All your nightmares come back to haunt you

This is exactly how this scene happened

>SD_ASSET_NO; #CB - 213655489-07 >ASSET_TYPE; INFILTRATION UNIT >HANDLER; DR SIEPEN DIRECTOR SIEPEN >DESIGNATION; = [ROOK]

 Your hair must be messed up from being in the helmet for this long. Sweat is beading on your forehead, and you can feel the red lines where the padding has pressed into your skin.

And you're smiling.

The way Ortega's labeled as a conspiracy theorist (mostly by Sidestep) and all of their friends dismiss their investigations (not necessarily their fault but still) like Steel's never-changing position that "Hollow Ground's a myth" and even when Ortega reveals their theory about Sidestep being HG's sibling the achievement you get is "Tinfoil." Sidestep's so adamant about no one believing the truth if they were to tell anyone but they’ve never really humored Ortega.

Ortega's been chasing theories since before Sidestep knew them. And the thing is, their theories either have substantial evidence (Hollow Ground) or are a reasonable conclusion with the information presented to them (Sidestep as HG's sibling).

And NO ONE, specifically with the Hollow Ground case, believes them. For at least a decade, Ortega's had EVIDENCE and everyone around them refused to give them the time of day. And still they pursue it. Even with literally no one on their side, they still continue to try to get justice for Marshal Hood. Ortega continues this case even as everyone around them labels them as a conspiracy theorist or refuses to listen to them. Ortega truly is Cassandra of Greek myth with this stuff, immune to telepathy and therefore the only one able to see clearly on what’s going on.

I can’t stop thinking about how Ortega really is someone who, with the world against them, just keeps going. There’s a lot of narrative parallels here with Sidestep, obviously, who’s attempting to fight the world as a villain. Sidestep tends to think no one would believe them with the truth but there’s a really interesting dynamic when Ortega believes them - as well as when Ortega doesn’t! I just think it’s really interesting to think about Ortega and Sidestep, technically on opposite sides, feeling like no one believes them or trusts them when they’re kind of the only people able to see the truth.

sometimes u just gotta draw ur oc in a pinup pose. for enrichment. (roach uses they/them)

c0mmissions open

i bring u all a lady argent drawing but before u can see it:

Based on that moment during the nanosurge.

so like tbh i don't even know if this drawing is ENTIRELY lore accurate because i haven't read retri in a hot minute but i had the idea and was compelled to draw it... Lady argent enjoyers wya ‼️‼️

this song is literally argentstep. the vibes the lyrics everything

Listen Book 1 ended with Ortega in hospital, Book 2 ended with Ortega in hospital. Now i am not saying anything, but....

You’d like to think you showed nothing on your face.

Bonjour to the Fallen Hero art I started 3 years ago and never actually finished

(and now its time for me to draw more)

got really high. made another sidestep. woke up and i’d drawn him about 20 times

his name is Hadley aka Sidestep and he’ll wipe the floor with Herald

reedited the video!yaay!!

Are we ever going to dwell on the one of Chen's reasons to mistrust m!Sidestep back in his active Ranger days (if we have Julia so there is no jealousy on Chen's account here) being what Sidestep apparently was too charming?

Like??? Hello??? WEI PLS WTF you were so petty partly bc you LIKED Sidestep? What is it, middle school???

[! MAJOR SPOILERS FOR THE END-GAME OF FALLEN HERO RETRIBUTION FOLLOW !]

I'm sure Charley will get her cape back at some point... until then, flirting.

No wonder Sidestep has a headache like all the time they're a fucking clown car of consciousnesses