#we’ve seen it some with soul fire remnants now we see it with red

[zeb-z]

Phil showing off his wings to Foolish without question, without hesitation, when they finally reunite, going through the effort of taking off his backpack and letting them out to share them. Wearing the gas masks, a reminder that they’re united, trustworthy, always on the same side. Something about how he did so when Foolish was showing his newly grown fins, like a hybrid to hybrid ‘here are my traits. I trust you and want you to know this’. Reassuring Tallulah that he trusts Foolish implicitly - they went through a lot together, after all.

#something about how we get to see the ways purgatory brought some together now because we’ve seen plenty of how it tore them apart #we’ve seen it some with soul fire remnants now we see it with red #the fact that Phil trusts that much to show his wings. on purpose. he wanted foolish to see them. like that’s fucking huge dude #monumental #man. man man man #bolasbolasbolasbolasbolas #mcyt #qsmp #q!philza #q!foolish #z speaks

[my-brothers-corrupted]

Book Four - Part 11

As Dark and Anti's rage and fighting threatens to kill everyone in their vicinity, Red works with his brothers and Dark's soldiers to find a way to turn the tide of the battle and make sure everyone gets out safe.

Tws for gun use, threats of death, possession, extreme distress, and fire.

Part 11 - Soul-Shifter

aether-mae asked: Anti you need to reel yourself in for once in your damn life. Do it to show you have even a shred of control left in you. And Marv if you’re in there, shield your eyes, love

“I’m sick of pretending to be something I’m not,” Anti says, and his voice is a broken, warbled discordance, Jack’s voice cracked, rising, fallen, shattered. “I am not meant for playthings and pets. I am his killing thing and always will be.”

“I’ll show him a fucking killing thing,” snarls Google, straightening.

“Gigi, wait,” snaps back Shep, running back towards them, a twin clinging to each hand. He reaches out to grab Gigi’s arm and holds him back as they move away from the growing blaze which surrounds Anti like an omen wrapped around him. “He’ll melt you to a crisp.”

“We have to stop this somehow,” pants Ro, eyes watering from the smoke. “We’re going to burn.”

“We should talk to Dark,” says Shep.

“We should talk to Anti,” Trick answers.

“Or we just get everyone and get out if we can’t figure something out on our own,” says Ro. “Neither of them are easy to deal with.”

“I have an objective to prevent discord,” growls Gigi. “We’re not going anywhere. But we do need to get the others. Host, come here!”

But Host is sitting on the stairs of the porch even as fire eats up the sides of the house. His head is tilted as he mumbles to himself, expression blank, stuck in his narration.

aether-mae asked: I think it’s best to grab everyone and run. Neither of them can be reasoned with right now, and Anti especially needs some time to cool off, however that may go down. Just run!

“He has Blue’s body!” Trick reminds Ro anxiously, gripping his brother’s sleeve.

“Well, if we can get Blue and Host, maybe then we can go,” cries Shep. “We need out of here now.”

“I won’t leave the houses behind,” snarls Gigi.

“You know what, don’t worry about him, we’ve got the whole of him on a memory stick somewhere,” scowls Shep. “Let’s just get them and go.”

“It’s not that easy,” coughs Red. “Anti is possessing Blue.”

“Dark could help with that,” says Google, his rage pausing for a second. “They have the ability to manipulate souls. They could tear Anti out of him if they knew.”

“There we go, then,” says Trick, but when he turns to share with look of relief with Ro, he sees an odd look in his brother’s eyes.

“Manipulate souls?” mutters Ro. “What… move things?”

“That’s what I said,” snips Gigi, still not entirely convinced he shouldn’t be kicking Red’s ass.

“What does a soul include?” asks Ro.

“What do I look like, Google?” asks Google, deadpan.

“Trick, didn’t you hear Dark tell Anti his soul looked different because he had Blue’s magic?”

“Yeah? What does that have to with anything?”

Ro’s mouth tightens. Determination - Trick sees it in the way he turns, eyes piercing across the trees.

“Shep, take your friends and get out. Make sure my brothers get out too. Google, go get Host. I need to find Dark - now.”

The darkness of night washes over the whole of the clearing like a plague.

“I worry you might have just found them,” says Shep quietly.

Dark is a flicker of white in the darkness, a flicker of red, a flicker of blue. Only the growing flame brightens the clearing and all seems to have gone ghostly silent as Dark’s power rises back up to meet Anti.

“They’ll kill each other,” whispers Trick.

“Trick, go with Shep.”

“No. I won’t leave you and Blue and Anti.”

Gigi races off to get Host, heaving him up over his shoulder when he cannot be moved. Shep begins ushering the men with the toy cars back towards the mirror exit.

“Trick, go with them. You - ”

“No! I’m staying! Whatever you’re thinking of doing, I’m staying.”

Ro’s hands shake. He has never wished so much for the comfort of knowing that if he messes up, Dapper will fix it. This time, a mistake could be his last. And if Trick stays, a mistake could be his last too. Red can’t take that.

“I have seen you in pain too many times in my life, man.”

“Red, you said we would be real brothers again!” shouts Trick, even as the trees behind them begin to groan from the assault of the flame. “You told me we could be equals instead of tearing each other apart! We’ve hurt each other so many times. I wanted to believe you that night, but words are just words!”

Trick pushes forward and grabs Ro’s gloved hand, pressing their fists together in between them. Ro grips back as if on instinct, squeezing so tight Trick thinks he’ll shatter his hand. It doesn’t matter. He doesn’t care. He squeezes back.

“Trust me!” he says. “Trust me like your brother. Not someone you have to protect. Not Anti’s pet. Trust me like your friend again, Jackie.”

A smile breaks across Ro’s face. He can’t help it.

“You remembered my name,” he chokes.

Trick laughs weakly. “Anti says it like a curse,” he says. “But I know better.”

And Trick sees in his brother’s eyes something too deep for him to call it trust after all. Feels more like faith.

And Red keeps their hands locked tight together as he moves towards Dark and Anti.

Anonymous asked: Anti let marvin go! You’ve hurt him enough already

The beeping of the camera is barely enough for Anti to drag his gaze over to you, trying to find the abandoned camcorder dropped nearby. His eyes focus and unfocus, burning through a myriad of colors. He’s on his hands and knees. For a moment, his eyes plead with you before he finds himself again.

“Let him die for all I care,” chokes Anti, struggling to get to his feet. This is a new development. He’s exerting so much power he’s dazed by it. It burns. “I don’t want him anymore.”

Blue’s voice has gone silent inside his head. Anti can’t feel him fighting back.

Anonymous asked: Jackie, are you about to do what I think you are? Because if so it's both the most clever and the most reckless thing you've done yet.

A small grin flickers through the curve of Ro’s mouth, both determined and tired. Jackie was an optimist, an idealist, a hero for the hell of it. Red knows what it is to fight for his fucking life.

“I don’t know exactly what you’re expecting me to do,” says Ro. “But you’ve always had my back, so thanks, truly. Today, I’m making my own decisions. And I have had about enough of these two. Hey!”

He’s moving towards the wave of darkness. In the depth of the shadow, the flickering red and blue outline of a creature stands, staring back at him with dead eyes.

“You get the fuck away from the lot of us, creep!”

“Oh, little hero,” comes back the echoing whisper of a voice, trailed by laughter. “Your master isn’t going to be able to beat me today. Look at you - what a pretty little soul. But so powerless. You’re nothing, child.”

“Even if I didn’t have magic on me, I could still kick your ass for what you’ve done to my family,” answers Ro, his voice getting loud for the first time in a long time. “You should never have laid a hand on JJ. Now you and Anti fight like you got no care for anybody else in the world. I’m nobody’s pawn, asshole. Today I’m knocking both of you off the board.”

“Let’s see it, then,” says Dark, their form appearing in white in the darkness. “You and your brothers seem to be rather forgettable. Why don’t you give me something to remember you by?”

“That,” says Ro, “is the last time I will ever obey either of you.”

And he snaps the string of Henrik’s necklace.

Anonymous asked: Dark, find what you remember about antis soul and draw it out of the body hes inhabiting. Leave behind any remnant of stolen magic if you can, please

Your cameras are blinded with light.

Dark and Anti give shouts of their own, and then you hear Ro’s cry, Ro’s battle-cry, ringing across the clearing.

As your vision comes back, Ro is a blaze of starlight meeting Dark’s shadow, his fighting staff striking again and again, driving him back. Anti staggers to his feet, giving a gasp of alarm as one of the trees in the forest behind him comes crashing to the ground, the fire still spreading.

“Anti, please stop it!” cries Trick.

Anti looks down at his hands, lost. Blue’s hair is sticking up on one side of his head. Anti just stares after Ro, blinking.

“Anti,” insists Trick.

Anti turns away from him and moves towards Dark and Ro, bringing fire and plant life with him.

“Or we could make a tactical retreat!” shouts Trick, wringing his hands. “Anti!”

“You stay back!” Ro shouts, whirling on Anti, and the burst of light that bursts from him sends Anti back to his knees, yelping and grabbing at his eyes. “If you weren’t wearing my twin, I’d burn you both down to a crisp.”

His body burns with the power of it, but it doesn’t hurt. He’s warm and full and he can breathe clear and easy, his exhaustion gone.

He’s Jackie and Red too. For the first time in months, he feels in control of himself and his choices.

And he’s choosing to fuck shit up.

“Look what you’re doing!” shouts Ro, his staff meeting Dark’s cane even as Dark falls back, eyes burning. “Your home is burning to the ground! Your friends - your soldiers - are scrambling for safety! You could burn the whole forest down!”

“I’m not the one who started all this!” shouts Dark, narrowly avoiding a blow from Ro’s fist.

“Don’t act blameless,” snarls Ro. “You’ve played along because you thought it would be entertaining. You’re just like him - selfish, bored, obsessed with things that have already happened. Grow up!”

He strikes Dark’s feet out from under them and Dark crashes to the ground with a gasp, bones shifting horribly in their back. Ro shoves his staff to Dark’s throat and stands on their chest, making them cry out. They stare up at him with eyes like obsidian, but Ro is well used to Anti’s shifting gaze and the feeling of being hated. It doesn’t scare him.

Dark, truth be told, is no fighter.

They have rarely needed to be. Even before there was Gigi, Shep, Ippy, anyone, Dark was enough of a manipulator not to need to protect themselves. There was always someone to do it for them - or, better yet, they would just be so deadly sly and intensely thorough that they could slaughter anyone they wanted to without anything truly dangerous ever coming after them. For the most part, Dark can kill humans whenever they need to, without ever staining the black and white of their suit.

Up close and blazing with power, Ro is not something Dark is ready to deal with. He crushes his foot against his chest, teeth bared. Dark can barely see him through that light on his chest. Ro is hallowed and ablaze. In the forest around him, everything is burning.

Dark wants to shout for Gigi, but they hear his voice now: “Host! Stop! You can’t go back for her in that!” Turning their head, they can see Gigi gripping Host.

“Moses! Moses!” screams Host, trying to get back into the house on fire. “My cat! Google, let me go!”

Ro turns his head too. He tries to take a deep breath, but the smoke is getting thick. Soon, they’ll all be trapped within the clearing, sick with the smoke and the heat.

“You need to stop this,” says Red, taking his foot off Dark’s chest. “I think you can, too. Anti can’t control the power. It doesn’t belong to him. My twin Blue can. You need to take Anti out of Blue - and tear the stolen magic out too. Give the power back to Blue, where it belongs. He can stop the fire. Only he can stop the fire.”

Dark pants, struggling to rise to sitting, but their spine cannot hold them upright and they sink back onto the grass, choking on blood in their mouth.

“Do you know what you’re asking for?” they wheeze, sneering up at Ro. “The energy it takes to transfer pieces of soul - the darkness of that magic, the corruption of it, the evil - it will take all my strength and leave me sick and hurting. Then you and your master will kill me and mine. I’m not a fool. Let the forest burn. I’ll rebuild. Gigi can keep the others safe.”

“You can’t guarantee that,” snaps Red. “You’re just praying your soldier can be enough to protect them so you don’t have to do it yourself. People will die, Dark. People who never deserved to get caught up in any of this.”

“I won’t be vulnerable,” answers Dark coldly. “Let it burn if that’s the cost.”

“No wonder you two got along,” spits Ro, putting his heel back on Dark’s ribs. “Fuck you.”

“Dark?”

The softness of his voice draws their gaze.

“Wil,” they answer. “Go, okay? Go somewhere else.”

Wilford wanders towards them as though lost in his own home, shoeless and messy, ash down one side of his face and his hair sticking up.

“What’s going on? Where is everyone? The house is shaking. Hey, why are you hurt? I’ll carry you. What’s… what’s happening? Can we go home?”

“Wil, just transport somewhere!”

“I need the dog,” says Wilford, glancing around for the big dog JJ saw from his window, listening for its barking, but there’s nothing. “Where is he? I want to go home.”

Dark shoves Ro’s foot off their chest with all their strength, trying to rise again, but their back just can’t handle it. The pain sends flashes of white through their brain, making them unsteady and unfocused, sick with the hurt of it.

“Give Blue his magic back,” says Red, drawing his staff back. “Like the cameras said. You know it’s what must be done. I swear to you, I won’t hurt you or yours afterwards. You got them into this mess. Now get them out.”

“You’ll leave us be?” demands Dark. “You and your monster?”

“Anti is obsessed with you,” Ro answers. “And furious. But that’s yours and his to deal with. I will make sure he leaves this mirror without hurting you. That’s all I can promise.”

Dark manages to vanish and re-appear, but still they cannot rise. They lie on their side some feet from Ro, panting, eyes narrowed. Wilford races over to them and crouches down at their side, putting one hand on their neck in an attempt to ease their pain, and the other hand in Dark’s.

Dark blinks as though pulled out of some haze, looking up at Wil with wide brown eyes. Wil squeezes their hand. The confusion in his face is so deep it becomes fear. A flame licks at his foot and he flinches, mouth twisting with pain, just for a moment.

Dark’s shaking fingers wrap around his.

Then they look up at Ro with flame in their eyes.

“Very well,” they say. Singed with Ro’s light, their spine in pieces, still they raise their head up, if only for a moment. “If that’s what it takes, then I will give back that which was stolen.”

.

If you are looking for Anti in that face, you will probably see pain.

Fire and light and darkness. Yes. You will probably see his pain and his anger.

But if you are looking for Marvin -

It isn’t euphoria. It isn’t even relief.

It’s just a moment where the life comes back to him.

It’s just a moment where Ro’s light is reflected in his eyes.

And then he breathes.

He breathes.

If you’re listening for Marvin, you might even call it a laugh.

Yes, Dark moves the power in their shared chest. Dark casts Anti away and leaves him crumpled in the grass at Blue’s side. Trick yells in alarm and grabs him, but his hands pass through Anti’s intangibility.

“Anti? What just happened? Blue, are you - ?”

“Yeah,” Blue answers, and the strength of his voice startles Trick, who was getting used to hearing him whisper. “Yeah. I’m good.”

He gets to his feet. He stands up straight. His legs do not shake.

“Blue?” croaks Trick. “What - what just happened?”

Blue smiles at him. There is color in his cheeks again. He looks up at the light emanating from Ro’s chest and finds Ro looking back at him, mouth parted.

Blue touches Trick’s hair. “We’ll make this stop. I promise. Just stay here, bud, okay?”

“Okay,” whispers Trick, curling low over Anti’s body. “Please.”

Blue lets out a breath for a moment, staring around him, trying to think.

Then he is running towards Red as fast as his legs can carry him.

They crash together like ships, scooping each other up and wrapping around each other there in the middle of a clearing, in the middle of a forest fire, in the middle of a battlefield. Ro yells and lifts him off the ground, hugging him tight, and he feels Blue shoving their foreheads together and gripping at his shoulders.

“You look better,” chokes Ro.

“Yes,” says Blue, his blood rushing and his body filled with warmth. For long months, the world has been grey and dull and cold and distant. Today, he is a part of it again. His soul is whole. His power fills his chest. “You saved me.”

“You have to stop this,” breathes Red, clinging to him. “Tell me you can.”

Blue grips his gloved hands as Red sets him back on the earth, heads still pressed close. “We’ll do it together,” he says. “Okay?”

Red beams, squeezing his palms. “Okay,” he says, and what he means is at last, at last! “Yeah. You and me, my brother. Let’s fucking go!”

There are crocuses beneath their feet, springing up from the earth. There are roses and bluebells. Trees burst up from the places where they had fallen, moving towards the sky and flooding the air with leaves and fruit. Red swings Blue around, light cascading from their joined hands, destroying the last of the shadows, clearing Dark and Anti’s power away. Host and Google step back in surprise as the fire begins to fade from the houses and trees. In the forest, Shep is stumbling back towards them, staring out at Red and Blue in the middle of the clearing. Wilford plucks a rose for Dark and holds them as he feels them beginning to lose consciousness, exhausted from the effort and the corruption of magic so powerful.

In the middle of the clearing, Red and Blue cannot stop laughing.

“You look wonderful!”

“You saved me!”

“That was fucking incredible!”

“You’re incredible!”

“You are! Wow!”

He spins him around and around. Blue just holds on to him, clinging to his neck, and laughs until his shoulders hurt.

Ro sinks to the earth with him and presses their heads together, closing his eyes, and they hold each other.

The clearing is quiet. Dark is unconscious.

“Hey, hey, Anti,” they hear Trick sobbing. “Someone help me, someone please help me. He isn’t breathing, someone help.”

aether-mae asked: YEAH U DID IT!!! :DDD Jackie holy fuck I’m so proud man! And Marv!! Great to have u both back!

Ro wraps an arm around Blue’s shoulders and squishes him to his body. “Yeah, we did it.”

“We did. One thing, anyway. Not sure the battle’s over, but this fight is won.”

“Do you really feel better?” Ro turns to cup his face in his hands, looking him over. “Your eyes are still all, uh. Cloudy, I guess?”

Blue touches his eyes, still dulled and a little blank. “Yeah… I still can’t see very well. Is my hair brown?”

“No, it’s not. But give it some time and we’ll see. Anyway, it looks good these days. It’s not so short anymore. I mean, you always look good.”

“Oh, I’m sure I was a sight to behold when I was lying in that hospital bed with a buzzcut, bruising everywhere, and exhaustion in ever inch of me.”

“You’re always a sight to behold,” replies Ro, soft and earnest. Blue grins weakly, squeezing his fingers.

“Thanks, love.”

Blue is still a little achey and stiff, his joints still a little swollen, his heart still a little weak. It will take him time to recover from the loss of his magic, but having it back feels like finding himself again after months lost at sea. He can walk and run and burn like a star again. He hugs Ro one more time, needing to feel their bodies latched together and know that they have each other, safe and sound.

Blue’s head shoots up again when he hears Trick calling out.

“What’s wrong with him?”

“He’s still worried about Anti all the time,” says Ro. “Just give him a second and he’ll be fine.”

But Blue’s never been able to stand the sound of any of them afraid. He hurries over towards Trick.

Ro sighs, glancing around. He sees Google stalking towards him and readies himself for another quick fight, feeling confident and powerful, but Host hurries over to hook his arm into Google’s and drag him back towards the house, convincing him to let it go even as Gigi shoots death stares back towards Ro. Shep waves weakly at Red from the forest and Red waves back, grinning.

“Thanks for the help,” he calls.

“Uh, yeah,” says Shep, staring around him. “Sure, anytime.”

Anonymous asked: Don't mind me fucking weeping at how magnificent that scene was- phenomenal work Ro and Blue!!!! you guys were incredible!!!!- but looks like we've got a new issue on our hands. Trick, what's the situation with Anti?

“S-something’s wrong, something’s wrong! Blue - Blue, why is he…?”

“Trick, it’s okay, it’s okay. The same thing happened to me, let’s just…”

But Blue doesn’t know what to do or what to tell him.

Blood is spilling from Anti’s mouth rapidly. Barely conscious, his eyes remain slightly open, his form flickering in low shuddering buzzes of glitching, his right eye glowing a horrible neon blue.

“Uh, uh,” you hear him choke, convulsing. “Uh, uh.”

His face is taut with pain.

Blue steps back, but the knowledge that Anti deserves what he’s getting somehow gives him only a burning hot feeling in his chest, painful and deep. Trick cries out and tries to cradle Anti’s head, chanting reassurances at him.

Blue wishes he would let him die. He wishes Anti were dead already. He turns and glances back at his twin, wondering if Red could end him right now with that light on his heart.

nikkilbook asked: You did it, Astrifer. You remembered yourself. Jackie, full of light. :D

Ro smiles weakly, still standing far from Blue and Trick, too worked up to take an interest in what’s going on. He looks down at his hands, clenching and unclenching his fists, staring at his scarred white palms.

“Yeah,” he says. “I think I do remember the things that matter now.”

He closes his eyes and takes in a deep breath, pulling his hoodie up over his head. His blue eyes, when they flash open, are brighter still than the color of his hoodie. His mouth curves. There is color in his cheeks and strength in his body.

“You can call me Jackie if you want to.”

Anonymous asked: squish he like a bugg jacke

Jackie blinks and turns back to his brothers, gaze falling onto Anti writhing on the ground. For a second, Jackie’s eyes still flame with light - but a moment later, he’s just nauseous. He stands picking at his sleeves and rocking on his heels, not sure what to do. Maybe he should be glad - a part of him is glad that Anti’s not burning the place down right now - but for the most, part, he just feels ill.

Blue glances back at his brother, mouth tight. “Maybe we should, Roser.”

But Jackie shakes his head. “Can’t,” he manages.

“Come on. You see him for who he is now, bud, don’t you?”

“Yes,” says Jackie. “But… can’t.”

“Ro - ”

“You two think you can get rid of me that easily!” shrieks Anti, trying to drag his head off the ground. “Shut your fucking mouths! I’ll turn you both into juice!”

“Anti!” cries Trick. “Don’t say that!”

His hand comes down to comfort Anti, resting against his shoulder, and that’s when Anti moves. Trick screams in alarm and Blue hollers, racing forward to pin Anti away from him, but it’s already too late.

“You get the fuck back!” Anti shouts from Trick’s throat, tearing Dok’s gun from Trick’s holster and pointing it right up at Blue. “Oh, you think you can act before I can get a shot off, kitty cat? Let’s see you fucking try.”

Anonymous asked: Ah, this is tough. I think by now we all know what side of the grass Anti needs to be on, but I don't think Trick is ready yet. At this point, I'm afraid that if Anti dies, Trick might die with him. But he's weakened now, as hurt as Blue once was. Right now, Anti isn't in control. You guys finally have the upper hand. You don't have to do anything drastic in this moment (like I said, Trick's not ready), but just remember that. You're stronger than Anti right now, all of you.

“Okay, okay, hold on!” shouts Blue. “Stop, stop, just let him go! You’ll make him suicidal, you can’t possess him! Anti, the cameras are right, we don’t have to do anything drastic. Okay? You let him go right now. Dark will - ”

“Dark’s out for the count,” snarls Anti. “Fuck, I’m so sick of the lot of you! No, you get back, fucking witch!”

“You get out of Trick,” shouts Blue, finding his strength again. “Or Ro and I will make you regret it, Anti, I swear.”

“Yeah, you make a lot of promises, kitty cat,” Anti sneers, flashing Trick’s white teeth at him. “And yet here you all are, still living in fear of me.”

“Let him go,” repeats Blue, reaching out for him. “Let him go. I’ll tie you in vines and - ”

Anti points the gun right up at Trick’s chin.

“Don’t,” he warns, voice deadly quiet. “Don’t try a goddamn thing.”

Blue is stiff and panting, sweat on his forehead. He backs away slowly, hands outstretched.

“Okay, okay,” he whispers. “Don’t hurt him.”

“I’m going back to the house,” says Anti. “You keep your distance until I’m ready to deal with you.”

“No, we’re done dealing with you,” spits Blue. “You’re leaving my family the hell alone.”

“If you want Trick alive, you’ll back off.”

Blue turns his head, but Ro is paralyzed, eyes wide with fear, and the light on his chest is dimming.

“Okay, Anti, okay. You got him. Just don’t hurt him. That’s all. Don’t hurt him.”

nikkilbook asked: You’re afraid, Jackie. That’s okay. What will you do with that fear? What story do you need to tell right now? We will be your audience.

Jackie tries to look over at you, tries to move at all, but he feels stuck, frozen, useless. The light on his chest flares and then dies away. Jackie grips at it, panting.

“Don’t,” he manages. “Don’t, I - I -”

Can’t lose him. Can’t save him. Can’t move.

He can hear Anti shouting and gasping, can see him stumbling in Trick’s body as he begins to stagger away. Blue is crying out too, his voice getting shrill with anger and helplessness.

“Don’t shoot him! Don’t hurt him! Anti, stop, stop!”

But Jackie remembers the promise he and Anti made: this is the last time we play this game.

And Anti’s just realized that he is losing.

Jackie feels his body shaking hard.

What is he willing to do to win?

“Your audience, huh?” he hears Anti shrieking, aiming that gun at the nearest camera for a moment, Trick’s clear blue eyes flashing. “You think you can be here while you make yourself a weapon against me? You were only ever here for my entertainment. But now you’re not fun anymore. You think you get to watch without my permission?”

Your cameras begin to flicker and glitch. Blue makes a leap at Anti and you hear a shot go off, sending Blue scrambling back. Somewhere, you hear Shep shout, but you’re losing vision fast.

Jackie turns shakily towards you and scoops the camera up in his hands. Like he can protect you. Like he can protect anything.

“Don’t, don’t,” he manages again.

“Sorry, watching gaze,” sings Anti, coughing and laughing and speaking all at once, his gaze wild. He spits and Trick’s blood stains the grass, making him wheeze and choke. “Guess you don’t get to see how this story ends! Such little loyalists, but so fucking powerless, as always.”

“Anti! Let Trick go! Please! You can’t win like this!”

“Don’t, don’t. Don’t. Anti.”

Anti unloads the gun into one of the cameras and your vision cuts off. Jackie pants, hiding you against his chest, but you are slipping away, the connection snapping and flickering, your vision going dark as your audio glitches.

“We’re done. You are just a remnant of Jack, just like everything else, and I am sick of holding on.”

Blackness. His voice dying out.

“Say goodbye.”

You’re gone.

Dark screens and silence on the monitor in front of you.

You wait for long hours, but nothing in the darkness moves or speaks your name.

They’re gone.

.

Anonymous asked: We're still here. We may not be able to see you or do anything without that sight, but we're still here.

For a moment on the next day, you get flickers of them, buzzing on just one screen and flickers of a pair of blue eyes.

“Are you - can you - why can’t we - guys? They’re still - can’t - Anti - ”

They cut in and out and then disappear again, leaving everything quiet.

.

Anonymous asked: Jackie if you can see this and you're still having trouble getting the cameras back up, consider going to Shep; he helped Schneep and Trick earlier and maybe he'll get Gigi to override something?

There’s a slight flicker on the screen of a single camera.

Voices fade in and out for some hours. Sometimes they’re yelling and sometimes they’re soft. You think Shep’s voice - or someone who sounds like Mark, anyway - is in the mix somewhere. And then, after a couple hours, with a slight buzz:

Google’s working on it.

(Image ID: a Google error screen reading ‘There was an error. Please try again later. That’s all we know.’)

.

Anonymous asked: Are we completely cut off? Is there anything we can do? We'll wait if we must, we're certainly not giving up now.

“Oh, there’s one of them,” comes a deep, rumbling voice. “Yes, we got that one. Hold on, now. I think I can get in now. I would have been faster if your brother would help me take down his own defenses.”

The voice is slightly snide, but there’s nothing but irritable silence in reply.

aether-mae asked: Woah what?? What?! Where’d they go?

“Oh, there they are, there they are,” breathes a yet more familiar voice, and then your video comes back to life. Blue pulls the camera eagerly towards him, patting the side like a little pet he’s fond of. “We were wondering the same thing about you! Oh, thank goodness. Can you hear me? And see me?”

“Yes,” says Google flatly, sitting back beside Blue. “They can.”

Blue shoves Gigi’s arm, flashing him an annoyed look before turning back to you. “Fuck, I really thought Anti just took the system down permanently and we’d never hear from you again. It’s been a frantic couple days.”

He runs a shaky hand across his face and gives a weak laugh. “Feel like I’m about to snap. We’ve been able to stay with Shep and the rest of these guys while we try to figure out how to get the others back. Okay, I’m glad you’re back. Please, you have to tell me everything that’s been going on with the others. Is Trick okay?”

Anonymous asked: Sorry Blue, but we have no idea if Trick's okay. We haven't seen anything at all since Anti shut down the cameras.

Blue’s face sinks, his smile disappearing. He leans back beside Gigi and touches his mouth, eyes flickering away from you.

“You knew this was a possibility,” says Google coolly.

Blue punches his shoulder again, without even looking.

“No luck?”

The voice is accompanied by footsteps and Shep’s legs pass by your view for a moment before he heads to the kitchen, banging cupboards and dishes. Google rolls his eyes, annoyed already.

“We got it working, but they haven’t seen the others,” says Blue, putting his face in his hands. “Anti could have killed them.”

Shep hums. “Seems like it’s you two he wants dead right now, not the others.”

“I guess,” mutters Blue. “But I promise you they’re not happy over there.”

“So what now?”

“No clue,” Blue answers, tearing skin off his lips until the blood comes, his eyes faraway. “No clue. Storm the house, I guess…”

Anonymous asked: Uh, what? How would we know if Trick is okay? Apparently we haven't been... conscious? Online? Uhhhh, watching, for a few days. Is he not with you guys?

“No,” sighs Blue. “I know Anti cut off our cameras, but I assumed he left the ones at the house still on so you could talk to Trick and Dok and Dap and Anti. No, it’s just me and Ro here. Well, and Dark’s soldiers. We’re in one of Dark’s houses.”

He gives Google a glare. Google glares right back, but after a moment the irritation falls away from them both and they’re just sitting side-by-side, tinkering with the camera like they have been for days.

“You’ll have to slaughter that little monster if you want your siblings back,” says Gigi.

“I agree,” answers Blue firmly. “And I’d be happy to. But right now I’m flying blind and Ro’s a little indisposed, making it pretty much me up against that overpowered megalomaniac.”

Shep pipes up from the kitchen. “Well, I bet Dark would be willing to - ”

“Incorrect,” Gigi interrupts him. “Dark will expend no further time, energy, or manpower on Anti. We’ve had enough. Red and Blue are alone in this.”

Blue punches Google’s leg one more time. This time, Gigi reacts - he grabs Blue by the shoulder and throws him right over the back of the couch they’re sitting on. You hear Blue shriek with indignation and Shep start laughing from the kitchen. Google meets Blue’s gaze as he drags his head back up over the couch.

“Okay,” grumbles Blue. “Maybe I deserved that.”

Google’s mouth twitches. “Don’t hit me again, asshole.”

“You’re the asshole.” Blue punches him very gently in the back of the head. “Asshole.”

ari-trash asked: What happened while we were gone? Who's left?

“Oh, boy.” Blue shrugs, hauling himself back over the couch. “Me and Ro are here in Dark’s houses. There’s some other guys here, like Shep and Dark and Wil and Gigi and, uh, the twins. I think their names are like Jimmy and Jay or something. And that doctor, Ippy, was here yesterday. But yeah, it’s just been me and Ro.

“After Anti left with Trick, we tried to go warn Dok and Dapper, but we think they might have headed back to the house, or Anti was able to convince them he was Trick - or just drag them home, I don’t know. But we’re fairly certain they’re with him. We’ve just been trying to reconnect with you guys, cleaning up after the fire, and looking after each other a little. Ro kind of had a breakdown after the fight. He’s not really adjusting well to not being at home. It was a little too much change for him all at once. He’s been… a handful. Mostly for himself. But we’re working on it. I’m going to need him to get the others back. He just needs some rest. I hope.”

Anonymous asked: What's wrong with Jackie???

“It’s not… it’s not wrong, you know, like it’s okay that he’s… he’s just upset and sometimes when Ro is upset it’s like…”

Blue lets out a deep breath and buries his face in his hands one more time.

The good news is that Blue himself looks - well - absolutely wonderful. Looking up at you, you can see that his cheeks are ruddy and his skin is clear and sun-touched. His hair has gotten long enough that it has begun to curl at the fringe like JJ’s does, soft and snowy white, making his blue eyes burn despite the film still lingering over them. Whether it is his eating habits at Dark’s house or just the way he carries himself, upright and energetic, he looks fatter and sturdier, his form a little more filled out. His t-shirt is clean and he lounges in sweatpants slightly too big for him and fuzzy red socks, someone’s black gauges pushed into his ears. Stress lines his face and it’s clear he hasn’t seen much sleep, but for the most part, it’s nice to see him looking well again - well and ready to kick ass, if he could only figure out a gameplan.

“Ro’s just upset,” Blue finishes, shrugging his shoulders. “And he can’t stop being upset and that’s not his fault. Lots of screaming and freaking out. I can’t really get him to talk about it. Don’t think he can really express it right now.”

“You should go tell him the cameras are on,” says Shep. “Yeah? He’d be happy to know that, I’m guessing.”

Blue nods slowly, chewing on his lip. “Yeah… yeah, okay. He would like to see you guys. I’ll go see if he’s up.”

ari-trash asked: I mean, considering everything he's been through in such a short amount of time he's got a good reason to be upset. All that stuff sounds very overwhelming. I hope he'll be able to calm down soon though. But also- it's good to see you not absolutely miserable Blue. You look a lot better

“Oh, thanks,” says Blue, glancing down at himself, though he only seems to frown a little. “I feel better.”

He plucks at his hair and clothes, mouth tightening. “Kind of feel like things have been overwhelming for months for all of us. I think he just needs to recharge a little. Maybe a lot.”

“Hey, I’ll have dinner ready in twenty,” calls Shep as Blue gets to his feet and moves down the hall.

“Thanks, Shep. I’ll see if we can’t get some real food in him today instead of just peanut butter and orange soda.”

Blue walks you upstairs towards a sturdy door at the end of the hall. He creaks the door slowly open and peers inside, pulling back when he finds nothing but a bundle of blankets curled up on the bed inside the room.

“He’s asleep, I guess,” says Blue quietly. He reaches out to flick the lights off and leave his brother in peace. “I’ll check in with him - ”

“Hey!” screams Jackie, loud enough that Blue gives full-bodied jolt, swearing aloud. “Hey - the lights!”

“Okay, okay,” says Blue, scrambling to turn the switch back on. “They’re on, it’s fine!”

Jackie stares up at him, a blanket draped over his head, his eyes bloodshot and exhausted. After a second, he seems to register that it’s Blue. He closes his mouth and glances up at the lights, flinching a little as they burn against his eyes. He mumbles and curls back up in bed, hiding under the covers.

Blue sits down heavily on the bed beside him and touches his back. Ro groans and throws his hand off.

“Wanna go get some dinner, my dear?”

“This is not my house,” says Jackie flatly. “This is not my house.”

“I know it isn’t, bud.”

Anonymous asked: Oh uh... is this normal? I hope this isn't a rude question, it's just that he sounds to be kinda out of it ":<

“Well, he gets all mopey and tired after most of his meltdowns, but this has been like a two-day long meltdown and he’s still really upset. Which I haven’t really seen since Anti beat the hell out of him around Christmas, and even then he was mostly just shaky and lashing out. So this is a little bit on the extreme end of things for him. But it’s okay to need a break sometime, bud.”

Blue pauses to sigh, scratching at the back of his head. “To be honest, for as horribly as Anti treats him, Ro is used to living the way Anti makes us live. He’s used to having the others to look after. He’s used to having to be on the lookout all day for Anti to come hurt us. He’s used to doing what he’s told and knowing that Anti is watching all the time and buying our groceries and knowing what’s in the fridge and where we’ll get our water and what we’re all doing and… everything. And Anti is the devil we know - as opposed to Dark, who’s new and can mess with us pretty easily if they want to. Anti’s in control, yes, but Ro has played within the boundaries of his control for more than a year now. Even when he was in Colombia, he was still living like Anti was looking over his shoulder most of the time. Anti’s our normal even if normal sucks ass. And now normal’s gone. All of it. I’m happy about that, but I’m neurotypical, you know? Change is change and this was too much at once for him. And that’s okay, love. That’s okay.”

Ro doesn’t stir. His hands are over his ears.

“I do need you to try and eat something today, though,” says Blue. “And maybe get that hoodie washed? If you think you can - ”

“This is not my house!” shrieks Jackie, digging his nails into his palms. “This is not my house! I want to go back to my room!”

“Ro, you know we can’t – ”

“I want my little brothers!” he screams. “Now, now, now!”

“Okay, okay,” Blue tries to soothe, voice soft and hands outstretched, but you can see him gritting his teeth and taking deep breaths. “Honey, let’s just focus on right now. We’ve got all our nice blankets and we’re all full and warm – ”

“I don’t want that!” Jackie throws his blanket to the ground and you hear him just scream with frustration, sitting down hard on the bed and rocking himself back and forth, moaning. “I don’t want to be in this house, this is not my house, I want my brothers!”

“Why don’t I get you a little water and we can try to calm down?” offers Blue gently, getting up. “I’ll be right back, okay? Here, I – ”

“No, no, no!” cries Ro, leaping to his feet to grab Blue and pull him back from the door, wrapping an arm possessively around his waist. “No, you can’t go out there!”

“Babe, put me down right now, I swear,” says Blue, his composure breaking. “You were fine with me walking around the house earlier. Nothing has changed. Rose, we are okay, I promise.”

But Ro is just babbling now, squeezing Blue’s waist too tight. Blue flinches as his fingers dig into his waist. “Don’t go! Don’t go out there, you can’t, can’t, can’t. They’ll hurt you! I want you to stay here with me!”

“Red!” shouts Blue, shoving him off him, slapping his hands. “Cut it out, now!”

Ro bursts into sobbing, sinking down onto his knees and curling up on himself, tearing at his hair. You see Blue turn away from him, hands raised, trying to take deep, deep breaths.

“It’s not his fault, it’s not his fault,” he mumbles, taking a second to rest his forehead against the side of the door. “Okay, we’re fine, okay. I need a fucking break, holy shit. Okay, sweetie, we’re okay.”

Jackie buries his face in his charred, stinking hoodie and cries, scratching at his hands and rolling himself back and forth, back and forth, back and forth. Blue sits down heavily in the chair by the desk in the corner and tries not to cry too.

“I want to see them too, honey,” he says. “I’m scared too. We’re going to find a way to save them soon.”

nikkilbook asked: ....Marv, ask Shep or Google or somebody if they have a copy of Into the Spiderverse. Maybe bring it in and have it be playing quietly next to him.

“Into the - okay, yeah. At this point, I’ll take any help.”

Blue gets up, leaving Ro sobbing into his blue hoodie. Jackie screams when he leaves the room, but he doesn’t come after him now, just burrows further into the cloth, kneading his fingers against the fabric until his crying quiets a little.

Stepping into the hall, Blue finds Shep downstairs in the kitchen, dishing out bowls of beef and rice and green onions in a sweet brown sauce. Host sits at the kitchen table with him, holding a mug of coffee in his hands. His cat sits at his feet, blinking her big eyes.

“We might have some melatonin or something if that would help,” says Shep.

“He’s plenty tired,” says Blue. “Just upset every time he wakes up. Hey, do you have a laptop I could borrow? Or something to watch a movie on.”

“Yeah, Dark tried to get Wil a tablet, but he just never developed an interest in any technology post-TV. It’s probably in that room he never uses. I’ll grab it for you.”

“Thanks.”

Host sips at his coffee and reaches for a beef bowl, sat beside Blue as he waits.

“I’ve never seen Dark let strangers stay in these houses before,” he says, smiling coyly. “They must be… grateful.”

Blue watches him coldly, mouth pursed. “Or they want something from us.”

“I think they’re confused,” answers Host. “It’s a new state of being for Dark, and hence - new, unexpected character choices. Terribly exciting, isn’t it?”

Blue sighs, shoulders slumping a little as he sits back against the table. “The lot of you are even stranger than my family, do you know?”

“That is not a new state of being,” replies Host genially. “And it is how I like things.”

Blue can’t help but smile a little. Shep comes back and hands him the tablet. “Take some dinner too. And the peanut butter, in case.”

“Thanks.” Blue scoops up a pair of bowls, the jar of peanut butter, and the tablet.

“Marvin,” says Host.

Blue stops short.

He feels his breath catch in his chest.

“You’re not even trying to use that name,” laughs Host. “Why?”

“How did you know that was my name?”

Blue whirls on Host, eyes flashing. Host smiles back at him. A line of blood runs out from beneath his bandages.

“You’re not the only one here with power,” says Host. “Answer the question… for the readers, dear.”

Blue snarls, lip curling, but his eyes flicker over to you - and then away again, the rage freezing over inside him.

“Marvin failed,” he says coldly. “Blue will not.”

He turns his back on Host and stalks back to his borrowed room.

.

“Hey, honey,” he sighs, sitting down on the bed with his brother. “I got food and a movie. You’re supposed to like this one, huh? Want to watch? Spider-man?”

Jackie doesn’t crawl out from under his covers.

Blue’s shoulders sink. He sighs again and sits back against the headboard of the bed moodily, putting the tablet on his lap. It’s easy enough to search and find the movie on a Netflix account titled “WIMBLETON.” He clicks play and spaces out, eating his rice and beef. It’s good. Sweet. He’s not really hungry.

Jackie is a curled up warmth at his side. Blue tries not to touch or bother him. After a few minutes, he’s able to sneak out of bed and turn the lights of the room off, leaving only the tablet playing. Jackie shifts for a second, but doesn’t protest. Blue breathes a sigh of relief and sits down beside him again.

He doesn’t remember falling asleep, but by the darkness that has fallen outside, he can tell it’s been hours by the time he wakes up to the sound of his brother humming under his breath.

“Ro?” he croaks, rubbing at his face. “What’s going on?”

“What?” asks Jackie absent-mindedly.

He’s clinging to the tablet as Miles leaps off the side of a building, bobbing along to the music, a spoon full of peanut butter stuck in his mouth. He pulls it out clean and makes the whole bed shake with how hard he’s nodding his head, humming to himself.

“Did you restart the movie?” asks Blue.

“Mm-hmm,” nods Ro, drumming his fingers along the side of it.

“How many times?”

Ro shrugs, putting his head down on Blue’s shoulder.

“You’ve been rewatching the same movie for hours? You know you’re logged into Netflix. You can watch whatever.”

Ro shakes his head, eyes glued to the screen.

Blue can’t help but chuckle. “Okay. That’s fine. Are you feeling better?”

Jackie blinks, glancing over at Blue for the first time. After a second, his eyes drag back to the screen.

“Dunno,” he says.

“Okay,” says Blue, rubbing his shoulder, and this time, Ro leans into his touch. “That’s okay, bud. Maybe you can eat some beef and rice too?”

Jackie doesn’t look up, but over the next few minutes he lets Blue switch out his peanut butter spoon for a spoon full of rice and sauce and beef instead. Blue feels something settle inside him as his brother stares wide-eyed at the screen and then, when the movie is finished, hits ‘play again’ another time.

“Maybe I can put your hoodie in the wash while you’re all comfy?” offers Blue.

“Max gave me this hoodie,” replies Jackie instantly.

“I know, honey. Come on, love, quick.”

He helps shimmy the hoodie off Jackie. His brother makes a few mumbles of protest, but Blue wraps the heaviest blanket around his shoulders in lieu of the hoodie and hurries off to put the soot-stained sweatshirt in the wash while his brother’s eyes are still glued to the movie.

“You’re up late,” comes a quiet voice from the living room.

Blue pauses, blinking in the lowlight. There’s a faint blue glow in the darkness. “You don’t sleep?”

“Why would an android sleep?” asks Gigi.

“Well, you just sit around all night?”

Google shrugs. Blue stares at him for a moment, listening to the chirruping of the crickets and the weaving wind through the grass outside.

“I’ll bring it up to you,” says Gigi. “When it’s done in the dryer.”

“Thanks,” says Blue.

“It’s not personal,” answers Google dryly. “I just want your brother to stop shouting.”

“Right,” hums Blue, raising a skeptical eye. “That’s your job, huh? To stop chaos?”

“Prevent discord,” snips Gigi.

Blue chuckles. He steps over to give Google a punch in the shoulder.

“You gonna miss me when I’m gone?” he asks.

“You and your brothers can come stay here again anytime,” says Gigi quietly. “Just don’t cause me any more problems.”

Blue feels his mouth curl up into a smile. He touches the side of Google’s head and drifts back towards the stairs.

Jackie’s still immersed in his movie. Blue doesn’t mind.

“Do we need to talk about stuff?” asks Blue gently, touching his arm. “Or just watch movies and sleep?”

“Just watch movies,” says Ro.

“We might need to talk tomorrow. I’m worried about you. Just watching movies isn’t going to make this all okay.”

“Okay, Blue.”

“Okay, sweetie. Good night.”

He lies down at Jackie’s side. His brother puts a hand on his arm and rubs soothing circles into his skin.

Blue falls asleep to the sound of SpiderHam and his brother’s humming. It’s not so bad.

nikkilbook asked: Host, may I ask a favor? Could I maybe borrow Boots Moses for a bit? The Queen used to watch over Jackie when he needed it, but obviously she’s not here right now. Would Boots Moses be okay with curling up with/on him for a bit?

Also, and this is random, does anyone here have a lava lamp? Or maybe a weighted blanket?

You will get no answer from the Host.

And yet it is late that night when the door creaks slightly open and a cat meanders in, swishing her fluffy dark tail. Ro tears his eyes away from his movie just for a second, startled.

Host’s cat leaps up onto the bed. Jackie startles, glancing over at Blue, who just turns over in his sleep.

Jackie breathes in and then out, glancing around the room. He stares at the door, waiting for someone to come get their cat, but no one comes.

He reaches out and then pulls his hand in again. What if this is a trick? What if this Dark again with one of their smoky shadow cats? Or Anti, come to get him and take him away again? Or -

Moses puts her head against his hand.

Carefully, he lets his fingers rub down her warm fur.

She crawls into his lap and makes himself comfortable. She’s a soothing weight. He hesitates for a few minutes, but no one comes to get her.

Jackie curls up in bed and pets the cat on his chest, feeling a little clearer.

“Mhhh,” he hums, running his hands over his fur.

He glances over at you for the first time since you came back.

Gently, Jackie sets you on the bedside table. He doesn’t have any words for you right now - just big eyes and a fatigue in his face.

“Tell me if you see my little brothers,” he signs, sinking down in his bed at Blue’s side. “Please.”

He glances at the clock and realizes how late it is. He should try to sleep. He closes out of his movie - but two minutes later, his own thoughts are suffocating him and he feels himself rocking back and forth, bound to wake up Blue. He puts the movie on for audio instead, listening to the sounds of Miles running around the city.

His whole body is buzzing. Nothing in this room is familiar. He doesn’t know where any of his brothers are except his Blue. And it’s his fault. He was the one who -

No! He can’t let himself start spiraling again! He can’t go back to that.

Jackie pulls Moses onto his chest and wraps Blue’s arm around himself. He stacks up all the blankets they have and lays them across his legs and chest. He curls into Blue’s warmth and closes his eyes, and he listens. He listens.

He can’t always get out of his own head on his own. Right now, he needs something to ground him.

“Alright, let’s do this one last time…”

.

Anonymous asked: *pokes anti* *poke poke poke* bitch

He seems to be giving you the silent treatment, though there is a flicker of static in one of the cameras.

aether-mae asked: You’re being such a comforting brother rn Marv, good on u. And Jackie ur being so brave I’m very proud (sending again cos I think the first message died)

Blue blinks awake with the sun and your messages, rolling over and finding Jackie shifting as well. “Oh! Hey, you got some real sleep!”

Jackie squints up at him, shading his eyes from the sun. He burrows back down under the covers.

Blue chuckles and burrows down after him. “Hey. How are you feeling?”

“Everything,” grumbles out Ro, rubbing at his face. “Sorry…”

“For what?”

He shrugs, turning away from him. Blue rubs at his back and sits up, buoyed by his brother seeming to have calmed down a little for now.

“Oh, I don’t know if I was all that comforting, haha. I tried but I don’t always know what he needs… usually we don’t have anything comforting around so he and I would just sleep or I’d try to get him a hot shower or something. Geez, are you a big movie buff, Rojo?”

“I like Spider-man,” he mumbles.

“You have been brave, Ro. What you did, stopping Dark and Anti, and then dealing with all this. I’m proud of you.”

“Come on, don’t treat me like a kid.”

“What? Hey, I’m not! Ro.”

He turns his brother over, flopping down halfway on top of him and making Jackie grunt.

“Hey,” Blue repeats, squeezing his shoulder. “I’m really, really proud of you.”

Jackie sniffles, his eyes getting wet again. He shrugs and closes his eyes, sinking down against his pillows. Blue lets him relax and gets up, changing into a different t-shirt and tidying up the room a little.

Anonymous asked: Jackie you gave Blue his magic back, we didn't even know if that was possible but you found a way! And more than that, you took the control over Blue AWAY from Anti, and that scares the shit out of him. He's scrambling for control over what he has left. He doesn't want us to know what he's up to until he feels like he has the upper hand again. Your brothers aren't safe now but damn it, we won't stop trying until that changes. We'll make sure you all get your way of life back AND get to keep it

Jackie’s mouth pulls up in a smile even as he hides his face shyly against Blue’s shoulder.

“He is scared of me,” he agrees. “I wish I could have recognized that a long time ago. But back then all I thought I could do to survive him was take what he gave me and hope it didn’t kill me.”

“You did save me,” Blue adds, touching his hair. “I was so tired, Ro.”

“It still didn’t fix your eyesight…”

“Don’t worry about that,” says Blue. “That’s Anti’s fault too. You already saved me from all the rest of it. We’ll get the others back, Red. For now, you need to be steady enough that you’re able to help me get them back. So when we talk about routine and sleep and eating better and helping you manage stimuli and all that shit - well, if it makes you feel better, you can know you’re doing it for them.”

Ro sighs, lying his head down on his pillows. You’re suspended above them in Blue’s hands, and the camera is nice enough that you can see the lashes above their eyes and the feeling of togetherness that moves where their bodies touch.

“I’m scared, Blue.”

“Me too,” answers Blue honestly. “But we’re together and we’ll figure this out.”

That small smile grows on Ro’s mouth. He nods, just once, clinging to Blue’s hand.

“Can I tell you something selfish?”

Blue blinks at him. “Of course. What’s up?”

“I’m… really glad you got caught too. In Norway. Sorry. But I don’t know what we’d do without you. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

And it makes Blue smile back. After a moment, he turns his eyes away, and you catch a glimpse of the grief he carries over what’s happened to him - but he squeezes Jackie’s hand once more.

“In the end,” he says. “I’m glad too. As long as it means I can help you all now.”

They hold each other in the morning warmth.

“You ready to get out of this room a little?”

“Not yet, please,” Jackie answers. “I think I’ll freak if I see Dark or anyone like that. Feel like my brain’s just fuzz right now.”

“Okay. You can stay in here. I think you should try and get a shower when you’re up for it though, okay?”

“Okay. That can be the goal for today. That… and figuring out our plan for getting them back.”

Anonymous asked: Hey Marvin, maybe get some earmuffs or headphones for Jackie for noise, some gloves to block out textures? A calming routine and fidget toys would help as well. Watch for distress and try intervening before the meltdown, and be there for comfort and safety since you're a trusted person for him. And Roser, you're doing great, and you'll be okay. As a fellow autistic I know how awful big changes can be. Focus on finding ways to adjust to a new normal and things that help calm down.

“We have gloves, we’ve most always got gloves, luckily, cause his touch-aversion - skin aversion? - is pretty serious. Headphones - now that might be a really good idea. Maybe someone has something around here somewhere.”

Blue sits back down at the side of the bed as Jackie sits up again. “I think they’re right about getting some routine. We had a lot of routine back at the house. Getting up, checking on everybody or waiting for our door to be unlocked. Going to get water or helping Trick cook breakfast. And then kind of… doing whatever Anti said. But our day was always segmented up. Does that help?”

“Nothing’s going to help,” murmurs Jackie. “I just want my own house and my brothers. I don’t want this to be the new normal.”

“Well, it needs to feel a little normal for now, right? Just a couple days. Like when we would travel all of a sudden. How did you deal with things then?”‘

“I had the others then,” answers Jackie, his expression twisting like the question doesn’t even make any sense. “I had to look after them.”

“How does that relate to having a meltdown?”

“I don’t know,” shrugs Jackie. “That’s… that’s the stability. They are the stability.”

Blue purses his mouth, nodding slowly, trying to think.

“Okay. Well, that’s maybe a little co-dependent, buddy.”

“I know,” Jackie sighs. “But it’s always been like this.”

“I’m here, though, right?”

Jackie looks up at him, his watery eyes clearing a little. You see a slight smile on his face. “Yeah. You are.”

Blue squeezes his gloved hands. “Maybe we can start working on some routine and see if that helps anyway. Try to find some headphones and some stim toys.”

“Might help, I guess. But right now it’s mostly just about… not having them and me… me…”

“What? Hey. Look at me. Well - you don’t have to. But you usually do. What do you mean?”

Jackie’s tears spill over his cheeks. “Me being the one who stood up to Anti. I’m the one who got Trick hurt like that. Now they’re all with a pissed-off, terrifying Anti because of me.”

“That’s not - hey! That’s not true. Come here.”

Blue wraps himself around Jackie, laying them both back down on the bed and holding him tight while Jackie cries again, but quiet this time, quiet and tired and guilty.

Anonymous asked: This can't hurt to try... Dapper? Dok? Can you hear/see us?

“If I could just see them for a second,” sobs Jackie. “But I can’t and he could be doing anything to them while I’m lying here watching movies on repeat.”

“Don’t beat yourself up, come on. Ro, you protected us.”

“I’ve never been away from all three of them, never as long as I can remember… at least in Colombia I had Dapper. Now I just have to sit wondering what he’s doing to them.”

“We don’t have to just sit. We don’t have to. We’ll figure this out, I swear. Shit, he really won’t let the cameras see them? Fuck him, fuck.”

Anonymous asked: The second we see the others, we'll let you know, okay? I can't pretend that they're going to be in great shape, but they have to be alive. Schneep is an asset to keeping Dap healthy and obviously Trick is serving as a hostage to keep you all in line. It's far from ideal, but we can and will help you in any way we can.

“There’s no way he’s killed them, right?”

Blue bites down on his lip, holding Jackie’s head against his chest. “I don’t think so. I think they’re right. Not… not Dapper and Trick, for sure.”

Ro lets out a long, shaky sigh, gripping him close. “I won’t be able to handle it if something happens to them because of me.”

“It’s not because of you. It’s not. It’s because of Anti, Roser. No one else.”

Jackie rubs at his running nose, closing his eyes. “Do you think they’re hurting right now?”

Blue stares up at the ceiling.

Neither of them have an answer.

nikkilbook asked: What Anti does out of anger or fear or jealousy or whatever his deal is, that’s his choice and only he is accountable for it. You fought back to save your brothers, and you did an amazing, wonderful job. The only reason we’re in this situation is because evil grass boy doesn’t know how to take a frackin hint. It’s okay to be frightened for your brothers, but please try not to blame yourself. Take this time to put yourself back together. Make some basic routines and systems so you have some ground to stand on, and then re-enter the fray. Going back in as you are now will only tear you down further. Let yourself heal, Jackie. I’ll make sure your story has a happy ending.

“I just spent so long trying to be the one who takes Anti’s anger so the others don’t have to have it. And now that I’m standing up to him, Trick got hurt instead of me. Which sucks. But I’m starting to realize that he’s just always going to keep hurting all five of us. Cause maybe he’s just a dick, you know? He’s just a dick. And I’m mad he treated us all the way he does. Ugh.”

He rubs his hand over his eyes. “You’re right, though, that’s the thing. It’s nobody else’s job to try and make him less of a dick. He’s his own responsibility now and I am not leaving the rest of my family to deal with his shit for him when he’s never going to change. Grass boy, ha… he’s an asshole. I wish he wasn’t like that… spent a long time waiting for him to stop being like that… but he’s just not going to change and I have to put the others first. It makes me feel bad, but I can’t let that stop me.

“It’s hard to rest right now. My whole brain just buzzes all the time with how scared I am. But I do need to get myself back together a little bit. I’m just so glad Blue’s here. I’d be fucking terrified out of my mind if I were stuck in Dark’s house all alone. I couldn’t do it.”

He rests for a long time, just looking up at the ceiling, taking deep breaths, trying to think.

“Happy ending, ha… so weird. I really want to get all my brothers to safety, but a happy ending… I don’t even know what that would look like anymore. The nightmares aren’t going to stop, I don’t think. They haven’t for months. And I’m always scared even when I’m safe. Max is gone and all my brothers have been through hell. I feel like I’m going to die before I get any kind of ending, you know? Like how could I possibly… I don’t know. It’s not like I’m suicidal. I just really feel like I’m going to die soon.”

He chews on his lip, thinking it over.

“But that doesn’t bother me so much. Just as long as I can get the others free, please, and know that they’re safe when I go. And I’m trying to trust you. And him, too. Jack, I mean. That’s what he promised me, right?”

Jackie sits up in bed, finding Blue’s comb. He gets up and changes his clothes away from your view, coming back to stand in front of the mirror on the left wall and beginning to brush his hair.

His reflection follows him as he goes through the motions, trying to take care of himself. He barely recognizes the person who stands in front of him these days.

“Happy endings,” he mumbles, his eyes falling away from his own image. “I’m trying to trust you. Fuck, just let me have a chance to get them away from Anti. They deserve better. I… I deserve better. I do. I do, yeah.”

scunneredzombie asked: You do deserve better Jackie. Always have. All of you deserve it. You know what Jack said to JJ? "I made you all for happy endings." If things don't turn out perfect and fairytale-esque, that's fine, that's just how humans and trauma work. But I do think you can be happy again. I think you'll make it to the finish line, Jackieboy. We believe in you, and we'll be the audience you need to win this shit!!

“Hell yeah,” chuckles Jackie. “Yeah, you’re right. It doesn’t have to be a fairytale, but maybe we can find a little happiness anyway. I hope. Like, we served our time, yeah? That’s enough misery.”

He wipes at his tired eyes, his face beginning to regain its color as he wakes up.

“Okay. Okay. I’m alright. And I’m going to get my little brothers back - before the week is out.”

He turns and he gives you his smile.

Anonymous asked: Blue? I feel like we haven't had the chance to speak to you properly since at least Guatemala, before Anti hurt you and made you all kinds of sick. It's been a while and it's been a lot, just in general. I'm glad you're doing miles better than before and taking the time to look after Jackie but.... make sure you take the time to process YOUR feelings too. I know you like to put others ahead of yourself but we need you to be okay too.

You find Blue sitting on the porch outside the house, coffee between his hands. He stares down at the dewy grass. It’s nice to feel whole again, but sometimes, when he’s alone for too long, he starts to feel far away from the world again. Trapped inside his own body. Or somebody’s body. He doesn’t know whose anymore.

He remembers faltering to the ground. His knees hitting the earth were the last sensation before Anti filled him up like too much blood. Sometimes he would sleep, but sometimes, sometimes, he would see.

“I’m fine,” he says quietly. “Don’t worry about me.”

His hands have carved scars into Henrik’s back. His hands have hit Dapper. This body is not his own.

“I’m better now,” he says.

Or someone says. He doesn’t know whose voice anymore.

“I’ll kill him,” he says. “And then this will all be over. Done. We’re free.”

He has shattered the handle of the mug in his hands.

Anonymous asked: It is your body Blue. Change and time and pain have withered the flower, but there is still wick in those bones. Wick enough to sprout whole gardens. You have fought with the marred hands of a guerilla, freedom fighter to your core. You are cunning and powerful enough to inspire fear through fire, and kind and caring enough to wean entire forests to life. You are still you, still Marvin, still Blue.

He breathes out and clutches his hands. In answer, blooms from the earth - fern and foxglove sprouting from the earth. He sets his coffee down beside him and shakes his head, turning away from the flowers he has pulled up from the earth with a soul made from flame.

“I hate Blue and Marvin,” he whispers, wiping at his eyes.

Anonymous asked: Blue, killing Anti won't fix everything. You all have been through so many traumatizing things. It won't feel normal for a long time, even when you get away from Anti/kill him. You can't hold up that standard or I worry you'll fall into a depression or even more dissociation after he's gone. Nothing can fix everything. Nothing can take away the scars. But things can heal things can be happy again. You have to be willing to give it time to heal. I know patience is hard but you need it to move on.

Blue breathes out through gritted teeth, putting his face in his hands. White curls fall into his eyes.

“I think you’re underestimating how satisfying it’s going to be to slaughter that fucking monster,” he hisses, shoving his hair away. “I’ve waited long enough. We’re going to be fucking free of him. And then it won’t hurt.”

nikkilbook asked: Take a moment to breathe, Phoenix. You know me—Jackie’s always been my favorite. Once, that meant I took his side without thinking through yours. Today, it means I’ll watch out for him and help him process things while you take a moment to let things stop. You can be fine, you can be angry, you can be numb, you can be whatever. I’ll take care of your brother today. You take care of you.

Blue turns his face away, staring back down at the grass.

“Well, I’m fine,” he says roughly. “So thanks. Just look after him.”

He looks up at the gold glow of the sun over the heavy statues of the trees. The life of the whole forest seems to swell up inside him, vivid and glowing. He takes a deep breath and you see the flare of his magic in his eyes, passion blue.

It fades away again. He looks down at the grass. Dew and saltwater in the morning cool.

“Phoenix,” he mutters, wiping at his cheeks. “Right.”

Anonymous asked: Then become someone new, Azul. Make a new 'self' if the others don't feel right.

“Come on, guys, we don’t have to talk about this right now,” sighs Blue. “I guess you have a point. You do have a point. But I’m - I’m not fitting into any persona right now because…”

He looks down at his body, holding out his hands.

Suddenly he wants to vomit.

You watch him stagger to his feet, clutching his stomach for a second, but the feeling of his belly only makes him dry heave, covering his mouth. He can feel the coolness of his skin now and he ducks around the side of the house, shuddering as he sinks down into the grass and comes very close to throwing up his beef and rice and green onions, his face going pallid white. The suddenness of the panic has thrown him completely off his tough-guy act and all he does is sit with his fingers digging into the grass, panting, his pupils blown wide.

You watch him shake for long minutes. He doesn’t even have the presence of mind to be able to turn you away.

“Look at me, look at me,” he chokes out, voice trembling and body completed clammed up, shaking from how taut he is. “I hate… fuck, fuck… I’ll kill him. It’s not about the names, it’s not about Blue and Marvin. I just don’t want to be… him. This. Me. Ugh, fuck! I hope I do throw up, fuck this…”

Now that he’s said it, he does want it - the validation of being so sick it makes him throw up. He wants the taste of the bile and the rawness in his throat. He spits into the grass as his stomach rolls. He won’t do anything about it, he promises himself, but he just wishes that had made him throw up. He wants to eat something whole just to make himself feel sicker. He doesn’t know what, but the craving is so intense that it makes his mouth water.

He hides his face from you and closes his eyes.

“I just want to feel like this is my body again. And to… like my body again. I miss… I miss… me.”

ari-trash asked: You can look forward killing Anti, take joy and satisfaction from it too, but don't make that the only goal you have for healing

Blue is turned away from you, hiding. He hugs his shoulders and crouches there by the side of the house, exhausted.

“Fine,” he says weakly. “My goal would be to not be so ugly anymore.”

Anonymous asked: Forgive my bluntness Blue, but you are very clearly not fine. Is there anything we can do for you, honey?

“No, no,” whispers Blue, trying to get back to his feet. “I’m sorry. Forget it. I can’t be falling apart right now… keep it together, come on, a little while longer. I’m okay. Just don’t tell the others, that’s all I want. I need to sort this out and make sure the others are okay before we talk about this anymore. Otherwise I’ll just be useless to everybody. Thank you for asking, though. Just don’t tell Roser. We’ll worry about it later.”

nikkilbook asked: Hey, Google? Are you watching? Does Wilford happen to have any hair dye? Or colored contacts, maybe?

“This is my system,” answers Google.

Or you hear his voice, anyway. Your viewpoint on this new camera he’s activated appears to be… from his viewpoint. From his eyes. You can even see the rims of his glasses.

“I can see everything you can see until Anti activates his own cameras or kicks me off this server. Wilford’s hair is naturally that color. I do not know of any dye in the house. I do not know of any colored contacts in the house.”

Something throws your viewpoint suddenly to the right and Google’s glasses skew sideways through your vision, hanging off his nose.

“Sorry, Gigi,” comes a guilty voice from his other side. A football clatters to the ground beneath you. “Missed the shot.”

Google sighs deeply.

“If I see any, I’ll let you know.”

Anonymous asked: Blue... despite everything Anti has taken from you, first your brothers, your name, your memories, then your magic, right down to your appearance and autonomy.... You've never failed to get back up and realize that Anti's behavior and treatment isn't right. Every time you've stood up, he's knocked you back down further and further, and you still keep getting back up to fight for yourself and for your family. If that's not a phoenix rising from the ashes, I don't know what is.

Blue wanders out towards the woods, where a little trail snakes its way through the trees. You can watch him brush his hands along the solid, scratchy wood of their trunks, breathing the warm morning air and the smell of grass and earth.

He sighs out, slow and steady. Trying to be patient. Trying to be brave.

“Don’t worry about me,” he says, giving you a small smile. “Seriously… it’ll pass. Not much I can do about it right now. Once I’ve got Anti, that’s when I can start looking up.”

He finds another clearing further into the woods. The exercise makes him feel a little better - to feel his own heart beating, to know that it was his choice to walk out here, to connect with nature again. He remembers, vaguely, his own form of worship in woods like these, but not well enough to re-enact. Still, it’s always been nature, for him, that made him feel like there was more to the world than that which mortal men can plainly see. He doesn’t believe in God, but there is something out here, something alive and united and bigger than he is in the most reassuring way possible. He rests his hand against a tree once more and breathes.

The trees are still burned all the way out here. He finds himself standing before the torn trunk of a tree’s blackened remains.

He places his palm on the charred stump.

When he pulls it away, a single shoot of green is unfurling from the ashy remains of that which was dead.

He closes his eyes.

Anonymous asked: If you're certain on it then we won't tell Ro. But someone has to know how much you're hurting. You can't let yourself suffer alone, Marvin, not when there are people who love you and care for you. Could you talk to us, at least? Or Google if you've made friends with him? Suffering alone with dysphoria and mental turmoil will /definitely/ make you "useless to everyone." Better to get it off your chest to someone, anyone.

“You know,” he says gently. “You can tell the others later, if it’s still a problem then. We’ll talk again. But right now��� I’m okay. Just had a freak out for a second. I’m… fine. Or if not fine, then… I will be.”

He glances up. The sun flickers on the leaves of the trees. Squirrels dart through the branches above him and the earth scuttles with bugs. A chipmunk hops away from him, flicking its bushy tail. He chuckles, closing his eyes again.

“Anyway, I don’t feel alone out here.”

He lets himself cry for a while, hugging himself in this little corner of the forest. It only makes him feel uglier, his face going red and splotchy, but he can tolerate it for now, on his own and yet surrounded.

nikkilbook asked: Thank you, Google. Do you think Ippy could grab some next time he’s in town? Or one of the other guys that leaves the house regularly?

Or, wait—how much reality bending can the Host do? Does he just Know Things, or can he affect them?

“He will tell you that he can affect things, but he is grossly exaggerating. He can barely make manipulations and he certainly cannot create, despite what he may have convinced the others. Do not - I repeat, do not - trust anything that stubborn little asshole tells you.“

“I can hear you!” shouts a voice from upstairs.

“Good, fuckhead! Anyway. Ippy doesn’t live here most of the time but Shep sometimes does a grocery run on Saturdays.”

nikkilbook asked: Keep it together in phases. I’m going to be making sure that Jackie takes breaks, to work back up to fighting fit at a rate that won’t crack him open in a way that will take years to repair. You do the same for yourself. Come outside and wander through the woods. Lay on the grass and stare up at the sky. Do a body scan thingy so you can get more used to a body that does what you freakin tell it too. Don’t frame it like you have to keep it together for the rest of forever, no slip ups allowed. Keep it together for an hour or so, and then go from there.

“Those are some pretty good ideas,” he says.

So he does.

And you stay with him.

He watches the sky as the clouds move by, carrying the heavy luggage of the rain on their drifting way. He wanders a while more, until his cheap sneakers have carved blisters in the backs of his heels. He tries a body scan, but when the focus on his body makes him begin to panic again, he cuts it out and just sits down by a creek, trailing his hands through the water. After a while, he decides to start a fire just for fun, and you stick out of his pocket as he gathers up sticks and then lights a bright blue fire there in the middle of the forest, using the sand of the creek to stop any spreading. It makes him laugh just to watch the fire go up again.

He’s felt dead for a long time, but it’s nice to have some fire back, to warm his tired bones. Maybe soon, he can start to feel alive as well.

A cold smile curls on his mouth as he stares into the flame.

Maybe when Anti’s blood slicks his hand, he can start to feel alive again.

For now - for now. He sits. He rests. He breathes.

#chapter four

[jahaanofmenaphos]

Art by the awesome @tommieglenn!

Of Gods and Men Summary:

When the gods returned to Gielinor, their minds were only on one thing: the Stone of Jas, a powerful elder artefact in the hands of Sliske, a devious Mahjarrat who stole it for his own ends and entertainment. He claims to want to incite another god wars, but are his ulterior motives more sinister than that? And can the World Guardian, Jahaan, escape from under Sliske’s shadow?

Read the full work here:

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QUEST 07: DISHONOUR AMONG THIEVES

QUEST SUMMARY:

Due to his status as the World Guardian, Jahaan wound up as part of Zamorak’s heist team. Their task? Steal the Stone of Jas from Sliske and return its power to Zamorak. Jahaan gets to learn more about a god propaganda had always skewed, but will he be on board with Zamorak’s plan in the end…

CHAPTER 4: THE HEIST

Morytania. The cruelest and most unforgiving kingdom in all of Gielinor. Sure, you had the lawlessness of the Wilderness, but that was mere anarchy - bandits and small groups of various races and creeds carving out a little piece of something to call their own, no matter how corrupt it was. Morytania was organised chaos, apt as it was the only Zamorakian kingdom left in the world. Morytania was a land of darkness and evil, inhabited by various creatures secluded in the region, scarcely seen outside of the kingdom’s clouds. Such species include the vampyric race, werewolves, ghosts of unruly souls, ghasts and more. While some humans still remained, most of them were helpless under the tyranny of the vampyres.

During the Second Age, the northern and western areas of Morytania belonged to Zaros, while the southern parts belonged to Saradomin and were known as the ‘Hallowland’. Once Zaros was deposed by Zamorak, the new diety gave Lord Lowerniel Vergidiyad Drakan, a vampyre lord who followed Zamorak during the God Wars, permission to conquer Hallowland as a reward for his hand in the rebellion. It wasn’t long before Draken seized Hallowland for himself and renamed the city as ‘Meiyerditch’. The citizens were held in the city so that Drakan's vampyres could drink their blood as ‘tithes’. And so, Hallowvale turned into a blood-farming ghetto, the sky permanently darkened so that vampyres were no longer hampered by the sun. The death that Drakan brought destroyed the lands of Morytania. He turned fields into swamps, and any that died in their murky depths became undead known as ghasts. Lush forests were transformed into dead clusters of trees. Since its taking, Meiyerditch has been changed into an unrecognisable public squalor. The city is entirely isolated by massive walls on its north, east, and west side, and the south-eastern sea at its southern end effectively boxes the city in. To say that the conditions within Meiyerditch are terrible is an understatement. The city is overcrowded, with humans herded into small wooden apartments that have long since lost walls and roofs to the rot. Food is rare, and many are forced to eat rats to survive. Clothing and other basic necessities are also in short supply. All throughout the city, dying citizens can be seen huddled against walls and in the dark confines of alleys. The ghetto is divided into six sectors, each of which has a number of residents barricaded within. The inhabitants of these sectors pay forced blood tithes on a rotational basis, so as to prevent the large majority from dying of blood loss. Despite this ‘measure’, many citizens do not survive the tithes.

This is only a portion of the kingdom: Mort Myre Swamp lies in western Morytania, plagued by ghasts. It was once a beautiful forest by the name of Humblethorn, but was turned into a swampland once the evil denizens of Morytania descended. The Haunted Woods is a long-dead forest, the remnants of a once luscious and tranquil forest that spread across Morytania. However, when the vampyres arrived, the whole land began to decay and rot. Then there was Mort'ton, a village situated in Morytania, south of the Mort Myre Swamp. The town was once famed for its funeral pyres, though now it is populated by afflicted, strange zombie-like creatures that are the result of a disease which spread through the town some time in the Fifth Age, infecting the population. Nowadays, Mort'ton lies in ruins and, though the Sanguinesti Affliction is no longer contagious and does not present a threat to visitors, the afflicted citizens of the town still wander the streets, and derelict buildings and streets are prowled by shades of long-dead spirits, making the place even more hostile. Directly to the south was the ramshackle town known as ‘Burgh de Rott’ that served as the base for the Myreque rebels who fight to reclaim Morytania from the vampyres.

In the late Third Age, an army of Saradominist soldiers from Misthalin, led by six brothers - Ahrim, Dharok, Guthan, Karil, Torag and Verac - attempted to eradicate the evil creatures of Morytania. These commanders had been given extremely powerful sets of armour and weapons by a mysterious stranger, a follower of Zaros, and led their army with valour through the gloomy swamps of Morytania. Saradominist forces pressed from Paterdomus on the River Salve, all through Mort Myre Swamp, to the walls of Darkmeyer itself, the capital of the Sanguinesti region and the twin city of Meiyerditch. Darkmeyer was Drakan’s residence at the time. Here the brothers made a heroic but bloody and catastrophic stand against Drakan's forces, slaying many. However, as they did, the mysterious stranger that had blessed them before their campaign arrived and told them that they must die, and when they fought with Drakan once again, their powers were greatly diminished. They received horrific wounds and many of their soldiers were killed. The troops were forced to retreat back to their camp. The army tried to treat the brothers' injuries, but their wounds proved fatal, and they all succumbed to their injuries. The soldiers were distraught; they knew that without their commanders, their campaign would end in failure. So, pausing only to bury their dead generals in six barrows, they turned back and fled to their beloved Misthalin.It was here the Barrows Brothers were laid to rest, but they did not rest in peace, becoming the property of their new master and serving as his undead soldiers.A stone’s throw to the south of the Barrows’ graves was Sliske’s lair.

Without the aid of Moia’s teleportation, Jahaan doubt he would have made it on his own. At least, not for a year of so, and likely missing some limbs along the way. It seems as if everyone else had the same idea, arriving in flurries of magic one after the other.When Jahaan landed, he instantly wretched, the sudden onslaught of decay and rot assaulting his senses, the smell unbearable. He’d landed in sodden mud that coated him up to the ankle, scrambling to free himself before he sunk any further.Welcome to Morytania, he grumbled internally, shaking off a few flakes of mud which accidentally splattered onto the back of Zemouregal’s armour. Luckily he didn’t seem to notice.The assembled group quietly trekked through a tiny portion of the swamp until they arrived at the entrance Viggora had described. Prising open the hatch, Bilrach climbed down first to scout out the area, waving the all-clear after a few moments of scanning. However, when they all made it down, their hearts collectively sank.The tunnel was lit, torches protruding from the rocky walls, and on a plinth in front of them was a small handwritten note. Upon closer inspection, it appeared to be a poem, reading:‘A Poem for the Lost’Think no more of the bright, blue skies aboveYou can barely see five fingers raised in the darkThe green grasses you ran through as a child are goneNo longer surrounded on three sides by earth, wind and seaDoes your red blood even flow or heart beat anymore?North, east, south and west are all the sameOnly light and dark combined can guide you now

Using a small spark of fire magic, Moia burned the note, announcing what everyone was thinking, “He’s been waiting for us.”Instantly, Zemouregal snapped around to Jahaan and cornered him against one of the walls, growling, “Did you say something to that snake, World Guardian?” he spat the title as if it were a curse. “You were so chummy with Sliske and his Zarosian pals at the Ritual, after all.”Jahaan glowered up at Zemouregal, not letting the size difference put him off as he argued, “Hey, Sliske’s no friend of mine. Don’t you start throwing around bullshit claims you can’t back up, or we’re going to have a problem.”Roaring a chilling laugh, Zemouregal smashed a fist into the rocks behind Jahaan’s head, breaking of chunks as he did so. “Is that a promise, or a threat?”“Besides, Sliske can sense the Mahjarrat,” Jahaan defiantly countered, making a good show of not being fazed by the towering figure looming over him. “He probably tracked your movements!”“We’ve been here for mere minutes,” Zemouregal snapped back. “How could he-”“ENOUGH!” Enakhra shrieked, the flames in the torches flickering with cowardice as she did so. “It doesn’t matter how he knew - all that matters is that he does. Zamorak’s plan of stealth is null and void now. We have to charge through and make sure we get to Sliske before he disappears with the Stone again.”“Enakhra’s right,” Bilrach concurred. “Stealth would have been ideal, but we can’t waste anymore time. He’s waiting for us, that means he wants an encounter.”“So we need to go, now,” Moia finished, leading the way down the tunnel. Her momentum didn’t last long before she was surrounded by cave openings on all sides, clueless as to where to go first. Above each one was a coloured paint stroke.“Vich way?” Jerrod sniffed at the openings, trying and failing to catch a scent.“Oh blast, does anyone remember the poem?” Lord Daquarius asked, realising, “I think Sliske left us clues on that note.”Looking guilty, Moia didn’t answer. After cursing an unfamiliar word, Khazard snapped, “Useless halfbreed! We needed that!”“Well how was I supposed to know!” Moia whirled around. “And don’t you DARE call me-”“Blue skies!” Jahaan loudly cut in, silencing the quarrel. Once everyone was listening, he quietly repeated, “The poem mentioned blue skies. Look for something blue.”In moments, the group had found the blue paint stroke above one of the doors and quickly proceeded into the next tunnel.“Five fingers,” Jahaan stated the next clue he remembered, unsure as to how he could remember such a poorly written poem over the name of Lord-...fuck. Nevermind, the poem is more important.Pointing to a ‘V’ over one of the doors, Bilrach announced, “The Infernal symbol for five. This way.”They continued on like this, making light work of the rest of the tunnel system until they reached one last corridor leading to a large expanse. Upon brief inspection, it was a crudely constructed maze with wight guards patrolling at every turn.After peering out from their safe spot to survey the best route, Moia declared, “We’ll have to sneak past them. If we alert them to our presence, more might arrive.”“We can handle whatever comes our way,” Khazard declared, drawing his mighty longsword, the blade glinting in the low torchlight.His ears pricked to the never-ending footsteps of the marching wights, Bilrach countered, “We might get overrun. Who knows how many he can spawn? If we falter this early on, all this effort was for nothing.”Nomad stepped forward. “Leave it to me - these wights are no match for my prowess. I’ll deliver the Stone to Zamorak with ease.”Sliding in front of him, Zemouregal sneered, “Nice try, mage, but I wouldn’t trust you to deliver a letter. You’re not leaving my sight.”“Oh, and you think you have the power to stop me?” Nomad challenged, jeeringly. “How droll.”“When this is over, I’m going to deliver you to Death in parcels.”“Gentleman, please!” Lord Daquarius interrupted, the vain in his forehead bulging. “This is getting old. Let us but aside our petty differences and take down these wights together. We must not fail Lord Zamorak.”Wordlessly striding past Lord Daquarius with a self-righteous grin carved into his ashen face, Zemouregal summoned a bolt of smoke magic and blasted the closest wight to pieces before anyone could stop him. Instantly, five more rounded the corner, their green glowing eyes lighting up the end of the hall.“There. No more debating. You’re welcome.”From the sounds of the incoming footsteps, more wights were arriving.Summoning fire to her palms, Enakhra growled, “Zemouregal? You’re an asshole.”

From the looks of the scenery Jahaan passed as he slashed through the horde of wights, Sliske had clearly devised some elaborate stealth-based mazed, complete with glowing masks to avoid, patrolling wights to assassinate, and levers to toggle certain doorways and passages.The Zamorakians had botched all of that, charging through with the subtlety and grace of a fox in a hen house.Fortunately, they didn’t get overrun by Sliske’s wights. In fact, the danger they presented was more to one another, accidentally tripping over each other’s robes in such a narrow corridor, or sending a spell that shot past an ally a little too close for comfort, or straight up just running into one another as they barged through the wights.Yes, Zamorak would be pleased...

When the group made it past the wight guards and into the next room, they weren’t thankful for what greeted them; a narrow bridge, crowding them all together once more, that approached a large set of doors. A basic representation of Sliske’s face was painted upon them. Not egocentric at all…Embedded onto either side of the doors were two wooden masks; one, the picture of glee and mania. The other, morose and miserable. Enchanted, the pair of them - magical energy radiated from their carvings, and it allowed them the power of speech.“Welcome, welcome! It’s so nice to have guests!” the joyous one cheered, the positivity positively sickening.The dirgeful mask seemed to concur that his partner was annoyingly over the top, remarking, “Must you be so incessantly cheery all the time, Light?”“Oh come now, Shadow, we hardly have visitors,” Light tried to reason, its joyful energy never wavering. It’s voice was an over-enthusiastic replica of Sliske’s own, with the dial turned up to eleven. “Besides, they’ve made it this far. They’ve come to play our little game! Won’t that be fun?”“No. It won’t be,” Shadow grumbled. Like its mania-induced counterpart, this mask, too, spoke with Sliske’s accent and intonation. However, unlike its opposite - and indeed unlike Sliske himself - this mask’s voice sounded earnest, genuine, not a parody of emotion. “I suppose the sooner they leave, the sooner I can sleep and be rid of you. Fine, fine. Get on with it.”The elation (and subsequent irritation) of Light managed to increase tenfold. “Fantastic! Now, this game is rather simple, once you get the hang of it. There’s shadow and light energy gauges on this here door, and two of you must keep them balanced at all times. Thing is, the energy beams are in the Shadow Realm, so a couple of you more skilled fellows will have to open up a window into it for the others to connect themselves to the streams. A few delicate wights are lurking around with knowledge of how to crack the door’s code, so stealing their memories will make unlocking the door a doddle. Ah, but there are a few troublesome souls waiting in the wings to overrun you all, so you best delegate a couple of agents to defend against them. Careful, too much light or shadow energy will cause a bit of an explosion, and I’m not quite sure any of you would survive, which would be such a shame.”Shadow sighed with the world-weariness of a broken down furnace. “Just steal the memories of the wights, balance the energies, unlock the door, try not to die. You don’t need all that nonsense, Light. Just get to it.”Light sighed himself this time, but his had the hint of a chuckle. “You really are no fun, are you old chap? Nevermind. It’s time for these fellows to get cracking! Best of luck, you chaotic little so-and-so’s!”

The team quickly got to work after the masks grew silent. Jerrod would sniff out an undead guard and bring him to Moia for his memories to be read. Meanwhile, Nomad and Enakhra kept the shadow and light energy streams balanced, respectively, as Bilrach and Khazard used their prowess with the Shadow Realm to keep windows into it open. Zemouregal fought to defend the room from the undead hoard that tried to break through. When the wights ended up encroaching from all angles, Jahaan and Lord Daquarius ended up fighting them off too.

Low moaning echoed from the wight Jahaan tangled with. Once it was dead for good this time, he called out, “How’s everyone doing?”Looking around, he saw Enakhra and Nomad straining under the pressure of the energy beams, trying to keep them in balance.“We need more light energy!” Nomad called out, and he would get a brief moment of respite to relax while Enakhra all but crumbled under the increased pressure.Fighting under the weight, Enakhra shouted, “Moia, how much longer?”With her hands on a prayer-like motion, Moia channeled her focus into the wight Jerrod had brought before her as it struggled under the werewolf’s grasp. “Soon. I have three of the four runic symbols required.”This wasn’t reassuring enough for Enakhra who, unfortunately, crumbled under the weight of the beam, crying out as the energy engulfed her. Hearing this, Zemouregal shot around and charged towards Enakhra, throwing her out the way as he took the weight of the light beam himself. While Enakhra struggled to catch her breath, panting and choking from the pain, Zemouregal kept up his end of the beam long enough to rectify the damage his female Mahjarrat comrade had unintentionally inflicted upon the energy metre. Soon enough, it was Nomad’s turn to bear the pressure, but luckily, he managed it well. Still, this little switch-out had left Zemouregal's corner undefended. As there seemed to be less monsters coming into his section, Jahaan pulled double duty, running across the chamber to dispatch the conga-line of wights that had piled up in such a short amount of time. Eventually, Enakhra was recovered enough to defend against the wights, but she did not volunteer to retake the beam from Zemouregal. Naturally, she didn’t even say thank you.“It’s done!” Moia exclaimed, backing away from the guard she was harvesting a memory from and sprinting over to the door, quickly inputting the combination. As soon as the last symbol was twisted towards, the assault of the undead hoards ceased, as did the light and shadow beams.After a series of clinking metallic sounds from inside the door’s mechanism, it swung wide open.Inside, straight ahead, a platform, built for the Stone of Jas.But there was no Stone of that platform.There was only Sliske.

DISCLAIMER:

As Of Gods and Men is a reimagining, retelling and reworking of the Sixth Age, a LOT of dialogue/characters/plotlines/etc. are pulled right from the game itself, and this belongs to Jagex.

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#runescape #sliske #zemouregal #enakhra #nomad

[sansfangirl4life-blog]

Remnants Part 1

So...this is a short story based off some art my friend ReineofAbberants on DeviantArt did :3 This is post Pacifist Undertale btw. :3 Do enjoy!!!!

Remnants

He curled tighter on his messy bed, gripping at himself as the very shadows seemed to grip at him. No....nononononononono go away...y...you're....

"Come now...." A voice whispered, the sound like bubbling tar and death whispered against his skull. He covered his head as the shadows curled around him. Large, thin, bone white hands gripped at his shaking shoulders. "You know what to do..."

No....no you're dead.....dead! Leave....leave me be..... He gripped his skull tighter, scratching at it and leaving marks. You....you're gone...

"Gone? Oh...my dear Sans...." He shivered as his name was spoken and he felt a hand trail his spine. "I am never gone...you cannot be rid of me..." A face loomed from the dripping shadows, blank at first, but features seemed to crack on the surface, a twisted smile and one, wide eye. "I will have you...."

"NO!!!" Sans's eyes snapped open, his left eye aflame and glowing as he shot up, his chest heaving painfully. He gripped his chest as his breaths came in harsh pants. His Soul glowed slightly from under his plain white t-shirt. A....a dream.....bad dream..... He thought and looked down at his trembling hands. Right....surface.....no more Resets....safe.... He slowly moved and placed his socked feet on the floor, burying his face in his hands. He can't come here....he isn't here..... He stood and grabbed his blue hoodie and slipped on his pink slippers, small white eyelights gazing out the window. Been six months.....

He stretched and opened the window to his room, a cool, summer breeze filtering into his trashy room. His mattress was new, but still laying on the floor, fresh sheets on the bed, crinkled from his tossing and turning. He sighed and looked up at the moon shining brightly in the sky. I need some fresh air...yeah. That'll help. He teleported out of his room, unaware of the shadows that had slowly moved towards his feet.

Soon, my dear Sans......soon.

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Frisk looked at Sans worriedly as he walked with their small group. Frisk had invited everyone to go to the park and he looked at Sans as the shorter skeleton seemed to slump. "Are you ok Sans?"

"H-Huh?" Sans turned to him, dark circles under his eye sockets. "Yeah kiddo, I'm 'Sanssational.'"

"Oh my god Sans!" Papyrus called from the front of the group. "Enough of your insufferable puns!" Frisk giggled and Sans smiled. Undyne was ahead with Alphys on her shoulders, Toriel smiling and patting Papyrus as he groaned from yet another pun.

"Sorry Paps." Sans yawned and stretched lazily. Frisk gave Sans a worried glance and he chuckled. "Aww, don't worry kiddo. I'm just being my usual, lazy se-"

"Sans...." He locked up as a soft, gentle voice rang in his skull. "Look...this human has the Determination I need..."

No....no you're....not here....

"Sans?"

"Oh come now, my dear Sans.....did you truly think I was some bad dream?" Frisk took Sans's hand worriedly and he jumped a bit, yanking his hand away. "Look at him....I need it Sans..."

No...get out...of my head!!!

"Sans, are you really ok?" Sans's head snapped up and he looked at Frisk. The small boy tilted his head, and for a brief moment, Sans watched soft, brown eyes flicker red and the world around him shifted into that long, golden corridor. "You don't look good...."

"I...I'm f-"

"You see it, don't you Sans? This child could, at any time....become a threat...." Sans trembled, his bones shaking as his left eye slowly began to glow. "But we can stop that....stop this child from Resetting this world...permanently."

"Sans, you're hurting me!" Sans blinked and he looked down, his hand gripping hard onto Frisk's small shoulder. Black tendrils had coiled around his wrist, but they swiftly evaporated in the summer sun. "Sans....you really don't look good. Do you need to go home?" Sans shook a bit as the others watched him from a distance.  "Sans-"

"Yeah....sorry kiddo." Sans pat his head gently, his hands trembling. "I...I just need some sleep ok?" Frisk nodded and smiled. "See ya later, alright?" He focused on teleporting, but the moment he felt his body enter the Void, something black and tar like grabbed his leg. Wh-what?! No!

"Do not try to flee from me Sans....."

Get off of me!!!!  Sans struggled in the darkness of the Void, panic filling his Soul. Damn...damn! Fearfully he reached for a small opening in the Void and fell into it, crashing hard into the wall. He scrambled and kicked at the writhing tentacle that had grabbed him, watching it squirm and flail before fizzing away. "Gross....just....yuck..." He sighed and stood shakily, brushing his shorts off and looking around. Hey...wait....

He walked over to the nearby wall and flipped the switch. The light flickered on, dim from not being used in a long time. "My....lab?" Sure enough, the room around him was one he knew all too well. He dragged his fingers along the desk, dust sticking to bone as some fluttered in the air. "So I'm in Snowdin." He took a shaky breath and zipped his hoodie up. "It's cold here...chilled to the bone, eh?" He chuckled a little, trying to calm his nerves.

He brushed the dust off of an old blueprint that was sitting on the desk, they symbols strange but easily discernable by him. "Why here? Why did I teleport here?"

"Because I need you here." Sans jumped and turned around, his eye flaring. The wall near him held a tall, shadowy shape, a left purple eye glowing with fury and malice. The shadow itself seemed to drip onto the floor. "I need you Sans...."

"Screw you!" Sans raised his hand and fired at the wall, bones piercing it. The shadow chuckled, the sound reverberating through the small room. Sans covered his head as the shadow vanished from his sight. "What do you want?!"

"Come now, my dear Sans..." Sans felt hands slide on his shoulders and he spun around, aiming a bone at the wall, only to pierce the air. "You know exactly what I want....only now I have an additional...requirement." Sans felt something wrap around his wrists and ankles, lifting him into the air. The shadow merged from the wall, a white face grinning and looking down at him. "I require the human."

"I'll rot in Hell before I let you lay one damned finger on his head!" Sans snapped. He tried to summon a Blaster, but a tendril shot out, shattering it instantly. Shit!

"Heh, coming from one of the laziest monsters in the entire Underground? Oh how you've changed Sans..." Hands appeared and forced Sans to look up into the figure's singular, purple eye. "You used to be so filled with hope and life....then after the atrocious crime you caused-"

"No! That was all you!" Sans snarled, baring his teeth angrily at the figure. "I won't let-mmmph!!!!!" Tendrils wrapped tightly around his mouth, and his left eye flared with fury.

"So rude to interrupt." The figure chuckled, but there was no humor in its tone. "However it turned out....I was cursed into that pit of darkness." Sans struggled as the figure moved towards the curtained, broken machine at the end of the room. Fear filled his bones and he struggled more, his Soul glowing brightly in his chest. "I have seen things you can only imagine my dear Sans....things you would never wish to see."

Sans managed to break free when bones shot from the ground, destroying the tendrils. The curtain blew off, a dim black glow coming from the large, glass structure. Sans got to his feet in a vain attempt to run, but tendrils shot out, tripping him up. "I have gained a sort of....control over the Void. But I cannot interact with the worlds and timelines I have born witness to." Sans dug his fingers into the tiled floor, struggling as he was dragged. Blood leaked from his fingertips as he clawed desperately at the floor. More tendrils shot out, some gripping the edges of his eye sockets, others covering his mouth before he had the chance to scream. "But I learned something...interesting. There was one being I could interact with...aside from that little boy."

Sans was yanked hard, his fingers releasing their death grip on the floor as he was thrown inside the large, glass machine. He slammed against the machine, his screams blocked by the thick glass. The figures face split into a large grin, his head tilting at an unnatural angle. "That those with even the tiniest shard of my scattered Soul.....can be used. Isn't that a wonderful coincidence, my dear Sans?" A finger pressed a large, red button and the figure moved into the machine as it whirred to life. "Now then....shall we?"

The large machine sparked and groaned as Sans felt a tar like substance slowly engulf his body. He struggled against it, his eye lights filled with unbridled horror. Sans let out a loud scream...…

.........But nobody came.

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"Do not worry tiny Frisk!" Papyrus smiled as they headed home, the sun setting behind them. "I am quite positive that Sans is ok!"

"I dunno Pappy...I mean, he didn't look really good...." Frisk mumbled, wringing his hands anxiously.  Toriel placed a gentle paw on his shoulder, giving him a warm smile. "Mama..."

"It will be alright Frisk. We've only been on the Surface for half a year...perhaps he is just exhausted." Toriel's gentle voice soothed the worry in Frisk's Soul and he suddenly felt himself being lifted into the air, placed in a choke hold and noogied. "Undyne!"

"Ngaaahh! Don't you worry about that lazy sack of bones Friskster!" Undyne  said, grinning. "I'm sure he just didn't wanna walk around!"

"I-I-I don't know U-Undyne..." Alphys pointed out worriedly. "H-He had been looking and acting odd lately....I-I agree with Frisk here...." Frisk was put down and Alphys hugged him. "B-But if Sans wasn't well.....Papyrus w-w-w-would have made him stay home."

"That is right! I am very good at telling when my brother is more lazy than normal!" Papyrus pounded his chest proudly. They opened the door and entered the living room, only to be greeted by Sans standing there. "Sans! Why are you not in bed?!"

"Aww, maybe he felt guilty for leaving?" Toriel smiled a little as they all walked further into the living room. Sans remained motionless, his face looking downward. "Sans?"

"....You're back a bit early...." Sans's voice was low and quiet, and it made Frisk shudder slightly.

"W-W-well Frisk was worried about you!" Alphys said. "S-So-"

"He was....that's nice..." The group moved a little closer to Sans, curious and worried. "Makes this...easier."

"Sans?" Black sludge dripped onto the ground and he looked up at Frisk. "Guys! Mo-" Tendrils shot out from under Sans's feet and slammed against the group, sending them flying to separate corners of the room. "No!" Frisk went to run after them when sharp, black, dripping bones formed around him like a cage.

"And where do you think you are going?" The voice seemed to echo from Sans, but he didn't show signs of speaking. "I need you, little human child...."

"Who are you?! You're not Sans!" Frisk narrowed his eyes, his red Soul glowing in his chest. "What do you want?!"

"Rather observant....and that face of yours shows your Determination easily, if the glow of your Soul did not." Sans floated softly off the ground as he moved closer to the cage. "However....you are wrong. I am Sans.....and he is me."

"Sans!" Sans tilted his head and moved aside with ease as a blue spear shot out.

"Hmph, Undyne...his memories show that you are quite the strong monster..." Sans floated backwards and looked up at her. His left eye glowed and flashed, rows of bone forming in front of her. She dodged and hopped on the couch, leaping off of it with a spear in her hand. "But you are arrogant." A tendril came at her side and coiled around her tightly and she grit her teeth, struggling to break free. "And a fool."

"Sans, let the human go!" Sans turned his head to see Papyrus looking at them with worry. For a moment, Sans hesitated before another tendril coiled around Papyrus, lifting him high up as well. "Brother pl-"

"Papyrus....he truly does care for you." A low, gurgling laugh made its way from Sans's throat as his right eye seemed to bleed with black sludge. "A pity he is not awake right now..."

"L-Let them-" Alphys was grabbed before she could reach for a small remote, the device being crushed as it was tossed against a wall.

"Ah, Alphys." Before he could finish speaking, a fire pillar formed in front of him and he took a step back. "Well..." He turned and his grin widened, head tilting. "Your Majesty....it is an honor."

"You...I do not know who you are or what you want, but you will release my child and my family!" Toriel's face was pulled into a snarl, fire swirling around her feet and engulfing her right hand. She screamed and flung flames at the cage around Frisk and rushed at Sans, both hands engulfed in flames. "RELEASE THEM!" She halted when Frisk was held in front of him, a ghostly white hand around Frisk's neck, squeezing tight. "Frisk-"

"I do not need the human in perfect condition, your Majesty." Sans grinned, another hand petting Frisk's head. "So go on ahead....I have never seen flames melt skin from muscle and bone." Toriel faltered long enough for a tendril to coil tightly around her, snuffing the flames from her hands.

"Mom!" Frisk struggled as his family were slammed hard on the ground. "No! No, stop it!" Tears streamed down his face as he watched the others get constantly slammed on the ground. "Please...please stop....stop...."

"Then you will come with me." Their limp bodies were lifted and sharp, black bones were positioned in front of their chests, each of their Souls shining before it. "Or I will wipe them out, one at a time." Frisk sobbed as Sans threw them all towards the other end of the living room, his left eye glowing. "We are leaving."

"F..Frisk....." Toriel struggled to sit up as Frisk reached for her, tears streaming down his cheeks as Sans's tight grip prevented him from moving.

"Mommy! MOMMY!!!" Frisk screamed as they both vanished, leaving the monsters alone in the house.

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Toriel and Papyrus went to work healing everyone's injuries. "What the hell is wrong with that stupid skeleton?!" Undyne pounded her fist against the carpet. 

"Why I'm gonna-"

"I told you Undyne! That was not Sans!" Papyrus snapped, his fingers shaking. "It...it wasn't...there's no way...."

"Papyrus, sweetie, please calm down." Toriel said, her own voice shaking. "Let's focus on this right now."

"L-look at yourself M-Miss Toriel..." Alphys said. "You're st-t-ill hurt and-"

"I am fine." She said, finishing healing the small monster. "And I believe you Papyrus. Sans would never act that way. Something wasn't right."

"I don't give a shit who that was, I'm gonna-"

"Language please Undyne."

"Why the hell are you scolding me for that?! That stupid skeleton or whoever it was took Frisk!" She snapped, standing up and brushing her shoulders slightly. 

"We have no idea where they went or what that...whoever wanted!" Alphys fidgeted where she stood, holding her tail. "Alph? Something wrong?"

"I-I...I may....have an idea....b-b-but...it's far fetched and....and I'm not certain..." Alphys admitted, trembling.

"Alphys, anything to help find my brother would be greatly appreciated!" Papyrus chimed in, walking over to her. Undyne placed a hand on her shoulder, Toriel on the other.  

"Go ahead dear. What is it?" Alphys took a deep breath and nodded.

"S-Sans t-t-told me of someone once....s-someone he was...nervous about." Alphys said softly. "I-I don't remember him exactly....but Sans described to me what....what he can do....how he acts and speaks....." She sighed. "And...he would know the former Queen..."

"Alph, it's alright. You can tell us." Undyne smiled and she took another deep breath.

"His name was W.D. Gaster....well...Doctor W.D. Gaster. The former Royal Scientist."

#undertale #postpacifist #gaster #sans #toriel #frisk #papyrus #alphys #undynexalphys #fanfiction #sansfangirl4life

[ndgo-nebula-violette]

I’m here to guide you weary souls that tried looking into the RWBY fandom and found nothing but salty fans. I’m here to give a light spoilers guide to the anime RWBY. (less spoilers then wondering off to the wiki would do)  So you can know what it is about, from a person who absolutely loves the show.

Quick note: The series calls it’s Seasons “Volumes” and it’s Episodes “Chapters”

1.  RWBY is an American made Fantasy Anime. Made in 2013. You even get to this fact without finding some salty person going wElL hOw CaN iT bE aNiMe If ItS aMeRiCaN? Well let me tell you how.

RWBY is created by a lovely person named Monty Oum. Who unfortunately died in 2015 between making Volume 2 and 3. But He wanted to make sure the animation style was in line with that of Anime. As an Asian American man I trust his judgement well enough. (Please don’t diminish his death. He was hard working enough that he planned years of the show with the other writers-- so they still have a guide that follows in his name)

And if that’s not enough for you. In 2014 Japan got the rights to Dub RWBY in Japanese and in 2015 that Dub was released. And in fact, similar to most anime’s, but in Japan it became quite a popular anime. (And it had some quite famous Japanese Voice Actors)

On top of that a manga was made and released November 2015. (Note: I’m not sure how canon these are.) Manga volume one link [x]

And then on top of this. I’d like to add. Jack Pattillo’s words. Cause I think it’s great. But there was an Off Topic. If anyone can let me know which one that would be great. But I clearly remember the group talking about anime and him asking the group if “they go to high school. If they go to school then it’s an anime.” Or something along those lines. And the characters in RWBY do in fact go to high school.

2. RWBY is a show about girls fighting monsters.

At least that’s what the premise is. RWBY follows a team of girls who are training to become hunters and huntresses. Those of which fight the monsters of the world called Grimm. Yes, Grimm. As in the Brother’s Grimm. As in Fairy Tales. Because the anime and characters all have Fairy Tale themes to them.

Overall that’s what it comes down to. It's girls fighting monsters. (light spoilers ahead) and then there’s the whole subplot that leads up to where we are currently in hiatus as we wait for Volume 8 to come out. But we find out that the ultimate goal is to destroy the creator/master of Grimm.

But if you want to know even more about the lore and backstory of the show you can always watch World of Remnant. Youtube. [x] It explains a bit more on the Grimm and explains the Maidens a bit more. But for a simple explanation Maidens are similar to the Avatar (Avatar the Last Airbender) in which they control the weather and are more powerful. Except there’s 4 of them instead of just one and they are based on the seasons. They could also be used to fight the Grimm. 

But if you really really want to avoid spoilers this is all you really need to know. It’s a simple concept, but there’s a lot of depth to it. Thus this post continuing.

3. RWBY is an acronym.

Okay so the show mainly follows the main character Ruby Rose. And her (volume 1 spoilers) team RWBY. RWBY (pronounced Ruby)  is an acronym for the names of the characters in Ruby’s team. Which stand for --

Ruby Rose. [ Voiced by Lindsay Jones -- Dubbed by Saori Hayami ] Weiss Schnee.  [ Voiced by Kara Eberle -- Dubbed by  Yōko Hikasa ] Blake Belladonna. [ Voiced by Arryn Zech -- Dubbed by Yū Shimamura ] Yang Xiao Long. [ Voiced by Barbara Dunkleman -- Dubbed by Ami Koshimizu ]

If you want to know more of the voice actors, English and Japanese alike. This is the one time I’ll say the RWBY wiki is safe enough spoiler-wise. [x] It’s fun cause we get a mix of Rooster Teeth staff and notable Voice actors. (like Elizabeth Maxwell)

RWBY is also a pun on their names. Cause majority of the characters and team names are based on Colours. So Red/White/Black/Yellow as what matches their Colour Aesthetics.

These 4 are the main characters. They are what is important in the show. They get the most screen time cause they are who the show is following.

But of course there are other side characters and teams that we all love and adore. The noted ones are team JNPR, team CVFY and team SSSN. They follow the same rules as the original team. In which the letters represent the names of the characters in the team. Often the first letter of the team name usually matches up with the name for the team leader.

Luckily if you end up a fan of team JNPR (pronounced Juniper) you’re in luck. They become part of the main supporting cast.

If you happen to be fans of team CVFY (pronounced coffee) or team SSSN (pronounced Sun) you’re in luck. As of 2019 we have canon books. Written by E.C. Myers that follow these teams and talk about their back story and such. If you want to avoid spoilers I recommend not picking them up til after you see Volume 3. But it’s not required. If the animation is something you don’t like, but you’re still interested in the concept I highly recommend these.

Amazon Link book one [x] // Amazon link book two [x] 

If you happen to be fans of team NDGO (my url sake) or team BRNZ well too bad you get nothing. Love the characters while they have screen time. (light spoilers) And it seemed we got slightly lucky with team FNKI they got more screen time, and here’s hoping for more.

Fun note: The writers are cheeky and even called the crew that works on the show CRWBY which they also have a show on the behind the scenes if you’re interested in that [x] (you do have to be a first member for this one tho) 

4. The weapons are important. They also have “powers” This is just what makes the show cool.

Quick run down. Hunters/Huntresses are what they call those who fight Grimm. They all have their own weapons, which seems to work with their fighting style and Semblance.

Semblance is what they call their superpower in this show. Everyone has one. Some are not as remarkable as others. It’s very very similar to Quirks in the anime My Hero Academia. It’s kind of a one time use per battle type thing. But it tends to match the personality of the characters.

Aura is what they call their life force. But works more like MP opposed to HP in video game terms. It’s more of an internal personal power source, and running out makes you very weak. Aura is your shield. It’s what protects you from dying. You can heal with aura or you can use your semblance with your Aura.

Their weapons use an artificial power source called Dust. You can use your Aura to amplify it. Dust is just gems you use to power things. Most of them are elemental based. Fire, Ice, Lightning, Gravity, Hard Light, Plant, Earth, Steam, Water, Wind.

There might be more, but that’s what we’ve for sure have seen used. Add the Dust to your weapon, and use the Dust as needed. Majority of that time is bullets. Because a lot of their weapons have gun elements to them. For the weapons transform. Most of the weapons are a 2-in-1 type special. But some are more than 2. Depending on the fighter and their needs. Every weapon is highly personalized.

The weapon’s of team RWBY is as follows: Ruby has her weapon called Crescent Rose, a sniper rifle that transforms into a large scythe. That scythe is used a lot in promotional things involving the show RWBY. Ruby simply uses bullets, which she often uses for propulsion around her environment.

Weiss’ weapon Myrtenaster is a Rapier which transforms into Revolver. Which honestly, i don’t often see it out of the Rapier form so I almost forgot about this fact.

Blake’s weapon Gambol Shroud is a Katana, Cleaver, Pistol and Kusarigama. This one is particularly useful. For the most part this weapon is often transforming to her needs. She’s very much a fast moving, thinking on her toes type fighter.

Yang’s weapon Ember Celica is a Gauntlet shotgun. It’s literally guns she wears on her wrists. Like Ruby she also takes advantage of the gun for propulsion.

It’s really neat that they have names for all their weapons actually. That tells you how important the weapons are in the show. 

A lot of the weapons are fun tho. And some are harder to tell what they are until you see them in action. The most notable is that of one Velvet Scarlatina. Her weapon Anesidora was a fan favourite due to its secrecy. For you only see it as a box introduced in Volume 2. Which had all the fans guessing what would be in the box. Including myself [x] which got noticed by the voice actor Caiti Ward herself. But ultimately the reveal in the end of Volume 3 was well worth the wait and was quite satisfying. (this i refuse to spoil) 

5. A bit of plot, but I got to mention the Fantasy Racism™

So there’s a fantasy race called Faunus. Which are humans with animal traits. It could be any animal trait, belonging to any animal. But only one trait. The most common seems to be ears or a tail. On top of that, the majority of Faunus get the ability to have night vision. (volume one spoilers) The most notable is that of Blake Belladonna and Sun Wukung (leader of team SSSN, Voiced by Micheal Jones --Tomoaki Maeno)

Blake having Cat ears and Sun having a monkey tail. Whenever the story focuses on the Fantasy Racism™ It focuses on these two the most.

It is a large subplot of Faunus' rebellion and such. It’s really interesting how they handle this.

On a more touchy topic. There is also the matter of LGBT characters. Now in the canon we have at least two canon Lesbians and one canon Trans character. This is one of the things the fandom gets the most salty about. The writers are trying their best. They even claimed they handled the setup badly and so things are slowed down a bit when it comes to representation. They have done a decent job since. They have hired a new writer since.

6. It’s a well thought out show.

Look I can babble about this show forever. But overall I don’t want to spoil too much of it. I might still make a second post that’s a bit more plot heavy. Of the show up through Volume 7. A here’s what you missed on type thing. But to keep this post mostly spoiler free I’m going to wrap it up.

RWBY also has its own guide book [x] which if you really want to know more about the semblances and weapons and characters and such it’s very useful.

They also have their own DC comic books. [x] Which i think is really really cool. but i’m lame and haven’t been to the comic book store in a long time and i don’t feel like paying for shipping. 

So as I said earlier, the animation style isn’t for everyone. Especially within Volumes 1-3. So the comics and books and manga are a great way to get into the series.

They also have a brand new show. A DND campaign based on the show’s setting. If you like the concept of the show but want it in an DND setting. RWBY the Grimm Campaign. It’s really fun. (and you get new teams to love like team SMMK) RT site [x]  (this one you can watch the first episode for free and after that you gotta pay to be a first member) 

The music is really epic and composed by Jeff Williams. Most of which are songs song by his daughter Casey Williams. The songs have been known to drop some foreshadowing for the show. This person [x] is nice enough to have a playlist on youtube. And there was a nice surprise last Volume, the lovely Caleb Hyles sang one of the songs. Here [x]

They also have a show called RWBY Chibi which is non-canon silliness. Drawn in more of a cartoon style.  Which is basically an OVA. Which is 64 episodes which are all less than 5 mins. RT site [x] or youtube playlist [x]

And since it’s become such a big show, with lots of support we’ve been blessed with things like a mobile crystal game [ RWBY Crystal Quest ] and even a video game [ RWBY: Grimm Eclipse ] and a board game [ RWBY: Combat Ready ].

The board game is actually lots of fun. I’ve played it with friends. 

But yes. Please. Give RWBY a chance if you haven’t. It’s fun and great. No matter how salty the fans get. 

#rwby #long post #i mostly made this for a friend #rwby guide #i'll prob make the other post later #this one took me several hours as is

[thetakenpokemon]

Interlude - A Scarred Memory

[PoV: Asmund]

For the past half hour I’ve been standing silently in front of Minato’s door, contemplating my decision.

...

Ever since we’ve returned to the GoT HQ, everyone in the Purging Light had to deal with their own little demons left by the Scizor.

Zen’Ro.

Although Hale and Sinfonia at first had some difficulty getting back into the swing of things, eventually they’ve been managing to return to their routine.

Jezebel and...Pahaliah were already used to this sort of thing, so despite both of them getting hurt real bad they’re already back to shape.

In fact, all of the injuries afflicted were healed. Even the deep cuts in my metal frame were repaired, thanks to my enchantments and the energy that was supplied to me.

However as expected, Minato hasn’t been dealing with the whole thing...well at all.

He rarely leaves his room, often sticking to himself. When people come check on him, he doesn’t even hold conversations.

It reminds me of the Hydreigon Hybrid aftermath, how he nearly died.

This encounter was no different, the Scizor was pushing his blade deeper into Minato’s chest...Hale’s barrier being the only thing stopping it from instantly piercing through completely.

It was very traumatizing for him.

...

...

...

God dammit!

I clench my fist in anger, feeling frustrated at myself.

Why am I even here?! What help can I possibly give to him? He doesn’t want to talk to people, he keeps pushing people away so he can keep dwelling on that damn encounter.

And most importantly, why the fuck do I even care?

...

...

God...dammit.

I don’t even LIKE Pokemon, much less him! He means nothing to me, just a disgusting creature who I’m forced to work with.

...

...

Fuck...

Who am I fucking kidding...

I hate Pokemon, that will never go away.

But Minato?

...

...

...

...

I approach the door, deciding to take advantage of my temporary weakness before I change my mind. Steeling myself, I lift my giant hand and do something I haven’t done in a long...long time.

I knock.

Two loud thumps echo throughout the empty hall, the wooden door bends ever so slightly from my restrained strength.

And then I wait.

...

...

...

...

Why did I even bother? This shit is a complete waste of my time, I-

The door opens.

...

There stands Minato, looking far worse than I’ve ever seen him. His red eyes are sunken, looking like he’s never slept at all since he’s returned. The guy’s arms are just hanging by his sides, not a single trace of energy is seen on his frame.

He looks like a shell of his former self.

“...Asmund?” He mutters quietly, faint traces of surprise flickering in his dead eyes. “...Why...are you here?”

...

...

Yeah, what am I supposed to say?

‘I wanted to check on you.’

‘Everyone was worried on you, so I thought I’d stop by.’

‘Just seeing if you were alive.’

...

...

I’m Asmund.

I don’t do this shit.

I’m the guy that everyone hates and the guy that hates everyone.

That’s what I do, that’s what I am.

Do I have an issue with it? No, not at all. By being angry, it allows me to keep moving forward. I’ll tell people to fuck off right in their face, even make kids cry just so I have an excuse to fuel my anger.

So this? This isn’t what Asmund would do.

Asmund doesn’t check on people to see if they’re okay.

He’d ignore them completely, because he doesn’t care about them for shit.

...

...

...

Minato stares at me silently, waiting for my answer. But with how I’m just standing there without even uttering a single sound, he closes his eyes.

And shuts the door.

...

...

But my hand blocks it, preventing it from closing entirely.

“Wait.” I say, my voice devoid of the normal aggression and hostility.

It sounds almost alien to me.

Minato opens the door again, his lifeless face now containing a faint spark of curiosity.

...

Here I am, standing silent again.

...

...

Fuck.

...

...

God...

Damn...

It...

“Listen...” I begin ever so slowly.

This isn’t what I do.

“You’ve been in here for a long time.”

This isn’t me, this isn’t Asmund.

“You never leave, the only time you eat is when people bring you food.”

Why am I even doing this? I hate them, their stupid race is what turned me into this damn thing!

“I can understand why you’re in there, since what you’ve experienced was very traumatizing...”

They took everything from me! EVERYTHING! Pokemon destroyed my life, left me nothing in this shell that constantly mocks me! I can’t eat, breath, dream, or even feel! Everything is just a shadow to me now, never to experience things again! I have nothing to live for!

...

“But...”

...

Pokemon...

...

Pokemon took away my humanity.

...

My fist clenches.

“You need to grow a fucking pair.” I growl, my anger piercing through like a razor.

Minato could only stand dumbfounded, finding difficulty processing my words. At first I was acting completely uncharacteristic, my voice sounding concerned...but then it came back through force.

My hostility.

...

Just watching him stand there dumbly, it made my anger spike even higher.

“Yeah you nearly died, but guess what? You’re still damn alive.” I press harder, the flames within me burning even hotter. “All of us go through shit, but do you see us sulking in our rooms and waste ourselves away?” I stomp my foot, causing the tiled floor to crack. “DO YOU?”

I jab a finger towards him. “You’re a weak bastard, Minato. WEAK!” I growl. “If you let yourself fall apart over one close encounter, then you have no place here in the Guardians of Twilight. You should just pack your fucking bags and go home.”

...

...

...

...

...

I see his claws clench together.

His expression twitching as he struggles to control himself.

Tears are streaming down his face.

Anger.

Anger flashing in his eyes.

And pain.

Lots of pain.

...

...

“Weak?” Manages to speak, his voice shaky with raw emotion. “You say...I am weak?”

Before my eyes...he snaps.

“I AM NOT WEAK!” He screams at me, his arms shaking violently. “YOU THINK THIS IS WEAKNESS? TO SEE AND FEEL AND CRY AND MOURN?!” He jabs his own finger at me. “WHAT I SEE OTHERS GO THROUGH, IT BRINGS ME NOTHING BUT OVERWHELMING SORROW FOR THE LIVES THAT HAVE FALLEN! LIVES OF PEOPLE WHO DID NOT DESERVE TO DIE!”

He grits his fangs together, their edges drawing blood on his lip. With his emotions running high he grows yet louder. “YET THEN MY OWN LIFE WAS NEARLY TAKEN AWAY!” His voice starts to crack, a strangled sob manages to escape from him as he clenches his eyes shut. “Do you k-know how s-scared I w-was?” He whispers, growing quieter. “That t-thing, when it was digging its b-blade into my c-chest... I s-struggled, I t-tried to pry it off...but it kept going deeper. I thought...I was going to die...” His hands tremble. “To t-think you will d-die, it...is so...so t-terrifying.”

He opens his eyes, those orbs but windows to the hurt he’s feeling. “Only one who is heartless would feel nothing, to continue forward w-without a care.” His jaw clenches. “Asmund, I thought there was someone beneath that metal exterior...a living soul that needed a friend. During that one night when we talked, I thought that I was actually right...that all of my effort showed that there really is a soul in there.”

He shakes his head. “I was wrong...” His shaking becomes more frantic. “I WAS WRONG!” He clenches his hands into fists. “YOU ARE HEARTLESS! SOULLESS! YOU NOTHING BUT AN UNCARING GOLEM WHO BRINGS NOTHING BUT PAIN AND FIRE TO THE WORLD AROUND HIM!”

He takes in a shaky breath, what remnants of his energy all but spent. “...You...are truly empty.”

...

...

...

...

...

...

...

...

...

Minato lets out a choked gasp as my fingers wrap around his neck, effortlessly lifting him into the air.

He desperately tries to pry my fingers off of him, but his claws could only harmlessly scrape off the metal surface of my form.

...

The anger I’m feeling, it is more wrathful than anything I’ve ever felt.

The desire to snap his neck right here and now is almost overwhelming, with a slight squeeze I could kill him on the spot.

...

This situation...is reminding me of back in that damned ruins, where the witch was in my grasp and she could only struggle feebly before I delivered my well deserved justice.

...

...

...

But...

...

I can’t.

No matter how angry I feel...

His words are true.

...

...

Pain and fire.

That’s all I am.

All Asmund is.

...

...

...

I release him, letting him fall to the ground gasping for air.

I could only stare at my open hand, witnessing memories of a forgotten life drift through me like a haze. I know they are mine during my Human days, but they are so alien...I can’t even tell if they’re truly mine anymore.

“Minato...” I eventually speak, the fire within me now dead.

I hold my gaze long and hard, stuck to my appendage as if it would disappear the moment I glance away.

Slowly...I look at his face, fear and confusion swirling in his eyes.

...

...

“You are not weak, you are stronger than I will ever be.” 

...

I turn my body away.

...

...

“You possess something I don’t, something I will never hope to have again.”

...

...

...

“A heart.”

...

My chest is filled with nothing but cogs and pistons.

Parts of a machine.

“Do not forget it.” I finish.

...

...

I can’t look at him anymore.

...

...

With my fist clenching tightly I walk away, not looking back.

#asmundgolurk #silencenidoviper #guardiansoftwilight #interlude #plot

[sanctferum]

Dangan Ronpa V3 Chapter 5: Free Time and also Probably Shit Going Down

Last time Kaito came up with a Bad Idea, and Maki’s tragic backstory was even more so. Let’s go hang out with Keebo now.

Keebo’s lack of super strength is because of an accident during trial production of what became, well, Keebo. Interesting.

Keebo’s eyesight is average, his strength is lacking, but he must have some cool functions! Like, if we put our hand up to his mouth, he, um, starts making a weird noise? Ah, his “breath” from his mouth functions as a dryer. More interestingly, both his hands can turn into multi-tool devices. 10 tools for each hand. His fingers can detect aromas, like a human nose can, and he has a built in music player. But the thing he’s most proud of is his design. It’s compact and lightweight, allowing him to move around like a human AND have all those functions.

Night-time announcement, huh? Featuring no one at all. Monokuma’s already waiting for us at the gym, I bet.

Outside we meet up with Tsumugi, who is wondering if the parts in Keebo’s lab can be used to give him combat abilities so he can support Maki in the conflict…Keebo said he doesn’t want any sci-fi upgrades, though, so most cool stuff is out.

In the gym, there’s a pile of weapons from Maki’s lab. Kaito starts to give an encouraging speech about ending the killing game, but is interrupted by a familiar laugh. Good news: it isn’t Monokuma. Bad news: it’s Kokichi. And he is also planning to end the killing game. I somehow doubt he intends for us to escape, however…

Kokichi came prepared with some weapons of his own. Four mallets and a grenade. Fuck.

Kokichi threatens to blow us all up if we make any sudden moves. As for why he’s here, it has to do with the regulations. The killing game will continue until there’s only two people left. But, there’s nothing in the regulations (this time around) limiting a potential culprit to a certain number of victims. Which means…Kokichi can kill us all and beat Monokuma all in one swift move.

Kokichi offers to let us survive, though. One of us. If a maximum of two people can survive, then only everyone other than Kokichi and that person will have to die. Someone could theoretically save themselves. Whoever raises their hand first will get to live.

We all refute his offer, of course. But Kokichi thought we’d do that. He just wanted to see if we were as determined to not kill as we were making ourselves out to be. And then he offers to lead us to the Ultimate Anti-Monokuma Weapons, which we can use to beat Monokuma. Electrohammers. Miu’s final invention. One hit from them disables any electronic machine on contact. Watch out, Keebo!

Something’s weird here. If Miu made these, why didn’t she fight Monokuma and the Kubs with them rather than taking part in the killing game?

When Kokichi asked Miu to make these, she did, but refused to fight alongside everyone. She thought someone would betray her for sure. Plus, the Exisals were still active.

So Miu made the electrohammers. Kokichi’s bomb, too. The bomb is called an Electrobomb. When detonated, it scatters particles that interfere with electromagnetic waves. It disrupts electronic devices within 50 yards for up to two hours. It doesn’t leave behind debris, and there’s 3 of them. As for the hammers, once Monokuma is taken care of, we can use them to fight our way through the underground tunnel and escape. They’ve got limited battery, so if used against, let’s say, an Exisal, they’d work but also become regular mallets afterwards. It takes 24 hours to recharge.

Kokichi denies knowing anything about writing the horse a message in the courtyard, even though it clearly has his name on it. If he’d written the message, wouldn’t people suspect he was the mastermind? So then, what motivation would he have to write it? He claims it was probably Monokuma’s doing.

Maki’s had enough, and in an instant, has picked Kokichi up by his throat. She isn’t buying a word he says. She only lets him go after Kaito yells at her to stop. If she kills him, she’ll be executed, and the killing game will have continued. Kokichi claims we’re all his friends, and walks away, leaving the electrohammers behind. Yeah, I’m not convinced.

Maki tells us not to believe a word Kokichi says. But Kaito is considering it. He’s almost out of time, though the way he phrases it makes it sounds like the time limit is Monokuma and not himself. We all decide to at least try it. We grab the hammers and go. Everyone is too excited to notice that we left the huge pile of weapons behind in the gym.

In the boiler room, Keebo is concerned about the hammers with regards to himself. Not the right time to try it, Keebo.

Down the manhole! Kaito is excited because if we escape, we can finally fulfill Kaede’s wish.

After several tries, we make it through. At the end is an electric barrier covering a door that looks eerily like the one at the entrance of Hope’s Peak in DR1. We don’t have a passcode for the terminal, so we opt to open it via electrohammer. Beyond the door is the outside world, and boy does it look to be in bad shape. Everything is lit by the ominous red glow of fire and meteorites, and there’s not a living soul to be seen. And there’s no breathable air. We quickly collapse, but before we can suffocate, the door closes and locks. As we force our eyes open, we see that Kokichi followed us. He’s ready now to tell us the truth we’ve all been trying to reach. That the outside world we were trying to reach no longer exists.

Meteorites, raining down on Earth. When Kokichi says “end of the world”, he isn’t exaggerating. And in the end, the leaders of every nation on Earth gathered to create the Gofer Project. A project to build a space-faring vessel, and put humanity’s last hope on it, and hope that one day it would find a habitable planet. In other words, we’re all that’s left – everyone else is dead. That’s what Shuichi’s memory of “I want to die with everyone else” was. He wasn’t the only one. In order to avoid the awful fate of surviving alone, the Ultimates erased their memories. This was around the same time that a certain cult was rising in power. A cult that believed humanity deserved its encroaching extinction. In order to sabotage the Gofer project, the Ultimate Hunt began. To counter that, the government claimed all the 16 students had died, hence the funeral memory. And so the project went forward. The Ark launched, and it left behind a planet which, before long, had no one left on it. The Ark, also known as The Ultimate Academy For Gifted Juveniles. A spaceship colony hosting the remnants of the human race.

But the Gofer Project had made a mistake. A horrible, terrible, mistake. Out of the sixteen survivors of the human race, one of them was secretly the leader of the cult. It was they who prepared Monokuma. The students were only supposed to wake up from their cryogenic sleep once the Ark found a suitable planet, but Monokuma returned the Ark to Earth.

So there It is. The horrible truth. We still don’t know Rantaro’s talent, though. I somehow doubt it was Ultimate Cultist or something really obvious.

And it only gets worse from there. Not only was the ruined hellscape we just saw Earth, but it’s Earth hundreds of years in the future. We’d been cryogenically frozen for centuries.

On this Earth there’s no lifeforms but us. No oxygen either, hence us almost dying. The rest of humanity went extinct hundreds of years ago. Our family, our friends…they’re all dead. And that’s the secret of the outside world.

And one final thing. The cult leader wasn’t Rantaro after all. Instead, it was the other possibility that I thought of. Kokichi Oma. Finally, the title of Ultimate Supreme Leader makes sense.

Kokichi ran the cult. Kokichi had Monokuma and the Kubs created. Kokichi is the mastermind behind our entire situation. After all, why ruin the Gofer project when you can utterly destroy it? That’s why Kokichi wanted the 16 last humans alive, himself included, to kill each other and fall into despair.

We refuse to believe this, so Kokichi decides to prove it. He takes a remote control out of his pocket, presses a button, and summons the Exisals. And just because the Kubs were the only ones who could control the Exisals doesn’t mean that rule applies to the mastermind…

Kokichi was so excited to see everyone’s faces when they realized he was the mastermind. To hint at it, he left the “horse a” message.

Kaito goes to fight back against the Exisals with the electrohammer, but all the hammers power down at once. Kaito, screaming in futile rage, rushes at Kokichi. Shuichi and Maki can only watch in horror as one of the Exisals smashes it’s hand into him. Kaito is alive, thankfully, but now Kokichi has ensured that we see how useless defying him is. Ironic thing is, the Exisals were meant to protect us, in case of danger on other planets. Of course.

Maki leaps into action to save Kaito. Shuichi attempts to stop her, but *Silver the Hedgehog voice* IT’S NO USE

OK, we managed to convince her. But still, what now?

Kokichi got bored of the killing game. That’s why he decided to reveal the truth. And now that he’s seen our despair, he’s satisfied. We can do whatever we like. Kill, don’t kill. Live on, commit suicide. Be friends, be enemies. He doesn’t care anymore.

The End Wall showed us the outside world beyond it, but that was as much a lie as anything else. It’s a pretty picture that simulates the outside world.

Kokichi plans to imprison Kaito somewhere. His hotbloodedness could convince us to rise up against Kokichi, and also could cause problems that might make the killing start again. He forces us to hand over the remote control for the Exisal hangar, where he plans to imprison Kaito. Maki tells us not to, but we end up doing so anyways. There goes our other significant friendship. Shit.

We try talking to the others. Keebo’s panicking, Tsumugi’s falling apart, Himiko is sobbing and has once again lost the will to live, Maki thinks we’re a coward, and Shuichi can’t bring himself to fight back against Kokichi, because what’s the point?

The killing game we played, and everyone’s deaths, were all pointless. Kaede’s wish has disappeared into the void. All we have now is despair.

Each of us goes back to our rooms, empty and broken.

And when morning comes, the announcement plays, but no one is there. Monokuma is simply no longer needed. We lie in bed all die, staring blankly at the ceiling, till the evening announcement goes off.

When morning comes, Shuichi doesn’t get up. He just lies there, wondering if it’s even worth doing anything. Eventually, he comes to the conclusion that it’s probably better to just kill himself and be done with it. But as that thought comes into his mind, his doorbell rings. It’s Maki. She tells him to go to the dining hall, where everyone is waiting. Shuichi’s curiosity gets the better of him and he goes.

Five people. Kaito’s not here, Kokichi’s not here. Everyone looks the same: dead inside. We can barely exchange greetings before the conversation turns to the most painless way we can kill ourselves.

Maki found the flashback light. Where?

On top of the table in the dining hall? She just found it there. Weird.

Maki offers to help us all die peacefully, on the condition that we check the flashback light first. If we’re all going to die, we might as well finish all our business before we do. So that we can die without regrets. And it can’t be dangerous, can it? There’s nothing for us to lose anymore. There’s not even a shred of hope anywhere.

We turn it on, and the light envelops us. And we remember. Everything is connected. And in that memory, we see a building.

That’s…that’s Hope’s Peak Academy. No mistaking it. I suddenly don’t understand anything?

The Tragedy…and the person who caused the it, Junko Enoshima. I fucking knew she’d be involved in this! Ever since I saw the words “Neo World Program”. No, before that. When a new Dangan Ronpa game was announced. Even after it was stated to be separate from the rest of the series…I knew. I just knew Junko Enoshima would be involved.

At some point after Dangan Ronpa 3, the world was at peace once again. And then the meteorites came. People started to despair, and the Remnants of Despair rose again. (Presumably different remnants than the DR2 cast, though.) The Future Foundation faltered in the face of the new despair. But then, the Gofer Project started. A project that promised some measure of hope. A project inspired by hope, to protect hope. A project headed by a man known as the Ultimate Hope.

And so, Makoto Naegi selected 16 Ultimates from Hope’s Peak Academy to escape the devastation of planet Earth. 16 of his students…the main characters of this very game.

Much like its previous incarnations, Hope’s Peak Academy only selected Ultimate students to attend, and tried to cultivate those talents. The reason Dangan Ronpa 3: Hope Arc was so unsatisfying, why it seemed like Makoto was repeating the mistakes of the past? He was. Goddamit, Mak Naggy.

But it wasn’t that the Ultimates were in the same class or anything. It was that they were the only 16 students of Hope’s Peak left. All others, and most of humanity, had succumbed to the virus. Yet, strangely enough, the 16 of us were immune to the virus. And that’s the truth connecting that world to this one. But that means that the Ultimate Supreme Leader, Kokichi Oma…he could only have been the leader of the new Remnants of Despair. Kokichi Oma is a follower of Junko Enoshima.

But something is strange. If this was meant to be another killing game, one between hope and despair, that would mirror the one at Hope’s Peak, why did Kokichi abandon it?

Maki has her doubts about something…she won’t tell us what.

But even after all those memories, we still don’t have any hope. Keebo lives up to his name and suggests we become that hope.

Keebo. Hope. And he says his inner voice told him that he could not abandon hope. Could there be another AI inside Keebo? Something along the lines of a Makoto Naegi version of Alter Ego?

We all get pumped up to live on and defeat despair. Which makes it strange that Kokichi would have left us this flashback light.

The plan is to stop Kokichi, save Kaito, and defeat despair. Kokichi is in the Exisal hangar, the same place Kaito’s being held. The barrier is still there, but if we use the electrohammer, we can disable it. The alarm can be disabled via electrobomb. We’ve got one of those because Maki stole it from Kokichi’s pocket when grabbing him by the throat. The electrobomb will also prevent Kokichi from using the Exisals. We need to charge our electrohammers in case of Exisals being piloted manually by Kokichi. Maki plans to kill Kokichi, but everyone tells her not to. She compromises by saying she’ll only kill him if she has to. So, we’ll rescue Kaito, and the three of us will train together again. (Calling it now, Kokichi’s gonna have Kaito lying under an Exisals foot or something, and Maki’s gonna set off the electrobomb, and the Exisal will stop working and fall on Kaito, killing him, and Maki will be executed.)

We go back to our room, but decide that while we wait for the electrohammers to charge, we’ll scout out the area around the Exisal hangar. Which we will do next time!

I’m gonna go mourn every previous Dangan Ronpa good guy now, cause apparently they’re all dead. WELP.

#Dangan Ronpa #Dangan Ronpa V3 #Danganronpa V3 #I'm just in a state of shock from all that

[poorquentyn]

Thanks for the great blog - always a pleasure to read. Was Euron always planning to go to Oldtown? The facts underlying the Eldritch Apocalypse theory (which I love!) would seem to suggest he's had his eye on it for a while, but as recently as taking the Shield Islands, it seemed like his original plan was to sail to Essos. Did the plan significantly change after pushback from the ironborn, or did he simply reshuffle his agenda items and go to Oldtown earlier than he had initially planned?

(TWOW spoilers)

Euron’s initial plan was indeed to approach Dany personally. Perhaps his comment on how the Ironborn’s preference of grapes over dragons altered that plan is meant, like Littlefinger’s aside on how Cersei’s failures have forced him to sacrifice his “four or five quiet years to plant some seeds and allow some fruits to ripen,” as a direct comment from GRRM on how abandoning the five year gap changed the story. Euron might’ve been supposed to return to Essos himself for Dany at some point in the writing process, but the trajectory we’ve got given Sam V AFFC, the visions of Euron that pop up in ADWD, and of course “The Forsaken” works perfectly well on its own. 

Once his followers resisted and he decided to dispatch Victarion and the Iron Fleet to Slaver’s Bay instead, Euron found himself in a position not unlike Aegon’s on the opposite coast: in need of a conquest he could brandish before his men and use as a base of operations while awaiting the silver queen and her dragons. The Griffs went with Storm’s End; at the end of AFFC, it’s revealed that the Crow’s Eye chose Oldtown.

The most perilous part of the voyage was the last. The Redwyne Straits were swarming with longships, as they had been warned in Tyrosh. With the main strength of the Arbor’s fleet on the far side of Westeros, the ironmen had sacked Ryamsport and taken Vinetown and Starfish Harbor for their own, using them as bases to prey on shipping bound for Oldtown.

“Battle here,” said Xhondo. “Not so long.”

“Who would be so mad as to raid this close to Oldtown?”

Xhondo pointed at a half-sunken longship in the shallows. The remnants of a banner drooped from her stern, smoke-stained and ragged. The charge was one Sam had never seen before: a red eye with a black pupil, beneath a black iron crown supported by two crows.

“It grieves me that honest men must suffer such discourtesy, but sooner that than ironmen in Oldtown. Only a fortnight ago some of those bloody bastards captured a Tyroshi merchantman in the straits. They killed her crew, donned their clothes, and used the dyes they found to color their whiskers half a hundred colors. Once inside the walls they meant to set the port ablaze and open a gate from within whilst we fought the fire.Might have worked, but they ran afoul of the Lady of the Tower, and her oarsmaster has a Tyroshi wife. When he saw all the green and purple beards he hailed them in the tongue of Tyrosh, and notone of them had the words to hail him back.”

Sam was aghast. “They cannot mean to raid Oldtown.”

The captain of the Huntress gave him a curious look. “These are no mere reavers. The ironmen have always raided where they could. They would strike sudden from the sea, carry off some gold and girls, and sail away, but there were seldom more than one or two longships, and never more than half a dozen. Hundreds of their ships afflict us now, sailing out of the Shield Islands and some of the rocks around the Arbor. They have taken Stonecrab Cay, the Isle of Pigs, and the Mermaid’s Palace, and there are other nests on Horseshoe Rock and Bastard’s Cradle. Without Lord Redwyne’s fleet, we lack the ships to come to grips with them.”

“What is Lord Hightower doing?” Sam blurted. “My father always said he was as wealthy as the Lannisters, and could command thrice as many swords as any of Highgarden’s other bannermen.”

“More, if he sweeps the cobblestones,” the captain said, “but swords are no good against the ironmen, unless the men who wield them know how to walk on water.” 

“The Hightower must be doing something.”

“To be sure. Lord Leyton’s locked atop his tower with the Mad Maid, consulting books of spells. Might be he’ll raise an army from the deeps. Or not. Baelor’s building galleys, Gunthor has charge of the harbor, Garth is training new recruits, and Humfrey’s gone to Lys to hire sellsails. If he can winkle a proper fleet out of his whore of a sister, we can start paying back the ironmen with some of their own coin. Till then, the best we can do is guard the sound and wait for the bitch queen in King’s Landing to let Lord Paxter off his leash.”

The bitterness of the captain’s final words shocked Sam as much as the things he said. If King’s Landing loses Oldtown and the Arbor, the whole realm will fall to pieces, he thought as he watched the Huntress and her sisters moving off.

Euron and Aegon are parallels in many respects: the most significant new characters introduced in AFFC and ADWD respectively, they’re unexpected claimants who shake up the war by hijacking the story elements of the more well-established characters, particularly Dany. Of course, Euron’s motives are rather different from Aegon’s. The former has no interest in sustainable rule, so the Whispering Sound is less a rallying point for coalition-building like Storm’s End than a staging ground for his “sea of blood.” Moqorro, Melisandre, and Damphair have all seen visions of that unholy tide (Mel’s pointing at the Oldtown area specifically), and indeed it seems from “The Forsaken” that the Redwyne fleet is being set up as the climax to the mass blood sacrifices committed by Euron’s men. Basically, in the wake of his men and perhaps the author’s rewrites changing his plan, Euron’s now out to power up before his dragon arrives. 

And Oldtown, my favorite setting in the world of ice and fire, makes perfect sense as the ground zero for Euron’s apocalypse. Just as his eyepatch covers up the Crow’s Eye, his Pirate King performance shielding his C’thuloid soul, Oldtown’s public face as a prosperous port city home to thriving institutions only just barely covers up what this place really is. It’s a “hinge of the world,” an eldritch city, the closest thing to a Westerosi Asshai; all the lofty monuments to the “overproud,” from the Faith to the Citadel to the Hightowers, are undercut and undergirded by tentacled roots as big as trees. Oldtown is The Death of Dragons and the Faceless Man trying to steal it. Leyton and Malora get it, but they’re thought mad, and have cut themselves off from the city’s defenses at this point. Marwyn the Mage gets it…

“The grey sheep have closed their eyes, but the mastiff sees the truth. Old powers waken. Shadows stir. An age of wonder and terror will soon be upon us, an age for gods and heroes.”

The Mage was not like other maesters. People said that he kept company with whores and hedge wizards, talked with hairy Ibbenese and pitch-black Summer Islanders in their own tongues, and sacrificed to queer gods at the little sailors’ temples down by the wharves. Men spoke of seeing him down in the undercity, in rat pits and black brothels, consorting with mummers, singers, sellswords, even beggars.

“Who do you think killed all the dragons the last time around? Gallant dragonslayers armed with swords?” He spat. “The world the Citadel is building has no place in it for sorcery or prophecy or glass candles, much less for dragons.”

…but he skipped town. (And is also widely thought mad.) Alongside dragons and krakens, Damphair saw a sphinx bowing to Big Brother, and such is the face the Citadel shows to the world:

The gates of the Citadel were flanked by a pair of towering green sphinxes with the bodies of lions, the wings of eagles, and the tails of serpents.

So not only is Oldtown the absolute perfect kindling for Euron’s particular fire, but he’s also the payoff for the setup regarding the Citadel. The grey sheep are certain they’ve built a world without magic, but they’re wrong and the Mage and the Mad Maid are right, because the Crow’s Eye is coming. Oldtown is where he finally tears off the mask and jumps:

“Perhaps we can fly. All of us. How will we ever know unless we leap from some tall tower?” The wind came gusting through the window and stirred his sable cloak. There was something obscene and disturbing about his nakedness. “No man ever truly knows what he can do unless he dares to leap.”

#eldritch apocalypse #so all that (and highgarden) is why sam is the POV I'm most looking forward to going uh forward #euron greyjoy #oldtown #asoiaf meta #twow spoilers #aegon vi targaryen #marwyn #leyton hightower #malora hightower

[giant-spider-boyfriend]

Acrid

George had been settled in, in the middle of moving his life out of the Swedish apartment and back to his family home in Michigan...and then the call back came. He knew he wasn’t getting out of there that easily. There’d always be another mission, and another, the Big Guy was just one of those difficult to replace agents. He limped over to the com and activated it. “I’m coming,” he said in response to the calling.

He pulled a jacket on and gathered his kit. Strapping the Colt 45 to his hip and rolling his shoulders. George briefly caught his image in a mirror, god he looked old didn’t he? He was only 53, hardly that old. Hard life, hard lines his father had always said and he’d embraced the concept. It was just strange seeing himself as an old man.

Not too old to go to work.

Even if he wasn’t feeling up to seeing the man who’d called him in. He caught the bus to the headquarters of Overwatch, the peacekeepers of the globe. He stepped out to see the Strike Commander standing there with a distinctly severe expression on his face. Something tragic had happened, and it had something to do with his men. George recalled making that expression back when he was in the Seals and an op was going pear shaped.

“Jack.”

“George.”

The uncomfortable silence followed and the Strike Commander wordlessly motioned for George to follow. They moved through the headquarters, there was a lot of fallen faces, Ana especially had that hard look she used to hide the real feeling beneath. So it was serious he had to assume. Serious enough to bring out the controlled disaster.

The pair stopped at the Commander’s office, and Jack paused for a moment. “The reason I called you back is because we’ve hit...possibly the worst disaster of Overwatch’s life,” he said looking up at George who stood nearly a head taller. “I know you know the risks of covert operations and intelligence work. Our Blackwatch unit is in the middle of a disaster zone.” He was being rather vague.

“Disaster zone, can’t you fish them out then? Did they cause it?” George asked, the door to Jack’s office was opened and they stepped inside. Only after the door lock clicked, did Jack decide to spill all the details.

“No, they didn’t cause it, Blackwatch were observing a cult group, some kind of omnium worshipping group. They were not to engage until they had enough info to strike at the core of the group and dissipate them…” he started.

“Things went pear shaped.”

“Yes, very. The cult got some kind of tip off that Blackwatch was among them, they captured the operative and accelerated whatever plan they’d been cooking up. The group stormed an old nuclear site, and within hours they’d caused a meltdown of spent fuel rods, we’re talking thousands of pounds of nuclear waste washing into this town,” Jack continued, his voice held as steady as he could. “Evacuation went well with the help of military police and Overwatch...but our team, hasn’t made it to the LZ, and we only got one message before we lost contact.”

Jack pushed a button on his desk. The voice of Reyes spoke: “Three critically injured, requesting support, McCree, specifically is in bad shape. I think he’s going into shock…” Static cut off the rest of the message.

“McCree, oh your cowboy, the kid;” George said with an understanding look. “You want me to go save your black ops team then?”

“That’s the idea, radiation in the intervening area is too high for anyone else to pull them out and we need to level a lot of buildings to bury the Radiation as much as possible. Hephaestus is listed as impervious to radiation poisoning, and he’s a helluva wrecking ball,” Jack said trying not to make a personal appeal. That ship had well sailed, this was just him asking for the favor he was owed. “You’d be doing me a helluva favor.”

“I’d be doing my job, Commander.” George crossed his arms over his chest. “All my gear still here?”

“Yes it is. It’s waiting in the hangar.”

“Right, gimme the coordinates. Where do you want me to take your boys to?”

“Anywhere outside the radiation zone is good enough, can you manage to find a path through? We can hook you up with a Geiger counter?”

“No, Hephaestus will just short it out, he can find a path I just don’t make any promises on whether he’ll do what you need…”

“At this point, it doesn’t matter. They’re dead if they stay, and I don’t have any other options on who to send...George, I’m...sorry. This isn’t exactly how I’d hoped we’d be meeting up again,” Jack said carefully.

A shrug of his shoulders is all George gave in return. “I have to go get ready,” he said and left the office with Jack watching him go and sighing.

“Helps coming Jesse...please just hold on,” the Commander murmured to himself.

The hangar was full of activity, medical teams shipping out to assist with injured and help with relief efforts. Loads of equipment being loaded onto ships, and then being flown out with haste. Overwatch watchpoints nearby would also be shipping out. George furrowed his brow; he didn’t know the extent of the disaster, but from how much manpower was being dedicated to it, he was starting to get the picture.

“You George?” someone said from the prep stations. “Your gear’s over here, you’re going to be on my ship. I’m doing an airdrop since we don’t have sufficient radiation shielding to get in too close. You alright with that?”

“Yeah, done it before…” he said limping to a secluded spot to pull on the special clothing. It didn’t look particularly odd, a tank top and pair of loose looking pants but within the fibres they held special purpose. The woman looked skeptical as George limped back.

“...I can’t help but notice your limp,” the pilot mentioned as she pointed at his leg curiously. He shrugged, picking up the hefty looking hammer of sorts. “Parachute?”

George just smiled and shook his head. “He doesn’t need one, and I’m not the one who’s doing the work, you just get us there ma’am and we’ll do the rest,” he said and nodded as he walked over to the vessel, something stirring in his mind. A sleeping dragon.

“Right, okay, checks are done moving out.”

The vessel was off the ground and they were headed out for the disaster zone. It wasn’t long before they were over the flaming remnants of the city. High temperature waste had ignited gas lines, burst pipes and sewage. George took a deep breath, and stepped to the open door, wind whipping at his hair. “Ready for deployment.”

“Jump now,” came the answer.

And he leaped, closing his eyes, and fading away.

The ground came fast, feet to the ground smashing into the pavement body moving to a crouched position. A surge of static crackled along the ground, and over the man’s form. Someone new had landed in George’s stead. He stood up to a full height of 7 feet, hair being snatched up by the raw static that clung to him. The hammer at his back lit up, the lightning rod for the unhinged power.

He stepped from the impact sight, looking around, a rudimentary HUD and heat mapping overlay his vision. Unique features of the nanite construct. He reduced the range, zeroing in on the human body’s signature. Then the coordinates, there you are. “Hmmm,” came the noise as bare feet slapped on the pavement. He started into a swift run, hammer pulled from his back he discharged a raw bolt into a bit of the surrounding refuse, buildings already charred started to fall. It was calculated. No sign of the Blackwatch unit no need to worry about whether one of these buildings was where they hid.

The coordinates led him to a centralized spot, radiation levels seemed to be mildest here, interesting. His swept gold eyes around. A huddled group of human figures stuck out among the radiation and flooding. Several seemed quite cold, corpses perhaps?

The door of their sanctuary had a broken lock, so it was kicked down with unnecessary violence. The group looked up aiming weapons at the creature that stepped from the smoke. There was a few moments of fear.

“Hello, do not be afraid, I’m the rescue,” came a voice that was human, albeit that voice seemed to lack much in way of correct expression. “Which is closest to death?”

Reyes cleared his throat. “Hephaestus, right, they would send you. We have 2 dead, one in critical condition;” he said. “Is there a ship coming?”

“No ship, too much radiation. I’ll be your guide,” again it was nearly there, nearly friendly almost pleasant...but inherently wrong. “We will be leaving the dead behind, they may be collected after radiation has be buried sufficiently.” He stepped over to the Blackwatch commander kneeling over the barely conscious McCree.

“Right. Men, leave unnecessary gear behind, we’re going light we have to go quickly,” Gabriel explained and like the well trained men they were, they dropped weight. Rations, ammunition and even their kevlar. If it wasn’t required for running it was lost. “We need some kind of cot for McCree it’d only slow a man down to carry him alone.”

“No need, he will not slow me down,” Hephaestus replied, putting his hammer on his back and hoisting the injured man up. “Are you ready to leave?” Reyes raised a brow.

“Men?”

“Yes, sir,” came a combined affirmative.

“Lead the way.” Gabriel watched Hephaestus turn his back to them and start back out into the ruined block.

Jesse was only barely aware of everything happening, when he’d seen Hephaestus approach him he’d been sure it was some angel or demon come to take his soul away. Must be surely. He could tell he was being carried but maybe he was flying.

It must be a demon holding him, as it tried to smile...it all felt so wrong. Hair flickering like fire in tones of red and yellow, the inhuman eyes, surely it was evil. He had no power to fight it’s hold.

Each time he closed his eyes he felt he was getting closer to hell. A Metallic taste in his mouth, the heat of flames. His hazy grasp of the world. Ruins of civilization and he swore he could hear screams, there must be screaming. The damned. That’s what they were, that mad man had said as much. The taste started to fade away but his teeth hurt, he felt itchy, his left arm was asleep. It was itchy, he wanted to scratch it.

He couldn’t move it.

Then he blacked out.

And when he was conscious again he found himself lying in a ship, someone snoring next to him, some old man. He closed his eyes and fell unconscious again.

Flashes of activity followed his long darkness, voice of people; some he recognized, others he didn’t. Many pokes, many prods, and the itching that just wouldn’t go away. His left arm was still numb, and yet it itched. He couldn’t find a way to scratch it. He’d just fade back away for a while, hovering in between awake and asleep. He thought of the monster, was this the hell he’d been brought to? Asleep, yet aware.

It seemed like an eternity, as he finally opened his eyes and was blinded by fluorescent lights in the ceiling. He felt dizzy, and sick. He coughed, and that caught someone’s attention.

“Jesse?”

Who was that? He furrowed his brow and turned his head to see. Commander? “...Jack?” was all he managed to rasp. His throat felt so dry, he tried to sit up only to find himself too weak to do so, how long had he been in bed like this?

“Hey take it easy, you’ve been through alot, you’re okay though,” Jack said in a calming tone, putting a hand on Jesse’s his right one. “Are you thirsty? I can sit you up.” McCree nodded to the question. The bed moved rather than him putting him into a sitting position. “Can you move your arm for me?”

Jesse took a few seconds then moved his right arm up, squeezing his fingers closed and then opening them. They were stiff, his arm was stiff all of him was stiff. “Stiff…” he mentioned.

“Yeah well you’ve been laying in bed for a while, are you in pain at all?”

“A little.” He looked to the glass of water Jack had in his hand. He reached out for it, nearly dropping it when the glass was transferred to his grasp. He sighed and did his best to be careful with a sip. A few swallows and he seemed to feel better. “I can’t feel my left arm...I think it’s asleep, but it’s itchy…”

Jack got a funny look on his face. One Jesse couldn’t parse. The commander seemed to be avoiding something. “I’m...I’m sorry Jesse, there was nothing we could do,” he said vaguely. This made McCree’s blood run cold. For some reason he just kept avoiding looking over at his arm. Like everything in his brain was telling him not to.

“What do you mean?” he asked, slowly letting his gaze turn, he had to know. He didn’t want to know. Nothing. There was nothing there, it was like someone had just deleted half of his arm. A pit made it’s place in his stomach. “...but...it itches...I can…” He could feel it.

“I’m sorry…” Jack repeated.

“I...can I...alone?” Jesse finally asked. He just needed space to think.

“Yeah, of course, all the time you need,” the Commander replied standing and briefly putting a hand on Jesse’s shoulder. “Buzz the nurse, and I’ll be right back if you need.” He stepped back and away from the younger man, closing the door when he left.

Jack was heading for his office, head focused on the ground, nibbling his finger out of habit. He ran hard into something, a person he had to assume as his head wasn’t aching from contact with something more solid. He looked up uttering an apology quickly before he too real note of who he’d ran into. “Oh...George…” he said and sighed.

“Commander, how’s the kid?” George asked taking a few steps back. Jack frown a bit and gave a vague shrug.

“He’s, alive. Thanks to you, I owe you…” the commander said softly as he rubbed his chin, taking a deep breath. “I know this really isn’t my place to ask but...would you...could you talk to him?” That cause George to raise a brow curiously.

“Why do you want me to talk to him? I don’t really know him,” George asked, crossing his arms over his broad chest.

Jack seemed to hesitate with the explanation, eyeing the prosthetic that had replaced George’s right arm at the shoulder. No sense tiptoeing around it he had to just come out with it. “Cause, he’s lost an arm, and I don’t really know what that’s like. I don’t know how to talk about it, or help.” Finally George seemed to understand. “I know, I really don’t have a right to ask…”

“Fine. I dunno what you want me to say to him, but what harm can it do?” George said raising his hand to shut the stuttering blond up. “How old is he anyway?”

“21.”

“Lemme fetch something, and I’ll talk to your cowboy.” With that George stepped around Jack and headed for the exit.

It’d be an hour or so till George returned, with a messenger bag, and new fresh clothes. He headed for the medical wing and managed to avoid pulling any suspicion as to what was in his bag, knocking on the door to McCree’s room.

“I’m not hungry,” came a call and George snorted. Nurses, and their resident doctor could be a bit...overbearing. Ignoring the dismissal the big man pushed open the door, and stepped inside letting it close behind him.

“Don’t worry I don’t have any food,” he mused as he grabbed a chair and set it up backwards, sitting on it the wrong way around.

“Oh...uh, do I know you?”

“Nope, well, not really anyway; Heph saved your life though,” George set the bag down, and it made a noise like glass clinking. “Not that you probably remember much of that, you were pretty gone. But, Jesse McCree’s your name right? Mine’s George Pickford, formerly Lieutenant Colonel.” He offered his right hand for a shake, Jesse sort of stared at it for a while.

“Right…” he put his hand in the metal one and they briefly shook. “Nice to meet you I guess, so uh whats the story for you visiting me? You’re not Blackwatch.”

“Be honest I was asked to, cause we’ve both be in similar situations,” and George held up his arm again. “What with losing our arms in the line of duty. Guess it’s been uh tough, itches doesn’t it?”

Jesse furrowed his brow, George’s accent lended this sort of easy, fatherly vibe; but his words hit McCree a bit hard. “I...I’m trying not to think about it too much, but...yeah itches like the devil.”

George nodded as he reached down into his bag pulling out two glasses and setting them on the little tray next to the bed. Then he set down a bottle of Tennesse Whiskey and Jesse glanced at the door. “Would have been in sooner, but figured you could use something a little more potent than hospital jello,” he offered as he popped the cap off and poured enough to fill each glass about a third of the way.

“Where’d you even get this outside the states?”

“That’s Classified.”

Jesse was patient as George set the bottle back away in the bag, lest some nurse come in and attempt to confiscate it. “You on pain medication?” he asked.

“Little bit, I don’t...I don’t honestly feel much of anything.”

“Burns’ll do that to ya, I didn’t feel much but that ache, like the pins and needles when your foot wakes up,” George replied as he handed over the glass.

Jesse observed it for a few seconds, it smelled good, reminded him of home. He sighed and took a small sip, watching George take a more generous helping. “Will it...will it always do that?” he asked softly, feeling the warmth of the drink after another sip.

“Yep.”

“...oh,”

“Now I don’t mean to be depressing about it, you get used to it, you forget about it; the metal ones help but your brain will always be looking for what you’ve lost; there’s nothing you can really do about it,” George said with a bit of a smile. “Life goes on, they’ll get you fitted up with something like I’ve got. You stop thinking about it after a while.”

“I don’t know if that makes me feel better,” Jesse replied taking a longer sip.

George shrugged. “It is what it is, I dunno what else to say about it, you can’t dwell on it; it’s gone. It doesn’t come back,” he said as he took another drink. “All I can say is what not to do. Don’t get angry, don’t get bitter; you do that and you’ll start to give up. Not your fault, not anyone’s fault it’s gone.”

McCree gave a shallow nod, looking into his cup. “I just...I dunno, I guess…”

“You figured you were invincible.”

“I- no...well…” He went quiet.

“You’re 21, in some gang for years, then you join the league of heroes, I mean why wouldn’t you think that? Sure, you know there’s danger and maybe you’ve even figured that you’ve accepted your mortality. Then it happens,” George went on finishing his glass and setting it aside. “You bleed. It’s okay, kid; it’s okay to be scared, to wonder why, to hurt. It’s not easy really facing that and coming out with that reminder.”

Jesse sniffed and rubbed his face. He’d managed not to cry, but it was starting to hit him. Really shaking him up. He put the glass down and reached over putting his hand on what remain of his left arm. “It all just feels like a bad dream, like it didn’t happen to me...it happened to someone else,” he said and swallowed.

“Yeah, I know what you mean,” George said and reached his hand over putting it on McCree’s shoulder. “Listen, you got lots of good people around you, they want to help. Just remember that. You’re not alone.”

McCree and George settled in, for a while talking about a lot of nothing. McCree found the older man good to listen to, he didn’t fool around, kept things simple. After a time George was getting ready to go.

“Hey, would you mind me holding onto the glass? I’d like another but I’d hate to keep you if you gotta go,” Jessy asked, raising a brow. George hummed.

“Sure, I already broke up the set, wife took one, just one I think to piss me off; I’m getting out of here in a few days, don’t plan on being back, so you can hold onto it,” George replied and poured a bit more whiskey into the glass. “Everyone needs a good glass for good liquor. Keep your chin up kid.” He tossed the bag back onto his shoulder and started out. “Oh...hey you know what, hows about I leave this with you. I just thought about it.” George turned back around and wrote up a number on a napkin. “There, you need something, I don’t know an ear to talk in, you take that and give me a ring. I don’t know how much good it’ll do ya, but my best friend from back in the day gave me a paper like that same deal...so I’ll pass on the favor.”

“Oh...huh thanks are you sure? I mean…” Jessy fumbled, little taken back by such /easy/ kindness even after 4 years. “I...hey, thanks. I’ll do that, if you don’t mind I mean.”

“Don’t bother me none,” George replied. “See ya around kid. Good luck, don’t let Gabe work you too hard. Don’t do anything you don’t believe in.”

And he walked out the door. “Adios, George…” Jessy mused taking a sip of his refilled glass with a smile.

Finally home, George took a deep breath, setting his bag aside and falling onto the couch. “Welp...buddy, looks like we’re finally retired,” he murmured to himself, glancing at his reflection on the TV. A figure stood behind him, Hephaestus, though it was all in his head. “Sorry, I’m...not up to it anymore. You did your best, you did enough. Don’t worry about it.” He leaned back and took a deep breath.

“Yeah, we did alright. Time to go to sleep Hephaestus...for a while.”

…’sleep?’

George leaned back. He closed his eyes. “Yeah, sleep.”

‘Okay.’ The figure disappeared from the screen.

#Overwatch #overwatch fanfiction #fanfiction #mc76 #soldier 76 #mccree #george #OC

[thesilverthreadsmith]

Mako-Tinged Dreams, Ch. 1

Green...green as far as I can see...the eerie, radioactive shade of mako that we hated so damn much…

Cloud’s eyes opened...well, one eye opened. The other was still swollen shut, though a light touch proved that by the end of the day, it would most likely be open again. He sighed and dragged himself up off the ground and out of his sleeping bag, groaning at the pain and stiffness radiating through his back and hips from the last few days of fights...and smiled weakly as Tifa’s gloved hand appeared in his vision, palm open and ready to help him up.

“...I owe you one.” He sighed, taking it and standing up, shaking himself all over to loosen up, and she just rolled her eyes and shook her head. She looked pretty rough herself, her legs heavily bandaged under the rough shorts she’d made from the remains of her pants, and he wished she hadn’t taken the brunt of the fires; her legs would be weeks in healing. Cloud grabbed up his pack as he followed her out, rummaging a bit.

“No, you owe me a lot more than that. C’mon, Vincent and Yuffie just got back with supplies; we’ve got bacon, eggs, and fresh coffee.” He let out a moan of thanks, and followed her out of the shelter they’d made out of an old Shin-Ra building to a very welcome sight; a proper breakfast, and Cid’s Rocket Fuel Coffee. Vincent passed him an empty mug and the steaming pot from the fire while Yuffie fiddled with their communications equipment, and Cloud took both with a grin, tucking his pack between his legs, and settled by the fire.

Cid was working on their dual pair of jeeps as he poured a mug full and took a plate, wolfing things down one-handed, borrowed from the Turks (and Rufus), doing the filter and oil changes while Barret worked on the mounted machine guns on top. Nanaki and Cait were both patrolling the perimeter of their camp, and Tifa sat down on Vincent’s other side, reapplying fresh bandages to the burns on her legs. Cloud gave her a sympathetic wince, and having found it finally, offered his Cure materia; she took it with a tired smile.

“Thanks…”

“Like you said, I owe you. How’s everyone feeling?”

“Tired, but we’re managing. The Turks are on their way up to join us for the last push, after that, we’re declaring Midgar a disaster zone.” Vincent sounded more than tired; he was gray from all of his transformations, and his red cloak had been abandoned a few weeks back for some of the heavy duty SOLDIER gear they’d found in one of the old barracks. Everyone, in fact, was pretty much in the same boat; their normal gear just wasn’t strong enough to take the constant monster attacks…

Constant, and draining.

The WRO’s Special Reclamation Team was the combined forces of the Turks, and AVALANCHE, and they’d spent the last two months in the center of Midgar’s ruins, battling the nonstop hordes of genetic horrors that were Hojo’s twisted legacy. Jenova remnants, mutations, failed experiments that were the next thing to immortal...It was heartbreaking, some of the poor souls they’d had to free. And infuriating; all of this, all because of one man’s ego… Damn you, Hojo.

“About damn time; just Reno and Rude?”

“No, Tseng, Elena, Cissnei too, and a few of the Old Guard are coming to help. They’ll be airborne while we’re on the ground; we’ll have full air support the whole way in.” Cloud let out a sigh of relief at that. The final zone they’d left for clearing was the hole Omega had torn out of the center of Midgar three years prior, and Vincent had been the main scout...well, technically Chaos had been, and between the eldritch creature and the dour gunman, they had a rough idea of how bad it was.

Actually clearing it out was impossible; the concentration of spilled mako, genetic monstrosities, destruction...all of it was just too much to heal quickly. Or even, really, at all; Cloud was not confident in their ability to do much, if anything, to help the enormous wound in the earth. As it was, technically, only Vincent and Cloud could really go safely into the pit, and that was...not entirely proven yet. Today would be that day... He drained his coffee and ate a second helping, though, grateful for the rest and the food.

“Hey, Spiky, ya up fer helpin’ me out?” He glanced up at Cid, who was covered in grease, the cast on his arm included, and couldn’t help but smile a little bit sadly. Cid had a broken arm, nose, head, and probably hand too, yet he was in the thick of it just as much as everyone else, and Cloud couldn’t say no. He got himself up and hobbled over, the mako in his body healing him faster and faster, but not quite fast enough...he dug around his pack a bit more, and found another Cure materia, and with a quick murmur, cast the spell over the both of them.

“Sure, whatcha need?” Cid looked a little more relaxed as the spell washed over him, and he sighed wearily, rubbing the side of his nose where the bandages met skin.

“Jus’ some help keepin’ the jeep up fer me to get the pan out from underneath…Thank ya, by the way...I kinda needed that.”

“It’s no trouble, Cid...Why don’t you let me get it, and go sit down? You look just about as bushed as everyone else, and you’ve got the worst injuries.” To his honest surprise, Cid grimaced and nodded, if a bit reluctantly.

“Ya kinda gotta point...thanks.”

“It’s no problem, Cid...go lay down and get some sleep, okay? You were up all night.” The older man gave him a surprisingly gentle shoulder clap, limping away from the two vehicles, and Cloud was grateful to see Tifa and Vincent both helping him into the building. He hoped that all three of them would lay down to sleep; Tifa had taken the night shift too, and Vincent had done the night patrol before meeting Yuffie with the supplies, and he knew they had to be just as drained as Cid. He smiled as Tifa cuddled up between the two of them, Vincent’s arm draped over her shoulders. It was so sweet, and he was happy for them; they deserved happiness.

He shared a look with both Yuffie and Barret; they nodded, and Barret gave him a cheeky salute, after which Cloud flipped him off and finished up both jeeps. An hour later, he grabbed his gear and got ready to head out for scouting. Fenrir was, sadly, back in Costa, so he simply strapped on his swords and checked his pack and comm gear. A quick test with Yuffie and her grinning thumbs-up, and Cloud was set to go. He walked out of camp before leaping to the first craggy remnant of a plate, and followed the path Vincent had left a few days before.

It was...quiet, out here. The sound of the wind, a steady trickle of liquid that he hoped was water down through the shattered ruins...occasionally, a soft shh-shhing of new grasses growing in little cracks and crevices. He passed by the sagging, fallen church that had been Aerith’s beloved secret, and he touched the gray wood of the doorway in fond, sad memory. It was no longer safe to go inside; too much damage, and too many years. It was so badly broken, almost near collapsing, though he could see the glimmer of her pool inside, the softest white glow a familiar sight.

“Miss you, Aerith…”

Cloud... Her voice was a balm, a murmur from the shadows, and he gave the remnant of her spirit a soft smile. Here, perhaps better than any place on Gaia, was the closest path to the unsullied part of the Lifestream. The others…?

“They’re doing okay. We...probably won’t be able to come back. Things are...bad here, I’m sorry…”

Hush...better that way....stay safe.

“We will. I promise you, we will.” He smiled as the pool shifted, growing, and a silvery figure came towards him, pausing just before the half-light outside the doorway. She was as ghostly as the Lifestream itself now, but she was smiling, just like always. “Would you like me to tell the others, give them a chance to say their goodbyes?” She paused, thinking, and nodded, hands clasped before her, and Cloud smiled.

Thank you...there is...old danger...ahead...but also...a friend... He blinked, but didn’t ask her to elaborate; she was having a hard time holding herself as it was, and he knew he couldn’t ask much of her. He’d seen her a dozen or more times around Gaia, but they’d never felt her, or seen her, as strongly as here, in the heart of her power and her love. Elmyra had never forgiven him for taking her after Sephiroth...To this day, he still blamed himself, despite everything.

“Okay. I’ll keep my eyes open, and let the rest know.” He earned a winning smile at that, and she vanished into mist, leaving him all alone in the shadows under the plate. Vincent’s path followed the safest, darkest route, and for once, Cloud wasn’t interested in testing the limits. The fallen plates were in various states of decay, the mako in the air and water and earth degrading the metals a great deal faster than most people realized. The temperature too, would change from one moment to the next, between freezing and sweltering, much to the team’s annoyance. They could see it, so close and personal now, and while Cid and Reeve found it fascinating…

He found it horrific. Cloud eyed the spidery patterns of rust and decay across one of the panels that Galian Beast had propped up days earlier, and pulled up his facemask when a too-cold gust of wind blasted him with a face full of fine, powdery rust. That triggered a nasty coughing fit, and he did his best to muffle the sounds, drinking a little too liberally of the cinnamon whiskey Cid had left him, and when it passed, continued on to the point where Vincent had stopped, surveying the area beyond the plate.

Most of the last scouting mission that had ended in Cloud’s battered body and cracked leg, Cid’s broken bones, Tifa’s burns, and Vincent’s latest transformation had been a nasty skirmish, and they’d retreated to call for aid from the Turks. The decision to hide hadn’t really sat that well with all of them; they were all fighters, used to running to the front lines. But...a lot had happened in a short time, and none of them were fully healed, even now; retreat just made sense. He tugged out the radio, and Yuffie picked up right away when he called.

“Hey Cloud, what’s up?” He surveyed the already decomposing bodies of the remnants they’d fought days before, and once again, cursed Hojo to the deepest depths of hell, because this was atrocity piled upon atrocity.

“I’m at the stopping point from a few days ago; it’s not gonna be safe for us to explore much more, and no one who’s unenhanced should. It’s...pretty bad.”

“Damn. Alright, I’ll let the others know. Anything else?”

“I’m about to send some photos to Tseng, then I’ll probably be on radio only for a bit. Want me to send them to you, too?”

“Nah, just let Tseng know. I’m holding the fort here, Barret’s running out to meet with Reeve, and Vin, Cid, and Tifa are all three out cold. Nanaki’s napping too, so it’s just me and Cait. We’ve got this, so you focus on exploring carefully, alright?”

“I will. Thanks, Yuff; I’ll be back before dark, I do not want to be out here at night. It’s...pretty damned creepy.”

“Preachin’ to the choir, Cloud, I won’t go any farther than this, shit glows during the day. Be safe, take it slow. Radio if you need help, I’ve got a direct line to the Turks, so they can swoop in and get you out of there ASAP.”

“Thanks, Yuffie, I will.” Cloud tucked the radio into his belt, and sighed through his mask, getting his goggles and oxygen mask ready and then Cloud pulled out his phone to snap a quick few photos to send to Tseng; it wasn’t ideal, but it gave Reno a starting point for piloting the chopper into the area. The message back was short and simple, just “Be safe, will land at campsite first, then find you. Keep the beacon on.” Cloud checked his tracking beacon, and relaxed at the stable, solid green light on his belt. He texted his thanks back, then tucked his phone back into his pack and loosed his smaller sword, leaving about an inch of blade free so that he could draw it fast if needed...and into the Pit he went.

The Pit was the twisted, broken remains of the central tower, the gaping wound deep into the planet where Omega had fallen, revealing the remains of Deepground, the many, many failed experiments...The whole area was almost a wasteland, it was so huge; the remains of at least two or three mako reactors, falling in on themselves, three fallen plates and the remnants of another...And halfway in, the gaping hole that opened into Deepground, not unlike the gates of Hell. White-hot mako seethed underneath it all, and he winced at the metallic stench, then started marking the trail carefully as he made his way around the fourth mako reactor.

It was agonizingly slow; most of the walkways were completely destroyed, and the remaining ones were in terrible shape, the mako vapors eating away at them. More railings and steps than he liked completely disintegrated at a touch or a step, and finally, he found a safe way around, making his way carefully into the lower reaches. Here, he actually needed his oxygen mask; the gases were just too much, even for his enhanced constitution, and he pulled out his radio again to let Yuffie know, not trusting his phone’s ability to survive.

“Yuffie, it’s me again.”

“What’s up? ...Are you wearing your mask?”

“Yeah, it’s pretty rough down here. Tell Tseng to stay back; I won’t be in here long, but I need to get to the base of the Pit and give it a look around, then I’ll head back. I can feel the mako burning now, and if I can feel it, it’ll hurt Vincent even. Heading down now, give me one hour, alright?”

“You got it. But only one hour; I don’t hear from you after that, we’re sending in the Turks.”

“Deal. One hour, see you then.” He sealed the radio back into his pack, pulled on his goggles and made sure his mask was in place, and started to ease his way down the side of the reactor. Here, he could use his natural abilities, since no one other than Vincent would follow him, and climbed like a monkey down, jumping and catching himself easily. It was...scary, and thrilling, and Cloud felt his blood heat with anticipation...when he paused, eyes narrowing as he saw something...unusual. Something that hadn’t been in Vincent’s initial Deepground report right after he’d returned from Omega’s demise. An old friend...

Tucked underneath an enormous slab of Plate Three, Cloud could see part of the original Shin-Ra medical facility. Somehow, it had slid from the central tower to the Pit, and while it looked pretty roughed up, it was still standing, and the heavy concrete looked more stable than the metal around him. And Cloud felt drawn to it. Something was there...and he had to know what. He climbed up a little higher, heading back up the way he’d come, and with a quick calculation, jumped from the top of the piece to land harshly on the rocks just below the building.

“Son of a bitch, that hurts…” Super soldier he might be, but those landings still hurt like hell, and he stood back up with a grumble, limping down the gravel to the building itself. He had to tear the remains of the door off to get in, and felt a cold wave of air blast over him. Thank Gaia for the mask; he could feel his eyes watering a little from the stench, and he pushed his way in, setting aside barrels, boxes, and massive ropes of rotting wiring as he explored the inside.

It, like many of Shin-Ra’s buildings, was a great deal deeper than the outside let on, and it was a difficult task to clear a path, but something called to him, something...familiar. A good familiar too, and Cloud found himself wondering if it might be Zack’s remains. He had buried his friend out on that frontier, or so he’d thought; certainly, the sword had remained there for several years as a grave marker, but Cloud was hardly surprised when he’d discovered an empty hole five years ago. Annoyed and aggrieved, oh yes, but surprised? No.

He’d known someone would come looking for the remains of a SOLDIER, be they Turks, Rufus Shinra himself, or Hojo...and his money was bet on the last. But that would explain the connection; all the SOLDIER candidates and leaders had a sort of...well, almost a blood connection, Cloud supposed. It explained how Sephiroth had found him, and vice versa, and how Zack had found Angeal and Genesis years before. And if all he did was lay Zack’s body to rest in Gongaga for his parents, then that was enough for Cloud.

He pulled apart another door, flicking on his chest light to survey the room, and sighed when he noticed the still glowing mako tube in the corner. Bastards...of course Hojo would have tried to reanimate him. Too bad...Zack had so many bullets in him it was amazing he still survived long enough to say goodbye. And I know I saw him in the void with Aerith; he’s dead, dead and finally at peace with the world. Still...it was infuriating, and Cloud made another path as he moved closer, feeling his anger manifest in kicks to the barrels, a few punches too. That sociopathic monster had lived long enough; he was glad Vincent had killed him at long last.

Finally, he was in front of the tube, and he felt his stomach churn as he peered through the dull green glow. It was definitely Zack alright; unsurprisingly, the mako had healed his body, and judging by the breathing tubes, Hojo had succeeded in reanimating his body at least. But power had been gone from down in the labs for the better part of a year now, and there was no indication of life signs, so Cloud sighed, brushing his gloved fingers over the dusty glass.

“...For what it’s worth, I’m sorry, Zack. I’m so very sorry. But we’re gonna get you home, buddy. Where you belong.” He drew his heavy knife and popped the clasp on the tube, ignoring the hiss and sudden gush of sludgy mako that drenched his boots and pants, and caught the falling body carefully in his arms. It was...a bit more awkward than he liked to admit, and he winced as he smacked Zack’s poor head against the casing twice, but he managed to get the body out over his shoulder, and laid him over a few of the boxes to wrap him in a tarp. Not the most respectable way to be carried to his rest, but Cloud really didn’t have a lot of choices, and at least this way, it would be less shocking…

He started at Zack’s feet, wrapping and binding him carefully in the tarp as he went, all the way up to his head, and Cloud paused to stroke back his long black hair, soft and soaked, those elegant features so still. Cloud turned to check the area again, checking the time on his radio...when he heard it. A rattling noise, followed by a soft wheeze, then slow, steady breathing...and Cloud whipped back around to Zack’s prone body, eyes huge and heart pounding as he studied the tarp, barely hoping...there. Zack was breathing... Zack was breathing! Not only that, Zack was sleeping ; Cloud knew that soft snore anywhere.

He didn’t know if it was a miracle, or if his best friend would wake up a monster, but he didn’t care; he had to get Zack back safely. He carefully checked the tarp, tying it enough that he could carry Zack back with ease, and pulled his spare mask out of the pack, pulling it on and putting the nicer one on Zack. The downside was that he only had thirty minutes to make it back to the safe zone; the spare tank was a small one, and this mask wasn’t as strong as the other, but Cloud didn’t really care; he could take it.

He levered Zack into his arms, and back over his shoulder; still not the best way, but he needed a hand free to climb, and he could move faster like this. Cloud headed back out at a lope, glancing around for an easier slope to climb...and that’s when he noticed the remnants. Genetic mutations spun out of control by the unleashed mako, the remnants were the bane of Midgar and Edge, and the one reason that reclaiming the ruins had been such a nightmare...and now, he felt his heart sink as he realized just how many remained.

Most were the hooded, ragged failures of Sephiroth; sickly silver hair and blind green eyes, their faces a hideous caricature of his unearthly beauty, clawed hands reaching out. He knew from experience now that scent and sound were their strongest senses, and while they were weaker than the three his team had fought before, and infinitely weaker than Sephiroth himself...they were more than strong enough in sheer numbers to take down even someone as strong as himself. That’s why Vincent was still so tired; he’d had to summon Chaos, the eldritch demon being the only thing that could fight them easily.

He swallowed, shifting Zack a little higher, and felt his heart rate ratchet up even more when he noticed them following the sound of the tarp, and carefully, slowly, he loosed his shortsword, taking a careful breath. Twenty minutes. Time’s wasting, Spiky. Oh, this is gonna suck so much... He crouched, just a little, and jolted forward at a dead run, cutting down the four in his path as he leapt up for the last walkway, and he had to stab one of the panels as his feet slid when he landed, panting behind his mask as he climbed for dear life now.

He freed his other hand after clipping Zack onto his armor, and just hauled ass up to the walkway, heart pounding as the monstrous nightmares howled and screamed at his heels, surging up, climbing one another in blind, rage-filled hunger...and Gaia, it was terrifying . He made it to the walkway finally, panting hard, his mask and goggles fogging with his exertion, and he took off at a sprint down to the safe zone, so sure that he could make it. I can make it...I can make it...c’mon, Cloud, just a little more…

“STRIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIFE~!” The hoarse scream came out of nowhere beside him, and a dozen of the bastards flew out from under one of the plate pieces, slamming into him and Zack, and Cloud choked as he brought his sword up to guard, back almost bend double over the walkway’s railing. It groaned in protest, but Cloud was too busy trying to fend them off, protecting Zack while trying to draw his other sword. The remnants just hounded him, too far gone to be frightened by the slashes and his muffled yells, and they got in a dozen or more slashes with those poisonous claws…

And then the railing cracked. Cloud felt his heart freeze, and the biggest of the remnants snarled and launched at him...and then all of them were falling. The whole walkway shuddered and collapsed under the weight of all the remnants. Cloud couldn’t help the fear now, couldn’t fight the terror, and as the remnant tore off his mask, his cry for help was to someone long dead, someone who’d held the world safe…

And Aerith answered .  

The whole of the Pit lit up, so bright it blinded him, and all around him, the Lifestream surged up and surrounded them. He jerked as the light caught them, and it was almost a blow in its own right, leaving him dazed, and Cloud blacked out, throat burning, Zack still in his arms...but Aerith’s gentle hand on his brow.

Rest, Cloud. He’ll need you. He’ll need you…

“...--ENO!! Get them out of here!”

“Tryin’, Boss, but the chopper’s struggling, and Rude can’t land her!” Cloud came to with a sob of pain, every nerve feeling like it was on fire...and he realized with a panicked start that he couldn’t see anything but white light. He tried to flail, shuddering as the pain rippled over him, gunshots sounding over his head, and Reno dropped to a knee next to him, and with a sharp word, cast Curaga over him, voice muffled in the mask he wore. “Stay with me, Spiky, it ain’t time for you to bite the bullet yet. Fair’s alright, he’s still breathing, how , I don’t fuckin’ know, but he is, and after the blow up in the Pit, we’re just amazed you two didn’t get fried.”

“Ah...Aerith…Aerith saved us...” Reno paused, and Cloud found his vision clearing, the panic fading as he tried to focus in on the Turk.

“...Well, that explains how most of those ugly fuckers died so quick. Tseng and Cissnei are holding back the horde, Elena’s making a bomb, and we need to get you two on the chopper so we can all get the fuck out of here.” Cloud nodded, swallowing the blood and bile back down, carefully sitting upright, and Reno helped him up, casting the healing spell again.

“Wait...don’ waste it…”

“Relax, my bat’s got four slots and only one’s Fire. C’mon, up you get, I’ll get Fair taken care of...oh thank fuck, Rude’s a fuckin’ gem. RUDE! COME HELP ME GET THE SPIKY IDIOTS.” Cloud had to laugh a little, blood trickling from his lips, and let Reno drag him to the chopper, Rude following close behind with Zack in his arms. Cloud glanced back, trying to focus in on the slowly retreating Turks...and that’s when the Lifestream flared again out of the Pit, Tseng and Cissnei yelling a retreat...but a figure stood there.

She still looked so goddamn strong, pink dress and that long brown braid fluttering in the hellish hot winds that whipped through the spires towards the chopper, her back to them and facing the monsters boiling up out of the Pit once again, her staff in hand as she brought it up...and that’s when he heard her voice, her real voice, for the first time since that fateful night.

“GREAT GOSPEL!” The heavens opened up above them, pouring down healing rain...and Reno shoved him into the chopper, the rest of the Turks piling in as the redhead wiggled to the front for the controls. They took off with a scream of the helicopter blades, and Cloud tried to reach out for her because she was real and she was whole...she was alive. But Tseng and Rude held him back, despite his pleas, and they fled Midgar as the whole of the place was consumed in a massive, ancient storm.

It seemed insane as they popped out of the clouds, into brilliant, blinding sunshine, and Cloud knew his face was soaked with more than just the rain...but as they headed towards Edge, the two jeeps speeding along below them through the remains of the city, he knew…he knew. Aerith had to have been planning this, to ensure that Zack escaped, that she could finish what she’d started with Holy. And he knew too that she wouldn’t let anyone into the storm until the Pit was healed...and that would take years.

“...Cloud…” Tseng’s voice was oddly gentle, something he’d never seen from the elegant, professional Turk, and Cloud took a little comfort that this had affected them too. He wasn’t surprised by it, actually; Tseng and the Turks had never agreed with the President on allowing Hojo so much leeway. Nor had they agreed to Gast’s and Ifalna’s murders, Aerith’s kidnappings...and given the way they’d thrown themselves into the WRO, even Reno, he was grateful for the change of heart. He took a deep breath, letting it out, then another; he had to do what he could to help Aerith, and right now, Aerith needed him to take care of Zack.

He turned now to the Turks, to Zack, and carefully undid the tarp around the SOLDIER’s head, Zack’s tanned skin pale now from years in mako and death, but his chest rising and falling, still snoring, still living. It was...well, he knew what it could be. He knew that there was a chance that when...if...Zack opened his eyes, they might be green and cat-slit, rather than blue...but he had to take that chance. For Zack, for Aerith...and for himself. He had his memories now, fragmented as they were, and all the guilt…

“...Cloud...he might not be Zack anymore.” Cissnei sounded so sad, and he nodded, swallowing the lump in his throat.

“I know. I know. But...I think Aerith led me down there. I know she knew about him, she just...didn’t have anyone to get him free. And if Aerith trusts that he’s alive, that he’s okay...then we might just see the one miracle Hojo’s bullshit ever created.”

“Even so...let’s get grounded before we wake him up. I won’t risk it in the air.” Tseng had a very good point, and Cloud sat back, watching Zack as they made their way to the main encampment out on the southern plain, Reno landing so gently it was barely a bump. He motioned for the Turks to go out first and eased himself out, still hurting, still a little blind, then scooped up Zack in his arms. They all moved to protest, and he shook his head gently; he had strength enough for this.  “Where to, Cloud?”

“...Over there.” Cloud motioned with his chin, pointing to the small bluff to the north...the bluff where Zack had died. The first time. Reno and Rude went pale, and Tseng gave him a look he couldn’t quite parse.

“...If you’re sure. We’ll follow, you lead.” He nodded, and they walked into camp, Yuffie wandering up...then gasping, in horror.

“Cloud…Cloud, that’s…”

“Yeah, it is, Yuff. You don’t have to come with us, but...well, we might just have another member to the team.” She glanced up, dark eyes huge, and he gave her a soft smile. “Yeah. Aerith...well, Aerith saved our skins twice today. She’s cast Great Gospel on the whole of Midgar now, and she led me to him. We’re going up to the bluff to revive him...and if he’s himself...well, we’ll explain things. If not…” She grimaced and looked away...He felt a bit heartbroken himself, but waited her out, no matter how much he ached; Yuffie was the one other than Aerith who’d known Zack the best. Finally, she looked back up, tears glimmering in her eyes.

“...Okay. Let me get my shuriken.” She was but a moment, ducking into the tents, and Vincent came out, looking exhausted but armed, but calmed as she spoke to him; Cloud couldn’t hear the words, and he was too blind to lip read, but he knew what she was saying anyway. Vin glanced at them, red eyes taking everything in...then nodded, returning to presumably pass back out around Tifa. Yuffie came back up to him, her blade on her back, and nodded, taking a deep breath. “Sorry, Vincent was a bit annoyed…”

“It’s okay, thank you for doing that. C’mon. Won’t be long…” The walk was quiet, and Cloud let his feet lead him up the familiar, gentle slope of the bluff, once barren and nothingness, now a vast field of grasslands and wildflowers, a seeding project Reeve had started last year that had borne incredible yields. The first Buster sword, Angeal’s blade, stood despite the rust, the weather...and carefully, Cloud propped Zack up against it, taking the mask off and remaining crouched in front of him as the Turks ringed the area, Yuffie nervously almost hiding behind Elena, who in turn was protective of her equally tiny girlfriend.

Cloud carefully tilted Zack’s head up, swallowing, and took a phoenix down out of his pouch, the tiny red feather twirling in his palm as he licked his lips.

“Raise…” The feather became a glowing golden light that settled over his heart, and Zack’s eyes fluttered, his breathing labored...and he came to with a broken scream, blue eyes wide as his whole body spasmed. His eyes darted about as he fought to break free of the tarp, everything flooding his system in berserk mode, and that’s when Cloud cast Esunaga, the shadowy soft light soothing away every bit of panic and fear and fight. Zack settled back against the sword with an audible thump, panting...but those sapphire eyes, still glowing with mako at their depths, were lucid now as he took in everyone around him...then zeroed in on Cloud.

“...hey there, Chocobo-head.”

#threadsmithwrites #fanfiction #Final Fantasy VII #FFVII #the after years as I saw it happening #as canon compliant as possible #zackxcloud #vincentxtifa #cidxairships #yuffiexelena #rufusxreeve #more pairings to come