there should be an oscar category called “movie my dad completed without falling asleep on the couch” and it’s more prestigious and contentious than best picture

I watched the Netflix Avatar the Laster Airbender series and wrote down all my thoughts.

Overall: 6/10

I think the casting was good, the effects were impressive, the costumes and sets overall looked great. I can believe that someone at least skimmed the source material.

The story seems weirdly rushed and really slow in odd parts? I didn’t want a shot for shot remake of the show, but it’s, we’ll say

/interesting/ to learn what Netflix has decided are important pieces of story they want to draw out and which characters are given spotlight.

From a story perspective, it feels like they took someone who saw the animated series several years ago and asked them to retell the story from memory. There’s a lot of recognizable content for fans but it does feel disjointed because of which stories they chose to combine.

Thoughts below the thing. No context given, spoilers but I don’t think they make much sense. If I spelled anything wrong, it’s speech to text and I barely proof read

Why are they excited to see him do that? They are also Airbenders.

Do they not have sky bison?

Okay I actually like Gyatzo and Aangs dynamic

How long until the comet comes this is awfully close

Man really trying to shove character into exposition here

Good tension

She should have kept fighting with him

That actually sounded pretty convincing

Little early to be spouting that kind of wisdom Iroh

Why are they having? Why are they saying this? Why put it directly into the script you already had your opening?

It’s kind of sad that they took this realization from Kara

It’s kind of sad that they had to steam roll Aangs optimism about this kind of stuff for the sake of time

really took away the heaviness of the fire nation boat, especially when it’s Katara‘s hideout now and not fully forbidden

Love that they wanted to do over on the waters sphere from the first live action

Well, it’s been like 30 seconds and you didn’t really wanna make a lot of chitchat

I like the effects they’re very good

I’m kind of sad they’re forced to exposition a lot of this. I feel like a lot of it. It would be really good to get this kind of slower but again I get it.

OK, he is a prisoner and you suspect that he will be brutally tortured. This is too casual.

OK, I think he’d probably noticed that he was literally working on it

Interesting they had him talk himself down instead of Katara

Way to… “things happen for a reason Katara”

Hey that was a joke

What an odd way to turn around. But we are getting a sense of Zuko’s youngness?

He just rode off on a sky bison. What are you talking about?

So they don’t have a plan anymore. Their original thing was that they were going to go to the northern water tribe so Aang could learn water bending with Kotara and Kiyoshi was a stop on the way.

Though they did get lost

It’s like they’re trying to make jokes With Sokka, but it’s not working

OK, well I guess we’re not getting the pirate episode

Interesting they just came back on for information instead of a destroyed boat

Zuko was excellently cast

Well, there’s a remnants of the misogyny they forgot to scrub

The Kyoshi warrior uniforms look really good

Did they remove Suki as the leader of the Koshi Warriors?

I don’t know how to feel about Suki

And I don’t know how to feel about the interaction either because 1/2 of it was flirting

Why? how is this a good cover?

If that’s your cover, Iroh should’ve been the one to ask

Man, they really did just put themselves on the sus list

This is very nitpicky, but I kind of wish that he was excited to learn from her

I know it’s not just I don’t wanna learn from her, but it’s kind of sad because he was very much excited to learn from her

OK, well they’re gonna keep using his air bending as like levitation so we’ll see how useful this ends up being in this version

Well, just kind of takes the wind out of Suki because she’s not really proud to be where she is

They kinda gave her the I want more role, which is fine, but a big part of her is her being incredibly proud of who she is and what she’s done

God she’s trying to impress him

This is an interesting take on his peer’s perception of him

Oh, is this a mix from the avatar day episode too?

I can’t remember how he learned that in the show.

What does this random guy know that?

Oh, this is the “she teaches him and he’s immediately better than her and then she becomes his sidekick” trope

Oh, they really sped run this control over going the spirit world

Does he know her name yet?

They really nuked Suki.

Wait are you telling me that was the avatar state?

Kyoshi was more chill in the series. Or I guess more level headed

I guess that’s on par with what Kyoshi was

They moved Katara protecting Aang and while he’s in the avatar state from the northern water tribe episode

Are they gonna try and do it again later?

So much for sacrifice, Aang doesn’t even want to leave.

I guess he did have a good few love interests but they really playing it up

Oh, and also training water bending like it’s the second thought or something

What was Zuko about to say?

They making him seem larger and intimidating

It’s the honor student

Is that Azula?

Is this foreshadowing ba sing se that I see?

I didn’t expect Ozai to wanna get his hands dirty so soon

I guess this is how they convey the propaganda parts of the fire nation

I don’t know who he’s referring to when he says that.

He’s talking about Zuko

Were they not able to recognize her with her hair up?

So do they know already?

Well, actually, you asked him to catch the avatar and he hasn’t done that yet

I don’t like Aang and Katar‘s dynamic yet

Did he already know water bending because he’s kind of teaching her?

I think the creators forgot that we are also supposed to laugh at Sokka instead of Aang and Katara just doing that

Is this jet?

Okay well there goes that plot thread

New Azula seems really outwardly insecure

That shot lasted for way too long. You should’ve cut it.

Wait a minute they’re doing the secret tunnel

So what are they trying to do with a blimp?

Because cabbage man is so iconic

Does she know who she is? I don’t think he saw her.

The fighting sequences look OK

Oh man, they really over blew that one

I don’t know what storyline they’re taking this from

But they were looking for a fire bender, a thing that he definitely isn’t

Are they doing the blue spirit?

Where is Katara?

Why? what?

Hey, Flopsy!

OK, well no mystery with Bumi then

OK, well he’s a different kind of crazy now

Is Bumi jealous of him?

It sounds like you have too Aang

Do we get the secret tunnel song?

The subtitles suggest that both Oma and Shu were women and I don’t know if they did that on purpose

Really skipping over the whole journey there I know probably for time but it’s very odd to have someone that is not Katara read it

Oh, it’s this bit. Do you think Zuko’s going to find him with a sandal?

No, just the lotus tile

But he doesn’t know earth bending yet?

Yeah, what is he trying to prove?

Whose characteristics does Bumi have now?

If the traveler knew that, why didn’t they just tell them instead of the stupid hints?

This Katara seems sadder? And I’m not really sure what it’s doing for the story or her character.

Well, that was unnecessary

OK more exposition, it’s fine. We’re eating a broccoli.

He was a general

Really developing Zuko and Irohs past which is touching

Well, he’s already the avatar so that’s not really necessary

Hey, there’s no real reason for that again he’s already the avatar. I don’t really know what point you’re trying to

Wait, so the crystals are fully wrong?

So they wanted both of the reasons that they got out of the cave why not just pick one?

OK, so he’s angry? Why he didn’t really have control over that

Also, I like how Bumi is just fully willing to kill the avatar

Well, at least the fight is familiar to

Already?

I mean, I guess

Are we meeting haibi?

Man, it’s like they sporadically remember he’s supposed to be funny

Well, that’s that reference

Are we getting the blue spirit soon with the archers?

kind of undermining Azula being a prodigy.

Oh well, this is new

Zuko is funnier than Sokka

OK, so they skipped over that episode funny the play did too

Hey, it’s June

Ew? That is the exact exact opposite of how it was but sure

OK, so straight frogs are common

Is that oh? Isn’t he supposed to be in the library?

This Azula is very emotional

It seems like Iroh is the one finding the avatar

I think that was supposed to be funny

Is the fox supposed to be hot for him?

This series is the story of Sokka

You can hardly call them jokes

Oh, I thought Aang was supposed to see the vision of Toph

And we haven’t met Yue yet

So did she just lose her face?

Okay rearranging things, sure

OK, so there goes his credibility

Did they both just lose their faces?

Oh, it’s this storyline now interesting that they splice it in

I don’t know why he thought that would be a good idea. He’s very much in Fire nation territory.

So how does how does she originally do the tracking?

And how do they know the thing they picked up is relevant?

I’m so confused how do you know how to do this also wasn’t it Roku, who was the original one to help him out because he was the avatar before him

And you just stole it for funzies?

Oh, is that guy outside bacon now?

why would you go out that way?

is June going to give him a peptalk?

Who are these guys

And yet you didn’t use them

I can’t believe he’s doing like a customer service survey

Damn shot for shot on this

You stole like 2 pages

Wow exposition exposition

Does Aang still have that totem on him?

Okay that was actually funny

Ozai would never admit to that

Say it louder so everyone knows what zuko did.

I think they’ve used everything around the pirate episode

About 30 seconds

Did they ship in earth benders for her to beat up?

Was as she a bender in the show?

Why didnt they have paku tell her that?

What do much for Yue respecting her duties

Why didn’t he see Kuruk before koh?

I don’t know anything about Kuruk except his wife got face stolen

This is a very odd lesson of “you must walk this journey alone”

Ummm why is this important now?

Why is she telling him this

Uhh what

That’s a bad plan and no well thought out

if that means Azula? They haven’t really shown her to be as one of her main characteristics.

Is he grading her?

Why does she know how to do that?

Who taught her that

I guess i’m glad Sokka is supportive, but I’m kind of upset that she needs that kind of support every 30 seconds or else she can’t function

Well, they really had to tone down this battle

And she just accepts that?

Uh yeah she did loose, it’s fine but she did

That’s great but why though

Uhhh were just gonna say he’s the plan guy?

What thing did he have to do?

More blasting jelly?

Also idk if they made the connection that sai made those. I guess the balloon model

Katara wasn’t even the one to convince him to respect her. She sort of inspired people to do it for her. Kind of

Ummm, he knows she has no war training

Yeah she’s not,

Uhhh it what now?

Wait huh? Is that the story from the series? We learned that from koh

Speak a little faster please

Umm did they just give Irohs speech to Kuruk

I guess they got bored of animating the lemur

Theyre gonna ask the moon spirit to heal a lemur?

Is this supposed to be tense?

Or is this just how we got into the sanctuary

Is that different from your current plan?

So where did her skill come from? We haven’t seen her be taught?

Actually she didn’t, that comment didn’t make any sense

This Ozai yeah

He should totally kill the moon spirit while he’s got it in his hands

These characters really like to talk

Is Aang going to become the moon spirit?

Is this because he doesn’t know how to water bend so it can’t be him doing this?

Well, they really nailed Zuko being a hothead

Does he mean Azula? Who is he talking about?

I’m sure that’s true, but Azula is supposed to be a prodigy

Why not make momo give his life back?

They really said Iroh is a spiritual master and then gave him nothing to do with it

Yeah, a thing he’s not started at all

Man these guys really love the single year down the cheek

Again? Ozai really only tries the “wait what’s that over there” technique

It’s an Ozai sandwich, why did we cut away

DaveFarts - Episode 11 “VoiceFarting” [Episode List] Tim and Adam are hanging out on... Liscord, playing some stuff together, waiting for Dave to join them for a game. When Adam unexpectedly has to leave however, Dave decides to do some… microphone testing.

VoiceFarting

“I’m going in as a mage ‘cause you fuckers can’t cast for shit” I heard Adam say right into my ears.

This was one of our usual game nights. We’d voice chat on Liscord on our own server and all that stuff. Adam was being, for the lack of a better term, kind of bitchy, ‘cause he thinks as himself as the most skilled gamer around even though we’re always reviving his ass. In the end it’s all in good fun of course, but we’d all happily mute him during a match if we could.

“Yes, Adam. Have fun with the ‘easy mode’ character.” I said, deliberately baiting him.

“Listen here you little shit” he immediately blurted “I can accept that you’re gay but I’m not going to accept the fact that you’re a scrub.” he said, obviously joking, though he did take skills seriously during a match.

“Yeah yeah but I’m the one using the axe, fighting enemies face-to-face like a man.” I kept teasing him. “How’s going up there? Still casting light arrows from your safe space?” I cackled.

“Excuse me???” his icon lighting up, the audio clipping “Why don’t we check your stats instead? Too afraid of looking like the scrub you are??? I literally made no mistakes last time.”

“Of course you didn’t: the chance of making mistakes is like 0% when you stand still and far from the battle.”

There was a moment of silence, then I heard Adam’s breath into the mic “You know I know where you live, right?”

I laughed but before I could continue this very deep and mature battle of wits, we both heard the sound notifying us that our bud Dave joined the voice chat. Now, whenever Dave joins, we usually hear every sound except for his voice, so we were ready to have our ears busted because of the noi-

“Hey noobs!” Dave greeted us, with a voice that was instead crystal clear.

“What the hell” both me and Adam said, our avatars lighting up at the same time.

“I see you noticed that you can now hear my beautiful voice perfectly.” he bragged, and rightfully so.

Normally we could hear his PC’s fans, what was going on down the street, cars passing by, atoms crashing into each others… farts. But now it was just Dave with his now-soothing voice calling us names.

“Are you finished?” Adam said.

But there was no response from Dave.

“Did he finally die?” Adam continued.

I heard a faint sigh of relief from Dave and then he went “Yeah, now I’m finished.”

I kind of suspected what happened but I didn’t say a word.

“Wait. You didn’t hear a thing?” Dave asked, puzzled.

Both me and Adam shrugged as if he could see us, but then said that no, we didn’t.

My detective skills told me that my gassy straight bud ripped one of his classic loud farts, but the new microphone had that “background noise reduction” feature (which my friend seriously needed) so it didn’t register his ass-blast as the old one usually did, so much so that Dave’s frequent farts would eventually turn into white noise for the rest of us. But now, his new headset was actually worth the price and all we could hear was indeed his voice.

“Can we just get into the game befo-“ Adam blurted, but was cut off mid-sentence by a loud, ear-piercing sound coming from Dave, though that wasn’t him speaking or screaming.

My fartbro really didn’t want us to miss what his ass is capable of, so we were both startled by a powerful, audio-clipping fart that completely overwhelmed our voice begging him to stop. And he did stop, but only after like 12 seconds. The rip was followed by the sound of Dave re-adjusting his microphone and laughing. “Hopefully you heard that now.” he chuckled.

I did hear it. I was very familiar with it. Truth is that Dave farting during our game sessions wasn’t anything new however. Even I was used to it, though that did pitch a tent in my shorts. I started wondering whether Dave was in jeans, shorts or boxers. Probably the latter, and shirtless, given that it was a warm evening. I tried to not to let my usual simp-ness over my bro take over me but apparently it was already too late, as I didn’t even notice Adam begin pissed off about an unwanted phone call.

“I’m sorry guys, I gotta take this one.” he said, annoyed. “Do not wait for me. Cya tomorrow I guess.”

And logged off, another sound notifying us that he went into the terrible real world realm.

“Alone at last, bro.” Dave said, in a flirty tone, just as Adam left.

I laughed and mindlessly switched to a different, this time single-player game as we needed at least 3 guys to play, one of those brutal action games that I suck at but I have to beat.

Dave did the same, with a similar game, and we both started gaming on our own but keeping each other company, like we usually do, occasionally exchanging opinions on what we were playing and so on.

“It’s probably his ex-girlfriend” Dave said.

“Yeah. I figured.” I simply answered.

Adam wasn’t really talkative about his personal stuff like me or even Dave, so neither us really knew what was going on. But if our bud didn’t want us to know, not fully know at least, then we respect this decision.

After a couple of more minutes of silence, I heard some sounds coming from Dave. Not a fart, this time though.

“Did you say something?” I asked.

I heard some muffled noises and then Dave’s voice, lower than usual though “I’m just messing with the settings here. I feel like sometimes the volume gets messed up.” and he was right.

“Yeah the audio is kind of low now.” I warned him.

I heard some more noises (keyboard tapping, mouse clicking, etc.) and then I heard him speak again.

Or, to be more precise, he did make a sound with his mouth, though those weren’t words; a loud belch, actually, right into my ears. Dave was more of a farter, but he wasn’t new to wild, incredible burps. I honestly prefer the more disgusting butt explosion, but I still tip my hat at my bro being a masterful air-bender from both ends.

“Yes, I did hear that.” I said, anticipating his question.

He laughed. “Thank you.” he answered, belching both word with care.

A couples of minutes of silence followed, with just me and Dave occasionally chatting but overall trying to be focused on our respective games. My straight bro was however not done with the “testing”.

“Are you hearing this bro?” he suddenly asked, trying not to laugh.

“No…?” I was puzzled.

“Wait. Let me just…”

I heard Dave removing his headset and as it got farther away from his head, a familiar sound got louder and louder instead, until it became unbearable.

“Are you hearing this now?” he shouted, though I could heard him over that sound.

The sound of yet another loud blast of gas, so loud it was glitching the audio. It was long and proud, dry as some of his best rips, and it just wouldn’t stop. The boss I was fighting somehow felt how distracted I was and one-shotted me with a swipe of his flaming sword but I couldn’t even hear any in-game sound ‘cause my straight gassy bro was basically farting right into my ears, albeit indirectly.

I instinctively reached for the pitched tent between my legs as the fart kept going strong and loud, so loud in fact that I had to lower the volume ‘cause my hears were starting to hurt.

After a grand total of 18 seconds, I once again heard Dave putting his headphones back on his head, wondering whether they were radioactive or melting at this point, due to all that poisonous gas.

“I gotta say… the sound quality is pretty spot-on. What headset are you using?” I joked.

Dave chuckled. “The same as yours actually. Thanks for the advice.”

We kept chatting a bit more as if he wasn’t a gassy teasing bastard but since he *is* a gassy teasing bastard I once again heard him, with no warning nor request from me, removing his headphones again and putting them (I assume) closer to the source of his underwear-clad ass.

Unsurprisingly, yet another manly, loud rip blasted through my own headphones right into my eardrums, renewing the hard-on I had only moments before. It sounded like a motorcycle passing by and I could only imagine how badly the stench was in Dave’s room. Lasting around 11 seconds, this time it got dangerously wet-ish towards the end, which I found hilarious but also made me rightfully worried about my bro maybe going a bit too far even for both of our standards.

“Dude.” I said, laughing a bit “You might want to go easy. That sounded risky.”

Dave, being the chill guy he is, just laughed about it. “Don’t worry, dude. I’m an expert.” and he ripped a short toot that was so loud I could even hear it without the microphone going straight into his butt this time.

We then kept gaming a bit more on our own. Dying over and over to that same boss made me think about how chill Dave was being -as usual- about my kink. I mean don’t get me wrong he always farted a lot while voice chatting but this time it was different, as he was now aware of my fetish. And, as always, I really appreciated that, just as I appreciated yet another thunderous blast, one that actually startled me, making me lose YET AGAIN.

“FUCK!” I blurted.

As the fart kept going, Dave moved the microphone closer to his face (but I still could hear the fart going) just to laugh at my gaming skills, completely aware however that his farts were a huge distraction on its own. He then planted the microphone once again in front of his butt and the blast went loud and proud.

“It’s just too easy.” he then chuckled, after finishing ripping that monstrous fart.

It was. I had to pause the game for a couple of minutes to calm down, the tent between my legs going harder and harder. Was Dave aware of this part as well? Of course he was, but he didn’t care. It was just a game for him, and he was constantly proving me how much of a pro gamer he was.

I hope he never gets nerfed.

End of Episode 11

Lesson 52 - Bittersweet Pseudo-Memories

It wasn’t what I wanted, but it was good for what it was?

When we last left our heroes, they were having their intimate moment intruded upon by Big Majestic Chicken Lucifer, who demands to know who they are. You can try to evade the question, but he continues to be an asshole and you have to relent and continue to pretend you and ‘Sully’ are angels. Lucifer pretends to believe you and proceeds to make you do his chores.

Lucifer proceeds to complain about Raphael dumping all his work onto him and Satan implies that Lucifer is letting the other angel bully him... and he’s not actually wrong. I’m not sure why Lucifer just couldn’t say “no” -- it’s not like he isn’t willing to in other contexts.

But Satan also can’t help himself, and it’s very clear early on that Lucifer knows he isn’t an angel. We are escorted to the library to sort books.

NEEEEEEEERD. Satan is a natural librarian, of course.

Lucifer continues to opine about his situation and Satan continues to needle him about it. There’s a cute moment when Lucifer admits there are few angels he can turn to for help or advice, and by contrast he feels Satan might be worth confiding in because he’s a fellow level-headed intellectual.

D’aaaaw. My only complaint is that he doesn’t really do this in the story; it’s only now being brought up for a bonding opportunity. The most we get is acknowledgement that Lucifer has a high opinion of Satan’s wealth of knowledge and expertise... he hasn’t really taken advantage of it. 

It could be because the Avatar of Pride doesn’t feel he needs advice from anyone else.

The book comes up again, but...

It’s used as a trap to capture ‘Sully’ and reveal he is what Lucifer suspected he was: a demon. 

Yeah I did but the game insists I be an unobservant moron for the plot to continue.

In my lesson 51 analysis I theorized the numbers in the title of the mysterious book related to a particular Bible verse meant to encourage believers to keep their faith, and while I can’t be 100% sure that’s what it was meant to allude to, this exchange seems to suggest it could have been. This arc is meant to instill Satan with more faith in Lucifer, because he’s constantly doubting his intent throughout this lesson.

But we discover that Lucifer has changed from who he was before we startled meddling in time travel dreams, by his own admission. You can probably make a good guess to who is responsible for that change (it’s actually not MC, though, believe it or not!).

Yep, it’s Diavolo.

Diavolo doesn’t act the way Lucifer expected a demon to behave and it’s confusing him.

But he likes him, and he has had some time to digest that. Glory Days Lucifer would never have admitted this to anyone, let alone strangers.

D’aaaaw.

Lucifer then turns his attention towards MC and asks about what they are. If you’re truthful, you get this interesting tidbit of information:

Michael has been scoping out Solomon before the Great Celestial War. Whatever for, I wonder? I don’t think angels offer pacts, and I suspect Solomon was a bit of a troublemaker even before he was given Michael’s ring.

My guess? Michael is Solomon’s guardian angel. It is probably the closest equivalent to forging a pact that angels have.

Yeah... I just told you I was a human lol.

A HUMAN.

(Nah I know it’s pretty obvious that we’re SPECIAL, at this point.)

Lucifer takes us to Simeon and the brothers, who are gathered in presumably Michael’s observatory-to-be. Lucifer decides to hi-jack Michael’s fun and steals the first chance to see the human world’s night sky for himself and his family. It is projected onto the walls of the room.

You can suggest Michael might be mad, and Lucifer makes it clear he gives no fucks.

The other option makes him explain he believes he’s owed this because Michael keeps making him go to the Devildom and never volunteers himself lol

The brothers marvel at the spectacle, and they wonder about the stories behind each constellation. Mammon suggests Michael likely knows all about them, and Satan proceeds to nerd out again AND POTENTIALLY STEALS THAT MEMORY by making himself the one who teaches his brothers about the stars.

But, it’s Satan’s at his best, and he enjoys it thoroughly.

You and the brothers eventually doze off, and Satan wakes you up to share some private reflections.

Cute.

You realize Lucifer and Simeon are nowhere to be found, and run off to go see what they’re up to. They’re having a private moment of their own.

Simeon’s happy but sad. :(

Yeah. I’ll have more to say about this particular moment in my analysis post. There’s a noteworthy parallel at play here.

Ruh roh. I think Simeon and Michael may have suspected Diavolo played a part in pushing Lucifer away from the Celestial Realm. If given the opportunity, I sense Simeon may have tried to talk him out of this doubt.

But he isn’t given the opportunity! We pass out and the screen goes black, accompanied by some creepy heartbeats. When we come to, we’re back in reality and in the care of Luke and Mammon.

Wow you guys had an exciting time being shoved offscreen didn’t you?

They puzzle over what transpired and Luke and Mammon confess they don’t remember anything of what happened after they stepped into the fake House of Lamentation.

Furthermore...

I was correct in my theory that it was an illusion, but it seems it was the work of regular ol’ fairies and not some creepy banshee. That was a red herring, apparently. It’s even more anti-climatic than expected.

Additionally, Satan unknowingly covered himself in fairy crack before he dropped in.

My question is: how the fuck does Simeon know all this? Did he hang out with fairies once upon a time?

They decide to give up the hunt for the fairy ring and return home.

NOOOO THEY MADE LUKE CRY

If it were up to me I would have gone back and punched some fairies into submission until they forked over the ring, Luke. I’m sorry!

Of course, there’s not enough sleeper cars now that Simeon and Satan unexpectedly joined the party. Guess what they proceed to fight over!

You flex your pacts to make Mammon and Satan stop squabbling.

Are we sure Lucifer and Michael are the only angel sadists?

Simeon takes an unusual amount of delight in the suffering or discomfort of others lol

I think he’s just much better at hiding it.

Either way, it’s obvious he’s bothered by something, and after some deflection and prying he finally fesses up.

Michael and Simeon want them back BAD.

We finally get our first opportunity to get all sappy with Simeon here. 

Well I was right about which trial this was supposed to be, at least!

Luke and Mammon are on the roof squabbling about constellations again.

You’re treated to a mini-quiz about them. Have Google at the ready.

You find out there’s a constellation involving the seven brothers in the Celestial Realm, that was created (or at least named) after they fell.

They begin to theorize what the other three stars may represent. Mammon thinks it’s Michael and the stars represent his face.

Satan chimes in with a much better take.

I think Satan’s mostly right, but the stars represent Diavolo/Michael/MC specifically: the three “guardians” of their respective realms, all of whom have deep connections with the brothers.

Solomon can also count as a guardian, but I don’t feel he has the same connection with the brothers that those three have.

And it turns out this was two trials!

I completely forgot that generosity and gratitude were two of the virtues Solomon listed, so it’s not a complete copy of the seven virtues. But hey, it’s now four down and three to go!

We have eight more lessons to complete the remaining three, so we have plenty of time. But... what about the overarching plot? I was certain that something in this arc would finally jumpstart it, but that doesn’t seem to be the case.

But... maybe there was something hiding in there? I’ll go over the more important bits in my analysis post.

There’s still plenty of lore they haven’t covered re: the Celestial Realm and most of it has just been fluff. Satan’s creation remains a mystery: so far we’ve learned the Seraphim are assholes and Lucifer is overworked, but the latter is nothing new and I highly doubt that inspires enough visceral rage to make Lucifer absolutely hate his dad. We don’t know how the war unfolded and we don’t know why Simeon was demoted from his post. How things went is a big determining factor in trying to deduce Michael’s part in everything, and what he’s currently planning.

I’m hoping they get around to all the juicy bits, but I don’t know...

Morning and Day Teams Playing Among Us HCs

The 14th Department decides to play Among Us. (Part 2 can be found here.)

Morning Team (Mane)

🧩 Ghilley 🧩

Ghilley’s good at sneaking around in real life, so you better believe he’s a pro at using the vents. 

Whenever he’s the impostor, his main tactic is to kill someone while they’re doing a task. He normally goes for Jamie because he can’t get used to the controls. Anyone who’s in Admin swiping the keycard better watch out if they can’t get it on the first try.

He’s only played a few times with the others and the manager, but he’s able to memorize the map as he goes along. Sneaking around all the time, even in the game, helps a lot.

He moves fast after he’s killed someone, so whenever there’s a body report no one ever suspects him. Somehow he finds a way to make it as far from the body as possible. 

He’s always trying to trick everyone during the debate so they never really know if he’s the impostor or not. 

Whenever the Reapers suspect him, he’ll just do that famous laugh of his. 

“Am I the impostor? I don’t know. Maybe I am, and maybe I’m not. Ufufufu!”

It’s really hard to determine if he’s guilty or not because of how casual he is when playing. 

Sometimes he’ll throw out small hints so that the others will falsely accuse an innocent crew mate. He’ll say the most misleading things, which ends in an incorrect ejection. 

 His go-to color is black with the machete hat because it matches the sneaky vibe he always emits. 

☀️ Ell ☀️

Poor Ell. He’s so bad at Among Us. It’s not even funny.

For one, he can’t lie, so whenever he’s the impostor everyone knows right away. 

“It’s not me, guys!” And then he proceeds to sneeze and everyone votes him out.

Him and Jamie stick together because they don’t know what else to do. When he’s a crew mate, he’s one of the first killed because he spends so much time trying to find his way around the map.

Ell does his best to get all of his tasks done so that the others will have a chance at winning. 

Him and Jamie vibe in the dead chat. While everyone’s accusing one another, they’re just chilling. It’s honestly kind of fun.

Sometimes he’ll follow Youssef around when the two of them are in the same game. He’s learning so much from his older peers. If only he could actually get better at his gameplay. 

Youssef is really nice about it, too. He’s more than willing to help Ell in finding his tasks. That makes Ell very happy.

He tried to use the vents once and Licht caught him. 

His go-to color is cyan because it reminds him of a clear sky, and he wears the halo hat.

🐴 Jamie 🐴

Just like Ell, he’s also not good at the game. 

Jamie can’t wrap his head around all of the tasks and locations. He was downloading files and someone killed him. Now he’s stuck floating around the map as a ghost. 

“What just happened? Am I dead?”

He’s so confused.

Jamie stops and checks the map religiously so he can make it to his tasks. He’s always passing electrical trying to find the wires. 

When he was the impostor, he didn’t understand anything other than kill the crew mates. So he did just that and it failed miserably.

“What’s venting? What am I supposed to do with these fake tasks? I need the real tasks, right?”

Everyone votes him out as soon as they hear him say that during the meeting. They don’t even need to debate the location of the dead body.

It’s not his fault he can’t adapt to how fast the game moves. One minute he’s trying to swipe the keycard and the next thing he sees is Ethan twisting his avatar’s neck. He’s doing his best, though.

His go-to color is yellow, and he wears the bird nest hat.

💋 Licht 💋

He’s definitely flirting with the manager through voice chat. It doesn’t matter if the game’s ongoing; he’s going to make a few sly remarks regardless.

“If we win, we should go out to celebrate. Just you and me, darling.”

Licht just doesn’t shut up when he’s playing. Even when everyone’s supposed to silently work on their tasks, he’s busy starting a conversation with the air. No one ever replies, though the manager has begun to humor him.

He’s so upbeat and encouraging—usually just flirty half of the time—that the others have trouble figuring out whether he’s the impostor or not.

Licht’s actually pretty good at keeping his role a secret. That is, until the manager makes a comment.

“Wow! Who’s the imposter this time? They’re really good!” To which, Licht responds with, “Thank you, darling. You’re not so bad yourself.”

Kind of sus of him to say that, and nearly everyone votes for him. Even if he’s not the impostor, he still responds to the manager’s compliments.

He’ll follow the manager around when he’s a ghost, internally hoping they won’t get killed. It’s better to watch and listen as they try to work through the evidence they’ve found.

When they are killed, he tries to make their ghosts kiss. Licht seems to be playing a different type of game.

His go-to color is purple, and he wears the cherry hat.

Day Team (Die)

🎹 Theo 🎹

He’s glued to June so much throughout the game that everyone suspects he’s the impostor. But he’s just trying to protect June. He wants to be able to vouch for his friend in case the others plan on voting him out.

Theo’s actually decent at Among Us. He’s able to study the map and then follow it to his destination. He’s one of the first to finish his tasks so that he can help lead June to his.

When he’s an impostor, he won’t kill June or the manager. The rest of the Reapers are fair game, though. 

He’s surprisingly good at being the impostor. One time he and Nine were the impostors and he sabotaged the entire game. He made everyone vote out Nine so that he could win and impress the manager with his gaming skills.

He’s kind of scary when he plays. There’s a cold calculation in that warm expression of his, and it’s rather deceptive.

He goes after Nine the most. R.I.P. to Nine if he ever finds himself in the same lobby as Theo.

Theo has no problems defending himself, June, or the manager during the discussions. He always seems to have a solid alibi. If he’s put on the spot, he’s calm and collected about it, listing out his tasks and everything else that makes him innocent.

He’ll use the vents only when he needs to. Theo likes to sabotage the oxygen and the lights because it’s convenient. 

He once mistook June for someone else and killed him. That made Theo incredibly sad. :(

His go-to color is blue, and he wears the chef hat.

🌹 Louis 🌹

He’s not against playing video games if it’s with his friends. But too much screen time can be bad for the eyes and complexion. Besides, why look at a bright screen when he can ogle at his reflection all day? Truly, the latter is far prettier.

He’s not good at the game, but he’s also not bad either. Louis can do his tasks, vouch for those who were with him, and explain where he was when the body was found—albeit with his usual dramatic flair. 

“Ethan, why are our names red, but the others aren’t? Perhaps we’re special? Well, I wouldn’t expect anything less than perfect for someone such as myself!”

Ethan’s about ready to strangle him when Louis pulls mindless stuff like that.

Unlike the others, who play to win or to impress the manager, Louis plays for fun. He doesn’t care much about winning or losing. It’s the enjoyment that matters the most, right?

Louis tends to get distracted when he’s playing. The reason for that, you may ask? He noticed himself in the mirror and is now dedicating his time to admiring his features.

When this happens and he goes AFK, he’s killed. When he’s the impostor and he gets sidetracked, he completely forgets about killing.

He’s also vibing in the dead chat, spreading words of encouragement to himself. No one understands what he’s complimenting himself on, but at least Louis seems content.

Louis might not play as often as the others, but he still sets aside time for it. Though that time may get interrupted by his endless self-love.

His go-to color is white, and he wears the crown hat.

♞ Ethan ♞

He plays with intense strategy. 

Ethan likes to cut to the chase during the meetings in order to weed out the impostors. 

“I’ll keep it simple. Name your tasks and your exact location before the body was reported.” He takes the lead in most of the meetings.

He’s very diligent with his tasks. Those who don’t complete their tasks are on his radar. 

When he’s the impostor, he goes for those who are the easiest to kill off. Either that, or they’re just useless. Louis almost always finds his character dead at the hands of Ethan. 

He’s not too shabby for an impostor. Ethan knows how to use the vents to his advantage, and he never seems bothered when the others accuse him. He keeps his tone in check, so no one knows if he’s telling the truth or not.

Video games may not be a hobby of his, but he doesn’t mind playing them with the manager if that’s what they want.

When he and the manager are the impostors, they’re an unstoppable force.

He can’t believe he actually enjoyed even a second of Among Us, yet here he is. 

His go-to color is red, and he doesn’t bother with wearing a hat.

💥 June 💥

June loves playing Among Us! Not only is it fun, it also reminds him of some elements in those noir films he likes so much. A mystery is more fun when it’s played out amongst your friends.

In the beginning, he was a tad clumsy with his tasks and his role as either a crew mate or an impostor. He’s just trying to get the hang of things, but it didn’t necessarily work out in his favor.

He prefers being a crew mate over the impostor because he likes trying to figure out who’s guilty. It makes him feel like the main character of a mystery-action film.

Sometimes he’ll say the wrong things when he’s the impostor. But in the heat of the moment, he’s just excited to play more.

“It couldn’t have been me! I was hiding in the vents! Haha!”

June once received lots of baked goods from Theo a day after they all played. Theo claimed he had wrongfully killed his friend and wanted to make up for it, but June had already forgotten about that incident.

June doesn’t really suspect anyone whenever he plays. He’ll just go along with what the others say, working off of their evidence to create a conclusion of his own.

He enjoys it when the manager is in the lobby because it means they’ll be able to play together.

When June and Louis are dead, they’re typing to each other through the chat, bonding and having a grand time. They seem to forget about the game and just talk about whatever until one side wins.

His go-to color is orange, and he wears the sheriff hat.

when i’m walking in my sleep

anonymous asked:

Hii, i love your writing, just finished your new buddie fic. Loved it! If you have inspiration for a storyline like the following i would be so happy to read: Eddie taking care of Buck after the screw removing surgery.

I deleted the original post due to it not showing up in the tags, so sorry if you didn’t see it, anon! But here it is again :) 

trigger warnings for this: use of painkillers even though taken as prescribed, mention of an unspecified nightmare, and to be safe emetophobia as it’s mentioned

Eddie has always had the innate need to care for the ones he loves and the ones who need it. When he was five, he tried his hardest alongside his sisters to save an injured squirrel that ended up at their doorstep. He’d take care of his parents when either one of them was sick as he grew up. The need to help everyone never simmered, only grew when he joined the Army, boiled over when Christopher was born. Firefighting was the perfect job for Eddie, he got to feed his desire to help those in need and find the camaraderie within his team that he’d been missing since his Army days. 

Helping people helps him, so he really can’t stop himself from jumping at the opportunity to take Buck home after he gets his screws out when everyone else’s schedules are too busy. He cares about Buck a lot -- maybe too much and not in the way someone cares about their best friend -- so making sure he’s okay and comfortable after a surgery he knows Buck was scared shitless for, it’s not a big deal for Eddie. 

He finds that maybe he’s a little in over his head when Buck greets him with a loopy smile. He’s just a tiny bit in love with Evan Buckley, and having dealt with post-surgery Buck before, Eddie is sure his heart might burst with every zany grin and stage-whispered expression of appreciation.

Buck’s surgeon, who Eddie has met more times than one should have, strolls into the dimly lit recovery room with an amused smile. “Good to see you awake.”

Buck snickers. “You say that every time, Doc. Soon you’re going to have to stop acting surprised that I’m invincible.”

Eddie can’t tell if what Buck just said makes sense, a twenty-four hour shift with very little sleep does things to your common sense, but his doctor seems like he’s heard it before.

His doctor shakes his head, albeit fondly, as if it’s something he expects but can’t believe he’s hearing. “How many times am I going to have to warn you that you’re not invincible before you stop ending up in my OR?” Eddie suspects every time. “Hopefully, there won’t be a next surgery for you Mr. Buckley. The screws are out, everything should be smooth sailing after that, unless you decide to test that invincibility theory.” 

Eddie can’t hold back the laugh as Buck’s face displays his disbelief. “I may be stupid, doc, but I’m no idiot.”

His doctor turns to face Eddie as he facepalms. “I wish you all the luck and patience in the world taking care of this one.” He jests.

“You know I’m always gonna need it, Doc.” Eddie grins. “There anything I should watch out for or steer clear of with him?”

“You know, the usual; don’t let him walk without his crutches, make sure he eats before he takes his next dose of pain medicine we’re sending home with him, and keep him off the leg as much as possible. Elevate it, ice it if the pain gets too much, spare some time for your own sanity.”

Buck grumbles. “I’m not that bad, right? Tell him, Eds.”

“My mom taught me to always tell the truth.” Eddie teases but relents when the pout Buck gives goes straight to his heart. “Fine. You’re a joy to be around, Evan Buckley.”

“You heard him, Doc! I’m a joy to be around!” 

“Never said you weren’t, Buck, just saying your joy is here more than either of us would like.” He smirks. “Alright, alright, I’m sure Eddie wants to get out of here as much as you do so you’re free to go. Everything looks fine post-surgery and as long as you take correct care, it’ll stay fine. You know to call me if there’s an infection or it takes longer to heal than it should, you know the drill. I will see you in six weeks, Buck. Please not a second sooner?”

Buck sends him a sloppy thumbs up and thanks him, says he can’t promise anything but he’ll try his best and Eddie doesn’t want to think about waiting through another one of his surgeries. He’s fine with the aftercare, but waiting to see if Buck came out of each surgery alive is something similar to hell, he’s sure.

When the doctor leaves, Buck looks Eddie’s way. “Eddddieeeeee, my man, a little help?”

Eddie shakes his head and grabs the bag of Buck’s clothes before going to help Buck sit up on the side of the stretcher he was on.

Buck giggles. “My hospital gown is open in the back so don’t look. My ass isn’t really my best feature.”

Well that’s a straight up lie.

“Aw, Eds, thank you. Your butt’s pretty great too.” Buck grins like the compliment means the world to him. The implied compliment that Eddie definitely did not mean to say aloud.

The only thing that keeps him from hiding himself in embarrassment is that Buck is as high as a kite on his painkillers and most likely won’t remember even leaving the hospital. 

He prays the blush doesn’t show on his face as he helps Buck into his basketball shorts. He couldn’t tell you why he gets flustered every time he had to help Buck this way. They were adults, it wasn’t anything domestic, really, just… intimate. He’d help whenever and whatever way Buck needed, because if Eddie Diaz was anything, he wasn’t shy. He was never uncomfortable. Just flustered beyond belief. 

Buck falls back onto the stretcher dramatically after he’s got his shorts on, taking Eddie down with him. He’s laughing hysterically as he wraps his arms around Eddie’s body in a side hug.

“Hey, Eddie?” He looks up at him. “You’re strong. Can you carry me to your truck?”

Eddie lets out a surprised laugh. “I don’t think so, buddy. I can ask for a wheelchair?”

Buck snorts. “Being wheeled out is just embarrassing, man,”

“And being carried out isn’t?”

He responds with a whine. “You don’t have to be smart all the time, you know? My bones feel like they’ve been replaced by jelly, you won’t even try?”

Eddie fondly rolls his eyes. “You can lean on me, okay? I don’t have to carry you to not let you fall, Buck, I’ve got you.”

“You’ve got me?”

“Yeah, I’ve got you. Now, up you go.” 

By the time Buck is settled in Eddie’s living room, foot elevated under a pillow on the coffee table and more blankets than Buck could ever need by his side, they’re both exhausted. Eddie plops down next to Buck on the couch and doesn’t question it when he leans his head on Eddie’s chest. 

Eddie raises an eyebrow when Buck moans. “You alright?”

“I don’t wanna throw up.” He whines. “Make it go away.”

“You’re nauseous?” Eddie asks, already standing to get the trashcan from his bathroom for him but is stopped by Buck. “I’ll be right back, just gonna get you the trashcan just in case.”

Eddie has always hated pain medicine. He hates not having any sense of control of what he’s saying if he’s going to remember it the next day, he hates the nausea that comes with, and he hates that every time, without fail, it makes Buck cry.

His lip is quivering as he looks up at Eddie, and it’s just then that Eddie realizes how actually gone he was for Evan Buckley. 

“Don’t leave me.” Eddie probably would have teased him if Buck had been whining but he wasn’t. There was real fear in his voice, like Eddie would leave out the bathroom window or something. 

“So you’re not nauseous anymore?” He goes with instead, eyebrow raised and arms crossed. He remembers Buck calling it the dad stance, but if it gets Buck to let go of his shirt so he can grab something to stop him from vomiting on his floor, he’ll use it.

Buck shakes his head, stopping abruptly as he pales.

Eddie snorts. “Don’t lie to me ever again.” He reaches for Buck’s face, cupping his jaw in his hand and rubbing his thumb across his cheek. “Let me at least get you a bowl. You’ll be able to see me better in the kitchen.”

Buck finally lets go of the grip on Eddie’s shirt and turns to watch Eddie walk away. Eddie hates himself for the way he subconsciously walks to maybe impress Buck. Thanks to the painkillers, he knows that Buck thinks his ass is nice, he can feel Buck’s eyes watching the back of him, and Eddie prays that Buck is at least the slightest bit interested in him. 

What is he thinking? There’s no way Buck could be interested. They’re best friends, that’s all they are, it doesn’t matter how stupidly and pathetically in love Eddie is. 

Buck is half asleep by the time Eddie is back with a bowl that shouldn’t be missed. 

The second Eddie sits down next to him and hands Buck the bowl, he holds it to his chest and goddamnit why is this so adorable? 

“I doubt you’ll make it through the first minutes of it, let alone an episode, but you down to watch Avatar?”

Buck smiles tiredly, eyes refusing to open. “As long as you’re talking about The Last Airbender and not the creepy movie.”

Eddie chuckles. “You think Avatar is creepy?”

“You don’t?” Buck raises an eyebrow, still not opening his eyes, and gives Eddie a look that says he’s shocked no one else feels the same. “I read somewhere there’s a new one coming out in 2021, like, why?”

Eddie snickers. “I can kind of understand your fear of Child’s Play because it’s supposed to be horror, but c’mon, Avatar? I cried, if I remember correctly.”

Buck gasps. “Child’s Play is horror, thank you very much, and terrifying. End of discussion. Put on The Last Airbender so I can stop thinking about that thing.” 

“That thing has a name, Buck. Chucky. He’s your friend ‘til the end.” Eddie teases but opens Netflix on his TV, quickly selecting from his Keep Watching list. 

Buck doesn’t say anything after that and Eddie assumes he’s asleep, until Buck mumbles something. 

“What was that?”

“Would you stop being my friend if you knew I was in love with you?” Eddie hears him loud and clear this time but he’s stunned at what comes from his best friend, disbelief that he even heard him correctly. 

“Come again?” 

When Eddie doesn’t get a response, he turns and finds that Buck fell asleep right after he gives him a heart attack. 

Fantastic. Fan-fucking-tastic. Though he thinks he heard Buck loud and clear, it can’t be right. He dreamed of Buck reciprocating his feelings many times before, but that’s all Eddie could ever believe it was. Dreams. He hadn’t even known Buck was interested in men, let alone interested in him. 

Eddie doesn’t know how long he’s in his head for, but when he notices the sweat glistening on Buck’s forehead, none of it matters. He places the back of his hand on Buck’s forehead, fearing a fever due to an infection or flu, but he doesn’t have a fever.

Then Buck jolts and suddenly Eddie knows what’s going on. It’s not the first time he’s seen Buck in the middle of a nightmare, it’s not his first time dealing with nightmares, either, so he knows what to do.

He distances himself from Buck as far as he can and still is able to shake him. He knows from personal experience to never stay close when waking someone from a nightmare, the black eye he’d accidentally given Buck one night being proof. 

“Hey, Buck, you gotta wake up, buddy.” He shakes his shoulder lightly. “It’s just a nightmare, you’re not there.”

When Buck doesn’t wake up after a third try, Eddie tries a different tactic and scoots a little closer, grabbing Buck’s shoulder and shaking heavier than before. “Evan, Evan, wake up!”

Buck jolts awake, Bobby’s name on the tip of his tongue, swallowed by a scream. He can’t catch his breath, Eddie can tell he hasn’t fully grasped that wherever he just was in his nightmare was long gone and that he’s safe so he does everything he can to clear that fog. 

He takes Buck’s shaking hand in his own and squeezes. “Hey, Evan, you’re at my place, on my couch, nowhere near any danger. You’re safe, okay?”

He can practically see the fog clear from his mind, taking in his surroundings and squeezes Eddie’s hand in his. “Eddie?”

“Yeah, man, I’m here. Feeling calmer?”

Before Buck can respond, he winces and muffles a scream of pain by biting on his lip. Eddie jumps into action as Buck grabs onto the bottom of his cast tightly, as to squeeze out the agony he was feeling. 

Eddie checks the time. “You’re due for your next dose of your painkiller at least.”

But Buck isn’t listening to him. He’s too focused on the pain that Eddie can only now vaguely remember after getting the bullet removed from his shoulder. Before long, Eddie realizes Buck is mumbling something in between choked sobs and muffled screams of agony.

“Evan,” He tries to use his name again in hopes it’ll get him to focus on Eddie and not the pain. 

Buck’s face is twisted in pain when he finally looks at Eddie and not for the time, he wishes he could take Buck’s pain away. 

“I hate Freddie Costas. I hate him so much.” He sobs freely, still holding his bad leg like it’s a matter of life or death. “Fuck, it hurts.”

Eddie stands. “I’m gonna get your pain pills and an ice pack.”

Buck gulps the pill down with no water and Eddie has to stop himself from finding that oddly one of the most attractive things he’s seen Buck do. He also holds back a cringe, never one for taking pills in any way. 

As Eddie unwraps the beginnings of Buck’s cast, Buck starts to calm, his tears slow, his body relaxes against Eddie’s side. 

“I’m sorry,” He whispers. 

“Don’t be. Trust me when I say I get it.” He looks Buck directly in the eyes. “Never feel sorry about feeling things.” 

He doesn’t ask if he wants to talk about it. He knows Buck will talk about it if or when he wanted so it ends up being a useless question. 

It’s quiet again after that. The only sounds that could be heard around Eddie’s was their breathing and the air conditioner running. Avatar is paused on the TV and Eddie doesn’t make any move to unpause it. 

Then Eddie is in his head again.

If he heard right, why would Buck be into him? He wants more than anything for it to be true, but he couldn’t see how it would be true. But he knows he heard what Buck asked, knows he should be thrilled Buck loves him back, but the doubts eat him up. What if he was just asking in general, not personally? What if he thought he was talking to someone else? Maybe he’s exaggerating his gratefulness for taking care of him and he means it platonically?

It’s killing him not knowing.

Eddie clears his throat. “Hey, uh- earlier you asked- before you fell asleep, do you-”

He’s a stuttering mess, hasn’t stumbled over his words this much since he asked Shannon out in their senior year. 

Buck cuts in, putting him out of his misery. “If you’re asking if I remember asking you if you’d still stay my friend if you found out I was in love with you, then yes, I do remember and I’m so sorry.”

Sorry for what? I’m sorry I was just loopy, it was just a question, I’m not actually in love with you? 

Buck swallows hard. “Do you hate me?”

Eddie’s eyes widened completely at the question. “Why would I hate you?”

“Because I’m in love with you and continued to be your friend without telling you as such?” 

His heart is racing a mile a minute because Evan Buckley loved him back and he’d had no idea the entire time. He shakes his head with a smile and unshed tears burning his eyes. “I would be the biggest hypocrite if I hated you for that.”

It looks as though Buck hadn’t heard right as he shook his head, but he hopes he understands. 

“Come again?” Eddie can’t help but snort at how similar Buck and him are sometimes. “Why are you crying? Don’t cry!”

“I’m crying because I love you and I just found out it’s reciprocated, okay? Give me a second here.” He lets out a mix between a laugh and a cry. “Holy shit, you love me!”

Eddie’s mind is reeling. The more the shock wears off, the more joy and excitement he starts to feel. 

“You love me!” Buck grins and leans forward, stopping to look Eddie in the eye and ask for permission -- which he eagerly grants -- and soon, what Eddie dreamed of since the Grenade Incident is happening. Their lips touch and Eddie Diaz tries not to be a cliche, but it’s a whole show of fireworks, kissing Buck. More than he could have ever imagined. 

It’s an hour later, and they’re laying in Eddie’s bed, bodies pressed up against the other. Eddie hasn’t felt so secure in years, can’t even remember a time when things felt right until then. Lying next to Buck, things feel light for the first time since he doesn’t know how long, and the feeling of security is what lulls Eddie to sleep. 

Until Buck starts to sniffle and then Eddie is wide awake again.   

“You okay, Buck?”

Buck shakes his head rapidly with a pout. “No, I have to pee.” 

He tries to keep in his laughter, he really does, but the shock and amusement outweighs his ability not to laugh at things that aren’t funny to other people. 

Buck sniffles once more. “Why are you laughing?”

“Because you’re adorable and I love you.” Eddie’s lips quirk into a soft smile. “Now, c’mon, up you go.” 

Buck grumbles. “Love you too.”

When he’s done, Eddie turns back to get his crutches and gets the surprise of a lifetime when Buck reaches out to slap his ass.

“Hey!” 

“What? I did tell you you had a nice ass.”

“Oh my God.”

Yes, It’s Been Half A Decade Since TFA Was Released

Five years already?  Geez!

If you’ve been following my humble Tumblr blog since the beginning, you’ll know I was not truly a Reylo until I saw TLJ.  Before then, I was dealing with a movie that left me with a lot of mixed feelings.  Why?  I missed George Lucas for one thing.  He has an indelible style that few can match and few really cared about that universe and its characters as much as he did.  I was very unhappy to hear a month before TFA’s release that Disney tossed out his story and came up with something he didn’t really like very much (as later confirmed in Bob Iger’s memoir).  As a long-suffering prequels fan I didn’t like either the vaguely anti-prequel tone the pre-release hype took.  Whatever you do in life, don’t disrespect the man who created the GFFA. 

The post-release hype probably annoyed me even more.  Remember the doofuses screeching on t.v. that it was the best SW movie since TESB?  LOL.  (No, that would be ROTS and the only thing that came close since was TLJ.)  I hated that a movie I felt was flawed not only got passes from the media that really trashed Lucas and everybody who worked on the prequels, but also got lavish Best 10 lists and award nominations.  I was one bitter chickie for a while and later got a good laugh out of the backlash.

I thought it would be funny to post what I thought at the time, with added commentary:

Oh yes, the movie. My mother called it…it’s good, we all enjoyed it and were entertained, but Lucas’s touch is definitely missing. The romantic epic sweep of Eps I-VI, the goofy and whimsical touches, the feeling of being immersed in another galaxy, and Lucas’s gift for aesthetics aren’t there. The visuals don’t have that beauty and some of it is kinda ugly. The creature designs just aren’t as good. It’s not the kind of movie you watch dozens of times to catch little things. Even John Williams doesn’t have a knockout track like “Duel of the Fates” or “The Imperial March.” But it’s hard to think of how this was ever going to live up to any of it any more than I’d expect Suzanne Collins to write a Narnia book as good as C.S. Lewis. We lost those things when we lost Lucas.

I like the visuals a lot more now but TLJ’s cinematography rules the ST.  Still feel the same about creature design; I see better aliens and creatures on The Mandalorian.  One weird thing about the ST is how the filmmakers seemed to have avoided putting in anything at all that we’ve seen before.  No Jawas, no Togrutas, no Twi’leks, no Zabraks, no Quarren, etc.. Just Chewbacca and Admiral Ackbar.

The music didn't leave much an impression on me at the time but now I love “Rey’s Theme,” “Kylo Ren’s Theme,” and “March of the Resistance.”

As long as we’re on that note, I’ll get to the film’s flaws first. The movie has a lot of snappy, arch, and funny dialogue but you can tell the script was cranked out in a hurry. It lacks the careful structure of its predecessors and cribs a little too much from ANH. Poe disappears and you are led to believe he’s dead then he suddenly shows up healthy and hale with no explanation. Abrams’s first Star Trek film was riddled with unbelievable coincidences and unfortunately this movie has some of those too, such as when Han and Chewie just happen upon the Falcon in space. The film does very little to set up what’s going on and why, such as why the hell is the Republic fighting the same a-holes after all of these years. Abrams prefers instead to keep the action going instead of doing much exposition, which is pretty much what he did with the Trek films. Those little moments in Lucas’s Star Wars films don’t happen much here. Things must always be occurring, which dumps all of the responsibility for character development and world building on Rian Johnson and Colin Trevorrow. I have no idea why they decided to be all teasy-weasy with who Rey’s parents are instead of just telling us. (I suspect Luke is her father.)

LOL!   I guess the adoption by proxy thing at the very end of TROS proved me right or...did it?  Yes, my first assumption after seeing TFA was that Rey and Kylo Ren were cousins.

As for the rest of it, I still feel the same.  Rushed script, borrows too much from ANH, precious few explanations/set-up, not as good structure but still full of humor.

BB-8 is a charmer, Finn and Rey (who are so going to hook up) HA!  But remember I thought Rey and Kylo were cousins! have some charm and potential growth as characters, and it was great seeing our old crew again even if not under ideal circumstances. (Personally I would’ve preferred NOT to have broken up Han and Leia.) Hux had some mustache-twirling moments and Abrams was at least smart enough not to kill off him, Ren, or Snoke just yet. Finn and Poe have a good rapport (maybe they’re going to hook up).

Stormpilot definitely pinged the slash-dar.  It was completely unsurprising to find fans shipping them.

Abrams seemed to have avoided the mistake James Cameron made in “Avatar” when he killed off his most threatening villain while planning sequels. As you might have guessed, I was really shocked at Snoke’s death in TLJ.  I wasn’t expecting that until IX.  I was also really shocked at the casual, quick-get-rid-of-him ways both Hux and Ben were killed off in TROS.

The most compelling aspect of TFA for me was the Skywalker family drama, which made me wish it was more up front rather than a subplot. Ben Solo/Kylo Ren is a conflicted guy with a huge chip on his shoulder and it makes you wonder exactly what happened to him because I think he may have mental issues. Leia knows there’s still good in him but can a guy who commits patricide be saved? (RIP Han…I so knew this would happen because I figure it was the only way Ford would’ve done another film). Can his cousin/half-sister or whatever Rey save him? Would she want to? With Luke back in the picture and Artoo activated again, what will happen next? Even though they split up Han and Leia I liked the banter between them; it’s sad because they clearly still loved each other.

This is still true for me.  A few days after posting this it struck me just how nihilistic TFA was because I found Han and Leia’s split unnecessary (had Han gone out for Chinese food or on a mission for the Resistance instead of just being a loser smuggler, it wouldn’t have changed anything that happened in the film) and what I thought was Kylo’s certain fate to be a narrative bummer.  TLJ made me think they weren’t going on that direction only to be proven right in TROS (sadly).

I’ll dispense with the stupid Snoke is Plageuis theory and my dad wondering if Finn was Mace Windu’s lost son or something, though I’ll give him half a point for Finn turning out to be Force-sensitive after all.

I don’t know why people have said this takes them back to the ’70s because the film really is a 2015 movie made for an audience reared largely on the MCU, YA flicks, and other staples of contemporary geek culture. It is what it is and we aren’t going to get back the films of George Lucas and his influence. TFA might not be an awesome Star Wars movie but it is at least a good sci-fi action flick.

I still stand by most of this.  Time and TLJ made TFA a better movie in my eyes.

2x3 rewatch

I keep forgetting that Brach is still in S2.  Oops.  Also, I apparently went to check something in S6 last time I watched something, so it started at 6x2 instead of 2x3 and I yelled.  But anyway, on with this mess.  “Death Came in Like Thunder” apparently.  It sure did.

Ah yes, let us not forget that Branch is MANLEH.  This shall be proven to us by him murdering his cousin, Trunk, with big ax.  Chop chop, Branch, kill Trunk.  But oh no, must also show that he is People Smart, so must also lose because this makes him likable.  And many white people clap.  Yaaaay.  But be sure to say, “I let him win, Ferg,” while your competitor is right next to you, so he almost surely heard you.  Good good.

Oh Ferg.  Could you look more gormless if you tried?  (I mean, probably not, since presumably that was the goal of the actor, so he would have been trying.  But still.)  Bb.

Heh, nice thematic cut to Walt also chopping wood.  And YAY, Henry’s gorgeous truck (and gorgeous self).  I’m just going to take a moment to appreciate the fact that Henry rolls up and just helps himself to some of Walt’s thermos of coffee.  Because of course he does.  But I do so love these touches that they put in that do underline the fact that they are married have been besties for going on 40 years.  Also, I love this jacket of Henry’s.  The woven top, jean jacket sort of one?  Yeah, top 5 costume pieces of his for me.  (Also on that list, all basically tied with each other, basically any pants he wears.  I am reminded, when they cut back out to a full body shot.  Because I am very shallow, and he is very pretty.)

Haaaaaa.  And of course Cady talked to Henry before she talked to Walt.  Walt is a butthead.  And, yeah yeah, she just found out that he’d been lying to her for over a year, but that just proves my point that Walt is a butthead.  And we’re back to this whole idea that she left her phone, which just... ugh.  No.  But Henry’s face when he says that she said that she is safe, and he’s so worried, but still willing to respect her boundaries.

“She is an adult, Walt.”  “She’s my daughter.”  For fuck’s sake, you jackass, your ADULT daughter; that’s the whole flipping point!  Also, that little emphasis on my daughter, pfft.  If you didn’t want to feel like she preferred her cool dad to you, maybe try being less of an AAAAAAASSHOLE.  And, like, respecting her.  Even a weensy little bit.

“Etta Place”  I don’t remember if we find out why that’s the ‘assumed name’ that Cady chose, but I’m intrigued.  Wait, I just googled.  Looooool.  She spent years with Butch and Sundance.  Nice.

Walt is such a soft touch with teens.  *snack crackle pop* that kneecap back into place.  Vic starts this scene saying, “The 911 operator,” though, which is interesting, because I was kind of under the impression that Ruby was the main dispatcher, so it would be kind of heartening if she actually had back up with that.  ...Or maybe they’re just far enough out that a cell call made would be picked up by a tower farther out and have to be routed back in to the station/them.  I have no idea how that actually works.  Another rabbit hole for me to totally not go down.  Hopefully.  Shit.  They’ve apparently upped the fine for trespass since the show, though, because it’s $750 (or 6 months in jail) now and Walt says it’s $500.

And once again, we see Vic actually wearing gloves while investigating a suspicious death, and Walt just squinting into the distance helpfully.  I suppose “things got bad” in Basque country around WWII, but there has been friction there that dates back before the Spanish Civil War, or even the Carlist Wars the previous century.  It did get gnarly with the dictatorship of Franco, and the formation of the ETA in retaliation, though, so yeah.  (Francisco Franco is also on the list of people who anybody with a time machine should go back and beat the shit out of.)

Shit, I forgot about the animal death.

Knock knock, no answer.  Better just wander in without a warrant.  I know that the guy who they know lives there is dead, but still, no fricking warrant; I suppose the worry of a poisoning could count as probably cause?  

Gods, but there are moments when I do absolutely adore Vic, and they are usually when she’s taking the piss out of Walt.  “Reclusive bachelor chic; you and Marco have the same decorator.”  Looool.  But also, sad, because Martha has only been gone for a little over a year, and Walt is not the kind of person who would, like, change stuff and get rid of her things, so that’s kind of odd.  Maybe Henry and/or Cady went though and put away some of her things to try to help Walt move on?  But damn, the ‘excuse you’ look on Walt’s face when she does say it, pffft.

AND AGAIN, Vic wearing gloves, Walt with his bare ass hands picking up the picture of Picasso’s Guernica; can you at least *pretend* you’re a cop, *some* of the time, buddy?

Lol at the barrabilak; they are pretty well by the Rocky Mountains, so it’s probably not all that surprising that Walt’s had some “Rocky Mountain oysters” before.

I had forgotten that Vic had four brothers.  But her comment about Sal going off to look after the sheep and how if someone had told her that one of her brothers were dead she “wouldn’t care about any damn sheep,” I don’t know.  It kind of annoys me.  It’s totally in character for her, which is good, but I think it’s part of what can annoy me about her character.  Different people grieve differently, but also, I know she’s only been in Wyoming for a year or two, tops, but how is it so hard to fathom that someone one would be concerned about their livelihood, even in the face of personal tragedy?  Just, seeing beyond her own very narrow experience doesn’t seem like something she’s very good at.  It would be one thing if she’d framed it as “this is suspicious, and here’s why I think so as a cop,” but it was, “I wouldn’t react that way personally, so it’s sus.”  

Sure, be suspicious because there’s a suspicious death and family members are always suspects until ruled out, but approach it like a cop.  Or at least think about it from more angles than just your own, not terribly similar experience.  You’re a white city cop who can’t (or won’t) adjust to being in BF rural-ville, but these are immigrant shepherds whose family come from a homeland where the cops were just as likely to kill you as answer questions, and you’re side-eying a guy for going to make sure that their meal ticket doesn’t get obliterated?

I need to keep reminding myself that I really did want to like Vic.  I really did.  She just... they don’t make it easy for me.  Maybe she’s serving as an avatar for audience who don’t know about some of the culture stuff, and the audience get answers from her ignorance?  But honestly, I wish they’d picked a different way to handle that, if that’s what they were trying to do.  Her response to Henry being salty about Thanksgiving still really pisses me off.  Because it was shitty and racist, and... do we really need a character basically rolling their eyes and saying, “It was so long ago, why don’t you just get over it,” about something that is intrinsically tied to the genocide of so many people?  Why are Indigenous people just supposed to “get over it” but “Remember the Alamo” and “Southern Pride,” and shit?  Fuck’s sake.  Honestly, that might have been the moment when they lost me on her character.  She has moments where she’s awesome, but they never really address her being fucking racist or give her a chance to grow into a better person.  Which sucks a lot.  Fuck.  Ok, that was a lot.  Sorry.  Back to the actual ep.

AH, nice of you to beam in from the campaign trail, Brancheroo!

Uh, so I paused it to look at pic in the newspaper, and then being me, started to look at the articles surrounding the pic.  And the one with the headline “Fans Injured At Local Game” is actually about the Stewart case?  From 1x3?  I’m guessing that somebody went to the trouble of writing up an article for that for some S1 ep after it and they just plugged it in because when not paused, you might catch “Sheriff Longmire” there and that’s all they need.  Especially since the text starts to repeat after the first paragraph.  (I am the worst pedantic little shit.)  Ooooor, maybe even though it’s S2, it’s hardly been any time since 1x3?  The date on the newspaper is March 31, 2012, so there’s a timeline hint. 

Awwwwww, once Walt points out the bird, Ferg knows exactly what it is.  Occasional twitcher, are we, my lad?  “A red-tip meadowlark,” indeed.  Oh bb; Ferg’s face when he sees Walt looking at the pic of him with Branch in the paper.

“You go too fast, you miss the little things.”  Every once in a while, he actually sort of mentors Ferg.  I wish he did more of that, especially since we see later how capable Ferg can be.

Go suck an egg, Branch.  Why does she get all the “good” assignments?  Maybe because she was actually on the job when they found the body, not campaigning.

OPE.  Lizzie’s gift.  Yeah, I’d probably choke on that coffee if I were you, too, girl.  Better hope that there wasn’t perishable food stuffs in that gift, because that has been in there for a whiiiiiile, hasn’t it.  Wait, was Ferg in the office when Lizzie dropped off the gift?  Because his face said more than just “Did somebody give Vic a present?”  Suuuuper subtle with that whole pushing the drawer closed with your foot there, Vic.  Pfffft.

“Cyrano Caballero”  How daaaare that skeeve take Cyrano’s name in vain?!?!  (I have a thing about Cyrano de Bergerac.  It’s quite possibly my favourite play, and I adore the character, and have exactly 0 chill about it at all.  I find Brian Hooker’s translation of “The Ballade of the duel at the Hotel Bourgogne Between de Bergerac and a Boeotian” with “Then, as I end the refrian, thrust home,” vastly superior to any other translation that I’ve heard or read, though for the rest of it, I will grant that there are others to be preferred.  But that version of his Ballade is exquisite, and I will not be swayed.  Holy shit, FOCUS.  That is so very much not the point.)  It’s not even a throw away line in this ep, it’s just a random, very well chosen, if utterly appallingly insulting, company name.  It’s actually incredibly clever for what the business is, and if it didn’t make me so stomping mad, I would applaud whoever came up with it heartily.

Vic’s face listening to this jackass’ spiel is a thing of beauty.  “A good woman goes a long way of easing the obvious stresses of your daily life,” the jackass says, cutting his eyes at Vic when he says “obvious stresses,” and I caaaackle.

What is it about this guys’ horrible glasses that just makes him so much more hate-able?  I’m not entirely sure, but kudos to whatever costumer put those on him, because they are perfect.  In the ‘I want to punch him’ way of perfection.

And after all of that about Walt’s “lady friend,” Vic brings Lizzie’s present.  Womp womp.  That went super well.  Yuuuup, run while you can.

Poor Ferg.  Branch manipulates him, Vic ignores him, Walt shuts him down...  Poor guy just can’t get a break.

I actually kind of like this motel manager--the one who “doesn’t judge people” and is a stickler for warrants?  At least somebody in this county cares about warrants.  Also, those doors are actually really pretty.  Nice colour, and the carved scrollwork designs are nice.

What an odd shot: the one when they’re coming out of Walt’s office after talking to Skeevy McGrossFace and Rosa.  It’s a weird sort of shaky-cam stepping back, just preceding Branch walking, and then turns to follow him when he sit’s on his desk.  But it’s a really different style of shot than I can remember, so much so that it’s a bit jarring, especially after the series of nearly stationary close ups that we just had.  Weird. [18:42-18-50]

Cady!  I haven’t made much note of her costuming before this, but it seems notable that’s she’s only in monocromatics.  Especially next to Fales in muted tones, but still some colour, and surrounded by the colourful grafitti of the alley where her mother was stabbed.  Nice way of setting her apart from everything.

SHEEPIES!  Ooooo, that wagon is so cool.  Ah dang, the way that Sal corrects Walt’s pronunciation of his brother’s name is so gloriously passive aggressive.  Good for you, my dude.  Names are important, and people should have the respect to make the effort to get them right.

Aaaaaand Walt, the definition of Do, Don’t Tell, just shoves the guy to keep him from drinking the possibly dangerous water, rather than, like, using his words.  Walt’s gonna Walt.

Iiiiiiiii am a mess, truly.  It cuts to an architectural model and I start giggling like a 6th grader, because I know it’s going to be a Jacob scene.  He’s not even on screen yet, ffs.  HANDS.  I’m fine.  Totally fine.  (That’s totally a lie.  I just rewound to the beginning of the scene because I kept giggling too much to pay attention.  What the hell.)  First time we’ve seen one of the chips, which at this point must be a marketing mock-up, since nothing is built yet.  And he actually types, not just doing the hunt-and-peck thing that is sometimes easier on a tablet.

Looking at the weaving that is up on his wall (maybe a rug?) I’m hoping that the prop people actually did buy from Northern Cheyenne artisans.  They apparently did most of their filming in New Mexico, so I hope they made the effort to get the patterns right, and buy from the actual tribe they’re supposed to be portraying, I guess?  And now I’m distracted by the fact that the random hanging light behind Jacob is at a weird angle?  

Look, ever since I realized that the “Hey,” that Jacob does is apparently just A (thanks to it also happening in That Damned Xmas Movie) I am endlessly amused (and charmed) whenever Jacob does it.  I don’t know why it makes me so happy, but it does.  (This is legitimately embarrassing.  How much trouble I am having focusing.  Beyond my normal focus issues, which, as shown above, are already impressive.  Because thiiiiirst.)

“My boys at the lumber yard did just throw you a campaign rally.”  I love how Jacob is basically apparently not just his secret angel-investor, but also a sneaky campaign manager.  Did Branch just think shit like the rally just happened?  He’s not fricking Ferris Bueller; somebody organizes those.  And apparently it’s either Jacob himself, or someone who Jacob appointed to do so.

“I thought you were just a casino developer.”  You have noooo clue, Brancheroo.  “I prefer to remain a silent partner.  White people get nervous when Indians start taking back their land.”  Oooooope.  Especially interesting because there are previsions for the Tribal Council to purchase land to be Tribal land (Section 6 of Article IX of the Tribal Constitution), but this seems more along the lines of personal acquisition.  Though maybe not, because “on the board” doesn’t necessarily equate to being the owner.

The set up of Jacob’s office is so interesting.  Functionally for the show, it’s probably for better shooting angles, so that we can see more of Jacob behind the desk while Branch is sitting in front of it, but from an in-the-verse decorating standpoint, bit’s fascinating.  He has this focal wall with the gorgeous wall hanging, flanked by floor to ceiling window, but instead of having his desk centered on that wall and directly facing the bulk of the room, it’s at an almost 45 degree angle on a huge rug, and it’s so unexpected.  I kind of love it, and want to analyze it for days.  Also worth noting is that pride of place is given to the  Hotamétaneo’o headdress which is on a stand centered in front of the wall hanging.

How fucking tired must Jacob be.  He’s used to Walt... Walting, but then Branch comes in, who he is literally spending his own money to support in his bid for sheriff, and he pulls the same shit of assuming that he’s behind Bad Shit.  And then Branch frames it as “bad P.R,” so he’s there to “discuss it with [him] privately.”  And then basically threatens him with Walt.  I swear.  ...there is something a little amusing about Walt being used as the stick in the carrot and a stick method of negotiating.  He certainly is enough of a blunt object most of the time.

Oh fuck you so much, Branch.  Playing the “can’t give you details about an ongoing investigation” card as though you have some professional or moral leg to stand on after basically blackmailing Jacob with Walt’s vendetta is just such shit.  You don’t get to look down your nose at Jacob’s quid pro quo pragmatism when you were the one who came to him for financial backing.  You sanctimonious little shitheel.  If you didn’t want to deal with Jacob, you shouldn’t have taken his $100k.  He’s a business man, and you’re an investment, and not a quixotic one.

“He’s probably the only person to have died from [hemlock] since Socrates.”  And then Walt’s incredulous look and her, “Alright, I googled it,” were subtle comedic gold.

Ooooooo, that was a nice little shot.  Not quite foreshadowing, but showing Branch’s suspicions and sort of inviting the audience to share them.  Walt says his bit about the Army poisoning “Indian wells” to kill them off and get their land, and then we see Branch fiddling with the Four Arrows chip and narrow his eyes considering and slip the chip into his pocket, looking suspicious.  It’s a really neat little moment of visual storytelling, no lines, literally three seconds long, just sort of snuck in there, but super effective.  Really nicely done.

And again, Cady is in monochromatics.  And, shit, just gave Fales Henry’s name.  Aaaaaand right after, she realizes that the junkie was killed and realizes that it had to have been one of her dads (or so she thinks).

Sal’s monologue in the cell is a good emotional payoff that plays off of Vic’s comments towards the beginning of the episode.  I see the narrative worth of her making them, and how the structure of the episode benefits from it; but seeing those writing elements from the outside of the show doesn’t make me able to like her as a character who said them in-universe.  And then the threat Sal makes of vengeance on someone who killed one he loves also underscores the stuff with Cady’s investigation into her mother’s death very well.  As much as I gripe about the writing *cough S6 cough finale cough* there really is some damn good writing in this show, and I don’t show enough appreciation for it.

Huh, and now there’s a sort of inverse of that weird shot preceding Branch from earlier, but this one is much more effective and less off-putting.  This one [33:00] precedes Walt as he walks back into his office, still a medium close up, but it’s much steadier, and the way it is framed, it does quite a bit to convey his mindset, and he walks out of the shot and we see the three deputies following him in like baffled ducklings, making the shot serve another purpose, too.  Which honestly makes that earlier shaky follow shot of Branch even weirder, because this one was so much better.

And then Walt has his creepy little speech about how someone would want to watch the light go out of their eyes and not caring if you get caught.  I do appreciate that when he’s talking about the psychology of killing with poison he doesn’t just call it a “woman’s method” which media so often does.  It might have been the writers keeping who the killer was abstruse, but it was still more gender neutral.  Especially since according to The U. S. Department of Justice's report on Homicide Trends in the United States (1980 to 2008) of all poison killers in that time period, 60.5 percent were male and 39.5 percent female.  (Table 5 on page 10.)  So that long held idea that even Sherlock Holmes was written to have that poison is “of course” a woman’s weapon is pretty crap.

Awwww, the good old days when Walt paid attention to animals.  ...I am still bizarrely salty about the fact that he never named his horse.  What a good pupper!  

And then we have a classic example of Sneaky!Walt, which always takes people quite by surprise, because he’s usually as subtle as Miley Cyrus.

Also because when he does this, it tends to be pretty fucked up, in a Make Someone Think They’re About To Die way.  And then he does His Thing, where he just lays out all of his suppositions, with no proof, only the terror of her thinking that she’s been poisoned and you’re withholding medical intervention to get her to confess.  And is, irritatingly, correct about his theories.  But I’m pretty sure this qualifies as coercing a confession?  She thinks she’s fucking dying.  Even Vic looks at him like it’s fucked up, and her moral compass where he’s concerned is... skewed.

They way this reveal was played out, (”How’d they find her so fast?”  “Hard to say...”) is somewhat ambiguous as to whether it’s supposed to be that Branch went there to tell Jacob or not, but I kind of doubt it?  I kind of figure that the meeting that Jacob was having when Branch rambled in was already with Rosa signing the paperwork.  Jacob is smart.  So, HAH.  Little good your “can’t comment on an ongoing investigation” schtick did.

And then the news that someone in law enforcement has been asking after Henry.

“Lizzie was waiting for you here tonight.  You should talk to her, Walt.  She seems to think she is in a relationship with you.”  ....omgs.  The tone.  I mean, yes, the blisteringly glorious SASS, but how does one not read that as incredibly shippy?  Howwwww?

“You are an honest man, Walt.  I would like you to stay that way.”  Oh Henry.  When did you decide that you weren’t?  Was it when you hired Hector?  Or was there something before?  ...I feel like there were things before that.  Hello darkness my old friend.

“It is not your job to protect me.”  “It is my job...”  THOSE WERE THE DAYS.  Those were the fucking daaaaaays.  And the emotions on Henry’s face after Walt says, “That was my right,” as though Henry cheated him of something.  I am so deep in OT3 feels I cannot even see daylight here.  The feels of them having been an OT3 and then Walt pulling this shit, and Henry having to defend his own “right” to avenge Martha?  It wrecks me.  “A good woman was murdered.  A bad man is dead.  End of story.”  

Heart, Don’t Fail Me Now

After Jon calls Martin his boyfriend, Martin has a confession to make about how that term isn’t entirely accurate.

on AO3

The mortal garden was well behind them now, though what waited for them up ahead was still unclear, Martin and Jon walking together in the eerie space where one domain bled into another.

The calm before the storm, perhaps. Or after it, when the smell of petrichor seeps out from rain-laden strips of grass. Or both, even, the eye of the hurricane, with thick storm walls on both sides but a brief moment of respite in between them.

Things were relatively calm here, was the point, whatever flowery metaphor Martin chose to use to describe it. The two of them hadn’t spoken much since Jon explained his reasoning behind killing Jude Perry but not Arthur Nolan, explained that he didn’t seem to be helping people no matter what he did, explained that getting rid of other avatars had been out of revenge more than anything else. The silence between them now wasn’t an unpleasant one, though, not exactly.

But something had been bothering Martin since before the two of them left the mortal garden, and he wasn’t sure how long he could go without saying anything about it, so he cleared his throat and prepared to break the peace.

“Jon?”

“Martin?” Jon’s eyes locked on Martin’s in an instant, and Martin could read them like an open book: first wary and worried, searching for threats that had somehow gone unseen, then warming up at the sight of Martin still whole, still unharmed, and only somewhat anxious--was the color getting brighter, or was that just a trick of the lighting?

Martin thought he had never really understood the old expression that the eyes were the window to the soul until after getting to know Jon.

“I- I want to talk to you about something. Something you said to Jared back there.”

Jon stopped walking, and Martin followed his cue, the two standing face to face. “What is it?”

Martin paused, hesitated, biting his lip for a long minute, wanting to savor the moment before he explained his thoughts. They were in the middle of an apocalyptic wasteland, and yet Martin felt--no, Martin knew--that what he was about to say might upend his life far more than any statement Jon read.

“You- you know how Jared asked if I was your boyfriend, and you said I am?”

Martin was pretty sure that even if all he could see of Jon was his eyes, he still would be able to identify every one of Jon’s emotions as his expression flickered from one to the next. Wide-eyed confusion, first. Anxiety, in which he couldn’t quite meet Martin’s gaze, his eyes looking slightly off to the side instead. Concern. Horror. Finally, a sorrow that looked dangerously close to grief.

Jon couldn’t quite keep his voice steady as he responded, though Martin could tell he was making an effort to do so. “Are, are you not-”

Martin’s stomach lurched as he realized where he’d gone wrong, how Jon had been led to entirely the wrong conclusion here. “It’s not- not what you think. We’re still together, or, or dating, if you can call it that...” Martin made a vague hand gesture pointing out their surroundings; anything that most people would consider a “date” was well out of their reach now. “At least I, I want us to be. And I hope once I’m done explaining, that you still want us to be too, that this doesn’t change anything between us...”

Jon’s expression softened, the grief replaced with idle curiosity mixed with confusion--a not-uncommon look for Jon, especially these days. “What do you mean, then?”

“The issue--or, or issue makes it sound bigger than I mean, but--it’s not about us being together, it’s the word. I don’t think I’m your boyfriend.”

Jon considered this for a moment, tilting his head to one side slightly as he thought. “It does sound a bit juvenile, I suppose. Though ‘manfriend’ doesn’t have the right ring to it, I don’t think...”

Martin laughed weakly. “No, no it doesn’t.”

And Martin could see a world where he left it there, maybe ribbed Jon some more about using such a childish term to describe their relationship, didn’t touch on the bigger issue behind it all, didn’t rock the boat. That would be safer. It wouldn’t be the full truth, but it would be safer. The calm would remain undisturbed.

But then again, Martin had already rejected a life full of safety and calm and letting his true self fade away into oblivion in the process, and he had no intentions of going back on that particular decision.

So Martin made himself speak up again.

“Even if it did, though, manfriend wouldn’t really be any better. Because I’m not- I’m not a man. Or a boy, for that matter. I’m not male.”

“Hmm.” Jon’s tone was neutral; Martin suspected that he was working hard to keep it that way, to conceal his true feelings, and he couldn’t quite read whatever was behind Jon’s eyes. “Are you female, then?”

Martin remembered a brief litany of insults hurled at him throughout his childhood--pussy, sissy, girl--and gulped.

“No, no, I- I don’t think I’m either one. I don’t think I’m anything. Does that makes sense? To just... be nothing?”

“You’re not nothing.” The chiding tone of Jon’s voice made Martin flinch, and only after, only when he saw the concern in Jon’s eyes, did he see that Jon might have interpreted things differently once again, might have thought Martin was making a comment regarding his self-esteem rather than his gender or lack thereof.

“I didn’t mean it like that, just, just gender-wise.”

“Ah. Well, then, it’s certainly possible for you to be nonbinary, perhaps agender then, though I don’t mean to force labels on you-”

Martin snorted. “If I can’t get a label from post-apocalyptic Google, where can I get one?”

“I knew those terms beforehand, actually.”

Jon went quiet rather suddenly, averting his gaze, and Martin wondered, then, whether Jon had meant to speak of his pre-existing knowledge so casually.

Had Jon known because he’d come across the terms during his own gender identity exploration, or because he had a friend who’d gone through what Martin had now, or because he’d somehow suspected the truth of Martin’s identity before Martin himself realized it, or just because he was bored one day and did in-depth research into gender identities as nonchalantly as he would do research into spelunking or alchemy or any number of other things that were just idle bits of trivia to him?

Was this the sort of burning curiosity that Jon felt just before he asked someone to tell him their story, whether they wanted to or not?

Well. Martin wasn’t going to force it out of him--he couldn’t do so as literally as Jon himself could, and he certainly didn’t want to pressure Jon into sharing anything he didn’t want to, either. Instead he just stood there and waited for the silence to become less awkward, waited for Jon to speak up again.

Jon did, eventually. “You didn’t mention this earlier.”

It wasn’t a question, certainly, but Martin wasn’t quite sure whether it was meant more as an accusation or as a simple statement of the facts. Either way, Martin could feel his cheeks heat up as he prepared to explain himself.

“I, I’m just starting to figure it all out, didn’t want to bog you down rambling about something I don’t even fully get myself yet. It’s just... all my life people have assumed I’m a man, and I just kind of took it for granted that that meant I was, didn’t think about it much until after we got to Scotland, and usually I’m fine with it, usually it doesn’t even bother me, but there’s a few terms where when they get used it gets under my skin and... and I guess boyfriend’s on that list now.”

It took Jon a moment to respond, and Martin felt like he was getting warmer and warmer by the second as he waited, like he was about ready to spontaneously combust.

“I see.”

Martin forced a grin onto his face, hoped Jon couldn’t tell how false it was. “Of course you see.”

Jon snorted in amusement, and Martin took that as a victory.

“You know you can talk to me about anything, though, Martin, whether you’ve figured it out already or not.”

“I know, I know, just... seems a bit foolish, when I don’t even mind half the assumptions, and, you know...” Martin gestured vaguely at the hellscape around them. “We’ve got a lot going on at the moment already.” 

“Still. Your feelings matter, Martin.” Jon paused. “Should I still call you Martin?”

This threw Martin off a bit, and he took a deep breath as he processed it. “That’s my name, isn’t it?”

“It doesn’t have to be, you know. If it’s too masculine, if it makes you uncomfortable.”

Martin hadn’t actually considered that, and he took a moment to ponder the possibility of changing his name to something else, anything else, before shaking his head. “Think I’ll stick with it. I like the way it sounds, and I’m used to it by now, anyway.”

“Honestly, I like how it sounds too, but that’s not what’s important here.” Jon leaned over and gave Martin a quick peck on the cheek, and Martin’s mind was racing.

“You’re... you’re so calm about this.” Martin threw his hands in the air. “How can you just... accept all of this without even blinking an eye?”

Jon shrugged. “I care about you whatever your gender is, Martin. And I know what it’s like, having to come out, explain your gender, navigate all that. Guess how long it took me to settle on the name Jonathan.”

Martin squinted, looked at Jon for a long moment. “I don’t know, how long?”

“No, no, you have to guess.”

Martin hadn’t seen Jon with that particular kind of shit-eating grin on his face very often before.

“...year and a half?” Martin didn’t know how long was the norm for that sort of thing, but he padded his estimate a bit, knowing well enough that Jon was the type to overthink those sort of decisions.

Jon let out a low whistle. “Thirteen months. You were close.”

“Guess I know you pretty well, heh.”

“Guess so.” Jon tapped his fingers against his leg as he considered his next words... “Do you know... what pronouns you want to use? He still, or she, or they, or any number of neopronouns I could name for you...”

Martin didn’t know what a neopronoun was, but he did know that asking would probably get Jon rambling on about the topic for a good half hour or so--or what would be half an hour, if time worked like it should, anyway--and he wasn’t quite ready for that just yet.

“’He’ is... ‘he’ is fine, I guess? I mean, I don’t mind it, it’s done the job for thirty years now and all, I suppose. ‘She’ doesn’t sound right to me. And ‘they’... all I can think of is my old schoolteacher telling me singular they isn’t grammatically correct, and I need to stop using it in my essays.” Martin grimaced a little at that particular memory.

“Don’t worry about the grammar of it. I think the grammar’s fine, but that’s not what matters. Does it sound right to you?”

“...dunno.”

“Want me to give an example?”

Martin silently nodded in response.

Jon looked Martin right in the eyes. “Martin Blackwood is wonderful, and I love them very much, and I think they’re the only reason I can keep going anymore, that I’d give up on it all if it weren’t for them and their determination.”

Martin’s face turned hot again, but for a different reason this time around. “Stop it!”

“It’s true. All of it.” Jon was grinning again. “So what do you think?”

Martin thought about it for a moment, tried to divorce what he thought of the pronoun as applied to him from what he thought of the pronoun in general, and more specifically from Mrs. Jameson’s old reproaches when it came to his essays. It wasn’t easy to do, but once he did... “I think I like it? Not entirely sure, though.”

“That’s fine. You’ve got time to figure it out.”

“All the time in the world. Such as it is.”

Martin shot Jon a wry smile, and Jon reciprocated.

“Quite.”

“Now, about the ‘boyfriend’ thing... what other terms d’you know for that, without the, the gendered bit of it?”

Jon took a second to respond. “Joyfriend?”

Martin’s eyes widened. “Joyfriend?”

“It’s a thing! It’s a word people use!” Jon threw his arms in the air. “And it’s like boyfriend, but without, well, the boy part. And you do bring me joy, after all.”

“Still sounds weird to me, and if you thought boyfriend was juvenile, well...”

“So that’s a no, got it. What about datemate?”

Martin hummed to himself for a moment before making a wavering hand gesture. “Maybe? I like that better than joyfriend, anyway. The internal rhyme’s rather nice.”

“Alright, we can keep that in mind for later. Significant other?”

Martin wrinkled his nose and made a face. “Too proper.”

“Fair enough. Besides, I think if anyone’s going to be the significant other in this relationship, it’s me. I seem to be significant now, after all, and I’m certainly other as well.”

Martin snorted. “And to think there was a time I believed you didn’t make jokes.”

“Well, I’m certainly glad you know better now.” Jon paused for a moment, hesitation clear in his expression. “What about partner?”

Jon’s eyes kept darting between Martin’s own gaze and the ground, and Martin wondered if his thoughts were consumed with the same thing his were when the term “partner” came up. It reminded Martin of Basira and Daisy immediately, and Martin glanced down at the scar Daisy had left on Jon’s neck. Their partnership was why Jon hadn’t ended up dead that day, sure, but it was also, in a sense, what had allowed things to get that far in the first place.

But then again, the two of them weren’t entirely innocent these days, either...

And that partnership between Basira and Daisy, that sense of having each other’s backs no matter what, of trusting each other come hell or high water, that was something Martin could certainly see the value in.

“Yeah, I, I think I like that one.”

Jon nodded solemnly. “Well, next time a fear avatar asks, I’ll make sure to let them know you’re my partner then.”

Martin rolled his eyes. “Because it’s such a regular occurrence.”

“Better than Jude Perry thinking you’re my valet, anyway.”

“Right, the valet for the car you definitely have.” Martin gestured to the space around them, which was entirely lacking in cars.

They’d had a car, once, back at the safehouse. Martin knew now that taking it wouldn’t have actually sped up this process any, had heard Jon’s speeches about how “the journey will be the journey” loud and clear, but still, part of him wondered now what would have happened if they’d taken the car with them when they’d started.

Would the car have insulated them from the worst of it, protected them from the horrors that surrounded them?

Would the car have broken down early on, as any normal car would when confronted with the obstacles that surrounded them now, having to be abandoned amidst the chaos?

Or would the car have become an eldritch being in its own right, like the safehouse was, feeding on the fear of those within it?

Martin shuddered at the thought and decided he was probably better off not having found out the hard way.

“Martin Blackwood, my partner.” Jon reached for Martin’s hand, and as Martin reciprocated the gesture, intertwining his fingers with Jon’s as he had so many times over now, Jon gave Martin’s hand a gentle squeeze. “I rather like the sound of that.”

How I’m going to tackle “Rumors of Rockland”

Hello there!  Today there was a RIDICULOUSLY large information dump on Outlaw’s Patreon about upcoming game layouts.  There’s far too much there to comment on right now, but there’s one thing in particular I wanted to focus on today.  This post actually is less of me talking about the possibilities of the game, and more so how “I” personally am going to approach these particular “games.”

Overview of what’s below:

- What is “Rumors of Rockland” (RoR)

- My OC Sasha Holmes

- What kind of posts you’ll see from me as these RoR installments come through

What is “Rumors of Rockland?”

Of the long list of future games to come from the creators in the Rockland Universe, one of the very first things mentioned that’s new is the “Rumors of Rockland.”  THIS might actually be the first bit of solid content besides the demos that you may see pop up.

“Rumors of Rockland” is a little interesting.  I’m not 100% sure I’d call it a “game” first of all.  I do fully believe it will be presented to us in the same visual format we get with Ren’Py.  The visual novel style basically.  But there’s two big keynotes on what makes this piece of media different from the creators’ other games.

1) The MC in these “games” is going to be more of an observer.  It’s specifically going to be different from the rest of the games where the MC is directly involved in the story.  Here, it sounds more like the MC happens to be in the same setting as another set of characters, but otherwise does not affect what’s going on.  With that being said, I don’t even know if we’ll be playing through with any choices to select.  The creators also said that it would ideally be the same MC in all the scenarios, further suggesting that the MC isn’t being placed in a perilous situation here.  They are an untouched bystander.

2) There will be several installments of this series.  Oh yes.  When I said “scenarios” before, I didn’t necessarily mean that there’s going to be a lot of things happening in this one...I’m going to refer to is as a “visual novel” until further notice.  What I mean is this is a series that will be continuously updated throughout the development of other Rockland games.  New installments can be called new chapters to the visual novel.  “Rumors of Rockland” appears to be a way to supplement extra information to the audience about certain characters and what is going on in Rockland.  That solidifies even more for me why I would prefer to call this a visual novel over a game.  Yes I know lots of games will sometimes continue to get DLC content to add further progression.  Call it a hunch though, I think the creators would want to save their time developing multiple games rather than developing one and just continually adding updates for it.  They have a lot of characters to go through, so this could be an effective way to show some elements that may not be able to make it into a main game.

Apparently, the release order of games has switched around once again and Rumors of Rockland is going to be released first, followed by “Welcome to Rockland” (this is a path focusing on just one character), THEN Misfits: First Blood.  I know, sometimes this gets a little confusing to keep track of.  Just trust me, a lot of this has to do with character shifts for the groups.

Right now the first Rumors of Rockland we’re supposed to get is just listed as “Introduction/Prologue.”  It might not be long, but we’ll see soon what we’re working with here.  There also was a BIG list of potential chapters touching on all sorts of different elements of Rockland.  It’s kind of wild.  Chapters may not be long themselves, considering how many they have planned.  But the good news is I think if they’re doing this the way I suspect...it won’t be difficult to pump out a lot of chapters at a faster pace than any of the other games.  I think all they need is a stock set of backgrounds and sprites...then it’s just recoding and new script each time.  That’s not really so bad if they don’t have the MC have to make a lot or any choices at all.  No complaints from me in that case.

My OC

Okay, little detour here, but this WILL become relevant to this blog and tie back into RoR.  I don’t make many OC’s, but I made one from scratch here.  Her name is Sasha Holmes and I created her specifically to be an NPC in the Rockland Universe.  

See I’m not really the creative type, but I wanted to try practicing character creation and development.  I’m NOT the type of person though who usually a) visualizes/creates my own MC for a game (I prefer games even with pre-made protagonist avatars) or b) self-inserts.  I have NOTHING against anyone who does either of these obviously.  My brain just...lacks the creativity to do the former, and since games are a form of escapism, I don’t self-insert because that’s not part of the fantasy and escapism aspect for me.

What’s more, lots of these games are going to be horror survival.  I feel even LESS inclined to craft an OC I may fall in love with only to throw them into the pits of hell.  Likely any character I make would die, and I don’t have the mental energy to create another OC for every.single.game, haha.

To get around this, I said: “Well what if I just make a character that solely exists in this universe, but never interferes with the story.  Surely there are just normal citizens that live in Rockland?”  What I was planning on doing was occasionally utilizing Sasha for extra posts when I couldn’t think of anything to write.  Something like journal entries she’d make about her day and gossip that she’s heard around town.  Perhaps gossip about people going missing even or shady dealings.  How would Sasha react?  Sometimes a normal person will wave something off as too outlandish to be true.  If it doesn’t directly impact you, it’s easier to ponder one second but push it to the side the next.  Or maybe what you hear could make you start to feel paranoid.  Especially if things persist.

Originally, I was going to split things so that some of the gossip or rumors Sasha heard were actually based on real things that “I” know happen in the games and universe, and some things that are false (because you know how rumors get pretty outlandish if someone mishears something or someone’s just looking for attention).  I was prepared to just kind of craft my own type of content like this in due time.  In addition to all the analysis posts, don’t worry.  The posts regarding my OC would have just been filler when I couldn’t think of anything else.

Now that Rumors of Rockland is a thing though…do you know what this is for me?  It’s a template. I am literally being gifted the EXACT kind of scenario I would have previously had to craft myself.  This visual novel doesn’t need an interactive MC, just one that observes the events happening.  If they’re the same MC in every chapter too, that means they should be safe!  I am beyond ecstatic and not going to look a gift horse in the mouth!

My Rumors of Rockland Posts

So here’s what going to happen in the future.  I’m going to try to do at LEAST one post for every Rumors of Rockland chapter that comes out.  Even if the chapters are short, they’ll still be enough for characters to comment on. The goal here is for me to try something new and have a little fun while also putting out content.  At the moment, I don’t know which of the two types of posts I will end up preferring to do:

1)     Journal Entry- The RoR event has already taken place, and Sasha’s just writing in first person her exact thoughts on the day/information. This would be beneficial if I don’t feel up to describing a whole lot of actions for Sasha or what’s happening around her and just want full dialogue.

2)     Present time fic?- Writing the story as the events of the chapter take place.  This means placing Sasha directly there and describing all that’s happening with her and getting her IMMEDIATE reactions to certain information.  I’m not going to lie, I need to see an RoR chapter first to kind of figure out how I’d write a present time piece.  I certainly don’t want to copy paste all the dialogue she hears. Could do a –cut to RoR chapter- note literally in there, and do more of Sasha’s before and after behaviors and emotions.  This one would be more dynamic definitely, but I would have the advantage where I could practice having Sasha interact with other characters I bring in such as coworkers or friends.  It could be interesting depicting Sasha conversing with another person about what she sees/hears rather than just focusing on her inner thoughts.  I also have another side character I might want to utilize to explain why Sasha is even repeatedly going back to where these events take place.

I will admit, I’m not really a creative writer.  So I’m going to apologize ahead of time if what I put out isn’t all that stellar. This is going to be practice for sure. Like I said, I may start to favor one post type over the other.  I don’t know if I’ll keep them short and sweet, or make it long.  Whatever I feel up to I suppose.

I will also mention that I may still end up doing an ADDITIONAL analysis/thoughts post of sorts along with my OC post for an RoR chapter.  This is only if there is information revealed that “I” personally want to comment on that I know Sasha can’t.  Sasha might not be able to either because she, as an in-universe character, is not aware of the bigger picture, or because her personality doesn’t allow her to think about something in a different way.  Sometimes characters are very set in their beliefs and views, which can affect how they perceive information.  So if there’s people viewing this blog who are more keen on the analysis posts and don’t really like OC content, don’t worry.  Not only will all the big games solely get more analytical posts, but the RoR chapters may still get some as well.  It just depends on what kind of information I get fed.

I need to stress again that Sasha is NOT a self-insert.  She’s a completely human OC, but she is not me.  Now, of course it’s not uncommon for a creator to put just a little bit of themselves into any OC they make.  Sasha’s no exception.  What’s more, I just realized she’s one of the few purely human OC’s I’ve crafted. I might accidentally end up having her share similar beliefs and mannerisms to myself simply because…that’s what I know best.  Sometimes you write better if you write what you know.  That being said, I do also try to go out of my way to give my OC’s both minor and major differences to myself, whether it’s small likes and dislikes, physical appearance changes or certain beliefs. The only reason I’m explaining this is because in the event I have both an OC post AND an analysis post that seem to contrast greatly, it’s because my OC and “I” are reacting differently to something.  Don’t assume necessarily that the way Sasha views something is exactly the same way I view it.  If you do, you might get confused, haha.  I’m sure there’s going to be plenty of times where it can’t be helped that Sasha and I think very similarly.  But for this, I want to try my best to give Sasha a consistent personality and system of beliefs. Big or small.

I don’t know if I will be putting out a post immediately once the first RoR chapter drops. I’m feeling pretty good about the image I have of Sasha in my head, but there’s still some BIG bio points I need to settle on before I can get started.  I know I shouldn’t try to nail down every little piece about her right away so that I can have some flexibility later, but a couple of things I think I need to settle on include:

·        Age and occupation- There’s a time skip I know we’re going to get for the Rockland universe, so it’s important for me to decide where I want to start and where she will potentially be in the future.  I know some of the other characters’ ages now, so that helps a little in deciding how much younger or older she is compared to some characters. It’s also a big deal whether or not she’s a college student pre-time skip, or already started a career.

·        Long term resident of Rockland vs. New in Town- As cliché as it sounds, I may be leaning towards “new in town” simply because it really IS an easy way to explain why she’s never noticed anything strange before in Rockland. While it’s true that children are often ignorant to a lot of the world happening around them, I don’t know enough about the Rockland universe to say WHICH things should be “common knowledge” to a local.

Those are the big ones.  After a lot of thinking, I’m sticking to my original plan that Sasha will just be “good.” Don’t expect her to be TOO sympathetic to a person who she hears committed murder for example, haha.  I just think not only will it be easier for me to write someone who is a “normal civilian” with a good conscience, but also because I think it might be fun later down the line to tackle a little fear that grows and pondering on why people do bad things to begin with.  She’s be a good girl, right now most likely lawful good.  Maybe if I ever wanted to craft a side character that’s a little more chaotic than her to bounce off dialogue with to get other perspectives in there, I could do that.  That’d be another challenge for me altogether though.  

I’m sure not every single chapter though in RoR is going to be about hearing characters describe how they’ve murdered someone recently though.  Especially not continuously in a public place.  Not everything is going to be crystal clear I’m sure. Sasha might brush off some things that happen, and other stuff seems so incoherent without the context that she won’t know WHAT to make of it.

I’m also still debating whether to not only wait for at least the first RoR piece to come out, but if I want to wait for “Welcome to Rockland” to come out as well before finalizing Sasha.

Last thing before I end this!  I wanted to get this post out as a just heads-up on what you’ll see from me in the future.  This should work fine considering the RoR chapters sound like information dumps in visual novel format for the most part.  I want to be make it clear though that I am NOT copyrighting this way of commenting on the RoR chapters.  What I love about these installments, is that you could literally have any viewer’s own OC operating in their own space and just reacting to what happens in plain sight. Anyone should feel free to imagine themselves as the MC here and it’s not going to interfere with anyone else’s story.  I would certainly love to see if anyone else tries to do something similar to what I want to do with the RoR updates.  There’s so many different types of MC’s people can make and I’m positive they won’t all react to things the same exact way as each other.

Dec 28 Library Movie Night - BLOSC: Nos episodes

Prowl would have found the viewing more cathartic if a Starscream hadn’t asked about every half hour if anyone knew how to break mind control.

After the show, everyone’s holomatter avatars started spitting out duplicates. Even on mechs that didn’t have holomatter avatars. It was terrifying. Prowl told everyone to go home.

Today thedemonsurfer 7:35 pm ((awww yiss retrowave verdigrisprowl 7:35 pm ((HEY BUTTERBUNS YOU'VE GOT A FRIEND REQUEST FROM ME. if you accept it then you can pop straight into the room instead of waiting for me to notice that someone's knocking and let you in)) thedemonsurfer 7:35 pm (OH OKAY COOL thedemonsurfer 7:36 pm ((i mistly just ignore my notifs 'cos it's usually just 'hey this person is watching something' verdigrisprowl 7:36 pm ((because there is a nonzero chance that i will not notice you're trying to come in until forty minutes into the show. ... because i've done that to people before.)) ((that's fair)) thedemonsurfer 7:36 pm ((or the fucking scroll bar wont wrnk >8UUU Swervester 7:36 pm //mood tho. the other week i accidentally left icy out until the end of the stream bc rabbit just didn't even notify me until it was over fgbb verdigrisprowl 7:37 pm ((sounds about right)) thedemonsurfer 7:37 pm ((ffff ouch. usually i'll ask someone else through discord to let the host know to let me in but ((that depends on having them in discord and stuff verdigrisprowl 7:40 pm *there are people arriving. Prowl nods at them in greeting. he's in his usual seat, and snacks are laid out.* NoodlesAtNight 7:43 pm *Soundwave walks in with his nose - or lack of - buried in the last of the report on Metermad. He's so happy. He's smiling fit to split his whole face in two.* verdigrisprowl 7:43 pm You came back for more. *is he pleased, surprised, or stating a fact? who knows.* thedemonsurfer 7:43 pm ((hey someone scratch my leg for me im painting my nails and >< verdigrisprowl 7:43 pm ((*skritches*)) thedemonsurfer 7:44 pm ((THANK YOU verdigrisprowl 7:44 pm ((can you like, cross your legs and use the toes of one foot to scratch the other leg)) NoodlesAtNight 7:45 pm [[Of course he did. It's important to you, for one thing, and for another, he liked it.]] *Pause.* [[The parts of it that weren't also horrifying. But there are horrifying things in what he shows as well, so that's hardly a reason not to be present.]] thedemonsurfer 7:45 pm ((I did one better and got astro's help verdigrisprowl 7:45 pm ((smart)) *that's a hell of a smile Soundwave's got. Prowl likes it.* NoodlesAtNight 7:46 pm [[By the way, he hasn't seen reports this meticulous - and entertaining - since... hm. Since ever, he supposes, disregarding his own.]] NoodlesAtNight 7:47 pm *While nobody's here, he'll sneak a quick peck to Prowl's cheek before gathering a snack. Oh, it's /so/ convenient having half his face exposed these days. He doesn't know why he didn't go back to it sooner.* verdigrisprowl 7:47 pm *ah. so THAT'S what the smile's about.* I didn't want to leave the slightest room for doubt. NoodlesAtNight 7:48 pm [[You certainly haven't.]] Today cerebrosurgeon 7:50 pm 〈Hello I got a phone call as soon as I came in here, I'll throw Cerebros in 2oon〉 NoodlesAtNight 7:50 pm *Tilting his head.* [[Good music, as well.]] ((soooooon)) verdigrisprowl 7:50 pm ((find a window to throw your phone out)) cerebrosurgeon 7:50 pm 〈Here I go〉 verdigrisprowl 7:51 pm Oh. Thanks. I'm told it's popular. NoodlesAtNight 7:52 pm [[Understandably so. Perhaps he'll ask you for a full copy later? His patrons might like it.]] SCProwl 7:53 pm *arrives on time? early? something like that* verdigrisprowl 7:53 pm I can give you a link to the station. They stream on the datanet. verdigrisprowl 7:54 pm Hello, alternate. SCProwl 7:55 pm Hello, Captain. Swervester 7:56 pm [he's been sitting in the corner with a graphene hexaflexagon from the box Cerebros gave him. don't mind him] NoodlesAtNight 7:56 pm *Nods. He'd like that link, yes, thank you! And now, a seat in roughly the same spot he had last time, for Reasons.* verdigrisprowl 7:57 pm *Swerve looks quite absorbed. Prowl won't disturb him.* araneamechanica 7:58 pm *guess who's coming to a movie night! it's tara! and guess who h8s public spaces like libraries! so he's crawling along the ceiling all small-like until he finds the meeting room* SCProwl 7:58 pm *seats herself as close to the door as is possible depending on the layout of the room* verdigrisprowl 8:00 pm *so that's... what, three guests so far? Less than last week. Prowl supposed the subject matter might have run them off.* araneamechanica 8:00 pm *and - what the HECK, is that. is that soundwave, with a red-half mask. sw's getting a PING with tara's HUD screenshot of the chompers via the ceiling, with dozens of question marks superimposed around* NoodlesAtNight 8:01 pm *Soundwave tilts his helm up toward the ceiling in the rough direction of where the spider would have to be to see him from that angle and just offers a smile.* araneamechanica 8:01 pm *A SMILE* *someone just fell off the ceiling* cerebrosurgeon 8:01 pm [Add one more to the roster. Cerebros is definitely not opposed to disturbing Swerve after some waving at Soundwave, Prowl, and Prowl. He has a Metroplexahexaflexagon and isn't afraid to offer it to Swe- Oh. That's a big spider.] NoodlesAtNight 8:01 pm *Soundwave heard the tiny plap. He huffs to himself.* Swervester 8:02 pm [doesn't look up, though he's happy to swap flexagons with Cerebros] Hi Tarantulas. Swervester 8:03 pm Wanna help me form a portal to another universe. araneamechanica 8:03 pm *spider hurriedly rights himself and shuffles his limbs til he's transformed into a mech. no one saw that right* A - what for? Swervester 8:03 pm Because I can, mostly. verdigrisprowl 8:03 pm *WHAT WHERE DID HE COME FROM* SCProwl 8:03 pm *don't worry, Prowl didn't see anything* araneamechanica 8:04 pm *HAH* verdigrisprowl 8:04 pm *for a split second, Prowl's face lights up like he's just been told it's his creation day, the end of the war, and a Petrexian festival all rolled into one. And then he controls himself.* Hello. You came. *Tarantulas NEVER comes.* cerebrosurgeon 8:04 pm [He squints at Tarantulas. He has no idea who that is, but he's going to elbow Swerve.] You can't make portals without me, c'mon. Swervester 8:04 pm I thought you were helping too. NoodlesAtNight 8:04 pm *Snapshots that split second. Ahh.* araneamechanica 8:04 pm Is there something specific about the portal you need? It's not - well, not a novel concept these days, multiversal travel. cerebrosurgeon 8:05 pm Oh. Yeah, cool. Definitely. Swervester 8:05 pm I mean, not really. I just wanna make one by flipping the sides around. araneamechanica 8:05 pm *edging over to prowl's glorious face* Today thedemonsurfer 8:05 pm ((OUO)) verdigrisprowl 8:05 pm *waves a hand at the seat nearest Prowl that isn't already occupied. sit sit sit.* araneamechanica 8:06 pm *he wants to smooch it but then again he's not sure if they're Public. tttthat discussion hasn't happened again yet* *will sit!* NoodlesAtNight 8:06 pm [][][]Flipping the sides around?[][][] verdigrisprowl 8:06 pm We should get started. There's mind control and energy vampirism. *is that a list of warnings or a recommendation? who knows.* Swervester 8:06 pm Oh yeah, Cerebros I almost forgot! I absolutely maybe melted down some of those flexagons and --yeah. I mean, I'm mostly joking, I doubt they'd turn into a portal just by flipping them around a bunch. cerebrosurgeon 8:06 pm I should have brought extra flexagons- You. NoodlesAtNight 8:07 pm *Energy vampirism is absolutely a recommendation in his optics. The other one, not so much.* Swervester 8:07 pm I figured out how to make cool energy gauntlets with the graphene. SCProwl 8:07 pm *depends on the kind of energy vampirism we're talking about he--gdit soundwave* verdigrisprowl 8:07 pm *video stream for his alternate.* SCProwl 8:07 pm Oh, yes, thank you. cerebrosurgeon 8:08 pm [Appreciative ping in Prowl's direction.] Energy... Gauntlets. Grommet's gonna want blueprints. verdigrisprowl 8:08 pm *is there a subtle hand gesture Prowl can make to Tarantulas that means "scoot your chair closer"? He's not sure. He side-eyes the chair thoughtfully.* Swervester 8:08 pm Sure. I'm trying to work out armor. NoodlesAtNight 8:08 pm *Soundwave settles in.* [[Oh, not this Darkmatter traitor again.]] araneamechanica 8:09 pm *tarantulas will take the hint, there's at least a little of their plating touching now* NoodlesAtNight 8:09 pm *And he can see that the little mech still hasn't been returned to his original settings. Shame.* verdigrisprowl 8:09 pm *GOOD.* SCProwl 8:09 pm I still prefer him before he was "fixed". NoodlesAtNight 8:09 pm [[As does he.]] verdigrisprowl 8:09 pm Right. Tarantulas. You weren't here last time. The ones in white and green are police. thedemonsurfer 8:10 pm ((OH HEY THAT BOX IS SUSPICIOUS araneamechanica 8:10 pm *to swerve* Do contact me with more details, if you're quite serious?

*to prowl* Ah, thank you, I'd already gotten whiplash at least twice trying to follow this. verdigrisprowl 8:10 pm The blue one can phase shift through objects. The small one is the first mech allowed in this police force. thedemonsurfer 8:10 pm ((slurp verdigrisprowl 8:10 pm ((slorp)) NoodlesAtNight 8:10 pm *Soundwave leans forward a little and squints.* [[His voice has changed. Is he an impersonator?]] thedemonsurfer 8:11 pm ((good morning sweet prince NoodlesAtNight 8:11 pm [[Do they have the real Lightyear trapped somewhere?]] verdigrisprowl 8:11 pm No, his voice just does that. I suspect his voice was injured in the line of duty and he had a new one installed. NoodlesAtNight 8:12 pm [[Ahh. Quite the injury. How fortunate he is that they were able to fix it.]] Swervester 8:12 pm [delayed response because he got distracted] I will! araneamechanica 8:13 pm *initials do not a dad make !!!! tarantulas knows this* thedemonsurfer 8:13 pm omg)) verdigrisprowl 8:13 pm *is wondering himself why the LGMs that actually built him don't get credit.* araneamechanica 8:13 pm *ya need to put some elbow grease in it* verdigrisprowl 8:13 pm *maybe because there are hundreds and you can't tell them apart.* Today verdigrisprowl 8:13 pm Ah. Right. And organic mechaphobia. araneamechanica 8:13 pm *sighs heavily* thedemonsurfer 8:14 pm ((Warp Dipstick ((oooooh ((good plan good plan verdigrisprowl 8:15 pm Still—despite the mecaphobia, the robotic characters are diverse, well-rounded, and get a fair amount of screen time. NoodlesAtNight 8:15 pm [[Have you considered asking it what it-- oh, it's a transport container.]] verdigrisprowl 8:15 pm *oh, this part. where's Soundwave's hand?* SCProwl 8:15 pm ((buzz lightyear is now kronk, i knew it NoodlesAtNight 8:15 pm *Soundwave offers it up. Right here, Prowl. Take it and crush it as necessary.* araneamechanica 8:16 pm *tarantulas LOVES zurg. just. purple, horns, weird mouth, weird laughter, mad science. just sayin. he'll keep his mouth shut on this tho* verdigrisprowl 8:16 pm *just a squeeze, for now* verdigrisprowl 8:17 pm *oh, have a more sustained squeeze* thedemonsurfer 8:17 pm ((clunk NoodlesAtNight 8:17 pm *Soundwave strokes the hand with his free one.* [[Something about this mech seems familiar.]] Swervester 8:17 pm That's weirdly zombie pose thedemonsurfer 8:18 pm ((i like his style. just been released, gonna fly around cerebrosurgeon 8:18 pm [And he thought Mindwipe was intolerable, yeesh.] verdigrisprowl 8:18 pm ((he's VERY stylin)) NoodlesAtNight 8:18 pm ((i LOVE his design holy shit)) verdigrisprowl 8:18 pm ((ISN'T IT GREAT)) araneamechanica 8:18 pm (( him pointy thedemonsurfer 8:18 pm ((I love XR araneamechanica 8:20 pm (( SCREAMS verdigrisprowl 8:20 pm Familiar how? *because Prowl knows who the vampire reminds HIM of* ((oh here here's the line)) thedemonsurfer 8:20 pm (((XR is invited to the threesome it's official verdigrisprowl 8:20 pm ((i love that they got that into a kid show)) Swervester 8:20 pm Hmmm araneamechanica 8:20 pm (( omfg Swervester 8:20 pm //i absolutely missed the line lmao thedemonsurfer 8:20 pm (( "Space... quiet. 8I" verdigrisprowl 8:21 pm ((two of them were evilly laughing and the third one said "care to make it a threesome?!")) Swervester 8:21 pm //omg thedemonsurfer 8:21 pm ((..they use XR to get past the censors a lot huh verdigrisprowl 8:21 pm ((they sure do)) cerebrosurgeon 8:22 pm 〈Squints. For my colour blind ass's reference: Is his scheme red?〉 verdigrisprowl 8:22 pm ((yes)) cerebrosurgeon 8:22 pm 〈TY〉 Today verdigrisprowl 8:22 pm ((his cape is a little reddish-purple but the rest is red)) NoodlesAtNight 8:22 pm [[Ah. A small, purple counting creature with fangs and a round optic cover.]] *Points.* [[Though it is XR who has the accent.]] thedemonsurfer 8:22 pm ((He's a nice starscream crimson cerebrosurgeon 8:22 pm 〈He really does have Mindwipe's colours I'm losing it〉 verdigrisprowl 8:23 pm *... yeah, that doesn't ring any bells for Prowl* NoodlesAtNight 8:23 pm [[...His wings are uncomfortably Unicronian in design, however.]] verdigrisprowl 8:24 pm He's rather top to bottom uncomfortable. NoodlesAtNight 8:24 pm [[No arguments.]] verdigrisprowl 8:24 pm *winces. poor XR.* NoodlesAtNight 8:25 pm [[Hm. At least /two/ of his comrades recognize what's going on.]] thedemonsurfer 8:25 pm ((Time to fight nekkid NoodlesAtNight 8:25 pm ((oh my god rabbit why don't you like me this week)) verdigrisprowl 8:25 pm They do. And they tell the others. araneamechanica 8:25 pm (( oh my GOD i forgot the commander had a gun in his leg (( i just snorted water thedemonsurfer 8:26 pm ((YEAH thedemonsurfer 8:27 pm ((Awwww quq verdigrisprowl 8:27 pm ... For the record, breaking mind control generally isn't that easy. thebestdecepticonleader 8:27 pm How did you do it? araneamechanica 8:27 pm That didn't even make /sense/. verdigrisprowl 8:27 pm Excuse you? NoodlesAtNight 8:27 pm *Uh-oh.* cerebrosurgeon 8:27 pm It's not. And it can be painful- [Squints.] thebestdecepticonleader 8:28 pm How did you get rid of mind control *interested* Swervester 8:28 pm [head snaps up] verdigrisprowl 8:28 pm I don't recall volunteering to talk about myself. thebestdecepticonleader 8:28 pm Anyone else have an answer? verdigrisprowl 8:28 pm *IGNORING THAT.* Anyway. It's—good that they DID break it. And that they fought for it rather than writing him off as a traitor. cerebrosurgeon 8:29 pm [He /does/, but not in this forum. Nod nod.] NoodlesAtNight 8:29 pm *...Is tempted to answer about his own case in order to give Prowl a chance to look good in front of others, but isn't sure if doing so would undermine Prowl's choice to ignore the question.* thebestdecepticonleader 8:29 pm *sigh* araneamechanica 8:29 pm Of course not. A few of them seem to have some rationality about them. araneamechanica 8:30 pm *internal hackles raised, but he'll follow prowl's lead* thebestdecepticonleader 8:30 pm What if I like... trade info for it or something? verdigrisprowl 8:30 pm *squeezing Soundwave's hand hard again, not because of the show.* cerebrosurgeon 8:30 pm [Huff.] Take the bartering somewhere else? verdigrisprowl 8:31 pm We're here to watch TV. thebestdecepticonleader 8:31 pm Fine *angry* NoodlesAtNight 8:31 pm *Squeezes it back. Decides that's a signal to keep his answer quiet for sure.* Today NoodlesAtNight 8:33 pm [[...He wonders what social status a mech who turns into a washing machine would have on your planet.]] [[Would they be considered unbelievably rich, or manual labor?]] verdigrisprowl 8:33 pm Officially, manual labor. SCProwl 8:34 pm Unofficially? araneamechanica 8:34 pm Very well-paid. verdigrisprowl 8:34 pm Incredibly politically powerful. thebestdecepticonleader 8:34 pm How did that even happen? thedemonsurfer 8:34 pm ((sdfghjk SCProwl 8:34 pm Huh. thebestdecepticonleader 8:35 pm Such primitive robots verdigrisprowl 8:35 pm I only know of one washing machine, and he served the Functionist Council. thebestdecepticonleader 8:36 pm What did he wash? araneamechanica 8:36 pm *mumbles thoughtfully* I do wonder if using those wings expends energy, since they almost seem hard-light based... verdigrisprowl 8:36 pm Laundry. thebestdecepticonleader 8:36 pm Laundry? verdigrisprowl 8:36 pm That's what washing machines are /for./ thebestdecepticonleader 8:36 pm Like... armor? verdigrisprowl 8:36 pm No. Like laundry. SCProwl 8:36 pm He's flat-what? verdigrisprowl 8:37 pm Drained battery. thebestdecepticonleader 8:37 pm So like... the stuff fleshies wear? verdigrisprowl 8:37 pm The Functionist Council wore capes. NoodlesAtNight 8:37 pm [[Seedy Hotel? Truth in advertising, at least.]] thebestdecepticonleader 8:37 pm oh thedemonsurfer 8:38 pm ((I love her NoodlesAtNight 8:38 pm [[Random Meter?]] verdigrisprowl 8:38 pm Despite the mechaphobia he fact that mecha are allowed to adopt organic children in this galaxy speaks well to their politics. araneamechanica 8:39 pm *aww, she reminds tarantulas of verity. what a spunky little fleshbag* verdigrisprowl 8:39 pm Yeah, I—I don't know what a random meter is. *side glance at Tarantulas?* NoodlesAtNight 8:39 pm *Also looking at Tara. If anyone here would know...* verdigrisprowl 8:39 pm ... Random meter? Randometer? araneamechanica 8:39 pm *big shrug* Nothing I've ACTUALLY heard of. cerebrosurgeon 8:40 pm We had organics as our charges for years, adoption would have been a convenient option to have. verdigrisprowl 8:40 pm Huh. Maybe it doesn't exist here. NoodlesAtNight 8:40 pm [[You had a human pet of your own?]] *To Cerebros* thebestdecepticonleader 8:40 pm I wish I could have a human pet, I'd treat them well cerebrosurgeon 8:40 pm [Wheeze laugh.] No, none of them were pets. They were teammates. verdigrisprowl 8:40 pm Humans aren't pets. Today thebestdecepticonleader 8:41 pm They aren't, what do Autobots keep them for? NoodlesAtNight 8:41 pm [[He's seen the way certain Autobots treat their fleshlings. Not all of them do well. They might as well be.]] SCProwl 8:41 pm ((i keep getting distracted by recognizing VAs NoodlesAtNight 8:41 pm ((i have no idea what's happening ;; )) SCProwl 8:41 pm ((*high fives cro* araneamechanica 8:41 pm (( same, blackscreen thebestdecepticonleader 8:41 pm I wasn't aware they were good at pest control or fighting verdigrisprowl 8:41 pm ((the stream is working fine for me. there isn't anything i can do on my end to make it work better, is there?)) araneamechanica 8:41 pm (( OH there thebestdecepticonleader 8:42 pm ((mine's fine verdigrisprowl 8:42 pm Autobots /work with/ humans. They aren't kept as pets. thedemonsurfer 8:42 pm ((i love the sound he makes Swervester 8:42 pm //it's fine for me, but usually refreshing fixes black screen SCProwl 8:42 pm ((it's working fine for me, so idek how it decides when to work or not tbh thebestdecepticonleader 8:42 pm Oh... so what do they actually do that Autobots can't? verdigrisprowl 8:42 pm They are independent sentient individuals. NoodlesAtNight 8:42 pm ((i don't think so, short of maybe a new rabbitcast - but that would be a lot of setup effort for you)) cerebrosurgeon 8:43 pm We worked with humans and Nebulans for a /long/ time. They were integrated into our unit, saved our circuits more than once. [Shrug.] 〈Stream hasn't had audio for me but that seems like the laptop's problem, not a big deal〉 thebestdecepticonleader 8:43 pm Simple sentience is a little low to be setting the bar for whether you can keep them as a pet or not. I mean... turbofoxes have some sentience. verdigrisprowl 8:43 pm Why do they have to do anything that Autobots can't? In almost every universe, we end up fighting on THEIR planet. thedemonsurfer 8:43 pm ((Awww <3 verdigrisprowl 8:43 pm ((is ANYBODY getting to see this show?)) thedemonsurfer 8:43 pm ((I AM thebestdecepticonleader 8:44 pm ((me too SCProwl 8:44 pm ((I am! cerebrosurgeon 8:44 pm 〈I'm very good at knowing what's going on without audio and am transcribing for Deckard, I got u〉 thedemonsurfer 8:45 pm ((aaa QQ Swervester 8:45 pm Oh no what happened to them cerebrosurgeon 8:45 pm [Wince. Yikes.] verdigrisprowl 8:45 pm The energy vampire drained them. thedemonsurfer 8:45 pm ((QnQ they can repair her parents right verdigrisprowl 8:45 pm Hence why she's hunting him. thebestdecepticonleader 8:45 pm How did they... have a human daughter... that doesn't seem to be biologically possible Swervester 8:45 pm Oh. Does he give anyone else Starscfream vibes thebestdecepticonleader 8:45 pm HEY! verdigrisprowl 8:45 pm She's adopted. That's why we're talking about humans. We were discussing adoption. NoodlesAtNight 8:45 pm [[Depends on the Starscream.]] Today thedemonsurfer 8:46 pm ((oh my god i love him cerebrosurgeon 8:46 pm [Slow nodding. Maybe. Swerve's not wrong.] Swervester 8:46 pm That really dramatic one from the universe Smokey's from. thebestdecepticonleader 8:46 pm Oh, that's not me, that's fine Swervester 8:46 pm The one who killed a Cliffjumper. verdigrisprowl 8:46 pm ... If he was red. ... And legless. NoodlesAtNight 8:46 pm *Shudders. The Undead. This Nos-4-A2 really is a horrible creature.* SCProwl 8:46 pm *huffs* thedemonsurfer 8:47 pm ((Awww Swervester 8:47 pm It's mostly the personality that reminds me of that Starsxream. thebestdecepticonleader 8:47 pm Well it's nothing like me *huffs* verdigrisprowl 8:47 pm His head's also sort of shaped like... *makes a triangle with his hands.* verdigrisprowl 8:48 pm *... Looks at Nos. Looks at the triangle. ... Looks at Soundwave's face.* araneamechanica 8:48 pm (( AT LEAST USE AN ADAPTER omg Swervester 8:48 pm //rthbfg Swervester 8:48 pm [looks at Prowl's hands too] SCProwl 8:48 pm *laughs* cerebrosurgeon 8:48 pm [Looks at Swerve looking at Prowl's hands. Looks at Prowl's hands.] thedemonsurfer 8:49 pm ((\QUQ/ SCProwl 8:49 pm *can see where Prowl was looking* verdigrisprowl 8:49 pm *oh, right, looks at screen.* cerebrosurgeon 8:49 pm /Oh./ They repaired them. Good. SCProwl 8:49 pm Repaired them without rewriting their personalities, I hope. verdigrisprowl 8:50 pm Spoilers, they didn't successfully kill the vampire. thedemonsurfer 8:50 pm ((...patrick warburton is also the LGM ((h u h cerebrosurgeon 8:50 pm Their minds are all connected again, I don't think they'd repeat the mistake now. [Huffs. This vampire guy.] NoodlesAtNight 8:51 pm [[His face shape means nothing. He doesn't do what the energy vampire does.]] verdigrisprowl 8:51 pm I know. araneamechanica 8:51 pm The teeth imply otherwise. *snickers* SCProwl 8:51 pm Different teeth. verdigrisprowl 8:51 pm Different teeth, different function. cerebrosurgeon 8:51 pm 〈I misread that as Weirdwolf and I'm yelling〉 thebestdecepticonleader 8:51 pm Anyone who rewrites personalities without the permission of the person needs to be shot verdigrisprowl 8:51 pm ((well, he IS a weird wolf.)) araneamechanica 8:52 pm (( did these eps air in october. halloween perhaps cerebrosurgeon 8:52 pm 〈Wow... Half the Decepticon Headmasters.〉 verdigrisprowl 8:52 pm ((they were scattered all along the length of the series)) Today verdigrisprowl 8:53 pm ((i had to squeeze them together and put them in roughly chronological order.)) ((there's SOME internal continuity in blosc, but the order they were aired in doesn't match the order of events)) thedemonsurfer 8:53 pm ((awwww bby NoodlesAtNight 8:53 pm *Crunches the HELL out of his snack to underline the different function point of his fangs. There. You see? Not for mind control at all.* araneamechanica 8:54 pm *energy vampirism and mind control are difffferent, it's ok* verdigrisprowl 8:54 pm *............ prowl wants soundwave to do that to his thigh* cerebrosurgeon 8:54 pm [Glances at Soundwave. That is a Loud Crunch.] araneamechanica 8:55 pm *...is tempted to retaliate with mandible cronch, but he's not quite that petty* SCProwl 8:55 pm *eating be like that sometimes* NoodlesAtNight 8:55 pm *Notices Cerebro watching. ... Extra vicious bite off the energon bar.* cerebrosurgeon 8:55 pm [... Carry on, he'll advert his gaze. He gets it. Eating be like that sometimes.] verdigrisprowl 8:55 pm *... crosses legs* NoodlesAtNight 8:56 pm *Pleased with all responses. Point (and mild Prowl torture) completed. Munches quieter now.* verdigrisprowl 8:56 pm *speaking of robot hickeys* thebestdecepticonleader 8:56 pm Two robots doing what? SCProwl 8:56 pm Biting each other. thedemonsurfer 8:56 pm ((mwaj thebestdecepticonleader 8:56 pm That seems like an ineffective way of fighting NoodlesAtNight 8:57 pm [[Biting and energon swaps are for when in private.]] [[And it is only ineffective if your mouth is not constructed to suit it.]] thebestdecepticonleader 8:57 pm Guns would still be better SCProwl 8:57 pm Not in hand-to-hand. thebestdecepticonleader 8:58 pm Swords NoodlesAtNight 8:58 pm [[Enjoy trying to shoot through your own stasis cuffs.]] thebestdecepticonleader 8:58 pm knives really tiny guns cerebrosurgeon 8:58 pm Oh no. araneamechanica 8:58 pm *teeth AND guns are both wonderful for fighting AND lovemaking, in this one's humble opinion, but!* NoodlesAtNight 8:58 pm ((oh my god that reference)) SCProwl 8:58 pm *huffs* verdigrisprowl 8:58 pm ((i know)) thebestdecepticonleader 8:59 pm this is me and Megatron verdigrisprowl 9:00 pm ... Is... Megatron known for rescuing you, in your universe? thedemonsurfer 9:00 pm ((OH that is uncomfortable SCProwl 9:00 pm Biting, scratching, elbowing, kicking. *ticks them off on her fingers as she speaks* All incredibly useful when you're fighting. NoodlesAtNight 9:00 pm [[What in Primus' name--]] thedemonsurfer 9:00 pm ((DOG DOG DOG DOG thebestdecepticonleader 9:00 pm No, always ruining what I try to do though Today thebestdecepticonleader 9:00 pm I am the one always trying to protect his worthless aft araneamechanica 9:00 pm *spontaneous laughter, why is this funny to him* NoodlesAtNight 9:00 pm *...It's like the blue and white Ravage got a mech mode.* thebestdecepticonleader 9:00 pm Or at least, I was verdigrisprowl 9:01 pm *worried glance at Tarantulas* NoodlesAtNight 9:01 pm [[Oh - he knows what is happening to that human.]] thedemonsurfer 9:01 pm ((XR No cerebrosurgeon 9:01 pm [Mindwipe, Weirdwolf. Is Skullcruncher next? Also squints at Tarantuas.] SCProwl 9:01 pm What is it? araneamechanica 9:01 pm *waves away the worry* It's an allusion. NoodlesAtNight 9:01 pm [[He has seen human films about the affliction. They are called Wear Wolves, for obvious reasons.]] cerebrosurgeon 9:01 pm 〈Oh. Laptop audio suddenly exists. Excellent〉 verdigrisprowl 9:02 pm ... The "obvious reasons" is sarcasm, right? araneamechanica 9:02 pm Ironic, considering they tend to wear much less after transforming NoodlesAtNight 9:02 pm [[Not at all. They wear a canine shape for a while, and then when they are done they put it back inside of themselves.]] verdigrisprowl 9:02 pm ... *very quietly* That was a canine? araneamechanica 9:02 pm *more laughter* SCProwl 9:03 pm Inside where? thebestdecepticonleader 9:03 pm I need to be able to change into something like that... maybe then I would be able to kill Megatron then NoodlesAtNight 9:03 pm [[...Well, he isn't - perfectly certain based on the design,]] mainly because the mun only caught a glimpse, [[but he has never heard of a Wear Cat before.]] araneamechanica 9:03 pm It's a quote-unquote supernatural phenomenon, for the record. verdigrisprowl 9:04 pm *Soundwave can't tell dogs and cats apart either? Oh, Prowl feels a little better.* araneamechanica 9:04 pm Different cultures may have different forms, I believe it's the spontaneous unconscious transformation into a beast-type form that's the key thedemonsurfer 9:05 pm ((What did he say NoodlesAtNight 9:05 pm [[Inside themselves, Prowl.]] *To the one from his world.* [[Below their skin.]] thedemonsurfer 9:05 pm ((oh noooo thebestdecepticonleader 9:05 pm How do I get one of these? cerebrosurgeon 9:05 pm [Squints. He knows what humans are like below their skin.] I don't think they have... Room. araneamechanica 9:05 pm A beast form? You ask me nicely, that's how. gmoneyz 9:05 pm [QUIETLY.........opens the door. Stupid Cerebros pinging him over and over till he joined. He's making a beeline to him to very loudly SLAP a servo on his back and take a seat next to him.] araneamechanica 9:05 pm *smug smug* cerebrosurgeon 9:06 pm [Flinch; /ow/.] Finally. verdigrisprowl 9:06 pm He appears to be technorganic now. He's probably mostly metal and wire beneath his skin. SCProwl 9:06 pm How does the wolf get out from inside them? I though human flesh couldn't be torn without inflicting significant damage. thebestdecepticonleader 9:06 pm It seems to be a lot stronger than he is, I need that kind of upgrade gmoneyz 9:06 pm Never ask me for anything ever again. What's happened so far. cerebrosurgeon 9:06 pm So much. gmoneyz 9:06 pm Thanks. NoodlesAtNight 9:06 pm [[...Like that, he supposes.]] Today cerebrosurgeon 9:06 pm Anytime. Swervester 9:07 pm Green moon. araneamechanica 9:07 pm You - you haven't seen me transform, have you. *awkward laugh @ scprowl* verdigrisprowl 9:07 pm There's a robot that sucks energy from other machines and mind-controls them. He's not here right now, but he bit an organic and turned it into that. *points* thebestdecepticonleader 9:07 pm NO MIND CONTROL gmoneyz 9:07 pm I see. Thanks for the synopsis. SCProwl 9:07 pm No. I haven't. verdigrisprowl 9:08 pm *to alternate* I could show you later. If you and Tarantulas want. araneamechanica 9:08 pm I - if you'd like? NoodlesAtNight 9:08 pm ((....i turned off stylish's rabbit fix and now my rabbit layout is ugly but it's not dying on me anymore)) gmoneyz 9:08 pm This is just like when they blew up Mars. verdigrisprowl 9:08 pm *winces* verdigrisprowl 9:09 pm Why, have you seen this episode? cerebrosurgeon 9:09 pm Is- [Squints at Eject. He /was/ there, wasn't he?] Is that really how their meeting went. SCProwl 9:09 pm I suppose. For the sake of answering a scientific curiosity. *since she sort of hates Tara since the whole predacon baby maybe being plague ridden* araneamechanica 9:09 pm *YEAH THAT OOPS* NoodlesAtNight 9:09 pm *Soundwave gives Eject a small nod in greeting before returning his attention to the screen.* gmoneyz 9:09 pm No. Not an episode. They really blew up Mars in our universe. verdigrisprowl 9:09 pm No, THIS episode. gmoneyz 9:09 pm Nope. Just the planning of it. Swervester 9:09 pm [waves at Eject] gmoneyz 9:10 pm [waves at Swerve. GLANCES...at Soundwave. HM.] thedemonsurfer 9:10 pm ((I feel like that might mess up their energy operation cerebrosurgeon 9:10 pm Eject was our main source of recon, he knows all about The Mars Plan. NoodlesAtNight 9:10 pm *Oh, please. If anything, the Starscream here is the bigger threat. He's more likely to actually, y'know. Do something.* cerebrosurgeon 9:10 pm Apparently, it was basically "let's do it" "okay." gmoneyz 9:11 pm It was that. [Starscream can try if he'd like to lose an arm or two.] NoodlesAtNight 9:11 pm [[They are doing a terrible job of catching this mech.]] thebestdecepticonleader 9:11 pm ((what's starscream trying? SCProwl 9:12 pm Maybe if they'd used an adapter the first time they tried to kill him. verdigrisprowl 9:12 pm To be fair, they DID kill him once. They probably tossed the body before they realized he wasn't really dead. SCProwl 9:12 pm Always check. You'd think soldiers would know this. thebestdecepticonleader 9:12 pm That's why, when I kill Megatron, I'm going to keep his dead spark thedemonsurfer 9:12 pm ((I like Nos-4-A2 eps 'cos they're also XR eps thebestdecepticonleader 9:12 pm So I'll know he's dead verdigrisprowl 9:12 pm Dead sparks disappear. thebestdecepticonleader 9:12 pm Not where I am from SCProwl 9:13 pm Really? Today thebestdecepticonleader 9:13 pm They turn to dust NoodlesAtNight 9:13 pm [[Not assuming someone is dead until you have the corpse and can confirm it is the first rule of - of anything involving an enemy.]] verdigrisprowl 9:13 pm He's the only bot of his model and he was made by an "evil emperor." The fact that he's an "emperor" means he's part of a different political entity, and therefore probably has radically different technology. thebestdecepticonleader 9:13 pm But with a lot of determination you can collect it verdigrisprowl 9:14 pm ((the unnecessarily gratuitous accent is both unnecessary and gratuitous)) thebestdecepticonleader 9:14 pm I've already made the mistake of not keeping proof once before and he returned, it's not going to happen again verdigrisprowl 9:14 pm They might not have had the technology to figure out when he's offline for good. SCProwl 9:14 pm ((yyyyyyeah this is uncomfortable verdigrisprowl 9:15 pm ((YEAH THE ACCENT IS... REALLY UNCOMFORTABLE i'm sorry for that. he goes away partway through the episode.)) thebestdecepticonleader 9:15 pm ((what is the accent?)) ((I'm not getting it)) thedemonsurfer 9:16 pm ((terribly pass at Jewish ((I think, ye? cerebrosurgeon 9:16 pm 〈Yiddish, specifically〉 NoodlesAtNight 9:16 pm *Leaning forward. Does the energy vampire have a mlah on his tongue? What even--* gmoneyz 9:16 pm ((not to mention like the racist caricature )) thebestdecepticonleader 9:16 pm ((oh... how terrible it is is probably why I couldn't tell)) araneamechanica 9:16 pm *leans on vprowl, an aside* When you said "later" to your alternate, that might have to be later-later. I'm afraid I do have to head out. thedemonsurfer 9:17 pm ((wait tha'ts kind of cheating if it works by just eating all your appliances (("Apliances not included, supply your own" verdigrisprowl 9:17 pm ((i. couldn't even reliably identify it. i'm sorry that's in there.)) cerebrosurgeon 9:18 pm 〈The Yid in the room is not offended, ur good〉 gmoneyz 9:18 pm ((NO ITS OK. youre not to blame )) Swervester 9:18 pm //gotta love late 90s kids tv i guess? gmoneyz 9:19 pm [Nudges Cerebros] Weren't those little things the things that like tried to eat Cyclonus. thedemonsurfer 9:19 pm ((I dig the 4amed cat lady tho cerebrosurgeon 9:20 pm [Nudges back.] The- The little... Wing, teeth, lizard, fish... Things? Yeah. SCProwl 9:20 pm ((the other jewish guy in the room is less offended and more like mildly annoyed at the show, but not at you, puff <3 verdigrisprowl 9:20 pm Ah. Are you leaving right now, or...? verdigrisprowl 9:21 pm ((and i think that's the last of him)) thedemonsurfer 9:22 pm ((no reprise at the end of the ep? I'd expact to see him one more time araneamechanica 9:22 pm Shortly, unfortunately thebestdecepticonleader 9:22 pm this is... well it seems... nsfw verdigrisprowl 9:22 pm ((not that i recall. i could have forgotten though.)) araneamechanica 9:22 pm (( tiny nos-es (( they cute thebestdecepticonleader 9:22 pm Man verdigrisprowl 9:22 pm *... reaches over. squeezes tara's hand.* *and soundwave's.* Today thebestdecepticonleader 9:22 pm More mind control *folds arms* verdigrisprowl 9:23 pm *the tarantulas squeeze is just before he leaves, the soundwave squeeze is for emotional support.* araneamechanica 9:23 pm *gently squeezes back? this is ok then ok good* SCProwl 9:23 pm They can rebuild his body. cerebrosurgeon 9:23 pm [Wince. Decapitation without the proper protocol initiation is Painful.] thebestdecepticonleader 9:24 pm Is everyone sure that they don't want to tell me how to get rid of mind control? thedemonsurfer 9:24 pm ((omg cerebrosurgeon 9:24 pm /Another time/, Starscream. thebestdecepticonleader 9:24 pm Just thought I would double check thedemonsurfer 9:24 pm ((continued great writing cerebrosurgeon 9:24 pm I suggest not triple checking. verdigrisprowl 9:24 pm We are very, /very/ interested in /not/ discussing real life mind control at a recreational movie night. thebestdecepticonleader 9:25 pm You can't blame me for trying, it's important verdigrisprowl 9:25 pm ... Is it imminent? thebestdecepticonleader 9:25 pm It's ongoing... araneamechanica 9:25 pm *uneventful departure is uneventful, after another squeeze to prowl's hand and a transformation-crawl up onto the ceiling & away* verdigrisprowl 9:25 pm Kill the mind controller. Discussion over. araneamechanica 9:25 pm (( *waves gnite* verdigrisprowl 9:25 pm ((*waves*)) cerebrosurgeon 9:25 pm 〈Night!〉 thebestdecepticonleader 9:25 pm Been trying since I was born, any other options verdigrisprowl 9:25 pm No. Discussion over. Swervester 9:26 pm [throws hexaflexagon at Star] SCProwl 9:26 pm Organic technology. Fascinating. NoodlesAtNight 9:26 pm *Squeezes the hand back, like the mindful and helpful emotional support he is.* [[Oh, Wheeljack would have a fit at that.]] [[But it is extremely clever.]] gmoneyz 9:26 pm Good aim. Making me proud Swerve. thebestdecepticonleader 9:26 pm The heck is this, Swerve cerebrosurgeon 9:27 pm [SWERVE. Huffs. They're not projectiles.] Flexagon. Flip it. verdigrisprowl 9:27 pm *if anyone else in the room who's better equipped wants to privately and silently comm Starscream about it, Prowl won't stop them. But even if Prowl WANTED to offer more, that's all he has.* thedemonsurfer 9:27 pm ((I love XR Swervester 9:27 pm [sure they are] Hexaflexagon cerebrosurgeon 9:28 pm 〈Me: This is like Guild Wars. Deckard, yelling: THEY'RE SYLVARI.〉 gmoneyz 9:28 pm ((THEY ARE........plant people :} )) NoodlesAtNight 9:28 pm ((this alien would get along GREAT with Poison Ivy)) gmoneyz 9:28 pm ((LEGIT)) NoodlesAtNight 9:28 pm [[Primus, he forced him into a new frame too?]] verdigrisprowl 9:29 pm ... Tarantulas would probably be interested in this. Mixing organic and mechanical technology. *too bad he just left.* Today SCProwl 9:29 pm *this Prowl's experience with mind control isn't really similar to the type that Starscream is going through, so her advice wouldn't help, unfortunately* gmoneyz 9:29 pm What poor weapon construction. NoodlesAtNight 9:29 pm [[You could send him your record of it.]] cerebrosurgeon 9:29 pm Oh. He can, uh. He can call me about that? That's something he does? We've got extensive data. verdigrisprowl 9:30 pm *he's trying to focus on the parts Tarantulas might be interested in so that he doesn't focus on the things that are making him squeeze Soundwave's hand even harder.* Swervester 9:30 pm Are they edible thebestdecepticonleader 9:31 pm Technically anything is edible once verdigrisprowl 9:31 pm It is. You saw his body—it's not decorative, he's half organic. He did it all himself. *Prowl's proud.* cerebrosurgeon 9:31 pm /Really?/ Wow. [He's very impressed. Prowl is rightfully proud.] That's. Wow. [He has Questions.] NoodlesAtNight 9:32 pm [[Emotionally responsive vegetation. He wonders if it would survive on a planet as hostile as ours?]] verdigrisprowl 9:32 pm I know. Wow. /By/ himself, too—no lab assistants. thedemonsurfer 9:32 pm ((oooh another??8D verdigrisprowl 9:32 pm Last episode. Spoilers, the vampire escapes. cerebrosurgeon 9:33 pm Maybe /I/ should call /him/, that's amazing. gmoneyz 9:33 pm Wow. They need better security. NoodlesAtNight 9:33 pm *Shakes his head. He had hoped they would catch the mech.* [[Well. Not every police force can have you guiding them, he supposes.]] Swervester 9:33 pm //i enjoy that the opening sequence confirms this is an In Universe show and not just a spin off of the movies, but the Actual Cartoon that's mentioned in the first movie gmoneyz 9:34 pm Unfortunately. ((ITS A NICE TOUCH)) verdigrisprowl 9:34 pm This episode also prominently features a mech whose other episodes I've skipped. For reference: his name is XL, he's XR's older brother, and he's a criminal. So. Sorry I skipped his other appearances. We'll see them in future weeks. verdigrisprowl 9:35 pm ((IT REALLY IS)) gmoneyz 9:35 pm Wirewolf? Does Weirdwolf have a fucking brother too now. cerebrosurgeon 9:35 pm /Wired/ Wolf. gmoneyz 9:35 pm Oh. My bad i forgot one letter. How will I ever go on. cerebrosurgeon 9:35 pm Is that- That's his brother? He's a lot... Bigger. Swervester 9:35 pm Sadly. cerebrosurgeon 9:35 pm [Elbows Eject] verdigrisprowl 9:35 pm That's XL. *he says, unnecessarily.* Swervester 9:36 pm You'll go on sadly. gmoneyz 9:36 pm Sadly. verdigrisprowl 9:36 pm He self upgraded. gmoneyz 9:36 pm He certainly is...XL at least. verdigrisprowl 9:36 pm Their heads hold their identities, the rest of their bodies are optional. Swervester 9:36 pm Amazing. Also do moon rocks work that way Today cerebrosurgeon 9:36 pm [The unnecessary statement was still appreciated. Nod nod.] It's a good method. NoodlesAtNight 9:36 pm [[What a cruel thing to do to this poor Wolf human.]] Swervester 9:36 pm [looking suspiciously at his subspace. Full of moon rocks] cerebrosurgeon 9:36 pm N-... No gmoneyz 9:37 pm No. I wish they did. verdigrisprowl 9:37 pm It's not the fact that it's a moon rock so much as the specific radiation OF that moon mixed with the effects of his bite. cerebrosurgeon 9:37 pm Luna-1 rocks do not make people Weirdwolf. Wired Wolf. gmoneyz 9:37 pm Wiredwolf. verdigrisprowl 9:37 pm Wirewolf. cerebrosurgeon 9:37 pm [Holds head in hands.] Swervester 9:37 pm [pulls a moon rock out of subspace] gmoneyz 9:37 pm Bite it. SCProwl 9:37 pm Shockwave attempted something similar in our universe, though it was on others, not himself. To less than stellar results. thedemonsurfer 9:37 pm ((I walked off to pee what happened cerebrosurgeon 9:38 pm [LIFTS HEAD.] YOU... Carry them around. Swervester 9:38 pm Yes. Sort of NoodlesAtNight 9:38 pm *Intrigued* [[From what moon?]] Swervester 9:38 pm I was experimenting. Luna 1 cerebrosurgeon 9:38 pm Luna-1! Our moon. verdigrisprowl 9:38 pm ((XL and Nos kidnapped put a moon rock necklace around Ty's neck and kidnapped Wirewolf, for Unknown Purposes)) NoodlesAtNight 9:38 pm [[Ah. The one that was lost?]] cerebrosurgeon 9:38 pm Yes. We found it. Swervester 9:38 pm Yeah thedemonsurfer 9:38 pm ((Aaa puppy!!! gmoneyz 9:38 pm We sure did. Live on it even. gmoneyz 9:39 pm I'm personally imprisoned on it. verdigrisprowl 9:39 pm I've been a couple of times. Swervester 9:39 pm Are you actually imprisoned gmoneyz 9:39 pm No. cerebrosurgeon 9:39 pm You moved in- /You/ moved in! verdigrisprowl 9:39 pm It's... it's what you'd expect from a moon. gmoneyz 9:39 pm It's called a joke Cerebros. Swervester 9:39 pm Full of dead titans. verdigrisprowl 9:39 pm Unexpected number of Metrotitan corpses. Today gmoneyz 9:39 pm It's desolate and sad. NoodlesAtNight 9:39 pm *Soundwave looks at the lot of them, tilting his head.* [[He understands Eject. Many of our minicons chose to live separate from the main Cybertronian population. He does not know why anyone else would want to be so far from home.]] verdigrisprowl 9:39 pm Otherwise pretty normal. cerebrosurgeon 9:40 pm [Huff.] We also have the hot spot. verdigrisprowl 9:40 pm Oh, right. I haven't seen that. Swervester 9:40 pm Oh yeah. I should take a look at it sometime. NoodlesAtNight 9:40 pm [[A hot spot?]] Swervester 9:40 pm Babies. gmoneyz 9:40 pm It's actually beautiful. Swervester 9:40 pm Unforged babies. cerebrosurgeon 9:40 pm Anytime you want, Red can give you the full tour, Prowl. verdigrisprowl 9:40 pm Ignited but unactivated. NoodlesAtNight 9:40 pm [[That is - yes, how your timeline acquires new life. Unactivated?]] gmoneyz 9:40 pm We don't include them in our typical tours. Red is very particular. NoodlesAtNight 9:40 pm [[Do they not spawn their own frames?]] gmoneyz 9:40 pm No. verdigrisprowl 9:41 pm I'm given to understand that the sparks are... well, it's not /stasis,/ but they're in stasis. thebestdecepticonleader 9:41 pm Your world still has natural babies gmoneyz 9:41 pm They need frames forged. Swervester 9:41 pm Dormant might be a good word for it? verdigrisprowl 9:41 pm Dormant, yes. thebestdecepticonleader 9:41 pm Tell me about them thedemonsurfer 9:41 pm ((Sup Daddy-o Swervester 9:41 pm [pings Starscream ancient files from his hot spot days] NoodlesAtNight 9:41 pm [[That is inconvenient. And... strange. Where did the first Cybertronians come from in your timelines, if they did not grow themselves?]] thebestdecepticonleader 9:41 pm Wow! cerebrosurgeon 9:41 pm Cybertron spat 'em out. gmoneyz 9:41 pm Yea. verdigrisprowl 9:41 pm If they were active, they COULD grow their own frames—with help and supervision, buuut technically even without supervision many would make it to adulthood. verdigrisprowl 9:42 pm Supervision just increases it from "many" to "almost all." thebestdecepticonleader 9:42 pm No they used to come that way to our universe but then Primus stopped producing them or... whatever NoodlesAtNight 9:42 pm [[Ahh. ... How are they activated?]] verdigrisprowl 9:42 pm ... I don't know. Swervester 9:42 pm Our main job as surpervisors was attending to sparks that weren't bonding to the metallico and helping them forge their frames. Or sparks that were having trouble shaping their metal themselves. thebestdecepticonleader 9:42 pm Now you basically have cobbled together bodies with no sparks, just coding, like me NoodlesAtNight 9:43 pm *Taking notes on Starscream's additions. This seems somewhat familiar based on the other red Starscream he worked with, but he's not 100% sure it matches. He never had a chance to investigate that timeline in detail.* verdigrisprowl 9:43 pm *gestures at the screen* This is the sort of rubbish you get when people who don't understand science are put in charge of the engineering divisions. Asking for a two day project in ten minutes. thebestdecepticonleader 9:44 pm I'm what you get when Megatron does that cerebrosurgeon 9:44 pm Ugh. [He's been there, done that.] Never ends well. Today Swervester 9:44 pm [pings old files to Soundwave too, including old employee medical manuals for dealing with problems] verdigrisprowl 9:44 pm Glaringly evil flaws aside, Zurg is at LEAST clearly a scientist and inventor in his own right and it shows in his work. Swervester 9:44 pm So they're asking for Brainstorm level projects. gmoneyz 9:44 pm Yes but Brainstorm ENJOYS the time crunch. NoodlesAtNight 9:45 pm *He will ABSOLUTELY devour these. He's been interested in how Prowl's timeline could revive its population since he arrived.* Swervester 9:45 pm I think Wheeljack did too honestly. [enjoy Soundwave, he'll probably dig up more old files including medical records for examples later] verdigrisprowl 9:45 pm *can you tell he's babbling about managing scientists to avoid thinking too hard about the tortured mind controlled wirewolf.* It's amazing that thing doesn't just fall apart. NoodlesAtNight 9:46 pm *...And perhaps a little bit about how to help the small, defenseless sparks grow up to be safe and content Cybertronians. Who is he if not one for being ready to defend tiny mechs at any cost?* thedemonsurfer 9:46 pm ((They're so cuuuuuuute cerebrosurgeon 9:46 pm [On second thought, he probably should give Soundwave their files, too. Soundwave's going to get a polite ping from Fort Max before an offering for a mass amount of data on their universe's methods of construction.] NoodlesAtNight 9:46 pm *Turns to Prowl.* [[Do you know where your Luna 1 is? Could he--]] *Oh, distracted. SO distracted. The files are going to be scanned to the Pits and back before he opens them, but then... THEN.* NoodlesAtNight 9:47 pm [[Run, XL.]] verdigrisprowl 9:47 pm ((fun trivia! nos-4-a2's voice is done by craig ferguson)) ((he's said that it's revenge for centuries of british actors doing shitty scottish accents)) NoodlesAtNight 9:47 pm ((lol)) thedemonsurfer 9:48 pm ((asdfghj Swervester 9:48 pm //lmao thedemonsurfer 9:48 pm ((This is a show of Bad Accents Swervester 9:48 pm //i feel like o recognize his name from something too thedemonsurfer 9:48 pm ((...which it was made in the 90s so of course it's a show of bad accents Swervester 9:48 pm //oh wait i know what it was verdigrisprowl 9:48 pm Yes, same place as the other luna-1s. cerebrosurgeon 9:48 pm 〈HE WAS IN FREAKAZOID... Seal of approval.〉 NoodlesAtNight 9:49 pm *What was he asking. Review records.*

[[Would he be allowed to see it himself? To set foot on it.]] verdigrisprowl 9:50 pm ... I'll have to check. Probably. cerebrosurgeon 9:50 pm [Side eyes Eject.] If you want to visit our moon, it's always open. gmoneyz 9:50 pm Is it. cerebrosurgeon 9:50 pm /Yes./ gmoneyz 9:50 pm Hm. It's open. verdigrisprowl 9:50 pm Oh, well, there you go. gmoneyz 9:51 pm We still have that baseball game to organize. NoodlesAtNight 9:51 pm *Oh dear. He's gotten a whole planet. This is getting as bad as the Unimind business.* verdigrisprowl 9:51 pm Oh, right. My rematch with Rumble. gmoneyz 9:52 pm I'm enthused to have people who can actually play. NoodlesAtNight 9:52 pm [[There won't be a murder to solve this time, will there?]] gmoneyz 9:52 pm No. Today gmoneyz 9:52 pm Not this time. thedemonsurfer 9:52 pm ((JFC ((WOW ALRIGHT verdigrisprowl 9:52 pm *LOOK AT THAT. REVENGE AGAINST HIS MIND-CONTROLLER.* cerebrosurgeon 9:52 pm [Looks at Eject. Stares.] Will there not be. verdigrisprowl 9:52 pm *SATISFYING.* thebestdecepticonleader 9:52 pm SO satisfying gmoneyz 9:52 pm No murder mysteries during MY baseball game. Swervester 9:53 pm //I'M LAUGHING I JUST REMEMBERED DECEPTICON SIDESWIPE IS AN ENERGY VAMPIRE TECHNICALLY AND I ASKED AND I'M LAUGHING, NOS 4 A2 IS SIDESWIP'E'S MASTER/THE ONE WHO TURNED HIM thebestdecepticonleader 9:53 pm One day I'm going to do that to Megatron thedemonsurfer 9:53 pm ((asdfgh verdigrisprowl 9:53 pm ((FOR REAL)) gmoneyz 9:53 pm ((LMAO)) verdigrisprowl 9:53 pm ((GOOD)) Swervester 9:53 pm //YEAH I'M CACKLING cerebrosurgeon 9:53 pm 〈I'M LAUGHING〉 NoodlesAtNight 9:53 pm [[A good end to that energy vampire. Hopefully that will be the end of the mind controlling.]] cerebrosurgeon 9:53 pm 〈It's like Sparky 〉 gmoneyz 9:53 pm ((WOW SPARKY(( verdigrisprowl 9:53 pm ... For the record, he's actually dead that time. Swervester 9:53 pm //it is gmoneyz 9:53 pm Took them long enough. cerebrosurgeon 9:53 pm [Nod nod.] thedemonsurfer 9:53 pm ((I love it verdigrisprowl 9:54 pm And XR and Ty are both okay. SCProwl 9:54 pm Huh. cerebrosurgeon 9:55 pm They couldn't give him... A more average transtector? Unless he chose it? [Squint.] thedemonsurfer 9:55 pm ((aaaaa OUO those were really good!! verdigrisprowl 9:55 pm *transwhattor. body?* It was a term of his return to Star Command, it appears he consented to it. gmoneyz 9:56 pm ((am i the only one who sees three swerves)) NoodlesAtNight 9:56 pm ((you are not)) verdigrisprowl 9:56 pm ((he's multiplying)) gmoneyz 9:56 pm ((oh god)) verdigrisprowl 9:56 pm ((it's the sitcom issue all over again)) Swervester 9:56 pm //yeah rabbit keeps?? kicking me randomly then refreshing like 12 times gmoneyz 9:56 pm ((JFJF )) thedemonsurfer 9:56 pm ((Swerve, Dodge, and Avoid SCProwl 9:56 pm ((gj rabbit cerebrosurgeon 9:56 pm [Nods slowly.] S'long as he's fine with it. 〈 LAUGHING〉 Today Swervester 9:56 pm //tdgvfc xcries Swervester 9:57 pm [slowly shoves the holoform away from him] thebestdecepticonleader 9:57 pm Can it multiply me? Maybe with three of me I could kill Megatron Swervester 9:57 pm My holo's malfunctioning, don't mind me. NoodlesAtNight 9:57 pm *No murder, good. That means he can watch an actual game this time. And now, to relax to this music and dig into these medical journals and other files sent his way. The plague protoform crash course just wasn't enough.* gmoneyz 9:57 pm Happens to the best of us. cerebrosurgeon 9:57 pm [He's not bothered by three Swerves. This is fine. Everything's fine. He has three Swerves.] verdigrisprowl 9:58 pm Mm. When my holomatter malfunctions, it usually just gets the colors wrong. gmoneyz 9:59 pm ((wow you mom let you have THREE swerves)) Swervester 9:59 pm I'm not sure if this is a side effect of the whole Swearth thing or not. gmoneyz 9:59 pm I've never had a holomatter avatar. verdigrisprowl 9:59 pm ... "Swearth." Swervester 9:59 pm YEs. Swearth. cerebrosurgeon 9:59 pm Swearth?. Swervester 9:59 pm Rodimus named it. verdigrisprowl 9:59 pm *sworth. swurth.* gmoneyz 9:59 pm Swerve Earth. Swervester 9:59 pm Yeah verdigrisprowl 9:59 pm What. cerebrosurgeon 10:00 pm 〈ANOTHER [Swerve] BITES THE DUST〉 Swervester 10:00 pm OKay, so uh. Do you want that story. NoodlesAtNight 10:00 pm [[He does.]] gmoneyz 10:00 pm ((Microsoft Sam voice: swerve)) cerebrosurgeon 10:00 pm Yes. 〈YES.〉 thebestdecepticonleader 10:00 pm So how do I make multiples of myself Swervester 10:00 pm OKay well it technically starts when Agent 113 was still in the DJD as a spy. gmoneyz 10:00 pm I wouldn't advise it for you. thebestdecepticonleader 10:00 pm I need it for Megatron killing purposes thebestdecepticonleader 10:01 pm Purely good intentions Swervester 10:01 pm He shot me with a bullet but I did not know there was still a bullet after I patched myself up. Fast forward a few million years to the Lost Light and I was kind of dying? verdigrisprowl 10:01 pm *""""was."""" flinches.* SCProwl 10:01 pm I suppose you could use protoforms the way our Starscream did. Swervester 10:01 pm But also I poked a button in Brainstorm's lab and then opened his time machine briefcase at one point. NoodlesAtNight 10:02 pm *Spots the flinch. ... Wonders if Swerve knows what happened to 113?* thebestdecepticonleader 10:02 pm I'm not hijacking protoforms, that's disgusting! cerebrosurgeon 10:02 pm [This is all a lot of information. Holds head. Why was he never told about the kind of dying thing.] Swervester 10:02 pm [he does not know that he knows] And I guess that caused a weird sort of meta time loop that allowed me to project a real life sized Earth 400 miles away from the Lost Light. Today Swervester 10:02 pm Rodimus named it Swearth. cerebrosurgeon 10:03 pm That's... The easiest to follow part of the whole story. SCProwl 10:03 pm It was only a suggestion. Cloning or holograms. gmoneyz 10:03 pm ((wow. two puffs. cerebros: double puffed)) Swervester 10:03 pm I apparently projected my holomatter there and split myself into three and everyone came looking for me. thebestdecepticonleader 10:03 pm cloning could work... Swervester 10:03 pm //thbfg verdigrisprowl 10:03 pm ... Yeah, okay, that sounds like the Lost Light. Swervester 10:03 pm Honestly. Thaaaat's also part of why people keep asking me if I'm real nor not actually. NoodlesAtNight 10:03 pm [[He only ever visited that ship for movie nights and he is forced to agree.]] verdigrisprowl 10:03 pm *and now HIS holomatter projector is malfunctioning. waves off the duplicate. shoo.* verdigrisprowl 10:04 pm Weren't you stuck with us in the other universe for a little bit? NoodlesAtNight 10:04 pm *No, no. He likes there being two of you. Let it stay.* Swervester 10:04 pm 'Cause. You know. I was in my room for months and none of them realized I wasn't really there. thebestdecepticonleader 10:04 pm ((I have to go guys, thanks for the stream)) Swervester 10:04 pm //nini verdigrisprowl 10:04 pm ((bye)) NoodlesAtNight 10:04 pm ((aaaaaa byeee)) [[Oh, fine. He'll count that. But he wasn't part of the crew.]] cerebrosurgeon 10:04 pm [TWO of that Prowl. He's relieved he doesn't have a projector to malfunction.] That- No one came to check on you? At all? 〈Night!〉 Swervester 10:05 pm Everyone thought my holo was me right up until it vanished in the middle of a party? verdigrisprowl 10:05 pm Why would anyone come to check on you if you're the one that's always visiting them? Swervester 10:05 pm Yeah, that. Also I didn't have a roommate and no one wanted to be mine. NoodlesAtNight 10:05 pm [[Why? You seem like an agreeable and competent mech to him.]] [[...Never mind. It is the Lost Light. That was probably why.]] SCProwl 10:06 pm *contently remains only one Prowl* cerebrosurgeon 10:06 pm You're kidding. I would have paid to room with you on Kimia. gmoneyz 10:06 pm ((FDJKF)) verdigrisprowl 10:06 pm *huff* gmoneyz 10:06 pm You're one of the more tolerable mechs I know Swerve. NoodlesAtNight 10:07 pm *Glances at the newest Swerve before it disappears. He's beginning to feel like he should activate his own holomatter just to match the current goings-on.* verdigrisprowl 10:07 pm *well, as long as he's got two hims out, he might as well start cleaning up the uneaten snacks and the chairs that aren't being used.* gmoneyz 10:07 pm ((wow i thought you didnt have a holomatter avatar cerebros)) cerebrosurgeon 10:08 pm 〈HE DOESN'T.〉 verdigrisprowl 10:08 pm ((he budded)) cerebrosurgeon 10:08 pm 〈This is ACTUALLY a second Cerebros. Thanks Brainstorm.〉 NoodlesAtNight 10:08 pm *Soundwave will go ahead and get up to help. Better he keeps the avatar a secret. What if he wants to use it around these mechs later?* cerebrosurgeon 10:08 pm [... Prods at Swerve2. Tw..erve? Swtworve. Hm.] verdigrisprowl 10:09 pm ((tworve)) NoodlesAtNight 10:09 pm [[...One moment.]] *Slowly makes his way to second Cerebros. Going to just. Stand there in front of him. And stare a bit.* cerebrosurgeon 10:09 pm 〈TWORVE-〉 [Oh. Is there- Why is there a second him.] That- I don't... Have a holomatter projector. gmoneyz 10:09 pm Guess you do now. Swervester 10:09 pm I ajust lost control of my holo for a moment but uh cerebrosurgeon 10:09 pm I /really/ don't think that's how that works. NoodlesAtNight 10:09 pm [[...That explains why he can hear this one.]] gmoneyz 10:09 pm What would you fucking know. Swervester 10:10 pm to answer the questoion, I was known as Shut The Hell Up in the academy, so there's your answer on why no one wanted to room. SCProwl 10:10 pm *disconnects video since watching her alternate pick up the room isn't that interesting* verdigrisprowl 10:10 pm *that's fair* NoodlesAtNight 10:10 pm [[...Are you ethically required to keep yourself?]] Swervester 10:10 pm [squints at both of the other Swerves] cerebrosurgeon 10:11 pm [Side eyes himself. This is strange. This is very different from him and Galen being head-off in the same room. Eerie.] They obviously don't know how to... Appreciate yo- I'm really distracted by that other me. This is weird, right? This is weird. Swervester 10:12 pm Is it real. Mine at least I can safely say are just digital projections. NoodlesAtNight 10:12 pm *...Slowly lifts a feeler up to poke it with a claw.* gmoneyz 10:12 pm It's weird. I can only stand one of you. verdigrisprowl 10:12 pm Why are you talking about him like he's not here? *looks at the new Cerebros.* Hi. Are you, uh— okay? cerebrosurgeon 10:12 pm I don't... Know- [Very concerned about Soundwave touching the other him.] verdigrisprowl 10:12 pm *SOUNDWAVE don't poke him without asking, that's a person* NoodlesAtNight 10:13 pm *Are we sure?* *He's not sure. That's why he's poking them.* Swervester 10:13 pm [slowly offers the pother Cerebros a hexaflexagon] verdigrisprowl 10:13 pm *the Prowl that's up paps Soundwave's hand. You could ASK before poking.* cerebrosurgeon 10:14 pm [Oh come on. Holds face in hands. He's going to dim his optics and wait for this to be over before he gets a processor ache. He'll- He'll, just. Spam Max about this.] Swervester 10:14 pm Are you certain you don't have a holo projector? gmoneyz 10:14 pm Kill your double that's the only way Cere. NoodlesAtNight 10:14 pm *Soundwave pulls both the papped hand and the feeler close to his chest, a bit surprised. Somehow, he didn't expect Prowl to do that. But he supposes it's deserved.* cerebrosurgeon 10:14 pm /Positive/- I am not. Eject, no. NoodlesAtNight 10:15 pm [[Do not kill him. He could be necessary, someday.]] cerebrosurgeon 10:15 pm Soundwave, I... Y'know, I don't know how I feel about that. gmoneyz 10:15 pm Ominous. Swervester 10:15 pm Is that a criminal thing or a spy thing. verdigrisprowl 10:15 pm We are civilized mechs and do not murder our alternates. gmoneyz 10:15 pm Fine. NoodlesAtNight 10:16 pm [[It is not ominous, criminal, or a spy thing. You cannot tell him you have never needed to be in two places at once.]] Swervester 10:16 pm Oh, good point. cerebrosurgeon 10:16 pm Max is re-confirming I definitely have never had a projector. I'm not even compatible with the hardware. SCProwl 10:16 pm Most police officers I know would love it. NoodlesAtNight 10:17 pm *...Might've helped murder an alternate, but never mind that now.* cerebrosurgeon 10:17 pm Being in two places at once was never an issue for us, so this is... It's weird. Swervester 10:17 pm [were there extenuating circumstances] gmoneyz 10:17 pm Fortress Maximus was always reliable to say the least. cerebrosurgeon 10:17 pm 〈 DOUBLE DOUBLE PROWLS〉 gmoneyz 10:17 pm Double Double Prowls. Swervester 10:17 pm Oh man. verdigrisprowl 10:17 pm *currently in three places at once* It's alright. NoodlesAtNight 10:17 pm *Goes to help Prowl since he can't get any more out of that new mech without--actually startles when the Prowl from his own world POPS UP IN FRONT OF HIM* verdigrisprowl 10:18 pm ... Right. Okay. Something in here is— Hm. cerebrosurgeon 10:18 pm This is the weirdest library I've ever been to. NoodlesAtNight 10:18 pm [[/This is too much./]] SCProwl 10:18 pm I did not mean I wanted that it happen. *huffs* verdigrisprowl 10:18 pm This doesn't usually happen. Swervester 10:18 pm God. This is sort of giving me a headache because I'm getting input from three holos at once plus my real frame but wow. cerebrosurgeon 10:18 pm [Nudges Eject. Lowers voice.] You're gonna need a bigger table for your date. gmoneyz 10:18 pm At this rate you'll have a -- [hE GRIPS CEREBROS' NECK] verdigrisprowl 10:18 pm Can't you turn off your other two avatars' senses? *prowl ounces back and forth between them all the time.* NoodlesAtNight 10:19 pm *Staring at Eject.* [[Well? Are you going next or is he?]] gmoneyz 10:19 pm I'm not multiplying. verdigrisprowl 10:19 pm HEY! No! *points at Eject* Hands off, NOW. Swervester 10:19 pm Oh. Yeah. I'm not used to having multiples I didn't even think of that, cerebrosurgeon 10:19 pm [WHEEZE. U stop that. Eject is getting bat at AND spammed by Max. Ur grounded.] verdigrisprowl 10:19 pm *there will be NO strangulation attempts in the library.* gmoneyz 10:19 pm UGH. [LETS GO] [WAIT TIL WE'RE BACK ON THE MOON.] cerebrosurgeon 10:20 pm [BATS.] /Thank/ you, Prowl. [Wait until Max is there to meet you.] gmoneyz 10:20 pm ANYWAY as I was saying, soon enough you'll have enough yous for a whole baseball team. Swervester 10:20 pm Why am I the only one with three? NoodlesAtNight 10:21 pm [[Perhaps yours is in poorer shape.]] gmoneyz 10:21 pm I'm assuming it's because of Swearth. verdigrisprowl 10:21 pm ((swerve is smaller and has more room for extras)) Swervester 10:21 pm //lmfao NoodlesAtNight 10:21 pm ((lmao)) Swervester 10:21 pm Must be. Swearth's my new go to for all problems. SCProwl 10:22 pm It's just a holomatter. I recently had one installed and since Arcee and Ratchet already had the technology, it wasn't difficult to copy. opatoes 10:22 pm Oh! Did I come too late NoodlesAtNight 10:23 pm *Manages to get away from the unwanted extra Prowl and over to the extra Prowl he'd like to be around.* [[Tell him you need assistance. He needs a moment of mindless activity to focus his thoughts.]] verdigrisprowl 10:23 pm You missed it. cerebrosurgeon 10:23 pm https://cerebrosurgeon.tumblr.com/post/180006108159/fort-max-at-eject-constantly Relevant 〉 opatoes 10:23 pm Oh. NoodlesAtNight 10:23 pm [[Have you all considered that it might be a virus?]] SCProwl 10:23 pm We're just listening to music now. opatoes 10:23 pm ... Could you send me a video feed later, Prowl? verdigrisprowl 10:23 pm ... Would you like to clean, Soundwave? I'm going to report this to the librarians. cerebrosurgeon 10:23 pm Smokescreen! Ignore the other me, he's not... I don't know what's going on. SCProwl 10:23 pm And dealing with *waves hand at room of clones* this. opatoes 10:23 pm Also, I have gifts for anyone interested. ... You. /Pointing at Cerebros./ cerebrosurgeon 10:23 pm Me? NoodlesAtNight 10:23 pm [[Which - er. Are both of you going?]] opatoes 10:23 pm You. Swervester 10:23 pm [Which one] verdigrisprowl 10:24 pm We should all go, probably. Quarantine yourselves in case it IS a virus. My hope is there's some localized signal causing this. cerebrosurgeon 10:24 pm [I hope he's pointing at the right Cerebros.] Me. opatoes 10:24 pm /He's pointing at the space between them./ verdigrisprowl 10:24 pm No, just me. *the Prowl that's already standing waves.* cerebrosurgeon 10:24 pm Do we leave the clones here...? NoodlesAtNight 10:24 pm [[Ah. Then he will clean, yes.]] Swervester 10:24 pm Is it safe to leave if there is a virus? opatoes 10:24 pm ... Did I come in time for a virus SCProwl 10:24 pm It is if you quarantine yourself. verdigrisprowl 10:24 pm If you STAY, it might get worse. Hence the self-quarantine. gmoneyz 10:25 pm I don't know enough about medicine but I don't think it's a virus either. Swervester 10:25 pm Though I guess since I'm here in holo I could just turn them off. verdigrisprowl 10:25 pm ... If you could just turn them off, then why haven't you turned them off? cerebrosurgeon 10:25 pm Finally, I get to throw Eject in a small room by himself- One of the Prowls is gone. Swervester 10:25 pm ... I'm trying but the other two aren't/. NoodlesAtNight 10:25 pm *The only other explanation he has is that timelines are starting to splinter at this exact moment for an unknown reason, and he's not sure he likes that.* verdigrisprowl 10:25 pm *yeah, that's the prowl that left the room to go talk to the librarians* opatoes 10:25 pm I didn't notice there were multiple Prowls. cerebrosurgeon 10:26 pm [He's so helpful.] verdigrisprowl 10:26 pm There were two of me when you came in. SCProwl 10:26 pm My holomatter has been deactivated since it was installed. verdigrisprowl 10:26 pm *points at his alternate* There are still two of her. opatoes 10:26 pm Really? Hm. Glad my vision isn't fragged up. Swervester 10:26 pm [reaches out to touch one of his other holos, who mirrors the action] Hmm. cerebrosurgeon 10:27 pm [Belatedly waves down Soundwave some.] I've been /in/ universes as they splintered, it looks a lot different. verdigrisprowl 10:27 pm ... Okay. When I said "we should all go," what I /meant/ was "go home." I was being polite. Swervester 10:27 pm Oh. Right. I'll turn this one off then and see if the others go too I guess. If they don't you can just, uh. Throw them out or something. cerebrosurgeon 10:27 pm Right. Right. [Jabs Eject.] We should go. opatoes 10:28 pm Oh. Very well. Have a good night, Prowl. May I leave this gift here? It's a hexaflexagon. Or two. SCProwl 10:28 pm I'll return to apartment now. Will you call me if you learn anything else, Captain? verdigrisprowl 10:28 pm Quarantine yourselves just in case, comm me if you have more problems.

verdigrisprowl 8:33 pm Officially, manual labor. SCProwl 8:34 pm Unofficially? araneamechanica 8:34 pm Very well-paid. verdigrisprowl 8:34 pm Incredibly politically powerful. thebestdecepticonleader 8:34 pm How did that even happen? thedemonsurfer 8:34 pm ((sdfghjk SCProwl 8:34 pm Huh. thebestdecepticonleader 8:35 pm Such primitive robots verdigrisprowl 8:35 pm I only know of one washing machine, and he served the Functionist Council. thebestdecepticonleader 8:36 pm What did he wash? araneamechanica 8:36 pm *mumbles thoughtfully* I do wonder if using those wings expends energy, since they almost seem hard-light based... verdigrisprowl 8:36 pm Laundry. thebestdecepticonleader 8:36 pm Laundry? verdigrisprowl 8:36 pm That's what washing machines are /for./ thebestdecepticonleader 8:36 pm Like... armor? verdigrisprowl 8:36 pm No. Like laundry. SCProwl 8:36 pm He's flat-what? verdigrisprowl 8:37 pm Drained battery. thebestdecepticonleader 8:37 pm So like... the stuff fleshies wear? verdigrisprowl 8:37 pm The Functionist Council wore capes. NoodlesAtNight 8:37 pm [[Seedy Hotel? Truth in advertising, at least.]] thebestdecepticonleader 8:37 pm oh thedemonsurfer 8:38 pm ((I love her NoodlesAtNight 8:38 pm [[Random Meter?]] verdigrisprowl 8:38 pm Despite the mechaphobia he fact that mecha are allowed to adopt organic children in this galaxy speaks well to their politics. araneamechanica 8:39 pm *aww, she reminds tarantulas of verity. what a spunky little fleshbag* verdigrisprowl 8:39 pm Yeah, I—I don't know what a random meter is. *side glance at Tarantulas?* NoodlesAtNight 8:39 pm *Also looking at Tara. If anyone here would know...* verdigrisprowl 8:39 pm ... Random meter? Randometer? araneamechanica 8:39 pm *big shrug* Nothing I've ACTUALLY heard of. cerebrosurgeon 8:40 pm We had organics as our charges for years, adoption would have been a convenient option to have. verdigrisprowl 8:40 pm Huh. Maybe it doesn't exist here. NoodlesAtNight 8:40 pm [[You had a human pet of your own?]] *To Cerebros* thebestdecepticonleader 8:40 pm I wish I could have a human pet, I'd treat them well cerebrosurgeon 8:40 pm [Wheeze laugh.] No, none of them were pets. They were teammates. verdigrisprowl 8:40 pm Humans aren't pets. Today thebestdecepticonleader 8:41 pm They aren't, what do Autobots keep them for? NoodlesAtNight 8:41 pm [[He's seen the way certain Autobots treat their fleshlings. Not all of them do well. They might as well be.]] SCProwl 8:41 pm ((i keep getting distracted by recognizing VAs NoodlesAtNight 8:41 pm ((i have no idea what's happening ;; )) SCProwl 8:41 pm ((*high fives cro* araneamechanica 8:41 pm (( same, blackscreen thebestdecepticonleader 8:41 pm I wasn't aware they were good at pest control or fighting verdigrisprowl 8:41 pm ((the stream is working fine for me. there isn't anything i can do on my end to make it work better, is there?)) araneamechanica 8:41 pm (( OH there thebestdecepticonleader 8:42 pm ((mine's fine verdigrisprowl 8:42 pm Autobots /work with/ humans. They aren't kept as pets. thedemonsurfer 8:42 pm ((i love the sound he makes Swervester 8:42 pm //it's fine for me, but usually refreshing fixes black screen SCProwl 8:42 pm ((it's working fine for me, so idek how it decides when to work or not tbh thebestdecepticonleader 8:42 pm Oh... so what do they actually do that Autobots can't? verdigrisprowl 8:42 pm They are independent sentient individuals. NoodlesAtNight 8:42 pm ((i don't think so, short of maybe a new rabbitcast - but that would be a lot of setup effort for you)) cerebrosurgeon 8:43 pm We worked with humans and Nebulans for a /long/ time. They were integrated into our unit, saved our circuits more than once. [Shrug.] 〈Stream hasn't had audio for me but that seems like the laptop's problem, not a big deal〉 thebestdecepticonleader 8:43 pm Simple sentience is a little low to be setting the bar for whether you can keep them as a pet or not. I mean... turbofoxes have some sentience. verdigrisprowl 8:43 pm Why do they have to do anything that Autobots can't? In almost every universe, we end up fighting on THEIR planet. thedemonsurfer 8:43 pm ((Awww <3 verdigrisprowl 8:43 pm ((is ANYBODY getting to see this show?)) thedemonsurfer 8:43 pm ((I AM thebestdecepticonleader 8:44 pm ((me too SCProwl 8:44 pm ((I am! cerebrosurgeon 8:44 pm 〈I'm very good at knowing what's going on without audio and am transcribing for Deckard, I got u〉 thedemonsurfer 8:45 pm ((aaa QQ Swervester 8:45 pm Oh no what happened to them cerebrosurgeon 8:45 pm [Wince. Yikes.] verdigrisprowl 8:45 pm The energy vampire drained them. thedemonsurfer 8:45 pm ((QnQ they can repair her parents right verdigrisprowl 8:45 pm Hence why she's hunting him. thebestdecepticonleader 8:45 pm How did they... have a human daughter... that doesn't seem to be biologically possible Swervester 8:45 pm Oh. Does he give anyone else Starscfream vibes thebestdecepticonleader 8:45 pm HEY! verdigrisprowl 8:45 pm She's adopted. That's why we're talking about humans. We were discussing adoption. NoodlesAtNight 8:45 pm [[Depends on the Starscream.]] Today thedemonsurfer 8:46 pm ((oh my god i love him cerebrosurgeon 8:46 pm [Slow nodding. Maybe. Swerve's not wrong.] Swervester 8:46 pm That really dramatic one from the universe Smokey's from. thebestdecepticonleader 8:46 pm Oh, that's not me, that's fine Swervester 8:46 pm The one who killed a Cliffjumper. verdigrisprowl 8:46 pm ... If he was red. ... And legless. NoodlesAtNight 8:46 pm *Shudders. The Undead. This Nos-4-A2 really is a horrible creature.* SCProwl 8:46 pm *huffs* thedemonsurfer 8:47 pm ((Awww Swervester 8:47 pm It's mostly the personality that reminds me of that Starsxream. thebestdecepticonleader 8:47 pm Well it's nothing like me *huffs* verdigrisprowl 8:47 pm His head's also sort of shaped like... *makes a triangle with his hands.* verdigrisprowl 8:48 pm *... Looks at Nos. Looks at the triangle. ... Looks at Soundwave's face.* araneamechanica 8:48 pm (( AT LEAST USE AN ADAPTER omg Swervester 8:48 pm //rthbfg Swervester 8:48 pm [looks at Prowl's hands too] SCProwl 8:48 pm *laughs* cerebrosurgeon 8:48 pm [Looks at Swerve looking at Prowl's hands. Looks at Prowl's hands.] thedemonsurfer 8:49 pm ((\QUQ/ SCProwl 8:49 pm *can see where Prowl was looking* verdigrisprowl 8:49 pm *oh, right, looks at screen.* cerebrosurgeon 8:49 pm /Oh./ They repaired them. Good. SCProwl 8:49 pm Repaired them without rewriting their personalities, I hope. verdigrisprowl 8:50 pm Spoilers, they didn't successfully kill the vampire. thedemonsurfer 8:50 pm ((...patrick warburton is also the LGM ((h u h cerebrosurgeon 8:50 pm Their minds are all connected again, I don't think they'd repeat the mistake now. [Huffs. This vampire guy.] NoodlesAtNight 8:51 pm [[His face shape means nothing. He doesn't do what the energy vampire does.]] verdigrisprowl 8:51 pm I know. araneamechanica 8:51 pm The teeth imply otherwise. *snickers* SCProwl 8:51 pm Different teeth. verdigrisprowl 8:51 pm Different teeth, different function. cerebrosurgeon 8:51 pm 〈I misread that as Weirdwolf and I'm yelling〉 thebestdecepticonleader 8:51 pm Anyone who rewrites personalities without the permission of the person needs to be shot verdigrisprowl 8:51 pm ((well, he IS a weird wolf.)) araneamechanica 8:52 pm (( did these eps air in october. halloween perhaps cerebrosurgeon 8:52 pm 〈Wow... Half the Decepticon Headmasters.〉 verdigrisprowl 8:52 pm ((they were scattered all along the length of the series)) Today verdigrisprowl 8:53 pm ((i had to squeeze them together and put them in roughly chronological order.)) ((there's SOME internal continuity in blosc, but the order they were aired in doesn't match the order of events)) thedemonsurfer 8:53 pm ((awwww bby NoodlesAtNight 8:53 pm *Crunches the HELL out of his snack to underline the different function point of his fangs. There. You see? Not for mind control at all.* araneamechanica 8:54 pm *energy vampirism and mind control are difffferent, it's ok* verdigrisprowl 8:54 pm *............ prowl wants soundwave to do that to his thigh* cerebrosurgeon 8:54 pm [Glances at Soundwave. That is a Loud Crunch.] araneamechanica 8:55 pm *...is tempted to retaliate with mandible cronch, but he's not quite that petty* SCProwl 8:55 pm *eating be like that sometimes* NoodlesAtNight 8:55 pm *Notices Cerebro watching. ... Extra vicious bite off the energon bar.* cerebrosurgeon 8:55 pm [... Carry on, he'll advert his gaze. He gets it. Eating be like that sometimes.] verdigrisprowl 8:55 pm *... crosses legs* NoodlesAtNight 8:56 pm *Pleased with all responses. Point (and mild Prowl torture) completed. Munches quieter now.* verdigrisprowl 8:56 pm *speaking of robot hickeys* thebestdecepticonleader 8:56 pm Two robots doing what? SCProwl 8:56 pm Biting each other. thedemonsurfer 8:56 pm ((mwaj thebestdecepticonleader 8:56 pm That seems like an ineffective way of fighting NoodlesAtNight 8:57 pm [[Biting and energon swaps are for when in private.]] [[And it is only ineffective if your mouth is not constructed to suit it.]] thebestdecepticonleader 8:57 pm Guns would still be better SCProwl 8:57 pm Not in hand-to-hand. thebestdecepticonleader 8:58 pm Swords NoodlesAtNight 8:58 pm [[Enjoy trying to shoot through your own stasis cuffs.]] thebestdecepticonleader 8:58 pm knives really tiny guns cerebrosurgeon 8:58 pm Oh no. araneamechanica 8:58 pm *teeth AND guns are both wonderful for fighting AND lovemaking, in this one's humble opinion, but!* NoodlesAtNight 8:58 pm ((oh my god that reference)) SCProwl 8:58 pm *huffs* verdigrisprowl 8:58 pm ((i know)) thebestdecepticonleader 8:59 pm this is me and Megatron verdigrisprowl 9:00 pm ... Is... Megatron known for rescuing you, in your universe? thedemonsurfer 9:00 pm ((OH that is uncomfortable SCProwl 9:00 pm Biting, scratching, elbowing, kicking. *ticks them off on her fingers as she speaks* All incredibly useful when you're fighting. NoodlesAtNight 9:00 pm [[What in Primus' name--]] thedemonsurfer 9:00 pm ((DOG DOG DOG DOG thebestdecepticonleader 9:00 pm No, always ruining what I try to do though Today thebestdecepticonleader 9:00 pm I am the one always trying to protect his worthless aft araneamechanica 9:00 pm *spontaneous laughter, why is this funny to him* NoodlesAtNight 9:00 pm *...It's like the blue and white Ravage got a mech mode.* thebestdecepticonleader 9:00 pm Or at least, I was verdigrisprowl 9:01 pm *worried glance at Tarantulas* NoodlesAtNight 9:01 pm [[Oh - he knows what is happening to that human.]] thedemonsurfer 9:01 pm ((XR No cerebrosurgeon 9:01 pm [Mindwipe, Weirdwolf. Is Skullcruncher next? Also squints at Tarantuas.] SCProwl 9:01 pm What is it? araneamechanica 9:01 pm *waves away the worry* It's an allusion. NoodlesAtNight 9:01 pm [[He has seen human films about the affliction. They are called Wear Wolves, for obvious reasons.]] cerebrosurgeon 9:01 pm 〈Oh. Laptop audio suddenly exists. Excellent〉 verdigrisprowl 9:02 pm ... The "obvious reasons" is sarcasm, right? araneamechanica 9:02 pm Ironic, considering they tend to wear much less after transforming NoodlesAtNight 9:02 pm [[Not at all. They wear a canine shape for a while, and then when they are done they put it back inside of themselves.]] verdigrisprowl 9:02 pm ... *very quietly* That was a canine? araneamechanica 9:02 pm *more laughter* SCProwl 9:03 pm Inside where? thebestdecepticonleader 9:03 pm I need to be able to change into something like that... maybe then I would be able to kill Megatron then NoodlesAtNight 9:03 pm [[...Well, he isn't - perfectly certain based on the design,]] mainly because the mun only caught a glimpse, [[but he has never heard of a Wear Cat before.]] araneamechanica 9:03 pm It's a quote-unquote supernatural phenomenon, for the record. verdigrisprowl 9:04 pm *Soundwave can't tell dogs and cats apart either? Oh, Prowl feels a little better.* araneamechanica 9:04 pm Different cultures may have different forms, I believe it's the spontaneous unconscious transformation into a beast-type form that's the key thedemonsurfer 9:05 pm ((What did he say NoodlesAtNight 9:05 pm [[Inside themselves, Prowl.]] *To the one from his world.* [[Below their skin.]] thedemonsurfer 9:05 pm ((oh noooo thebestdecepticonleader 9:05 pm How do I get one of these? cerebrosurgeon 9:05 pm [Squints. He knows what humans are like below their skin.] I don't think they have... Room. araneamechanica 9:05 pm A beast form? You ask me nicely, that's how. gmoneyz 9:05 pm [QUIETLY.........opens the door. Stupid Cerebros pinging him over and over till he joined. He's making a beeline to him to very loudly SLAP a servo on his back and take a seat next to him.] araneamechanica 9:05 pm *smug smug* cerebrosurgeon 9:06 pm [Flinch; /ow/.] Finally. verdigrisprowl 9:06 pm He appears to be technorganic now. He's probably mostly metal and wire beneath his skin. SCProwl 9:06 pm How does the wolf get out from inside them? I though human flesh couldn't be torn without inflicting significant damage. thebestdecepticonleader 9:06 pm It seems to be a lot stronger than he is, I need that kind of upgrade gmoneyz 9:06 pm Never ask me for anything ever again. What's happened so far. cerebrosurgeon 9:06 pm So much. gmoneyz 9:06 pm Thanks. NoodlesAtNight 9:06 pm [[...Like that, he supposes.]] Today cerebrosurgeon 9:06 pm Anytime. Swervester 9:07 pm Green moon. araneamechanica 9:07 pm You - you haven't seen me transform, have you. *awkward laugh @ scprowl* verdigrisprowl 9:07 pm There's a robot that sucks energy from other machines and mind-controls them. He's not here right now, but he bit an organic and turned it into that. *points* thebestdecepticonleader 9:07 pm NO MIND CONTROL gmoneyz 9:07 pm I see. Thanks for the synopsis. SCProwl 9:07 pm No. I haven't. verdigrisprowl 9:08 pm *to alternate* I could show you later. If you and Tarantulas want. araneamechanica 9:08 pm I - if you'd like? NoodlesAtNight 9:08 pm ((....i turned off stylish's rabbit fix and now my rabbit layout is ugly but it's not dying on me anymore)) gmoneyz 9:08 pm This is just like when they blew up Mars. verdigrisprowl 9:08 pm *winces* verdigrisprowl 9:09 pm Why, have you seen this episode? cerebrosurgeon 9:09 pm Is- [Squints at Eject. He /was/ there, wasn't he?] Is that really how their meeting went. SCProwl 9:09 pm I suppose. For the sake of answering a scientific curiosity. *since she sort of hates Tara since the whole predacon baby maybe being plague ridden* araneamechanica 9:09 pm *YEAH THAT OOPS* NoodlesAtNight 9:09 pm *Soundwave gives Eject a small nod in greeting before returning his attention to the screen.* gmoneyz 9:09 pm No. Not an episode. They really blew up Mars in our universe. verdigrisprowl 9:09 pm No, THIS episode. gmoneyz 9:09 pm Nope. Just the planning of it. Swervester 9:09 pm [waves at Eject] gmoneyz 9:10 pm [waves at Swerve. GLANCES...at Soundwave. HM.] thedemonsurfer 9:10 pm ((I feel like that might mess up their energy operation cerebrosurgeon 9:10 pm Eject was our main source of recon, he knows all about The Mars Plan. NoodlesAtNight 9:10 pm *Oh, please. If anything, the Starscream here is the bigger threat. He's more likely to actually, y'know. Do something.* cerebrosurgeon 9:10 pm Apparently, it was basically "let's do it" "okay." gmoneyz 9:11 pm It was that. [Starscream can try if he'd like to lose an arm or two.] NoodlesAtNight 9:11 pm [[They are doing a terrible job of catching this mech.]] thebestdecepticonleader 9:11 pm ((what's starscream trying? SCProwl 9:12 pm Maybe if they'd used an adapter the first time they tried to kill him. verdigrisprowl 9:12 pm To be fair, they DID kill him once. They probably tossed the body before they realized he wasn't really dead. SCProwl 9:12 pm Always check. You'd think soldiers would know this. thebestdecepticonleader 9:12 pm That's why, when I kill Megatron, I'm going to keep his dead spark thedemonsurfer 9:12 pm ((I like Nos-4-A2 eps 'cos they're also XR eps thebestdecepticonleader 9:12 pm So I'll know he's dead verdigrisprowl 9:12 pm Dead sparks disappear. thebestdecepticonleader 9:12 pm Not where I am from SCProwl 9:13 pm Really? Today thebestdecepticonleader 9:13 pm They turn to dust NoodlesAtNight 9:13 pm [[Not assuming someone is dead until you have the corpse and can confirm it is the first rule of - of anything involving an enemy.]] verdigrisprowl 9:13 pm He's the only bot of his model and he was made by an "evil emperor." The fact that he's an "emperor" means he's part of a different political entity, and therefore probably has radically different technology. thebestdecepticonleader 9:13 pm But with a lot of determination you can collect it verdigrisprowl 9:14 pm ((the unnecessarily gratuitous accent is both unnecessary and gratuitous)) thebestdecepticonleader 9:14 pm I've already made the mistake of not keeping proof once before and he returned, it's not going to happen again verdigrisprowl 9:14 pm They might not have had the technology to figure out when he's offline for good. SCProwl 9:14 pm ((yyyyyyeah this is uncomfortable verdigrisprowl 9:15 pm ((YEAH THE ACCENT IS... REALLY UNCOMFORTABLE i'm sorry for that. he goes away partway through the episode.)) thebestdecepticonleader 9:15 pm ((what is the accent?)) ((I'm not getting it)) thedemonsurfer 9:16 pm ((terribly pass at Jewish ((I think, ye? cerebrosurgeon 9:16 pm 〈Yiddish, specifically〉 NoodlesAtNight 9:16 pm *Leaning forward. Does the energy vampire have a mlah on his tongue? What even--* gmoneyz 9:16 pm ((not to mention like the racist caricature )) thebestdecepticonleader 9:16 pm ((oh... how terrible it is is probably why I couldn't tell)) araneamechanica 9:16 pm *leans on vprowl, an aside* When you said "later" to your alternate, that might have to be later-later. I'm afraid I do have to head out. thedemonsurfer 9:17 pm ((wait tha'ts kind of cheating if it works by just eating all your appliances (("Apliances not included, supply your own" verdigrisprowl 9:17 pm ((i. couldn't even reliably identify it. i'm sorry that's in there.)) cerebrosurgeon 9:18 pm 〈The Yid in the room is not offended, ur good〉 gmoneyz 9:18 pm ((NO ITS OK. youre not to blame )) Swervester 9:18 pm //gotta love late 90s kids tv i guess? gmoneyz 9:19 pm [Nudges Cerebros] Weren't those little things the things that like tried to eat Cyclonus. thedemonsurfer 9:19 pm ((I dig the 4amed cat lady tho cerebrosurgeon 9:20 pm [Nudges back.] The- The little... Wing, teeth, lizard, fish... Things? Yeah. SCProwl 9:20 pm ((the other jewish guy in the room is less offended and more like mildly annoyed at the show, but not at you, puff <3 verdigrisprowl 9:20 pm Ah. Are you leaving right now, or...? verdigrisprowl 9:21 pm ((and i think that's the last of him)) thedemonsurfer 9:22 pm ((no reprise at the end of the ep? I'd expact to see him one more time araneamechanica 9:22 pm Shortly, unfortunately thebestdecepticonleader 9:22 pm this is... well it seems... nsfw verdigrisprowl 9:22 pm ((not that i recall. i could have forgotten though.)) araneamechanica 9:22 pm (( tiny nos-es (( they cute thebestdecepticonleader 9:22 pm Man verdigrisprowl 9:22 pm *... reaches over. squeezes tara's hand.* *and soundwave's.* Today thebestdecepticonleader 9:22 pm More mind control *folds arms* verdigrisprowl 9:23 pm *the tarantulas squeeze is just before he leaves, the soundwave squeeze is for emotional support.* araneamechanica 9:23 pm *gently squeezes back? this is ok then ok good* SCProwl 9:23 pm They can rebuild his body. cerebrosurgeon 9:23 pm [Wince. Decapitation without the proper protocol initiation is Painful.] thebestdecepticonleader 9:24 pm Is everyone sure that they don't want to tell me how to get rid of mind control? thedemonsurfer 9:24 pm ((omg cerebrosurgeon 9:24 pm /Another time/, Starscream. thebestdecepticonleader 9:24 pm Just thought I would double check thedemonsurfer 9:24 pm ((continued great writing cerebrosurgeon 9:24 pm I suggest not triple checking. verdigrisprowl 9:24 pm We are very, /very/ interested in /not/ discussing real life mind control at a recreational movie night. thebestdecepticonleader 9:25 pm You can't blame me for trying, it's important verdigrisprowl 9:25 pm ... Is it imminent? thebestdecepticonleader 9:25 pm It's ongoing... araneamechanica 9:25 pm *uneventful departure is uneventful, after another squeeze to prowl's hand and a transformation-crawl up onto the ceiling & away* verdigrisprowl 9:25 pm Kill the mind controller. Discussion over. araneamechanica 9:25 pm (( *waves gnite* verdigrisprowl 9:25 pm ((*waves*)) cerebrosurgeon 9:25 pm 〈Night!〉 thebestdecepticonleader 9:25 pm Been trying since I was born, any other options verdigrisprowl 9:25 pm No. Discussion over. Swervester 9:26 pm [throws hexaflexagon at Star] SCProwl 9:26 pm Organic technology. Fascinating. NoodlesAtNight 9:26 pm *Squeezes the hand back, like the mindful and helpful emotional support he is.* [[Oh, Wheeljack would have a fit at that.]] [[But it is extremely clever.]] gmoneyz 9:26 pm Good aim. Making me proud Swerve. thebestdecepticonleader 9:26 pm The heck is this, Swerve cerebrosurgeon 9:27 pm [SWERVE. Huffs. They're not projectiles.] Flexagon. Flip it. verdigrisprowl 9:27 pm *if anyone else in the room who's better equipped wants to privately and silently comm Starscream about it, Prowl won't stop them. But even if Prowl WANTED to offer more, that's all he has.* thedemonsurfer 9:27 pm ((I love XR Swervester 9:27 pm [sure they are] Hexaflexagon cerebrosurgeon 9:28 pm 〈Me: This is like Guild Wars. Deckard, yelling: THEY'RE SYLVARI.〉 gmoneyz 9:28 pm ((THEY ARE........plant people :} )) NoodlesAtNight 9:28 pm ((this alien would get along GREAT with Poison Ivy)) gmoneyz 9:28 pm ((LEGIT)) NoodlesAtNight 9:28 pm [[Primus, he forced him into a new frame too?]] verdigrisprowl 9:29 pm ... Tarantulas would probably be interested in this. Mixing organic and mechanical technology. *too bad he just left.* Today SCProwl 9:29 pm *this Prowl's experience with mind control isn't really similar to the type that Starscream is going through, so her advice wouldn't help, unfortunately* gmoneyz 9:29 pm What poor weapon construction. NoodlesAtNight 9:29 pm [[You could send him your record of it.]] cerebrosurgeon 9:29 pm Oh. He can, uh. He can call me about that? That's something he does? We've got extensive data. verdigrisprowl 9:30 pm *he's trying to focus on the parts Tarantulas might be interested in so that he doesn't focus on the things that are making him squeeze Soundwave's hand even harder.* Swervester 9:30 pm Are they edible thebestdecepticonleader 9:31 pm Technically anything is edible once verdigrisprowl 9:31 pm It is. You saw his body—it's not decorative, he's half organic. He did it all himself. *Prowl's proud.* cerebrosurgeon 9:31 pm /Really?/ Wow. [He's very impressed. Prowl is rightfully proud.] That's. Wow. [He has Questions.] NoodlesAtNight 9:32 pm [[Emotionally responsive vegetation. He wonders if it would survive on a planet as hostile as ours?]] verdigrisprowl 9:32 pm I know. Wow. /By/ himself, too—no lab assistants. thedemonsurfer 9:32 pm ((oooh another??8D verdigrisprowl 9:32 pm Last episode. Spoilers, the vampire escapes. cerebrosurgeon 9:33 pm Maybe /I/ should call /him/, that's amazing. gmoneyz 9:33 pm Wow. They need better security. NoodlesAtNight 9:33 pm *Shakes his head. He had hoped they would catch the mech.* [[Well. Not every police force can have you guiding them, he supposes.]] Swervester 9:33 pm //i enjoy that the opening sequence confirms this is an In Universe show and not just a spin off of the movies, but the Actual Cartoon that's mentioned in the first movie gmoneyz 9:34 pm Unfortunately. ((ITS A NICE TOUCH)) verdigrisprowl 9:34 pm This episode also prominently features a mech whose other episodes I've skipped. For reference: his name is XL, he's XR's older brother, and he's a criminal. So. Sorry I skipped his other appearances. We'll see them in future weeks. verdigrisprowl 9:35 pm ((IT REALLY IS)) gmoneyz 9:35 pm Wirewolf? Does Weirdwolf have a fucking brother too now. cerebrosurgeon 9:35 pm /Wired/ Wolf. gmoneyz 9:35 pm Oh. My bad i forgot one letter. How will I ever go on. cerebrosurgeon 9:35 pm Is that- That's his brother? He's a lot... Bigger. Swervester 9:35 pm Sadly. cerebrosurgeon 9:35 pm [Elbows Eject] verdigrisprowl 9:35 pm That's XL. *he says, unnecessarily.* Swervester 9:36 pm You'll go on sadly. gmoneyz 9:36 pm Sadly. verdigrisprowl 9:36 pm He self upgraded. gmoneyz 9:36 pm He certainly is...XL at least. verdigrisprowl 9:36 pm Their heads hold their identities, the rest of their bodies are optional. Swervester 9:36 pm Amazing. Also do moon rocks work that way Today cerebrosurgeon 9:36 pm [The unnecessary statement was still appreciated. Nod nod.] It's a good method. NoodlesAtNight 9:36 pm [[What a cruel thing to do to this poor Wolf human.]] Swervester 9:36 pm [looking suspiciously at his subspace. Full of moon rocks] cerebrosurgeon 9:36 pm N-... No gmoneyz 9:37 pm No. I wish they did. verdigrisprowl 9:37 pm It's not the fact that it's a moon rock so much as the specific radiation OF that moon mixed with the effects of his bite. cerebrosurgeon 9:37 pm Luna-1 rocks do not make people Weirdwolf. Wired Wolf. gmoneyz 9:37 pm Wiredwolf. verdigrisprowl 9:37 pm Wirewolf. cerebrosurgeon 9:37 pm [Holds head in hands.] Swervester 9:37 pm [pulls a moon rock out of subspace] gmoneyz 9:37 pm Bite it. SCProwl 9:37 pm Shockwave attempted something similar in our universe, though it was on others, not himself. To less than stellar results. thedemonsurfer 9:37 pm ((I walked off to pee what happened cerebrosurgeon 9:38 pm [LIFTS HEAD.] YOU... Carry them around. Swervester 9:38 pm Yes. Sort of NoodlesAtNight 9:38 pm *Intrigued* [[From what moon?]] Swervester 9:38 pm I was experimenting. Luna 1 cerebrosurgeon 9:38 pm Luna-1! Our moon. verdigrisprowl 9:38 pm ((XL and Nos kidnapped put a moon rock necklace around Ty's neck and kidnapped Wirewolf, for Unknown Purposes)) NoodlesAtNight 9:38 pm [[Ah. The one that was lost?]] cerebrosurgeon 9:38 pm Yes. We found it. Swervester 9:38 pm Yeah thedemonsurfer 9:38 pm ((Aaa puppy!!! gmoneyz 9:38 pm We sure did. Live on it even. gmoneyz 9:39 pm I'm personally imprisoned on it. verdigrisprowl 9:39 pm I've been a couple of times. Swervester 9:39 pm Are you actually imprisoned gmoneyz 9:39 pm No. cerebrosurgeon 9:39 pm You moved in- /You/ moved in! verdigrisprowl 9:39 pm It's... it's what you'd expect from a moon. gmoneyz 9:39 pm It's called a joke Cerebros. Swervester 9:39 pm Full of dead titans. verdigrisprowl 9:39 pm Unexpected number of Metrotitan corpses. Today gmoneyz 9:39 pm It's desolate and sad. NoodlesAtNight 9:39 pm *Soundwave looks at the lot of them, tilting his head.* [[He understands Eject. Many of our minicons chose to live separate from the main Cybertronian population. He does not know why anyone else would want to be so far from home.]] verdigrisprowl 9:39 pm Otherwise pretty normal. cerebrosurgeon 9:40 pm [Huff.] We also have the hot spot. verdigrisprowl 9:40 pm Oh, right. I haven't seen that. Swervester 9:40 pm Oh yeah. I should take a look at it sometime. NoodlesAtNight 9:40 pm [[A hot spot?]] Swervester 9:40 pm Babies. gmoneyz 9:40 pm It's actually beautiful. Swervester 9:40 pm Unforged babies. cerebrosurgeon 9:40 pm Anytime you want, Red can give you the full tour, Prowl. verdigrisprowl 9:40 pm Ignited but unactivated. NoodlesAtNight 9:40 pm [[That is - yes, how your timeline acquires new life. Unactivated?]] gmoneyz 9:40 pm We don't include them in our typical tours. Red is very particular. NoodlesAtNight 9:40 pm [[Do they not spawn their own frames?]] gmoneyz 9:40 pm No. verdigrisprowl 9:41 pm I'm given to understand that the sparks are... well, it's not /stasis,/ but they're in stasis. thebestdecepticonleader 9:41 pm Your world still has natural babies gmoneyz 9:41 pm They need frames forged. Swervester 9:41 pm Dormant might be a good word for it? verdigrisprowl 9:41 pm Dormant, yes. thebestdecepticonleader 9:41 pm Tell me about them thedemonsurfer 9:41 pm ((Sup Daddy-o Swervester 9:41 pm [pings Starscream ancient files from his hot spot days] NoodlesAtNight 9:41 pm [[That is inconvenient. And... strange. Where did the first Cybertronians come from in your timelines, if they did not grow themselves?]] thebestdecepticonleader 9:41 pm Wow! cerebrosurgeon 9:41 pm Cybertron spat 'em out. gmoneyz 9:41 pm Yea. verdigrisprowl 9:41 pm If they were active, they COULD grow their own frames—with help and supervision, buuut technically even without supervision many would make it to adulthood. verdigrisprowl 9:42 pm Supervision just increases it from "many" to "almost all." thebestdecepticonleader 9:42 pm No they used to come that way to our universe but then Primus stopped producing them or... whatever NoodlesAtNight 9:42 pm [[Ahh. ... How are they activated?]] verdigrisprowl 9:42 pm ... I don't know. Swervester 9:42 pm Our main job as surpervisors was attending to sparks that weren't bonding to the metallico and helping them forge their frames. Or sparks that were having trouble shaping their metal themselves. thebestdecepticonleader 9:42 pm Now you basically have cobbled together bodies with no sparks, just coding, like me NoodlesAtNight 9:43 pm *Taking notes on Starscream's additions. This seems somewhat familiar based on the other red Starscream he worked with, but he's not 100% sure it matches. He never had a chance to investigate that timeline in detail.* verdigrisprowl 9:43 pm *gestures at the screen* This is the sort of rubbish you get when people who don't understand science are put in charge of the engineering divisions. Asking for a two day project in ten minutes. thebestdecepticonleader 9:44 pm I'm what you get when Megatron does that cerebrosurgeon 9:44 pm Ugh. [He's been there, done that.] Never ends well. Today Swervester 9:44 pm [pings old files to Soundwave too, including old employee medical manuals for dealing with problems] verdigrisprowl 9:44 pm Glaringly evil flaws aside, Zurg is at LEAST clearly a scientist and inventor in his own right and it shows in his work. Swervester 9:44 pm So they're asking for Brainstorm level projects. gmoneyz 9:44 pm Yes but Brainstorm ENJOYS the time crunch. NoodlesAtNight 9:45 pm *He will ABSOLUTELY devour these. He's been interested in how Prowl's timeline could revive its population since he arrived.* Swervester 9:45 pm I think Wheeljack did too honestly. [enjoy Soundwave, he'll probably dig up more old files including medical records for examples later] verdigrisprowl 9:45 pm *can you tell he's babbling about managing scientists to avoid thinking too hard about the tortured mind controlled wirewolf.* It's amazing that thing doesn't just fall apart. NoodlesAtNight 9:46 pm *...And perhaps a little bit about how to help the small, defenseless sparks grow up to be safe and content Cybertronians. Who is he if not one for being ready to defend tiny mechs at any cost?* thedemonsurfer 9:46 pm ((They're so cuuuuuuute cerebrosurgeon 9:46 pm [On second thought, he probably should give Soundwave their files, too. Soundwave's going to get a polite ping from Fort Max before an offering for a mass amount of data on their universe's methods of construction.] NoodlesAtNight 9:46 pm *Turns to Prowl.* [[Do you know where your Luna 1 is? Could he--]] *Oh, distracted. SO distracted. The files are going to be scanned to the Pits and back before he opens them, but then... THEN.* NoodlesAtNight 9:47 pm [[Run, XL.]] verdigrisprowl 9:47 pm ((fun trivia! nos-4-a2's voice is done by craig ferguson)) ((he's said that it's revenge for centuries of british actors doing shitty scottish accents)) NoodlesAtNight 9:47 pm ((lol)) thedemonsurfer 9:48 pm ((asdfghj Swervester 9:48 pm //lmao thedemonsurfer 9:48 pm ((This is a show of Bad Accents Swervester 9:48 pm //i feel like o recognize his name from something too thedemonsurfer 9:48 pm ((...which it was made in the 90s so of course it's a show of bad accents Swervester 9:48 pm //oh wait i know what it was verdigrisprowl 9:48 pm Yes, same place as the other luna-1s. cerebrosurgeon 9:48 pm 〈HE WAS IN FREAKAZOID... Seal of approval.〉 NoodlesAtNight 9:49 pm *What was he asking. Review records.*

[[Would he be allowed to see it himself? To set foot on it.]] verdigrisprowl 9:50 pm ... I'll have to check. Probably. cerebrosurgeon 9:50 pm [Side eyes Eject.] If you want to visit our moon, it's always open. gmoneyz 9:50 pm Is it. cerebrosurgeon 9:50 pm /Yes./ gmoneyz 9:50 pm Hm. It's open. verdigrisprowl 9:50 pm Oh, well, there you go. gmoneyz 9:51 pm We still have that baseball game to organize. NoodlesAtNight 9:51 pm *Oh dear. He's gotten a whole planet. This is getting as bad as the Unimind business.* verdigrisprowl 9:51 pm Oh, right. My rematch with Rumble. gmoneyz 9:52 pm I'm enthused to have people who can actually play. NoodlesAtNight 9:52 pm [[There won't be a murder to solve this time, will there?]] gmoneyz 9:52 pm No. Today gmoneyz 9:52 pm Not this time. thedemonsurfer 9:52 pm ((JFC ((WOW ALRIGHT verdigrisprowl 9:52 pm *LOOK AT THAT. REVENGE AGAINST HIS MIND-CONTROLLER.* cerebrosurgeon 9:52 pm [Looks at Eject. Stares.] Will there not be. verdigrisprowl 9:52 pm *SATISFYING.* thebestdecepticonleader 9:52 pm SO satisfying gmoneyz 9:52 pm No murder mysteries during MY baseball game. Swervester 9:53 pm //I'M LAUGHING I JUST REMEMBERED DECEPTICON SIDESWIPE IS AN ENERGY VAMPIRE TECHNICALLY AND I ASKED AND I'M LAUGHING, NOS 4 A2 IS SIDESWIP'E'S MASTER/THE ONE WHO TURNED HIM thebestdecepticonleader 9:53 pm One day I'm going to do that to Megatron thedemonsurfer 9:53 pm ((asdfgh verdigrisprowl 9:53 pm ((FOR REAL)) gmoneyz 9:53 pm ((LMAO)) verdigrisprowl 9:53 pm ((GOOD)) Swervester 9:53 pm //YEAH I'M CACKLING cerebrosurgeon 9:53 pm 〈I'M LAUGHING〉 NoodlesAtNight 9:53 pm [[A good end to that energy vampire. Hopefully that will be the end of the mind controlling.]] cerebrosurgeon 9:53 pm 〈It's like Sparky 〉 gmoneyz 9:53 pm ((WOW SPARKY(( verdigrisprowl 9:53 pm ... For the record, he's actually dead that time. Swervester 9:53 pm //it is gmoneyz 9:53 pm Took them long enough. cerebrosurgeon 9:53 pm [Nod nod.] thedemonsurfer 9:53 pm ((I love it verdigrisprowl 9:54 pm And XR and Ty are both okay. SCProwl 9:54 pm Huh. cerebrosurgeon 9:55 pm They couldn't give him... A more average transtector? Unless he chose it? [Squint.] thedemonsurfer 9:55 pm ((aaaaa OUO those were really good!! verdigrisprowl 9:55 pm *transwhattor. body?* It was a term of his return to Star Command, it appears he consented to it. gmoneyz 9:56 pm ((am i the only one who sees three swerves)) NoodlesAtNight 9:56 pm ((you are not)) verdigrisprowl 9:56 pm ((he's multiplying)) gmoneyz 9:56 pm ((oh god)) verdigrisprowl 9:56 pm ((it's the sitcom issue all over again)) Swervester 9:56 pm //yeah rabbit keeps?? kicking me randomly then refreshing like 12 times gmoneyz 9:56 pm ((JFJF )) thedemonsurfer 9:56 pm ((Swerve, Dodge, and Avoid SCProwl 9:56 pm ((gj rabbit cerebrosurgeon 9:56 pm [Nods slowly.] S'long as he's fine with it. 〈 LAUGHING〉 Today Swervester 9:56 pm //tdgvfc xcries Swervester 9:57 pm [slowly shoves the holoform away from him] thebestdecepticonleader 9:57 pm Can it multiply me? Maybe with three of me I could kill Megatron Swervester 9:57 pm My holo's malfunctioning, don't mind me. NoodlesAtNight 9:57 pm *No murder, good. That means he can watch an actual game this time. And now, to relax to this music and dig into these medical journals and other files sent his way. The plague protoform crash course just wasn't enough.* gmoneyz 9:57 pm Happens to the best of us. cerebrosurgeon 9:57 pm [He's not bothered by three Swerves. This is fine. Everything's fine. He has three Swerves.] verdigrisprowl 9:58 pm Mm. When my holomatter malfunctions, it usually just gets the colors wrong. gmoneyz 9:59 pm ((wow you mom let you have THREE swerves)) Swervester 9:59 pm I'm not sure if this is a side effect of the whole Swearth thing or not. gmoneyz 9:59 pm I've never had a holomatter avatar. verdigrisprowl 9:59 pm ... "Swearth." Swervester 9:59 pm YEs. Swearth. cerebrosurgeon 9:59 pm Swearth?. Swervester 9:59 pm Rodimus named it. verdigrisprowl 9:59 pm *sworth. swurth.* gmoneyz 9:59 pm Swerve Earth. Swervester 9:59 pm Yeah verdigrisprowl 9:59 pm What. cerebrosurgeon 10:00 pm 〈ANOTHER [Swerve] BITES THE DUST〉 Swervester 10:00 pm OKay, so uh. Do you want that story. NoodlesAtNight 10:00 pm [[He does.]] gmoneyz 10:00 pm ((Microsoft Sam voice: swerve)) cerebrosurgeon 10:00 pm Yes. 〈YES.〉 thebestdecepticonleader 10:00 pm So how do I make multiples of myself Swervester 10:00 pm OKay well it technically starts when Agent 113 was still in the DJD as a spy. gmoneyz 10:00 pm I wouldn't advise it for you. thebestdecepticonleader 10:00 pm I need it for Megatron killing purposes thebestdecepticonleader 10:01 pm Purely good intentions Swervester 10:01 pm He shot me with a bullet but I did not know there was still a bullet after I patched myself up. Fast forward a few million years to the Lost Light and I was kind of dying? verdigrisprowl 10:01 pm *""""was."""" flinches.* SCProwl 10:01 pm I suppose you could use protoforms the way our Starscream did. Swervester 10:01 pm But also I poked a button in Brainstorm's lab and then opened his time machine briefcase at one point. NoodlesAtNight 10:02 pm *Spots the flinch. ... Wonders if Swerve knows what happened to 113?* thebestdecepticonleader 10:02 pm I'm not hijacking protoforms, that's disgusting! cerebrosurgeon 10:02 pm [This is all a lot of information. Holds head. Why was he never told about the kind of dying thing.] Swervester 10:02 pm [he does not know that he knows] And I guess that caused a weird sort of meta time loop that allowed me to project a real life sized Earth 400 miles away from the Lost Light. Today Swervester 10:02 pm Rodimus named it Swearth. cerebrosurgeon 10:03 pm That's... The easiest to follow part of the whole story. SCProwl 10:03 pm It was only a suggestion. Cloning or holograms. gmoneyz 10:03 pm ((wow. two puffs. cerebros: double puffed)) Swervester 10:03 pm I apparently projected my holomatter there and split myself into three and everyone came looking for me. thebestdecepticonleader 10:03 pm cloning could work... Swervester 10:03 pm //thbfg verdigrisprowl 10:03 pm ... Yeah, okay, that sounds like the Lost Light. Swervester 10:03 pm Honestly. Thaaaat's also part of why people keep asking me if I'm real nor not actually. NoodlesAtNight 10:03 pm [[He only ever visited that ship for movie nights and he is forced to agree.]] verdigrisprowl 10:03 pm *and now HIS holomatter projector is malfunctioning. waves off the duplicate. shoo.* verdigrisprowl 10:04 pm Weren't you stuck with us in the other universe for a little bit? NoodlesAtNight 10:04 pm *No, no. He likes there being two of you. Let it stay.* Swervester 10:04 pm 'Cause. You know. I was in my room for months and none of them realized I wasn't really there. thebestdecepticonleader 10:04 pm ((I have to go guys, thanks for the stream)) Swervester 10:04 pm //nini verdigrisprowl 10:04 pm ((bye)) NoodlesAtNight 10:04 pm ((aaaaaa byeee)) [[Oh, fine. He'll count that. But he wasn't part of the crew.]] cerebrosurgeon 10:04 pm [TWO of that Prowl. He's relieved he doesn't have a projector to malfunction.] That- No one came to check on you? At all? 〈Night!〉 Swervester 10:05 pm Everyone thought my holo was me right up until it vanished in the middle of a party? verdigrisprowl 10:05 pm Why would anyone come to check on you if you're the one that's always visiting them? Swervester 10:05 pm Yeah, that. Also I didn't have a roommate and no one wanted to be mine. NoodlesAtNight 10:05 pm [[Why? You seem like an agreeable and competent mech to him.]] [[...Never mind. It is the Lost Light. That was probably why.]] SCProwl 10:06 pm *contently remains only one Prowl* cerebrosurgeon 10:06 pm You're kidding. I would have paid to room with you on Kimia. gmoneyz 10:06 pm ((FDJKF)) verdigrisprowl 10:06 pm *huff* gmoneyz 10:06 pm You're one of the more tolerable mechs I know Swerve. NoodlesAtNight 10:07 pm *Glances at the newest Swerve before it disappears. He's beginning to feel like he should activate his own holomatter just to match the current goings-on.* verdigrisprowl 10:07 pm *well, as long as he's got two hims out, he might as well start cleaning up the uneaten snacks and the chairs that aren't being used.* gmoneyz 10:07 pm ((wow i thought you didnt have a holomatter avatar cerebros)) cerebrosurgeon 10:08 pm 〈HE DOESN'T.〉 verdigrisprowl 10:08 pm ((he budded)) cerebrosurgeon 10:08 pm 〈This is ACTUALLY a second Cerebros. Thanks Brainstorm.〉 NoodlesAtNight 10:08 pm *Soundwave will go ahead and get up to help. Better he keeps the avatar a secret. What if he wants to use it around these mechs later?* cerebrosurgeon 10:08 pm [... Prods at Swerve2. Tw..erve? Swtworve. Hm.] verdigrisprowl 10:09 pm ((tworve)) NoodlesAtNight 10:09 pm [[...One moment.]] *Slowly makes his way to second Cerebros. Going to just. Stand there in front of him. And stare a bit.* cerebrosurgeon 10:09 pm 〈TWORVE-〉 [Oh. Is there- Why is there a second him.] That- I don't... Have a holomatter projector. gmoneyz 10:09 pm Guess you do now. Swervester 10:09 pm I ajust lost control of my holo for a moment but uh cerebrosurgeon 10:09 pm I /really/ don't think that's how that works. NoodlesAtNight 10:09 pm [[...That explains why he can hear this one.]] gmoneyz 10:09 pm What would you fucking know. Swervester 10:10 pm to answer the questoion, I was known as Shut The Hell Up in the academy, so there's your answer on why no one wanted to room. SCProwl 10:10 pm *disconnects video since watching her alternate pick up the room isn't that interesting* verdigrisprowl 10:10 pm *that's fair* NoodlesAtNight 10:10 pm [[...Are you ethically required to keep yourself?]] Swervester 10:10 pm [squints at both of the other Swerves] cerebrosurgeon 10:11 pm [Side eyes himself. This is strange. This is very different from him and Galen being head-off in the same room. Eerie.] They obviously don't know how to... Appreciate yo- I'm really distracted by that other me. This is weird, right? This is weird. Swervester 10:12 pm Is it real. Mine at least I can safely say are just digital projections. NoodlesAtNight 10:12 pm *...Slowly lifts a feeler up to poke it with a claw.* gmoneyz 10:12 pm It's weird. I can only stand one of you. verdigrisprowl 10:12 pm Why are you talking about him like he's not here? *looks at the new Cerebros.* Hi. Are you, uh— okay? cerebrosurgeon 10:12 pm I don't... Know- [Very concerned about Soundwave touching the other him.] verdigrisprowl 10:12 pm *SOUNDWAVE don't poke him without asking, that's a person* NoodlesAtNight 10:13 pm *Are we sure?* *He's not sure. That's why he's poking them.* Swervester 10:13 pm [slowly offers the pother Cerebros a hexaflexagon] verdigrisprowl 10:13 pm *the Prowl that's up paps Soundwave's hand. You could ASK before poking.* cerebrosurgeon 10:14 pm [Oh come on. Holds face in hands. He's going to dim his optics and wait for this to be over before he gets a processor ache. He'll- He'll, just. Spam Max about this.] Swervester 10:14 pm Are you certain you don't have a holo projector? gmoneyz 10:14 pm Kill your double that's the only way Cere. NoodlesAtNight 10:14 pm *Soundwave pulls both the papped hand and the feeler close to his chest, a bit surprised. Somehow, he didn't expect Prowl to do that. But he supposes it's deserved.* cerebrosurgeon 10:14 pm /Positive/- I am not. Eject, no. NoodlesAtNight 10:15 pm [[Do not kill him. He could be necessary, someday.]] cerebrosurgeon 10:15 pm Soundwave, I... Y'know, I don't know how I feel about that. gmoneyz 10:15 pm Ominous. Swervester 10:15 pm Is that a criminal thing or a spy thing. verdigrisprowl 10:15 pm We are civilized mechs and do not murder our alternates. gmoneyz 10:15 pm Fine. NoodlesAtNight 10:16 pm [[It is not ominous, criminal, or a spy thing. You cannot tell him you have never needed to be in two places at once.]] Swervester 10:16 pm Oh, good point. cerebrosurgeon 10:16 pm Max is re-confirming I definitely have never had a projector. I'm not even compatible with the hardware. SCProwl 10:16 pm Most police officers I know would love it. NoodlesAtNight 10:17 pm *...Might've helped murder an alternate, but never mind that now.* cerebrosurgeon 10:17 pm Being in two places at once was never an issue for us, so this is... It's weird. Swervester 10:17 pm [were there extenuating circumstances] gmoneyz 10:17 pm Fortress Maximus was always reliable to say the least. cerebrosurgeon 10:17 pm 〈 DOUBLE DOUBLE PROWLS〉 gmoneyz 10:17 pm Double Double Prowls. Swervester 10:17 pm Oh man. verdigrisprowl 10:17 pm *currently in three places at once* It's alright. NoodlesAtNight 10:17 pm *Goes to help Prowl since he can't get any more out of that new mech without--actually startles when the Prowl from his own world POPS UP IN FRONT OF HIM* verdigrisprowl 10:18 pm ... Right. Okay. Something in here is— Hm. cerebrosurgeon 10:18 pm This is the weirdest library I've ever been to. NoodlesAtNight 10:18 pm [[/This is too much./]] SCProwl 10:18 pm I did not mean I wanted that it happen. *huffs* verdigrisprowl 10:18 pm This doesn't usually happen. Swervester 10:18 pm God. This is sort of giving me a headache because I'm getting input from three holos at once plus my real frame but wow. cerebrosurgeon 10:18 pm [Nudges Eject. Lowers voice.] You're gonna need a bigger table for your date. gmoneyz 10:18 pm At this rate you'll have a -- [hE GRIPS CEREBROS' NECK] verdigrisprowl 10:18 pm Can't you turn off your other two avatars' senses? *prowl ounces back and forth between them all the time.* NoodlesAtNight 10:19 pm *Staring at Eject.* [[Well? Are you going next or is he?]] gmoneyz 10:19 pm I'm not multiplying. verdigrisprowl 10:19 pm HEY! No! *points at Eject* Hands off, NOW. Swervester 10:19 pm Oh. Yeah. I'm not used to having multiples I didn't even think of that, cerebrosurgeon 10:19 pm [WHEEZE. U stop that. Eject is getting bat at AND spammed by Max. Ur grounded.] verdigrisprowl 10:19 pm *there will be NO strangulation attempts in the library.* gmoneyz 10:19 pm UGH. [LETS GO] [WAIT TIL WE'RE BACK ON THE MOON.] cerebrosurgeon 10:20 pm [BATS.] /Thank/ you, Prowl. [Wait until Max is there to meet you.] gmoneyz 10:20 pm ANYWAY as I was saying, soon enough you'll have enough yous for a whole baseball team. Swervester 10:20 pm Why am I the only one with three? NoodlesAtNight 10:21 pm [[Perhaps yours is in poorer shape.]] gmoneyz 10:21 pm I'm assuming it's because of Swearth. verdigrisprowl 10:21 pm ((swerve is smaller and has more room for extras)) Swervester 10:21 pm //lmfao NoodlesAtNight 10:21 pm ((lmao)) Swervester 10:21 pm Must be. Swearth's my new go to for all problems. SCProwl 10:22 pm It's just a holomatter. I recently had one installed and since Arcee and Ratchet already had the technology, it wasn't difficult to copy. opatoes 10:22 pm Oh! Did I come too late NoodlesAtNight 10:23 pm *Manages to get away from the unwanted extra Prowl and over to the extra Prowl he'd like to be around.* [[Tell him you need assistance. He needs a moment of mindless activity to focus his thoughts.]] verdigrisprowl 10:23 pm You missed it. cerebrosurgeon 10:23 pm https://cerebrosurgeon.tumblr.com/post/180006108159/fort-max-at-eject-constantly Relevant 〉 opatoes 10:23 pm Oh. NoodlesAtNight 10:23 pm [[Have you all considered that it might be a virus?]] SCProwl 10:23 pm We're just listening to music now. opatoes 10:23 pm ... Could you send me a video feed later, Prowl? verdigrisprowl 10:23 pm ... Would you like to clean, Soundwave? I'm going to report this to the librarians. cerebrosurgeon 10:23 pm Smokescreen! Ignore the other me, he's not... I don't know what's going on. SCProwl 10:23 pm And dealing with *waves hand at room of clones* this. opatoes 10:23 pm Also, I have gifts for anyone interested. ... You. /Pointing at Cerebros./ cerebrosurgeon 10:23 pm Me? NoodlesAtNight 10:23 pm [[Which - er. Are both of you going?]] opatoes 10:23 pm You. Swervester 10:23 pm [Which one] verdigrisprowl 10:24 pm We should all go, probably. Quarantine yourselves in case it IS a virus. My hope is there's some localized signal causing this. cerebrosurgeon 10:24 pm [I hope he's pointing at the right Cerebros.] Me. opatoes 10:24 pm /He's pointing at the space between them./ verdigrisprowl 10:24 pm No, just me. *the Prowl that's already standing waves.* cerebrosurgeon 10:24 pm Do we leave the clones here...? NoodlesAtNight 10:24 pm [[Ah. Then he will clean, yes.]] Swervester 10:24 pm Is it safe to leave if there is a virus? opatoes 10:24 pm ... Did I come in time for a virus SCProwl 10:24 pm It is if you quarantine yourself. verdigrisprowl 10:24 pm If you STAY, it might get worse. Hence the self-quarantine. gmoneyz 10:25 pm I don't know enough about medicine but I don't think it's a virus either. Swervester 10:25 pm Though I guess since I'm here in holo I could just turn them off. verdigrisprowl 10:25 pm ... If you could just turn them off, then why haven't you turned them off? cerebrosurgeon 10:25 pm Finally, I get to throw Eject in a small room by himself- One of the Prowls is gone. Swervester 10:25 pm ... I'm trying but the other two aren't/. NoodlesAtNight 10:25 pm *The only other explanation he has is that timelines are starting to splinter at this exact moment for an unknown reason, and he's not sure he likes that.* verdigrisprowl 10:25 pm *yeah, that's the prowl that left the room to go talk to the librarians* opatoes 10:25 pm I didn't notice there were multiple Prowls. cerebrosurgeon 10:26 pm [He's so helpful.] verdigrisprowl 10:26 pm There were two of me when you came in. SCProwl 10:26 pm My holomatter has been deactivated since it was installed. verdigrisprowl 10:26 pm *points at his alternate* There are still two of her. opatoes 10:26 pm Really? Hm. Glad my vision isn't fragged up. Swervester 10:26 pm [reaches out to touch one of his other holos, who mirrors the action] Hmm. cerebrosurgeon 10:27 pm [Belatedly waves down Soundwave some.] I've been /in/ universes as they splintered, it looks a lot different. verdigrisprowl 10:27 pm ... Okay. When I said "we should all go," what I /meant/ was "go home." I was being polite. Swervester 10:27 pm Oh. Right. I'll turn this one off then and see if the others go too I guess. If they don't you can just, uh. Throw them out or something. cerebrosurgeon 10:27 pm Right. Right. [Jabs Eject.] We should go. opatoes 10:28 pm Oh. Very well. Have a good night, Prowl. May I leave this gift here? It's a hexaflexagon. Or two. SCProwl 10:28 pm I'll return to apartment now. Will you call me if you learn anything else, Captain? verdigrisprowl 10:28 pm Quarantine yourselves just in case, comm me if you have more problems. Will do. gmoneyz 10:28 pm Ow. Let's go. Swervester 10:28 pm Night then. verdigrisprowl 10:28 pm *gift?* Oh. Uh—sure. cerebrosurgeon 10:28 pm Smokescreen- We should swap flexagons. Call me. Night, thanks for hosting. opatoes 10:28 pm ... What is your number? SCProwl 10:28 pm Thank you. Good night. *pings Soundwave as well* gmoneyz 10:28 pm [he's rolling his eyes behind his visor.] Bye. cerebrosurgeon 10:29 pm [Ping ping. There you go Smokescreen, his personal frequency is now in your hands. As he's being dragged away by Eject.] opatoes 10:29 pm /Wonderful. Now he's leaving- though if there are any drinks, he's going to grab a couple while leaving/ verdigrisprowl 10:29 pm *there are, but they aren't high grade.* opatoes 10:29 pm /f/ NoodlesAtNight 10:30 pm *Pings everyone who's leaving. Farewell. Take all your alternates with you, please.* *He doesn't know how to clean those up.* verdigrisprowl 10:32 pm *... well... MOST of them are gone.* verdigrisprowl 10:34 pm *oh, there they go.* NoodlesAtNight 10:34 pm *Thank Primus. For a moment there, he was really concerned about what would happen if he opened a bridge home with the library in this condition.* verdigrisprowl 10:35 pm ... I think we're back down to the number of people we're supposed to have. NoodlesAtNight 10:36 pm [[Good. Not that he minded your being present twice.]] verdigrisprowl 10:36 pm The other one shut off halfway back from the head librarian's office. NoodlesAtNight 10:37 pm [[Oh well. Too much of a good thing. He has cleaned up - would you prefer he went home as well?]] verdigrisprowl 10:37 pm That'd be wise. NoodlesAtNight 10:38 pm [[Then he shall. Do inform him of any returns of the second holomatter - and his request to see /this/ Luna 1 still stands.]]

*Will go in for a small bunt and then be on his way, if allowed.* verdigrisprowl 10:38 pm I'm going to be quarantining myself tonight, just in case. *he gets the bunt. and a kiss, since it's, yknow, right there and all.* NoodlesAtNight 10:39 pm *Kiss!! Good. Content engine whir.*

[[Goodnight. Get rest.]]

*And he'll make his way out the long walking way now, just in case. Toodles.* verdigrisprowl 10:39 pm And you. Evening. verdigrisprowl 10:40 pm *disappears; a small bridge opens up to swallow his projector and drop it home.*

Obligatory “AUs I Really Want”

-Pride and Prejudice/Lizzie Bennet Diaries AU

-Modern Royalty AU

-Hogwarts AU

-Everything is the Same Except Here Be Dragons AU

-Medieval AU 

-“You helped me get something off a high shelf in the supermarket and now you’re following me around in case I can’t reach something again.” AU

-Starfleet AU

-Accidentally tackle-hugged the wrong person in public AU

-“I haven’t seen you since high school and we bumped into each other at the reunion and holy Hannah you’re gorgeous/handsome now!” AU

-“We share an apartment wall and drive each other crazy. You by singing Broadway and Disney at 3 in the morning and me by constantly having noisy friends over.” AU

-Everything is the same except all weapons are the NERF equivalent AU

-“We REALLY hate each other but you’re the only one in our group close to my age so when my family comes to visit and ask if I’m dating anyone, I panic and say you since the others are all too old to be convincing so we have to pretend we’re dating for just a little bit and oh no why are we kissing against a wall?” AU

-“You are literally one inch taller than me and are constantly teasing me about that and I am consistently angry at you for it” AU 

 -“I work on our university campus restocking the vending machines and you were on your phone and walked right into the open glass door of the vending machine and oh my gosh are you okay?" AU

-“We're both contestants on a reality TV show and we're allies in the final bit and everyone thinks we're in love and whoops after the finale we start dating" AU

-Avengers AU

-YouTubers AU

-Single Parent AU (either Person A or B or both)

-Magic AU

-“You just watched me walk into a window that I thought was an open door and you were laughing so hard you tripped over a flower pot and made me laugh” AU

-Teacher from one department falls in love with teacher from another department AU

-Much Ado About Nothing AU (my favorite Shakespeare play and the only one I enjoy)

-Superhero/Villain AU

-“I suspect you’re the local superhero and as you try to obstinately deny it, you trip over something and tear your clothes to reveal your suit underneath and no what of course I’m not staring at you in tights” AU

-“I know cursive and you don’t nor do you know how to read it so I constantly write petty insults at you and pass them to you in class and you have no idea what I’m saying” AU

-Inception AU

-Reincarnated to fall in love over and over again in every time and age and era AU

-Horrible Cheesy Pickup lines every time they see each other AU

-Undercover cop posing as a drug dealer accidentally tries to sell drugs to an undercover cop pretending to be a druggie and try to arrest each other AU

-Everything is the same but humans have wings AU

-Merfolk AU

-“You’re the narrator for a podcast I write (that’s been getting pretty popular lately) but we’ve never met before. A mutual friend put us in contact with each other. I just send you the script and you send me the audio file and I handle the rest but one day we have to meet at a convention we’re presenting at and HOT DANG I had no idea you looked like that” AU

-Earth is Space Australia and Humans are Space Orcs “We’re together on a mission in space and our alien crew is constantly weirded out by a lot of human behaviors such as impatience and smiling (since most animals bare their teeth as a threat) and recklessness and overwhelming curiosity” AU

-“You found me singing a sad song on the fire escape a floor below you and you came down to ask me if something was wrong and I broke down and told you everything while you awkwardly sat there patting my head while I wept into your shoulder” AU

-“About a month ago the laundry machines in our apartment building broke but I have my own in my apartment and I let you use mine in an emergency and forgot all about it but today you brought me a homemade cake and WOW it’s really good what’s it for? Oh the laundry thing? Oh that was nothing. But since you’re offering cake, you’re welcome!” AU

-Avatar: The Last Airbender style AU

-Star Wars AU

-Arranged Marriage AU

-“I accidentally misdialed my mom/friend/distant relation’s phone number and ended up calling you and you’re a huge celebrity and oh my goodness gracious I’m so sorry but you laugh it off and say you haven’t had a normal conversation with someone in a while so you talk to me for nearly an hour and somehow when it’s over we promise to talk again soon?” AU

-(Based on a true story in my life, but changed slightly) “I Photoshopped a fake wedding announcement and sent it to you and we were almost a thing a long time ago so it makes you sad but you call me to congratulate me and I just burst out laughing and tell you that it’s a joke and you’re angry but also hopeful and yeah I’m still single why do you ask?” AU

-Became good friends on Tumblr and went on a roadtrip to meet each other AU

-“You’re some being that for some reason doesn’t have a name---or your name isn’t pronounceable by me/humans in general despite our mimicking skills---so I want to give you a name and I swear I’ve listed every name on the planet and you reject all of them until we finally find one that fits you perfectly” AU

-“We’re both sidekicks to the main superhero, who may or may not ship us hard, but we have an intense rivalry going on because you think you’re better than me and that is obviously false but we trade off who’s on sidekick duty and the whole time we’re with the superhero, they fawn over how cute you and I are and we both hate it but at some point we both jumped in to save a store from getting robbed and when we finished the job I was so excited that I hugged you and then you kissed me. We didn’t speak to each other for a month afterwards” AU

-ALTERNATELY: “We’re each a sidekick to a different superhero and constantly compete over which duo is better, me and my mentor or you and yours. (The mentors may also ship us super hard and we’re both embarrassed about it.) One day our mentors, the big main heroes, are kidnapped. Leaving you and me to get along, begrudgingly, in order to rescue them” AU

-Forbidden Romance AU

-“His hands are in my hair, his clothes are in my room...”---in our defense, he was checking to make sure I didn’t have a concussion and I was bandaging his BLEEDING CHEST after a night of superhero/vigilante-ing AU (thanks Taylor Swift for coming on the radio on my way home)

-“You and I are both single parents who take our kids to the park every week at about the same time. The kids realize this long before we do when they recognize each other time and time again. Eventually the kids become, like, BFFs with each other so you and I finally meet. We start getting to know each other while our kids play together and after a while end up dating/married and, well, our children (who are now step-siblings with each other along with being best friends) are going to have a younger sibling!” AU

-Fairytale AU

-“You slapped my butt in public because you thought I was a friend/sibling from behind and I got offended so I slapped you in the face but then you apologized and explained and I apologized too so we’re going to go to lunch tomorrow” AU

l85 questions tag game

Tagged by @peppermintfeminist​. Hi mate! You’re the best!

— What was your last…

1. Drink: Alcoholic? You’re kidding right? I recently tried a milliliter of Somerset Apple Brandy and NOPE, never again. Non-alcoholic? Water with lemon. 

2. Phone call: My parents, just before I left for England, where I am now (not over the excitement yet)

3. Text message: “Yes” in response to my grandmother, who asked if I got her text. 

4. Song you listened to: Reflection from Mulan

5. Time you cried: Two days ago, in the middle of a back country road in Somerset, over a goddamn Severus Snape fanfic. I’m still mad that the writer actually managed to make me care about fucking Snape. 

— Have you ever…

6. Dated someone twice: No. Have I dated someone once? Yes, but only by accident. 

7. Kissed someone and regretted it: No.

8. Been cheated on: Look I’m ace as fuck and have never dated really ever. 

9. Lost someone special: Yes, I’ve lost friends in multiple senses. 

10. Been depressed: I don’t think so. 

11. Gotten drunk and thrown up: Any alcohol has this taste for me that the best I’ve been able to describe it is “rancid nickles,” it’s bloody awful, and I’ve never been able to stomach more than a sip of the stuff, so no. 

— Fave colours

12. Olive green. 

13. Purple. 

14. Deep cerulean. 

— in the last year have you…

15. Made new friends: Not really. I made a couple of cordial acquaintences in the drama productions I’ve been in, but no one close.

16. Fallen out of love: No, see above about being ace as fuck. Now, my brief obsession with the show Sherlock...

17. Laughed until you cried: Yes. So many times. 

18. Found out someone was talking about you: Yes, in both good ways and bad ways. 

19. Met someone who changed you: So many people. Just one who springs to mind is my Education professor at college. She was amazing. 

20. Found out who your friends are: I am fully aware that I am a terrible long-distance friend. It’s my worst flaw and I wish I was better about this. I think I’ve betrayed more friendships by just letting them slip away than I ever have had people turn on, or abandon, me. 

21. Kissed someone on your facebook friends list: Unless we’re referring to familial pecks on cheeks... no. 

— General

22. How many of your facebook friends do you know irl: Nearly all of them, apart from one random guy that my cousins met online and who has since befriended the entire family. 

23. Do you have any pets: I no longer live at home, but my family still has one of the two cats we had when I was growing up. 

24. Do you want to change your name: I think about it sometimes. I think about it a lot. I’ve just started using a new name with an eye to it becoming my official pen name. I don’t know if I want to start using it as my everyday name. 

25. What did you do for your last birthday: Oh, crap... I can’t remember. I think my mom was there, and my grandparents. We had cake and a tiny family party. I think. All I remember is I was glad I didn’t have a play rehearsal that day. 

26. What time did you wake up today: 6:50 am

27. What were you doing at midnight last night: Sleeping, for once in my life. 

28. What is something you can’t wait for: Finally achieving my lifelong goal: being employed, being published, and being financially stable enough that I can afford a little house, with a dishwasher and laundry, and a cat, and food, and health insurance, and Netflix. It seems... a long way off. Also the next episode of Supergirl?

29. This question is mysteriously missing, so I will pose a question to the universe/the people I’m going to tag: What was the first piece of media (film, book, world, comic, game, character, etc) that you were ever obsessed with?

30. What are you listening to right now: Silence.

31. Have you ever talked to a person named Tom: Several Tims, but no Toms. Excluding possibly some random middle aged guys back when I was growing up because who remembers that sort of thing

32. Something that’s getting on your nerves: People assuming I’m in my early teens and asking me things like how high school is going. Then I’m like, “Nope, I’m like ten years older than that, graduated college a while ago now,” and they’re like “Oh, you look so young,” and I’m like “I know!!” and then (and this is the bit that’s driving me crazy) they all say “You’ll be so grateful when you’re my age!” Like... I just kind of called you out for patronizing me? And your immediate response is to patronize me again? Also there’s no guarantee that I’ll still look ten years younger than I actually am when I’m 50? Also, I may be grateful or not when I’m your age but it sure isn’t doing me any favors now? Please stop. Just stop. 

33. Most visited website: I may or may not be slightly obsessed with Nonasuch’s fantastic Dogfather Harry Potter AU and I might check their tumblr once or twice a day. 

34. Hair colour: Somewhere between dirty blond and light brown now. It was blond when I was a kid. 

35. Long or short hair: Okay, so I really want to be able to braid my hair elaborately again, but I also love the feel of short hair on the back of my neck.  Right now it’s in an inbetween stage and I can have neither of these things. What is a person to do. 

36. Do you have a crush on someone: I had things I called crushes when I was in high school and hadn’t figured out I’m ace as fuck. I get hardcore friend crushes. 

37. What do you like about yourself: I’m proud of my talents, though I play them down more than I should, and I neglect to practice them more than I should. I like how far I’ve come figuring out my identity and who I am these past six years or so. 

38. Want any piercings: Under no circumstances am I voluntarily going to sit still and let someone poke a needle through me or into me for anything other than a medical necessity. This applies to tattoos as well. I respect people who have them, but hell no for me. 

39. Blood type: SOMEONE knows because I’ve had a blood transfusion, I think, but I don’t have a clue. 

40. Nicknames: I have wanted a nickname my entire life and nothing has ever stuck. 

41. Relationship status: Single asexual inactively seeks person willing to share habitation, bookshelves, Netflix, pet, and nerdy conversation for the rest of their life. 

42. Sign: I don’t do the zodiac thing at all, but I’m an INTJ and a Hufflepuff. 

43. Pronouns: Um, this is a weird place and time to do this, but since you asked, I’ve just changed them to “they/them.” 

44. Fave tv show: Ever? Avatar the Last Airbender. Right now? Supergirl, The Flash, Miraculous Ladybug

45. Tattoos: See above regarding NEEDLES

46. Fave city: Albuquerque. Fight me. 

47: Ever had surgery: When I was a kid I had The Case of Pneumonia From Hell and Fun Times in Hospitals and got chest tubes and part of my lung removed. Also a few minor random stuff. 

48. Piercings: See above regarding needles. The needle phobia is directly related to the Fun Times in Hospitals. 

49. Sport: Literally none. I’ll watch gymnastics and skating every four years, but apart from that the highlight of my interest in sports was that time that JKR was live-writing the Quidditch World Cup on Pottermore. 

50. Vacation: I’m in Oxford right now, somewhere I’ve always dreamed of being! And I’m on my way to Scotland and Wales. 

— More general

52. Eating: Sushi, macaroni and cheese, fruit, chocolate, scones

53. Drinking: tea, tea, tea, milk, orange juice, non-alcoholic lemonade or apple cider, water, tea, tea, tea

54. I’m about to watch: Brooklyn 99 (The UK has it on netflix!!)

55. Waiting for: My betas to come back to me on my novel draft. Then it’s agent shopping!

56. Want: A cat, the ability to focus, the ability to read properly without stupid eye problems, a job, writing time

57. Get married: ... growing up I fantasized about getting married because I wanted my paternal cousins to meet my maternal cousins and I couldn’t think of any way that would likely happen apart from my marriage and I think they would get on like a house on fire.. this still seems like one of the only motivating factors for me ever to get married. 

58. Career: Author and poet and crazy cat lady

— Which is better

59. Hugs or kisses: hugs

60. Lips or eyes: Neither. I don’t actually like making eye contact even though I’ve learned to do it, and why would I stare at people’s mouths?

61. Shorter or taller: For a dance partner? Taller, but not significantly so. 

62. Older or younger: If this is meant to be about romantic partners? Because why would anyone ask this question? Significant age gaps are generally not a good thing either way, except possibly between two consenting adults who understand and work to alleviate the uneven power dynamic a significant age gap typically creates?

63. Nice arms or stomach: The heck?

64. Hookup or relationships: Relationships. 

65. Troublemaker or hesitant: Hesitant and trying to overcome it

— Have you ever

66. Kissed a stranger: NOPE

67. Drank hard liquor: See above regarding the horrors created by my taste buds and any alcohol.

68. Turned someone down: Yes. It was awwwkward, but he was a friend. Normally, when I suspect someone likes me, I run away and never speak to them again. Trying to get over that. 

69. Sex on first date: Uh nnnoooo

70: Broken someone’s heart: I hope not

71. Had your heart broken: By friendships, yeah.

72. Been arrested: Nope

73. Cried when someone died: Not really. 

74. Fallen for a friend: A couple times, but in like, a really aggressively platonic way

— Do you believe in

75. Yourself: Yes.

76. Miracles: Yes.

77. Love at first sight: Yes, because it basically happened to my parents. Theirs is a story of being bookstore managers, an immediate attraction, a mutual failure to understand origami, and a shared love of Star Trek. It would make a perfect rom com but there was literally no drama. My parents are adorable. 

78. Santa Claus: I have always had the ability to choose what I believe in. Santa Claus was one of those things, long after I knew the truth. 

79. Angels: Not really of the stereotypical “feathery wings and flawless skin” type. In the possibility or even likelihood of benevolent forces or beings outside human comprehension that are not a divine creator but may be from or of the divine, yes. This likely has a lot to do with how many times I read Narnia, The Dark is Rising, and A Wrinkle in Time as a kid, now I think about it. 

— Misc

80. Eye colour: Green

81. Best friend’s name: I have a few. One starts with a C. 

82. Favourite movie: The Fellowship of the Ring. Or 101 Dalmations. 

83. Favourite actor: Maggie Smith

84. Favourite cartoon: Avatar the Last Airbender. I didn’t discover it until I was about 18, but I love it to death. 

85. Religion: Ex-roman catholic Episcopalian 

Tagging @nerdiekatie, @swimmingbirdrunningrock, @dragon-feathers, and @fantasiavii

Three is (not) a crowd

Chapter 5: Let’s go racing!

Story summary: Two months after Kuvira was defeated, things have finally settled down in Republic City. For better or for worse, Avatar Korra is ready to talk to Asami about the Unspoken Thing between them, however there's something Asami had been hiding from her friends. And that something is Lin Beifong.

This time when Korra walked up to the door of Asami’s mansion, she didn’t hesitate. She pressed the doorbell with a little more force than necessary but she was nervous. It had been a week since Korra had The Talk with Lin and Asami and the duchess had invited the Avatar over to spend some time with her, along with Mako and Bolin. Korra would have much rather be alone with Asami but she would take whatever the duchess gave her. She might acknowledge the fact that the duchess was not available but that didn’t stop her heart from beating faster at the thought of Asami’s smile and sparkling eyes.

Unlike last time, an older man wearing a crisply tailored suit opened the door. Korra recognized the man from being the butler when she first visited Asami’s mansion. She recalled him having to call Bolin ‘Master Bolin.’ “Miss Sato is in the garage. Please follow me.” Korra did as she was told. She was pretty sure that she could have found her way on her own but she was grateful for the help.

However as Korra walked behind the butler, her mind began to wander. She spotted several other servants here and there, many of them tidying up the place. So Asami did give her servants a day off when she had Lin and Korra over. Korra wondered if she did that often to protect her relationship with Lin but the pang in her chest stopped her questioning.

In far less time than she would have liked, the butler opened the door and Korra narrowed her eyes at the sudden sunshine. Her eyes adjusted and she walked outside. The door clicked softly behind her. Korra spotted a car with a hood up and Asami inspecting the engine. The Avatar made her way over to her and saw the grease stains that littered the duchess’s hands and even her forehead where Asami had swept her bangs behind her ear. Korra didn’t see Mako or Bolin and was tempted to stay quiet until the boys showed up. She knew that once Asami started to tinker with her car, the duchess was oblivious to the world.

Despite herself, Korra’s eyes lowered to take in Asami’s form. The duchess had her back to the Avatar and was bent over as she played with something. Korra gulped and shut off her mind before it could fill with images of Asami being bent over something more comfortable like a bed or desk.

Korra coughed into her closed fist and Asami looked behind her to see the Avatar standing a few feet away, a light blush on her cheeks. Asami quickly finished with the engine and shut the hood. She set down her wrench and grabbed the washcloth to clean off the grease. Soon the white fibers were stained grey as Asami strolled over to Korra.

“Hey, Asami,” Korra greeted the older woman. “You okay?” When Asami was tinkering with her car it either meant that the duchess was in a very good mood or in a sour one. The look on her face, especially the crease at the corner of lips, hinted that Asami fell into the later category.

Asami opened her mouth to say she was fine but she stopped herself. Korra knew her too well to buy the lie. “Not really,” Asami admitted. She tossed the dirty washcloth near her wrench and rubbed her temples. “I got out of a meeting today. I’m getting pressured by my investors about the Fire Nation Satostation. They want me to tell my research team to cut corners in developing the carts.” At the look on Korra’s face, Asami explained. “I already have heat resistant metal to make the frames but it isn’t as strong as the metal I use for Republic City’s Satostation. I want my trains to be safe as possible which is taking time and they don’t like that.”

“Your investors sound like greedy assholes,” Korra said with a quirked eyebrow. Asami had a lot more patience than her, she would have punched the investors instead of working on her car.

“Yeah,” Asami chuckled. “But I have to make them happy. They do help the company floating after all.”

Korra and Asami hear someone shout and turned their heads to see Bolin and Mako exiting the mansion. They started to walk to the two women and Asami took a step forward to meet the brothers but Korra’s hand on her arm halted her. Asami looked at Korra with a question in her eyes and the Avatar pointed at a spot on her own neck. “You might want to cover that up before they see it.”

Asami looked confused for a moment and took a peek at one of the side mirrors of the car. A blush covered her face and a hand dashed up to cover the hickey. “Lin,” Asami muttered. She quickly undid her ponytail and fussed with her hair until the lovebite was covered.

“If you wanted to keep your relationship a secret, you shouldn’t wear hickies like a necklace.” Korra couldn’t help the laughter at the sight of Asami’s face.

“She never used to leave hickies on my neck,” Asami had gotten over the shock at the fact that Lin had left a hickey on her at a very visible place. She waggled her eyebrows at Korra. “Maybe she wants you to know I’m hers.” Asami realized what she had said and she held her hands up. “Wai-”

Korra spoke up before Asami could apologize. “Don’t worry about it,” Korra chuckled. She smiled kindly at her friend. “I’m glad she makes you happy. I still don’t get how you two became a thing but I’m glad.”

Relief covered Asami’s features. “Thank you,” she whispered. “She’s a bit like you in all honesty.”

“How?” Korra asked. She and Lin were as different as light and day. The Chief was grouchy and as stubborn as the element she bends.

“Both of you are headstrong.” Asami said. Her face sobered as she continued, “I know this is hard for you but I’m happy we’re still friends.”

Those words hurt Korra more than if Asami said she never wanted to see her again. She forced her lips to tilt up in a mock smile and she knew she failed by the way Asami’s eyes widened and then show her concern.

Luckily for both of them, Mako and Bolin had made their way to the two. “Hey guys!” Korra said before Asami could continue their conversation. “Long time no see!” Korra pulled the brothers into a tight hug, squeezing as hard as she could. The Avatar laughed as two hands patted at her back to be released. She let go and took a moment to look over the two. “No uniforms?” Both Bolin and Mako were back in civilian clothes and the image was now strange on the two of them. Korra was used to seeing them in uniforms. “You didn’t get fired, did you?”

Mako shook his head with a grin. “No, don’t worry.” He gestured down to his normal clothes. Even he seemed a little uncomfortable in civilian clothing. “We’re not allowed to wear the uniform when we’re not working. It’s a new policy after we defeated Kuvira.” Mako glanced away. “The Chief thought that the Police Department needed to be seen more as everyday people instead of ruthless figures of authority.”

Korra and Asami shared a look and focused their attention on Bolin. The younger brother squirmed at their scrutinous eyes. “That true, Bolin?” Korra asked her friend.

The younger brother jerked his head up and down. “Yep! It was totally all Chief Beifong’s idea! President Reiko had nothing to do with it!”

The Avatar didn’t miss how Asami’s eyes narrowed in anger at the mentioning of the president. Korra had her own misgivings with President Reiko but she suspected that Asami had to hear several of Lin’s rants about the man. The duchess probably gave the Chief several of her own.

Mako slapped his forehead at Bolin’s lack of wit. He sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. “President Reiko was worried that the Police Department might have been viewed as more brutal if its officers wore their uniforms as everyday clothing. He wanted to make sure that the image people perceive of us is nothing like Kuvira’s at all.”

That explanation didn’t satisfy Asami. “What if there’s a crime and an off-duty officer is unable to do anything because she doesn’t have her equipment?”

The brothers didn’t understand why the duchess was getting so worked up about them wearing civilian clothing but Korra picked it up right away. Asami was worried that Lin might get hurt if she tried to stop a crime in progress without her equipment. The idea was a bit ridiculous, the Chief still had her earthbending and metalbending, but Korra knew she couldn’t say that now.

Bolin held up his hands like he could physically halt Asami’s words. “We’ll be fine. Mako and I still have our bending.” Korra could have hugged him. He grinned and made a muscle with his arm. “Besides, I can still take down bad guys with just these guns!” His grin grew as a blush spread across his cheeks. “But I still miss those uniforms.”

“Seriously?” It might be because Bolin only joined the Police Department a few months ago but Korra didn’t think he would want to have those stiff uniforms.

Bolin nodded his head vigorously. “Yeah, Opal really likes men in uniforms.” He had a dopey look on his face. “She says that she’s always been attracted to men with authority.” Bolin started babble on an on about Opal but the three ignored him.

Mako rolled his eyes at his brother’s antics and looked at the two women. “He won’t shut up about Opal. I really think he’s in love.”

“Of course I am!” Bolin said, wrapping one arm around his brother’s shoulders and resting his free hand over his heart. “Opal is so perfect, how could I not be in love with her!? She’s so caring and beautiful and smart and strong and-”

“You gotta help me,” Mako pleaded with the two now giggling women. Bolin didn’t seem to hear Mako as he kept listing how Opal was perfect. “She came to visit us and they just won’t stop.”

Korra and Asami were about to ask what Mako meant but the blush on the man’s face made it clear what he was referring to. Korra looked at the still rambling Bolin and almost pitied the man. He was walking on lava and he probably didn’t even know it. The Beifong family were nothing if not protective of their own and she didn’t want to think what Lin would do if she ever found out that Bolin was messing around with her niece. Suyin might be more calm about the situation but Toph, Toph would destroy him. Korra looked at Asami and could see much of the same thoughts were occurring in her mind.

Bolin finally took a breath long enough to notice that the other three weren’t paying attention to him. He looked slightly peeved at being ignored but shrugged it off. “So, what do you want to do?” he asked the group. “Swim? Spar? Have another life-changing and possibly deadly experience in which we learn something new about ourselves and strengthen our relationships with each other?”

“How about racing? Girls versus boys?” Asami suggested. She pointed her thumb at the car Korra had saw her messing with earlier. “I just finished installing a new engine I’ve been working on for my next line of Satomobiles. It’s totally safe.” She smiled at Korra. “It’ll be like old times.”

Korra returned the smile, this one natural instead of forced like before. “That sounds awesome.” Mako and Bolin agreed eagerly. The four split up into two teams, Asami and Korra taking the car that Asami was messing with earlier and Mako and Bolin getting into a car parked in the garage. Now that she was paying attention to the vehicles and not the woman messing with them, they appeared to be upgraded versions of the race cars she and Asami first raced all those years ago. Just like before, Asami took the wheel with Korra sitting in the back. They drove leisurely to the racing track.

Both cars stopped in front of the start line. Asami reached into a glove department to grab some gloves and helmet and goggles. She handed the passenger helmet and goggles to Korra. The Avatar saw the glint in Asami’s eyes and the excited smile. Korra was reminded of the look on Asami’s face when the younger woman caught her with Lin. She looked over to see Mako and Bolin putting on their own safety gear.

“Ready?” Asami asked Mako who was gripping the steering wheel. Mako had a similar look on his face, if less intense, and nodded. He revved the engine once and Asami returned the favor. “Set.” Asami grinned and revved the engine again. The other three might have their elements but here, Asami reigned supreme. “GO!”

Wasting no time, Asami slammed the gas pedal down. Korra yelped and held onto her seat belt for dear life. Mako and Bolin were already lagging behind, not as comfortable with the speed as Asami. Korra looked at the rear view mirror of the vehicle and couldn’t help but smile on the look on Asami’s face. She was so beautiful and fearless when she was racing.

“Hold on!”

Korra almost didn’t hear the older woman and let out a small shriek as she was slammed to the right side of the car but once the shock dissipated, she was laughing. This was so much fun! If it was anyone else driving, she would have been petrified. But she trusted Asami and was able to enjoy her pounding heart and adrenaline rampaging in her veins. Once the car was out of the drift, Korra looked behind them. Mako and Bolin were far, far behind. There was no hope for the brothers to catch up even if Asami let up on the gas.

She turned her head to tell Asami that they had won the race but stopped at the smile on Asami’s face. She saw the fire in Asami’s green eyes as she took another hard turn, the finish line now in sight. It’s only when the duchess driving that her competitive nature comes out. It wasn’t enough for Asami to beat their friends, she had to utterly annihilate them. It was just like when Korra fought in the pro bending tournaments. No wonder Korra fell for her. No wonder Lin likes her.

The two sped past the finish line and Asami slammed the brake pedal. The car squealed to a stop and the two jumped out to celebrate. Korra grabbed Asami by the duchess’s waist and spun her around, the air filled with their carefree laughter. Korra looked up at the duchess and Asami was beaming down at her. The Avatar set Asami back to her feet but they didn’t move away from each other. Asami and Korra’s eyes met and both women didn’t know what to do. A light flush crept up Asami’s cheeks as Korra’s heart pound but no longer from the excitement of the race.

Fuck.

It was still there.

The Unspoken Thing.

Korra let go of Asami and took a step back. She rubbed the back of her neck and looked at the car. “Sorry,” she whispered.

Asami let her hand rest on Korra’s shoulder for a moment like she didn’t want the embrace to end before it slid down. “It’s okay.”

Both women were saved from the sound of an approaching car. Mako and Bolin drove past the finishing line and braked near them. The brothers got out but the loss didn’t seem to deter their spirits. They were smiling when they walked over to the two. “That was great!” Bolin yelled out even though the two women were less five feet from him.

“It’s about time you two showed up,” Asami said, taking off her helmet and goggles. “I started to worry that I would have to go back and show you where the finish line was.”

Korra watched the three talk but she couldn’t hear the words. How did it end up like this? It’s like with Mako all over again, except Asami was Mako and Lin was Asami. And Korra was just Korra.

Roleplay Server Log #271

“The Lonely Server, Nazi Zombies, Goat Simulator”

[Doc] Is walking along in hir smaller shape with Buff-

[Buff] Is eating something that seems to be mostly a clump of seeds-

[Doc] That looks... fiberous....

[Buff] Too loud- It keeps you regular though! Good health is important! - Pokes Doc. - You eat too much sugar.

[Doc] Well I do have a child who's diet is almost entirely that....

[alexine] -is in the path of doc and buff when she notices them- hey

[Doc] Hello Alexine. What are you up too?

[Buff] Waves cheerfully

[alexine] nothing really just out for a stroll -waves back at buff-

[Doc] We're off to visit one of the subseeds. Wanna go dragonspotting with us?

[alexine] sure why not

[Buff] I thought we were doing a headcount?

[Doc] We are. It was just my lame attempt at humor. There will be plenty of dragons to look at though.

[Doc] Is still walking and they pass through Lie's yard-

[alexine] there are a lot of dragon in this seed

[Doc] Oh yes. The eggs that weren't directly adopted by the person who was walking them were released there. There's two giant adult enderdragons who are watching over the babies

[alexine] they won't attack us right?

[Doc] I doubt it. They're mostly still small. - Xe ducks down into the tunnel and turns to watch Buff navigate the small space with a little difficulty.

[alexine] -is following down the cave-

[Doc] Lets them into the cage and glances up at the offensive pod on the ceiling. - Hope you're not too bored down here?

-It shifts around a bit-

[Buff] Is it okay?

[Doc] Hard to tell, they really only like Lie. -Xe opens the way and gestures to the portal

[alexine] strange plant -walk though the portal-

[Doc] Steps out into the open and looks around-

-There's a blur racing towards them from a distance, it get's closer, sliding in down on one knee and takes Alexine's hand-

[???] - Why hello there~

[alexine] what the!

[Doc] Jumps- What the fuck?

[Buff] That was smooth...

[??] A man is kneeling there with messy red hair and barely any clothes, mostly a brown vest and shorts- Helloooo gorgeous~

[alexine] who are you?

[Doc] I was wondering the same...

This message has been removed.

[???] - I am the server, lovely angel sent from the aether~

[Doc] The server? How did you...? I didn't think it was normal for them to just.. generate an entity in response to nothing?!

[???] Scowls a little- Something tried to take over

[Doc] Something trying to... Flux! Oh geeze...

[Buff] Nice to meet you! I'm Buff! This is Doc and Alexine!

[???] - I'm mostly interested in this beauty here

[alexine] -is so confused to what is happening she can every get word but if feeling where signs there would be a huge sign with neon blinking lights saying confused right on her face-

[Doc] Do you have a name?

[???] Shakes his head-

[Doc] Hmm.... how about Copper? or Klein? Justice? Greensleeves?  

[Buff] FRED!

[Doc] Gives Buff a look-

[buff] It's a nice name.

[???] - Pffft, laaaaaaaaaame

[Doc] Well you think of something then. You seem well spoken enough.

[???] Looks back at Alexine- Whatever my angel wants~

[Doc] Mutters- Don Juan, Cassanova, Creeper, Offenderman....

[alexine] -yells- I don't know what the fuck is happening!

[Buff] I think it's called flirting?

[???] - Oh come on!  It's been nothing but a sausage fest since I formed!

[Doc] Pfft! What? oh.... shit... it's an empty seed...

[Buff] Huh?

[Doc] I turned the structure generator off so the NOTCHs wouldn't clash with the villagers and the dragons wouldn't have a bunch of things to wreck....

[???] - And then this lovely vision showed up

[Doc] If you want out... you can come join us on the outside seed... there are lots more people there.

[???] - Even the ladies?

[Doc] I don't know how much luck you'll have, but yeah.

[???] - Then lead the way~

[Doc] Well hang on, I did come here to do something. I have to visit the NOTCH village first.

[???] - But they're so boring!

[alexine] I am not use to this flirting

[Doc] Well.... they were in constant conflict. Most of them are tramatized. They need peace and quiet. - Is moving in that direction-

[???] - Then I'll just stay here with this lovely visage before me

[alexine] -follows doc-

[???] - No!  Come back my angel!

[Buff] Follows them

-A very tiny dragon flits by, almost hummingbird like in it's nature-

[Buff] Follows it with his eyes- So tiny...

[Doc] Reaches the village and looks for the head NOTCH

[NOTCHAI] Is helping a few others move things into the new warehouses-

[Buff] Waves to him- Hi again!

[NOTCHAI] - Oh, hello

[Buff] Need any help?

[Doc] just who I was looking for, I need to talk to you.

[NOTCHAI] - I think we're almost finished but if you want to go inside and see if there's anything else left to move, feel free to.  And what is it Doctor?

[Buff] Hustles inside to help out-

[Doc] Well... Cp went out and had a chat with the dev team... Jeb and the rest of the bunch... They found out you guys were here. They thought you were all dead. They changed some of the generation protocals and having this many NOTCHs unaccounted for is causing a problem...

[NOTCHAI] Pales a little- Are you...  Are you saying we have to leave?

[Doc] NO! You don't have to leave! But I said I'd take a headcount. They want to trace who all your brines are and make them new NOTCHs if they're still alive. To keep things balanced.

[NOTCHAI] Breaths a sigh of relief- A head count I can get you.  I think there's about 32 of us, I can have a more exact number in a few days

[Doc] Actually I need your identifer numbers. - Xe holds out a book. - Can you just get everyone to sign it with them?

[NOTCHAI] - I can try

[Doc] I understand if some of your people are too far gone to remember or know what they're being asked. Just do your best. You'll all be listed as inactive when we're done. Plus I can make a whitelist for this server with all your names.

[Tsunami] Swoops close, looking for wandering babies-

[???] Is grumbling in the background-

[Buff] Whoah!

[alexine] -watches tsunami fly by-

[NOTCHAI] - Is there anything else you need of me?

[Doc] Nah... but I can introduce you to your host. He doesn't have a name yet, but this is your server- Gestures at the grumpy man

[???] - I wanna go where the ladies are!

[NOTCHAI] - Oh dear...

[Doc] He's a bit annoyed because it's just you guys and the dragons. Though I suspect courting a fem Testificate probably wouldn't satisfy him anyway.

[NOTCHAI] - I see...

[Doc] Either way, I'm gonna borrow him since he seems pretty lonely. It won't make any difference for you guys. Flux doesn't live on the server she belongs too either.

[Buff] Comes back - that was invigorating!

[NOTCHAI] - Very well, do take care Doctor

[Doc] Thank you. I'll check back in a few days.

[NOTCHAI] - I'll have as many of the numbers ready for you by then as I can

[Doc] Opens the portal again and Buff hops through-

[???] - We're going now?

[alexine] -walks though-

[Doc] Gestures from the other side of the hole- come on

[???] Goes through-

[Deer] - Doc...  What did you do?

[Flux] - I feel it too...

[Doc] chat- I didn't do anything! Sheesh... It was Flux this time. When she tried to take over the subseed it generated it's own server avatar to protect itself!

[Deer] - Oh!  Well then tell them welcome for me!

[Flux] - I...  Apologize.  I wasn't aware my actions would cause that

[Doc] I'm bringing him up now - Is leading them out of the tunnels-

[???] Tries to take Alexine's hand- Will my vision from above show me around?

[Doc] Eyeroll -

[Buff] Steps up into the sun and streches-

[alexine] I mean I guess I can but there are other people who know everywhere better then me

[???] - Ah, but you are like the first rays of the sun!

[Doc] Lets just go the castle... please?

[???] - A castle?  Does it house a queen?

[Buff] I'm heading into town for a bit, if no one minds.

[Doc] Laughs - If you ask Cp, he'll say that's me... Go ahead Buff.

[alexine] I live in a small house in an oasis in a desert

[???] Is suddenly kneeling in front of Doc- My lady!  I apologize!  I had no idea!

[Doc] Blushes- Only about 50% of the time... - a little shyly- My mate's much prettier actually.

[???] - ?

[Doc] It's complicated. I change my gender like most people change their socks.

[???] - So...  You're sometimes male?

[Doc] Yeah. Depends on my mood. Sometimes I'm a dragon too.

[???] Sighs dejectedly-

[Doc] Come on, lets get you a bed at least. Reset your spawn point. My dwelling is huge and people usually stay with me until they decide to build their own places.

-On a different server, but technically not that far away-

A figure is crossing a vast desert following a trail no one else can see. The mobs see them, but shy away in fear of their aura and confident step.

The ruins of a desert temple seem to rise from the sands as night falls and the figure pulls their tattered shirt closer to themselves and hurries inside. They explore the small space throughly before knocking some blocks away to reveal a staircase. The tunnel is dark and they strike a torch to see as they descend.

The yellow light flickers on the walls, showing glimpses of the artwork that covers them. They stop to examine a small carved figure with white eyes on a mountain of skulls and pass a finger over the image thoughtfully.

The space in the center of the room once contained a trunk, but it was looted and removed a long time ago. Thoughtfully they stand on the spot and look around before doing something no Steve or brine would ever do. They tap out a block directly above them, and cough a little as a small dusty space in the ceiling is revealed. They climb up and shine the torch into the space.

[???] You missed something Herobrine...

There's a small plain trunk in a hole only big enough for itself. They open it and rummage inside.

There's some old armor the color of netherbricks, boots and a chestplate. Either would break and despawn under the smallest blow, so they leave them where they are. There are a few other things as well, just ingots, a little redstone and a single lonely diamond. And there, just there in the corner, something white and smooth.

Fingers close around it and pull it out. It's a sort of cloak, made of spider threads. Soft as a cloud and tattered on the edges. The figure regards it curiously, running their hands over it to search for any trick or glitch.

Nothing... They hop back down to the floor, pulling the fabric over their head and drawing the hood down to cast their face in shadows.

[???] It will do...  

- They finger the diamond and the torch light throws a few reflected shards of light on the walls. They can feel the echos of their quarry even now, and it's time to move on. They pause only to conceal the trunk in the ceiling, and then leave the sand temple to guard it's remaining secrets alone.

[Lie] Does s sneeze teleport and ems up near Docs castle- Damn it...

[Doc] Is walking up with [???] and sees her-  oh hey Lie.

[Lie] - Hm? Oh her Doc

[???] Is quick to take Lies hand- Enchanté~

[Lie] - Er, Doc?

[Doc] He's new.... and a bit desperate. He's the server we put all the NOTCHs and dragons on. He's been a bit lonely.

[Lie] - Another one? And sorry, but I'm taken

[???] - Oh I'm sure I can fix that ~

[Doc] Puts a hand on his arm - Just don't... her husband will literally cut you into several small pieces while screaming profanities and then run to the spawn to do it again. And I'll be the unlucky fucker who has to deal with the aftermath. I am just taking you to find a bed and food if you want it.

[???] - But this beauty is right here! She's the only drink I need

[Doc] You know what... you need some relief. I'll admit it. As the resident doctor I'll provide. Sorry to do this in front of you Lie. - Xe gathers a bit of statick around hir right hand and presses it to his belly to give him a deep orgasmic shock.

[???] Yelps and falls to the ground in surprise-

[Lie] Blushes a little-

[Doc] Sorry to be so direct, but you must be ready to explode if you're acting so desperate.

[???] Just gives a thumbs up-

[Doc] Holds out a hand to help him up-

[???] Takes it- I'll have to keep that trick of yours in mind

[Lie] - This is what I get for sneezing...

[Doc] Anytime, I have no cool-down for that move- Puts out a small wool square and holds it out to her- tissue?

[Lie] - Thanks Doc- Takes the wool and blows her nose

[???] - So about this food...

[Doc] Yes? Do you have some dietary restrictions?

[???] - I don't think so...

[Doc] Then come on. Lie? You're always welcome as well.

[Lie] - Sure, why not

[Doc] Heads for the side door into the vine room-

[Grinny] Is right on the other side of the door-

[Doc] Looks down- Oh hey Grinny. Hows your day going? - Reaches down and pats his head gently-

[Grinny] - Fuck off, I'm sleeping

[Doc] Okay... sorry to disturb- Xe walks around him and motions for hir guest to do the same-

[???] - What is wrong with him?

[Doc] He's been hurt by some very bad people, both physically and emotionally. He's bitter because of it and I don't blame him. Grinny's smarter then a lot of people I've met. I mostly just make sure he's fed and safe and give him his space.

[???] - Poor thing [Lie] - He's gotten a little better, he does look a bit fuzzier then the last time I saw him

[Doc] I'm a bit concerened with how long it's taking him to get his fur back... I hope it's not a coding issue.

[Steve] Is already downstairs, he's reading a book at the table while TLOT fusses in the kitchen with several lemons.

[TLOT] Is squeezing them a bit too hard, he's getting the juice, but also making a mess on the counter.

[Doc] Greets them as they come in.

[TLOT] Stares for a moment - Did you take in another human Doc?

[Doc] No this one's another server. He's attached to the NOTCH/dragon seed. He's so new he doesn't even have a name yet.

[???] Sniff the air for food-

-There's some soup bubbling on the furnace that TLOT was working on as well.

[Doc] Can we get a bit of whatever you're doing TLOT?

[Lie] Takes a seat at the table-

[TLOT] Sure! - He pours out several bowls of the cheesy chicken soup and passes them around the table, before going back to his lemons.

[Steve] Hi new person! I'm Father Steve and this is my husband, Herobrine the Lord of Tears. Just Steve and TLOT for short

[???] Starts to immediately devour the food as quickly as he can while giving Steve a quick wave-

[Doc] Gets him some bread as well and ducks as a bit of lemon shoots past hir head- You don't have to fist them TLOT. Go slow!

[Lie] - TLOT... There's an easier way...

[TLOT] Is squeezing the small fruit one handed in his vice-like grip - hmm?

[Lie] Takes one of the not mutilated lemons and rolls it on the counter with a bit of pressure before grabbing a knife and slicing the fruit in half. She squeezes it with her hand under it while over the pail and the juice comes out easily while her hand catches the seeds.- There, like that

[???] Basically snatches the bread from Docs hand to start eating it-

[Gambet] -Approaches the pile of babies and single large dragon from the air, large wings flared out- There you are...

[Endrea] Lifts her head to look at the male dragon- Shhh, they've decided to rest

[Endrea] Does a quick check on the babies-

[Gambet] I care not if they've decided to rest. -Leans head over Endrea and nips Alan from her back, putting them on his, between his wings. The hatchling just snuffles and curls back up-

[Endrea] Growls a little- Do not forget who's territory you are in

[Ashe] Stirs a little-

[Gambet] -Snuffs a bit and turns from Endrea to make sure Alan is secure- I haven't.

[Endrea] - You do not have to be so defensive Gambet

[Gk] is spying on them from behind a sand dune and scowls at Gambet

[Gambet] I will be as defensive as I see fit. -Nudges Alan a bit before looking at the other children sitting around Endrea-

[Gk] Flounces out and strolls by Gambet, fluttering his tentacles to make himself look bigger. He sits down firmly next to Endrea and flicks his long forked tongue at Gambet - it's bad to not let your kid socialize, don't be such an asshole

[Gambet] Alan socialized enough for today. The only reason it got this far away from me is that Liz has some damn fast legs on hir. -Slight embarrassed look and eyeing of the snoozing Liz-

[Gk]  Yanno... I used to give Doc shit about their gender presentation and since then I've learned better and stopped doing it. So I'm telling you straight, you keep calling that kid 'it' you and me are gonna have some serious issues...

[Endrea] - Besides, it's alright to trust either one of us with Allan, we both have experience with disabled children- Glances at Ashe

[Gambet] -Just stares blankly at GK for a second or two- ... It is how things are done, it is an it until it decides for itself. It has not chosen yet, and I Have asked towards whether or not it is uncomfortable with it. Each time, it has said no. So I will not cease simply because it makes you uneasy.

[Ashe] Yawns and wakes up- Uncle GG?

[Gambet] -Looks at Ashe and steps back a bit-

[Ashe] Notices Gambet and cocks head at him a little- Who are you?

[Gambet] I'm Gambet. Alan's dad. -Lowers upper body a bit so Ashe can see Alan nestled between his wings-

[Ashe] - Oh, I'm Ashe, and the two under mama's wrong are my siblings, Willow and Oak

[Gambet] I see. Wonderful family you have, Ashe.

-Gambet hesitates for a second before laying down across from them-

[Ashe] - Yeah, mama's sort of the surrogate mom for everyone here, Shes fed just about every baby dragon and bathed them to!

[Gambet] Oh? Then she's doing wonderfully.

[Endrea] - Truly though Gambet, if you need help or just a break, don't hesitate to come to me or GK

[Gambet] I appreciate the offer, but will politely decline. I don't trust him, and I barely trust you. No offense.

[Endrea] - Gambet, your child has been alone with me and the other children, and no harm has come to them.  Does that count for nothing?

[Gambet] It counts for very little.

[Endrea] Huffs a little- Then look at the state of the other children, would they not be happy and healthy otherwise?

[Gambet] Oh, of course. You clearly do a good job. But I have... a lot of trust issues. A lot. And I know for absolute certain that Alan is safe when it is nestled between my wings. With you? Possibly. Likely, but there is still the possibility, and I won't risk my child like that.

[Endrea] - Gambet...  My children are not by blood, they are adopted, but I will fight anything tooth and nail and even give my life if it means defending them, plus every child should have both a mother and father figure

[Gambet] -Snorts a bit and looks away- We had a caretaker and a clawful of dragons looking over us until we are of age where I came from. The only thing stopping me from murdering them while they are so close is that I'm pretty sure Liz is pretty emotionally attached to them... -Snuffs and rests head on paws- A mother and father figure are overrated.

[Endrea] - Try saying that when you've never had one

[Gambet] I'm certain I just did.

[Endrea] - I have lived many lives and my first several were completely alone, nobody to help or teach me anything.  The first time I had a figure to help guide me, it was so amazing.  I finally realized how much easier it could be, how much  stronger I became with their help

[Gambet] -Regards Endrea silently, tail giving a slight flap- ....I see.

[Gk] is still annoyed with Gambet and snaps out of it when Ashe says his name- what is it kiddo?

[Ashe] Turns to look back at GK- I did more flying today!

[Gk] Pats his head with a wingtip- good job Ashe, I'm proud of you.

[Ashe] - CP helped me!

[Endrea] - I speak the truth Gambet, you can even ask GK

[Gambet] I don't particularly care for his opinion, so I'll decline.

[Endrea] - I'm sure in time you'll find at least a few things in commn

[Gk] I think I'm being insulted a little bit...

[Endrea] Nuzzles GK a little- Hush and pay attention to your nephew

[Ashe] - Uncle GG!  Watch me!- Runs a little ways off to show off how much better he's gotten

[Gk]  Watches Ashe proudly- Hell yeah

[Gk] if you want to be a stubborn ass then go right ahead. But everybody helped raise Endrea, and I think she's been much better off for it. There's nothin wrong with being a single parent. - sneers a little- As long as you don't suck at parenting.

[Gambet] And that snotty attitude is why I don't care for your opinion.  -snuffs and gets up carefully-

[Gk] Like I give a fuck.

[Gambet] -Looks up at the sky a bit before to his back where Alan is curled up- Hmm... -Turns and starts to walk off- Goodbye Endrea and family. -Over shoulder-

[Gk] Soft mutter - jerk-weed...

[Gambet] -Just out of range snort as he leaves-

[Doc] Eats hir own food carefully and then checks on hir guest.

[Steve] Anybody want pie?

[???] - What's pie?

[TLOT] Manages to deal with the rest of the lemons and doles out some lemonade as well. - Thanks lie- he's just holding a handful of the tiny, wet seeds

[Steve] Mostly pumpkin and sugar. It's super good. - goes to fetch some from the kitchen-

[Lie] - You could always plant those outside, maybe spread the lemon trees around

[Stev] -Pokes in, turning head back and forth. He was clearly drawn by the smell of food-

[TLOT] I probably should. Give our Cheerie trees some company. But i wonder if they might make them glitch... Could be interesting

[Lie] - You might end up with limes if they glitch

[Steve] Hey brother! Want some food?

[TLOT] What's a lime?

[Stev] Yeah! I was wondering what was cookin'. Smells good...

[Lie] - A green version of a lemon that has a different taste

[Steve] Makes him a bowl of soup and brings it and several pies to the table.

[???] Starts devouring everything placed in front of him-

[TLOT] Hmm. Okay, I'll let you know how it goes. Maybe call you in to give them a booster if nothing's happening?

[Lie] - Sure

[Doc] Is quietly wondering where hir mate and child might be

[Stev] -Moves to the table and sits, although he does take a second to just stare at the chairs. He's more used to sitting on the floor at a lower table.-

[Steve] Wow you must be starved, here, this should help. - He sets a golden apple in front of ???

[???] Reaches for the apples and quickly bites into it-

[Doc] You okay Stev?

[Stev] Yeah Doctor. I'm feeling a lot better. -Poke soup bowl a bit- I can use magic again, kind of. -tries the soup-

[Doc] Really? Good, I presume that means you're recovering nicely. You let me know if you need anything.

[Stev] Will do...

[Stev] -Noms food-

[Doc] Is suddenly startled and pulls hir carrot phone out, it's vibrating wildly and xe peers at it - what the fuck? Lie... it's for YOU.

[Lie] - What?

[Doc] Gives her the carrot. The message on it is from Ever. - "I know what I want. I'll send you the details if you're ready. If it's too hard I'll understand." What the heck is that supposed to mean?

[Lie] - It's...  A friend of Ardens...- She quickly sends a text back asking what it is Ever would like

[Doc] Adds a text asking how they got the number.

[Ever] I spend a lot of time on the internet myself. There are whispers in forums, meant to catch the right white eyes...

[Doc] Cryptic bastard.... everybody thinks they're a hacker these days.

[Lie] - He kinda has to be considering what he's tasked with guarding

[Doc] Looks at the next message. - Awww, fuck.... I am not doing this alone.

[Lie] - What is it?

[Sammn] Do what alone?

[Lie] - Oh!  Sammn, I didn't hear you come down

[Doc] Something dangerous... Sammn do you know how to use a gun?

[Sammn] A gun? No, swords and other type of stuff, yes. If you show me, I could probably get the hang of it.

[Lie] - I...  actually do...

[Doc] That'll do. It would be best to have one more though.

[Steve] Not it!

[TLOT] Well duh.

[hg] -comes down into the kitchen- hello?

[Doc] I am going to make this as short a trip as possible. We'll have to play to get what he wants....

[Stev] What's a gun?

[Doc] Complicated tech. It's very unfair.

[Doc] Hg I'm volunteering you. We're going into a swampy zone anyway. You can water whatever the heck you want.  

[hg] if I see new plants can we take some?

[Doc] YES. - Xe's already making a hole - Lets get this over with

[HG] -is right behind doc ready to go.-

[TLOT] Safe trip-

[Doc] I'll be home really shortly if not - Heads outside and beckons them to follow

[Lie] Get's ready to go and follows-

[Sammn] -shrugs - Why not?

[Doc] Closes the wall behind them and hurries into the darkness - There's really nothign I can say beyond, be prepared to fight. And if someone falls just run to them and click on them.

[Lie] Summons a few of her offensive pods-

[HG] fight!?

[Doc] Dials into a multiplayer lobby and there's a shimmer in the air - Stupid consoles... I really prefer playing online- Xe types in player names and there's a sucking sensation as they're drawn in.

[Lie] - Oh that felt weird

[Sammn] - blinks is confusion - Whoa

[HG] what was that?

-The four drop down from a few inches into a dilapidated building in a swamp, the air is thick with buzzing insects and fog. The windows are boarded over and there's a distinct sense of impending doom. Each person is suddenly holding a small handgun and a survival knife.

-There's a faint groan from outside-

[Lie] Summons more vines and offensive pods to back each person up- Doc...  Is this what I think it is?

[Sammn] - looks over knife & gun -

[Doc] Yes? Maybe? Probably? Did you like FPS games out there?

[Lie] - Nope, I'm horrible at them

[Doc] Fuuuck. Everybody take a window.

[HG] I don't know what these are -is talking about the gun and knife-

[Lie] - More offensive pods, got it

[Doc] Hg just point it at anythign nasty and pull the trigger-

[HG] okay

[Lie] - What about ammo?  How much do we have?

[Doc] Just a little. Fire for the heads-

-There's a ripping noise as the first few zombies pull at the boards over the windows-

[Doc] Take a window!

[Lie] Raises the gun and shoots-

[HG] -panic and runs really fast in a circle-

[Sammn] - holds up her knife and concentrates on it, whispering under her breath - morsus ignis - and a red glow covers the knife.

[Doc] Dammit Hg! Focus!

[Lie] Uses her vines to help reinforce the windows- What are we after Doc?

[HG] -calms down a little and waters the reinforcing vines so they stay stronger longer-

[Doc] A very special gun. But we have to play to get it because it can only be bought! - Xe swipes at the zombies outside the windows-

[Lie] Takes headshots from close range until she's out of bullets-

[Doc] No! You have to let them rip the boards! You get money from fixing them as well as kills!

[Doc] We can't leave the room till we get over 1200!

[Sammn] - runs at the closest zombie and starts to carve into whatever piece of it she can reach -

[HG] -offers lie his gun because he doesn't really understand how to use it-

-Sammn is racking up good points for using the knife-

[Lie] - Doc I let this window fall and I'LL die

[Doc] Don't let it fall! Let them rip a board and then fix it!

[Sammn] - digs into the next zombie, smiling -

[Lie] Lets her vines pull back a little-

-Suddenly there's a lull and a creshendo in the background. It's silent for a few moments-

[Doc] Fuck! Round change

[Sammn] - someone give me their knife.

[HG] -runs around really fast using the knife to hit the zombies then get out of the way before they can hit him-

[Lie] - Here, I'll focus on fixing things

[Doc] Hits a spot in the air and checks the score- We can run! Sammn you get the door! You have the most!

[Sammn] - nods, still smiling -

[Doc] Leads the way down some stairs, there's already more groaning ouside the little wooden compound as the next wave of zombies shamble out of the swamp-

[Lie] - Let's hurry up with this!

[HG] -follows doc-

[Sammn] - brings up the rear -

[Doc] Throws a grenade outside - Shit I forgot I had those! Just swing your arm to throw!

[Lie] - I'd rather not!

-Down stairs is a series of rooms in a circle with more boarded windows and several closed doors. Once back inside Doc runs to a wooden box the size of a coffin and kicks it viciously-

[Lie] - Why are there outlines of guns on the wall?

-There's a light as it opens and a variety of weapons scroll in the glow -

[Doc] come on baby please! Just tap em Lie! If you have the money It'll give you a better gun!

[HG] -is trying not to panic and run around in a circle again-

-The Box settles on grenade launcher-

[Doc] You fucker! - takes it anyway-

[Lie] - Should I give it a try Doc?

[Sammn] - is trying to watch everything and look everywhere - We need to move soon, I can hear more coming.

-The zombies are getting into the outer part of the compound-

[HG] -hears them and panics again-

[Doc] No! This bastard box has what we need, but it's on random. Someone else try!

[Lie] Kicks the box-

-The scrolls goes wild as before and settles on a small ray gun-

[Lie] - Doc?

[Doc] Dammit- Xe's firing the grenade launcher into the yard and zombie bits are going everywhere- Just take it!

[Lie] Takes the gun- HG!  You give it a try!

[Sammn] - runs over and kicks the box hard -

[HG] -finally calms down- ok I will wait after sammn goes

-The box gives her a semiautomatic-

[HG] -kicks the box-

- Gives a very ugly monkey toy holding cymbals, theres a lot of tnt straped to it's back-

[Lie] - ZOMBIES ARE GETTING CLOSER!

-The hordes are pilling up int he far doorway under their covering fire-

[Sammn] - gets ready to attack, both knives at the ready -

This message has been removed.

[Sammn] - snarls and launches herself at the first zombie, taking it down and out of the way -

[HG] -throws the monkey at the middle of zombies-

[Doc] Holy crap there are lots! Fuck you Sam!

-There's some echo-y demonic laughter-

MAX AMMO

[Doc] Somebody get that ammo box!

-There's a floating box nearby with some zombies near it

[Lie] Keeps backing up-

[Sammn] - is already up and slashing at the next closest zombie, oblivious to anything but killing -

-The  monkey starts to clap it's cymbals and bounce around and the zombies go towards it-

- After a jaunty tune it violently explodes, takign a bunch of undeads with it-

[Lie] Yelps as a zombie grabs her from behind and she falls-

[HG] -runs fast to grab the ammo box then get away from the zombies it useing his knife to keep the zombie away-

-Everyone with a gun has full bullets again-

[Doc] Runs to Lie, clicking on her frantically and then helping her up-

[Lie] - Thanks...

[HG] -tries to fire the gun the recoil to much for him he fall back-

[Sammn] - wades in the next group, slashing at everything moving -

[Doc] You're welcome! Fuck I've got enough! One more shot and then it may fly away - Doc kicks the box again with renewed desperation-

-There's a light as the box scrolls and flickers...-

[HG] -gets back up and runs around very fast to try and distract the zombies-

-Zombies chase Hg-

[Lie] Keeps her back to Docs-

[Sammn] - starts laughing -

-The box lands on something that make Doc laugh in a very upsetting way-

[Lie] - What is it?

[Doc] Takes the gigantic rifle off the box, it's covered with wires and tubes and the end is like a curled spider with lightning dancing amidst it legs. Hir eyes are firey- This is it! Everyone to me! Now!

[HG] -is trying to slash at the zombies while running around then runs to doc-

[Sammn] - tries backing up, still slashing -

[Doc] Waits until they're clear and fires the huge gun, blinding lighting leaps from the end of it to the closest zombie and it freezes as the electricity barbecues it and them jumps to the next and then the next taking out the entire crowd in a blinding blast of electricity. Doc starts laughing wildly, way too overstimulated-

[Lie] - Can we go now?

[HG] yes I want to go home

[Sammn] - just smiles creepily, waiting -

-There's another cresendo of music and a brief silence. Fog starts creeping from every doorway. A female voice twisted with hate and echos fills the air, FETCH ME THEIR SOULS! -

[HG] -is now froze in fear he can't move-

-The air is filled with howls and Doc seems to break out of their sudden mania as the undead dogs charge them from three different directions-

[Lie] - Doc!  Let's go!

[Doc] TIME TO GO! - Xe makes a hole and shoves them all out into a weird space. it's mostly an orangy wall facing a lot of black nothing-

[Lie] - Doc, do you want me to take the gun to Ever?

[Doc] Let me catch my breath....

-The air is full of tinkly piano music-

[HG] -collapse on to the floor to much adrenaline he is dizzy-

[Doc] Leans against the wall - Fuck... I felt like my hearts were gonna explode... People do this shit for fun?

[Sammn] - growls softly, still on edge -

[Lie] - Well it's quite a bit different if you're out there...

[Doc] Lets all just chill for a minute... Besides - Xe turns the gun over in hir hands to look at the ammo cartriges- It only has three shots. I need to make some more of these little light bulb things for him first.

[Lie] - Alright

[HG] everything is spinning

[Doc] That what lobbies are for. Just taking a breather for a minute. Should I just carry everyone back? It might be quicker

[Lie] - Sure, why not.

[HG] yes please I can tell which way is up or down

[Sammn] - mutters under her breath - Bello infernum. If its easier.

[Doc] Puts the gun away and shifts into hir dragon shape - Just hop on, I'll take it easy.

[Lie] Climbs on-

[HG] -tries to get on but goes the wrong way-

[Sammn] - turns HG around and hosts him up -

[HG] thank you

[Sammn] - nods and climbs on behind -

[Doc] Waits for them to get situated and walks out of the game lobby and back through the void. It's chilly out there and it feels good after the hot fug of the swamp. Xe comes back into the server by the bay and flops on the ground. - I think I just want to roll over in the water. I feel gross. It's gonna take forever to get my clothes clean

[Lie] Climbs off- Just let me know when you're done making the extra ammo and I'll take it over

[Doc] Will do. Thanks for the help guys.

[HG] -rolls off of doc back-

[Sammn] - jumps down - That was.... interesting.

[Doc] I've been in that game before but a different level - xe slips into the cool water-

[Doc] You looked like you were enjoying yourself Sammn. And sorry for yelling fuck you Sam, that's the name of the little girl who controls the zombies and announces the rounds.

[Sammn] - frowns - I didn't even notice Doc, I was ... caught up in.... killing? Sorry. I feel like I've done a lot of fighting before.

[Doc] Well you showed up looking like you'd walked out of a war zone. I fugured you had some experience. And that game is made for four players. - turns to Hg- You did good too. I was kind of afraid you'd run away from the group and we'd have to go searching for you.

[HG] -give a thumbs up-

[Doc] Notices that Hg still has the ray gun- Are you going to hang on to that? Or should I get rid of it? It's rather dangerous

[HG] -hold the gun out for doc to take he is to far dizzy to get up again-

[Doc] Takes it and it melts in hir claws, xe shakes a paw and the bits despawn- thank you. I really don't like having guns on the server.

[Sammn] - realizes she's still holding both knives - Can I keep these?

[Doc] Knives are fine, they're just small swords after all.

[Doc] Paddles with hir paws - You can join me if you want. I bet you're all just as sweaty and bloody as I am.

[Sammn] Victori spoliaque pergit. - She puts them away, looking at herself.

[Doc] Gives her a curious look- Magick words?

[Sammn] Ah... no. I'm not sure what language, but it translates to "To the victor, goes the spoils."

[Doc] I like it. Though it was easier to get what I wanted from that game the last time I was there...

[Sammn] - nods, distracted in thought - If you don't need me for anything else, I'll take my leave.

[HG] -finally get up- that was crazy

[Doc] If you wish. Thank you again Sammn

[Sammn] Anytime. - she turns and staggers off -

[Lie] - I think I'll steal the tub in the lab if you don't mind

[HG] hey doc can we still get the goat?

[Doc] Dunks hir head and shakes some of the blessedly cold water off hir mane- Yeah... why the fuck not? I'm already dirty.

[Crim] - is lounging in a tree, but is woken by voices and splashing. Yawning he slips out of the tree, bounding over toward the noise. -

[Doc] Splashes around some more until xe's cool and then shakes off- They'll have to deal with dragon me though. My clothes are filthy.

[Crim] - come racing out of the tree line and scrabbles to a halt at the sight of Doc.

[Doc] Hey Crim, you look peppy today-

[Crim] Hi, hi! Yes. Yes, Crim is bored. Pinwheel no plays today. Hear noises, come see.

[Doc] We're going to visit another game, do you want to come?

[Crim] - cocks head to side - Is safe?

[Doc] It has a goofy physics engine but no fall damage, so pretty much, yeah.

[Crim] - nods - Crim come.

[Doc] Makes another little hole and scoots outside the firewall - FUUUUCK, still a little damp. Come on, I don't want to be out in the void for long. It's cold out here!

[HG] -follows doc-

[Crim] - lopes behind Hg -

[Doc] Makes a hole into the other game and scuttles quickly through into the space beyond-

- they exit out into a small green field. There are two building, surrounded by a simple wooden fence. Beyond them, a forest stretches as far as the eyes can see. The sky is clear, the weather warm and the ground is covered in red apples. -

[Doc] Well this is nice. - Xe takes a little step and wobbles- woah! One to one! Gotta take it slow-

[HG] this place is nice and pretty

[Doc Just don't try to run-

[Crim] -scuttles out and trips over his feet, landing snout first in the dirt - Ouch.

[HG] why? -tries to walk then falls on his face- oh that's why.

[Doc] Just walk... You won't get hurt badly if you tumble but it's kind of annoying

[HG] why is this world walk so weird? -get back up and walks slowly-

[Doc] Because it's a silly game. You get scored for flinging yourself around and breaking things.

[HG] and there are goats here?

[Doc] Yep. Several different types.

[Crim] - slowly stands and carefully walks around, lifting his feet high before each step -

[Doc] Just picks a direction- Lets go this way-

[HG] -follows doc slowly-

- they wander away from the farm, toward the trees, which thin out. Scattered around are strange contraptions that are barely standing or held together. There also seems to be tranches dug in places, barrels of apples, and in the distance, a gathering of white objects, huddled around a group of standing stones -

[Doc] Scuffs in the dirt and grabs an apple - Looks like someone was having a mock battle here?

[HG] we aren't going to have to fight again are we?

[Doc] I hope not, but anyone who gives me crap is in for a nasty suprise right now.

[Crim] - is bouncing around, play pouncing on the grass and trips again, knocking into a barrel, which sends it flying -

[Doc] Turns too quickly and hir tail hits one of the constructions, sending hir ragdolling to the ground- WHOOPS

[HG] -giggles because doc looks funny ragdolling everywhere-

[Crim] - stands and pounces toward another barrel, rebounding off of it and sending apples flying -

[Doc] Is all feet and eye watering angles-

[Doc] Very gingerly gets up again and minces carefully farther afield-

- up ahead, the white objects have separated and look very similar to sheep. they are moving into a line blocking the path through the stones -

[HG] are what are those?

[Doc] Squints- I'm not sure...

[Crim] - comes racing past, once again tripping, this time knocking into a strange wheel shaped thing, sending it shooting straight toward the creatures ahead - No! Moves!

[Doc] Goes running after him - Be careful Crim! OH FUCK! Xe goes barreling into the sheep creatures and sends them flying-

[HG] -trips and manages to go rolling away from the sheep and stones-

[Crim] - tries to stop, bounces off Doc and shoots off a different direction -

[Doc] Hunkers close to the ground and scuttles like a salamander- Let's keep going! This area is too weird for me!

[HG] -gets up again- those aren't even goats

[Doc] I know there are goats here! It's in the title of the game! let's keep looking

[HG] if there is suppose to be goats they have to be some where

[Crim] - rolls to a stop and dizzily stares at a large shape off in the far distance - Maybe this ways?

[Doc] That's as good a plan as any. I'm with you Crim, lead the way

[HG] -is ready to follow crim and doc-

[Crim] - belly crawls till his head stops spinning - This place is odd, odd.

[Doc] It's actually too responsive...

- the forest around them thickens and through the spaces between the trees, a large silver grey shape is visible. There is a odd hum in the air -

[Doc] Trips and knocks over a bunch of trees-

[HG] -trying not to trip on tree roots or tree-

[Crim] - is tip-toeing forward, trying not to trip or stumble -

[Doc] Tumbles over and clips into the ground unintentionally for once -

[HG] are you ok doc?

[Doc] Yeah! I'm not getting hurt but I feel like I have an extra pair of limbs! No offense Crim...

[Crim] Extra paws no helps!

[Doc] Hears the whirring sound and goes towards it-

[HG] what is that sound?

- the sound increases and the shape is now clearer. It appears to be a giant dish shaped grey object, embedded into the ground. The sound it coming from a small opening in it's surface -

[HG] what is that?

[Doc] I don't know woooah! - Runs forward awkwardly and ends up barreling into the side of the thing-

- there is a loud groan of metal buckling and a frantic bleating as the object tips over onto it's side more -

[Doc] Fuck it! - Xe use hir claws to tear into the metal like a tin can and pull it open-

- the bleating gets louder as a white shape tumbles out of the tear and flops on the ground -

[Doc] Peers at it curiously to see if it's a goat-

[HG] -gets closer to the white shape-

[Goat] - stares cross-eyed at them - Bleah?

[Doc] There we go! One goat!

[HG] -offers the goat a carrot-

[Goat] - staggers to its feet and lips the carrot from HD, coating his hand in slobber -

[HG] -pet the goat-

[Doc] Decides to kick the UFO

- the object rockets away, ricocheting off the trees and flying into the air as random object go flying out of the tear in the side. As it rolls away, the humming sounds slowly fades -

[Doc] Fuck that thing in particular. Is this an acceptable goat Hg?

[HG] yes

[Doc] Shall we go then? This engine is annoying...

[HG] yea this engine is very annoying -is getting ready to lead the goat with carrots-

[Doc] Makes a hole - At least I'm dry now...

[HG] -leads the goat with a carrot and it follows him-

- In front of them, the trees shake and a LONG neck emerges. It keeps going up and up until it towers over them. A strange yellow spotted creature steps from the trees toward them -

[Crim] - squeaks and back peddles away from the things -

[Doc] Looks at it fearfully- What the actual fuck is that?!

[HG] -stop and the goat get the carrot- what the?

[LongGoat] - leans it's head down toward them, sticking out a long blue tongue -

[Doc] AHHHHGHHHH! - falls over and kicks feet -

[Crim] - dashes into the hole -

[Doc] Manages to right hirself and runs the hell out of the game and back into the void-

[HG] -grabs another carrot and leads the goat into the void-

[Doc] Closes the opening quickly - THAT WAS WEIRD.

[Crim] - cowers - Me want home now please.

[HG] -the goat keeps trying to get the carrot but hg is keeping just out of reach-

[Doc] Yeah, it's this way- Leads

[Doc] Looks back at the goat - It has a weird tongue...

[HG] even so they are a cute goat

[Doc] Yeah it's cute. Just kinda silly looking. - Xe makes a hole into the server again and they come out near where they left Just on the opposite side of the bay, facing the castle-

[Crim] - shakes himself and flops on the ground, rolling around -

[Doc] Loafs in the grass. - Thank goodness for familiar physics.

[HG] -once in the server lets the goat grab it and the goat grabs it with it's tongue then noms it-

[Doc]  Shifts back to hir smaller self. - If you guys will excuse me, I need to go wash my everything.

[Crim] - yawns - Byes, me go naps now.

[HG] not a problem bye doc -turn around to find the goat walking off before running after it to lead it to his place-

[Doc] Goes back inside, nimbly stepping over Grinny and heading for the lab.

[Doc] Passes by Arden's room and heard him talking quietly inside. Xe pauses for a moment and hears some soft murmuring in response that can only belong to Zeke.  Xe smiles and keeps walking, going down into the lab proper.

[Galvantua] Crawls along the ceiling and chitters at Doc worriedly, smelling the blood on hir clothes.

[Doc] it's okay, none of this is mine.

[Galvantula] Happier electrical noises-

[Doc] Xe sits down on the floor and yanks hir boots off before stripping fully, washing hir clothes in the cold water and hirself in the lava pool.

[Galvantula] Settles into a cozy corner of the ceiling.

[Deer] is looking for Doc and has Yaunfen with her.  She heads down into the lab-

[Doc] Is leaning thoughtfully on the edge of the lava tub, watching hir clothes swirl around on the water side and shed little red pixels-

[Deer] - Doc...

[Yaunfen] - Mada!

[Doc] Oh. There you are, sorry for all the rushing in and out. I had some special requets to tend too. For the most part it was nerve-wracking and not fun, so you missed nothing.

[Deer] - Where did you go?

[Yaunfen] Jumps into the water side of the tub-

[Doc] Gets splashed and chuckles- Silly... A game with unending hordes of bloodthirsty Nazi Zombies and a ridiculious physics game about goats wrecking things.

[Deer] - Those sound like two vastly different games...

[Doc] Shrugs- Ever asked Lie for a ginormous lightning gun, we had to play the game a little to get it. And Hg still wanted a goat so...

[Deer] - Ever?

[Doc] Some friend of Ardens that Lie talked too.

[Deer] - Oh!  Well that's nice.  Maybe we should get her a way of communicating with them a bit better?  And I thought you said no gun would ever be on this server?

[Doc] Yeah, I need to make her a phone or a laptop. You're right and I still intend for that to be the case. It has some kind of special ammunition that looks like a lightbulb and it only fires three shots before needing a reload. I just need to copy the bulbs so I can give him a decent stack and I'll ship the thing off ASAP. In the meantime it's not leaving my inventory or eyesight.

[Deer] - I suggest you hurry with that then, I don't want that here for long

[Doc] I will. Let me get dressed at least. And give you a warning... the new server is.... pretty desperate. He'll probably hit on you. Just be firm with him. - Xe pulls up out of the lava, crossing hir legs demurely-

[Deer] - Right, what's his name?

[Doc] Starts fishing hir clothes out of the water and drying them - He doesn't have one.

[Deer] - I wonder if that's normal?  I was spawned with a name...  But I don't know about Flux...

[Doc] Maybe Flux just chose a name for herself? You can always ask her. And yours is certainly descriptive, my dearest.

[Deer] Leans over and kisses Doc- So where is the new server?

[Doc] Happy noises- Likely still in the kitchen with TLOT and Steve.

[Deer] - You do what you need to do, I'll go see them.  Do you want Yaunfen or should they come with me?

[Doc] I'll come with you. Just give me a sec- Xe hops into hir pants and puts hir boots and gloves back on- much better.

[Deer] - Come on Yaunfen

[Yaunfen] - Okay!- Runs up and takes Doc's hand since they are human at the moment

[Doc] Swings their arm a little bit- Having a good day sweetie?

[Yaunfen] Nods eagerly- Mama let me feed the slimes!

[Doc] Awww. And I bet the slimes appreciated it as well. Wait until you see Hg's new goat, they're really silly looking and you can feed them too.

[Yaunfen] - A goat?

[Doc] Helps them up the steps- It's a little animal, like a baby horse, but the head has floppy ears and swept back horns like Gk.

[Deer] Glances back at them with a smile-

[Yaunfen] - A baby?

[Doc] You know, a little version of an adult animal. Like Hyrule.

[Yaunfen] - Oh...  We go get candy?

[Doc] Sure. we're just going to the kitchen. What would you like? - Passes into the dining room-

[TLOT] You were gone a while-

[Yaunfen] - Lollipop!  Lollipop!

[???] Spots Deer- Why hello there~

[Doc] I can do that. - Give the other server a look- This is my mate Deerheart. She is this server.

[???] - What?  Damnit!  Why is it every pretty lady is already taken?

[Doc] Thinks of Sammn briefly and then realizes that Sammn might kill him.... -

[TLOT] Hears the thought and gives the tiniest snort-

[Steve] Mix is single....

[Deer] - Welcome, you can call me Deer

[???] Slides closer to Steve- Who is this Mix?

[Steve] She's a - almost says female Steve- She's a brine. Really cute, brown hair in a bob, sometimes green eyes, little glowing freckles.

[???] - Sounds adorable!

[TLOT] She's tough too. I've seen her wrestle dinosaurs.

[Doc] Gets a very large lollipop for Yaunfen and gives it to them.

[Yaunfen] Eagerly takes it and starts sucking on it, warily eyeing ???-

[Doc] Is keeping an eye on Deerheart as well to make sure she's not getting annoyed.

[Deer] Is finding the situation a bit amusing-

[Lie] Walks into the kitchen, still covered in zombie blood-

[Doc] Umm Lie? I thought you were going to bathe?

[Steve] Lie! What happened to you?!

[Lie] - I was, but it's turned into an exercise in avoiding CP...  And we had to fight zombies Steve...  And I was the only one who freakin died!

[Doc] Why are you avoiding him? Is he being an asshole again?

[Steve] You died!?

[Doc] She went down. It's a game where you can only take one hit and then someone has to 'revive' you.

[Steve] Just one?! That's harsh...

[Lie] - I'm not sure what's gotten into CP...  But he seems to be in a hunting mode...

[Doc] Suddenly has a realization- You have blood on you. He likes that, doesn't he?

[Lie] - Probably?

[TLOT] Absolutely. I'd bet you a diamond that's exactly the case.

[Lie] Groans-

[Doc] Should I just get you some different clothes?

[Deer] - Love, if you hurry with that thing so Lie can take it, then we can distract CP after finding him so Lie can bathe when she gets back

[Doc] Oh, right! - Xe takes otu the handful of bulbs and begins clicking on them in quick sucession until there's a whole pile. Xe rips apart a saddle bag so it's just one sack and packs the bulbs into the slots- I'm sorry Lie, I'm not comfortable having this thing here, it's too dangerous- Xe puts the bag on her shoulder and draws out the Wunderwaffe DG2 -

[Sammn] - is trying to make her way to her room, hears voices and detours -

[TLOT] What the nether is that?! It's nearly as long as you are tall!

[Doc] It's a gun and it's going away ASAP.

[Steve] It looks scary.

[Lie] Holds her hands out for the gun-

[Doc] Heft the giant weapon and passes it to her- just be careful okay? It has a hair trigger and it's heavy as all get out

[Lie] - I can tell!  I'll be right back- She focus' and creates an opening, thinking about the computer she and CP had left through last time and goes through the portal carefully

[Sammn] - stands in the doorway watching -

-The room with the tree is quiet but there's a soft rattling of someone using a sewing machine in the study-

[Lie] Heads towards the noise and hefts the gun onto one shoulder before knocking-

[CP] Heads towards Lie's last known location as soon as he saw that she had left-

[Deer] - Sammn, are you here for some food?

[???] Perks a little-

[Sammn] - snaps back into focus - I was heading to my room, but yeah, figured a bite to eat would be good.

[Ever] Peeks out the door and Karla looks up from her sewing-

[Karla] Ah. You frind has come to visit us again, and fresh from battle it seems-

[Ever] Oh my gods! Lie! Are you hurt?!

[Lie] - Eh heh...  Had to be revived once, but we did get what you asked.  Sorry bout the mess, but I ended up having to avoid the husband

[Deer] Bustles into the kitchen to start making food-

[???] Looks Sammn up and down a bit-

[TLOT] There's soup left too if you want some-

[Sammn] - wanders over to an empty seat - Anything will do, hard to sleep on an empty stomach.

[Karla] Gets up to come look at her- Why is that?

[Ever] Geeze... I thought it would be easy for you guys since you have wierd powers and stuff!

[???] - Hi~

[TLOT] Brings her a bowl of soup and some bread. The lemonade is still on the table.

[Lie] - Still had to actually play the game to get it, it basically comes from a random grab bag that's a chest...  And I had to avoid the husband because blood is a turn on for him considering his murderous tendencies...

[Sammn] - nods thanks, then gives a look toward the other - Ah, ello.

[???] - Please tell me you're single

[Karla] He's such a... vital creature...

[Ever] I know it's random, I thought you guys could just... I don't know, I'm sorry.

[Lie] - It's okay, was a bit of an adventure.  And normally I wouldn't mind my husbands antics but it's difficult at the moment since I got a bit of an...  Upgrade...

[Karla] Slinks over- What kind of 'upgrade'?

[Ever] Smiles despite himself- It can be a real rollercoaster. I'm really fond of that game.

[Sammn] - gives him a look and starts eating -

[Lie] Sighs a little- I was...  Deleted by a NOTCH recently, they managed to save my code and Doc made it so I'd be much harder to delete in the future.  I can regenerate entire limbs if necessary, however, this also means that our previous birth control solution no longer works since my ovaries will now just regenerate and brines are VERY fertile

[???] Scoots closer-

[Karla] That's unfortunate. What about an IUD? Can't your doctor friend install one?

[Ever] You can regrow limbs?! That's so wild!

[Lie] - I'm not sure...  Ever, where do you want me to put this thing?  It's heavy

[Sammn] - ignores and concentrates on eating -

[???] - Well~

[Steve] She is, but you really need to work on your approach...

[???] - Well then do you want to go and do some things?

[Ever] Looks around for a free spot and indicates the big wooden table near the fireplace.

[TLOT] Things? Really?

[Lie] Carries it over and puts it down with a slight thud- Be careful, it does have a hair trigger-

[???] - What?

[Sammn] - finishes and stands, frowning. She walks pasts, flicking at hand at him and mutters - Silentium.

[Ever] Is just oohing and ahhing all over it, looking at every little part-

[Karla] Isn't saying anything but the bright copper tubing, and misty blue lights on the gun seem reflected in her intense stare.

[TLOT] Shakes his head. - Any chance you like Testificates?

[Lie] Puts the bag down as well- This has extra ammo for you guys-

[???] Tries to talk and can't-

[CP] Is listening at the top of the stairs-

[Ever] So excited he can hardly breathe - This is the best! - Opens the bag and starts at the grid inside of it with all the little bulbs- It looks like a trunk!

[Lie] - Well that is technically what it was...

[Ever] Is just as amazed at the bag now, he pulls out a tiny bulb and it pops to full size in his hand- AMAZING!

[Sammn] - Thanks for the food, if you'll excuse me. - heads out of the room

[Lie] - It's how it works in our game- She stretches a bit, glad to not be carrying the heavy gun anymore

[CP] Is wondering just where his wife got to-

[Karla] Is running a hand almost sensually along the top of the gun-

[Ever] Wait, so I can put anything in here and it just keeps? Like a minecraft trunk?!

[Lie] - Well, hopefully the others have had enough time to find CP and distract him so I can get a bath...  Yeah, that's exactly what will happen.  If you put hot food in there it will stay hot, same concept with cold and it won't expire either

[Karla] How extrodinarly useful...

[ever] Lie, if you ever need anything I can provide, just ask! Thank you so much!

[Lie] - No problem- She sends a quick message to Doc, asking if CP's been contained

[Doc] Taps back- I'm not sure where he is, we had a little issue with Sammn and the new server, she took away his voice somehow...

[Lie] Accidentally aloud- Oh joy...

[Karla] Something wrong my dear?

[Lie] - They still haven't found my husband...

[Ever] Wait, he's missing?

[Lie] - More like suspiciously quiet and trying to track me down

[Karla] Slides close to Lie. Her voice is like silk sliding over a dagger - That sounds like a very entertaining game...

[Lie] Shivers a little- Yes well I'd prefer to get a bath...  And not a lava one

[Ever] You can use ours! It has jets and everything!

[Lie] - Er...  I wouldn't want to impose...

[Karla] No imposition. It's just water and towels, perhaps a bit of soap. You brought us such a lovely present.  Be our guest.

[Lie] A bit suspicious- Alright, where is it?

[Ever] I'll show you. -Goes to the door-

[Lie] Follows him-

[Ever] Walks her down the hall and darts in his own room to grab a robe. It's black and soft and he prances like a butler with it over his arm and smiles at her jokingly- This way m-lady.

[Lie] Laughs in response-

[Ever] Opens the door to a large white bathroom with a corner tub - towels are in the cabinet. You can just borrow my robe and bring it back next time you visit. When the tub is full hit the button on the rim for bubbles-

[Lie] - Thank you Ever, I do appreciate it- Once Ever leaves she goes and starts the water running in the tub

-There's a cluster of bottles on the far lip of the tub. They're mostly shampoos, conditioners and liquid washes, it's obvious who has what since some of them are black bottles with curly writing and the others are more generic brands. The evidence of someone who has been poor and thrifty most of their lives.

[Lie] Strips down and steps into the water, opening each bottle to see what they smell like once she's settled in the tub.  She's a bit hesitant to use the soaps considering how much hair she has, but that doesn't mean she won't appreciate the scents-

-The fog from the warm water clouds up the mirror, and the soft sound of the sewing machine in the other room starts up again. It's very quiet and the room has no windows.

[Lie] Hums happily as she slides deeper into the water and turns the jets on, pouring a bit of soap in to make bubbles-

-Across from her are the towel cabinets, and one cupboard is slightly ajar with something colorful in the shadow of the door.

[Lie] Spots it and gets curious.  She however doesn't want to leave the warmth of the tub and so uses her plants to nudge the door open a bit more-

-The top two shelves are full of fluffy white towels, but the bottom one that's nearest the counter has an assortment of different colored  dildos and buttplugs lined up neatly next to a rather large pump bottle of lube.

[Lie] Flushes bright red and accidentally gives off a burst of embarrassment-

-The sewing pauses and there's a small wave of smugness and mirth from the direction of the study-

[Lie] Quick burst towards the two in the other room as she feels the returning waves- Shut up- She sinks deeper into the water, the bubbles being lit from below by her hair

-There's some quiet talk that's likely Karla explaining what little she can glean mentally from Lie to Ever, followed by some soft giggling-

[Lie] Shouts- I can hear you!

-Dead silence-

[Lie] Grows suspicious but notices that the water has already gotten murky from the removal of the blood.  With a sigh she starts draining the water-

[Lie] Rinses the tub real quick and then fills it again so she can make certain that she's clean. She hung happily as she relaxes in the water, starting to get a bit sleepy-

[CP] Is focusing on the area Lie had been in to figure out where she went, his mental process searching the area and trying to avoid detection by TLOT-

(badly formatted because mobile is ass) Theory Time!

So we’ve all seen the new video introducing the new villain of Sonic Forces: Infinite. People have already picked apart the video and other teasers so I will just list the key points for this theory on just who or what this asshole is.

- Shadow, Chaos and Metal have been brainwashed.

- Infinite is faster than Sonic and can fly.

- People who can’t possibly be there are present nonetheless (Classic Sonic, Chaos, Metal, Silver).

- Eggman is implied to have multiple copies of the mechs from previous games (Egg Dragoons, Death Egg Robots).

But the most important thing is the motif constantly associated with Infinite.

Glitches.

They’re absolutely EVERYWHERE. Chaos and Metal appear to glitch while under his control, there’s glitches hovering around him and both his musical theme and the video attached to it are OVERFLOWING with glitches.

This is not by accident, or a one-time Cool Effect™. This is DELIBERATE.

And in case we’ve all forgotten, GLITCHES ARE NOT SUPPOSED TO BE IN VIDEO GAMES! They’re bugs, development errors, things game developers WANT and NEED to remove before final release! So why would Infinite have glitches all around him?

To understand that, let’s look at another game that deliberately uses glitches as a part of gameplay: Undertale.

We all know the way Undertale fucks with your game. Distortion of visuals and audio, save scumming, storing information between saves, screwing around with the interface and even deliberately crashing the game. However, there’s one vital plot point that allows all of that to take place, the only reason WHY Undertale can fuck around with itself this much and what I’m suspecting is going on with Infinite.

There are characters that are AWARE of the fact that they are in a video game.

Sans is aware of your ability to save and load, and remembers things about your previous playthrough if you reset your save file. He’s also the person calling you on the phone at the end of a Neutral run, when you’re pretty much in The Void™.

Flowey is also aware of the ability to save and load, considering he used to HAVE that ability. He remembers your previous playthrough, addresses you (the player) directly on occasion and tells you that he knows what it’s like to use the world as his plaything. When in possession of the six human souls, he can save and load again and has the power to crash your game.

But how is that linked to Infinite? Well, Infinite HAS that same awareness! It’s not shown in the video that introduces him, but it is HEAVILY implied in the lyrics of his musical theme, both in the background vocals and in the song itself.

“When there’s no-one left / To carry on / (This is an illusion, open up your eyes and)”

“So look around you / And tell me what you really see / You live a lie and that’s the difference to you and me”

“This is an illusion”, “You live a lie”, Infinite is aware that Sonic’s world is fictional, and so far, he’s the only one who knows. I feel like this song is addressing Sonic and pals, because he’s clearly talking to people IN the game.

However, there is one more parallel I haven’t discussed yet, and honestly the most dangerous one.

Sans, Flowey and Infinite are INSANELY powerful because of their awareness. So powerful, in fact, that Sans and Flowey function as the final bosses of Undertale (Flowey for the Neutral and (technically) the True Pacifist run, Sans for the Genocide run) and we can safely assume Infinite will be the final boss for Forces. I will focus solely on Sans and Infinite for this one because including Flowey would make this REALLY long and spoilery.

Sans DELIBERATELY BREAKS THE RULES OF THE GAME to beat you on a Genocide run. He delivers the first strike (Undertale ALWAYS lets the player attack first), dodges your attacks, disables invincibility frames, attacks you while you’re in the menu, gives you a chance to “spare” him before unleashing an unavoidable attack, and when he’s too tired to continue fighting, he LOCKS YOU IN HIS TURN with the intention to stay there until you get bored and leave! For this reason, his boss fight is infamous for being one of the hardest, most rage-inducing fights in the history of gaming.

Infinite, from what we can see, is PANTS-SHITTINGLY overpowered. He’s faster than Sonic, he’s strong as balls, he can fly, he can preform mind control, he has that weird cube-attack that we don’t know what it does yet, he’s implied to be immortal and he has no perceived weaknesses. That’s INSANE, even for a final boss. Think about it, EVERY boss, every character we’ve seen has had some form of weakness or flaw. Infinite doesn’t. That’s not a tough boss, that’s straight up UNFAIR!

So what does this mean?

It means that, like Sans, Infinite isn’t playing by the rules. However, there’s one key difference between these two characters.

Sans is a cheater. Breaking the rules, but staying within the parameters of Undertale itself. He’s flimsy as fuck, but he uses cheating to nullify his weak stats. Only 1 HP and 1 DEFENSE? No problem, just dodge everything coming at you. Only 1 ATTACK? Yeah, he deals 1 damage, but not per hit, per FRAME (plus he has a sort of poison effect but that could just be a Thing he can do). Sans’s antics don’t have a big impact on the world around him, because the rules he breaks aren’t fundamental to the universe.

Infinite, however, is a hacker. He changed his own stats to make him more powerful than anyone else, to the point of near-godhood. This makes him more dangerous than Sans, because he can not only break the rules, he can REWITE them entirely.

Now, I guarantee some of you have hacked before (I don’t mean exploiting bugs, I mean deliberately fucking with the game’s code). If you have, you probably know that it rarely ends well. Games are just not built with hacked clients in mind, so hacking can result in crashes, fucked-up models/sprites, ending up in places you’re not supposed to be (and getting stuck), missing out on things you’ve GOT to have to complete the game, and… Glitches.

Which links us back to Infinite and his glitchy Aesthetic™.

This could be incredibly dangerous for EVERYONE in this game. If you fuck with a game’s code too much, things go south FAST. I’m talking characters who die before they’re supposed to, levels or objectives that can’t be completed, clipping through floors of areas you HAVE to pass through, the list goes on. And in the worst cases, we’re talking about corrupted save files, destroyed games or - in some VERY extreme cases - a broken console/PC.

Infinite has the power to do that. He has the power to fuck up a save file, he has the power to rewrite the universe as he pleases. Sonic and friends are just playthings to him. He can make himself too powerful for them to possibly defeat, and if they come close, he can alter their code. He can change their abilities, their wants and needs (mind control, anyone?) and their ENTIRE PERSONALITY! He can bring people back from the dead and wipe those who oppose him from existence within the blink of an eye.

We’re seeing the effects of his fuckery already. Chaos and Metal are glitching because they’re not supposed to be alive (Chaos died in SA1 and - besides Generations - when have we seen Metal after Heroes?). There are doubles of Eggman’s mechs because Infinite has been spawning them in (which must be easier to do than to bring someone back from the dead), but they’re weaker and easier to defeat. Green Hill has lost part of its color, and all the water has turned into sand. Not only that, but the entire planet is burning and crumbling, and I don’t think it’s JUST Eggman. It’s only a matter of time before Infinite does permanent damage.

And I think this is where the Avatar comes in.

We, as players, have always been glorified spectators. Sure, we control Sonic (and sometimes other people), but Sonic is his own person. He has his own personality, his own wants and needs, he’s not just an extension of the player.

The Avatar, however, is a blank slate. We get to decide their species, their appearance, and I’m assuming we also get to decide how they interact with the other characters. They have no personality TO manipulate, therefore they’re immune to Infinite’s bullshit.

And most importantly, we, the players, can hack as well.

We are the only ones who can counter Infinite’s power, because we have the same ability. Infinite is the physical embodiment of a virus, and we are the only ones who can remove it. Fight fire with fire, as they say.

Anyway, that’s just my theory. Sorry if this is rambly or hard to read, once again, mobile is ass.