A doodle of a tiny excerpt out of Call Me Cyli's newest chapter👀

Check below the cut for a coloured version

Make It Up To You

MAIN MASTERLIST / MARVEL MASTERLIST

Steve Rogers x Fem!Reader

Word Count: 2,530ish

Request: post endgame Steve and his wife celebrating christmas withtheir kids. steve works as an art teacher at his kids school. reader's working with pepper at stark industries. steve's got his white picket fence life with reader and they have a lake house. steve's busy teaching schedule. reader and kids miss him, but during the holidays he's making up the lost time with reader and kids.

Notes: I changed some things around in the request. I hope that this is alright!

The school bell rang, signaling the end of the school day.

“Okay, clean up your materials and then you are good to go,” Steve told the students.

“Thanks, Mr. Rogers!”

“Have a good day, Mr. Rogers!”

“I’ll see you tomorrow Captain!”

Steve shook his head with a chuckle. “I’ve told you before, Cylis, I’m no longer Captain America.”

“There can be more than one Captain America, Captain!” Cylis replied as he hurried out of the room.

Steve laughed at his student’s antics as he cleaned up the art supplies. He smiled to himself as he thought about how far he had come.

The final battle with Thanos ended in Wakanda when Thor successfully went for the head. It was relieving that the job was done and that they only lost Gamora in the process.  After the battle, Steve realized he was ready to pass along the shield and settle down. Luckily, it was easy to decide to settle down with you. 

Steve proposed at the party Tony threw for the heroes to celebrate their win. It wasn’t long after that Steve had officially passed the shield to Sam, the two of you got married, and then you were quickly pregnant. That was six years ago now. Your twins, Maggie and Jamie, were five and kindergarteners at the elementary school where Steve was an art teacher. 

You worked with Pepper and Natasha at Stark Industries, helping with the outreach programs. The job kept you busier than you would like, making you thankful for Steve’s job as he could take care of the twins when you couldn’t. Which, lately, was all too often.

Your little family lived in a lake house next to Tony and his family. Tony and Pepper’s daughter, Morgan, was the same age as your twins and went to school with them and played with them often. Your girls called Tony and Pepper, aunt and uncle, while Morgan did the same with Steve and yourself.

“Daddy!” Maggie and Jamie squealed as they rushed into Steve’s classroom.

“Hey, sweethearts!” He responded, crouching down with his arms wide open. The two girls collided into their father. “How was school today?”

“So good!” Jamie responded. 

“I’m so glad.” Steve pulled back and looked around. “Where’s Morgan?”

“Right here, Uncle Steve!” Morgan answered as she came strolling into the room. “Maggie and Jamie left me.”

“Only because you were taking too long!” Maggie argued.

“I needed to help Miss Wells with fixing her chair.”

Steve smirked, Morgan was too much like her father. “Well, girls, I think that we better head home.”

“Can we get ice cream on the way home?” Maggie wondered.

“As long as you don’t tell your mothers.”

“Yay!” The girls squealed.

~~~

“I needed that shipment there yesterday,” you said as you spoke into the phone and typed away at your computer. “I know you’re trying your best, but I’m telling you that we’re on the verge of life or death. That is a shipment of food and clean water.” You sighed as you listened to the person give more excuses. You leaned on your hand as you closed your eyes and rubbed your head. “I’m telling you, that shipment needs to be there by the end of the day, tomorrow. Understand?”

Steve wiped his hands with a kitchen rag as he walked up to your office. He was worried about how much you were taking on at work and the fact that work had been keeping you from regular family time. He leaned on the door frame before carefully knocking. You glanced up at him, shooting him a brief smile before focusing back on the phone call.

“Make it happen,” you told them. “I’ve got to go.” You hung up and turned your chair to face your husband. “Hey, honey.”

“Hey,” Steve pushed himself off of the door frame, walked over, and kissed you softly on the lips. “How was work?”

“Long,” you sighed, leaning back into your chair.

“Well, dinner’s ready and the girls are excited to see you. They missed you.” He leaned in and kissed you again. “Almost as much as I did.”

You let out a light giggle. “Yeah? And just how much did you miss me?”

Steve smirked as he took your hand and pulled you to stand up against him. “So,” he kissed your right cheek, “very,” he kissed your left cheek, “much.” 

He kissed you on your lips again, teasing you with his tongue. You wrapped your arms around him so that your hands were at the base of his neck, tugging at his hair.

“Mommy! Daddy!” Your girls called from the other room.

You both separated your lips and laughed, your head falling onto Steve’s shoulder. 

“We should go before they came after us,” he whispered. He moved to grab your hand and guide you out of your office.

~~~

The twins were excited to have you join them at dinner. It hurt you to realize that you hadn’t joined them in the evening as much as you used to. Your small family was laughing at something Maggie had said when your phone rang. Steve gave you a saddened look, that you missed, as you pulled your phone from your pocket. You sighed as you saw who it was.

“I’m sorry guys,” you said, “I really have to get this.”

You answered the phone, put it to your ear, and went back to your office. Steve looked at the now sad twins.

“It’s okay, girls,” Steve tried to comfort. “Your mom is just busy with work right now.”

“She’s always busy,” Jamie grumbled.

“Hey. Your mom works really hard for all of us.”

“Uncle Tony and Uncle Pepper work hard, but they still have time for family dinner,” Maggie muttered.

“Now, young lady, that’s no way to talk about your mom. Either of you.”

“Sorry,” the twins responded in unison.

“It’s a busy time for mom’s work right now. It will slow down soon and she’ll be back to spending more time with us. For now, though, you two are going to have to put up with me tucking you in.”

“Can you tell us another story about you and Uncle Bucky?” Jamie wondered.

“Of course. Maybe, if you eat all your veggies, I’ll even tell you two.”

“Yay!”

~~~

Sadly, the school year went on—rolling into the holidays— and you kept busy with work. You were spending more and more time at Stark Industries headquarters and less time at home. This was affecting Steve and your twins, though you really didn’t notice. Steve was struggling with how to go about talking with you about all this. Currently, it was Thanksgiving night. The girls were already tucked in bed and you were on your way home from spending the day at Stark Industries headquarters. 

Steve sat in the living room in wait, a single lamp on to light the room. He sighed, looking out the window as he heard your car pull up in the driveway. He was looking forward to this conversation, but he knew it had to happen.

You got out of your car, exhausted. It took all the effort you had to get yourself from the car to the front door. After a few tries, you finally placed the key in the lock and were able to open the door. Slowly, as to not wake anyone, you turned and shut the door.

“How was work?”

Steve’s voice made you jump. Your hand went over your rapidly beating heart as you turned to face your husband.

“Steve,” you smiled, softly, “you scared me.” He had his serious “Captain” face on, which meant business. “What’s wrong?”

“We need to talk.”

“Did something happen with the girls?” You quickly moved closer to him.

“Not exactly.” 

Steve motioned for you to sit next to him on the couch, and you quietly did so. You could tell that whatever he wanted to talk about, was weighing him down. You reached over and placed a hand on his knee, rubbing it with your thumb.

“Steve, you’re worrying me.”

“I’m sorry, I just… It’s…” He sighed. “Remember the night we got engaged?”

You smiled fondly at the memory. “Yes, I do. It’s one of my favorite memories.”

“Mine too,” he gave you a short smile. “Remember how—after we celebrated that night—you told me that you were concerned about me continuing on as Captain America?” You nodded, slightly confused by where he was going with this. “You were concerned that I would be too busy for family life, that I would never be around and that one day I might die and never return. Remember that?”

“Yes,” you nodded again, “I remember. But what does that have to do with right now?”

Steve sighed. “This isn’t easy for me… but it’s affecting the girls—“

“What’s affecting the girls?”

“You’ve been working a lot lately.”

“Yes, I realize that but SI needs me and we’re doing some great work that I’m just trying to get into place and—“

“Do you know what today even was?”

“What? I—I don’t—“

“It was Thanksgiving.”

“Shit. Steve, I’m so sorry.” You moved closer to him on the couch.

“It’s not me you need to apologize to. The girls are smart and they realize that you’re working too much. They were so sad that you didn’t show up. They even waited an hour before eating just in case you might show up.”

“Oh my gosh…”

“You’re hardly here anymore, honey. And even when you’re physically here, you aren’t actually with us. The girls are feeling the effects of it… I’m feeling the effects of it.”

You looked away from Steve, taking it all in. You thought back through the last few months. Realizing that Steve was right, you hung your head and began to cry. Steve wrapped his large arms around you, pulling you into his lap.

“I’m so sorry, Steve,” you cried. “I’m such a terrible mother and wife…”

“Sssshhh,” Steve tried to calm you. “No, you’re not.”

“But I am… I don’t know why you’ve even stayed when I’ve been treating you and the girls this way.”

“Honey,” one of his hands came up under your chin and guided your head up to look at him, “I love you. The girls love you. This is a simple mistake that can be fixed. Yes, it may take time with the girls, but I believe that you can do it. You’re the strongest woman I know.”

“Steve… I don’t deserve you.”

“I wake up every day feeling the same way. You are too good for me.” He leaned in and kissed you softly before resting his forehead against yours. “We’re going to figure this out, together.”

“Thank you… for your love and patience.”

“Of course.” He gave your another kiss. “Now, let’s get to bed. We’ll figure more out in the morning.”

~~~

You woke up before Steve and the girls to call Pepper. You explained to her the situation and she completely understood. She told you to take until after the new year off and then she’d help you hire some assistants to help you do the work. Once you were off the phone with Pepper, you got to work on trying to make it up to your family, starting with homemade breakfast. Steve found you in the kitchen working on breakfast when he woke. He came up behind you, wrapped his arms around your waist, and rested his chin on your shoulder.

“Morning,” you hummed as you continued working.

“Morning,” he responded, kissing your neck. “Have you been up long?”

“About an hour or so. I had to make some calls.”

“Yeah?”

“Yeah. I explained the situation to Pepper, who was all too understanding.” You put what you were working on down and turned around in Steve’s arms to face him. “I’m not going back to work until after the new year and once I do, Pepper and I are hiring a few assistants to help me. I’m all yours and the girls’ for the next six weeks.”

Steve smiled, so happy to hear that you had quickly begun making changes. He leaned in and happily kissed you. You greedily accepted the kiss, wrapping your arms around his neck to pull him closer. Steve’s hands moved down to the back of your thighs, helping to lift you up so that you could wrap your legs around his waist. The two of you hadn’t had sex in far too long and it was clearly all that was on your minds.

“Ew!” Jamie groaned, coming to a stop in the kitchen’s entryway.

“Mom! Dad! This is the kitchen!” Maggie exclaimed.

The two of you broke apart, laughing. Steve helped you get back onto your feet before moving to help finish breakfast. You faced your girls, motioning them to come closer as you crouched down.

“How would you two feel about mommy being around more?” You asked them.

“But your work,” Jamie said, “it’s important.”

“Oh, honey,” you took one of Jamie’s hands and one of Maggie’s, “nothing is more important to mommy than the two of you and your father. I am so sorry that I forgot that for a minute. I am going to make it up to the two of you, I promise.”

~~~

It was so nice to spend time with your family. You spent the rest of Thanksgiving break hanging out around the house and began decorating for Christmas. Once Steve and the girls went back to school for the three weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas breaks, you spent the hours alone planning more adventures. Some nights you had family dance parties or movie marathons, other nights were spent driving around looking at Christmas lights. One of the Saturdays, you even baked gingerbread and the four of you made a gingerbread Avengers compound—per the request of the twins.

You had sent Steve away on false errands while you packed the twins up and sent them off with their Uncle Tony for the weekend. You decorated your room with candles and rose petals to set the mood. You even placed a variety of lubes, condoms, and sex toys on the two beside tables just in case. Checking Steve’s location, you saw that he was almost home so you quickly changed into your red and white, Christmas-themed, lingerie.

“Honey?” Steve called once he entered the house and couldn’t hear you or the girls. “Mags? Jay?”

“I’m up here, sweetheart!” You called.

You heard his footsteps come up the stairs as you placed yourself on the edge of the bed.

“Are the girls up here too or—woah,” Steve stopped in the doorway, eyes frozen on you. “What—“

“The girls are with Tony and Pepper for the weekend,” you said as you seductively pushed yourself up to stand and walk over to him. “That means we get to do some things we haven’t been able to do in a while.”

“Mmhmm,” Steve nodded, trying to bite down a moan as his eyes racked over your body.

Your hands slipped under his shirt, teasing him with light playful scratches. “So, Captain Rogers, do you want to open your present early?”

That awkward moment when your mom wants you to stop hanging out with your orphan cancer friend :/

credit to @ell-arts for the name "Rubix" for a student going to Maze High, he's from her fanfiction, Call Me Cyli, it's a great introspection into Cylindria's character, go check it out!

(Ghost Pokemon AU) Ghost Type Pokemon Pac Trio

So I was working on the Ghost Pokemon AU and was going through a resurgence of a PMATGA hyperfixation at the moment and then I remembered "Hey the main characters of PMATGA have a role in this ,AU, why not draw them in the AU?",and because of that, here we are! This AU spans a lot of series and is very extremely crossovery in general, so why not! I need to make a masterpost/synopsis of this AU, I swear-

Also Spiral was a pain to draw bc I never drew Dragapult before and AAAAAAA- (I'm fine! Don't worry! Haha! Seriously though why...)

So they are! In all of their ghost fighting glory!

Started on: 2-18-2024

it's to be noted that they didn't start out in these forms exactly. A series of events caused their souls to take the forms they did. I made their eyes look similar to how ghosts in the show had them. Also the reason for the spectral lighting was because of Dragapults looking slightly more spectral... I'll try to elaborate more when I get to it.

Pac (Gengar)

The yellow boi himself! The way he goes out is on the hands of a certain other ghost fighting hero through way of misunderstanding. The beginning of his character arc is based on a fanmade one minute melee on Deviantart I read when I was younger. (I might link to it when I find it...) I will probably make the choreography of the fight somewhat different to that but the outcome is the same. I chose Gengar because of their long tongues and round bodies. (That and the fact the ears can be made to resemble his eyebrows.) He is known as the "Golden Gengar" to locals via rumors and became quite the urban legend. But rest assured, he is still the same Pac inside! Just more traumatized! :')

Cyli (Gourgeist)

Cyli is a Gourgeist since it and Pumpkaboo could be seen as a somewhat gothic cute ghost type Pokemon. (If that reasoning makes sense...) The fur of Pumpkaboo is black and the hairstyle of Gourgeist is simular in my opinion. Also the default shinies mesh well enough ingame. Besides the grass typing is somewhat befitting of her upbringing. So, how did she end up like this? Well, if i'll be honest, I didn't quite document how well her death goes quite yet. Same with Spiral. I only have the basics rn. Essentially, she dies to a mysterious enity in a meadow with a colony of pumpkins (is that what a group of pumpkins called...?) growing in Autumn. Her soul destablizes and is forced to bind into a pumpkin, giving a new form! By the way, she is an Average Size Gourgeist.

Spiral (Dragapult)

And finally, Spiral is a Dragapult! He wound up killed in the Lake of Dragons. (Name and Location Pending) His soul wound up absorbing the ancient draconic energies in the lake causing him to take the form of a Dreepy. Dragapult is from what I recall the tallest of the three pokemon, so it seem pretty befitting for him! (Also it gives me an excuse to use Dragapult somewhere, so yea.) He basically has a whole story thing with Soko, as Soko has the distinction of being the first of the three's Partner Digimon to find out about their respective deceased Tamer's whereabouts and travels with him! At one point after he first evolves a random Dreepy finds him and follows him around! He eventually goes "I guess it's mine now." and takes it in. (You could probably guess more eventually came.) He basically exudes so much big sibling energy that it was inevitable anyways!

Alt Versions

Textless

Transparent

New Memes: Featuring Pointyheads (maybe OC's)

Tip: Explain the point of your smolness.

Axis: I don't even have a clue myself, I just roll with it. :D

Tip: But that doesn't explain why you're so small...

Axis: I'm just built different! I can't help my smolness!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Desmond: *adorable confusion*

Axis: *baby squid face*

Pac: *innocent puppy eyes*

Calix: .....*inhales*

Skeebo: Don't say anything about it, let their autism do everything.

Calix: Angel darling you know I do the exact opposite of what you and lemon boy say every time.

Skeebo: Say shit and Imma kick your ass again.

Calix: OH MY WHAT A LOVELY LOOKING STONE OVER THERE-

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Skeebo being tired af: What did you do.

Dr. Buttocks: *incoherent mumbling*

Skeebo: W h a t.

Dr. Buttocks: Threw Specter into the wall on accident...

Skeebo: How tf do you throw someone onto a wall ON ACCIDENT?!

Dr. Buttocks: I don't know SHEER WILLPOWER?!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Tip: Wait! That area is extremely chaotic, you can get really hurt. It's too dangerous to go alone, here, take this.

*he picks up Pacster and hands them the Pac*

Apex: ....Yeah I don't think I'll need it. Thank you.

Tip: Take the f*cking child or I will destroy our planet myself.

Apex: OKAY. Jeez. *takes the Pac*

Tip: :)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

*cue the moment from Cosmic Contest*

Pac: Hey! Pretty good driving for a Pointyhead.

Tip: Heh heh, you're not bad either for an orb. It's almost a shame I have to beat you!

Pac: Yeah well, may the best man win. And by that, I mean the best Pac Man!

*the doofus proceeds to speed up and gets him and Spiral yeeted off the road for a sec*

Pac: WOAH-

Tip: EYES ON THE ROAD PAC MAN! *genuine concern*

Apex: *mad af at him*

(Meanwhile, in the heavens)

Calix watching that happen: ............Um excuse me, what the actual fu-

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Desmond: Do you think he'll be alright?

Betrayus: IT'S ME BOY, I'M THE PS5 SPEAKING TO YOU INSIDE YOUR BRAIN!

Tip: *confused screeching* GET OUT OF MY BODY!!

Calix: Eh he'll be fine, he's more tougher than the rest of his team, he can handle this.

Tip: *proceeds to strangle Betrayus out of his body*

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Skeebo playing on the piano like Charlie Day: ... I don't need control, or which way to go, I just wanted to tell you all, go F*CK yourself~

Apex: I- WHA-

Betrayus: BAHAAHAH-

Buttocks: I raised him real damn good.

Tip: HOHOHO- Sh*t- *cracking up*

Skeebo: *starts rocking that solo* GO F*CK YOURSEEEEEELF~~~

*Pac, Cyli, and Spiral questioning why a shape god wanted his soul again*

Skeebo: *throws a cup at Apex and flicks off Betrayus* WOOOOOOOOoooooooooOOOOOOOOOOOO~~~

Tip: And that kids is why you go to bed early, you don't want to grow up to be like him.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Tetris: Axis, dear, do you remember how or when you were born.

Axis: No...

Apex: =_=

Axis: But I do remember something.

Tetris: Well what is it.

Axis, who looks and sounds like a good boy: Well.. Our planet split open and I crawled straight out of hell?

*everyone being in both shock and fear*

Pointybrains: Yep. That's your kid alright.

Apex: HE'S NOT MY KID.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Tip: And this is Skeebo. Very useful as a weapon or just to pull a 'harmless' prank on someone while releasing this beast of a teenager.

Calix: Yes, my angel can do many things, only use him for his correct purposes.

Desmond: Correction, pardon me, but don't you mean OUR angel?

Pac: Yeah come one Cal, share da Skeebs.

Calix: NEVER.

Desmond: SHARE THE SKIBSTER! WE ALL NEED OUR DAILY DOSE OF HIS EXISTENCE!

Calix: NO!

Pac: SHARE THE SKEEBEYBLADE!

Tip: COMMUNISM.

*evil cackling is heard*

Skeebo: Is this my life now...?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Axis: Hey Api?

Apex: First off, call me by my title young man, and what, what do you want?

Axis: I made a girl cry today but I didn't mean to.

Apex: Well what happened?

Axis: Well she said 'I think you're kinda cute.' And I said, 'Well that's nice!' Then she said, 'Well don't you love me?' And I said, 'Hey listen, how would you like to be the sun of my life?' And then she said, "Oh, because I'm so bright?" And then I said, 'Well kinda, but you can start by staying 93 million miles away from me.'

Apex: ....*laughing hard af*

Tetris: WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO THIS CHILD?!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Tip: I've only known Pacster for a day at that time.

*Pac being wholesome*

Tip: And if anything happens to him now, I'm going to kill everyone in this room and then myself.... Same rules apply for Axis and Skeebo.

Skeebo: Hell nah bro, Imma join you, I wanna kill someone today.

Axis: Yay murder! :D

Pac: :0

Calix: WHAT?!

Desmond: ....They're going to hell...

Calix: WHY THE HELL WOULD YOU SAY THAT IN FRONT OF THE CHILDREN?!

Skeebo: WE'RE THE SAME F*CKING AGE YOU BILL CIPHER RIP OFF.

Calix: BI-

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Apex is buried in the sand with only his head sticking out: I am the sand guardian, guardian of the sand!

Betrayus: Pac-Poseidon quivers before him!

Apex looking at the ocean: F*ck off!

Stratos: ...Why are they more chaotic than the kids?

Amaros: You think that's chaotic? Stratos he's your brother and Apex was originally my project, why do you think they're chaotic together? They don't have any brain cells left.

Jared: Amar, let's not be insensitive. They don't have a brain left, what cells would they need?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Jared: You are grounded.... For... Till college.

Apex: FOR TILL COLLEGE?!

Jared: FOR TILL COLLEGE!

Apex: WHY?!

Jared: For kissing for that delinquent! *pointing at Tip*

Betrayus: *dramatic gasp*

Stratos: *proceeds to be uncomfortable af*

Apex: You're the one that took him under your wing!

Jared: Well this wing shall flap no more! Tip is never allowed in the cabin again, and you're not allowed to have any contact with him.

Apex: WHY?? WHat did I do that was so bad?!

Jared: OH YOU KNOW LIPSY!

Calix: ...Dad what the f*ck. I know he's your creation but seriously what the f*ck.

Axis: Nah.. Personally I would not let that slide.

Pac: Fr.

Skeebo: I wanna die already.

Stratos: WAIT YOU WHAT?!

Apex: THAT WAS AN ACCIDENT I SWEAR!

Skeebo: Calix, can you hit me with your bat? Please don't hold back, I'm done with everything.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

*Jared staring at Skeebo with absolute hatred*

Calix: Dad can you not? He's not doing anything.

*Skeebo staring back with a murderous intention*

Jared: I want that twink obliterated.

Skeebo: That's it.

Calix: ANGEL NO-

Skeebo: Square up b*tch, or maybe you can't, you're probably so god damn weak you can't even fight being what you are symmetrical dummy.

Calix: DAD-

Jared: OH HELL NO, COME HERE YOU LITTLE SH*T-

Calix: FOR FIVE SECONDS CAN YOU BOTH NOT?!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Axis, about Apex and Tip: My god, would you two just get a room already? Tip: Excuse me Axis? Axis: You both just keep agreeing about horrifying things and relishing everybody else's misery. So seriously, when's the wedding? Apex: …I-

Tetris: I ship it! Pointybrains: CAN YOU NOT? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Tetris: Plants have feelings too?! What is this? Now I can't have food! Pointybrains: You can eat a rock. Apex: Air. Tip: The fabric of time and space. Axis: Chugging a bottle of bleach can solve all your problems. Tetris: You guys are not helpful. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Oh The Pacmanity", a PMATGA Oneshot

In an attempt to make amends with his brother, Stratos gets both he and Betrayus featured on a famous talk show called Dr. Pac (yes a parody of Dr. Phil). It goes about as well as you can expect.

“I ain’t goin”, said Betrayus with a curt huff.

“But my lord, it’s only one of Pac World’s most prestigious talk shows!”, Buttler answered, the poor ghost having to clean up the slug dog mess (upon receiving and reading the invitation, Betrayus had angrily thrown a platter of slug dogs across the throne room).

“I don’t care! Not if my goody-two-shoes brother is involved”, Betrayus said, folding his arms and letting out a childish ‘hmph’ sound.

“My lord-”

“Can it, Butthead!”

“My lord-”

“DID I STUTTER?!”

“But-”

“ARGH!” The fire ghost wasted no time in summoning a fireball and hurling it at his poor servant. Buttler let out a squeal, and actually managed to dodge the fireball, only to have another thrown at him. “O-ow”, Buttler yelped, the smell of singed ectoplasm filling the stagnant air. “At least let me-”

“NO!” Yet another fireball scorched Buttler, who, in spite of his injuries, kept trying to speak up. “It could very well be an opportunity to- OUCH! Make your brother- AGH! Look- EEK! Bad!”

Betrayus stopped for a moment, fireball still in hand. “Go on.”

“The whole public will be watching…”

“Ah, yes! What a brilliant idea I came up with! BUTTLER! Round up the ghosts. I’m gonna go get ready for my closeup…”

—----------------------------------------------------------------------------

“Uh Mr. President? Are you SURE this a good idea? What if he doesn’t even show up?” That was what Spiral had asked Stratos, and he naturally was leery of the whole idea. “Oh he’ll be here”, the president replied, “I know he will. I don’t know how, but I just know it.”

The titular trio along with Pac World’s president were all backstage on the set of Dr. Pac, an ever so famous talk show. Apparently this whole thing was Stratos’ attempt at trying to “make amends”, and the trio had been brought along in case things went awry. Spiral and Cyli were armed with their PSCs, and Pac was… just doing his thing which of course meant he was devouring everything in sight at the buffet table.

Stratos kept repeatedly checking the clock, it was five minutes till the show was live which was making him start to have his doubts. Then, just as quickly as those doubts came, they were quickly diminished with the sound of screams from the audience. Stratos and the others wasted no time running out there, and of course. Sure enough ghosts of all shapes and sizes were swarming the auditorium, some spitting slimeballs, some making faces at the civilians, and others were just watching it all go down. Spiral and Cyli readied their PSCs, and Pac got ready to gobble down a power berry. Then… “HEY! ENOUGH!”, rang out an ever so familiar, high pitched and scratchy voice.

There was Betrayus himself, who had just floated onto the scene. The ghosts all immediately stopped what they were doing, and lined up in front of the audience, doing their best to look innocent. Upon seeing the infamous fire ghost, the audience went from screaming to outright hysterics. “Really Betrayus?” Stratos said with an eye roll, “You just HAD to bring your army and make a scene didn’t you?”

“Eh, whatever. Now…” All he had to do was snap his prosthetic fingers, and all the ghosts took metaphorical seats in the empty chairs.

“Now Betrayus”, the president said as sternly as possible, “NO FUNNY BUSINESS.”

“Oh of course, wouldn’t dream of it brother”, Betrayus said, crossing two claws behind his back.

With that, the president and his brother took their seats, while our heroes went backstage.

“I got a real bad feeling about this, guys”, said Spiral with a gulp.

“Duh”, said Cyli, “it’s BETRAYUS. What was the prez thinking, inviting HIM?!”

“Dunno”, Pac said as he continued scarfing down more food.”

“Okay dude, I’m starting to be convinced you have a tapeworm or something”, said Spiral.

“Still”, Pac said after he swallowed, “if anything goes wrong we’ll handle it! Right guys?”

“Right”, said the other two in unison.

Back onstage, in came Dr. Pac himself, and what would normally be cheers in the air was instead filled with hesitant clapping from the Pac Worlders and boos from the ghosts.

In an instant, the cameras were rolling. They were live.

“Welcome back”, said the Dr., “Today we have two very special guests. The president, and his… brother.”

“HEY”, shouted Betrayus.

“Now Mr. President-”

“Please, call me Stratos.”

“Right. Stratos, you said your motivation for today’s show was to make amends and clear the air?” “Yes…”

“Alright, I can get behind that. Now, would you like to start us off?”

“Gladly. Ladies and gentlepacs, I have to admit something. Something I’m not proud of…”

The president then gave a heartfelt speech about how he was a terrible brother, and that he should have seen the signs of the path Betrayus was going to take sooner.

Betrayus just smirked, at this rate HE didn’t need to make his brother look bad, Stratos was doing it for him!

And then, it happened. Stratos ended it with a statement saying he still loved his little brother, and how it hurt him more than anything to banish his soul to the Nether Realm, and an apology that he asked Betrayus to accept which prompted many “awws” from the audience including the ghosts.

At first, Betrayus was dumbfounded. Then, he was angry. Steam came out of his nonexistent ears, and he floated upwards summoning fireballs in both hands. “NOW YOU APOLOGIZE?!” He hurled the fireballs at poor Stratos, who jumped out of the way.

“PROTECT THE PRESIDENT”, shouted his bodyguards who wasted no time in jumping on top of the poor guy.

He began to hurl fireballs everywhere in his rage. “Go to a commercial, GO TO A COMMERCIAL”, shouted a cameraman before everyone’s screen went to a set of colorful bars, a high pitched sound droning on and on.

During all this, the ghost gang was gathered in Betrayus’ throne room and watching the tv on the wall. Clyde was crying and covering his eyes, Inky was just in shock, Pinky was worried about her “precious paccums”, and Blinky was exclaiming that this was the greatest thing he had ever seen, continuing to eat his popcorn.

—----------------------------------------------------------------------------

By the time the show was back on, the room was in shambles. Stratos was sitting in his chair looking shaken up, and Betrayus was on the other side of the stage restrained Hannibal-style. “Mmph”, he angrily growled, restrained by the ghost-proof straps. Dr. Pac carefully went over to him, and removed the mouth gag. “You may speak.”

“WHEN I GET OUT OF THIS I’M GONNA-”

“Would you mind explaining YOUR side of the story?”

Betrayus’ rage stopped at once. “Gladly”, he said with an evil smile.

He then went on to tell a series of sob stories, going on and on about his painful childhood. Some were true, mainly the ones about not being the favorite child or him being bullied by other kids, including his brother. However, he began and continued to exaggerate the events. Stratos just rolled his eyes, rubbing his forehead with his thumb and forefinger. “...so in conclusion, I was never the bad guy! It was all Stratos, Stratos Stratos! So there”, Betrayus said, sticking out his tongue at his brother.

“First of all Betrayus”, Stratos began, “I don’t recall ever locking you in a closet for 72 hours, pranking you with a firecracker in the toilet, or even setting you on fire. Okay maybe I did once, BUT THAT WAS AN ACCIDENT! You’re being ridiculous! You really expect anyone here to believe any of that?!”

And then…

“BETRAYUS SNEAKERUS SPHEROS!” Uh oh. Betrayus would know that voice from anywhere. His eyes darted over to where it had came from. Coming out from backstage was… HER.

“M-mummy?! What are you-”

“I invited her”, said Stratos.

“You’ve been a very naughty boy”, Rotunda said, marching right over to her son, who was visibly trembling from fear. “Look at you, spreading lies about your brother again! Now I want you two to hug and make up! NOW!”

“But Mummy…”

“Ugh… at least say something nice about your brother won’t you? You too, Stratos.”

“WHAT”, Betrayus and Stratos said at the same time. “I’ll start”, said the exasperated president. “My brother has always been a go-getter. Very persistent. Your turn, Betrayus.”

“NO! I REFUSE”, he shouted only to be quickly shut up by a glare from his mom. “I…”, he began, closing his eyes. “Yes”, said Rotunda. “I wish I…” He mumbled the last part. “Do speak up”, said his mother. “Fiiiiine. I wish I could have been like you. There. Happy now?!” It was clear it took a massive amount of effort for Betrayus to say that, his voice sounding strained.

Stratos was dumbfounded. Did he really just hear that? “Betrayus”, he said, reaching his hand out toward his brother.

Sadly, apparently that was all the time the show had before the credits. Rotunda ordered Betrayus back to his room once again, and he actually obeyed again once his restraints were removed, his ghost army following suit. He gave one final glance at his brother, then continued on his way.

“Betrayus”, Stratos said again, still at a loss, his eyes beginning to water a bit.

...this is simultaneously the most funny and depressing thing I've ever written. I'm not entirely satisfied with how it came out (especially the ending). I think it sort of feels incomplete, but I have no idea how to continue it so here have this. but I'm posting it anyway. I like, wrote this in an hour or two in spite of having the idea in my mind for a few days. It was originally intended to be a crackfic of sorts, but it ended up being something serious. 

Would it be okay if I asked about the Dragoon Berry scenario? I'm curious if Igneous does have to get involved or not. Or if Betrayus is able to quell the rage on his own.

(Sorry for asking so many questions 😅)

Totally! I don't mind answering questions!

(If there are things that like, don't make sense/seem like they're happening too fast then I apologize because my thoughts are everywhere, and some details are being left out because I'm trying to just explain gist of it;;) So basically I am going off of what I remember because I *rarely* write stuff down:

This whole.... 'episode' I guess is what I'm going to call it for now I think is a very interesting idea, for both setting up the concept of "Power Berries??? In my Netherrealm?" AND being able to set up a way to learn more about Betrayus and his years in the Netherrealm before he was given the title of 'leader' or 'lord' of the fire-portion in the Netherrealm. However, that second bit with Betrayus comes at another time.

Going into somewhat vague-but-also-not detail about the little synopsis that I made here for the initial Dragoon Berry post: I like the idea of an episode where Pac, Cyli, and Spiral are doing their usual 'we need to go down into the Netherrealm because Dr. B is doing something nefarious' and Pac stumbles upon these strange bushes with fruit on them. Maybe he senses some sort of energy or power from them, I don't know yet, but he decides to take one with him. The only one who knows that Pac is in possession of this fruit is Betrayus. Kid gang™ return to school, continuing their day like normal, lunch rolls around and BAM ghosts are back doing their thing and causing a ruckus in Pacopolis! Pac is getting ready to power up and realizes, oh no! He doesn't have his uh, pellet-carrier-thingy because he left it either in his dorm room or in a locker at school- HOWEVER! He does have that fruit from the Netherrealm! So he bites the fruit, can't because ow it's kinda spikey, figures out how to open it, and hey! A berry! That's the power he was sensing from earlier! Pac pops that sucker in his mouth and wow everything goes downhill so fast. Pac embodies the look, might, and fury of a dragon, but quickly loses all control, he not only goes after ghosts but starts going after citizens as well. Betrayus sees this going down with a slug-cam and quickly appears on the TV in the roundhouse so he can demand that Stratos lets him out of the Netherrealm. Stratos, who was watching Pac go NUTS, is caught off guard and immediately questions what his brother had done, but Betrayus explains that he can help. Stratos is obviously hesitant, but he trusts him (after Betrayus elaborates of course). Betrayus shows up in Stratos's office shortly after Cyli, Spiral, and Sir C., obviously Cyli and Spiral are like 'this HAS to be your doing' and Betrayus explains to them the situation and tells them his plan. Betrayus needs to be able to get close enough to Pac to restrain him while Spiral and Cyli uh, 'neutralize him', yeah I don't know how else to word it- But you get what I mean! So Betrayus distracts Pac from going after people by having Pac only go after him, while also deflecting and dodging whatever Pac throws at him. Betrayus is also trying his best not to harm Pac, or let his anger consume him. Betrayus eventually gets a hold of him by uh.. stretching his arms long enough to wrap around Pac like a rope... which sounds strange- but bear with me. Betrayus, and to an extent some other ghosts, can stretch his arms! Think Spinel from Steven Universe. I feel like it's a weird idea- but I'm keeping it! Anyways, Betrayus and Pac both get like, zapped by a new upgraded version of the PSCs (or whatever the acronym was), and both of them like, I don't want to say collapse because that makes it sound more violent than how it should look- but they both just slowly fall onto the ground. Betrayus and Pac are knocked out, and Spiral, Cyli, and Sir C. all rush over to them. Pac is taken back to wherever, I don't know yet, and Betrayus is taken back to the Netherrealm And that's where (for now) it would end, right? Well actually, the entire situation with Pac going out of control was being broadcasted live on TV because of that one news reporter. A lot of people witnessed Betrayus out there to help stop Pac. A lot of people... including Betrayus's wife Mei. THAT'S the end of the 'episode'. As for Igneous, he is nowhere to be found! So Igneous, shortly before Betrayus was given lordship, disappeared! Nobody knows where he went or why he left! 'Tis but a mystery...  (and Igneous disappearing was like, 13-14 years ago) (Writing this right after posting- I’M SO SORRY THIS IS LIKE 8 PARAGRAPHS LONG)

Cedrick's birthday, part 1

Attention the characters that appear and will be mentioned are not mine, they are ocs of @autumn2art, @xeo-kunsatan, @ghostbunnyarts Thanks for your attention <3.

-----

One ordinary morning, Cedrick was in his room sleeping, until.

"BIIIIP! BIIIIP!"

Alarm ringing

Cedrick: mmmhhh .. I don't want to go to school! >: T * trying to go back to sleep, but he realizes something * Ah yes today is my birthday! :D

he goes to his father's room, and begins to shake him around.

Cedrick: Dad! Dad! Wake up! you know what day it is!

Stratos: Cedrick! What are you doing up so early! ah right today is my child's birthday! * he said with a smile as he hugged him *

Cedrick: my cousins are coming! my aunt! and pac and company? :o

Stratos: of course they would not miss this celebration, but now go have breakfast, and get ready! that today we have many duties!

Cedrick: oh yeah right! but I don't want to go to school today! :c

stratos: but you won't have a party if you don't go! uwu

cedrick: ok :(

After 30 minutes of getting ready and having breakfast, Cedrick is picked up by the school bus from his school, when he arrived at the classroom he was received by his classmates and his teacher Mr. Daniels, that strange man with dark blue skin, gray hair and flat, white eyes always looked at him and his companions with great fear.

Mr. daniels: good morning children! good morning Kids..

he said with his nod and his voice quite low.

Cedrick: why did this man touch us !? * asked himself as he evaded him and settled on his desk *

The teacher started his class, everyone paid attention, many hours passed, everyone began to withdraw from school, outside the elementary school was his cousin, Bradley was waiting for him right there, Cedrick ran and hugged him.

Cedrick: BRADLEY! :D

Bradley: How have you been Small! I see you excited for your party today! * stroking his hair *

-----

When he arrived at the round house he was well received by the guards, they were, pacman, spiral and cylindra helping to decorate the garden for the birthday party, Stratos was giving them directions.

Stratos: if you eat everything! You will not have pacman cake! * he said with a fixed look at the yellow boy *

Pac: I get it .. * he said with a nervous smile * (control yourself! Control yourself! D ":)

cyli: ​​look, the birthday boy is here! :D

cedrick: cyli, Spiral, Pacman :D

Spiral: what happened little friend! You are getting bigger and bigger! >:D

stratos: until you show up! I've been calling you all morning and you didn't answer me! >: v * scolding Bradley *

Bradley: Do you need money for his gift?

Stratos - From here I smell sweat and other fluids! Go take a bath right now! D:<* I point to him *

Bradley: ok -_-

Cedrick: Will my uncle and my cousin dad be around? * asked kindly *

Stratos: * looks at cedrick * probably! But pac will be here in the event of a disaster!

Cedrick: ok ...

-----

in the underworld betrayus watching from his slimy camera how they prepare everything for his nephew cedrick's birthday.

Betrayus: demon they don't invite me like always * pouting *

Mitzy: Yes xP

Buttler: but good on the good side his nephew is going to have a wonderful birthday party .. * said motivating *

Betrayus: I know, but that damn lemon ball is among them! and we always end up losing!

Buttler: And are you going to send his little nephew a gift?

Betrayus: knowing my stupid brother, he wouldn't allow me to get near my nephew!

mitzy: but you have to give him a gift :3

Betrayus: but what would it be !? * said thinking *

Mitzy: oh I already have an excellent idea! :D * he said with the light on *

Betrayus: seriously which one? :D

-----

Jack: COUSIN! <3 *I greet your little cousin*

Cedrick: hello cousin jack! :3 * hugs her little cousin *

Ellie: Cousin look how big you are !? :)

CEdrick: yes cousin Ellie ^ //// ^

Arimette / Molasses: aaawww look at these just as pretty as the last time I saw you! ^^ * said her aunt while she pinched his cheek *

Ellie: I hope it's too late! because we brought you many gifts! :3

Cedrick: Yes! and what did they bring me from pac-tokyo? ...

Jack: We brought you some ...

Stratos: Sister how long! * welcoming her with open arms *

Arimette/molasses: Brother how have you been! I already know what betrayus did! I never thought that he ...

Stratos: I didn't expect him to do such a thing with your daughter either! but now i keep him away from jack and cedrick! unu;

Rotunda: son, won't you greet your mother! <3

Mrs. Spheros said entering the scene, she hugs her son as well as Arimette/molasses.

Bradley: Hi Grandma: -_-

rotunda: hello ... ¬_¬ ...

Since the whole family was gathered they sat at the large table, where the cake was, Mr. Sir.c was in charge of preparing the hamburgers and sausages with the help of his fellow Grinder, at the same time spheria appeared among all the guests.

Spheria: hello everyone! * greets with a gift for cedrick in his hands *

Sir.C: there is my sweet and beautiful spheria that brings you here! <3

Spheria: very good, I have a present for the little stratos! : D

Sir.C: I notice your voice somewhat tense, something happened !?

Spheria: * is going to leave the gift on the gift table * visit my old friend Arena! it's worse than ever! They have to sedate her constantly! she always spends her time tied up in bed and doesn't stop screaming! unu;

Sir.c: poor woman! the war if that upset it!

spheria: yes .. but now we have to have fun, after all it's cedrick's birthday ..

Among the guests was Bradley's dog, "Quartzy" with a basket full of cookies as a gift to Cedrick.

Continue...

“Maman, I’m tired! Why can’t we be sleeping somewhere warm?” Cylan whined, shivering in the night air.

“Hush now little one, be still. We’re close.” Returned Ayesleigh, standing at the edge of the Dragonbone Wastes.

Thoughts floated back to her. Previous adventures. Previous friends. Some she hadn’t seen since. Slaying Mother with the young Wardens… Hunting down a Dalish book alongside Ariane and Finn… Morrigan.

A low boof emitted from the elderly mabari, tearing her away from her lonely gaze. Ayesleigh smiled sadly, dragging her fingers along the canine’s scalp.

Ayesleigh bounced the toddler further up her hip, tightening her grip. She cast Repulsion Field, moving throughout the boneyard.

Once inside the tower, the atmosphere darkened. Every breath felt like a paperweight on the tongue. A certain eerieness danced amongst the dust floating about in the moonlight.

The tower still had been littered in bits of Mother’s tendrils, egg sacks, and other viscera. In all this time, the world had left this place untouched. Following the same path as she had once before, Ayesleigh came face to face with the Eluvian.

Walking off the path, she set the toddler near the camp logs she had seen years past; A spark flew from her palm, igniting a small fire. The dog circled them, keeping Cylan company. Planting a small kiss on the boy, she left the two, approaching the Eluvian.

The Eluvian looked to be a simple mirror, reflecting her image back to her. She stared at herself, looking deep into her own eyes. She had seen war, murder, deception, grief, and some of everything else. Is this who I was supposed to be? Is this fate?

She shook the thought from her head, dragging her hand across, similarly to Morrigan’s own actions. The mirror flickered, a number of swirls dotting the glass. A magical purple fog draped it, truly indicating entry.

Ayesleigh came back to the fire, picking up the sleeping child, Cylan grumbling shyly. The dog got up as well, but she hushed him to lay back down.

“It is unsafe for those not of elven blood, I cannot bring you along. Do not worry, I will be back by morning. Sleep well.”

The dog cocked his head, looking at her with what could’ve been worry. She scratched his head again, adding a kiss afterward. The dog laid down again, curling around the fire’s warmth.

She slowly approached the Eluvian, staring at it. She sighed, thinking of the future.

“Turn your head away, child. This may not be pleasant.” Cylan obeyed, resting his chin on the back of her shoulder. If she knew any better, he was likely drooling all over her pauldron.

Ayesleigh stood where Morrigan had stood all those years ago. She shut her eyes, stepping through. With a flash, she was gone.

——

Upon opening her eyes, she nearly lost her balance. This isn’t the Fade. Where am I?

Everything was a strange shade of blue. Trees that looked to have grown around invisible spheres lined the plain. Fog dragged along the floor, but it almost looked rhythmic. So many Eluvians appeared here, although most had blackened or shattered.

Ayesleigh wandered to each with no specific goal in mind. Darkened. Shattered. Crooked. Very few truly seemed functional.

While inspecting a cracked Eluvian furnished in twigs and serpents, she saw an elf in white and an armored human packing their things. The elf noticed her after a moment or two, calling to the human. Ayesleigh could see their lips move quickly, yet she heard nothing.

“‘Tis worrisome to see you again, friend. What are you doing here, at The Crossroads?”

Ayesleigh turned her head from the two, staring in the direction of the voice. Morrigan stood a couple yards away, hands overlapped. Her eyes seemed to pick at Ayesleigh, intaking the sight. Her hair had changed. She looked older. Where’s Leliana? A child…

Ayesleigh exchanged one last look with the couple, smiling at them before stepping out of view. She left plenty of room between herself and Morrigan, but she yearned to be closer. She missed their friendship.

“You had said we shan’t meet unless circumstances sempt dire, but you’re the only one I trust.”

Morrigan tilted her head with a soft squint. Ayesleigh continued, “During Leliana’s Divine business, I’ve come to realize I must cure the Blight. I love Cylan, but he won’t reach his thirties with both mothers.”

Ayesleigh sighed, tucking a piece of hair from out of Cylan’s mouth. “If he goes out into the world with me, he’ll likely die. I must go alone. So, I ask of you, could you take him until my return?”

Morrigan walked towards her, overlooking the child. The sleeping child looked to be no older than six. There was nothing special about this child. He didn’t even look like her, or Leliana for that matter.

“Is he yours?”

Ayesleigh frowned slightly, “No,” she hesitated, “No, he isn’t. His mother died from her wounds in a human ambush. Cecelia, -his mother’s name- entrusted Leli and I with Cylan upon her dying breath.”

“How long will this journey take?”

“I do not know.”

Morrigan lips pinched together, air blowing out of her nostrils. She thought of her own son, Kieran. Kieran was the only reason Ayesleigh lived to ask her of Cylan’s fate.

“Very well, I will take the child in. What of Leliana? Does she know of this?”

Ayesleigh repositioned her footing, bouncing him further up her hip. “I will write to her of this, though I suspect she’ll be worried for him, disappointed for me. Time will tell.”

Ayesleigh looked to her son, her eyes lingering on his soft face. He had not known a thing of violence or hardship; innocent as a child can be. His mouth laid slightly ajar, his tiny teeth poking from behind his lips. She shook him a little, setting him on the ground.

She bent unto one knee, her palms holding his shoulders. The child yawned with a big smile.

“Cylie, do you remember what I’ve told you of Auntie Morrigan?”

“She’s a witch! She can turn into creepy things! Like spiders! Can I do that? Pleeeaase Maman?” Cylan stomped his feet happily. The corners of Morrigan’s mouth tugged at her.

“I don’t know, Cylie. I’m sure she will teach you when you’re a big, strong man!” She pat his arms, the child bursting into a hoorah!

“Hush now, Cylie. Maman has to go somewhere very special. Somewhere that’ll help Mama. You’ll have to stay with Auntie Morrigan and Cousin Kieran for a while. Will that be okay?”

“Yeah! She’s got spiders!”

Ayesleigh laughed, “Yeah, she’s got spiders. Hold on Cylie, I want you to have this.” Ayesleigh undid the clasp of a necklace around her neck. Removing the silver locket from her person, she draped it around Cylan. “Be very careful with this, Cylan. If you ever need Maman and Mama, they’ll always be with you in that locket.”

Cylan fumbled with it for a moment, before it clicked open in his face. Inside the locket were two small portraits of Ayesleigh and Leliana, looking to each other smiling, dressed in wedding clothes. He clicked it shut with a smile.

She got up, walking hand in hand with Cylan back to Morrigan’s Eluvian. Just before reaching it, a small whimper escaped the boy.

“I- I don’t want you to go Maman…” He threw himself around her leg, burrowing his head into her thigh.

She knelt once more, hugging him with all her strength. Whimpering into her chest, he began to cry. She rubbed his back, “I love you with all my heart, Cylan. Be a good boy and behave well for Auntie. Maman and Mama will be back before you know it.”

The boy nodded as he pulled away, latching his hand onto Morrigan’s. She looked down to him, feeling a sense of remorse for the two. Ayesleigh looked like she was ready to cry, herself. She ruffled the child’s hair, mouthing a thank you to Morrigan. Morrigan smiled reluctantly back.

Ayesleigh took a step through the Eluvian, disappearing with a flash.

Morrigan sighed, leading the child to another Eluvian. On the other side was a fancy room, one unlike Cylan had ever seen. Morrigan introduced the two boys, and all went on with the world.

—–

Ayesleigh was back in the tower. Echoes of water drips panged like gongs, rigging in her ears. For the first time in her life since escaping the Alienage two decades ago, she was alone.

A tear slid down her cheek, and another, and another. Cylan, Leliana, even Morrigan, meant the world to her. And she had nothing but an old dog.

She sat by the fire, pulling her tunic off and placing it on her mabari. The fire crackled, continuing off into the night. Ayesleigh rest her head on the dog, falling asleep.

Part 2.

@dreamhunter-trash

*Hiii! I’m Cyli’s mun, but you can call me Destine! Thanks to some friends over at a discord server I have joined the pmatga rp community. I’m...also kind of a newbie with this, but I’ll do my best! Please like/reblog to help growing the blog! xoxo <3

I was changed now.

Pacster’s POV.

Just one ordinary in school, I must entered classroom but my homework in my locker was torn by someone that made me got F grade in history of Pac-World, and while I was putting plate which my love foods, Skeebo made me strumble by his legs and my face sank of foods. Anyone laughed at me… and that really hurt so much… Cyli and Spiral pulled me up and asked me. “Are you alright? Pac?” I said I was okay. And walk away from cafeteria.

On 6:30 PM

I picked my phone and open Pac-Facebook, I must shocked when I saw one my friend gone in my friend list but when I found out, he blocked me without reason and be friend with Skeebo too and worse, he reviled about my bad of me. I felt sad and sobbed on the bed.

Next morning.

I walked to restroom in school suddenly I must shocked again when my galaga figures put in water closet, that time I felt angry who made it then I heard Skeebo and his gang behind me, they locked me, stole my phone, stomped it that time I really pissed off, kicked Skeebo but he punched and kicked me and I was knocked on the ground of lavatory then my blood came out, it made Skeebo and his gang scared and escaped but lucky… Mr. Dome saw me fainted on ground, he sent me to ward. That made me must stayed in my room for 3 days until I felt better. Later I got worst message from Sir C… he contacted and told me. “Your aunt is dead. She just gone now.” I decided ran to hospital with worried. But when I arrived it ture same Sir C said.. she dead… I tried to call her back. But she not felt anything from me. I sobbed on her dead body with huge depressed. Cyli and Spiral felt sad same me too. “I do the best for save your aunt. Pac-Man. But I can’t… sorry…” Orson told me about it but I not mad him. After I come to my room at dome of school. I sobbed on the bed with painful and depressed. Because I didn’t know what should I did… my happy life was gone. Then Spiral walked to me and hugged for comfort me. “It must be alright. Pacster.” My best friend told me. After all I slept while I was sleeping, thought I should changed myself now.

Next morning.

Skeebo, my ex-friend and his gang were walking hallway of school that time I walked to them too. Anyone gossip about me in bad side but I didn’t care about them. But I cared only I wouldn’t let him and his gang must hurt me again. Skeebo looked and taunted me, but I walked to him and his gang with my cold-blood face because I lose my mercy and left only mercliess to them. Then he knew I not liked myself in past before he tried to punch me but I grabbed at his wrist and grabbed it with more tighter, Skeebo scared after he seen me grabbed his wrist but I knew that not made bully like him scared much, I broke his wrist with my strong and brutal. He scream with painful that time another students around me who gossip about me, not laugh at me anymore but they shocked to see me tackled this rotten blue ball with brutally, that not over, I knocked him to ground, locked his arm which I broke and then grabbed his head and tackled smashed his face to ground 5 times with cruel, Skeebo fainted and his blood came out around him, after I knocked Skeebo, I tackled 1st his friend next by grabbed head of him smashed with locker 3 times and smashed corner of the wall 3 times, blood of him splashed on my body but I didn’t care, 2nd his friend tried hit me by baseball bat but I dodged and counterback before I smashed him at by his baseball bat, and I looked my ex-friend who blocked and betrayed me, he fell down to ground, scared, and tried to escape but finally I not let who hurt me flee, I kicked at his face hit with locker and smashed his head by my shoe heel; moreover, I still hated who bullies so much. I stomped on my ex-friend and Skeebo again on their head with hate and no mercy bullies. Their dirty blood covered my body. “Run for your life!” One Pac-Student told anyone ran away from me and they ran out from school with scared me. In my mind said “I will not weak and not let bullies must harm me again! Because I changed myself now!”.

End.

I just want to do for vent my past and who hurt my feeling especially who steal or not give credit about my idea and my oc in their PIXIV account! They should know by themself.

I had to do this, I'm sorry 🥲

This is BRILLIANT!!! 😭👌🤣🤣

Their expressions say it all! They are so DONE with Skeebo's sh*t!

Thanks for sending me this gem! 👌

How loyal is Richard LeFrak?

Richard LeFrak (Photo by Studio Scrivo)

The typically genial real estate developer Richard LeFrak seemed downcast as he sat for an interview in his West 57th Street office early last month.

He rubbed his face and grumbled about the topic of conversation: his friend Donald Trump.

“Can we talk about my real estate now?” he asked. “The agreement was that we wouldn’t talk about Donald.”

For the record, there was no such agreement. But the billionaire’s eagerness to sidestep the topic of Trump, who has described LeFrak as one of his best friends, was clear.

And that was before Trump’s controversial response to the violence that broke out during a white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, Va. The president’s response has triggered widespread condemnation and a backlash that’s since ricocheted throughout political and business circles.

One week after his sit-down with The Real Deal, however, LeFrak broke his silence. He called his friend’s comments — which failed to fully condemn the white supremacists and neo-Nazis who descended on the college town — “inappropriate” and out of line with his own beliefs.

“It’s easy to say that I don’t approve of white supremacists,” he told TRD in a follow-up phone call. “It’s base and violent. I don’t approve of any of those things. You don’t have to be a hero to make that comment.”

While that statement might have been “easy,” it was one of the most overt public criticisms from a member of Trump’s inner circle and from the New York real estate community in general.

“Perhaps the context in which [the president’s] statements were made — especially at the press conference — caused people to be confused about him,” LeFrak said. “I would not even suggest that he is any one of those things. But I can see why people would react to those words very viscerally. He’s made some effort to clarify it, but not as far as he could have.”

LeFrak’s comments came as pressure was mounting. A string of CEOs from companies ranging from Merck to Under Armour had just stepped down from two of the president’s advisory boards, prompting Trump to preemptively disband the panels before more defections.

And while the infrastructure panel that Trump tapped LeFrak to co-head in January was also shuttered, LeFrak derided the public shaming that those who served on the boards faced.

“The part I didn’t like about it was that you looked bad if you said you wanted to stick it out,” he said. “The wave of opinion that forced people out is totally understandable, but I don’t want the president to fail or the country to fail. No one has asked me if I want to continue, but if the president called me and said come down here and talk infrastructure, of course I would.”

He added: “If people can offer something that can help the country, should they just make a sanctimonious political statement and give up their ability to help the country?”

He also noted that heads of public companies always face added pressure under controversial circumstances because they have shareholders breathing down their necks.

“[But] I’m sensitive to my customers as well,” LeFrak said. “My buildings are not occupied by Nazis and white supremacists.”

At a time when the 72-year-old could be sitting back and enjoying his golden years, his attention has been redirected. Instead of talking about his massive 40 million-square-foot real estate portfolio — not to mention his active development projects in New Jersey, Miami and Los Angeles — he’s receiving hundreds of calls a day from media about Trump.

He hinted at the challenges of that friendship last year when he told the New York Times that having Trump as a friend is “like being friends with a hurricane.” And that was when Trump still resided in his glass tower on Fifth Avenue.

Still, LeFrak has attempted to define his relationship with the president as more personal than professional.

“People tend to assume I must be involved in lots of policies,” he said during TRD’s Aug. 9 interview. “I’m not. They have a tendency to overestimate my involvement. I never engage [the president] on any topic other than infrastructure. I don’t engage him on health care, or North Korea.”

Trump, he said, still enjoys a little “real estate gossip.”

“Our conversations mostly aren’t different from what they were before — who’s selling condos, who’s doing well, who’s doing badly.”

As for whether he’s worried about Trump negatively impacting his brand, it’s not happening, he said.

“I won’t let it,” LeFrak said. “That’s the bottom line. I’m never going to deny my friendship with the president — I love his wife, his kids are nice, but a lot of things he does I don’t agree with. He’s not my brand; he doesn’t represent my business. I’m LeFrak.”

Rooted in rentals

In his day, no one built more apartments around New York than LeFrak’s father, Samuel, who competed with Trump’s father, Fred; Lew Rudin; and others.

“All the families go back decades,” said developer Bill Rudin, Lew’s son. “Every year at the Bank of New York’s annual Christmas lunch, my father and Richard’s would sit at the head of the table with the CEO of the bank. Richard and I were at the kids’ table.”

Related Companies CEO Stephen Ross said LeFrak “recognizes he was born on third base,” but noted that he “certainly knew how to get home.”

Forbes indeed pegs his net worth at over $6 billion.

“I’m not the Norwegian pension fund or the Qatar Investment Authority, and I can’t access as much capital as Blackstone or Starwood,” LeFrak said. “But I can build an apartment house. They can’t — or, if they think they can, they can’t do it as well as I can.”

LeFrak’s capital-intensive approach is classic build and hold. It’s a luxury few others can afford.

“The capital required to be in the business is tremendous, and a lot of it gets supplied by private equity or hedge funds that have a holding period and want their money back,” he said.

In contrast to some of his developer peers, and one developer-turned-White House resident, LeFrak is short on glitz.

Arguably the showiest member of his family was his wife’s poodle, Mikimoto on Fifth, who reigned for three years as America’s No. 1 show standard poodle. Tellingly, LeFrak’s rare brushes with stardom have come courtesy of Trump — first in 2009, when he served as a Miss Universe judge and then in 2010, when he was a judge on an episode of “The Apprentice.”

Careerwise, the two men went in opposite directions at the very beginning. Trump traded his father’s outer-borough multifamily portfolio for a shot at building some of Manhattan’s brassiest condo towers. LeFrak, meanwhile, stuck to the blueprint laid out by his dad, who proudly proclaimed his company served “the mass, not the class.”

“He had a very simple business philosophy,” LeFrak said of his father, who died in 2003. “He would say, ‘Give the people what they want at a price they can afford to pay, and you’ll do good business.’”

In LeFrak’s telling, his father’s shrewdness loomed large: “If there was a right side and a wrong side of Queens Boulevard, he would always be on the wrong side, because it was cheaper.”

Like his father, LeFrak focuses on rentals, steady earners that can be passed on from one generation to the next.

Today, as his contemporaries vie to build glitzy condo towers, for example, LeFrak is sitting on one of the most valuable sites, a plot at 40 West 57th Street right on Billionaires’ Row. There he and Vornado Realty Trust CEO Steve Roth razed three prewar buildings and are rumored to be eyeing a hotel project down the line.

LeFrak boldly told TRD last year that he sees condos as “the stupidest form of real estate investment that exists. Do you ever do something and start liquidating it right away?”

From left: Trump, Karen LeFrak, Melania Trump and Richard LeFrak at a New York City event in 2007

The firm’s massive 20-building complex in Queens — the famed LeFrak City — is home to a wildly diverse population of residents and currently has three-bedroom units listed for about $2,700 a month.

Yet LeFrak’s sons, Harry and Jamie, both managing directors at the LeFrak Organization, seem to be ramping up the wattage, hiring brand-name architects, including Arquitectonica, and pushing into new markets, including Beverly Hills and South Florida.

The company’s focus will, however, remain largely on rentals.

It’s biggest bet outside the New York area is the massive $4 billion mixed-use project in Miami called SoLe Mia. The project — which fittingly sits on a relatively cheap former Superfund site — is slated to bring 12 residential buildings with 4,390 units, more than 1 million square feet of commercial space, 37 acres of parks, two swimmable lagoons and 4,000-plus parking spaces to North Miami over several phases.

The firm broke ground on the first two residential buildings, which will have 400 units, this summer.

But LeFrak’s legacy will likely hinge on the firm’s $10 billion Newport site in Jersey City, which will ultimately house 9,000 apartments, 7 million square feet of office space and 2 million square feet of retail and hospitality.

His father paid a mere $50 million for the 600 derelict waterfront acres just over 30 years ago, and when complete, the new neighborhood will be six times the size of Battery Park City.

The latest building, dubbed the Ellipse, the 17th tower the firm has erected there, opened this summer with 381 apartments.

So far, the project has been a smashing success.

“Richard doesn’t have to take risks to make money,” Ross said. “In New Jersey, it’s like having free land.”

LeFrak takes great pride in Newport and the sheer scale of it.

“Do you know who owns Hudson Yards?” he asked, referring to the amalgam of developers, private equity firms and pension funds with stakes in the massive Related-led, mixed-use project.

“Do you know who owns the New Jersey waterfront? Me.”

Zero-impact game

Having the White House on speed dial would in almost all other cases be a major asset. But while LeFrak’s firm fires on all cylinders, his connection to Trump is starting — at least from a PR standpoint — to seem more like a liability.

In addition to unwanted attention on his political and personal views, some have sounded the alarm on what they see as cronyism.

Among them is a nonprofit group that sued Trump in July claiming that his infrastructure panel, co-led by LeFrak and Roth, had been illegally convened without proper public disclosures.

The suit accused Trump of “outsourcing policy making to private individuals who are unfettered by conflict-of-interest rules.”

The implication was that the duo could bend the president’s ear on policy issues without disclosing their own vested interest.

A week before the president shut down the panel, LeFrak dismissed those accusations as political posturing, citing personal loyalty and patriotism as his reasons for serving.

“I have no skin in the game,” he said. “[But] I don’t feel there are any ethical issues. If there’s someone better out there to do it, God bless them. If the whole thing gets caught up in politics, I’ll say, ‘Oh well, I had an experience,’ and I’ll go back and hang my head between my knees.”

LeFrak and Roth board Air Force One at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland

LeFrak also rejected the notion that he was self-dealing by being on the panel. “It takes time; it takes money; it takes me away from my own business to engage in these things,” he said.

In the real estate world, sources say there’s likely to be zero impact on his family’s sterling, scandal-free reputation.

“It is as strong as ever,” said Kathryn Wylde, president of the Partnership for New York City, which represents the city’s business community. “He resurrected the Northern New Jersey coast and continues to lead its redevelopment. He grew up with President Trump, and it is understood that their relationship is a personal and family connection, not a political one.”

Others agreed: “The connection is friendship,” said Ken Fisher, scion of another great New York real-estate fortune, Fisher Brothers, and longtime LeFrak friend. “They’re very close, and Richard is someone who brings so much experience to the table.”

Meanwhile, David Birdsell, dean of Baruch College’s School of International and Public Affairs, said the heads of privately held real estate firms aren’t under the same pressure as public companies, or large retailers, when controversy erupts.

“Even for the most dedicated Donald Trump loathers, that connection might be too much of a leap,” he said. “That’s too in the weeds for most folks.”

But while emphasizing the potential upside of a $1 trillion infrastructure boon that was being pushed by the White House, LeFrak continued to distance himself from messier non-real estate matters, such as alleged Russian meddling in the election.

“I have no more facts than anyone else does,” said LeFrak. “I wasn’t in the room with [Paul] Manafort, [Michael] Flynn. How the hell do I know what was going on? But knowing Donald, I don’t think he’d do anything blatantly inappropriate.”

LeFrak’s direct line to the president became clear in the wake of Charlottesville, when the Times reported that the developer (along with Roth and many others) had urged Trump to sack Steve Bannon, his incendiary chief strategist, who was booted shortly thereafter.

“I did see him for dinner,” LeFrak said, referring to a visit to Trump’s Bedminster, New Jersey, estate last month. “Anything I had to say to him was private. That’s between me and Mr. Trump. But I’ve made no secret that I’m far more moderate than Mr. Bannon.”

In addition, LeFrak has a lot to gain from other key policy issues on Trump’s desk, including the inheritance tax and property tax incentives like the 1031 exchange, which allows investors to avoid capital gains levies when selling buildings if they reinvest in another property.

LeFrak recently tapped the 1031 program when he traded a Queens building for the $125 million, 252-key Dumont Hotel on East 34th Street, where his firm is planning a residential conversion.

“These things have very powerful impacts on our business,” LeFrak said.

But he responded with a “no comment” when asked whether tax reform talk might crop up during 18 holes with the president.

And asked whether he’s lost friends because of his support for Trump, LeFrak said he had, but noted that most have stuck by him.

“Some said, ‘How could you serve a man like that? How could you be friends with a man like that?’”

from The Real Deal Miami https://therealdeal.com/miami/2017/09/08/how-loyal-is-richard-lefrak/ via IFTTT

SP Part 7

She shoots the barge dead center, knocking some skyrates off balance and damaging the flooring, as it begins to shake and sink downwards. Ventor runs off into the lower levels of the ship. CIELA: What the-Vents! Are you seriously leaving me here with this psycho?! VENTOR: Just hold on, I'll be back to help soon! CIELA: What do you mean, you-?! Hobble jumps off the barge onto the Skylark, swinging the blades at the end of her chains and the hatchet attached to her head around to attack Ciela, delivering slight slashes to her face and gauntlets. Ciela fights back, also shooting the gun from Hobble's mechanical arm and delivering several blows before Hobble knock the gun out of Ciela's hand and off the Skylark, and then kicks Ciela backwards into the ship with her mechanical leg. Hobble then runs over to Pyoma as she tries to fly away, grabbing Pyoma by her arm with her normal hand. However the bracelet on Pyoma's arm now glows green with Epheme and burns Hobble's hand, as she is forced to let go. Pyoma is shocked by this and looks at her own arm with a contemplative look on her face, but stops as Hobble attempts to capture her again. Pyoma escapes beck into the Skylark to hide and Hobble chases after her, but is stopped by Ciela who holds her at gunpoint with her rifle. Hobble swings around and uses her chains to knock the rifle out of Ciela's hands, then knocks her to the ground and aims her gun at her to shoot her. Pyoma then rushes in to stop Hobble, and as she raises her hand to push Hobble away, Pyoma's eyes glow with energy and the Epheme cartridge in Hobble's gun begins to glow and rattle in response before it explodes in a small burst of green flame, destroying Hobble's gun. 62. Angered, Hobble backhands Pyoma aside with her mechanical arm, then uses her hatchet to attack Ciela, who has gotten back up. Hobble grabs Ciela by the throat with her normal arm and holding her hatchet with her other hand. HOBBLE None o' your weird voodoo's gonna help here, lassie! As Hobble is about to bring down her blade on a struggling Ciela, a rivet crackling with electricity is shot into her mechanical arm, and the streaks of electricity lancing around her arm causes it to go limp and fall to Hobble's side much to her surprise. Another rivet lands in Hobble's mechanical led, disabling it as well. Hobble falls to the ground, stunned. Standing behind her is Ventor, who has fired the rivets from his newly improved rivet gun . VENTOR: (Sheepishly) Ta-Dah! CIELA: (Panting) Took ya long enough. Exhausted, Ciela also collapses onto the ground. CIELA: Can...can ya make sure you tie up Lady two-limbs over there? I got some stuff I wanna ask her... INT. SKYLARK-DAY Later after Ciela has recovered slightly, she gets up to see that Hobble has been restrained, tied up in her own chains, with both her mechanical limbs detached from her body and tossed to a separate corner of the room, as she is being watched by Ventor nearby. Ciela walks over to Ventor, as Pyoma is off in the corner of the room nervously sitting next to Hobble's prosthesis. HOBBLE So. Is this where you two lovebirds get to play interrogator? 63. CIELA: (Sighs in frustration) Nope, it's where Vents's gotta stop me from shooting you whenever ya piss me off. VENTOR: And I can't guarantee I'm good at that. Ciela cocks her rifle and places the end of the barrel right against Hobble's face. CIELA: So since ya don't got any news on what your boss is up to, could ya hold still please? I don't want to have to waste another shot on the rest o' ya face. HOBBLE While I appreciate your sentiment, I was going to tell you anyways. Hobble gently pushes away the barrel of Ciela's rifle away from her face. VENTOR: Yeah, I can tell by the fact that you and your crew tried to kill us just now. HOBBLE Sure, punish a girl for trying to have some fun on the job. Now, lassie. You wanna know what we're up to? Why don't you ask ya mum? A look of horror and rage manifests on Ciela's face as she brings down her rifle to strike Hobble in the head, knocking her out. She then walks over to the cockpit, sits down and redirects the Skylark, sending it flying much faster in another direction. PYOMA: Wait, what's happening?? CIELA: Filthy skyrates found my ma! And I'm gonna mulch every last one of them to make sure she's safe. 64. PYOMA: Are we seriously going to fight all of those lunatics? We're as good as dead! CIELA: Whaddya mean "we"? Vents's gonna get you somewhere safe while I go on ahead. VENTOR: Hold on, what? Okay, first things first, I am not letting you go on alone- CIELA: -Yes you are! VENTOR: -No, I'm not! And secondly, what are you planning on doing once you get there? You know you can't take on the entire skyrate fleet alone. CIELA: Why'dya think I left Hobble alive? If Redstar's takin' hostages, so am I! He can't touch me if if I got his second-in-charge with me. VENTOR: Ciela, that's not gonna help against all of them! CIELA: Shaddup! You can keep whining later, I gotta make a call. Ciela grabs the radio communicator off the ship's dashboard and calls her mother. CIELA: Ma! Ma! Are you okay? Is everything- MRS ALTOS: Yeah, I'm fine sweetie! Ya usually prefer calling by video staton? What's up? CIELA: Are you sure everything's okay?! The skyrates're headed your way!

If they're not here yet then get outta there now! 65. MRS ALTOS: Oh, they're already here. CIELA: What?! INT. ALTOS HOUSE-DAY Mrs Altos stands in the living room of her house, with furniture strewn around the area, and the walls damaged from a previous fight. Several skyrates lie on the ground, immobile while Mrs Altos talks to Ciela over the radio. MRS ALTOS: Why're you so worried, sweetie? Thugs like these come by every few weeks! I don't mind though! A good fight every now and then helps keep a lady fit! CIELA: No, ma you don't get it! They're all coming for you! If you can't get away in time, then just hide out until I get there! With the radio still in hand, Mrs Altos sighs and walks over to a cabinet in the room and grabs a baton from it, as a pair of skyrates bursts into her house. MRS ALTOS: (sighs) This is why I don't tell you about these kinds of things Ciela, you always get so worried about them. Mrs Altos fights the pair whilst still talking with Ciela over the radio. CIELA: Whatd'ya mean "These kinds of things"?! Ma! MRS ALTOS: I mean that ya always so stressed over other people gettin' hurt that you just barge ya way into danger yourself! It's not good for you! 66. A skyrate slashes Mrs Altos' shoulder with their blade, but she forces it back into their face, and uses it to slice their throat. MRS ALTOS: (To skyrate) Ya fricken asshole! CIELA: What?! MRS ALTOS: Sorry honey, that was for a guy I just killed! Anyways, the thing is, ya too overprotective, that's your problem! You've always been worried about ya daddy, ya keep worrying about that nice young man Ventor, and now you're worried about your own mother! CIELA: I can hear the damn skyrates in the room right now! And ya think I'm the one always gettin myself into trouble?! Instead o' fightin' random psychos, why dontcha just take up a safer hobby, like drinkin o' somethin?! MRS ALTOS: I've gotta do something with all the criminals that come over here tryin' ta get at'cha! INT. SKYLARK-DAY Ciela grumbles and clenches the radio in her hand. CIELA: (Groans) Fine! Stay there if ya want! We're less half an hour away from Pitchblen anyways. MRS ALTOS: Whatever ya say, sweetie! (To skyrates) Oh-ho! You fellas look really riled up! So tell me. Who wants ta die first?! 67. Ciela hangs up the radio, a look of bitter frustration on her face. CIELA: Crazy old bag. Hey! Vents! Ya really wanna help out? Here's the plan. Vents' gonna go get my mom back into the ship while I keep Redstar's crew busy. VENTOR: What? I-um-I-are you sure you'll be alright? CIELA: Look, we're just gonna go in and outta the fight quickly, there's nothin we gotta worry about. 'Course, we're gonna take Hobble too so they can't land a finger on us. Long as we pull this off well, aint nothin's gonna go south. Plus, we've got one more advantage on our side. Ciela turns around to look at Pyoma. EXT. PITCHBLEN-NIGHT Pitchblen town is a series of metal huts. Situated in the middle of the desert, ringed by a series of Epheme rigs in the distance. Overhead, two large skyrate zeppelins and several smaller barges circle the town, raining down fire on the houses, while troops of skyrates patrol the streets. While the townsfolk have relatively been able to stem the threat, the damage to the town is beginning to become overwhelming. INT. ALTOS HOUSE-NIGHT Standing amidst her now significantly more damaged room, with small fires scattered around it, Mrs Altos, also noticeably injured, stands panting from exhaustion. At that moment, Redstar calmly walks through the door of the house, accompanied by several more armed skyrates. 68. REDSTAR Aww, are you all tuckered out from your playdate with my crew? Redstar pulls his flintlock out at Mrs Altos. MRS ALTOS: Ah shit. Mrs Altos and Redstar fight for a bit, and while they are initially pretty fairly matched, Redstar is able to land a shot in Mrs Altos' leg. MRS ALTOS: (Grunts from pain) A spray of Epheme bullets adjacent to this fight interrupts Redstar's next move. He stops and turns to see Ciela standing in the doorway, and his two crew mates at her feet, and Ventor following soon after, carrying a still-tied-up Hobble and her prostheses behind him. CIELA: Put...ya freakin hands...where i can see 'em. REDSTAR You know the drill, Altos. Not unless you want me to blow a hole right through your mom's torso. And since you haven't killed my first mate over there yet, I suppose you want to offer a trade? CIELA: You willin' to take that offer? REDSTAR Of course. I'm making it right now. Frustrated, Ciela has Ventor untie Hobble and as Hobble walks back over to Redstar, neither Ciela nor Ventor seem to notice a mechanism in her prosthetic leg release a small metal cylinder onto the ground. REDSTAR Nice to have you back Hobble. And while we're doing business here, I'd like to add on to my demands. Hand over that girl you have with you too. CIELA: What?! What do you want with her? 69. REDSTAR Well, while it'd be nice if I got to see what makes her so valuable, I've luckily already found some buyers to prove it. Ciela looks up to see large lights shining above the house, coming from Arbei kingdom Zeppelins and Sky ships ARBEI PILOT: (Over a speaker) Ciela Altos! Return Lady Pyoma into our custody and come quietly with us! CIELA: Alright, fine, ya got me! I'll hand over the girl, she's back in my ship. No funny business alright, I promise. Just hand over my mom first, okay? Ya really need collateral when ya literally have a whole fricken army on top of me? REDSTAR Seems reasonable I suppose. EXT. ALTOS HOUSE-NIGHT Hiding in the shadowy corners of the house's exterior, Pyoma is eavesdropping on the conversation, and she sees Redstar with his gun pointed at Mrs Altos as he simultaneously brings her to Ciela and Ventor. In response, Pyoma raises her arm in the direction of him and tries to concentrate on it, with her irises beginning to glow. INT. ALTOS HOUSE-NIGHT As Redstar hands Mrs Altos over to Ciela and Ventor, he looks over at Hobble and gives her a knowing nod as the pair attempt to run off, much to Ciela and Ventor's confusion. Suddenly, to add on to this confusion, Redstar stops in his tracks, appearing as if his head is being held back by some sort of unseen force, with his pistol also reacting in a similar fashion. A LOW THRUMMING NOISE is heard being emitted from him, as the Epheme in Redstar's gun and his mechanical eye begin to glow brighter and vibrate. 70. EXT. ALTOS HOUSE-NIGHT We see that this is due to Pyoma exerting her abilities on Redstar, as she continues concentrating them on him. INT. ALTOS HOUSE-NIGHT The thrumming noise continues to increase in volume and Redstar's body spasms violently until both his gun and eye explode in small yet violent bursts of green flame. However, Mrs Altos is also scorched slightly by the explosion, falling to the floor as Ciela and Ventor help her up. REDSTAR Dammit! Hobble, get me out of here! Hobble grabs Redstar by the arm and helps him out of the house, as a skyrate barge awaits to pick them up. EXT. ALTOS HOUSE-NIGHT As the barge takes off, Redstar notices Pyoma hiding along the side of the house, looks to the Arbei soldiers REDSTAR You want the girl, right!? Go get her! Thanks for paying me already, by the way! Ciela and Ventor turn around to notice the cylindrical metal device placed on the floor earlier and that it has begun blinking like an explosive device Redstar laughs as the barge that he and Hobble are standing on begins to fly away higher off the ground. Swiftly, Ciela tackles Ventor to the ground in order to preemptively shield him from the assumed explosion. VENTOR: Ciela-! However, despite the bomb's accelerated blinking, to the point where it should have long gone off, nothing happens. With some difficulty, Ventor pushes Ciela off of himself.

ITS HERE

For real this time :D

Guys I'm not kidding when I say that writing this chapter felt like pulling teeth 😭 Its one of those bridging chapters where you feel like you've nearly written your story into a dead-end and you have to b smart about how you continue, and you gotta tie some ends to continue onto the next arc.

BUT HEY its DONE the chapter is FINALLY DONE SHJSGHKDFHNHNFDNGJD I CAN FINALLY START WORKING ON THE NEXT CHAPTER FOR THE VEIL

ANYWHO I hope you enjoy this nonetheless! >:D

It's here.

Guys its finally here.

I've been working on this chapter for 7 months—I've literally been DREAMING of finally being done with this chapter.

There's still a few scenes I'm not so sure of, especially the talk between Cyli and Miss Globular. But it is what it is.

Not gonna lie...for a moment, I felt second-hand embarrassment for Pac's part in this chapter. But he manages to pull through. I won't spoil it on here, but lets just say...our boy finally gains his courage 🥹

I hope you guys enjoy the new chapter! I'd love to hear what you think, either here or in the comments 💙