little about yourself?”

“Well, it's kind of a long story...”

I let out a laugh. “I've heard that one before. Luckily for you, I have time.

“I know.”

It took me a second before I registered what Blanc said.

“Well, for starters, it's funny how you guys got it right. My name has been Blanc Slait from the beginning. It's a silly name and I've thought of changing it. It's not really far off from the name I was given at birth. But I figure at this point, you guys re-named me it, and just got really damn lucky, so I'm keeping it to honor you guys.”

“That sure is something. If you were to change your name, what would you go with?”

“Now that!” Blanc pointed upward. “Is brilliant! I haven't given that much thought. Maybe Oreo, or Snickers.”

“Candies?”

Blanc shrugged. “Sure, why not?”

“If you feel comfortable, that's what matters.”

“Yeah, for sure! As long as I'm happy. They do sound kinda like something I would name a cat, though if I wanted to, I could be my own pet.”

We both shared a laugh. I drew another breath.

“That's not all I remember.”

“What do you mean?”

“I don't just remember times before. I remember parts of me that I never got to experience. Memories that I couldn't have had, but they're surely mine.”

“Such as?”

“It's hard to explain, but I remember what you did to me.”

There it was, the shattering.

“I remember how when I was recovering at your apartment, you would visit me every night and poison me. I couldn't have remembered that. I was asleep. You were keeping me from remembering. Yet I was finally able to remember once I left. I don't even know how you managed that, but I know it happened.

I looked down. For the first time in a while, I felt like I was going to be the one to shed some tears.

“I'm sorry. You must think of me as cruel, even wicked. I just want you to know that I meant well.”

“It's all right!” Blanc grinned. “I harbor no ill will toward you, or anyone.”

“Just so you know, neither Trent nor my wife know what I did. They wanted you to get better. So did I. But I wanted you to forget, start a new life. That's all.”

“I understand. Congrats on the marriage, by the way. Sorry I didn't attend.”

“Thank you.”

I tried to loosen up, but there was now a tightness to everything.

“There is just one thing I need to ask of you,” Blanc added. “I want the time cube back.”

“So that's what that is...”

“I know you took it from me. You said you wanted me to start a new life. And maybe I will. Maybe I already have. But I still want it back.”

“Why do you want it? What is it?”

“I think you already know. Otherwise you wouldn't have taken it.”

“Let me guess: some sort of time traveling device?” I joked.

“I guess you could call me a time traveler, then? I don't know, I've never done the sort of thing before. It was a life or death situation. Hence why it seemed like I just fell from the sky. I needed to get away, wherever it happened to be. I'm just glad I ended up here.”

“Like an angel falling from heaven...” I caught myself muttering.

“What?” Blanc stared at me.

“I don't really know. But you're right. I knew what you held was a device used for time travel. I have also dabbled, though with a different device. My father was an inventor, he once left, without a trace, leaving his device behind. I tried using it to search for him, but to no avail. I ended up meeting Trent and Juniper sometime in my search, and after having meeting them, I went back to searching for a little while, but I never found him. After a while, I gave up and settled down, living with those two, and I ended up leaving my former life behind, developing a bond with them and creating a new life for myself.”

“I never knew all that.”

“It's okay. This isn't about me. I just wanted to let you know that I could relate to your situation in some capacity.”

“Even still, I need it. I don't want to give up. I left some things unfinished. There are some bad people out there and --”

“Don't bother.” I found myself saying, as cold and lifeless as it may have come out, I felt it had to be said.

“I'm sorry. This isn't something I can brush off. I thought I could take a break for a while and come back when I was ready, but that's the thing: my problems didn't go away.”

“Some things you can't finish. Some problems you can't solve. All of that is in the past. You can start new things, finish new things. Allow yourself to enjoy this new life you have.” I wasn't sure if I was saying this to Blanc or giving myself a reminder.

“I once met these folks who told me that the past is all we have because the present is always fleeting and the future is just what hasn't become the past yet. But the past is forever.”

“That sounds like a depressive thought pattern. If you want to know what I think, I think the present is all we have. We don't know about the future, and we cannot change what happened in the past. It's important to take in the present for all it is; the good, the bad, everything outside and in between. Allow yourself to acknowledge it all.”

There. That should have reached Blanc. I could go back to my day and not worry about such silly talks of time travel or danger. At least, that was my hope. There was still something, something I couldn't place, gnawing at me, but I felt the source coming from across the room.

“Maybe, but I think they have a point. I think you do, too. The past really is forever, we can't change it.”

So why go on with this talk of time travel?

“But,” Blanc continued. “We can create a new past, a new present, and a new future. We can create something new that's better than how things were and how things will be.”

“I've tried!” Those two words escaped and as much as I grit my teeth, they had already been released into the air, out of my control.

Blanc nodded a slow nod, something I didn't understand. I did my best to regain composure, but I was afraid that the damage was already done.

“I know my future; I've tried to change it time and time again.”

“I know your future, too,” Blanc told me. “And that's why I came here. So we can change it together.”

“Oh?” I managed to chuckle a little. “What would you know of my future? First you call yourself a time traveler, now a fortune teller?”

Blanc shook their head. “It's because I've lived your future. I've met you before, though you were different, then.”

“Different how?” I leaned forward.

“Well, first of all, your hair wasn't blonde. Second, you were more of a hologram than human. Oh, and your name wasn't Vesuvius.”

I froze, but then couldn't help but close my eyes and smile.

“Oh? And what was it?” I was close to asking what will it be? But if we were discussing changing the future...no. I had to shake that off as well. I knew better.

“Etna.”

That word echoed. It was getting to be too much. I could sense steam rising throughout the room, but I knew the temperature hadn't changed.

“Ah,” I drew a deep breath, then released. “I've forgotten all about that name. Abandoned it when I came here. Felt I needed a new start, you see. Got myself a degree, told everyone my name was Vesuvius Marlboro and not Etna Modelo, even managed to forge a birth certificate and identification.” I needed to stop myself. I knew I needed to. I didn't have an explanation for my unraveling in front of a complete stranger.

A complete stranger that has lived with you for months. A complete stranger who you took in and manipulated for fear that you would be exposed. Well, here you are: exposed. Because that's what you are. Therapist? Forged. Horticulture? Just quick glances at books. Guesses and conjecture. 'Fake it 'til you make it', right? Well for a while, I sure made it, and now this...thing that I took in is threatening all of it.

“That's right, I'm a fraud,” I couldn't help but smile, even though I wanted to scream.

“Modelo?” Blanc tilted their head. “I thought it was Montclair.”

I couldn't help but do the same. We exchanged puzzled looks as if we were looking in a mirror, except neither of us looked alike. Unless the blonde streaks were some way of mocking me, which at this point, I didn't even doubt.

“Oh, right!” Blanc snapped their fingers. “I forgot, those memories were fake!”

“I'm not really following, I'm afraid.”

“It's okay. It was a different future. All of that's behind me now.”

“Is it? Wouldn't it be ahead of you?”

“Not if we change it! That's what I'm saying!”

“Look,” I was really feeling the claws dig in now. “When I watched as the Vietnam war happened, when the government forced soldiers to in equal measures massacre, and get massacred, I thought that if enough people got together and protested, the government would listen and stop. But instead they would turn against protesters and slaughter their own. Campuses, the streets. I thought by going into the future, leaving behind my girlfriend at the time, that I would see things change, and how never again would these things occur. I was wrong. This world is already authoritarian and ruled by a powerful few. Whether it be influence, money, military, technology, or a combination of all four, they have much more than the average person has.”

Blanc gulped. I would have been lying if I said I didn't relish in this.

“The masses mean nothing. Do you know what happened if you tried going against these powers? You'll get killed. You mean nothing to them. I knew this and I wanted to protect you.”

“I appreciate that, but I wouldn't feel right if I didn't do anything.”

“Just do something small in your community. Brighten someone's day.  You can't change the world, but you can change someone's world.”

“Like yours?”

Flashes and jolts struck the mountaintop. Pieces of earth crumbled and rolled from the peak. There would be nowhere to take cover from.

“You said you knew my future?” I cleared my throat. “Well, so do I. I received an email a while back from a private address telling me that they intend to kidnap my wife and I and extract our thoughts and personalities to better their AI they were developing. It all sounded so silly, so crazy. But that's the thing: I knew it wasn't.”

“How?”

“I thought they were visions, or dreams, but there were a few times where I wound find myself transported to this place and these two men would greet me. They would tell me their progress on this project they were working on and how it would change the world for the better. They told me they were starting a new department, and I would be appointed the head of it, but not in my current form. I didn't know why they wanted me, but I knew all of what I experienced was real. I knew how they wished to harvest me, to control me. I felt the cold metal of the walls, the terror of their machines, the sounds. None of it could be so easily replicated.”

“You were there?”

“Oh yes,” I nodded. I shouldn't have admitted any of this. All of it came out. It was like Blanc was stealing my secrets from me and all the words overflowed. “I also know I would be powerless to stop them once they're all ready. I have my own device to travel through time, but so do they. I know it's real as well, because I've seen their device and I know that the device you stole from the organization you fled is the same organization that will decide my future.”

“It doesn't have to decide your future, though!” Blanc spoke as if they were buying a lottery ticket and thinking there was a chance of hitting the jackpot.

“There is no way around it. I've made peace with my life. I'm just going to enjoy my life with Juniper while I can.”

“But what if you can live out your life with her...for the rest of your life? What makes you think you don't deserve to be happy?”

Am I the one getting a therapy session here?

I had to blink. Make sure I was where I thought I was.

“It's not about what I do and don't deserve. I think the goal is to be content, regardless of the outcome.”

“But what if you could be more than content? I think you deserve to live your life as a human, living the kind of life you want to live. More than that, I think it's possible. More than possible, even. That's why I came to you today. I want to help you.”

I noticed Blanc sipping on a mug. I noticed the label of an herbal tea packet on the table next to them and steam rising from the mug. Just as there was steam around me.

“Where did you get that?” I asked. I took my glasses off and rubbed my eyes.

“You offered it to me. Don't you remember?”

I remembered no such thing. Maybe it was just a lapse in memory. Maybe after a while of the same procedures, some things just ended up getting blocked out.

I shook my head.

“Anyway, you said you wanted to help me? Really? What could you possibly do?”

Blanc grinned a toothy grin. I noticed much whiter teeth than I've ever seen from them before. It felt off. The whole room, the whole situation, the whole day...everything was off. Something told me this feeling was not about to let up.

Blanc snapped their fingers.

“It's simple: we save the lesbians, we save the world!”

“...What?”

“I say we go to their base right now. Let's not bring Juniper along! Let's destroy all their equipment and foil their plans!”

“Are you out of your mind?”

“Yes! A little! But with my superpowers and our time traveling devices, I say it's worth a shot! If we were just anyone, sure, we could just sit idly by as everything seems futile, but we're not just anyone! I'm Oreo and you're Edna Mode.”

“I'm...who?”

“I don't know! I think I saw that name somewhere!”

“I think I'd rather just be me...”

Blanc grabbed my hand.

“Come on, enough with this therapy! Let's go improve some lives!”

There was a flush that ran through me. Something unnatural.

“Don't I get a say in this?” I blurted, but I knew better. “Never mind, let's go,” I found myself saying after. I wanted this. I knew I wanted it. My agency.

I felt no transition. We were in my office, we ran out the door, and then...

The cold, murky steel. Exposed wiring and halls that branched out into endless corridors and endless arrays of doors. Crisp, manufactured air, both stuff and making it all too easy to breathe in. Equal parts office building and laboratory.

“I know where we are...” I murmured, then turned to Blanc. “How did we get here?”

Blanc, still grinning, replied. “You gave me back my time cube, remember?”

“No. I didn't. It wasn't with me. I don't think I could have...”

“I'm so happy! I know we can do it!”

I tore myself from Blanc's grip. There was no sting, no pain. But I felt like molten lava.

“We should go. I don't know what we're doing here.”

“I do! All we have to do is go to the lab where the AI is being built by Dr. Laharl and Dr. Vyers! I don't even know if they're real people, but I know the room is real! It's where you shot me!”

It baffled me how someone could talk about being shot and speak with such glee. Before I had time to ponder any of that, Blanc skipped down the halls.

“I'm sure we'll find it in no time at all!” They sang and chanted, disregarding all need for secrecy. All I could do was chase after the fool.

“Stop! You'll get us both killed!” I was in no shape to run, yet I did anyway, the heels of my shoes clanging against the floors. It made too much noise. Every movement was too much. It. Was. All. Just. Too. Much.

Before I could stop to take a breath, the sound of more heels against the floor resounded; rows and rows of footprints. Running soldiers with their guns to each side of us. Blanc stopped dead in their tracks and looked around.

“Stop!” The soldiers yelled. “This area is restricted!”

All of them drew their weapons. I knew they were about to open fire. Maybe being killed would be better than being taken away by some company to be experimented on, but I just didn't know. All the while, Blanc continued to grin.

“It's okay! I think we just need to celebrate getting here!” Blanc cheered.

I closed my eyes.

I heard the deafening cry of the bullets ring, but after a moment, I was still breathing. I opened my eyes to see red balloons where the soldiers were.

“I was thinking balloons would make us happier! The soldiers must have ran away!”

My breath was growing shorter. My heart, my lungs, I wasn't sure which was working harder.

“Oh? Were you expecting something violent to go down?” Blanc asked, before snapping their fingers, and all the balloons popped, blood erupting from each of them, spraying all of the walls. I jumped, the images burned into my eyes. Blanc just laughed.

“Too violent?” Blanc looked displeased.

I blinked, the surrounding area was filled with confetti. I must have imagined the blood the whole time. Maybe I imagined the soldiers showing up. There were no weapons to be seen, either. I couldn't remember the last time my imagination had run so wild.

Yes. That's it. You're freaking out. Seeing things. You're back in your office. You're safe. Everyone is safe.

“Come on!” Blanc motioned. “We're almost there!”

I shook my head, but followed anyway.

We passed through all sorts of doors that I could see through. Although the surrounding walls were a murky shade of blue and brown, the insides of the doors seemed littered with stuffed animals and pink walls. I wasn't sure what those rooms were meant for, if anything. Certainly not what I would have associated with an all powerful organization.

Finally, Blanc ran through these double doors and I went in after. The room itself was huge; rows and rows of computers and a master computer system with a large monitor. Wires and engines humming all around. Blanc, however, spared no time to marvel, and ran further in. I strode through, not allowing myself to run.

When I finally reached the end of the lab, there was little to see aside from what looked like an MRI scanner, a table filled with medical equipment, including IV tubes, and two sets of doors at the other end, both sets of doors reminding me of elevator doors, for whatever reason.

“This is it! This is all where it's supposed to happen!”

“What next?” I asked. I knew we shouldn't have been here. I knew something was wrong ever since Blanc showed up, but I didn't know how to stop things from progressing.

“I agree,” a voice of a middle-aged man piped up, his voice that of a Scottish man imitating an American accent. “You know you shouldn't be here.” I recognized the voice right away as one of the men I had seen before when I was taken here. 

I saw as he walked forward, a short man wearing a black coat. His hair braided into a pony tail, though I could have seen the receding of his hairline from a mile away.  He wore a monocole as if to make himself seem more important, but all I saw was some goofy looking man, prime for ridicule.

“Ah, Etna. It's been a while. We haven't needed you yet, but I'm glad to see you again.”

I shivered, and backed away, toward Blanc.

“Hey, it’s you! Dr. Vyers! You really do exist!” Blanc seemed so giddy.

The man known as Dr. Vyers peered at Blanc while fiddling with his monocle.

“As for you...I don't know who you are, but if I go back in time by just a little bit, we can make sure you never show up here again...”

Blanc wasn't wavered by this threat.

“I'd be happier if you just disappeared instead!” Blanc smiled wide.

I didn't even have to blink this time. Dr. Vyers vanished. I turned to face Blanc, who turned to me, stilted movements, but grinning all the same.

“Isn't this great? I'm so happy! I think I finally realized what it is!”

Blanc placed their hands on my shoulders.

“Euphoria has been with me this whole time! I can feel it! I know everything will be okay because I am happy!”

I wasn't.

I drew from my labcoat pocket the item I never knew I had.

“What are you doing, Etna?”

The timbre of my voice was a shallow, hollow self.

“Defining my own happiness, I'm afraid,” before aiming my object at Blanc's arm and pulling the trigger. The loud ring pierced my eardrums, but I had become immune in such a short time span.

Blanc seethed, their grin loosening. “Damn! That was my non-robotic arm! How'd you know?”

“I didn't. Lucky guess,” I managed to utter in my same monotone before erupting in a fit of laughter.

“I don't understand what's going on!” Blanc whined. The pain must have been unbearable.

“Everyone has their breaking point,” was my reply, pure emotion rushing through me. I felt free, unrestrained for the first time in a while as I watched what I wasn't even sure to be human lose consciousness.

#happiness overload #writing #scifi #horror #magical realism #therapy #fiction #cosmic horror #here it is #I should have had this done sooner #oh well