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writtenjewels · 11 months

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Before they Fell

[Just a note that if you or any of your loved ones have served/are serving in the military, thank you for your service. And special thank you to all of our fallen soldiers who gave the ultimate sacrifice]

Jose was quiet at dinner that evening. His family was chattering all around him: his brother discussing the latest soccer game with their father, his two sisters gossiping about their coworkers. Now and then he felt his mother's eyes flick to him. He didn't have to look to know the expression on her face: a mixture of worry and pride.

Tomorrow morning he would be on the bus to boot camp, and from there the army would assign him somewhere.

Ever since he passed the medical exam-- just barely; there'd been some concern about his eyesight-- Jose felt that same mixture of worry and pride his mother was now displaying. He always imagined his career would let him work behind a desk with computers. Things didn't work out quite like that, but Jose could hope he wouldn't see that much combat. The news said the war was pretty much over.

“I'll help clean up,” he volunteered when the meal drew to a close. He gathered all the dishes and set about scrubbing them in the sink. They did own a dishwasher but the thing was old and needed elbow grease to do some of its job. If they put him on kitchen duty during boot camp, Jose was well ahead of the game.

“Mijo,” his mother called to him. He turned at her voice before going back to scrubbing. “You've been quiet all evening, mijo,” she went on.

“Just thinking about tomorrow, mama.”

“Let tomorrow worry about itself,” she counseled, and Jose smiled recognizing the Bible passage. Most of his mother's advice came from there. “Know that we are all very proud of you and will go to Saint Michael every day on your behalf.”

“Thanks, mama.” He didn't want to say it, but Jose didn't feel like much of a warrior. He wondered if he would start once training began. “I'll write to you as much as I can,” he added.

“Good.” His mother leaned in to kiss his cheek. “Don't forget to dry those when you're done.”

“I've been doing the dishes for years, mama,” Jose protested. She chuckled and brushed his fingers through his hair.

“Just giving you a taste of military life, mijo. Those drill sergeants will not go easy on you.”

“Then it's a good thing I have you and papa to prepare me,” he teased. She gave him a light slap on the arm before going back into the sitting room. Jose's smile lingered for a moment longer before fading. He tugged out the gold chain around his neck and kissed the cross.

Watch over them while I'm gone, he prayed silently.

– – –

Clarice still couldn't believe she got an assignment with the United States military. The interview was surprising enough but to be selected! She didn't even know the military had a division for the more scientifically-inclined: she thought they were all guns and bombs and other weapons of war.

She read through all the information they gave her. She had to fill out a bunch of forms once she accepted the job due to the classified nature of the project. That was probably the only downside: she couldn't boast about this to her family.

It was too bad, because the project was revolutionary. If it all came together, it would use satellite data to use thermal imaging data in determining weapon locations. It was apparently the brain child of an Air Force nuclear engineer. In a weird way, Clarice was proud of this person and they hadn't even met yet.

They proved that not everyone in the military was a jarhead, just as she proved that a woman who dressed “punk” could get a doctorate.

What would this Eric King guy be like? How long would it take them to complete the project? The excitement of it all bubbled up inside her. A project like this was exactly why she turned to science in the first place. She could hardly wait.

– – –

Nathan pushed himself out from under the belly of the car. He'd been working to restore the damn thing for a long time now and it still needed work. But hell, that was why he bought the junker in the first place. His wife thought he was crazy for doing it but he assured her it would be a money-maker once it was fixed up. Besides that, Nathan loved a challenge.

“It's why I married you,” he explained to her. Lori had replied by flipping him the bird. Goddamn, he loved that woman.

He washed his hands before slipping his wedding ring back on his finger. He thought about getting a chain for it and wearing it that way once he was shipped off, but his ring finger always felt naked without it. And if he was going to be naked, Nathan preferred it to be in the fun way.

“How's our baby?” Lori asked him the moment he was inside.

“Looks like she's cooking just fine,” Nathan answered with a meaningful flick to Lori's swelling middle.

“I meant the car, you lughead.”

“It's coming along. Should be done by the time I ship out.”

“Good, I could use the money it's supposedly worth while you're gone.” She turned to pour him a cup of coffee. “How long is the tour again?”

“Shouldn't be more than six months.” He took the coffee but set it aside again and reached for his wife instead. He patted her belly before moving a hand up to her breast. She complained about them being tender now and then so Nathan tried to be gentle. “Just in time for you to pop, babe.”

“Speaking of popping,” Lori hummed, reaching down between his legs, “the little soldier is standing at attention.”

“You gonna take him on a tour of duty?” Nathan smirked against her ear.

“Sure.” She flashed him a mischievous look. “I don't think it'll be six months, though. Maybe six seconds, if I'm lucky.”

“Nice one,” he approved. He was going to miss this-- miss her-- but that car would indeed keep her and their baby secure once he finished with it.

With Lori's hand on his crotch, though, there was something much more immediate that needed to finish.

– – –

Dar spread out his prayer mat and spoke the words. He always started with gratitude before moving on to asking forgiveness and lifting up his burdens. It was getting harder and harder to come up with gratitude these days. Years of serving the military and this was where it led him: his country overrun with Americans, the Guard broken apart.

He knew he was a stubborn man-- Fatima told him that often enough-- but it was that fighter nature that helped him rise to the rank of captain. He prayed to Allah that it would work for him now. Dar knew he should be praying that Allah take this anger and hatred out of his heart, but he didn't.

In truth, he was likely becoming a bit obsessive with his need to get back at the Americans somehow. Dar knew that the moment he caught the whiff of movement from their military, he would be gathering his own troops. Going after one unit would likely not do much in the end. It would still be satisfying, though, to have that one victory.

He would be granted that, Dar was sure.

#dar basri #clarice stokes #nathan merwin #joey gomez #house of ashes

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taylorshope · 11 months

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Genderfluid Clare content because I love them

#it pained me to come up with and type merwins name lmao #clarice stokes #clarice house of ashes #nathan merwin #dr clarice stokes #the dark pictures anthology #supermassive games #house of ashes #genderfluid #genderfluid headcanon

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thesillyvivi · 1 year

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OH YHEa ALMOST FORGOT

(would have reblogged but tumblr wont let me add the video????)

#nathan merwin #nick kay #eric king #rachel king #salim othman #josé gomez #jason kolchek #clarice stokes #thesillyvivi.mp4

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eddie-brii · 1 year

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Okay, after playing through it a few times, is it weird I'm finding there's a lot I'd like to change or rewrite in fics as far as character interactions in HoA? Like I really like Salim and Jason's relationship and how it evolved. But..... Rachel, Eric and Nick just don't have that much charm to me???

I like Rachel to some degree as I know what it feels like to be a woman in a field where you have to have balls bigger than the guys but I feel like she got reduced down for the whole love triangle thing, I honestly really only enjoyed the interaction she had with Clarice, Joey and Merwin. I feel like even Jason got a little more interesting dialogue with her than the main two that her interactions are focused with, but that's only if you bring Clarice with her from the Blood bit and towards the end when they find out she is infected too. I mean they're supposed to have worked together for at least a few months before the whole incident occurs and you do see a portion of mutual respect that I really wish they expanded upon.

I understand why Eric wouldn't be as open about things with anyone other than Rachel but it feels like he's only there to be the reason they're there to begin with and pine for Rachel. He gets a bit of hate from the fandom but I feel like it's a little unfair as I don't think we get to fully see Eric. Like, I hate how his dialogue was written as I feel like the only reason he has any meaningful interactions is because of something to do with Rachel, the conversation with him and Salim for instance, you could have still had that relationship building without her being the reason for it.

I'm not even sure if I want to get fully started on Nick as I really feel like he got dealt dirty, he's almost always the antagonizer in the relationships he's in when some of those moments could have been spread around to other members of the five. The checkpoint talk, the constantly wanting to leave people behind, the over attachment to Rachael that can be a sign of obsession due to him going through a traumatic event making him latch on hard to anyone even remotely emotionally available to him (it's honestly probably a good thing Jason was better at compartmentalizing as Nicky could have latched onto him instead, though I feel that would have been more interesting) I get it, he's not in a good head space but it gets ridiculous at some points, ie wanting to leave Salim behind after having the relationship building with him. You could probably argue the same for Jason wanting to shoot Clarice and Rachel but in he's defense the idea that the UV light could work to save them is on the far fetched side.

I have literally found through my playthroughs I couldn't care less if Nick, Eric or Rachel died but heaven help me if I fuck up and get Salim or Jason killed, then I'm just going throw the whole game system away at that point. Not really but you get the sentiment. There's so much I'd like to change, not even counting the development of other characters that I feel literally got hit for no reason other than plot (I'm looking at you Joey, Clarice and Merwin) that could have made the story more interesting.

Plus, does anyone else feel like the eclipse part was a little ridiculous or redundant? I get it's supposed to be the big finale but..... not going to lie it felt unnecessary from a story point of view for me.....

Sorry for the random rant but I'm actually trying to write something while expanding on certain things and the more I delve into the characters, the more I want to develop them more than what SMG did to begin with.

#house of ashes #the dark pictures anthology #the dark pictures house of ashes #jason kolchek #nathan merwin #salim othman #rachel king #eric king #nick kay #joey gomez #clarice stokes #HoA #Eddie speaks

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108garys · 3 months

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Here's me with all the necessary materials and the knowledge to know I can do whatever I want for Merwin's hair because who knows what it looks like grown out, maybe he had the long flowing mane of the inpatient's Victor Milgram, or that sort of curly wavy thing little hope's Thomas Wyman had going on or some other thing...

I have a blank check and a vivid imagination so this should be fun

#House of ashes #little hope #the dark pictures anthology #the inpatient #Nathan Merwin #Victor Milgram #thomas wyman

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neznayu-art · 1 year

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Yes... But so what?

#art #house of ashes #the dark pictures house of ashes #nathan merwin #joey gomez #fem merwin #fem joey

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hopesallwegotleft · 1 year

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Some more memes, featuring KingKay with cats vs. Jalim with cats

#House of memes #More shitposting time #Jason Kolchek #Nathan Merwin #Salim Othman #Joey Gomez #Eric King #Nick Kay #KingKay #Jalim #House of Ashes #Also I feel like Merwin and Joey are the types to leak classified info just to prove someone wrong on a video game forum lmao

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myscprin · 1 year

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Merwin: IQ test came back negative.. God is good 🙏

#died with merwin #nathan merwin #incorrect house of ashes #house of ashes

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writtenjewels · 1 year

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Stranded part 3

Part One, Part Two

Joey's world was reduced to fuzzy outlines of things. He could still tell what everything was, but it was all out of focus. Nathan assured him there was nothing really worth seeing anyway. Their surroundings appeared to be forest and mountain and that was about it. It was hot here but not unbearably so. Joey wouldn't have even minded the trek if it weren't for that weird creature roaming around.

“Is that thing still following us?” he asked.

“Nah, I think it gave up,” Nathan shrugged.

“What do you think it was?”

“Not sure.” Nathan paused in their walk to think it over. “You ever see that Brendan Frasier movie?”

“Encino Man?” Joey frowned.

“No, cabeza de mierda. The other one.”

Joey stared at his friend, biting back a laugh. “Did you just try to call me a shithead in Spanish?”

“I didn't try,” Nathan argued, smirking at Joey. “I succeeded. Point being, the thing that went after us looked like one of those things the mummy calls up in the climax.” Joey had to think for a moment what Nathan was talking about.

“Oh yeah,” he nodded, once he had the image in his head. “That part was really cool.” They turned a corner and kept on walking. Joey squinted hoping to make out their surroundings but it only seemed to make things even more blurry. He didn't notice Nathan had stopped walking until he ran into the other man. “What's up?”

“Joey, you're not gonna fuckin' believe what I found.”

“Rachel Weisz?”

“Not as hot, but nearly as good.” With that lead-in, Nathan stepped aside so Joey could have a look. He had to get a little closer before the image became clear to him. And Nathan was right: Joey didn't believe it.

It was beer. Bottles of beer chilling in ice. Joey gaped at it in shock. Where the hell had it come from? What was it doing here? Nathan was already reaching down and taking one out. Before Joey could form a word, his friend was popping open the top.

“Uh, wait a minute--” The rest of his protest died the moment that bottle touched Nathan's lips. Nathan guzzled down half the bottle in one go. Joey eyed his friend warily, waiting to see what would happen.

“Hoo!” Nathan sighed out. “That hits the fuckin' spot! C'mon, help me drag these into the woods so we can sit and drink them in the shade.”

“Seriously?” Joey squinted again. “You want to drink some random beer you found in the middle of nowhere while some crazy zombie soldier thing is running around?”

“And why the fuck not?” Nathan challenged. Joey could think of tons of reasons why not. He opened his mouth to list them but then slowly closed it again. Instead, he fished a bottle out of the chest and popped it open.

“Salud,” he toasted, and took a drink.

– – –

Salim didn't know where exactly he planned to go when he walked away from Dar. He tried everything he could to convince the captain to change, or at least alter, his plans for the Americans. It should have been enough to strand them here and have them struggling for a while, but no: Dar was adamant about punishing them. Salim had no grudge against the Americans-- only knew them from the cowboy movies he watched-- so he had no part in the planning.

He could hear the spray of bullets up ahead. One of the Americans defending themselves against the Ancient Ones, he guessed. There was a moment of silence and then more gunfire. Those bullets weren't going to do any good and eventually the American must have figured it out, because there was silence again. Salim turned in the direction of the noise and moved toward it.

The Ancient Ones were under orders not to kill the Americans, but Salim still wanted to make sure. Balathu came charging his way.

[What happened back there?] Salim asked him. The Ancient Ones could no longer speak with words but Salim had figured out their unusual language of clicks and shrieks. Balathu told him about being shot by the American and retaliating with a spear throw. Then the American had disappeared.

[What do you mean, disappeared?] Salim frowned. Gone, according to Balathu; he couldn't find the American he'd been pursuing. [There are plenty of other Americans for you to chase around,] Salim reasoned. [Don't worry about this one.]

That seemed to appease the Ancient One, and he went charging off again to hunt. Salim was more curious than ever about this American. He continued walking forward a few more paces. He let out a gasp when he spotted the other man. A gray cap covered his head and he wore a blue T-shirt under his body armor vest. The soldier's head lifted at Salim's noise and Salim was a little startled by the American's appearance.

More specifically, startled that he was so handsome. The cut of his jaw, the slope of his nose, his mouth. Salim didn't realize he'd been staring until the American started speaking to him.

“You from here?”

[Not exactly,] Salim hedged.

“Guess we ain't gonna have much conversation,” the American sighed. “Still, it's nice to see a pretty face.” Heat shot through Salim and gathered on his face. “Human!” the American corrected himself. “A human face!”

Salim stared at the American in surprise, his eyebrows shot up. “You think,” he clarified carefully, “that I am pretty?” It was the absolute last thing he expected from an American.

“Fuck!” The soldier's face twisted like he was trying to fight the embarrassed blush on his face. “I thought you couldn't speak English!”

“I'm very good with languages,” Salim explained. “I'm Salim,” he added.

“Jason,” the other man returned after a moment. Salim noted how he was favoring one of his shoulders. A quick assessment showed his clothing was torn and stained with blood.

“You're hurt!”

“Yeah.” Jason's lip curled up in an amused look. “A fuckin' armored zombie threw a spear at me.” Something about his dry delivery made Salim laugh. “Speakin' of which, be careful. That fuckin' thing could still be close by.”

“I think we're safe for now,” Salim soothed him. “So,” he resumed with a smile, “you think I'm pretty?”

“That ain't what I said,” Jason argued. “I didn't say that at all.” Salim raised an eyebrow. “Where'd you come from, anyway?” Jason demanded in an effort to change the subject. “You stranded here like us?”

“Not like you, but I can't leave, if that's what you're asking.” It was too complicated a situation to get into just now. “And for the record,” he added, a gleam in his eyes, “I think your face is pretty, too. Then again,” he went on before Jason's responding blush could spread too far, “yours is also the first American face I've seen outside cowboy movies.”

“Huh.” Jason still looked embarrassed and a little unsettled. “John Wayne or Clint Eastwood?”

“Steve McQueen.”

“The King of Cool himself? Fuck.” Jason shook his head. “That's a fuckin' high bar.” Salim felt his smile growing wider. He liked this American. “That's one of my favorite movies,” Jason told him.

“Mine too,” Salim agreed. Their eyes met, Jason's head tilted in such a way that the cap brim didn't hide his features. His eyes are brown, Salim noted as a pleasant warmth filled him.

– – –

Rachel turned and reached out a hand to help pull Clarice up. Her legs and arms felt about ready to fall off but they finally made it up the mountain. Clarice panted for breath, hands braced on her knees. Rachel took the opportunity to fish out her canteen and take a long drink. Once Clarice was recovered enough, Rachel passed the canteen along to her.

“We finally made it to the top,” Clarice gasped out. “I can't believe you do that sort of thing for fun.”

“It helps me get out of my head,” Rachel explained. “Makes me push myself on my own terms.” Clarice caught her eye, a little smile touching her lips.

“Yeah. I get that. Kind of like when I memorized the periodic table backwards.”

“What?” Rachel stared at her.

“You know, like usually you start with Hydrogen, Helium, Lithium, and so on. But instead I went backwards and... why are you looking at me like that?”

“Huh?” Rachel blinked out of her daze. She didn't even realize she'd been staring, or wearing a little smile as she did. She had missed nerdy tangents like this. “Sorry.” She looked around hoping to distract Clarice. “At least we made it to the tower.”

“I don't know if I'd call this thing a 'tower',” Clarice argued. Now that they were close to it, Rachel could see there was a sort of base around the object. There was also weird patterning on it that she couldn't make sense of.

“It has a pointy end,” Rachel pointed out.

“Right.” Clarice gave her an amused look. “Because that's what defines a tower: a pointy end.” Rachel laughed, and she was surprised by how good it felt. When was the last time she laughed at anything? Clarice matched her smile and Rachel felt a little lighter.

The two of them decided to wait for the others near the tower but not too close. Some instinct made them cautious of it. Rachel gazed out over the landscape spread below them. The tower was situated in a great spot for them to see the rest of the area. The smoke from their crash was gone now.

“Look at that sunset,” Rachel awed. She felt slightly guilty that she wasn't longing for Nick to share the moment with her. Or even Eric, for that matter.

But she did hope they were both okay, wherever they were.

#clarice stokes #rachel king #nathan merwin #joey gomez #salim othman #jason kolchek #house of ashes

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