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entropy-game-dev · 1 year

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Alpha testing, v0.05a & patchnotes

This post is long long overdue, considering I’ve been working on the v0.06a build for about two weeks now, but nevertheless a v0.05a playtest did indeed happen!

The demo is getting surprisingly stable, and there were only a couple of actual crashes, localised to some custom move scripts I had not thoroughly tested. Apart from that, the issues were generally minor and did not impede play.

In fact, I’d say that the balance of the game is also getting tested now, and I am actually super surprised at how balanced things are already! Like, I have just been eyeballing numbers and looking at graphs/extrapolations up until now, and yet all the numbers are falling in line quite well. Not to jinx myself or anything, of course.

My friend, the way he plays the game, is so different to me too. He takes a ton more risks than I would, goes to hard areas, goes in DEEP, and doesn’t run from battles where it appears that he’s quite outmatched. And yet despite all of this, he’s managed to come out on top without resorting to the cheat/testing controls I’ve added (like an instant back-to-the-ship button or my debug attack that costs nothing and does massive damage). So, I’m overall impressed by how much better he is at managing and assessing risk in the game compared to me!

v0.05a to v0.06a is going to be the biggest patch yet - I have a ton more changes than usual, and most of these are new features/polish rather than bug fixes, which I’m very happy with. Of course, at some point, the demo will need to be released into the wild, and I’m very much getting to a stage where I am happy with doing so. It’s one thing to be on a stream with a friend while the game crashes, but for all of you guys, I’d like the demo to be polished to a certain standard!

Keep reading below for the a0.05a patchnotes...

Features:

Press the V key to go back to the ship in case of a softlock!

Increased save backups from 9 to 10!

The map now has an icon legend!

Added version info to sentry.io script

The status log in battle now displays when status effects were applied

The equipment panel now highlights positive and negative changes with colour!

Added confirm popup for navigator with a message saying you do/don't have enough fuel to travel there!

AI now considers HP costs in their moves (lower hp = more likely to use HP moves)

X All enemies now have a low chance to drop some fuel items

X Recruiting cores now makes their level equal to (astro_level + (core_tier-1)*10)/2 +- random(core_tier)

Defending now restores energy when at low energy

Added a custom cursor!

Added tooltips for the various icons in the game!

Polish:

Mechanical prayer animation slightly reduced

Made buttons not spam a sound effect when holding the mouse down

Explosion noises slowly fade out if the explosion sequence is somehow prolonged

The battle menu now closes upon confirming each unit's turn

The stairs icons on the maps have changed slightly for clarity

Addded F1 control reminder for the help overlay to the controls menu

Added message signialling that relativistic travel is now available

Talking message boxes now overlap better

Exploding enemies now take their turn next instantly

Item menu disabled for now

Damage numbers now all appear at once

Stat panels when moving characters don't overlap now

X Only display the mine/gather point message when gathering 1 or more item

Disabled debug coordinates appearing on minimap during mouseover

Shifted the mouse stat panel down to account for the new tooltips

Unit's pictures removed from the stat panel in the recruit screen

The red battle grid is now animated

Stat panel doesn't display enemy sprites in recruit menu now

Changed I/J menu tutorial text to F/R

Changed Wiring item to Wires

Owned scrap now shows next to scrap cost of machine

Removed decimals on scrap cost for machines

Item stat panel now shows -0X instead of --X

Bitflip text is now shortened to fit into the text box

Feature labels now disappear completely when changing floors/teleporting

Floor advancement messages when stepping on a trap are now given in the right order

Corrected text when choosing to go back a floor using a wall machine

Bugs:

Random moves now hit a different cell/row/column per-hit as intended

Removed debug controls that allow you to randomise the element grid

Fuel now converts properly

Enemy appearance when moved to a non-preferential row is now fixed, and the HP moves with it

Tutorial messages when not exploring now show

Fixed battle menu becoming unresponsive after selecting and then getting out of target menu

Upstairs sprite now appears properly

Feature nameplate doesn't disappear suddenly now

Cooldowns now apply for the player when using moves

X Enemy AI row/column targeting on area attacks now has the same restrictions as the player, preventing weird targeting for AOE abilities like Encrypt

Emergency oxygen energy drain stops trying to drain energy/hp when at 0

X Move text appearing at the top and bottom of the window is now removed when you finish the battle (unlike before with self-destruct)

Unsure why but overcharging an enemy used to softlock the game, and now it doesn't

Conducting attacks now copies all associated attack data to prevent crashes in attack scripts (like explosive spread)

Core inventory now properly depth sorted behind the unit inspect window

Debug key (B) now disabled from generating game over fx on title screen

#indiedev #gamedev #gaming #pixel art #scifi #space #gamemaker #programming #rpg #robot #devblog #game #videogame

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swashbucklery · 2 years

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Opal x Laudna is so galaxy brain, I'm in awe of your mind

OK so like a) thank you for appreciating my brand of deep gay chaos b) thank you for sending me an ask about them I WANT TO GIVE THE PITCH.

So, full disclosure I'm not actually watching C3 I have skimmed uhhhh a couple of episodes but guys it is currently "only a few episodes in" and 84 hours of content i shall not. But I DID get the highlights of the intro episode and I've been skimming the wiki pages mainly as Opal fuel and anyway THAT'S ENOUGH, I'M SURE OF IT, HERE'S WHY OPAL AND LAUDNA ARE PERFECT FOR EACH OTHER THE END.

1. This is not actually Opal/Laudna this is Opal/Laudna/Imogen the perfect V-ship

Look I'm aware that the CR watching internet is going bananas for Laudna/Imogen and I see it they ARE soulmates they DID find love in a hopeless place etc etc. Laudna who defends anything Imogen does or will ever do much too fiercely, Imogen who thinks Laudna's creepy dead animal dolls are charming and sweet.

But also like. The energy I get from them is the ways that Imogen loves Laudna in spite of rather than because of and Laudna is - so lonely. So isolated. Any love, any friendship that feels genuine and trusting is so powerful

And I don't want to see that broken up but I also want to see the energy of Opal who looks at Laudna dripping black and full of darkness and instead of looking past, loving despite the darkness, she looks and Laudna and thinks: yes, this. This is beautiful.

Opal who has gone through this transformation from Gem of Byroden (two-time!) to this thing that is like. I don't think I love readings of her with the crown as monstrous per se because she's not, she's still herself, but she's not polished anymore. And in Khymal we see her make that choice, she looks at herself dripping black, fingertips stained, and as much as it's not cute or palatable she sees the power in that image and - there's a part of her that loves it.

It's about Opal and Laudna who are both like. Sweet and feminine and monstrous all at once. It's about the inherent horror of being a woman. It's about taking a breath and choosing not to wallpaper over the darkness with something palatable and just - be.

And Imogen fits, because Laudna will defend her to the ends of the earth Laudna will always make sure she fits. And there are things about Laudna that only Imogen gets to see but there are also thinks about Laudna that Opal understands better than Imogen ever will, you know?

So it's about that.

2. This Is Also, Very Much, About Gay Sex

OK because Opal - deep in my heart post-Circlet I feel like there’s been this shift. And I don’t read it as a shift because of the Circlet itself, to be honest. I see it as a shift in that teen-movie way of like - if I’m not going to be prom queen I might as well just be myself, you know? And for Opal that’s like. The little rebellions like shoplifting but also I think the big rebellions like embracing the fact that she’s a horny bisexual monster and she’s got no excuse to not enjoy herself anymore.

(I mean that in the best way, she’s the BEST monster I love her.)

Opal who has like three friends with benefits at the same time MINIMUM if you think this isn’t also compatible with Opal/Dariax AND Opal/Fearne and also Opal/Cyrus while poor Dorian is in the next room trying to cover his ears do I have a few words for you.

But Opal who sees Laudna, dripping black, and she’s been using her disguise self this whole time but she catches that Form of Dread and has this perfect moment of like !!!!! SAME HAT.

(Where the same hat is eyes dripping death and a face covered in spiders WHATEVER IT’S A HAT)

Opal who is like look maybe I’ve never done it with a woman maybe I don’t have “experience” or “know how to eat pussy” but I have a can-do attitude and a god in my brain I can FIGURE this OUT and Laudna who hasn’t ever like

(Okay this is an aside but fuck me this canon is impenetrable what is a Hollow One, Mr. Matthew Mercer. What does it mean if a character doesn’t have a soul in your off-canon-canon Dungeons and Dragons port sir please I’m so tired I just want to write gay sex w h y is this like this )

Anyway Laudna who like. I think is in some ways extremely married to Imogen and in other ways is very nonsexual but she looks at Opal warm and wanting and is like. You know. This better not awaken anything in me dot gif Into It.

3. Please They’d Be So Sweet Together

Honestly!!! These goobers trying to flirt like Opal writing little notes and sending them over to Laudna via Ted 2. Laudna using Form of Dread like oh if you think I’m scary now babe look how much scarier I can be!!!!

It’s about the shared language like is it “appropriate” no does it work for them hard yes!!!!

Opal and Laudna being double scary to keep Imogen protected when the world is too loud!

Imogen telling off anyone that says her girlfriends are weird THEY’RE NOT WEIRD YOU’RE WEIRD

Opal and Laudna ~getting a room~ and they’re so aggressive it sounds like the set of a horror movie but it works for them!!!

#they're perfect for each other i don't make the rules it's just true!!!#opal x laudna #v-ship: opal/laudna/imogen #exandria unlimited limited the tag #i don't have a critical role tag on purpose #tagfic #my fic

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mirandamckenni1 · 2 months

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youtube

Ariel Demure: Spiritual Growth & Big T i t s Energy When you need extra confidence in the bedroom, BlueChew is there! Try it for FREE when you use our promo code HOLLY at checkout - just pay $5 for shipping! https://bluechew.com/ Ariel Demure has an Old Hollywood soul and is one of the best-dressed stars in the industry! She tells us about her early start at stripping, her non-linear transition story, and how escorting fuels her spirit. She also spills the tea on what went down at the 2024 AVNs and tells us about her newest feature, “Gorgons & Goddesses”! Support our show by supporting our sponsors! To support my show: https://ift.tt/3coRdXf Follow my Facebook page: https://ift.tt/iTNLR5K Follow me on Snapchat: https://ift.tt/2xUK539 Shop my merch store! https://ift.tt/Nhy3qOH Follow me on Instagram: https://ift.tt/M412elB Follow me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/hollyrandall Follow me on TikTok: https://ift.tt/ouOxpKl Visit my Official Podcast site: https://ift.tt/5fJwLn2 To make a one time donation: https://ift.tt/WIeG8C0 Fan mail: 26500 Agoura Road, Suite 102-838, Calabasas CA 91302 SHOW NOTES: 2:02 story behind her name 4:44 her Old Hollywood influences 7:04 loving Liza Minelli 8:40 starting to strip at 18 10:33 age gap relationship and if she still talks to him 13:58 if her mom knew she was stripping 18:37 why stripping felt safe 20:47 relationships with each of her parents 23:48 being influenced by your parents 28:32 Ariel’s transition story 35:29 having big tits energy 41:48 being comfortable with being uncomfortable 43:58 how she got into porn 46:37 how escorting fueled her spirit 48:18 the difference between porn and escorting 52:08 being a unicorn too often 53:31 why she got into studio work 59:45 getting 4 AVN noms her first year 1:02:35 underrepresented performers at AVN 2024 1:05:10 how trans performers are talked down about 1:08:45 porn has been the testing ground for technology 1:11:04 what went down at the AVNs this year 1:17:46 her big budget project “Gorgons and Goddesses” 1:27:18 social shoutouts " via YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I0_h8ZseyiM

#IFTTT #YouTube #Youtube

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satashiiwrites · 2 years

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wip Wednesday

Yeah… working on my Mredyer week stuff….

From: To Follow, Chapter V

Fandom: Mass Effect Andromeda, Mass Effect Trilogy (set ~ME2)

Pairing: MReyder, mentioned pre-MShenko in fic but not this part

Warnings: first draft. Swearing. Pre-andromeda meeting. Reyes should probably avoid engineering for a while.

The entire ship vibrated as the mass effect field of the relay took hold and then slingshot them to the next star cluster. The weird pinching feeling of something passing through him made his gut clench and it felt like he’d been spun around upside down until he wanted to vomit. He’d never hit a relay at this speed before.

His hand snuck up to clutch at his dog tags, whispering a half-forgotten prayer to a god he didn’t believe in as he closed his eyes against the brightness of the HHUD as it whited out from the energy spike.

Miraculously….they made it in one piece.

Well… mostly.

The Vancouver’s engines made a pretty alarming whining noise but the familiar vibration of a running engine didn’t quit. The electronics flickered twice before stabilizing.

Reyes was already inputting their next move, pulling out of the near vicinity of the relay and headed for the nearest system which was five minutes away in Caleston Rift. They could hide there. All they needed was five minutes and some luck.

He was vaguely aware of someone clinging to the back of his seat, watching over his shoulder as he engaged the stealth mode that would hide their emissions trail.

“You’re going to hide?”

Startling at his Captain’s voice in his ear, Reyes nodded. “If we just keep jumping they can follow. The Rift is big enough that we can hide while I figure out how fu—messed up the engines are.”

His Captain’s caterpillar thick eyebrows inched upwards but the man was trying not to laugh as he clapped Reyes on the shoulder. “Do it. Let me deal with engineering.”

Slumping into his chair, Reyes winced. Better the Captain rather than him check in with Engineering. “Yes sir.”

Engineering was going to want to draw and quarter him based on the warning indicators flickering across the HUD. At least they hadn’t had a complete power failure.

As if punishing him for his thoughts the entire ship’s power flickered and then quit as another loud whine came from the engines as they died, the entire bridge going dark before the emergency floor lighting kicked in bathing everything in a red glow. Artificial gravity failed and he had to grab for his safety harness that he hadn’t put on as he began to float out of the pilot cradle. “Shit.”

The good news is that even being dead in the water they still were being propelled forward due to the momentum they’d already gained. The bad news is that they had very limited backup systems that were a pain in the ass to navigate by as they were so primitive as it used the same tech that had been used by NASA back in the day of the Apollo landings. There was only so much fuel you could expend so any flight maneuvers without engine power.

But on the plus side they’d be incredibly hard to find unless you were visually looking for them. They otherwise looked like just another bit of rock floating around to any scanners.

Negatives? The temperature was dropping fast. The emergency power would only keep them from freezing solid—it wouldn’t be comfortable without the engines being back online. Life support was minimal.

Roberts, who had been sitting in the other pilot cradle, had his arms crossed over his chest and sniffed loudly. “Well you’ve really fucked us all,” he muttered nastily.

Whipping his head to look at the man, Reyes snapped back, “But at least I got us out alive.”

“Fuckin’ maverick. Always having to show off. I had it handled!”

“No you did not,” Reyes argued angrily. “You were too slow!”

“I had it HANDLED!” Robert’s face was purple he was so pissed.

“Knock it off!” Was the loud shout as Alexander propelled himself forward into the bridge to get between them. “Roberts go cool off.”

Sneering, Roberts hastily unclipped himself from his safety harness and tried to get off the bridge. His dramatic exit was ruined by how many times he had to run into either a console or the ceiling to redirect himself.

Alexander just watched him leave, his jaw clenched. He was still in his combat armor but he’d lost his helmet somewhere. His strawberry blonde hair in disarray instead of it’s usual neatly gelled look. “Bastard.”

“Me or him?” Reyes asked with a snort.

Alexander rolled his eyes. “You probably saved all our lives Reyes. That matters. Captain knows that.”

“Yeah but does Engineering?”

The marine let out a guffaw of laughter, eyes crinkling in amusement. “Maybe stay away from engineering for a while.”

“I’ll take that advice.”

“Stay here. If anyone gives you trouble you will send them to me,” Alexander clapped him hard on the shoulder, almost sending him face first into the controls. “Careful there top gun.”

“My call sign is Anubis,” Reyes complained half heartedly.

“Which is, as they say, pretty badass brother.”

He could only shrug in response. “I’ll… stay here. Hopefully they get back some power.”

“Yes. You have not been relieved of duty. I think I am going to make sure nobody gets any ideas.”

Alexander left him alone in the pilot cradle with his thoughts.

The stars were pretty through the windows. He never usually got to see them with the HUD in the way.

He wished Scott were here. Reyes could really use a hug about now.

#mass effect andromeda #mass effect #mredyer #pre-andromeda meeting #first draft #wip wednesday #timeline what timeline

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lover-of-trash-and-people · 3 years

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shadow and bone rewatch s1e6 while drinking mid-range scotch

I wish I have a face that is as unlined and pretty as Ben Barnes' when I'm 39

Arken you dirty dirty liar

the face Alek is making at his lies that he knows are lies firstly because he knows the art of lying so well and also because he can read people very well

okay Ivan is kind of a bad bitch with his smirk at Arken's lies

alek's eyes narrowing and his little smile when Arken says 'im an entertainer' bitch I love this show

*grabs hand, pulls up sleeve, and discovers Arken's hand is full of marks indicating successful passages through the fold* 'well, that is certainly entertaining' I love this man with all my heart

him screaming is so fucking hot, is that weird for me to say

Nina being the Darkling's spy is quite interesting

Ben giving the Darkling crazy eyes when Arken owns up to his guilt is so cool

also wtf is Arken a fool trying to negotiate with possibly the strongest man in the world

kind of loved the darkness literally eating him

also love Alina learning to use her powers better when she is alone than when she is with anyone else, wish we got to see the cut in this season as per the books, ah can't have everything I guess

the camera pan to Jesper's gun at his side, amazing

god Jessie is literally so beautiful I need to see her bring Alina to the peak of her power so bad

netflix you better renew this series to let the plot run to its completion

HOW THE FUCK DID THEY CAST THE CROWS SO PERFECTLY

INEJ FUCKING TREMBLING JUST THE TINIEST BIT AS SHE BOWS SLIGHTLY TO ALINA SGSHSBSJJSJSSJ MY TWO QUEENS

'And where is my Summoner?' my little Darklina heart ouchie I really wish you hadn't used and manipulated her like this Alek it was incredibly fucked up especially considering you actually caught feelings

'Ivan and I won't fail you' oh Fedyor my baby, my angel, you don't deserve what is coming

Helnik literally recreating Titanic lmao stop this is a joke

I too would jump off the raft if I came to consciousness to see a gorgeous woman with magical powers with her hand on my back

omg but why is ryevost so pretty though

'I know exactly how she felt. The King's soldiers treated me the same way... I'm not myself today.' why must you do this to me, why must you fuel my darklina soulmates agenda idiocy

I don't quite think I have a problem with the Zoya Darkling relationship as much as I have a problem with the line they chose to reveal it to use with.

my drink's over and I don't know if I should have another, considering that it's 7 am

the tenderness with which he looks at Zoya and takes her hand and then when he says 'I shall relax when I have Alina' makes me believe more that the man that is reduced to tears time and again in front of Alina could in fact be the master manipulator I know him to be

god I can't wait for Zoya's character arc

'I speak six languages, it's part of my job' why is Nina literally the fucking coolest

Alina blinding the oprichniki was so hot, I can't wait to see more of her power and her ruthlessness

I know I've said it before but good god is Jessie Mei Li gorgeous

HER LITTLE SMILE AMONGST ALL THE PANIC AS SOON AS SHE SEES MAL, THE AUDACITY OF THIS SHOW TO MAKE ME FEEL THIS WAY

THE SCORE COMING IN AT THE RIGHT MOMENT, THEIR HANDS MEETING, HER SMILE AGAIN DHDHSBSNSNSNSNAN IM IN PAIN

REALLY?! YOU'RE GONNA GO DIRECTLY FROM MALINA TO HELNIK WITH NO CONCERN FOR MY HEART?

I simply cannot get over Calahan's accent lmao it's really funny

'im not afraid of you' he says to the insanely gorgeous girl with magic

HIM HANGING HIS HEAD IN DEFEAT TO INDICATE NINA HAS MADE VALID POINTS YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND I CAN'T BREATHE

'You're just a man. Like all the others.' she says and then forgets her train of thought looking at him as he strips. god I love this

not sleeping all night and then scotch is not a good idea, I think

'I promise not to ravish you' 'I hate the way you talk' her hand on his chest, his hand gripping hers, my fucking heart feels like it's about to explode

good god these shooting locations and sets are so beautiful

Alina throwing the flask at Mal and Mal going 'OI!' I fucking can't, I guess I am a

simp for childhood friends to lovers, give me more of that banter and childhood friend energy, I am thriving

wow it literally seems like they took book! Mal sl*tshaming book! Alina and made show! Alina sl*tshame show! Mal, hmm, interesting

'They would have split us up!' MAL'S LITTLE SMILE AT THIS, and the 'You wrote me letters?' Mal's nod, the Malina yearning stare, the Malina hug, 'thank you for finding me' 'always. I'll always find you.' NO MALINA YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND YOU HAVE MADE ME ABSOLUTELY FUCKING FERAL

I understand they had to split time between my ravkan babies and the crows and that is why there were several aspects that were sort of not reflected on enough but Alina's training at the Little Palace, Alina's cut, Mal's personality, a teensy bit of backstory for the crows, maybe one lockpicking scene from my boy Kaz

random note: we have far too many idols and paintings and pictures and whatnot of Hindu deities in our house apart from the specially designed temple (we are Hindus, so maybe it's not that weird but it's a little weird)

Kaz's cane is a literal star, it's so beautiful my heart wants to explode

'Why would Heleen get the Crow Club?' *literally fucking gets up and walks aways instead of answering the fucking question* I LITERALLY CAN'T BREATHE I'M LOSING MY MIND

'I know that voice' WHO GAVE YOU THE RIGHT TO MAKE ME FIGHT FOR PLATONIC SHIPS IN FANDOMS

'We won't starve' omg get you someone who packs food for you when you go on the run together hiding from your ex who wants to capture you and use your powers as a weapon against your consent

Mal looking surprised at her summoning sunlight, Alina looking cautiously at him waiting for him to disapprove or run for the hills in fear or smth like that, 'I'm sorry it took me this long to see you... But I see you now' my dumb little shipper trash heart ouch

they really said we're gonna feed you this part asian couple as the protagonists in this show in 2021 and guess what I'm eating it's really tasty I'm very satisfied as a south asian

NINA'S LITTLE SMILE WHEN MATTHIAS WAKES UP WITH HIS ARM AROUND HER

'I can feel how much you hate sleeping next to me' 👀👀👀 BITCH SAID IMMA SPILL THE TEA AND THEN SHE DID

it's 8 am and guess what I'm getting another drink my parents have c*vid and are in govt qu*r*ntine centres there is nobody to supervise or stop me

I too say 'Why do you have to say things like that?' to my pretty crush when she flirts with me

Nina smiling at Matthias bragging about his conservative ways is my aesthetic

'No, it's not natural for someone to be as stupid as he is tall and yet, oh, there you stand.' MY FUCKING QUEEN

Matthias laughing uncontrollably at Nina saying something which isn't even that funny is a whole ass vibe

Kaz Brekker saying 'The Black General' ooh fuck yeah

YESSSS STEP OUT OF THAT CARRIAGE ALL SEXY BLACK GENERAL

isn't alcohol supposed to like kill germs? well, the amount in my system definitely will

I love my crows so much (always but this time particularly for setting that alarm in the stolen carriage)

ooh Polina recognising Inej by the knife yesss let's go writers

this Ivan Jesper showdown is all I needed from life and yet did not know about

Ivan taking off his cloak was, um, sexier than I wanted it to be

I just realised how thirsty I am going to sound in this post

'Has no one told you that keftas are Fabrikator-made and resistant to bullets, hmm?' 'Oh, I do love a challenge' LITERALLY EVERYTHING

im sorry to be pointing out flaws in a perfect show and adaptation but the line delivery on 'You robbed me of my brother, now I'll rob you of your life' from Polina was kind of weak

'You're a-' *gets knocked out with the back of a gun* LMAO we love the hints

got excited at the prospect of kaz v. zoya until I realised they will not be letting the opportunity of kaz v. darkling pass up

my goodness is Amita Suman a splendid actress

I AM NOT KIDDING WHEN I TELL YOU I SQUEALED WHEN I SAW DARKLES EMERGE OUT OF THE SHADOWS IN FRONT OF MY BABY BOY KAZ

THERE BEING ACTUAL FEAR OR ATLEAST DOUBT ON KAZ'S FACE, THE LITTLE BACK STEPS AS

THE DARKLING WALKS TOWARDS HIM, AAAAH I CAN'T

THE DARKLING STOPPING AT KAZ SAYING 'SHE FLED ON HER OWN' AND THE HINT OF TEARS THAT WE SEE IN HIS EYES

'IT WAS PRETTY CLEAR SHE WASN'T INTERESTED IN BEING A CAPTIVE ANYMORE' YOU TELL HIM, KING

*ACTUAL FUCKING TEARS IN THE DARKLING'S EYES AS THE SHADOWS APPROACH*

NOT ME YOWLING LIKE A HYENA THAT THIS CHILD OUTSMARTED THE MOST POWERFUL MAN IN EXISTENCE WITH A FAKE MAGIC TRICK

'Are you sure you added enough cloves?' literally warranting a wide ass smile from my queen Alina making my entire fucking day

for some reason, no matter how much I push it from my mind, Ben Barnes dressed up as the Darkling, dancing to 'push it' keeps coming to mind, it's absolutely ridiculous

I got somehow distracted with interviews but good things came out of that as it gave my body the time for the booze to kick in

and I would just like to say that I love Leigh for all she has given me

Alina is so fucking compassionate, I have no much love for her. I can feel her guilt and her sorrow as Mal talks of Mikhail and Dubrov

don't particularly like how the stag plotline is woven in, could have been executed better

'You're afraid you might start to like me?' *flaps furs like a bird's wings in frustration*

'I DO like you' my fucking heart you idiots

the sexual tension is so palpable and the moment is so intimate I simply cannot

OMG SHE FUCKING FELL

that moment where you think he might let her fall despite having read the books and he doesn't and he tells her his name I- <3

YOU DARE TRANSITION FROM A HELNIK SCENE TO A KANEJ SCENE YOU REALLY HAVE NO MERCY FOR MY HEART HUH

people have talked about this endlessly but Freddie's little jaw tic after he says Inej because Inej is wounded and he can't physically bring himself to help her I fucking cannot

THE MUSIC PICKING UP AS KAZ LOOKS TO THE DARKLING'S CARRIAGE I CAN'T WITH THIS SHOW ANYMORE

and now for one of my favorite scenes in television and cinematic history, David Kostyk throwing a book at Jesper Fahey without even knowing who he is merely because he opens the door of his carriage and says hello to him before getting knocked out by Kaz Brekker while trying to run away

Immediately followed by another, the scene with David Kostyk raising his finger to put forward his point in front of the Darkling and the Darkling trying to let him know he doesn't have to before obliging is one of my favourite scenes in the world

also sir please stop being devastatingly attractive in your glorious appearance with your face and your black kefta and cloak because all that comes to mind is Ayesha Erotica's Emo Boy and I'm afraid that is terribly inappropriate.

'No, you look great.' *literally looks down from embarrassment or blushing* MALINA RIGHTS?

THE LOOK ON THE DARKLING'S FACE BEFORE HE SAYS 'NO ORDINARY TRACKER, NO ORDINARY GIRL' BITCH IM OUT OF BREATH

'ORPHANS OF KERAMZIN, REUNITED.' 'ADORABLE.' HE FUCKING SNEERED IRL I FUCKING CANNOT

GOD IT'S SO GOOD

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sokkascroptop · 4 years

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traitor. (sokka x f!reader) pt 4

A/N: ensue cute lil fight scene; this is short but the next part is... v long >:)

part 1 | part 3 | part 5

And then there were three.

Zuko met Y/N on the steps away from the house. He had a single bag slung over his shoulder. Birds chirped off in the distance and if Y/N really listened she could hear the ocean slapping against the sand.

“I’m glad I don’t have to convince you that coming back is the right thing to do.” The corner of her mouth turned up. This was the first time she had directly addressed him in three years. “Where’s Iroh?” Y/N asked.

Zuko picked at his tunic. He had yet to meet her eyes.“He’s not coming.”

Y/N’s eyebrows shot up. Azula said that Zuko and Iroh had been inseparable since Zuko’s banishment. She couldn’t go back to the ship with only one of the captives. “What do you mean?”

Zuko sent a look back to the house and started down the stairs that led down the mountain. “Let’s get going.”

Y/N huffed out through her nose and jogged to catch up with Zuko who’s pace was frighteningly fast down the steep stone stairs. “Why doesn’t Iroh want to come back?”

He kept his eyes trained on the ground as he answered. “He says he’s never known my father to regret anything.”

“I was there when he told Azula. He does.” The lie slipped off her tongue easily.

Zuko’s eyes widened and he stopped in his tracks. He didn’t say anything but his eyes asked the question his mouth couldn’t form: Really?

He’d always wanted to make his father proud, ever since they were children. Even after all that the Fire Lord had done to him, he was still so desperate for his approval.

Y/N spoke the words she’d practiced in the mirror before heading up the mountain. “It’s very important to him that you come home, Zuko.” Y/N couldn’t stomach another lie. And technically, this one wasn’t a lie. It was a half-truth. It was important to the Fire Lord that Zuko go back to the Fire Nation, even if it was under the guise that he’d be welcomed back with fanfare.

Zuko turned to look out at the sea of cherry-blossom trees and rocks to the ship on the water. The ship that he thought was god-sent.

“Wait! Don’t leave without me!” Iroh shouted as he came down the stairs.

“Uncle,” Zuko beamed up at him. “you’ve changed your mind.”

“Family sticks together, right?” Iroh asked as he placed a hand on Zuko’s shoulder.

“We’re finally going home,” Zuko murmured under his breath in amazement.

The sight of them both staring out onto the water made Y/N bite her lip. She wanted to tell them that they needed to turn back and run but she kept her mouth shut. It was her duty.

“Finally going home,” Iroh repeated as Zuko stepped away and resumed heading down the mountain. He looked to Y/N who worked to keep her face neutral. He didn’t look as fooled by her as Zuko was.

In front of them the guards lined up on either side of the dock. They stood at attention with their traditional helmets and masks on. Y/N walked ahead, they were almost home free; just a few more steps before she hit the ramp. She walked to stand next to the ship’s captain as Azula addressed them. She was smiling at her victory already.

“Brother, Uncle, welcome” Azula bowed deeply which Iroh and Zuko returned. “I’m so glad you decided to come.”

The captain faced Y/N and nodded at her to go up the ramp first. Excitement burned in her chest as she squinted through the sun at Azula and made her way back to the ship.

“Are we ready to depart, your highness?” The captain asked.

“Set our course for home, Captain.”

“You heard the Princess! Raise the anchors,” the captain shouted from behind her. “We’re taking the prisoners home.”

Y/N had just reached Azula. Their faces mirrored one another from shock to outrage. Y/N whirled around on the captain who looked like he wanted to die on the spot. “You idiot,” she growled. She landed a swift kick to his stomach, effectively pushing him off the ramp and into the water. Her cheeks heated up in anger. Had he just shut up, Zuko and Iroh would be on the ship and in cuffs down below deck. It would have been easy for Y/N to get over her guilt about capturing them if she didn’t have to look in their eyes and face them. Now there was going to be a fight.

Iroh had already turned on the guards around him, dodging fireballs and knocking them into the water with the grace of a much younger man.

There was no one between Zuko and Y/N on the ramp. Y/N still hadn’t pulled her sword. It wouldn’t have been much good against his firebending anyways. “You lied to me!” he bellowed. His eyes burned into hers like he was shooting flames out of them. Y/N felt like she couldn’t use her voice, it had suddenly disappeared between the mountain and the dock.

It didn’t matter, Azula assumed he was talking to her and answered for Y/N. “Like I’ve never done that before.” She grabbed Y/N’s arm and wrenched her back onto the ship, leaving Zuko to fight the guards that had just been flanking her. Azula gave her a little push to the upper deck and when she removed her hand Y/N realized her arm was burning where Azula touched her. She was geared up for a fight all along.

Zuko’s anger fueled his fight. He stood on one foot and kicked one guard in the chest and punched the other, flames cracking as they left his hands and feet. Y/N stood on the upper deck watching it all unfold below her. Zuko ignited two knife-like flames from his hands. Azula’s back was still to him and Y/N knew immediately that whatever Zuko had planned was no match for Azula’s fight.

“Zuko! Let’s go!” Iroh shouted from the dock.

He ignored his uncle and began attacking Azula with fervor. He punched and kicked and sliced with his fire but each strike just missed Azula by a hair. She weaved around him like cat-snake in the reeds. She blocked a downstroke and pushed him away.

“You know Father blames Uncle for the loss of the North Pole,” she taunted. “And he considers you a miserable failure for not finding the Avatar. Why would he want you back home except to lock you up where you can no longer embarrass him.” For a moment, Y/N thought that Zuko might surrender, or at least run from Azula and her guards.

Instead he attacked again.

Just as before, Azula evaded every strike and she had yet to throw any fire against Zuko. But Y/N was sure that wasn’t because she didn’t want to hurt him, she was just waiting for the right moment. They slowly made their way up the ramp to the upper deck. Y/N held her ground, she wasn’t afraid of a little heat.

Suddenly Azula grabbed Zuko’s wrist, Zuko tried to jerk away at the last second, knowing what she was going to do, but she held fast. She shot a line of blue fire just over his head as he rolled backwards down the ramp. Y/N caught his expression when he landed in a crouch. Shock. He’d never seen her make blue fire before.

Zuko was still as Azula swirled her arms around her body creating a circle of energy. Lightning crackled around her, ready to be released.

“Azula, don’t!” Y/N yelled. She didn’t know what made her do it but Y/N couldn’t watch as Azula killed her brother with that stupid fucking lightning.

Her voice was enough to make Azula falter. The lightning faded for a moment before coming back stronger than before. Y/N drew her sword and started towards Azula unsure of what she was going to do to stop Azula, but Iroh got there first. As she pointed her lighting at Zuko, Iroh grasped her hand and Y/N watched in horror. Surely he would die from that.

But he didn’t. Azula’s lightning traveled through his body and out his other hand straight into the side of the cliff, exploding rocks everywhere. He had redirected it. He twisted Azula’s arm around and kicked her in the chest, over the edge of the ship.

And then there were three.

Y/N was caught in a stare down between the two men. She, the only non-bender on the Agni-damned ship, was the only one left standing to fight. But...Y/N realized she didn’t want to fight them. Any adrenaline she’d mustered up to go to battle evaporated. Slowly, without taking her eyes off of them, she let the tip of her sword fall. She watched as Iroh helped a still stunned Zuko to his feet and together they ran off the ship and into the cherry blossom forest. She swore Iroh had thrown a wink back in her direction...

Later, Y/N would tell herself that it was all a defense tactic; that the only reason she let them go was because she didn’t stand a chance against two fire-benders, one of them being the Dragon of the West, a man who could redirect lightning. She would absolutely deny any claim that she let them go because she didn’t want to see either of them imprisoned. That was absolutely untrue.

A/N: how do we feel about Y/N lying to Zuko’s face? Letting Iroh and Zuko go?

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featureenvyproductions · 2 years

Text

Today I have another background-related hill to climb....The fuel containment area for the giant space liner they sometimes are on in this comic.

unhinged technobabble under the cut

Forgot to design it, but since I'm only in here for one scene I decided to just do it on the fly. The ship is propelled by the energy released in particle/anti-particle collisions (well....the main rocket is an anti-matter rocket. I haven't thought what might serve as control thrusters. The thing is the ship was also built in space and launched from a planetary orbit so there wasn't ever any concern navigating its hulky form through an atmosphere and the smaller thrusters solely exist for rotating the ship about an axis...then the main engine applies any delta-v. So they don't have to be particularly heavy duty in comparison. Anyway whatever that's not important) but do not ask me how the anti-matter containment chamber works it just magically does with future technology I haven't thought too hard about,,,

Literally nothing about this engine is relevant to the plot actually but I had to scratch the exposition itch a little so there you go

#Eyan Eternal #Comic #Pencil #Sci-fi

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marshmallowprotection · 3 years

Text

Kait Reacts To The AE 7/?

Hi! These reactions are written out every time a Chatroom opens and it’s done over the course of the day. So, you’re watching me react in real time as it is for me. So, Spoilers AHOY. Expect Another post like this later today, there is just too many chats to put it all in one post. So, hey, if you click this, you’re opening yourself to spoilers, you make the choice.

[01:02]

It's time to deal with Rika again. I'm not at all in the mood. It's really no different than what she's been telling us thus far and honestly I don't really expect anything to change on her front or anything with V. They are both made it pointedly clear to me how they feel about the situation and I don't think that there's any reasoning with them so it's just a matter of trying to hang on the until the RFA rescue us. We don't know exactly what's going on per se but we don't know for a reason and I'm not upset about that because they're trying to take precautionary measures. They're doing everything that they can and I trust them with my heart.

Basically, she calls them weak in this chat room and says that they did the right thing by bowing their heads in accepting that. This is really no different than the strong and the weak argument and symbolism that we used to have at Magenta where she would make it clear that the strong only those that would stomp before stop being stomped on. Trample before they are trampled to the ground.

She wants be live in this falsehood and deny reality and everything that's going on because she can, due to the deal they made, herself and V, and honestly, I don't to expend my energy on this woman. She's wrong. You can tell her that over and over in this chatroom and it will just not dare end. She just won't quit. It's always about what Rika wants and what Rika gets. It's never about anyone else. She is selfish and shallow to the core.

There's no fixing this because she refuses to change. She needs to go down with the Agency and Saejoong, and at this point, V, too. Get the two of them back into counciling while they're in jail because that's the only thing I can see in their future because it sure as hell isn't forgiveness and I won't assume it will be. She can say whatever she wants and lie all day, but we all know Rika, at her core, is deeply saturated in her anger and maladies. She cares not. She is quite literally just doing what she did as Savior but denying that it's the same.

Saeyoung is drugged and out of his mind right now, passed out, and Saeran is desperately trying to stop all of this and all you can think about is your selfish wish to have a decency on a false family you're building. I am hardly listening to this woman. I'm disconnected and literally just letting her prattle until I can tell her she's in the wrong over and over again.

OH BOY. THE VISUAL NOVEL IS A GODDAMN DOOZY. Jumin is speaking to his father and he opens up about what’s on his mind. The talk about Seven and the deal that they made. Chairman Han thought that... Saeyoung was a very good person from speaking to him and that the deal is made because he wanted to repay Jumin without... you know, doing it directly because Jumin would never accept something like that. Saeyoung is a stubborn man and we all know that, it is always sweet to know the lengths that he would go to for his friends that don’t just talk about...

compassion.

Little things like this, I don’t know, I have a lot off faith in him and I’m torn for Jumin be cause he’s spiraling. Even his father can see that Jumin is holding his sturdy mask on his face as he’s crumbling inside, and Chairman Han tells him that no matter what happens, he will be able to move on, and he should try to do so with his loss... Jumin’s mother is mentioned, and how he should keep moving from that, and I don’t quite get the context but I’ve heard there’s more on that in his BE but I’ll never know until I bother to look at the spoilers.

Either way, Jumin starts crumbling and he cannot drink. He knows that he cannot lose his clarity. He’s envious of Saeran, who seems to be fueled by his emotions and ready to act. He wishes that he could do such a thing but it is so foreign to him. He thought he could trust V... Rika... but he can’t. He was stabbed in the back and now it hurts so much that he’s losing it. He wants to fix things but I don’t know if he can fix those relationships given what’s happened and I think he knows that.

That’s why it hurts so fucking much.

[06:04]

I made an alarm. I’m awake. Saeran made a secure chat to talk to me and I.. I don’t know. I have dread in my heart that I’m heading towards a bad ending right now because of the way that he’s talking. I don’t know... there were CGs and it’s kind of right... right? Saeran won’t say anything because anything can get hacked right now and he won’t risk himself, the others, or us because of a loose text message on the background. What really scares me about this is the fact that he keeps saying over and over that no matter matter—

He will protect our happiness. As in, my happiness, and it feels like it’s written in such a way that he wants to leave... wants to let me be free and that this may be our goodbye soon enough. I don’t want that. I don’t want him to get hurt. I’m just in a state of confusion and hurt over you Saeran. I want our true promise of happiness and I want our return of joy. He vowed every Four Seasons and I want to keep that promise with you and only you, my love.

He tells me to have faith in him, in our love and that he will do anything he can to protect me. I believe in him. But, I don’t want to lose him. He knows that I want to be free with him. I stated that, but he won’t... he won’t tell me anything and I hate being in the dark while I’m trapped here with Saeyoung. I don’t know if he is trying to be careful to warn me or if this is fate.

I don’t know.

I just don’t.

He says that he’s coming... I don’t know if I’m ready. I don’t trust Rika, I don’t trust V, I don’t trust anyone in this fucking place and I wish that Saeyoung was awake but he’s still... knocked out, my God. What’s worse is that he shares that he has flight tickets. FLIGHT TICKETS. You know, like the passport merch that you can buy and that I did actually buy but won’t be here for a few weeks cause we all know how shipping works and it’s not going to give me answers right away but I think this has to be the right direction...?

It does say “the travels you made with Saeran.”

But, he says that we should go with the RFA.

It doesn’t outright include him when he’s talking to you. I don’t know what to think. Why would we leave the country? How are we fighting? Please, I don’t want you or Saeyoung to live in fear anymore... Saeran, please, do not force me to leave you behind. I know you want me to be happy but please, you need to be happy, too.

This is bittersweet and hurting me and I can’t think about how this is going to play out right now. I hope they have a plan and I hope that plan is something that won’t involve more separation and sacrifice.

The visual novel did not ease my heart but I was greeted with a very lovely CG of Saeran so maybe that makes up for it. I think it’s a dream sequence where we get to share a picnic with him... he playfully teases and jests with me about my eating habits and lets me know that he loves hearing my laugh. I ask if this is a dream but... Saeran is like, “Even if this is a dream... it doesn’t matter if it’s a dream. I’m so happy. I wish I could spend more time with you like this... I feel like I’m greedy.”

And I say, “We deserve to be happy.”

Because I mean it.

No beating myself up, nor he. We deserve to be happy.

Saeran’s not helping me in the dream, “Sure, but... if the world does not want us to be happy... I hope we can continue that dream in heaven.”

NO. NO. NO. NO. NO. NO. NO. Saeran please, even in my dreams, you cannot die and I refuse to die. You wouldn’t want that for me and I wouldn’t want that for you and why do I get the picnic that I wanted and was begging for. Why am I so always right about what could happen, but Cheritz has taken my hopes and used so many of my wishes to be angst or bittersweet and I—

Saeran, you’re not helping!

DO NOT DIE FOR ME.

I AM NOT WORTH THAT.

Okay, no, I promised not to depreciate and so did you. Please, let us be happy together, my love.

[08:51]

Okay, I’m still not okay. Saeran is here and we’re just waiting for him to make it past the agency and the narrative here is trying to warn me that if I’m not careful with what I do, Saeran is going to try to sacrifice himself for me. I don’t know his plan and he says that he’s going to tell me very soon. But, he keeps dodging it and saying that no matter if we are near or apart, our love will never change or stray from what it is. He’s never had more peace inside of his heart as he has come to this realization. He’s clearly conflicted about his past and the more that he thinks about Magenta—

The more it... he knows that it’s trauma. He knows that it’s a wound that will stay with him but. He also knows that he escaped that trauma and found himself, he says that he knows who he wants to be. He doesn’t want to hate anymore or be angry, even though it’s justified. Don’t get me wrong, he’s not saying that he will forgive anyone that hurt him, that’s not the tone. It’s just that he doesn’t want to be fueled by hate.

This is what he believes is going to really help himself. He knows that he has peace knowing that he was wronged, but he choose to escape and to leave all that behind. He found himself, and he knows who he is now. I’m proud of him for that but I’m scared at the same time that he will suffer to ensure my safety. I do not want that.

I think what bothers me the most is how Rika feels so entitled to the idea that she can just forget and avoid the past. She’s just so flippant. I don’t want to talk about it. No, ma’am, you don’t get that right. You hurt him. You hurt so many of these people that once thought of you well, and you don’t get the right to pretend you are holy or better. You don’t get to forget. You don’t get to pretend. We have to live with our trauma.

Why should you get peace?

Nope. Nu-uh. Not happening.

However, Saeran notes in the chatroom that she’s... something wrong about Rika. She is frantic and confused, and he isn’t sure what to make of that. She will not talk about anything but her selfish wish that will only hurt all of us the way that she’s acting and the way that V is acting. I don’t really want waste my energy on what’s up with Rika because, we all know how I feel about Rika and she just keeps proving her bullshit to me time and time again. She’s in denial and she’s lost. I don’t really care.

The visual novel is brief, we get to see him again. V and Rika are back on their bullshit but Saeran is relieved to see we aren’t harmed, Rika asks him to join her so there’s no funny business as she tries to decide when I’m supposed to leave this place now. I don’t know when they’re going to shove me away. I’m surprised they aren’t gonna kill me. That’s a lot easier.

They leave me with V and V’s on my fucking shit-list right now. I cannot deal with him anymore. He tells me to understand Rika. I won’t. I refuse. He says it’s great that I can leave. He says to rest before I leave. He’s going to look over Saeyoung now. I wanna tell him to fuck off because at this point, he’s proven that I can’t trust him and he’s doing nothing to help. You resigned yourself to this sun, Icarus, you can burn all you want at this point, but you do not have the right to let us burn with you.

I’m just worried about what Saeran is going to do. I talked to Jaehee on the phone and she said that Saeran kept saying goodbye, over and over, and she hopes that I stick close to him. It’s like he wants to leave behind everything to save us. I don’t know his plan and I don’t... I don’t know what I’m supposed to know right now and I still have two hours before I get to learn his plan, I guess, and I need to know now.

Also, Jaehee said she’d use Judo to save me if she could. What a woman.

I called Saeran as well, and that was more... unease. I’m proud of him for standing tall against his abuser. He won’t let her sway him anymore and that’s the good thing I take from this call. This shit took me years to learn myself and he’s... figured it out much faster. I’m happy for him. He seems to be better in his spirits about this and he deserves that.

Saeran: I will take care of Rika and V until you’re out of here. I love you. This mission must not fail.

WHAT THE FUCK IS THE MISSION, GOOD SIR. WHAT THE FUCK IS THE MISSION. SIR. I HAVE FUCKING ANXIETY.

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greaterawarness · 3 years

Text

Moveing On Ch. 11 The Shadow

Read full story here at AO3

Avayla

Cold. Dark. Empty. Avayla walks through the silent tunnel keeping her breathing under control. She could feel him in the darkness. Lurking, watching, waiting for her. The darkness around her feels like it could swallow her up if she let the flame in her hand burn out even for a moment.

“Avayla.”

This was not a voice in her head, nor a voice spoken through the Force. He was here. She steps into a large opening. Stepping further into the round room, there, sitting on what looks like a pedestal is a man with horns sprouting from his head. His skin is decorated in red and black markings. When his eyes open, she freezes, trapped in his gaze.

“Welcome, shaper.” He says to her. She swallows as she tightens her grip on her staff.

“You know what I am.” She says thankful her voice did not waiver.

“Of course. It was Mother Talzin who first discovered your people after fleeing from the Sith.” He says while standing. He walks down from his stage with his arms behind his back.

“What do you want with me?” She asks, holding her ground.

“I am in need of an apprentice,” He says in a soft but dark voice. “I sensed you through the Force. From there I knew you would be the one to aid me in my quest.”

“And what is your quest?” Avayla steps back when he turns to face her again.

“To destroy the Sith.” He says with furry in his eyes. His hate was so strong it burned almost as hot as actual flames. His emotions are so powerful that Avayla’s own emotions mirrored his.

“You want to destroy the Sith? Rex told me you were dangerous… But you only want to destroy the evil in the world.” Avayla thinks aloud.

“What I want is revenge,” he says as he walks around the room. “The Sith took everything from me. Used me and then cast me aside! I was left to rot, but I rose up from the ashes of my failures fueled by my hate.”

The room around them changes. She could see a battle. They used bright laser swords. One man almost looked familiar, but she couldn’t place the face. The other was the dark creature before her. the horned man pushes the other with the Force making him fall down a large metal hole. While stepping closer to peek below the man who had fell leaps up landing behind the horned man cutting him in half. Avayla gasps feeling the laser sword cutting through her own abdomen. The vision fades as she drops to her knees, desperately feeling her stomach for the slice. But there is none. A new vision appears. One where he stands beside someone similar to him. A dark presence chills Avayla to her very core. They battle with no avail. The man with the dark essence kills the other like him. She screams feeling the loss and pain that she felt when losing Hera. The vision subsides leaving Avayla drained.

“After that fateful battle, my Master cast me aside,” The man says with pain in his voice. She could feel it. The hopelessness of being left behind. A feeling she knew all to well. “He abandoned me. Replaced me with another.”

Tears pour from her eyes uncontrollably. She was trapped in his emotions unable to escape.

“But you know what that’s like. Don’t you?” He turns to her one more time. The emotions ease letting her catch her breath. She gets to her feet. “Your Master abandoned you just like mine.”

He walks around her seeing into her mind. She watches the room change but this time to one of her memories. Her heart is in her throat of the sight of her Master standing above her. His new apprentice at his side. Avayla balls her hands into fists. The dark figure from the man’s vision stands beside her Master. The horned man stands next to Avayla as they both look up at their old Masters.

“You are no longer my apprentice,” They speak at the same time. Their voices almost merging together. “You have been replaced.”

“Enough!” Avayla screams. She blasts fire at both Masters. The vision fades as Avayla struggles to catch her breath. She lifts a hand to her forehead trying to regain focus.

“Don’t you see?” The man next to her says. She looks at the man with pain in his yellow bloodshot eyes. “We are the same. Both cast aside by our Masters. But together we can rise above them.”

He extends his hand to her.

“I…” She says with her mind swimming. She had this overwhelming want to take his hand. She slowly reaches out giving in to the urge. Just as they were about to touch the sound of a blaster pierces through the fog clouding her mind. The hand that had been outstretched to her moves to hold the blaster shot in the air.

“Step. Away. From her!” Rex snarls while stepping out of the darkness.

“Rex!” Avayla says feeling relief and clarity sweep over her. she suddenly felt like she could breathe again. Free from whatever hold the horned man had on her.

“Avayla, are you alright? Did he hurt you?” Rex asks with his blasters still aimed at the horned man.

“Clone,” The man hisses while moving his hand letting the blaster shot hit the rock behind him. “Why are you here?”

“I’m here for my friend.” He says stepping into the room. The horned man puts his hands behind his back staring at Rex with narrowed eyes. “You will not take her.”

“I hardly think you have any say in that matter.” The horned man chuckles. Avayla steps between them.

“Stop. Both of you!” She says with a jab of her staff in the ground. She turns to Rex. “He only wants to destroy the Sith.”

“He is a Sith, Avayla.” Rex says. Avayla frowns and looks back at the horned man. “His name is Darth Maul. He’s killed countless of innocent lives! Including children.”

“Why didn’t tell me that before I ran off?” Avayla whips back at Rex.

“Because you were too busy hitting me with wind!” Rex says making Avayla’s face burn with embarrassment.

“Well, that was… uhn… ugh!” She tries to justify it but falters.

“If you two are done? I’d like to start training my apprentice.” Darth Maul sighs behind them. Avayla frowns at him.

“You’re a Sith! My people do not trust your kind.” Avayla narrows her eyes at him.

“It is true, yes. I once was a Sith but no longer. Now I only desire to rid this world of them.” He says. He wasn’t lying. She could feel the truth in his voice and the visions she saw were not fake. She stares at the cave floor thinking.

“You can’t be seriously thinking about joining him?” Rex yells at her. She meets his eyes.

“He’s not lying Rex. And not only that… he might be the only one out there willing to train me!” Avayla says feeling her own fear surface. Rex looks horrified so she turns away. He puts his blasters away and grabs her hand forcing her to meet his eyes again.

“Why did you come here? Do you remember what you first told me when I asked you why you wanted to become a Jedi?” He asks with fear and panic in his eyes. She feels her heart ache.

“It’s not about the power,” She says blinking away tears. “It’s about peace and understanding.”

“That’s right,” He says with a soft smile appearing on his face. “And I promise you that you will find no peace with him.”

Avayla nods while wiping away a tear. She takes a deep breath before turning to face Maul.

“He is right. This is not why I left my people. I am sorry but I cannot be your apprentice.” She says. Darth Maul frowns before closing his eyes.

“That is… unfortunate.” He says opening his eyes again while holding his hands out as pressure squeezes Avayla’s and Rex’s neck, lifting them off the ground. They gasp and squirm under the invisible force. Avayla feels her staff slip through her fingers. She tries to shape fire or wind at Maul but too much of her energy has been drained. She looks over at Rex. His face is turning a deep shade of blue. Tears sting her eyes once more. There was nothing she could do.

The sound was small at first but then rose to a loud scream. Maul frowns confused by the noise until it was to late. Slick and Dogma charge out of a tunnel ramming into him. Avayla and Rex drop feeling the air return to their lungs.

“Are you okay?” Avayla coughs to her friend.

“Never better.” Rex chokes. Maul kicks Dogma off him and throws Slick against the cave wall.

“Dogma!” Avayla calls. The clone with a V tattooed across his eye gives a small wave from the ground where he lays after getting kicked so hard. Rex opens fire at Maul. Maul simply uses the Force to redirect the shots. Avayla grabs her staff and swings it sending a line of concentrated air. He leaps out of the way letting the air cut through the rock. Maul lifts a large rock up with the Force and throws it at Rex and Avayla. They both dive out of the way as Slick fires from behind Maul. Maul runs and is able to dodge every shot.

“Slick? Wasn’t expecting you to come back.” Rex says while joining in at firing at Maul.

“Well… ya know… Your words really struck me in how we’re all apart of this crew and…”

“R6 wouldn’t let him steal ship and wouldn’t stop shocking him until he came back to help!” Dogma cuts him off from across the room. Slick frowns but doesn’t protest.

“Well, I’m glad your back either way.” Rex chuckles before dodging another thrown boulder.

“That makes one of us!” Slick yells while taking cover. Avayla shoots fire and wind but can feel her energy getting drained like before. Her flames barely leave her hands now and the air comes out as nothing more than a strong breeze.

“What is wrong, Apprentice?” Maul chuckles while diverting one of Rex’s shots at Dogma. Dogma ducks behind a rock just in time. “Snuffed out already? I could show you how to grow your power using your hate and passion!”

“Shut up!” Avayla yells feeling a burst a rage rush through her sending flames at Maul. He’s able to divert her flames just like the blaster shots. It stings even more when he does it with one hand behind his back. He gives a chuckle in his throat.

“Good, good, yes feed off your hate!” He says lifting the ground beneath her. she jumps off the side only for him to drop the giant rock on top of her. she holds her hands up shooting air above to slice the rock in half. She still gets crushed but sustains only bruises and mild cuts. When she crawls out of the rubble Rex is being lifted and choked in the air. Dogma and Slick are trapped under a large boulder that Maul is slowly crushing them with. Avayla steps towards Maul and feels all energy leave her body. She drops to her hands in knees panting.

“Stop… please…” She pants still crawling towards him.

“Agree to be my apprentice and I will let them live.” Maul says tightening his grip on Rex’s throat and lowering the boulder more onto Dogma and Slick.

“Don’t!” Rex chokes with his hands desperately clawing at the invisible hold on his throat. Tears blur her vision with panic building in her chest. Dogma cries in pain when the boulder pushes harder down. She squeezes her eyes shut before letting go. She opens her eyes and looks up at Maul.

“I’ll do it,” She says finally. “Just let them go.”

He smiles before throwing Rex against the wall and freeing Dogma and Slick. Dogma clutches a broken arm to his chest while Slick struggles to get to his feet. Maul turns to face Avayla as she stands. He holds his hand out to her. she takes it. He gives a low laugh before walking towards a tunnel.

“Come along, Apprentice. There is much to be done.” He says with his hands behind his back. She looks back at Rex one last time. He coughs while struggling to stand. He meets her eyes.

“I’m sorry.” She whispers before running after her new Master.

Rex

Everything is falling apart. The only thing he can hear is his heartbeat ringing in his ears. He watches Avayla disappear in the darkness of a tunnel with Darth Maul. The entrance to the tunnel collapses along with the ceiling of the cave. He pants and struggles to get to his feet. Slick is shaking his shoulders shouting something, but Rex can’t hear it. He took her.

“Rex!” Slick’s voice finally cuts through the ringing in his ears. He blinks a few times coming to his senses. “We have to move! The temple is collapsing!”

Rex gets to his feet. Dogma limps beside him cradling a broken arm. They run through a tunnel praying it was the one leading to a way out. The tunnel behind them collapses almost as fast as they can run. Rex pushes Dogma and Slick forward when he spots light ahead. They keep going feeling the rubble hit the back of their legs with the collapse growing closer and closer to them before they leap into the sunlight just before the ceiling can cave in on them.

They pant and roll on their backs to watch the mountain that had sprouted only the day before retreat back into the earth. Rex sits up spotting a familiar ship fly off into the distance. It was the same ship Ahsoka had held onto so dearly while they tried to escape the Republic ship.

“Fuck!” Slick pants while getting to his feet. “You alright, Kid?”

“Fine, just a broken bone.” Dogma mutters while sitting up. They both stare at the Captain that now stands staring at the direction that the ship had disappeared in. Dogma and Slick exchange a look before Slick steps closer.

“Rex?” He says cautiously.

“My fault.” Rex says softly.

“What?”

“This is my fault.” Rex says turning showing the guilt and pain in his eyes. “Everything that has happened up to this point has been my fault!”

“How is any of this your fault?” Dogma asks.

“I told her to reach out with the Force! That’s how he found her! And more than that… I told them to destroy the escape pods… they could have escaped…”

“What escape pods? Who are you talking about?” Slick asks. Rex starts walking towards Maz’s Castle.

“The ship… we have to go after them! I can fix this.” He says almost frantically. Dogma and Slick run after him.

“Hold on! You’re not in the right mind to go after them!” Slick says grabbing his arm. Rex whips around shoving Slick to the ground.

“I have to fix this! I can’t…” Rex starts before losing all energy and dropping to his knees. “… I can’t lose anyone else… I just can’t… I’m not strong enough…”

Dogma kneels next to his Captain.

“We’re with you Rex.” He says softly. Dogma cautiously puts a hand on Rex’s shoulder. Rex feels all the weight of his guilt and pain over the years of the Clone Wars wash over him. All the emotions he’s been bottling up pours out. For what would be the second time in his life he breaks out in tears. But this time in hopeless sobs. He covers his eyes trying to hide his crying face. Embarrassed to show emotion as he were a Jedi himself. Denal, Echo, Hardcase, Tup, Fives, Kix, Jesse, Cody, General Skywalker, Ahsoka, and now Avayla. His list keeps growing. His fault. All of them.

“I shouldn’t be a leader… I’ll just lead you to your deaths.” He says dropping his head. Dogma looks to Slick desperate for some guidance on what to do. Slick was as shocked and lost as he was. They had never seen Rex like this. Slick had never thought Rex could be like this. So they do the only thing they can think of. The sit on the ground with Rex between them. They listen to the birds chirp overhead as the trees sway with the warm breeze. Dogma shift wincing at his arm while chewing on his bottom lip.

“Do you know,” Dogma starts with a small voice. He swallows trying to muster to strength to keep going. “Do you know I was originally assigned to the 212th?”

When Rex doesn’t answer he goes on.

“Yeah, it seemed like a no brainer to me and everyone else. They thought I would do great with a Commander like Cody and General like Obi Wan Kenobi. But at the last second I put in a request for the 501st. Do you know why?” Dogma glances at Rex. He sits silently staring at the ground. “It was because of you.”

Rex gives a snort and turns his head away from Dogma.

“It’s true. You were unlike any Captain, Commander, or General I had ever seen. You didn’t just lead your men you… were one of the men. You treated everyone like a person. You only called them by their name not their numbers. When clones came to you without names you helped them pick one. And more then that your strategies and battle plans were brilliant! I was with Tup when I was putting in my recommendation. We both said we’d give anything to fight beside you.” Dogma explains. Rex presses his lips together with tears blurring his vision again. “We never had a father or even a father figure, but I think if we did. It was you. More clones looked up to you then you know.”

Rex swallows the knot in his throat and finally lifts his eyes to Dogma.

“I’m sorry for everything that happened to you.” He says with a shaky voice. Dogme puts a hand on Rex’s shoulder.

“What happened to me wasn’t your fault. What happened to all clones isn’t your fault.” Dogma says sternly.

“But I could have…”

“Rex, even if you could have done something the only thing that might have happened from it was your death. And for one I’m really happy you survived.” Dogma says cutting Rex off. Rex nods slowly before staring at the ground again.

“What happened to all the clones?” Slick asks. Rex stiffens before he and Dogma exchange a look.

“Nothing.” Dogma says slowly. He wobbly gets to his feet before extending a hand down to Rex. Rex takes it letting his brother help him up.

“Thank you, Dogma.” Rex says placing a hand on Dogma’s shoulder. They smile at each other while Slick gets to his feet.

“So, now that everything is back to normal… where are we going?” Slick asks. Rex places a hand on Slick’s shoulder giving smile.

“First stop is a medical ship.” He says with a sinister smile.

“Right… for Dogma’s broken arm.” Slick says while staring at Rex’s hand. Dogma places his good hand on Slick’s other shoulder.

“Right. My broken arm.” He says giving the same smile that Rex gives.

“Why are you both looking at me like that?” Slick asks flatly. Rex turns towards where their ship is parked.

“Come on Slick.” Rex chuckles while walking away.

“Seriously, Dogma, why were y’all smiling at me like that?” Slick asks.

“Oh no reason,” Dogma says while walking after Rex before turning around walking backwards. “But how do you feel about being bald for a while?”

“What does that mean? Seriously. Guys!” Slick calls after them.

#au clone wars #moving on #fanfic #fanfiction #writers on tumblr #rex #oc character #dogma #slick #clone trooper dogma #darth maul #star wars #star wars the clone wars #the clone wars #tcw #star wars prequals

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booksforevermore13 · 3 years

Text

Sherry Lips and Crystal Stars (Part II)

Summary: 'So, when they break away, and he looks at her, green to brown, she knows that he's the one. That in the end, he had always been the one.'

Ginny Weasley works on a strict owe-to-owe basis, but it's one person she can never fully repay. And she's always running from him. Always. Until Kaz Brekker needs her to recruit him for a highly coveted kidnapping.

Again, no knowledge of Shadow and Bone is required to read this :)

Part I is here.

Read it on Fanfiction or AO3 if you prefer!

...

PART II

"Harry," she calls. "Harry, we need to go."

"No."

She turns, impatient, annoyed, irritated that he's stopped her just when they're just a metre away from the finishing line.

"What the hell do you mean by no?"

"You're not going with me, Gin," he says and frowns. "I'm sorry, Ginevra, Ginny…I-I can't let you come with me."

Her anger flares up at that, part of it because time's running out, and the other part because it's been years since she's been the girl who's stayed back and watched. Watched while everyone around her died. She's not about to bring that girl back anytime soon.

He doesn't have a right. He had absolutely no right telling her what she could or could not do.

"You don't get to tell me that," she scoffs and she's trying so hard to not yell, scream, curse at him. "You don't get to do that anymore."

"Do what?"

It's not the Harry she's used to, the Harry who doesn't fight back, who lets her do whatever the hell she wants. In a way, he's always done that.

"This," she points at her, then at him. "This, this whatever complex you have, to save me, to be the hero, I don't care about that, I don't give a shit about that, because I'm going to do whatever I damn well want to. And because I can."

"Hero? No-what, I," he stammered, "this is too dangerous, and I-I can't let you, you need y=to understand, Gin-"

"I don't understand. But what I do, is that, I'm not weak Ginny Weasley anymore, not the girl that needs protecting." She scoffs and steps forward. "I could kill you and no one would ever know."

She's saying whatever's coming to her mind, whatever crazy, pent-up thought she's thought of while alone with only herself as company, whatever pathetic, petty threat that's coming to her mind now and she doesn't know if it's her speaking or just that sick part of her telling her to hurt the boy who's only ever cared.

"Why don't you then?" he asks, and even though his face gives nothing away, it's his eyes that tells her he's hurt.

Ginny glares at him, for she doesn't know. If it had been anyone else, she'd have done it. But she can't kill him. Not because of the deal, but because she… she didn't know.

"I," she grits, "I hate you." It's her anger which fuels her as she cracks the wall, and she uses it, channels it, until she feels that familiar pull in her gut, and she knows it's close. It's that one brick she focuses on, and when she finds it, she wills it to break.

Ginny feels Harry's arm over her, pulling her towards the ground as the wall over them explodes into a thousand tiny million pieces.

She's up in a flash, and Harry's right behind her, and when she sees the first guard, it's Harry who acts first.

His fingers flick, and they hear the guard fall to the floor as they rush inside, through the rubble. It doesn't take them long to figure that they're surrounded, but they'd expected it. Planned for it.

But the only thing she's set on about is killing the man who had killed her.

Ginny hears a crazed cackle and turns around, and almost all out of a sudden, she feels her throat closing up, and it's unnatural, caused, and she gasps, her fingers clawing at her throat, gasping for air, and through blurry eyes, she can see, no, hear a woman laughing. Ginny hears Harry calling her name from behind her, but he's in a fight of his own.

She yells now, an animalistic roar, and it's sickening when she hears the ceiling crack, and relieving when the ceiling gives away. She gasps, falling to the floor as the ceiling falls in over the woman. She can breathe, she can, and when she hears Harry, calling her name again, she answers back.

"I'm fine."

Her nose feels wet, her mouth is filled with the taste of blood, and she has no idea if it's her own. But she keeps moving, her wrist snapping in harmony with the rubble.

And when she feels she's run out, she takes out her pistols, and they feel comforting against her palms, familiar, and when the revolver clicks into place, the familiar jerk backwards fills her with a sense of adrenaline she had run out of.

"Go," she shouts at Harry, and she curses when he keeps on fighting, ignoring her, as he flicked his fingers and stopped yet another man's heart.

"Go," she yells again. "For once in your life Harry, trust me and go!"

He doesn't look at her, but she knows he's listening. And then he's running, and she's glad he's decided to. It's one step in the right direction. To what, she didn't know.

Ginny doesn't know how long she keeps fighting, how long her bullets find aim, how long it's been since she'd run out of bullets, and she's coughing, struggling to breathe and she's tripping over wires, over broken bricks, parts of the wall.

Her limbs ache, her head's spinning, and she's running out of air. Blood's dripping down her nose, over her hands. They'd got her, but while fighting, she hadn't noticed. She's in pain, but she doesn't know if that's a good thing or a bad.

The pistol falls out of her hand, and her knees buckle when she sees him. Running. Fleeing.

It's the last guard she sees, but it's one she knows. It's one she's wanted to kill.

And kill she was going to.

She doesn't use the rubble, doesn't use her powers. For him, she stumbles forward, the Wraith's knife in hand. It's the first time she's taken it out, and she's kept it away, for him. For the Worm who'd killed her parents. For the Worm who'd destroyed her life.

He doesn't have time to run before the knife's lodged in his skull, and then it's out again, back in his heart and out again. She wishes she could do more, but her body's done. It's given up.

"I hope Marya," she gasps out, "sees you in," she falls, "in hell."

And as her eyes close, she wonders if she'd see her too.

vi.

"Let me down."

Her left side fires up as she tries to move, an action that only results with him tightening his hold on her. Ginny grunts, glaring up at Harry.

"I said, let me down."

He ignores her, and in a fit of anger, she slaps him, regretting it soon after, for it's her right side aching now. Harry looks down at her, and his eyes, this time, are clouded with anger, and for a moment there, Ginny realizes that if he wanted to, he could very well snap her spine before she knew it.

Leave her to die.

He'd be doing her a favour.

But he only adjusts his grip on her, taking the weight of her right side. "I don't get you," he mumbles, and his hands are careful as they slowly lower her to the ground. She grunts as her sides collide with the hard floor and pain shoots up her ribs, spreading to her chest, her arms. She feels Harry lifting her up again, and tries to glare at him, but this time, she's too weak to do so.

Ginny struggles as Harry gently pats her sides, even though his hands cause her no added pain. But she couldn't let him help her again, couldn't let him save her again.

"Can you stop doing that?" he barks, and his voice is rough, commanding, nothing like she'd heard before.

"No."

"Well, if you don't, your ribs might just rupture your lungs," he said, and Ginny frowns, freeing her hand and feeling up her sides.

To his credit, he's right, and a fresh wave of pain wracks through her body and she gasps as her hand falls limply by her body.

"Hey, hey," he lifts up her chin, her concerned green ones peering into her own. "Don't die on me, okay? Don't do it."

"At least then you'll be done with me," she gasps out and she can't bring herself to slap his hand away from her face. His hand is soft against his cheek, warm. Feels like home.

No.

It's his eyes which catch her attention for it's not concern that's shrouding them, like what was typical of him, it's anger.

"There's something very wrong with you."

"Tell me about it."

"Why are you so against me helping you?" he asks, and if she hadn't spent the last few years asking herself that very question, she would have not known the answer. So, this time, when she hears the question, said out loud, she ignores the red cuts littering his face, the bruises on his arm, brushes away her concern for him, and answers him, like she had answered herself, ages ago.

"Because you saved me," she says and she feels her eyes burning, just like everything else in her body. "Because you keep saving me over and over again – "

"I am allowed to save you. I am allowed to save you as many times as you need it," he roars. She feels something wet slide down her cheek, and realizes it's one of her tears. For the first time in a long time, Ginny struggles to keep the rest in place.

"Well, maybe," she says, and she hasn't ever hated herself more. "I don't want you to."

Harry looks away, and then he's squatting and picking her up again.

"What-what're you doing?"

He doesn't answer, and she doesn't have the energy to ask him the same question again.

Ginny lets her head fall back, and when she feels Harry going, she looks up to see a ramp.

"A ship?"

"A deal's a deal."

And perhaps, it's that statement that makes her head fall back again, because in the end, she knows that they were after all, just part of a deal.

vii.

The next time something wakes her up, it's the familiar lulling of the waves and the splash of the water against the ship's hull that does.

She's burning and the pain in her ribs and sides have lessened to a roaring hum. It's better than it was before, but it still hurts.

Ginny groans as she gets up, and in the dark, she can see Harry sleeping next to her in a chair, and just slightly stirring in his sleep.

It's the familiarity of the situation that overcomes her, and perhaps, his sleeping figure. Tousled raven hair, his hand keeping his head in place, his glasses a bit lopsided. But it's mostly because for a second, she feels that the Ginny she knew had come back.

"Go back to sleep," she whispers. His eyes snap open instead, and once again, he's alert.

"How do you feel?" he asks, and unconsciously, she gives him a once over for injuries. She knows he can handle himself, but even so, she can't help but look.

"Fine."

"I know, for a fact, that you're not 'fine'," he says, and she shakes her head, laughing slightly.

"You act as if you've figured me out, but you really haven't," she says, "I'm fine."

"Why do you keep lying to me?"

She doesn't answer, and he sighs, as if he hadn't expected her to. She's disappointed, hurt, and she doesn't know why, and when he checks her side again, it's not the first time she realizes he's only ever cared.

In all sincerity, he always has, even after his parents were killed, even when hers were too. He's always just been there, and she thinks that perhaps, she'd not been running from him, she'd been running from her.

"Why do you keep doing this?" she whispers to him, as he gently lifts her shirt to check underneath the bandage. He's never given a reason, not once.

Harry looks up at her at that, and it's only now she's realising how close they are. Once, she had been taller than him, but that had been forever ago.

"They need me up there," he whispers back, and then he's gone, her bandages in place, her shirt pulled down to her waist.

Or perhaps, she hadn't been running from her or him, she had been running from both of them.

viii.

When the ship stops, he comes back again. Ginny's awake, she's been awake for the past hour, going in and out of consciousness. It's the sound of the Volcra that keeps her up, but because she's been lying so alert, she knows that none of them actually come near the ship.

Once, she'd considered going up above deck, and she had very nearly done so, before she'd realized that her going up there would just make her a liability, much less an asset.

It's why they travel without Fabrikators. One: because they make too much noise and two: because they can't kill Volcra unless it's with part of the boat.

It's a wonder how Harry's managed to smuggle her in, that too, with her identity kept secret, but she supposes, it's what one got with killing a mercher with influence, one who had left people in debts for decades, adding interest at a rate considered impossible to wipe off the records.

This time, when he comes back and offers his hand to her, she takes it, but doesn't know why.

He's there when her knees buckle upon contact with land, and he's there by her side, every time she winces in pain.

Ginny feels guilty he has to do this, look after her, when they could be doing so much more but it's the thought that they'd never have to meet again after this, that keeps her going.

But it's the same thought which makes her heart clench, and her throat jam up.

It's terrifying.

"What's next?" Harry asks when they are a few hundred metres away from the ship. She's insisted on walking, even though every time she steps forward, her right side fires up.

"We meet up with Brekker and his girl."

"Where?"

"The cemetery."

She remembers her promise to her. Inej's knife is tucked in underneath her belt, the blood cleaned from it.

Ginny feels Harry's hand on the small of her back, steering her away from the crowd and she looks up at him, an eyebrow raised.

"I don't know the full story yet," he explains as the Cemetery comes into sight. For a second, she's surprised yet again at how trusting he could be, choosing to follow her, even when he didn't know what was happening.

She doesn't know if she should be furious or grateful.

"What do you think?" she says. "It's Brekker."

"He wants our help stealing something."

She laughs, for when said like that, it sounded ridiculous. Or perhaps, it's just her nerves acting up, or her going barmy. She wonders how he'd react when she tells him what happens next.

"We're going to break into the Little Palace."

"Oh. Hang on. We're going to break into….," he stops, grasps her upper-arm, keeps her in place. "What?"

Ginny laughs and then covers her mouth. "Sorry, it's just," she snorts. "I'd expected that."

"Why are we going to break into the most guarded place in Ravka?" he hisses.

"To kidnap the Sun Summoner."

"What?"

She realizes they'd never really discussed this new buzzing area of interest, one she'd done with Kaz. Them two had shared the same equation; they both didn't believe, but maybe Harry did.

"Gin," Harry says, and she felt she needed to laugh again, by the panic in his eyes. He'd killed the one of the most influential merchers in the land, but it didn't make him any less shocked. But what surprised her was the fact that her name, it didn't bother her anymore. "Sorry, Ginny," and her face falls again, "just….how does he expect us to do that?"

"We're the backup plan."

"We're the what?"

"He'll explain," she says, and she begins pulling him to the cemetery. He's stumbling behind her, and she knows that there's a thousand different possibilities going through his head now, but it was unlikely he'd arrive at the right one.

After all, it was Kaz.

When they reach there, they are the first ones to. Kaz is nowhere in sight. Ginny can't help but worry, for she knows he's travelling with a bunch madder than hers truly, and can't help but wonder if they'd well, died.

"I can't think of anything," Harry admits, and she laughs. Ungraciously (and disrespectfully), she sits atop a white slab, completely and utterly mindful of the fact that there might be a rotting corpse beneath it.

It's crude, but she doesn't care. The man, no, the woman, was dead, and she might have liked her when she was alive, but she was dead.

Harry raises an elegant eyebrow at her, and she shrugs, offering her a place beside her.

"It's either you sit, or you do whatever you're doing right now."

He shakes his head in exasperation, hesitates and then takes the seat.

"Can't always be chivalrous now, can we?" she teases lightly and he smiles.

"I'm sitting on the grave of a dead man…..woman, I think chivalrous is a bit far-fetched."

"Oh, I beg to differ."

She can't think of anything more to say, so she stays silent, hoping he'd continue talking. But he doesn't, and she's disappointed, because oddly, she just really wants to talk.

And then he does.

"Do you?" he asks and she looks at him, and he continues. "Do you hate me?"

And then she's back in her sorry corner of the world, wondering how the hell she should answer that.

"I…." she admits, "I don't think so."

And then, because she wants to keep talking, she asks. "Do you?"

When Harry looks at her, his eyes shining with sorrow, she wonders if he'd say yes. She wouldn't blame him.

But when he finally speaks, she feels that hating her would have been easier to face. "No," he says, "I don't hate you. I just hate that after all this, you're still trying to lie to me."

"Y-you think I'm lying to you about hating you?"

"No. But you lie about a lot of things.

Ginny can't help but look away. She couldn't bear looking at him.

"What-what happened between us?"

We grew apart, she wants to say.

We grew apart, so that I couldn't get close to you, so that I couldn't get hurt when you decide to leave me. When you die.

But that last part? She couldn't even begin to think that without screaming at someone.

"We grew apart," she finally says but she leaves out the rest, her voice cold, unforgiving. "And at this point, I'm glad."

He doesn't react to that, but then after a while, he says. "You're lying again."

She doesn't look at him, because he's right, she is lying and it…hurts. Ginny keeps her eyes on the roses growing by them and then feels his finger gently cupping her chin, lifting her face to face his. She doesn't struggle, but she's taken aback by the ferocity in his eyes, waves bashing against the rocks.

"This will be the last time you lie to me."

And it's once again her eyes burn with unshed tears, and she suddenly knows why she hates him.

It's because he keeps making her feel like this.

Ginny clears her throat, gets up, and she's not facing him when they hear footsteps. When she turns around, it's Kaz, arriving too late to be considered passable.

"Where's Inej?" she asks, relieved they'd made it here in one piece.

"Where's her knife?"

She's passing it over to him before he has even finished his question. Ginny's aware of Harry standing behind her, and even more so when Kaz's eyes travel up to him.

"Potter."

"Brekker."

It's a bare acknowledgement, but at the moment, that's all they have time for.

"I trust you've told him everything he needs to know."

Ginny nods.

"Then you two are going to play a game of Quidditch."

#fanfiction #hinny fanfiction #harry/ginny #romance #angst #fluff #crime #adventure #murder #Sherry Lips and Crystal Stars Part II #Shadow and Bone AU #Heartrender Harry Potter #Materialki Ginny Weasley #Ginny Weasley POV #kaz brekker #inej ghafa

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ahatintimestorybook · 3 years

Text

Eclipse Chap.3-Two Unlikely Heroes

Hello!

So I took a bit of a break after finishing one of my other stories, A Royal Problem. A ton of personal stuff happened that just pushed my mental health down the rabbit hole and I needed a break from writing for a bit.

After some relaxing and such, I’m feeling better and back to updating.

Hope you enjoy this brand new chapter!!

Ever since what happened with Hat Kid, her ship was left abandoned. Everything was right where she left it, except all the lights were off. Two beams of purple light glowed as two figures teleported onto the ship. “What happened here?” A young boy asked. The figures looked around the ship, but couldn’t find Hat Kid in sight.

“I don’t know.” The girl asked. “Let’s just find Hat Kid and go.” The two kids looked around the dark spaceship hoping they could find Hat Kid or to switch on the power. As they searched the ship, one of the kids found the switch and tried to turn it on, but even when she did the lights didn’t turn back on. “Well, power is out.” She sighed. “Have you found Hat yet?”

The young boy shook his head as he tried knocking on the door. “Hat, it’s us! Let us in!” He yelled. The two kids looked around the dark spaceship hoping they could find Hat Kid or to switch on the power. Hearing there was no reply he shrugged at the girl.

The young girl groaned as she went over to the door to see if she could get a hold of Hat Kid herself. Just as she was walking towards the door she paused as she saw out the window. The young girl ran towards the window as her eyes widened at what she saw.

“Timmy. You gotta come see this.” The young girl said.

Timmy, the young boy walked over to the window and saw himself and gasped. The two kids looked at one another and nodded knowing Hat Kid is in trouble or caused the trouble.

Meanwhile, back in the cellar. Snatcher struggled to break free from his chains, but no luck. He kicked the wall in frustration and sighed.

“Didnt you forget that those chains kept you locked up tight.”

Snatcher gasped recognizing that voice. He turned to see Vanessa, back to normal in her beautiful green diamond dress, and her bright blonde, though a little messy blonde hair. She was chained up just like him. “V-Vanessa?”

“Yeah. Can’t believe you forgot about me. Your princess. Your one true love.” She groaned.

Snatcher growled. She still thinks he still loved her? “I forgot about you because of what you did to me!” He snapped back.

Vanessa scoffed. “What about what you did to me?” She replied. “You cheated on me with that…that flower girl!”

“I told you for the hundredth time I didn’t cheat on her! I bought flowers from her to give to you!” He yelled.

“That’s what they all say.” Vanessa mumbled.

Snatcher’s eyes widened as he heard what she said. “Excuse me!” He yelled.

“Well it’s true.”

Snatcher glared knowing that was the last straw in this argument. “Listen here you-“ soon the prince got interrupted hearing someone walking inside the manor. The royals went silent for a while until the noise died down. They both sighed, but this interruption caused Snatcher to calm down a bit.

It went silent in the cell again, until Vanessa struggled to get herself free from the chains using her ice powers, but no ice was forming on the chains. She then gave up and was already exhausted from trying to use her ice powers.

Not wanting her to force herself, Snatcher decided to try using his fire magic to see if he can free himself. “Don’t worry I’ve been arrested before. I’ll get us out of this.” He told her. Snatcher tried to see if his fire magic could free him, but no amount of fire was coming from his hands. Seeing he too had no magic he gave up himself. “What happened to our magic?”

“I don’t know? That brat of yours was the reason we’re locked up here and we’re magic-less!” Vanessa snapped. That yell was then replied with someone unlocking the door and the shadow of a child walking down stairs.

“Hey brat!” Vanessa shouted. “Mind telling us what you're doing?!” The queen wondered if this was Hat Kid just coming down to mock them. No one responded except for the footsteps coming down the stairs.

However, to the royal ex’s surprise it wasn’t Hat Kid, but two kids who Snatcher and Vanessa didn’t recognize. Also known as the kids who were on Hat Kid’s ship earlier.

The girl had dark skin and deep dark curly brown hair tied with a blue ribbon and round large dark blue glasses over her purple eyes. She wore a green sweater over a white blouse and a blue skirt with black boots.

The boy had blue markings over his face, purple eyes as well, and had black spiky hair. He wore an orange sweater over a white t-shirt, black jeans and red and white sneakers.

“Who are you?” Snatcher asked. He eyed the kids, and while they didn’t look like Hat Kid, he could sense that they knew her somehow.

“Hi I’m Bow and this is Timmy.” The girl introduced. As Timmy was introduced he waved back at the royals. “We’re here to look for Hat Kid. Have any idea what happened here?” She asked.

Snatcher sighed and glared knowing his instinct was right all along. “Look, the kid went rogue and locked us up in here, if you two know anything about where she is, or if you knew about this! You better explain-”

“We would like to know ourselves.” Timmy replied, cutting Snatcher off.

Snatcher blinked and loosened his glare. He remembered that Hat Kid turned against him, but these two kids didn’t know what happened to the kid. “While we were looking for Hat Kid, we saw the disaster that has befallen this planet.” Bow Kid started.

“W-what happened?” Vanessa asked.

Bow Kid didn’t reply and just pulled a key from her pockets. They key unlocked the chains and freed Snatcher and Vanessa from them. The two royals rubbed their hands finally free from the pain of the chains.

Snatcher then turned to Vanessa and was surprised to see her free as well. “Why save her?” He asked.

“We need you two.” Timmy replied.

“For what?”

“I think it’s best if we show you, ourselves.” With that said, Bow then teleported the four of them back on Hat Kid’s ship. Once back on Hat Kid’s ship Bow and Timmy pointed at the window to let Snatcher and Vanessa see to themselves what happened to the planet.

Snatcher and Vanessa walked towards the window and gasped at the sight of the planet. The entire planet was a faded grey with clouds covering most of the places like Subcon and Mafia Town.

“W-what happened to the planet?” Snatcher asked, seeing the once colorful planet becoming nothing but a dull monochrome planet.

“The Time Piece happened.” Timmy answered. Snatcher and Vanessa turned to the boy as they saw him and Bow carry a Time Piece, which was now faded. Snatcher’s eyes widened as he looked at the state the Time Piece was in.

Though it wasn’t too much of a surprise to Snatcher, a Time Piece did this to the planet. A couple months earlier, the kid’s former friend Mustache Girl used the Time Piece on the planet and it became a lava pit. Now Hat Kid did the same thing, only this time the planet looked grey and cloudy.

“Great.” Snatcher sighed seeing now the planet is put into danger again thanks to the Time Pieces.

Bow then continued on about the Time Piece. “From what we know, Hat Kid somehow drained the energy of the Time Piece causing the planet’s time to stop.”

“How does that happen?” Snatcher asked.

Bow sighed and shook her head. “That we don’t know. There’s a lot about Time Pieces other than breaking them, and using them for fuel for a spaceship.”

Snatcher sighed, as the guilt started to slowly catch up to him. He didn’t expect Hat Kid to turn evil and stop time on the planet. The entire incident played in his head as he remembered seeing Hat Kid crying, her running off, and the transformation Hat Kid went through.

Bow and Timmy looked at one another realizing that the prince knew something they didn’t know. “Mister?” Bow asked, catching Snatcher’s attention. “Do you know something about this?”

The prince wanted to keep quiet, and not say it was his fault. However, keeping this quiet would do more harm than good. “I do.” He replied.

#ahit au #Eclipse AU #ahit the prince #snatcher #queen vanessa #bow kid #ahit timmy #ahit fanfic

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swtorramblings · 3 years

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Empress V!

Probably the last one of this particular thread, but you never know. V’lerian has broken the holocron (link) that contained Vaylin’s spirit, and now continues her plan.

V’lerian continued to expend herself, forcing more and more energy into what had been released, forming a nexus of forces over the ancient ruins before her. She began to tire, and, shuddering, redoubled her effort, willing herself to stand firm. Her hands shook, enraging her, hating herself for her weakness, which paradoxically fueled her strength.

Finally, though, even her will was no longer enough to continue. She fell to her knees, knowing, hoping she had done all she could. From here on, it was out of her hands.

She watched as the roiling mass of darkness and light she had helped create hovered there for almost a full hour, occasional eruptions of electricity striking the ground. The roar from it was almost deafening.

As she watched, all of that power was slowly drained away, until all that was left was a star-filled sky. And silence. Minutes passed, and she knew they had failed. Tears fell, tears of exhaustion, she told herself. She was too numb now to rage against her failure. Against how unfair it was.

Some would say that at least she was finally at peace. V’lerian knew better. Peace was a lie.

She stood, composed herself, and prepared to return to the ship and leave, when the ground lurched beneath her. And again, and as it repeated, she realized it was keeping time.

She rolled her eyes, saying, “Just what I need.”

Still, in spite of her words, she smiled weakly. This could only mean they’d done it, after all.

Suddenly, a horde of creatures spilled out of the nearest cavern. Dozens were enormous, the size of rancor, but a few hundred more were smaller, scattering in all directions, screeching, squawking, crying out with countless voices, but all keeping time with the beat set by the tremors.

They were followed by Esh-ka in a marching formation, banners flared, some playing strange instruments she had never seen. She was of the old Sith, she should know better than to think any sentient species was universally what others thought of them, but seeing them like this still shocked her for a moment. She wouldn’t call the music beautiful, it was simply too alien to her ears, but it was catchy.

Vaylin appeared, smiling, almost radiant with power and life, riding a beast still greater than the ones surrounding her. She caught V’lerian’s eye and waved, then threw her head back and laughed, the sound lost in the tumult.

Finally, the image of Ashaa materialized, the architect of this event, towering over everything else, leading the way. The Mother Machine seemed very pleased with her work, and gestured to the Esh-ka to begin what V’lerian had been dreading.

The singing.

To the tune of Prince Ali, Disney’s Aladdin.

Esh-ka: Reborn, Empress Vaylin! Reformed, Empress Vaylin!

Ashaa: She’s left behind so many deep scars She tried to deny, She has come so far. And she Is the one that you felt you had to kill. And then, came to me! Her life was your plea I think you love her still! Empress V, powerful she, High Justice Vaylin Do not kneel, it simply feels Grotesque to see. Now, there is no need to fear I know her former career But now returned she’s become your votary! Empress V, alive is she, High Justice Vaylin Lifted Knights into the air, some fatally She’s faced both Jedi and Sith Along with her own kin and kith It went bad so who’s she now with? It’s you and she.

Esh-ka: Her rage has been turned to eleven (Ashaa sees Vaylin’s expression and says, “Twenty-two is a much better setting.”) Power level, a million and three (Ashaa breaks in again, saying, “A million and six.”)

Ashaa: She was once all at sixes and sevens But she’s better now

All, including the various creatures in addition to the Esh-ka: We’ll tell you how, care and compassion was the key! (Switch to V’lerian rolling her eyes but still with a goofy smile)

Ashaa: Empress V, and not just she, High Justice Vaylin More will serve, as you deserve You set me free! So come inspect new allies I think you’ll find they’re a prize They’ve volunteered to serve both you and Empress V.

Esh-ka: You have the marching Esh-ka musicians (They can also fight, they can really fight) And smart, amphibious opee (They’re enormous, so enormous) Your new troops will bring enemies unease (Proud to do it too) She can guide them all, and have a ball They're just lousy with loyalty to our V! Empress V!

Ashaa: Empress V, happy is she, High Justice Vaylin You gave the princess a choice, beautifully. And that, good people, is why She came back to life and dropped by

All: With sixty great rancors, wampas galore And dewbacks and tauntauns, loth both cats and wolves, And forty anoobas, ronto, a few porgs, Ysalamiri that turn the Force off on key Make way for Empress V!

As the last notes played, Vaylin leaped from the back of her monstrous mount, trailing lightning, doing a half dozen flips in midair, and landed in front of V’lerian. She grabbed the Sith in a hug and spun around with her for a few moments before composing herself and setting Nox back on the ground.

Then she grinned. “That felt lovely.”

#V'lerian (oc)#Vaylin #Ashaa #DisneyMadness #knightsadisneymusical #tirall tuesday

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