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geekyimagines · 1 year

Text

FANDOM:

Star Trek TNG

CHARACTER(S):

Q x GN!Reader

GENRE:

Mystery, sci-fi, humour

WARNINGS:

None

SUMMARY:

Reader is the unfortunate pawn in Q's game... until they become the sole player.

Think

Life had been good to you lately. Not only had you just been promoted from an ensign to a lieutenant, you had also been reassigned to the Enterprise. An engineer on the flagship of the Federation. Your family was ecstatic when they heard the news.

At first you thought it would be stressful serving aboard such an important starship, but you were pleasantly surprised at how nice everyone was. The head engineer, Geordi La Forge, was definitely no nonsense when it came to work, yet every time you two spoke it felt like you both had been friends for years. Any difficulty you encountered you always had at least five people to turn to for help at any moment. The Enterprise really was as good as everyone said it was.

The living quarters alone made your jaw drop. No ship you had ever served on had quarters quite as good, nor beds quite as soft. You were truly beginning to wonder what good deeds you had done to deserve such blissful karma.

Naturally, you soon found out the hard way what the price of heaven was.

Chaos had erupted on the ship. People were being thrown around by shifting gravity, consoles around engineering were sparking, and the warp core was making a strange whirring noise that made your skull vibrate. You weren't sure what was happening exactly, only that the entity known as 'Q' was involved somehow.

That wasn't good. You had heard of Q. Everyone in Starfleet knew about the godlike entity that put humanity on trial for barbarity. You had hoped that it wouldn't appear again while you were stationed on the Enterprise, but apparently you weren't that lucky.

Geordi was yelling out to Captain Picard over the intercom while gripping for dear life to one of the consoles. You were hugged against a wall, trying to hold on from being thrown into the ceiling. Just as you lost your grip and flew forward through the air, you landed hard, face first, on a smooth metal floor. The gravity had stopped shifting. It was dark. You looked up and squinted around at what now appeared to be the interior of a shuttlecraft.

"What the...?"

You were alone. The Enterprise was nowhere in sight. You went to the shuttle console and did a quick scan of the local area.

Nothing.

No Enterprise. No planets. Nothing.

Somehow, you had been transported onto a shuttlecraft right out in the middle of nowhere. Judging by the distance of the stars from where you were, you definitely didn't have enough power to go and find a planet or moon to land on. For some reason, this was your life now.

"Better try and send a distress signal anyway," you murmered to yourself as you repeatedly tried and failed to reach Starfleet. "Never know if someone is nearby to help."

"I doubt it," a voice scoffed from the seat beside yours. You startled and snapped around to see a man dressed in a Starfleet captain's uniform. He was leaning back against the shuttle window with one leg crossed over the other and staring you down with thinly veiled contempt.

"Who the hell are you?!" you yelled, completely forgetting your Starfleet training on rules of civilised conduct in possible first contact situations. If your old tutor could see you now, all flustered and loud and rude, they would be hanging their head in shame.

The man gave a mildly amused smile. "Q," he replied. "I would apologise for snatching you from your tedious duties, lieutenant, but unless you humans now find being flung about a room to be an important part of engineering, then I think you being here is a far better use for your existence."

"You're Q?"

"Indeed I am! I know, this must be quite a spectacular moment for you. You must be asking yourself, 'what could an omnipotent being possibly want with a lowly, insignificant human such as me?' Well, as it happens, you have been randomly selected to be one of twenty crew members your dear captain has to rescue in my little game."

Panic swelled within you. "And what happens if he loses?"

"Lost forever in an alternate dimension. Everything you see out of these windows," he tapped on the glass with his index knuckle, "is all just a bubble of your own dimension put here by yours truly. I guarantee if you saw what this dimension was truly like we would be here all day scraping your poor melted brain off the floor."

You stared out of the windows at the distant stars, or at least the illusion of stars that had been put there for your benefit. You didn't know whether to be in awe of the fact that you were literally where no human had gone before or to huddle down in your seat and cry.

You did neither - not with Q sitting right next to you, scrutinising your every move like you were the sole example of your entire species and he was wondering whether or not to squish you all under his boot. He seemed relaxed, if not a little bored by you, but you didn't want to sway his opinion one way or the other. This was the single most powerful creature Starfleet had ever encountered. The last thing you wanted to do was piss it off.

"Well, while you come to terms with what's happening to you and where you are," said Q, breaking the brief silence that had fallen over the shuttlecraft as you gawked out the windows, "I'll be off talking to more interesting people. Farewell!"

With a quick wave goodbye, he vanished in a burst of white light, leaving you utterly alone. You weren't sure whether you or not you were relieved that he was gone. With a sigh, you sat back in your seat and waited.

Captain Picard was a smart and honourable man. You knew he would save you and the others, even if that meant playing whatever game Q had come up with to torment him.

Hours later and you were still waiting alone, in the dark, in the dreadful silence. You had taken to humming to yourself and inspecting your fingernails to pass the time. At the very least Q could have left you a book or some sort of indication of how long you would be waiting.

A flash of white light in the seat next to you startled you upright. Out of the brief flash appeared Q with a disgruntled look planted on his face.

"You humans," he sneered. "Honestly, I don't know why I waste my time with you! How can such a simple concept elude you all so consistently?!"

"Um... Hello to you, too?" you replied awkwardly.

Q huffed, apparently unimpressed by your response. He held up his hand and in a smaller flash of white light a deep blue spherical device appeared in his hand. He held it out to you, which you took from him without hesitation.

"Your beloved Picard has failed my game, as have all other nineteen of your stranded crew. Now it's your turn to play. If you can't figure it out, then that's it - no more chances. You're getting abandoned out here along with your nineteen other crewmates. I really can't be bothered to be charitable at this point, so you had better think hard on this."

"No pressure then," you muttered to yourself as you turned your attention down to the sphere in your hands.

There was a single screen on the front of the sphere. From what you could tell, it was touch sensitive. On the screen it read:

Unknown [?] In [?]

[?] [?] to [?] [CONFIRM]

You pondered the text for a while as Q summoned himself a book to read while he waited. Finally, after studying the text for some time, you asked.

"What dimension am I in?"

"Fourteenth," Q answered, not even bothering to look up from his book.

"Fourteenth?!" you repeated, stunned. "How many dimensions are there?!"

"More than you could possibly comprehend."

"Oh boy..."

A smirk flitted across Q's face as he studied his book. "If it's any consolation, I never really intended for you to be doing this. This was supposed to be Picard's challenge, but he failed and I guess I'm going soft. I've decided to give you all a chance to save yourselves. So far it's proving too much for all of you. Let's hope for your sake you do better than your predecessors , though I sincerely doubt it."

"Thanks for the support."

Q gave you a wide smile, completely ignoring your blatant sarcasm. "You're very welcome."

With a weary sigh, you turned back to the device in your hands. You pressed the first box in the text and a keyboard with the numbers one to nine popped up at the bottom of the screen. You pressed three. In the second box you typed fourteen. When you had exited the second box the text on the screen reloaded itself.

1 [3] in [14]

[?] [?] to [?] [CONFIRM]

"One three dimensional being in the fourteenth dimension," you confirmed.

"Congratulations," Q said half-heartedly. "You're already further than some of your comrades."

"And the second part relocates the being detected to another dimension?"

A sparkle came to Q's eye. He sat his book down on the shuttle console and peered at you with an impish smile on his lips.

"You've gotten as far as Picard, then, but how do you plan on finding all twenty of your crewmates scattered across the dimensions? You could spend the rest of your life searching, but I don't have the patience for that. Picard got to the ninth dimension before I realised he would actually sit there for years, going from dimension to dimension, until he found all twenty of you. I'm not sitting around for that."

"Can't I just...?" You pressed the second box in the text and brought up the keyboard. You had noticed earlier that there was a small black arrow in the bottom corner. You clicked it and the keyboard turned to the alphabet. You typed 'all' in the second box. When you exited the box, the text reloaded itself again. You then carefully entered the same numbers to the second part of the text.

8498512086340724549371025753 [3] in [all]

[8498512086340724549371025753] [3] to [3] [CONFIRM]

"That looks about right to me," you said, turning the screen to Q. He took one look at your work and that sparkle came to his eye again.

"You hope."

You didn't let his words deter you. You felt confident that you had it figured it out. Still, as your finger hovered over the confirmation button, you couldn't help the tiny lingering doubt that you were not only risking your life, but the life of every other three dimensional being in existence.

But that pleased look worming its way onto Q's face out of the corner of your eye said it all. You pressed the button.

Suddenly you were falling flat on your butt in the middle of the bridge, along with the nineteen other crewmembers. The bridge crew ogled all twenty of you as you all picked yourselves back up in a confused daze. Captain Picard's eyes instantly locked onto the device still clasped in your hand and relief swept over the man.

"I see Q thought it fitting to give you a chance to save yourselves," said Picard, a light smile pulling onto his face. "Lieutenant...?"

You blinked a couple of times, trying to wrap your head around the fact that you were back on the Enterprise and the captain was speaking to you directly.

"(Y/N), sir," you answered.

"Lieutenant (Y/N), of course. Well, lieutenant, I expect a full briefing of your experience on my desk by tomorrow, and that goes for the rest of you, too. For now, I'd like you all to head down to medical, and (Y/N), you can give that device to -"

In a flash of white light the device disappeared from your hand. Picard gave an exasperated sigh.

"Never mind, lieutenant. Please, head on down to medical with the others, and I'd like to add that you have my sincerest gratitude for completing Q's game."

"Yes, sir," you replied. "Thank you, sir."

Your trip to medical was quick. There had been no side effects from being trapped in an alternate dimension. You suspected that was mainly because of Q's bubble of influence. He wanted you all to solve his game, not dissolve in it.

Tired and sore after a long and unusual day, you returned to your quarters in the hopes of getting your briefing to the captain written out quickly before getting a good night's sleep. However, upon entering your room you found none other than Q himself, lazing across your bed, grinning at you.

"There you are!" he greeted cheerfully. "A trip to medical? I do hope Doctor Crusher's bedside manner has improved since I was forced to be her patient. What a dreadful time that was."

"What are you doing here?!" you asked, shocked and more than a little frightened. You thought completing his game meant that he would leave you alone, that you were safe.

"How rude!" he cried in mock offence. "I'm merely here to offer you my congratulations!"

"Oh, well... Thank you, I guess."

"Oh, don't thank me yet," he grinned, practically bouncing with excitement. "Just wait until I tell you what your reward is!"

Your stomach dropped. "R-Reward?"

"Me!" he exclaimed, sitting up on his knees and spreading his arms out wide. "From now on, I'm going to drop in all the time to make your dull little life more interesting!"

Oh no.

"But it wasn't even that hard a game!" you argued.

"Ugh!" Q rolled his eyes and put his hands on his hips. "I know! And yet you were the only one to figure it out!"

"You're telling me this is all happening because the captain didn't see an arrow on a keyboard?!"

"It's shameful, isn't it?" said Q, shaking his head. His eyes brightened. "Luckily, I have a brand new human to focus on! I'll admit, I didn't expect this outcome when we first met, but who doesn't love a pleasant surprise?" He chuckled lightly before throwing you a wink. "I'll see you soon."

In a flash of white light he was gone. You stood alone in your living quarters, alarmed and upset.

"I just wanted to be an engineer!"

#q #q x reader #star trek tng #star trek the next generation #star trek q #star trek q x reader

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agoobersretreat · 4 months

Note

Top ten preds go

"Ooooorgh, fuuuuuuuuck. Ten whole peeps? Well, I'm gonna do it my way then! In no particular order and what I like best about them as a character and how I think it would go down!" So confident, suddenly! Well, until she reconsiders to realize how in-depth with this topic she's about to go.

"Also, uhhhh, gonna put it under a readmore cuz...some of this shit is gonna be super indulgent and niche of this niche even. You have been warned!"

Rai Yamanashi @pudgy-planets

"Ooooh, Rai! What a sweet lady. She's been really sweet on me ever since we met, when she accidentally sat on top of me while resting on top of a park bench! She's gotta have, like, the widest hips or ass I've ever seen. Like, if she sits down on me, you don't see me anymore!"

"Mmmm, let's see though? I really how she wants to make her own name and merits, even with her family having a reach all over the world! The life of a scion is an interesting and socially complex journey in general, more so when you actually do your best not to use your connections or heritage for gaining an upper hand on purpose!"

"Mmmmph, how she'd most likely go about eating me...? Well, there's always the usual way, but I've also been worried that one day I might catch her in a situation that she might sit on me and I am gone. Just completely engulfed and sent on my way in, full-size and full send. I mean, I'm sure she's worried about that too....right?"

2. Lizzie Bellbottoms @yourgfisaclown

"Her blog is pretty literal, ehehehehe. My gf is a clown, yeah! Well, one of them, at least~? I'm glad she is, actually, as it keeps everything so interesting! Her level of clowning is so impressive and very surprising! I wouldn't have it any other way~."

"She loves fun and I love fun, so it's a match made in heaven! Or maybe in the fairgrounds? I've been meaning to ask her how a clown family tree looks or is like. Also, yes, she's a real clown. Do with that information what you will, but I swear. It's different than you'd think!"

"Hmmm, well, if I can think it? She can probably do it one way or another? Aside my own size shenanigans, she can do her own and change her body any way she likes! Like, wow! She once gave me an internal obstacle course to go through. I don't mean like, just her innards in general, I mean an actual full course with different levels of difficulty to get through! Mmm, wonder what else she could do, if we both were up to it...~?"

3. Monika [REDACTED] @brownhairedbookworm

"Oh, right! Monika! She's a really cool person I met while DoorDashing! She was my last order of the day and I was so lost and turned around that she let me stay over for a bit to recuperate. And we've been close friends ever since~."

"Monika's got, like, these all-powerful...uhhh, powers! She can see the universe or something like that? I don't fully understand, but I can see the changes she has made where a lot of others can't! Isn't that so interesting? I mean, sure I can't prove it either? But her all-seeing eyes can see that I'm cute...and that means a lot to me, since I have trouble believing it myself."

"Well, Monika already really likes to gobble me up when I'm smol? I guess the only different ways are how she likes to do it? Her go-to is acting like a big scary monster or some kind of goddess? I mean, she kind of is, so eh. Sometimes she plays the role and sometimes the role plays her~."

4. Lena Xènia Gimenez Medina-Yamamoto @pudgy-planets

"So, this is Rai's grandmother and the current matriarch of the family. Everything the businesses and connections all do go through her. Sometimes very, very literally. She goes through so many staff members when they can't keep up with her demands..."

"However, as scary as that may make her sound, she's actually really understanding and wants people to do their best and be at their fullest potential! You just gotta make it through her trials, like I did! Also, like I said, she is Rai's grandmother. She vastly out-everything's her granddaughter. Height, width, power and anything else you can think of!"

"Uhhhhh, this one...? Errrr, I worry much of the same I do with Rai, mostly. Definitely something that carried down through this family tree. Something they have for blondes, ehehehe~? Full size wherever she'd wanna take me, mostly."

5. Freia Margaret Hielo @someheartlesslady

"Wow, my first friend on Tumblr and bestest friend since then too! It's Freia! Whoa...I realize it's been so many years. I'm still so thankful we bumped into each other all that time ago~."

"She's a fun-loving lady who's got a strong case of being undead, but she's also still the life of the party! She loves wholly and as much as she physically and emotionally can. She's also a wonderful singer~."

"Well, this one is kind of an unfair one with how easy and often this happens? She can gobble me up smol or, once in a blue moon and with preparation, full-sized! It's really sort of the big one for her, she likes using her mouth for that kind of fun! Also, I could never ask her any of the others, I'd feel so ashamed of myself...did I also mention that I was a cheesestick the first time she ate me?"

6. Samus Aran @ladarhatorilichozo

"The greatest bounty hunter this side of the galaxy and then some. And I got to meet her a few times! And then...I think I absolutely fumbled the ball the last time, admitting my preferences when it came to being eaten by strange monsters....and I may have also let it slip I thought the same of her. I feel like such an idiot..."

"I mean, what do you have to say about Samus and her escapades? And besides, I think she's a way more interesting person to chat with when it's not about those. Like what burgers she likes and some of her favorite creatures she's come across in her travels."

"Uhhh, pretty much just...yeah...I'd let her eat me or want her to, but that's clearly a ship I sailed too soon. Definitely wasn't looked at like a monster by her, but definitely could tell it was no mutual feeling. At least it wasn't disgust, just more...like 'People think like that? Interesting?' Yeah. She also didn't know I could get smol, so that too probably."

7. Sana Sunomiya @pudgy-planets

"Ooh, Sana! She's a pretty fun lady, too! Very blunt and wears her mind on her sleeve. She's sort of no-nonsense, but that's not exactly true either? It's more...she believes the best in people and those people usually just...don't understand? She's quite intimidating to those who don't know her well, but she's got a good heart and protects those who can't protect themselves well."

"If anything, I love that she sees me for myself and not something I shouldn't or couldn't be? She can really figure out people well, even if someone outside-looking-in wouldn't see it right away. Also, she's extremely well-endowed. In multiple senses, even."

"Mmmm, probably would just gobble me right up after making absolutely sure that's what I want. Maybe even to protect me from others, too? And she'd still respect me even if I was tucked away in her tummy at my full-size. Mmmmhmhmhm~."

8. Aerith Gainsborough @squishysquenix

"Oh, hey! It's the fun-loving flower lady. I mean, I wonder when the last time I saw her with flowers was, but that doesn't really matter for this here? She's Aerith Gainsborough and she's really mischievous for a flowergirl. You wouldn't know that until you get into some antics with her or so!"

"Well, what else can I say? She's a girl who loves to have fun and party hearty! If anything, it's surprising how much fun is packed into one small lady with a huge butt!"

"Uhhh, let's see...? I imagine it would be some sort of shenanigans. Probably very much on purpose, too. Might either play the role of a scary monster or pretend not to notice me while smol, maybe? Or also knowing her, might just feed me to someone else too...?"

9. Bethany Allicia Fox @bethanytheescort

"Oh, it's time for Beth! Mmm, she's so awesome! She's one of the other good friends I've made on here and have stayed in touch with for a few years now~. She's an awesome lady and runs an awesome business and takes care of those who show as much compassion for the world as she does!"

"Mmmm, let's see? I love how she loves so much! Like, she has so much to give to others and takes in love in kindness in turn as much as anyone, if not more! There's also her rockin' bod! But, umm, very respectfully! Of course, ya know? I mean, she even managed to get me to love myself a bit more too. That's a very good thing about her~."

"If it were to happen, it would be with consent and safe words and making sure everything is comfortable for the both of us and we take it at a pace we're both okay with! Of course, I'd be smol for both of us to have a very personal experience together. I'd also probably ask some time if I could then visit her 'private room', but that's...yeah. I don't wanna do anything she wouldn't agree to either, ya know?"

10. Super Pochaco @bigcurvesbigheart

"Oh, Pochaco...one of the shortest ladies on this list, I believe? She's also a really cool gravure modeling lady...and that is unfortunately how I picked her out of a crowd when I bumped into her by complete accident. That was so embarrassing, but she didn't seem to mind...or acknowledge it, really. We became quick friends after some lunch and chatting. We still text pretty regularly...when I remember to, at least."

"So, Super Pochaco (The model) is so cool and shows her body off proudly and really shines with whatever photoshoot she's working for. Pochaco (the lady) is a sweet little lady who loves her pork buns and making friends. She also has a bunch of other odd jobs that really cool, but I can't seem to remember them at the moment?"

"Oh, if that ever happened? Absolutely a complete accident when I'm smol...which she still doesn't know I can do that! It'll probably be her accidentally grabbing me instead of her food or if i fell in and she scarfed it all down and didn't realize. That's the only way, I imagine."

Honorable Mentions:

Edea Lee @squishysquenix

"Mmmm, Miss Edea Lee. Only met her once on a day where I kept getting lost in towns and worlds everywhere I turned. She was kind enough to take me in for the short time I was in her land and she helped send me on my with a nice rest and some good food! I should go back there, sometime. I remember leaving on good terms, at least?"

"She's an awesome lady, juggling so much on her plate at once. She leads her people, has lots of friends in high and low places and absolutely knows how to decimate a dining hall. She's, like, the whole package~! She's really got a good sense of humor, too."

"Mmmm, given the short time I was there? Probably if I took any of her food from her plate instead of my own? Like...I saw how she was glaring daggers and probably at least considering it as an option? Maybe even while I was full-sized, too? Or maybe I was thinking silly again? I do know any food going past her chambers got her immediate attention during our talks."

Yuri (DDLC) @plumpnpurple

"Woof, Yuri. She's so pretty and smart and I love when we sit and cuddle and read books together. We both read kind of fast, so it's really nice that we both found someone who can keep up with each other! Also, she's recently started forging and that sounds so cool? I'd love to see her at work like that~."

"Yuri is very quiet and soft and very understanding of special needs when I'm around, like needing it a little quiet and a little cuddly while we read together. We gel really well together, honestly. Mmmm, I should text her about meeting up again, sometime."

"Mmmm, I can only imagine it would happen when I'm smol. I mean, that sounds easier for both parties involved, right? Not sure what else she might do with a teeny me if she felt that way about me...hmmm~?"

------

"And that should about do it. Hrrrmph, hope that answers some questions...you might have...hrrrmgle~." The goober is getting a little fidgety now.

"Gotta go hide myself now while I have the time to before they see this or make comments about it...or wosre, afjshdjkfjs...." And off she slinks to her impenetrable fortress (her bed) to hide away from prying eyes. Might just wait this one out, especially once some of them catch wind of this post.

#anonymous #the goober gabs #new headcanon #nibblin'#silliness #shenanigans #stream? more likely than you think!#miq's gutslut arc #yourgfisaclown #bethanytheescort #pudgy planets #someheartlesslady #brownhairedbookworm #ladarhatorilichozo #squishysquenix #bigcurvesbigheart #plumpnpurple

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morayoflight · 2 years

Text

Octavinelle with a physically disabled reader who turns into a mermaid/man

I like writing about sinister Octavinelle but I think I just made them have fun and cute moments here. I did try to bring back some of that scheming attitude in the end haha

You were already disabled before you came to NRC. Your condition made you incapable of walking and you were pretty much born that way. You could not move your legs, much less feel any sensation from it.

Thankfully, Crowley was kind enough to offer you some assistance regarding your physical condition.

The first time you met Azul, Jade and Floyd, they were nothing short of curious. A human who cannot walk? How interesting.

The three of them, being merpeople, had to learn with great difficulty the art of controlling human legs when they got theirs for the first time.

As much as they struggled, they understood the convenience of having legs on land.

So they wondered how difficult it must be for a human who naturally lives on land to not be able to walk at all.

Azul: "Hm. I have heard of physical disabilities in humans, but this is actually my first encounter with one."

Jade: "Oh my, what a poor thing you are."

Floyd: "Hehh~ That's funny, a human who cannot walk? Ne~ Would you be able to swim if you were a fish then?"

Floyd's comment struck an idea in you, one that made you waste no time in striking a deal with Azul.

Luckily, Azul was actually quite interested in your little plan. He wanted to see how things would play out so you were able to avoid dealing with his scheming businessman mode.

What was the plan, you ask? It wasn't much, just that you asked to be turned into a mermaid/man.

If your legs wouldn't work, how about a tail?

The trio helped you prepare for a short trip to the beach, a perfect location for your simple experiment.

Floyd was ecstatic. He immediately dived into the water upon arrival, transitioning into his eel form.

Jade picked you up from your wheelchair and carried you bridal style into the ocean, only stopping when the water reached up to his thighs. He placed you down gently, propping you up so your head didn't submerge into the water.

Azul followed suit, carrying the transformation potion he made for you.

You drank the potion, noting a strange after taste. Azul had warned that you might feel pain during the transformation process, but you did not think it would be so bad.

Boy were you so wrong.

A shock immediately shot up your legs. You felt as if a thousand thorns were wrapping around them, holding them tight to each other and piercing them endlessly.

It was so, so painful that you started crying…and then laughing.

The trio were bamboozled to say the least.

Floyd: "Is the Little Shrimp broken? Why are they laughing?"

You wiped your tears, apologizing to them. Talking through hiccups, you explained that it was the first time you felt any sensation on the lower half of your body and you were extremely happy about it even if it hurt like hell.

Jade: "Oya, I have never seen anyone become so joyous over pain. I must say, this is truly amusing…hehe."

Once the transformation process was over, you caught a glimmer of gold under the water.

Your tail was a bright gold, and apparently, it was a rare color for merpeople, Azul told you.

Now the real trial begins. You still had to figure out if you could move your tail.

Everyone sucked their breath while they patiently waited for you. It was so silent.

Slowly, you tried to flick your tail up.

"It's….it's working!" you cried again.

It amazed all of you. Your original legs wouldn’t work but somehow, you could move your new tail.

Floyd immediately wanted to play with you. Jade had to stop him from dragging you into the deeper, darker parts of the ocean.

The twins taught you how to swim with your newfound tail. Floyd wasn't being much of a help, but he did hype you up.

Jade was more gentlemanly. Transforming in his eel form, he stayed close with you under the ocean. He kept holding you up to keep you from sinking to the ocean floor until you could float on your own.

Azul refused to use his octopus form, but he did tag along and gave you verbal instructions on swimming.

The twins might taunt you as soon as you gain stable control over your tail. They like swimming around you like predators, teasing and jeering.

It would annoy you a little bit, so you'd try chasing after them until you could swim a bit faster. But still not as fast as them.

Swimming faster felt exhilarating and Jade would have to wrap his tail around you just to keep you from going who knows where out of their sight.

Floyd might squeeze you, for real.

You try to get Azul to join in on the fun. He might use his octopus form with a bit of persuasion. Otherwise, you just swam around him, happily showing off the result of his potion.

Your thanks and praises were pleasant to Azul's ears.

You were so happy that you got to move around freely all by yourself for the first time.

You were a bit sad when the day ended and you had to go back to your human form. You wished things could stay like this forever.

The trio walks you (and your wheelchair) to your dorm, and you bid them goodnight with a bright smile before shutting the door behind you.

Floyd: "Hey, Azul~ Can we keep Shrimpy in a fish tank?"

Jade: "A brilliant idea. Taking care of them might be just as interesting as caring for terrariums."

Azul: "Well…that gold tail is certainly rare. It might attract customers if we placed them in a tank visible to the entire Lounge…"

Another offer was well on its way to you the next day and perhaps you could use your merform for much longer.

And maybe the trio had their own plans to keep you in the Coral Sea with them someday.

Not that you would mind, you definitely had more freedom as a merperson than a human.

Maybe your true habitat was the ocean. Who’s to say Octavinelle won’t take you away with them?

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nikkeisimmer · 10 months

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Back in 1991 I was a college student in the music program at Douglas College, 20 years old in May 1991 (a month before I turned 21). I was not finding college much fun and my educational difficulties were showing up full force.

Then along comes Timothy Zahn with a continuation of the Star Wars saga that I had grown up with. Gen X were the target audience as children for Star Wars back in 1977 when I was a kid of 6 years old at least when Star Wars came out in April of that year. And the entire trilogy (Star Wars, Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi) were complete and released in the theatres by the time I had turned 13.

So as a young adult, what’s now referred to as the Legends series of books were a part of my life. I would save up and buy each one as they came out, reveling in the further adventures of Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, Leia Organa (now Solo) and their growing family. Some of the events in my own personal life (in general my luck with women mirrored that of Luke Skywalker who couldn’t seem to find a match even if he tried. I mean, look at his track record (the woman who tried to kill him back during the Rebellion days then there was Gaerial Captison, a few others here and there, Callista (the Bodysnatcher) Ming) and well, Mara… who finally in the Legends became his wife).

The relationship of Mara and Luke was one that really struck a close chord because to me Luke was the “everyman”; the hero of the story; the one everyone wants to be. And what I really wanted at the time,considering the circumstances of being in an abusive situation with my mother and her narcissistic traits, was an escape (from reality, perhaps); someway to get out of the situation I was in. So Star Wars was a way, when I wasn’t working at selling houses which frankly was no longer enjoyable by the time 1998 rolled around, to escape the abuse and BS at home.

Narcissistic parents and their enablers want you helpless and strip away your emotional supports and they did that quite well. If you’re doing the math, I was 29 at this point.

The Hand of Thrawn duology of Ghosts of the Past and Visions of the Future had come out and we saw Luke and Mara get engaged.

And well, I had met (online) my future wife and was on the phone with her a lot. This was wayyyy before everyone and their dog and cats. having their own personal cell phones. Cell phones and pagers (remember those?) were the realm of business people. I was in real estate, so I owned one of both.

I rolled a sabacc on that one. We’re 23 years together as of next month. We’ve been through ups and downs that probably would have broken up most couples including my mother’s meddling. But the choice that I made was to stick with my wife: to get away from my mother who had done nothing other than to beat me down every chance she got.

In other words my relationship with my wife saved my life.

And that’s also a reason why Star Wars is so important to me. It provided an escape and a bit of sanity in an insane situation and allowed me a bit of time to plan my escape. I left my parent’s hpuse in March of 2000. 4 months before my now-wife came up from the States and 5 before she and I got married (parents were not invited - her mother due to logistics because of her being back in the States, secondly, my parents weren’t due to my mother’s abusive controlling behavior and my dad because by now he’d become her enabler). My uncle; my mother’s flying monkey had predicted our marriage wouldn’t last.

23 years and every wedding anniversary that passes is lile another happy “fuck you” to my uncle.

This is one of the reasons why I’m disgusted with the sequel series. Everyone goes through trials and tribulations and they grow, learn from their experiences and mature to become hopefully a better version of themselves.

Rey on the other hand is a Disney’fied version of their typical Princess stories. There’s no growth at all other than the time she was on Jakku. There was the “immediate learning” of her Jedi skills with very little training - a kind of Mulan’ish immediately good at everything. There was no connection at all with Rey as a character.

But then again if one likes their stories to be all fluff and light, then fine. But don’t disrespect the original characters while doing it.

Turning the hero character into a miserable old grouch who lives like a hermit who tosses his father’s lightsaber when he originally treated it with reverence is not subverting the plot.

It’s being a dick and ruining a much loved character just for a cheap laugh. Yeah, I’m pretty angry with the sequels because when I was a kid, I idolized Luke Skywalker and Han Solo.

I looked forward to the sequels, hoping that they would do justice to Lucas’s vision, but we got a disjointed plot, “Somehow Palpatine returned”, Super Rey Palpatine and bitter old angry OT characters who were characterized as incompetent. And what enraged me the most was that we got this.

The final insult from Disney’s screwing up the sequels so badly was after filming TLJ, Carrie Fisher went into full cardiac arrest on an aircraft and passed away. There is now no way to rectify the mess that the House of Mouse has made to Star Wars; the franchise that I love more than any other sci-fi franchise. I grew up with this franchise and while I’ve grown out of what Lucas had termed as the target audience, when someone messes with the memories of your childhood, screws up your heroes, yeah, you get mad.

For me, Star Wars was my happy escape and thanks to Rian “Ruin” Johnson, it’s tainted irreparably. Harrison Ford may have wanted out but the rest loved their characters. And Mark Hamill wanted his character treated with some respect but instead of Luke Skywalker, the noble Jedi, he got Jake Skywalker - the down and out green-milk guzzling irritable hermit who “doesn’t give a shit no more!”

Disney has gone full on and said that anyone who dislikes the sequels and dislike the way Rey is written are old racists and white misogynists who live in their mom’s basements.

Well I ain’t white, I don’t live in my mom’s basement, I wish women got treated more fairly, I’m more liberal than conservative and I’m frankly pissed that my childhood film heroes got so disrespected. OK granted, I may be old and not a kid any more (my wife would beg to differ. She says I’m a 2 year old in a 53 year old body) but I still love my Star Wars with the exception of the sequels.

And Legends will always have a special place in my heart because it got me through the toughest part of my life.

#a bit of a fact about myself #non-sims #Nikkei_Simmer’s Stories #Star Wars sequel rant

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torntruth · 3 months

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okay but now I am CURIOUS AF. what level in each dishonored game was the hardest for you, what were you trying to achieve, and how many attempts did it take you ? owo (I've only ever played the first game to a point where I was making efforts, but for me it was Return to the Tower and I restarted at least 10 times to get the Shadow achievement, I don't remember what difficulty)

i always play on easiest because i never want that much of a challenge. but if i'm also to be honest, i didn't play dishonored nearly as much as dishonored 2 because i'm absolutely head over heels in love with emily. but i do believe return to the tower because if i'm remembering correctly, that mission specifically to get to the announcer and stealth it, you had to go through a very specific arc pylon that was infinitely hard because it had to be timed with slow time very specifically or you weren't going to get by it.

dishonored 2 i have like 75% of it memorized because i'm so in love with it's beauty and stealth is a little easier because you can stealth kill people by dropping on them instead of it just being a drop assassination but --

a crack in the slab. they take away your powers and you have to learn to traverse the whole level by switching at ideal times between the past and the present. i've personally got it down to a tee down, but stealthing this the first time was an absolute nightmare. there isn't even far reach or blink, there is just emily and corvo and their swords and learning how to use an object the outsider gifted because the whole entire mansion was perverted by how dark delilah's use of magic was.

but in the end it's also rewarding. if you knock stilton out and that was the catalyst that prevented billie searching for him, therefore he doesn't go to the trial, doesn't turn insane, and billie keeps her arm an eye.

but out of all the games --

a hole in the world in dishonored: doto was a complete nightmare. they took the no kill achievement out of this game because billie is a killer, after all. a pure assassin, but to get that stealth through this mission was a full nightmare because of the envisioned. like, look at them --

once they saw you or heard you, billie literally could not escape from them. they would find her.

#[ ooc. ] 𝐋𝐄𝐓'𝐒 𝐆𝐎 𝐋𝐄𝐒𝐁𝐈𝐀𝐍𝐒.

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stewardofningishzida · 4 months

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Stephen Strange Meta-Fic Sequel — Chapter 15: Who Broke It?

More character bonding and development, plus some backstory! Not all is revealed, but enough to wonder. Also, multiverse shenanigans ahoy! The start of more to come in future chapters. Be warned: This chapter goes hard into real-life situations too.

TRIGGER WARNING: Attempted kidnapping, coping with grief/loss, mention of fatal house fires, mention of drunk drivers, mention of a mental breakdown

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

Chapter 15: Who Broke It?

*We’re gathered together in the library, studying for our Master’s Trials.*

Me (concentrating hard on an advanced spellbook): Trix, am I translating this phrase right? Is it “नोद” or “आकर्षति”?

Trix (slightly distracted): The first one. *She continues on her work.*

Prettywitch: What are you working on, exactly?

Trix (looking up): Me or Steward? Because I’m working on creating more concise spell books from ancient texts that they were having difficulty translating. It gets my translating going, my record keeping and textual context practice in, and eventually my book binding. I have to do at least like four more of these so Wong won’t just stare at me when I ask if it’s enough for now.

Prettywitch: Oh sorry, I meant Steward.

Me: I have to go back under Kamar-Taj and sort out the spiritual wards and interact more with the guardian spirits down there. Update them, train new ones, etc. There are also a few older spirits who are ready to move on while the new ones come in. Also, I have to report my findings. Then, The Ancient One wants me to try some new techniques so I can refine my abilities.

Trix: What are you up to PrettyWitch?

Prettywitch: Oh, well I’m trying to see if maybe I can make my visions come at will. Or at least, trying to, anyway.

Me: Did Stephen have any advice?

Prettywitch: Actually, I haven’t talked to him about it yet.

Me: I’d ask him. No shame in asking for help. I wish I knew more about foresight beyond the basics so I could give you anything useful. *I really do want to help, but her skill level with this type of magic is beyond mine.*

Prettywitch: No, you’re right. I gotta get better at asking for help anyway. *She picks up her tarot deck and stands up.*

Trix: I wish you luck! Honestly, yours is the trickiest and I have all the respect in the world for you figuring it out and being so good at it already!

Prettywitch: *Laughs awkward* Ah, it’s nothing. I wish I had your power, honestly. It’d make international travel much easier for Moi.

Trix: Thank god the days of my brain breaking are over. I do have to learn how to speak everything though…which is likely to suck. But hey, all of ours are pretty interesting *She chuckles as she rubs the back of her head awkwardly.*

Me: We’ve all made it pretty far, huh? *I’m proud of us.*

Trix: Absolutely. I don’t think I would have made it without you guys.

Prettywitch: Yeah…Yeah, me too. I probably would’ve gone insane without you guys.

Me: Likewise. You guys already know what a mess I was in before meeting you all in the first place. *I give a morbid smirk and look at the floor for a moment before perking back up.* Anyway, back to work! I should go see what I can do with those ghosts.

Trix (jokingly): If you ever teach them to sing Grim Grinning Ghosts I will give you $100. *She grins*

Me (playing along): I’m sure they do get bored down there…I may have to give it a shot. *I’m amused.*

Prettywitch: *Laughs* Alright, I’m gonna go find Stephen. Ciao! *She waves goodbye and leaves the room.*

Me: The psychic connection’s almost always open. Contact me if there’s anything going on. *I get up to head to the basement.*

Trix: Good luck! I’ll stay here and keep working on these translations!

*Meanwhile, Blackie has been training with Wong and has improved considerably. She has risen to the rank of Adept.*

*A small mist forms outside the temple to Karmar-Taj. It slowly turns into Stephen, but one from a different universe. He leans his hand against the wall for a moment to catch his breath. He takes in his surroundings and sees where he is; Karmar-Taj. He decides to make his way in.*

*He senses some rather distinctive magical signatures…That and the spiritual energy in the complex is shifting. Old spirits departing and new spirits joining. Someone new is weaving the enchantments.*

*That when he feels a familiar magic signature. One that feels different, yet familiar all at the same time. He turns and sees Prettywitch and is stunned to see her. He goes up to her.*

Broken Stephen: Hello…?

Prettywitch: *She gets startled and looks up to see who it is…only to be confused.* Stephen…?

Broken Stephen: What? Oh yes, it’s me. *He clears his throat.* Sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you.

Prettywitch: Uhh…No, that’s okay…*She looks him up and down, cautiously. Sure, this man looks like Stephen Strange, but there are subtle differences in his aura. The Stephen she knows has a more relaxed aura, this one’s aura feels sporadic, like it doesn’t know who or what it wants to be. And that terrifies her, not because it’s an unfamiliar Stephen, but because of who this Stephen’s reminding her of.* I was actually coming to look for you.

Broken Stephen: Well, you’ve found me. Why don’t we go for a walk?

Prettywitch: Actually, why don’t we go get some tea first? I don’t know about you, but I’m parched.

Broken Stephen: Oh, okay.

*Prettywitch leaves for the temple with this other Stephen behind her. She has no idea how long she can keep this up, but hopefully she can find Stephen soon. If not? Well, it’s not like she doesn’t have magic at her disposal.*

*Luckily, she sees Stephen and Clea walking towards them.*

*616-Stephen is walking at a brisk pace. It seems he sensed something “off” and wanted to go check it out. When he sees this new Stephen walking with Prettywitch, he speeds up more, but does his best to remain composed.*

616-Stephen: Excuse me, can we help you? *He’s looking at his alternate self, already suspicious. He also casts a short glance at Prettywitch to see if she’s indicating anything to him.*

Prettywitch: Oh, Stephen. I was looking for you, I just happened to find this guy- *She feels Broken Stephen grab her shoulder and pull her away while he fabricates a shard from thin air and points it at Stephen & Clea.*

616-Stephen (growling): You do realize that there are two of us and one of you, right? *He opens a portal underneath his alternate self in an attempt to trap him and sends his Cloak to grab Prettywitch back, looking to Clea to run interference if needed.*

Broken Stephen (now floating and having blocked the Cloak): I’m aware of that. *Grins.* But I doubt you can beat me.

Clea: Would you like to test that theory?

Broken Stephen: *Laughs* If you’re so eager to lose your life, then come at me, faltine.

*The whole time they’re boasting, Prettywitch is quickly conjuring her makeshift Clow Card staff and a familiar looking card to boot.*

Prettywitch: Yeah, well. See you around, Bateman. Time!!! *She activates the card, which only affects the Stephen holding her captive. She slowly removes his hand from her shoulder and draws another card.* Sword!!! *Her staff becomes a sword, which she uses to destroy the shield blocking the Cloak. Then she holds her hand out. *

*The Cloak acts quickly and grabs her to get her away from this hostile version of Strange. 616-Stephen summons a pair of cuffs and restrains his doppleganger.*

Prettywitch: Thanks, Cloakie.

616-Stephen (concerned, at Prettywitch): Are you okay?

Prettywitch: Yeah, I’m okay.

Clea: That was a most impressive feat of magic.

Prettywitch: Thanks, but I don’t know how long it’ll last for.

616-Stephen: I’ll get him to a holding cell. *He opens a portal and pushes the man through.*

*In the meantime, I’ve finished up my tasks. The enchantments are back up, I helped 3 spirits move on, and integrated 3 new ones into the barriers. My aura has gotten a bit stronger from me having absorbed the leftover dregs of energy left behind from the spirits that moved onto the afterlife. On my way up from the undercroft, I notice what appears to be Stephen in a holding cell, but he looks “off”. Not to mention his aura is a bit different. This one looks more desperate. His eyes are bloodshot and his appearance is slightly neglected. I can’t help but stare in confusion.*

Me (trying to figure this out): What the hell…?

*Broken Stephen looks up and sees Steward.*

Broken Stephen: Steward…?

Me (tilting my head curiously): …Yes?

*I’m suspicious and won’t give any other information, but I’m privately assessing what might be going on. He sees me watching him.*

Broken Stephen: What’s wrong…?

Me (calmly): Nothing. I’m just gonna head back up. *I’m not giving anything away with my expression and turn to leave, watching him out of the corner of my eye.*

*Broken Stephen watches her leave and stares at the ground like a sad puppy…a sad puppy that soon begins to look angry.*

*I speed up when I notice the change in expression. Meanwhile, upstairs in the courtyard, Wong has joined the group and is getting information from 616-Stephen.*

Wong: I see. A hostile version of yourself from another universe. You do have a talent for attracting such things, don’t you, Strange? *He’s exasperated at the situation. Though not mad at his friend.*

*I emerge from the basement.*

Me: Hey guys, did you see-Oh. Ehhhhh…I dunno how long that cell’s gonna hold. He’s already pretty pissed off. *I shift uneasily.*

Prettywitch: Oh? That bad, huh?

Wong: We’ll have to figure out which universe he came from and send him back. We can put up wards to block off specific realms.

Prettywitch: Yeah, but are we gonna do with Patrick Bateman in the meantime.

616-Stephen: We’ll have to neutralize his magic so he can’t pull anything.

Me: He seemed to want to talk, but I already had my internal alarm bells going off. That’s why I ran up here. Better to not give any information to someone we suspect is dangerous.

616-Stephen: I’ll go down and seal him.

Me: Please be careful.

*He gives a quick nod and heads down to the undercroft.*

*Broken Stephen is just sitting in the corner of his cage hugging his legs when he hears someone approaching. He looks up and sees the other him, the one who belongs to this universe.*

Broken Stephen: *Grumbles* So, Mr. Pretty Boy’s come to visit.

616-Stephen (cautious): It didn’t have to be this way. We could have just talked.

Broken Stephen: *Shrugs.* If you say so.

616-Stephen: Will you tell me why you decided to try and kidnap Prettywitch?

Broken Stephen: *He’s silent for a moment.* Because you don’t deserve her.

616-Stephen (raising an eyebrow): What makes you think that? *He’s privately getting angry, but keeping it well-hidden.*

Broken Stephen: It’s not fair! Why? Why do you get to keep your girls while I lose mine?

616-Stephen: Tell me what happened. *He’s still willing to listen, if only to figure out his other self’s motives and whether or not he can peacefully resolve this. Stephen figures he’ll give this alternate version of himself one chance to be reasonable before he has to enact the sealing ritual.*

Broken Stephen: *Sighs* Agatha kidnapped Trix. We needed to rescue her, so the Avengers and the girls found her hideout. Lang went in to set-up an explosive device to level her house and…I stupidly let the girls go in with him to find Trix. *He starts tensing up.* Before I knew it, a fight broke out between the girls and Agatha as they escaped. I tried to…I tried to save them, but…but it was too late. She killed Trix, right in front of her friends. Before the others had a chance she…vaporized them…I…I couldn’t…I couldn’t…*He curls himself into a ball and softly sobs into his knees.*

*616-Stephen watches him and listens silently. Hearing this, he is filled with compassion for his counterpart. This one has experienced his worst fears realized in this past year. He stays calm in an effort to be professional, but he does want to help.*

616-Stephen (sincere): I’m sorry…Honestly, that scenario came dangerously close here too. The only things in their favor were luck and the ghost that happened to be following Steward at the time…That and Lang decided to get clever and sent several colonies of ants into the cabin to distract Harkness. She apparently almost stepped on the group while they were miniaturized, but they narrowly avoided it. I didn’t want them to go on the mission in the first place, but we couldn’t find any suitable alternative. The girls were hell-bent on acting. So, Prettywitch stayed outside the cabin to provide cover fire while Steward went in with Tear and Lang to steal Trix’s crystal. It worked with a very narrow escape. Look…I’m sorry that this happened to you, but kidnapping different versions of them isn’t the answer.

Broken Stephen: *Chuckles defeatedly.* I know, but…What am I supposed to do?...I don’t have a place to call home anymore.

616-Stephen: What happened to the Sanctum?

Broken Stephen: Don’t worry, it’s still standing.

*616-Stephen listens, trying to figure out what else happened.*

Broken Stephen: You see, I…I left. I used the time machine we keep in the Avengers compound to travel back in time, so I could save them. I wasn’t successful. But I didn’t give up. I tried again and again and again. I hadn’t noticed things had changed until I looked out the window…I…I saw Scott and Hope’s wedding being held on the courtyard…they introduced Wong as Sorcerer Supreme when he came up to MC. That’s when I knew…I was gone for so long they must’ve thought something happened to me…So I left…

616-Stephen: You may want to consider returning. They might still have a place for you. While I was Blipped in this universe for 5 years, Wong became Sorcerer Supreme. After I came back, he trained me to take the role and then abdicated. You know Wong…He prefers his books to administrative work. *He tries to make a small joke in an attempt to comfort his counterpart.*

Broken Stephen: *He shakes his head.* You don’t understand. I acted selfishly. Instead of grieving, I took it upon myself to play God and in doing so, neglected the friends and responsibilities I still had…just like I did when I lost my hands. I don’t deserve to be Sorcerer Supreme of my World, or any world for that matter…But I’m…I’m just so lonely…

*616-Stephen genuinely wants to help his counterpart. At the same time, he knows that this one has nothing left to lose. So, he errs on the side of caution and doesn’t release Broken Stephen from the holding cell just yet.*

616-Stephen: …I can’t pretend to know exactly how you’re feeling, but I have an inkling. Unfortunately, I can’t release you just yet, but we can continue to talk this out. *He’s being honest.*

Broken Stephen: I try abducting your girls and you still wanna reason with me? *He laughs harshly.* I don’t know if you’re just stupid or naive.

616-Stephen (shrugging, not letting this one get under his skin): I’m another version of you. So, you tell me. I’m just as human as you are. I simply wanted to see if we could resolve this peacefully first.

Broken Stephen: I suppose…

616-Stephen: That and if you took them by force and/or harmed me in the process, they would only resent you. The only way this could work out for everyone is if you stand down and agree to negotiate peacefully.

Broken Stephen:*He takes a while to think about this.* No. No, you’re right. They would resent me if I did that to them…but I’m not sure if I’m ready to accept that just yet.

616-Stephen: Have you attempted to abduct other versions of them before?

Broken Stephen: Yes.

616-Stephen: How did that work out for you?

Broken Stephen: Not good. I’d always end up hating myself for doing it.

616 Stephen: What did you do to them after you took them?

Broken Stephen: I’d kidnap but after a while, they escaped or I’d let them. I tried several times to use magic many times to make their will bend to mine, but…I could never bring myself to do it.

616-Stephen: I see…*He watches his counterpart as he speaks.*

Broken Stephen: I would see the horror in their eyes and just…stop.

*Meanwhile, since it’s been a long time, I decide to go down and check on what’s happening, albeit secretly via astral projection first. I lie down and project myself out of my body, phasing through the ground to invisibly check on the undercroft. I silently hover nearby behind 616-Stephen.*

Broken Stephen: They reminded me so much of Donna at that moment. How scared she'd be whenever it was thundering or whenever mom and dad fought. And I remembered all I wanted was to protect her…and them.

*616-Stephen is silent for a while hearing this. It brings back some memories that he had been hoping to repress. He senses a certain energy behind his shoulder and glances over.*

Broken Stephen: Are you sensing something, too?

*I silently go to phase back through the ceiling of the undercroft, trying to avoid being caught.*

*I rejoin my body and head down since it seems they’re just talking.*

Me (awkwardly): Erm…Is everything okay down here?

616-Stephen (flatly, with slight annoyance): Yes, Nosey. Did you seriously think that we wouldn’t notice you astral-projecting into here?

*I turn red.*

Me (defensive): I just wanted to check on you. It’s been a while since you went down. *I’m slightly embarrassed at having been caught so quickly.*

*Broken Stephen chuckles at Steward before returning to his depressed state.*

Me: What exactly has been going on here?

616-Stephen: Just getting some information. *He’s still guarded.*

Me: So, why is this happening, then?

616-Stephen: It’s a long story, but in short, Harkness killed all of you in this version of me’s timeline. He was kidnapping other versions of you to try and overcome his grief and loneliness.

Me (quietly): Oh…I’m sorry. *I look at the floor.*

Broken Stephen: It’s okay.

Me (gently): …I know it’s not exactly the same situation, nor does anyone process grief in the same way, but maybe I could help?

616-Stephen: As long as the situation remains safe.

*I nod at him and then look at Broken Stephen.*

Me: So…wanna talk?

Broken Stephen: *He’s taken aback by this…for a moment. He gives her a small smile.* Sure.

*I sit down on the floor just to get the strain off of my legs. 616-Stephen stays nearby just in case.*

Me (serious): Okay…Well, I kinda know what it’s like to have grief slowly eat you alive…I don’t like talking about this stuff much and generally try to keep things light, but in this case, it’s probably good to confront what’s going on. *I take a deep breath to calm myself before continuing.* I’ve lost a lot of people I loved. Eleven of them. Some to accidents, some to diseases, and other such things. Every time, it hurt. However, one of the worst ones happened when I was 16 at the start of a long chain of horrible events that brought me lower and lower until I didn’t even care what happened to myself anymore. I was supposed to take care of them. They had survived a bout of cancer before and because I was already interested in medicine, I wanted to try and help them through round 2. So, I threw myself completely into it and looked after him all day, every day. There were some good days and some bad days. It looked like he might have a chance at getting better, but then during New Year’s Eve, he took a really bad turn and before I knew it, he was dead. I tried to talk to him to see if he would wake back up. I held his body. Nothing. Just that horrible ventilator pumping air in and out, even though he wasn’t alive anymore. The nursing staff present didn’t do CPR or use an AED. They just…stood there. My parents had to carefully pull me away because I refused to leave him. Despite that, I couldn’t cry. Days later, at the funeral, I still couldn’t cry. The intrusive thoughts started…along with the nightmares. Some part of me had begun to believe that somehow, I screwed up. Maybe, if I had somehow done something more, he’d still be here. Honestly, still, I don’t know. Was it somehow my fault? Then, a couple of weeks after the funeral, we got more news. My aunts had both burned to death in a house fire. My mother was devastated and developed a lifelong fear of fire. Later on in the year, we also lost our house, my friend got killed by a drunk driver, and life just kept on hitting and hitting and hitting…After pretending to be fine for months, I failed my precalculus final and that was what finally broke the dam. I had a huge mental breakdown in my senior year of high school and went into a depressive spiral…but I refused to act on it. Do you know why, despite everything, that I didn’t go far enough to harm anyone?

Broken Stephen: No…Why didn’t you?

Me: …I knew that if they were still there, they wouldn’t want me to. If the situation were reversed, they wouldn’t do it either. I certainly wouldn’t want them to. Out of respect for them, I didn’t. I wanted to…Gods, did I want to sometimes, but I held on and opted to devote my life to helping others, both because it would make them proud, but also because I know how badly it hurts…I never want to inflict that kind of pain on anyone. Even on my worst enemy.

Broken Stephen: *He’s tearing up.* Steward…I…I don’t know what to say…

Me: I suppose that what I’m saying is that letting your grief consume you to the point of hurting others only leads to more pain. In a way, I kinda channel my pain into my determination to protect and help people. That way, instead of it constantly gnawing away at me, I acknowledge it and decide to find a better outlet. It’s okay to grieve. Healthy, even. However, dwelling on it constantly and letting it drive you crazy isn’t. It sucks and it’s gonna suck. Over time, it’ll slowly get a little easier to handle. Though you’ll still have bad days every once and a while, especially if something pops up to remind you. That’s kinda why I hate New Year’s so much. Anyway, you’re allowed to feel sadness like any other person…Just please, out of respect for those you love, don’t use that pain to hurt others. I’m sure that the other me wouldn’t want that, nor would the others…I know I’m not her, but if we’re similar at all, I’d hope that you’d know that.

Broken Stephen: No, no you’re right…She wouldn’t. *He starts to cry into his hands.* I’m sorry. I’m so, so sorry…

*616-Stephen has a lump in his throat, but is doing his best to stay composed. He undoes the force field keeping Broken Stephen in, knowing that he’s no longer a threat. I sit quietly, letting Broken Stephen let his grief out. I’ve been trying to keep a straight face myself. Reliving these events was very painful, but I knew it had to be done.*

*After awhile, Broken Stephen begins to talk through his sobs.*

Broken Stephen: What can I do?...What can I do to make amends?...How can I stop this pain…?

Me: I don’t know exactly how many attempts you made beforehand, but if it were me, I guess I’d start with this…For every person that you hurt, help 2 more. That and, to be honest, one of the reasons the various versions of us loved you was for your compassion and devotion to your oath. The fact that you held such a respect for life and always tried to find another way for everything to turn out better. Please…We’d like to see another Stephen like that in the multiverse. Go back to your oath, to your duties. I know it’ll be difficult, but that would be one of the most noble things that you could do.

Broken Stephen: *He smiles.* I’d like that. I just…I’m just still afraid I may be rejected by my friends after all this time. I mean, what will they think of me knowing I just ran away?

Me: They’re your friends. If you explain yourself, apologize sincerely, and go back to helping and supporting them and others around you, then they’ll eventually forgive you. If not, then so be it. There are billions of people on the planet. Surely, you can forge some new friendships. Though frankly, I think that they’re good enough people that they’ll eventually forgive and accept you again. Just the act of showing up again is pretty brave in and of itself. That and backing up your words with actions will help a lot.

Broken Stephen: *He nods.* Okay…

Me (smiling slightly): On a really bad day, if our version of Stephen is okay with it, you can always come by and we can talk. There’s actually a pub that I used to hang around during the bad days. I could show you if you want. *I look at 616-Stephen. He nods.*

616-Stephen: I’m coming with you. *He’s not being defensive this time. More curious since I hadn’t discussed my past before.*

Broken Stephen: Okay. Sure.

Me: Let’s head up, then. You should probably apologize to Prettywitch and meet Trix. Tear’s still around too, but she’s busy with work and family things.

Broken Stephen: Oh…right. *Sigh.* Well, let’s get this over with.

*We head up. Wong is currently with Prettywitch in the courtyard.*

Me: Hey, you two. Erm…Prettywitch, someone has something to say to you. Don’t worry, he’s not out to hurt anyone. *I reassure her and look at Broken Stephen.*

Prettywitch: Okay. - *She sees it’s Broken Stephen and becomes nervous.* Oh, hello crazy-I mean, Stephen. You…wanna talk to me…?

Broken Stephen: Actually, I wanted to apologize to you for…earlier.

Prettywitch: Oh…Oh, right…

Broken Stephen: I don’t expect you to forgive me, right away. Hell, you might never forgive me. But I want you to know that I’m sorry. And that I’m going to…no, I will work to become better…

*Prettywitch is stunned.*

Prettywitch: Well, you’re right, I can’t forgive you right away. Hell, I’m nervous being around you, right now.

Broken Stephen: That’s fair.

Prettywitch: But I’m glad to hear that you want to get better. AND I believe you will; there’s just something in you that’s inherently good, Stephen, and that’s you always succeed, by becoming the best version of yourself.

Broken Stephen: *He smiles.* Thank you.

Wong (still guarded): So, what else are you planning to do while here? *He’s not being directly confrontational, but he IS ready to defend if necessary.*

Me (calmly): I was going to take everyone for drinks. Trix could use a study break. *I’m hoping to reassure Wong.*

Wong: Fine, but I’m coming too.

Me: Okay. Let’s go get Trix. *We head to the library.* Hey, Trix…You’ve been studying really hard and some stuff almost went down. It’s already sorted out, but you should meet someone. Also, we’re all heading out for drinks. I think you could really use a break, even if just for this evening.

Trix (out of sorts): Huh? *She looks up to Steward and glances behind her to see two Stephen’s* Oh, I must have been studying too long if I’m starting to see double. *She groans and rubs her eyes*

616-Stephen: No, he’s really here…

*I lightly elbow Broken Stephen to nudge him into introducing himself.*

Broken Stephen: Oh, uh… *Clears his throat.* Hello, Trix. I’m Doctor Stephen Strange but from a different universe. I was here for nefarious reasons, but I’m not now. So…nice to meet you…?

Trix: *She blinks at him for a moment before smiling* Hello! *She frowns for a moment, looking him up and down before closing her books. She gets up and walks over to him.* Normally I’d shake a person’s hand when greeting them but Stephen Strange’s tend to be a different case. Plus you look like you need one of these. *She gives him a large hug instead.*

Broken Strange: *He blushes. Then he slowly puts an arm around her.* Uh…thank you…

Prettywitch: *Chuckles.* I guess all Stephen’s have trouble being affectionate.

Trix (still hugging): Being an awkward dork is a multiversal constant. That’s why we’re here to help! *She finally releases him before turning to Steward.* Now are we going to the one with the good quesadillas or the other one? I’m purely invested for the food and the company.

Me (rubbing the back of my head): Actually…I haven’t taken you guys to this one. It used to be the place I went on bad days before I knew you well. My past is still kind of a sore spot, but I think you guys have more than enough right to at least see a bit of it. The food is great and so are the drinks. It’s a bit old-fashioned, but it has some comfy seating and people generally leave you alone. It’s not obnoxiously loud and shows classic films on the tv over the bar. Admittedly, the bartender kinda knows me…

Trix (gently): Lead the way! *She gestures to Steward*

*I open a portal and lead the group to the sidewalk in front of the pub. It’s a rather small, plain-looking building that blends in with everything else, but every time the door opens and shuts from customers, delicious smells waft our way and we can hear the sounds of idle chatter mingled with a movie playing. I let everyone in and the bartender greets me.*

Bartender: Welcome to The Slaughtered Lamb-*He recognizes me* Hey, Steward! It’s been a while! You holding up okay?

Me: Yeah. Thanks, Martin.

Martin: No prob. I see you brought friends. *He’s mildly surprised.* I’ll get you seated in a few minutes.

*After a few minutes, we’re seated. The lighting is rather dim, but overall, the atmosphere of the pub is warm and inviting with various historical photos of the town on the walls. There’s a very small open area with a piano in the corner and although the bar’s interior is clearly worn-down, it’s kept clean. Tables are spaced out enough that people mind their own business. We look through the menus. There’s a decent list of craft and imported beers, some wines, and some cocktails. Also, there’s a lot of comfort food.*

Me: So, what looks good, guys? I used to get the garlic cheese fries, a burger, and some beer.

Trix (smirking): A Shirley Temple and some snacks.

Prettywitch: I’ll take cheesecake if you have any. If not? Nachos and a nice cold Stella, please.

Wong: I’ll try one of their beers.

616-Stephen: I’ll have a negroni. It’s been a while since I’ve had one.

Broken Stephen: I’ll have whiskey and coke.

*After the waitress takes our orders, we wait. I absentmindedly glance at the tv to watch the show.*

Trix: Y’know, if you told me two years ago where I’d be, I absolutely wouldn’t have believed it.

Me: No kidding. I thought I was just gonna do my job, apply for a doctoral program, and quit my job to earn my Ph.D if I got in. Was all focused on work and school stuff. Didn’t think any of this would happen at all.

Prettywitch: I know, right!? It’s funny how life works, sometimes.

Wong: We were fairly blindsided as well. Now that it has happened, what are your thoughts on everything? *This is his subtle way of checking up on us.*

Trix: Honestly? *She pauses a moment in thought* I know a lot of horrible things have happened to us but it’s also been some of the greatest moments of my life. It gives me purpose and I’ve gotten to be around some of the greatest people because of it.

Me: Agreed. Never been so worried about everyone in my life, but frankly, seeing as everything has turned out okay so far, I think I’m doing alright. Experiencing and learning all of these new things gives me life and energy that I haven’t felt in a long time. I love my medical research, of course, but these studies are on a whole different level. Our little group from this universe has effectively become a team of pioneers. I always dreamed of exploring new territory, whether it was metaphorical or literal. So, yeah. Despite everything, I’d say I’m actually happy…whenever we’re not being actively threatened, of course.

Prettywitch: Same. Especially since I haven’t been having such a great year.

*I give Prettywitch a reassuring look.*

616-Stephen: Helping and training all of you is difficult work, but seeing you girls learn and mature so quickly is rewarding. I’m proud of you.

Trix (teasing): Are you saying we’re difficult? *She grins at him*

616-Stephen (curling his lip): You ladies are really something else, you know that? *He’s teasing back.*

Me (flatly, sarcastically): Har har har…*I’m teasing him as well.*

Prettywitch: Yeah, I’m sure you say that to all the pretty ladies, Stephen. *She gives him a wink to let him know she’s teasing.*

*616-Stephen rolls his eyes in mock dismay.*

Wong: I’m relieved to hear that you three are doing okay.

Broken Stephen: Yeah, me too actually. *He smiles sadly.*

*Our orders arrive. Everything looks good. So, we tuck into the food and drinks as we chat. 616-Stephen gives me a look when he notices my rather unhealthy choices.*

Me (noticing): Don’t you start. *I’m amused.*

616-Stephen: You’re gonna regret that later.

Me: Worth it for now. I haven’t had this stuff in years. Probably not since…Hmmm…Yeah, I stopped slipping off to be alone here after about a year of getting to know the group. It always took me a while to get used to people, but Trix, Tear, and Prettywitch made me feel so welcome that I eventually stopped getting the urge to leave. Usually, I feel like an outsider or downright invisible. So, it was nice that they took the time to actually hang out with me. I know I wasn’t exactly friendly at first, but I was nervous. At least I warmed up to you guys eventually. Heh…Remember the cake I made for us for the 1-year anniversary of the group?

Trix: It was delicious! You were super worried about the decorations on it as well until we inhaled that thing.

Prettywitch: *Laughs* Oh yeah!

616-Stephen: So, you were always that nitpicky about cake decorating, huh? *He smirks at me.*

Me: Shut it.

Trix: I have it on good authority, Stephen, that you are also incredibly nitpicky as well so beware of the glass house you find yourself in.

Prettywitch: Ooh! She’s got you there.

Broken Stephen: *He laughs a little; apparently, nitpicking is a universal trait for Stephen’s across the multiverse.*

*Wong is quietly amused by our banter.*

Broken Stephen: *He takes a sip of his drink.*

Me: So, Trix, what drew you to joining the group in the first place? I joined in partly because I loved the Marvel comics and partly because I was lonely. That and my parents were worried about my lack of social engagement.

Trix: The MCU in particular for me. I was fascinated by such an undertaking to weave so many stories together to create such a cohesive tapestry of a universe! *She grows more and more passionate as she speaks before she realizes she’s gotten a lot louder.* Oops… *She blushes.* But yeah, I have some good and great friends but I was still almost always alone. I always had to be the first one to reach out and when I finally stopped because I was tired of always being the first one, I found myself alone except for one or two people but they always were busy, understandably. At least, until I met you guys. I finally didn’t feel like I was a bother and was included without having to make the plans myself. *She can’t help but close in on herself a little bit more after finally admitting it*

*I gently pat Trix’s shoulder to comfort and reassure her.*

Me: Yeah, I get that. Though my main thing was that after so much loss, I kinda shut down and figured, “Why bother? It’s just gonna happen again and again and it’ll keep hurting.” However, as I got more isolated, I knew that I was only getting worse. That’s when I realized that people need people. Even if they don’t want to admit it. So, I’m glad that I caved into my parents’ worries and my own loneliness to reach out to you guys. Hell, some of the liveliest discussions I’ve had were when you and Prettywitch were involved. *I smile gently at Trix.*

*Trix blushes and feels somewhat embarrassed at how much that helps.*

Prettywitch: For me, it was love for the good doctor that brought me to this group.

*616-Stephen blushes slighty.*

Prettywitch: I do agree with Steward, though; people need people. I always used my interests to interact with people because it was the only way I could properly communicate with others, but it led me to being friends with some people who weren’t good to me. That’s why I’m glad for the trajectory my life has gone in; I never imagined I’d fall this hard into Marvel fandom, but it‘s special to me partly because it led me to meeting my friends back home as well as you guys.

Me (chuckling lightly): To think that a small group of comic book fans turned into this. *I smile gently at my friends.*

Wong: You three are good for each other. This is encouraging.

Trix: Well, there’s power in 3’s! *She smiles gently before turning to Wong.* Now, I wanna hear more Wong Thoughts. *She scoots her stool obnoxiously closer to him on purpose before grinning at him*

*Wong remains stoic, not about to give her the pleasure of having irked him.*

Wong: What would you like to know? Any specific questions?

Trix: Anything you’re willing to share! This is sharing and caring time but we will not press. *Her smile is more genuine than teasing now*

*He grunts.*

Wong: Well, when the four of you first arrived in Kamar-Taj, I had my doubts. Especially four young women from a universe that has never previously known magic. I did not expect you to learn so quickly. Admittedly, it was amusing seeing Strange’s shock when you four were able to start producing sparks before he could unblock his own energy when he was first starting out.

*616-Stephen gives Wong a look.*

Prettywitch: Eh, I have an overactive imagination, that’s all.

Trix: I, for one, am very happy we did not need a field trip to Everest unlike somebody…

*For now, I’m just listening and enjoying the company while sipping my pint of beer. I snort at the last part.*

Me: Gah…Trix, You’re gonna make me spew beer. *I’m amused.*

Trix (staring Steward in the eyes): Good.

Me: *Muttering, teasingly at her under my breath.* Butt-munch.

Trix: Love you too~

Broken Stephen: *He actually laughs in earnest at that. He doesn’t even try hiding it this time.*

*Wong shakes his head at Trix and me.*

Wong: Anything else?

Trix (thoughtful): So, assuming we pass our mastery tests, what happens then? Y’all have been secretive about parts of it. *She looks at 616-Stephen and Wong.*

616-Stephen: Assuming that you three pass smoothly, we’ll begin to assign you missions. Some of them will be team missions and others will be solo. We want to see how all of you handle different situations on your own and with different people.

Wong: Sorcerers need to be adaptive and think on their feet. Missions will help reinforce that.

616-Stephen: When we think that you’re ready to handle the responsibilities, we’ll start work on placement and construction of Sanctums and a main complex in your world.

PrettyWitch: *She gets starry eyed hearing that.* Really!? Oh, this is gonna be awesome! I’m gonna totally set up mine to look like my ideal castle, with a pool and ASMR room and everything!!!

Trix (a bit melancholy): Oh yeah…I almost forgot we’re going home by the end of this. I’m just so used to being at Kamar-Taj and with you guys…

*I’m just quietly thinking about all of this for now. I have that distant stare into space that I usually do when in deep thought. To be honest, I have mixed feelings. I’m secretly fangirling over being able to have and run our own Sanctums, but also worried about all of the responsibilities this situation entails, and I’m a bit sad about not being able to hang around with Stephen and the group like we used to. It’s bittersweet. So, I continue to silently mull this over.*

616-Stephen (gentle): Look, we’ll still be around for a while and you can always call us if you need us.

Wong (gruffly teasing): …That and you have Sling Rings. I doubt that you will neglect to visit.

Trix: I swear on the Watcher that you will never be rid of me. *Pointing teasingly*

*Wong allows himself to look mildly amused at this.*

Me: So, what’s with the specialized exams?

616-Stephen: I would’ve thought that would be obvious-

Me: Really? We’re doing this? *I’m catching his snark before it starts, arching an eyebrow dangerously while looking him directly in the eyes.*

616-Stephen (quickly backpedaling): Erm-I mean-The exams are tailored to the sorcerer-in-training by their Master. There will be general material, but seeing as every student has a particular talent, we attempt to help them refine it so they can play to their strengths. These exams are structured to test you to your limits in every way possible and if you show a particular set of skills, then that gets even more emphasis so we can see exactly how much you know.

Wong (amused by the effectiveness of my death glare earlier): Including that?

616-Stephen (glowering at Wong): No…*under his breath* …Though it should be.

Broken Stephen: *He chuckles.* Oh dear…

Trix (realizing something): Oh. Oh. *She points at Wong and grins* I knew you liked me. I get to be the Wong of our group! That’s why I’m being focused on the book stuff!

Wong (attempting to remain stoic): I cannot show favoritism, but you do show considerable proclivity towards my own field.

*Trix just grins wider and scoots closer to Wong and wraps an arm around him.*

Trix: Book buddies have to stick together, I understand. *She attempts to look as serious as Wong does on a normal day as she gives a solemn nod.*

*I put my drink down because now I can’t help myself. So, I end up snickering into the collar of my jacket.*

PrettyWitch: *She grins ear to ear.* Why if I didn’t know better, Wong, I’d say you’re acting a bit like a tsundere, right now.

Wong (trying to ignore the comments): …Do they have tea here?

Me (curious, but answering): They do.

*He gets our waitress’ attention and orders a hot black tea.*

Broken Stephen: I’ll take some tea, too. It’s been awhile since I’ve had any.

*The tea arrives and Wong holds it close to himself.*

*Trix watches, amused, but still rather close as she hasn’t felt the need to move yet.*

*616-Stephen watches and notices something odd.*

616-Stephen: Wait…The steam isn’t just coming from the cup…*He looks at Wong and then the cup. Suddenly, something in his brain seems to click and he gets a wide grin. * So, THAT’s what your tic is.

*Trix, listening to Stephen, takes a closer look at Wong before she starts to grin as well.*

Trix: That’s honestly super subtle and absolutely suits you.

Prettywitch: Oh my God! *She starts cackling.*

*I watch everything unfold with a smirk.*

*The steam intensifies slightly before Wong takes a slow, deep breath to calm himself, dispersing the involuntary cast.*

Wong (attempting to be stoic, but sounding slightly annoyed): Well, now you know.

Trix: Honestly it makes me wonder what mine could have been if not for Agatha. I mean, I don’t think I ended up…as normal as a sorcerer could possibly be.

Broken Stephen: It’s hard to say, magic tics can manifest in all sorts of ways, especially when your innate magic abilities aren’t as grandiose.

Trix: Ever since I escaped the crystal prison, my magic is somewhat crystalline. It’s my passive magic, when I cast shields it tends to be made of crystal instead of a regular mandala. Loki also still has some of the effects as well but not nearly as much as me considering he’s a god and I’m just me.

Broken Stephen: *His eyes widen when Trix mentions escaping Agatha unscathed.* Oh…right… *He swifts his gaze away and takes another sip of whisky.* How did you escape, anyway?

Me (calmly): The whole situation and rescue were…complicated to say the least. *I watch Broken Stephen to make sure that he’s okay.*

Prettywitch: Yeah. We ended up going through these labyrinths designed to trap us.

Broken Stephen: Oh. *He nods and smiles sadly.* That’s good to hear.

*I look at him with a reassuring expression to calm him back down.*

Broken Stephen: *He looks at Steward and mouths “Thank you” to her.*

Me: *I subtly nod at him to indicate a silent “you’re welcome” and give a slight smile to comfort him. Then, I change the subject to steer away from this topic.* So, do we wanna ask for the check, then?

Trix: Yeah, let’s head out.

*The group finishes up and we pay the bill before leaving. We get to an empty alley outside and portal back to Kamar-Taj.*

Me (to Broken Stephen): I hope this helped at least a little bit…*I think to myself for a second before shrugging and hugging the man to comfort him. I hold him for a little while so he can feel safe before letting him go.*

Broken Stephen: Yes, it did. Thanks, again for this, Steward.

Me: No problem at all. *I’m privately relieved that we’ve managed to come to a peaceful resolution this time.*

Prettywitch: Alright, let’s go home. I’m starting to get tired.

Broken Stephen: *He smirks.* That’s because you chugged your beer like it was going out of style.

Prettywitch: Hey! It’s not my fault I’m a lightweight.

616-Stephen: Actually it would be, in this case.

Prettywitch: Hey! Don’t give him any ammo!

Broken Stephen: *Laughs.*

616-Stephen: So, what are your plans now, then? *He still feels a bit weird with a variant of himself hanging around, but he doesn’t exactly want to start anything up again by being abrupt.*

Broken Stephen: *He shrugs.* Well, I figured I’d try going home and owning up to my mistakes. Unfortunately, I don’t have enough magic to send myself back. That’s kinda how I ended up here, actually.

Me: We can help with that. We’re strong enough now that it won’t take such a heavy toll on us. *I’m calm and thinking logically.*

Trix: That’s true. *She’s a bit more subdued, almost lost in thought.*

Prettywitch: How did you get here, anyway?

Broken Stephen: Well, after I decided to leave I found a spell that would allow me to travel the multiverse by infusing crystals into my Sling Ring. The only catch was that it only had a limited number of times I could use it before the crystals ran out.

Prettywitch: And let me guess; you forgot you needed to replace said crystals, didn’t you…?

Broken Stephen: Well…Yeah. *He gives an awkward, embarrassed smile, like he got caught stealing books from the library in Kamar-Taj.*

Me: What was the source of these crystals? Maybe the other universe has some spares.

Broken Stephen: I think it was Hematite…? The spell required fusing the Ring with a gem that would protect you while traveling,so long as it’s “blessed” first.

Prettywitch: That should work. Let’s go find a gemstone store and see if they have any Hematite. If not? Well, that’s what Amazon is for.

Me: I actually have some in my rock collection back home. Things can be replaced. So, it’s fine.

Prettywitch: Oh, that’s great!

*We portal to my house and I quickly grab the hematite from my rock collection, handing it over.*

Me: Though blessing it…Hmm…Would you use the Vishanti or some other deity?

Broken Stephen: I’m pretty sure I used the Vishanti when I blessed the stone.

*Trix is in the background, scribbling into a journal and watching this go on.*

*I think for a moment to remember the correct incantation and then bless the hematite.*

Broken Stephen: *He removes his Sling Ring from his pocket and takes the Hematite from Steward.* Thank you. *He levitates the stone and ring and fuses them together before they become a bright, silver Sling Ring with a reflective surface. Then he places the ring on his hand.*

*I watch curiously and glance at Trix, thankful that she’s keeping a log of this new information.*

Broken Stephen: *He opens the portal, but before he steps through, he turns to us, nervously.* Uh…I know this is awkward, but…um…Could I…ask for a hug from you guys?

*I nod silently and open my arms so he can walk over to us.*

*Trix tucks her journal away before doing the same, ready for the group hug.*

*Prettywitch hesitates for a moment before caving in and hugging him tightly.*

*Broken Stephen hugs them and cries happily.*

Trix (still hugging): Is there anything else we can do? This entire thing has been difficult for you.

Broken Stephen: No. No, I’m good, for now. *He lets go of us.* Just let me know when you’ve returned home. I’d love to come and visit when I can.

Me: We will…Though it may be a while due to our studies. In the meantime, perhaps we could give you something to remember us by?

Broken Stephen: Yeah…I’d like that.

*Trix friend for a moment before her face lights up.*

Trix: I think I have an idea. *She creates three small crystals in the palm of her hand, each is clear. After a moment, one begins to turn orange and violet. She turns to Steward and PrettyWitch.*

Trix: I think this might help in remembering us, and our counterparts. If the both of you pour a little bit of energy in these *She holds one out to each of the others* they’ll eventually become something…greater over time if you *She turns back to Broken Stephen* treat them like seeds. *She then hands Broken Stephen her crystal seed.*

*I nod quietly and accept one of the clear crystals, holding it for a moment to infuse it with the energy of my aura. It turns into the indigo, tan, and magenta of my soul’s signature, shimmering in the light. I hand it respectfully to Broken Stephen when I’m done. When Prettywitch infuses her crystal seed with her energy, I pass it to him as well.*

*Prettywitch forms a rose quartz keychain and gives it to Broken Stephen.*

Prettywitch: There you go; it’s not much, but it’s a reminder of your love for us, and the capacity you have to love and be loved.

Broken Stephen: *He smiles.* Thank you… *He lets the Cloak wipe the tears from his eyes.* Well, I should probably get going. Goodbye for now.

Prettywitch: Good luck!

Me: See you later. *I wave.*

*I turn to check on Prettywitch once I know that Broken Stephen is gone.*

Me: You okay? I know it was rough. So, I didn’t wanna pressure you. You can always psychically let us know if you’re uncomfortable. In this case, we were just de-escalating the situation. Though at least this variant was more of a lost soul needing help rather than a straight-up sociopath. *I look her over carefully and respectfully.*

Prettywitch: Yeah, I’m okay. I just hope he gets better, that’s all.

Trix: I think we really helped him. Even if it was a talk and a meal, those can be the best remedies.

Me: So, last check-up…You’re sure that you’re good? *I want to be absolutely sure since I know what happened to Prettywitch and want to let her know that her voice will be heard if she needs anything.*

Prettywitch: Yes, love. I’m fine. Honest.

Me (relaxing a bit, knowing that she’s okay): Okay. On that note, we should head back to Kamar-Taj and study.

***To be continued***

#doctor strange fanfiction #doctor strange #doctor strange meta fic #doctor stephen strange #multi author #dr stephen strange #stephen strange #marvel #wong

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thebuttsmcgee · 7 months

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Spoilers for Update 3 ahead!

So, we're finally at the end, Update 3 has been a mixed bag and for plenty justifying reasons. Most of what seem to say, is the difficulty. I will say climbing the towers on hard, was hard lol. Tower 1, 2 and 5 mostly, but 2 especially. However, I think it's not entirely unfair, that is if you're an experienced player, someone who thinks "platforming in Sonic games is a breeze", if you're a casual player or someone who isn't too used to StH's style of platforming, then this isn't easy for ya, try changing to easy mode if possible since I heard there's checkpoints (might be wrong tho!)

Anyways the main meat of the dish this time around is still the story and gameplay but moreso of the new characters! Amy, Knux and Tails who finally, FINALLY, make their grand return to being fully playable for the first time in over a decade in a Mainline game. All of which have new moves, some returning moves and no costumes whatsoever what the HELL SEGA.

Anyway. no seriously what the hell sega....

ANYWAY, their gameplay is different enough for me to take a different approach when playing as one.

Amy is waaay jumpier than any of the cast, her triple jump when unlocked covers TONS of airtime. Her base speed, to me at least, felt a bit like the rest of the cast which wasn't bad, and didn't need time to get used to thankfully. Her fully upgraded speed with the Max rings upgrade however, is chaotic to say the least lol. It takes a good amount of effort to steer and turn her...hammer broom? And when Max speed upgrade, it's WAAY past fast. It's fun when just chilling but bit of a hassle otherwise.

Her moveset....isn't bad. But wow, tarot cards went way into it. I love the idea of her using it as an attack! But having it be her main attack is...kinda disappointing cause she literally has a hammer. Which she's known for, by a lot actually. But again, the tarot cards being implemented is a welcome surprise! Just tone it down a bit next time yk? Also jesus christ Ms Cindy Robinson went hard in the studio SHE KILLED THAT SHIT

Knux wasn't fully polished, his gliding has a pain-in-the-ass startup, his attacks can miss at times cause of how much height he gets from the uppercut, and his fully upgraded Glide is MAXIMUM OVERDRIVE chaotic with how fast it is.

And I love it.

He has a good amount of stuff that needs fixing but like god man, he's just super fun to play as when fully upgraded. A huge glide over here, spin drill burst there and cheesing through obstacles all around. Plus that ground pound is obnoxiously powerful with a too-long start. He needs a fair amount of polish, but damn is he fun!

Lil buddy Tails is floatier? I think. Compared to the rest imo, he feels lighter. His attacks leave a bit to be desired tbh, his main attack being Woe Wrench be upon Ye, and it works fine enough but it doesn't have a lotta oomph. Even with the upgrade. His Adventure tailspin would have really benefitted being here but I digress. His laser kicks ass tho LOL, which coincides with the Cyclone returning.

Holy fucking shit. Good fucking Goku above. This shit is broken LMFAO like its a blast, probably the most fun I've had with in terms of the new moves but fuckin hell is it broken FJHEBA. idk if they plan to release patches for these 3, but if they do, don't be surprised if the cyclone is nerfed. SPEED MAXIMUM.

As for the Sonic's sides of things.....hueh..it's not. Bad. Just. Hard. LOL. Ya get 5 towers to climb, with the punishment of falling down being HUGE. Remember to Parry and sidestep when in the air as a piece of advice. It saved my ass tons of times. OH and if you destroy the purple walls in Tower 2 and fall all the way down, start a new life cause they do not I repeat DO NOT RESPAWN, until ya die or replay the save.

Aside from the towers are also 5 trials at the top of each one. They range from kinda easy to slightly easy to okay to hard as ball to Challenge 5. Not in that order except Challenge 5. Challenge 5 ya might wanna change the difficulty to easy. Also as a piece of advice for the snake trial, Cyloop, 2 hits then a stomp, it worked for me! And remember to parry when far away and they shoot at you.

Challenge 5.......fuck me man LOL. I didn't even know I've been playing on Hard mode until I changed it to easy cause of this. I only managed to half beat Wyvern but jfc. Each difficulty level has a different time for parrying. Easy has a 3 second time parry, Medium I believe is 2?? Might be wrong. But Hard, you need to be Frame by Frame, absolutely perfect. No shame in the easy way this time lol.

The story itself was okay! Not bad. Nothing too extraordinary but it was fun to see through. Plenty of lore with optional conversations such as the wildlife being transported before The End got to the ancients aside from some insects, Sage kinda admiring Sonic, Sonic shittalking Eggsy to the max and BIG WASN'T REAL APPARENTLY??

It was fun to see the other 3 experience the corruption of cyberspace and them breaking through it all was just badass I'm ngl lol. Amy's voice lines were raw as hell that sent shivers down me spine.

The memories and conversations with the Ancient Warriors who were the pilots of the titans were really fun, they all not-so-subtly reflected each of the main cast and there being an actual King to the koco was a surprise, lol at Sonic giving him shit tho. The ending was beautiful, Sage managing to hear EggMan call her his daughter without needing to sacrifice herself and them heading home together....grhj....ghje...I do, truly, care them.

I just remembered the cyberspace levels lol. They were okay. U get a bomb strapped to u in some. Fun.

The final, FINAL, boss is better than both the original Supreme fight and the "secret" boss fight against the end in the vanilla game. Both of which were kinda underwhelming, moreso the end tho.

The End v2 has a bit of a problem however, you can only target the tube on its head by attacking the head for a bit with normal attacks, then sidestepping, which leads to attacking the tube. Pain in the ass to find out. The fight itself is okay, Super Duper Sonic isn't too different aside from mandatory perfect parrying and blue eyes, the dramatics were BALLER AS HELL THO, THE SNAP AND THE SPECIAL MOVE WHERE HE CROSSES HIS ARMS A BUNCH WERE RADDDDD!!! Manually having to cyloop the sniper gun was a bit clunky tho since Super Sonic flies a bit funky.

Also the song isn't bad, it's a revamped cover of I'm Here, the vocals are Kellin Quinn and the instrumental goes hard!! But it kinda feels like they autotuned it a bit too much. I think I might prefer the original honestly.

And of course...what everyone's probably already seen at this point..

Sonic's brand new form!

That shows up for less than a minute!

It's fuckjng cool as hell!

You don't get to play as him!

Very rad!!!

Idk his name!

And that's Update 3 from my end folks!

Overall, a mixed bag for all, but ultimately Fun for me. Who's to say if there'll be more in the future aside from sega and the employees themselves, likely patch notes at most. The characters were fun, the music was great, no shitty minigame being the true ending, all fun stuff. I hope Sonic Team and Co receive fair criticism and take notes where necessary.

Love ya Frontiers!!! Overall a 7or 8 outta ten in terms of this update alone for me!

No fishing minigame tho so fuck this gay ass earth and everyone go to hell 0/10

#StH #Sonic the Hedgehog #Sonic Frontiers #sonic frontiers spoilers #Update 3 spoilers

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xxlovelynovaxx · 9 months

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Blegh. So, after getting some IV prednisone from the ER yesterday, it's become abundantly clear that this new squash-sauce pasta that has made me actually enjoy eating for the first time in months IS causing histamine reactions and was at least part of the moderately severe anaphylactic state I was in for... well, probably the past few days.

The reaction is lesser because of the prednisone but I AM swollen throat to ear and sinuses and having difficulty swallowing which always sucks.

Once it's safe to, I can maybe trial and error the ingredients. Not sure if it's a spice issue or the "oat beverage" or the squash itself. Hopefully not the rice noodle pasta, but it shouldn't be. Also, the wheat semolina pasta DEFINITELY drove the initial flareup into a full blown crisis so that's out for now :(

Anyway, this sucks. Wish I could find an allergist that knew asthma from anaphylaxis around here -_- Seriously. I know more about MCAS than most doctors who SPECIALIZE IN ALLERGIES here. As in, half of them don't even know the NAME MCAS and the other half have to GOOGLE how to test for it (if they try to test my tryptase levels I stg I'll riot. Try actually up-to-date testing please!)

Plus last doc I saw basically said the only treatment was type 1 and 2 histamine blockers plus inhaler plus nasal spray and told me to stop using my steroid inhaler during an active asthma flare "to see if it helped". Didn't mention xolair treatments, didn't mention cromolyn sodium, didn't mention ketotifen, or montelukast or astelin or dupixent or literally ANY of the medically recommended treatments for MCAS!

And yes, I get we technically have to wait on a diagnosis, but I was asking 1) what is the course if we confirm it and also 2) I'm now allergic to all oral forms of most meds, insurance won't cover a compounding pharmacy until I get a diagnosis and I've been LITERALLY TOO SICK to advocate for myself or even pursue it, and might not cover it even then, I can't afford it without insurance (I can't even afford the vitamins that I'm so deficient in that I'm risking ORGAN SHUTDOWN. They cost $11. I'm already choking down plain rice for half the month, I can't afford MEDS). So like???

If doctors were competent I never would have gotten this sick in the first place.

Also I still have to fight my primary care doc over getting a wheelchair despite that medicaid will FULLY cover it for POTS alone, because they want me to be more abled and don't give a shit about my quality of life; and my psych med manager office barely allowed me to do telehealth even when I said I was housebound because they said they're "phasing it out". STOP "PHASING OUT" ACCESSIBILITY FEATURES YOU ABLEIST FUCKS.

That turned into a rant but anyway. All doctors are bastards etc etc I'd just like to keep breathing and have a pulse and stuff and like wish me luck that I can find a unicorn allergist or whatever

#MCAS #crip rant #ableism #POTS #severe vitamin deficiency #mobility aids #rant #cw ableism #internal screaming #maybe some external screaming too

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popculturebuffet · 1 year

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Sam and Max Telltale Retrospective: Save the World: Reality 2.0 (Patreon Review for WeirdKev27)

Cyber-Hello to all you happy cyber-people! We're almost at the end of Sam and Max Save The World! It's been a long strange journey and it's only getting stranger as we jack in and execute the penultimate chapter of this fantastic game.

As usual let's take a look at Reality 2.0+as a game first. Internet 2.0 is the best chapter yet which like Morning Mark, you can probably hear me say that a lot. It combines the writing quality of the last two chapters with the far more managable but still open overworld of "The Mob, The Mole and the Meatball". The difficulty's still harder than Mob, but more in line with the second one: you might get stuck but a quick nudge from a guide or some poking around will usually fix it. The world is also just fun to explore despite being intentionally both sparse and a reskin of the main street hub. In short it's good stuff and we'll see if it holds for the finale and the next two games.

For now let's look at the bold new future of the internet in 2006 under the cut and how our heroes have to kill it before it spreads. As you do.

So we open with Max flexing his power as president. As expected most of his policy is giant fighting robot based, sending them to all three dakota's to see who surivives, and he's being impeached every day this week except wendsday.. he's on trial for war crimes. But Max has more important things to deal with than plotting his future escape from a federal maximum security prison, for once. The Chief has a job: A new game, Reality 2.0 is sweeping the nation and brainwashing it too so our heroes and max have to stop it. Our heroes first have to save Sybil, whose beta testing the game via headset, and lost in the zone. So to get info we're going ot have to wreck Sybil's life for the second episode. Meanwhile Bosco has paranoidly moved all his money into the internet. As you can probably notice unlike a lot of the satire in these games, where there more funny knowing the time, the satire for internet 2.0 has actually aged better. While at the time it was clearly parodying the boom of things like second life and mmorpg's like world of warcraft, nowadays it comes off as parodies of laughable attempts at the future like the metaverse, vr googles, and crypto. I mean the money isn't in boscocoin but like Crypto the service he's using bancolavedero.com is just as sketchy as crypto and just as likely to give you all your money back! As such despite having all the money now to launder via the us goverment, we can't buy his real world item, a bio weapon, yet.

We can however do him a solid and get rid of the compettition: part of why Bosco's gone from small arms to full on biological warefare is because Jimmy Two Teeth has set up shop in his shop. Being the rat he is, Jimmy refuses to actually sell you the mini canon he has because he's afraid you'll just turn around and use it on him

Though in this case it's a self fufilling prophecy as while he succesfully gets a hit off on Sam, he gets shoved into the canon and used as ammo oddworld styles. I just love this solution and it provides some cathariss after multiple chapters of Jimmy either being obnoxious to our heroes or actively hindering them. I mean he fell down a manwhole but ther'es probably a whole rat city down there. He can play rat blackjack and visit some rat hookers. He'll be fine. This is more fitting.. being shot at some vr googles.

Turns out though Sybil wasn't hypnotized.. or at least thinks she wasn't so she's mad, but allows our heroes to take the broken googles and decides to move on. I've really started to feel sorry for sybil. In the first two chapters she was just running a random scheme and just having a good time… in the last few she's been targeted by the mob, had her heart broken, been swindled out of millions of dollars and now had her legit buisness ruined by our heroes.. for good reasons yes but it's still awful. I'm really hoping the next chapter works out better for her. I do applaud the team for making me care about this goofy side character though. So our team has to take the googles to the best part of this episode, the C.O.P.S. The Computer Obsolescence Prevention Society are a bunch of old machines who are hilaroius: We have their leader and mouthpiece curt, an old voice synthizer similar to steven hawkings, chippy, an old pong set, and bob, a talking phone who talks like the moviephone guy. And last and most of all we have Bluster Blaster an old arcade machine who constantly screams every sentence and wants to conquer all. Their working for the internet for the oldest reasons imaginable…

But gladly suply a lot of great comedy.. and our heroes with the chip to fix the googles. There's not much else to say other than their fantastic and I was delighted to find out they return in the next two games, and have a larger role in 3.

THe cops gladly give our heroes the chip. Problem is there's two heroes but luckily max's really big head qualities him for a special headset, so our heroes are off to the digtial world! Jack in, Sam and Max, Execute! Reality 2.0 is a fun setting being really sparse and seeming like a jab at games that come out mostly unfinished. Having played sonic 06 recently, the irony is not lost on me. While it is a BETA, so ti's a bit more forgivable, it's a very desolate place with Sybil stood in with a digtial copy of her, and no real detail. The only real features are bosco's itself, and Auntie Biotic, virus protection based on moira stump. Who was asking for her to come back I do not know, but she's passable.

We 'll deal with her later though first it's time to deal with bosco whose totally not brainwashed you guys honest. So in order to save him, we have to bop him in the head, but since for some reason we can't just.. use the boxing glove on him or reload the canon, we have to play the game his way and get 5 gold coins. Granted equipment usually isn't this cheap but sam and max isn't going to make you grind for several hours. or maybe ten minutes with 4x gil on, to do that. Point is you need to gather the coins.

This is where I got stuck entirely through every fault of my own. See I assumed since the goggles have an assigned button to take you out of reality 2.0, you coudln't use your inventory

Every item you have in the real world is avaliable to you. And neatly some transform, so the bug becomes a computer bug. It wasn't till reading the guide I realized I could do this.

As for who your glitching up that'd be the COPS who are gods, angry gods, of the new world and each control something. So you have to jack with them to get rid of width, popups, make your characters small, and with blaster because uh oh there goes gravity. The ways you use them are also clever and most you can figure out just from exploring: Jimmy is hoarding a coin in your office, so you have to get that from him by shirnking, and that itself requries you to figure out another mechanic: when you enter the digital world you enter from the location your at. So while the curb is too big for tiny sam and max to climb, you can simply jack out, go into the office, jack in and boom, Jimmy is violently mugged for a coin! Sybils is easy to miss, it's just behind her bookcase which you can get by going flat and finally we get the fun one of gravity, with sam deciding to become a feature film italian sterotype and max decides to call him a sell out. it's the best joke of a very funny chapter… the best one not involving an arcade cabinet screaming at you anyway. So with that we buy the long sord and get a decent enough send up of rpg combat as we fight a slime in boscos, handily despensed from a monster spawn point. This is where I got lost for a second. See I went back to the real world, as Bosco revealed his password is SO secure, he dosen't even know it, having it tattooed on him then having his memory erased. So naturally I grabbed the binoculars on his desk. problem is fitting the game's nonlinear nature you can get them AFTER you wake him up too, and my guide used this method. Thankfully I found another one, and found out I simply had to conk him out in the digtial world.

Since I can't just have a small monster do it, I used the sword, tricked bosco with the timeless "look over there" technique and found his tatoo which thankfully was nowhere near as low as feared. It's naturally bosco. He's smart at many things, survelince, knowing the goverment's after him, scamming our heroes, but this is a reminder he can be very, very dumb and we love him for it. So it's off to banco lavedero. To get in here you'll need some digitial paint from a digtial wizard whose TOTALLY not hugh bliss… though unlike moira I feel this seeming model IS the real thing given what we learn at the end of the chapter. This puzzle is clever as your liscene plate has the right color. Match em and you get past the banco lavedero fire wall. Inside we get a fun if somewhat long mini game: unsuprisingly this scam is laundering money from everywhere: the toy mafia, who sam rightly points out even if we knocked out one branch isn't exzactly gone, the goverment, bosco's mom. You simply have to get the arrows to point all the money to bosco. It's hilarious enough to work and even if you get stuck, it shoudln't take too long till bosco has the money and is forking over his bio weapon. This one I actually called: he just sneezes into a napkin. But hey it's enough to give yo ua computer virus.

To beat her though we need a chekovs gun.. but since tha't snot in the inventory we instead need some slime goop, gotten whenyou first get your sword as his sludgey machine is now an enemy spawn point and the results are just as dangerous. You take it out with some turn based rpg parody, though the shouting out of dexerity is just.. weird. This isn't dungeons and dragons, it's a computer rpg. It's hilarious enough though I dont' care enitirely.

WIth the goop you simply have to defy gravity again and go to a nearbye billboard and you get the unicorn sword. +2 baby! You can unstick it with the goop and then fight moira using the sword and another chekovs gun: early on you'll see a jack in the box surrounded by pop ups. Disable those, grab it, then enable them before the fights and you've got a shiled. It's a wonderful brick joke and with that you can mail the virus ot break the internet.

Problem is the interent.. plans to take everyone in it with her, so to save the world you have to brave the depths of gaming history, a TEXT ADVENTURE!

The Text Adventure bit.. is a lot of fun. You put all of boscos into your inventory, deal with a giant drippy pool of cute kittens , use their slime to dip boscos and then feed it to a shambling corprate presence, the greatest monster in all of rpg history. Yes over stabby mc mommy issues or Garnland, who will knock you all down. You feed him, get him tobarf up the internet's faith in humanity an save her from herself… and then she dies because our heroes knida gave her a virus. Yes our heroes killed the ineternet and I for one…

Sorry about that had to kick in the backup internet. Hard being a blogger these days. Anyways the internmet is dead and the most she can give our heroes is the mysterious mastermind behind all this is Roy. G. Biv… our heroes dont' take the obvious hint and go to dinner… as hugh bliss shows up as the face int he moon

Next Time: We go to the MOOONNNNN to wrap this game up and confront the true mastermind behind it all! But where is hugh? What is hugh? and why is Hugh? All to be colorfully answered next time!

#sam and max #telltale games #skunkape games #nintendo switch #adventure games #sybil pandemik #hey guys it's me bosco #the internet #bluster blaster

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who-is-shades · 11 months

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raz dnd campaign 2

god wakes everyone up so we can get ready for the next trial.

senna does her morning routine. getting clean and makeup and shit. wheatley immediately stands at the platform. teya uses her sending stone to let her bro know how shes doing.

trial of combat! 2 people left so 12 people are left. 4 different combatants increasing in difficulty. teams of 4 pog.

senna and teya naturally team up (GAY) wheatley RUNS at me (and doesnt remember my name) and begs to be on my team (naturally) parsley tries to find the guy he f*cked to team up. epic fail. senna invites him to join cause shes nice.

little brother is working the potion shop! wheatley and teya and senna buy healing potions. senna and lil bro have a pleasent conversation! (awww) parsley trades in his armor for lighter armor so he can fly. senna gets a new shield.

time for the trial! our tokens turn blue for our team pog. theres also yellow and purple teams. we have spectators pog! i quick cast guidance on teya before the fight starts and teya also gives herself temp hit points.

we fight some clockwork humanoids! 3 of them! wheatley goes first, gets behind us, and shoots at them out of the way. parsley uses his handaxe but misses. F.

teya firebolts! crit! his gears start glowing and he struggles to move but he recovers. senna stabs the same one but the damage is reduced! hmmm stabbing no working. teya gets shot with an arrow! frick. senna gets attacked next, but the robot gets stalled! (nat 1 lol) parsley gets attacked but doesnt hit lol.

back to wheatley! misses. how. parsley laughs at him. wheatley looks betrayed. (could a moron do this?) parsley uses the handaxe again on the frozen robot. the axe is left in its neck. he cant move his head now but his body is fine.

teya forebolts the same guy. missed. F. senna got a crit with shocking grasp! he falls apart pog hes dead! senna does a small holy motion and we move on. parsley is just glad someone can hit something. wheatley gets attacked! his armor sucks so he gets shot in the leg. senna gets attacked! not even close it just misses lol.

back to wheatley! he misses. goddamn. parsley tries to javelin but misses. F. wtf guys. teya uses firebolt again! nat 1. wtf. it explodes in her face. gets knocked on her back. senna uses shocking grap again. not a strong attack but it does some damage at least.

wheatley gets attacked again. dammit. senna gets attacked again. my shield bounces him off get fucked.

wheatley throws his handaxe! FUCK stop missing please. parsley is in rage form now. he still misses. wtf. why. teya, help us. get off the ground. shes up now yay. senna attacks, same as before. he feels that one!

teya is attacked this time! they miss thankfully! senna is, naturally, attacked. bounces right off. if he could feel emotions he would be mad.

back to wheatley! maybe he should just....sit down for a while, he hit the crowd. parsley is still enraged. FINALLY he hits! not much damage but something. hard to harm them with stabbing. second attack! javelin being stabbed but misses. thanks. cmon teya, firebolt! it hits! senna once more with electric! i got it! its not doing so well but still in it.

teya is attacked again but is fine. senna is attacked AGAIN. missed again. wheatleys turn again! please. please. nope. thanks for coming pal. parsley tries to hit a robot in the head. missed. second action hits thank god. he dies thank god! teya, please kill something. firebolt. CRIT. hes a little melted but still working. senna, again same thing.

last robot attacks me naturally. misses of course. wheatley please. FINALLY he shoots him. locks up his head. parsley picks up his sword and stabs him in the neck. its dead thank god!

we walk back to where the shops are and they get their stuff back. we can short rest but that doesnt affect me since i wasnt hurt.

our team is up again! giant wooden tiger with metal claws and cannons on its back?! wheatley somehow goes first again. he hits with crossbow! senna does sacred flame. radiant damage pog. parsley cant find any weak points so he just attacks a paw. miss. tiger attacks teya! oh no! thank god it misses. teya's turn! firebolt! now its on fire and the metal ribs are exposed and gets fire damaged every turn!

wheatley! misses. sad. senna uses crossbow to show wheatley how its done. parsley misses. the tiger goes for me! bastard. he tries to pounce me but i hit it with my shield and deflect it. teya again uses firebolt. thank you teya you burned his tail.

wheatley missed. sad. parsley stabs it in the eye! its blind in 1 eye pog. tiger shoots cannons of course at parsley but senna is nearby darn. parsley gets hit! and so do i cause it explodes. but i dex save for only 2 damage. teya firebolts again. nice. tony has no more metal. ITS DEAD! back to the hub!

we short rest and senna is being gay with teya lol. we level up nice. one of the teams died to the tiger, F. including the guy parsley fucked. F the gays keep losing.

big beefy robot guy in a commanders uniform. big robot eye. hands behind his back. commander war bot! parsley tries to instant attack him! tries to fly up and stab him in the eye! barely pierces it, still works. an invisible field goes over him, a personal shield! fucker raz your goddamn cheating.

it attacks parsley! intelligence saving throw?! its eye glows and parsley takes psychic and lighting damage. wtf. senna does sacred flame. i hit thank goodness. the shield is damaged. teya hits it with chill touch! nice. also he cant heal until its teya's turn again. the shield cracks a bit. parsley! it hits! not much damage. wheatley! hits thank god!

its mad at wheatley oh no! but it cant pierce his mind! only some psychic and lighting damage. senna and the sacred flame! it hits and shatters the shield! i dab lol. teya walks up to it and smacks it. oh god no. vampiric touch. THATS A LOT OF DAMAGE! parsley! goes to stab the eye again with the handaxe. big split in the eye! still works but a little fucked up vision. wheatley! missed.

it attacks teya! nat...1....oh god. raz spares doing crit damage but its still gonna really hurt. so much psychic and lighting damage. SHES STILL ALIVE! but its a multi attack. oh god. half as much damage from this roll. shes done. SENNA TO THE RESCUE! i go up and make them drink a healing potion. shes up thank god. parsley! attacking the eye! it shatters! its blind! wheatley! missed.

robot attacks! blindly swinging at parsley! it hits. senna with the sacred flame! it hits! the robot falls to his knees! i killed him! taken back to the hub! the other team is still alive but barely.

robotic hound! tesla coils! conduit hound! well fuck. were gonna die. it attacks wheatley. fucking hell thats too much damage. parsley yeets a javelin. misses so he enters rage. teya firebolts. it hits! senna uses bless to buff the party! lets kick its ass guys. wheatley! raz tells us its not immune to psychic lol. dissonant whispers! missed but still does some damage.

dog attacks! it goes for senna! missed pog. parsley throws the handaxe. nice. frenzy. teya firebolts! nice. senna uses guiding bolt. big damage! wheatley! same attack! missed so half damage.

dog again! it lines us all up! cone of electricity! dex saving throw. only wheatley gets hit fully. fuck. wheatley is now stunned. parsley has no more rage. its attack does hit though. teya firebolts again. hits nice. senna missed the guiding bolt darn. wheatley tries to be unstunned. nope.

dog attacks me multiple times! bitch it hits. im down. help. 'werent you healing' YEAH FUCKER WERE ONLY LEVEL 5.

parsley attacks! missed. teya comes to save me yay. i use my turn to get up to straight to wheatley. gets unstunned.

dog attacks parsley and it hits. dex saving throw. lots of damage and knocked prone. frick. he can use his action to get up though. teya firebolts. hits nice. senna does 41 crit guiding bolt damage FUCK YOU. ITS HEAD EXPLODES AND WE WIN! WOOOOOOOOOO

we teleport back and level up and 500 gold! the other team died. we rest and stuff. parsley points out that everyone else is dead. (RAZ YOU BETTER NOT TRY AND MAKE US KILL EACH OTHER) teya had to be informed the other people left or died. senna offers prayers for the departed.

wheatley goes to the tavern to hang out with little brother. parsley is there for drinking. teya also gets a drink. oh no. senna helps teya pick something nice. wheatley gets up and leaves to talk to god. hes worried about lil bro :( god says he will gives him more tasks later. wheatley wants to stay with lil bro if he lives and beats the big bad. god accepts. he goes back to the tavern but hes quiet.

lil bro learns what hanging out is! awww. senna is comforting teya about death. 'arent you a necromancer?' senna is very comforting and reassures her, that people can pick what to do with their lives, and what little power she thinks she has can move entire mountains. necromancers and healers, both so close to death.

lil bro is confused about death so we explain it to him. cause of course we do. and explain a fuckin soul! a soul is a matter of perspective, senna says. and i accidentally introduced the concept of other gods lol. 'i do not like die' wheatley refuses to let him die! 'do not die as well' i fuckin love these little funky robots.

parsley is laughing cause hes a dick so wheatley explains what laughter is to lil bro. and have to explain joy. 'emotions are complicated but thats why its wonderful' says senna. wheatley will happily help explain emotions for lil bro. senna explains a smile. he will observe us organics to learn emotions. (please dont learn from parsley)

we teach him about different subspecies of organics! teya was secluded mostly lol. we talk about her brother awww. we tell him about sending stones and offer to get lil bro one to talk to wheatley when we leave. god keeps an eye on lil bro i guess.

senna offers to take teya to see her brother quick when we win. parsley cant speak hes on the ground lol. lil bro starts glitching out trying to talk about teya's bro and its very omnious. information was not allowed out. HMMM. wheatley is checking him out.

senna comforts teya and promises its gonna be ok. 'quiet fairy boy'. were all laughing at parsley now its lovely. wheatley points out that parsley is feeling anger so we have to explain it. now we have to explain what 'kill' is. were gonna kill parsley i stg. and now hes feeling fear for the first time. he hides behind wheatley cause he can move now!

senna comforts lil bro that wheatley is strong and wont die, even defending him. lil bro thanks senna for protecting wheatley for him. IF ANYTHING BAD HAPPENS TO HIM ILL FUCKIN KILL YOU RAZ I SWEAR TO GOD- wheatley informs lil bro he will stay when the job is done.

teya demands answers from god, why the fuck do you know my brother? senna goes for support and parsley wants to kill god lol. wheatley and lil bro go and watch lol. accidentally floated the info to him? but why does he even have it?! why do you know it?! he scanned our minds?! to make sure we wouldnt become a liability? he also made most of those that left on purpose.

senna asks him if he truly is that afraid of that wizard. he is. wheatley walks over and says he does not want to be controlled, nor lil bro. senna nods understandingly and reassures him that shes with him. evil wizard man wants to usurp god and murder and shit. parsley shut up lol. teya just wants him not to spy in her head about her family. parsley as well hates it. senna however is fine with it. god wants to earn our trust or something.

#mod shades #dnd #dnd adventures

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lilyblackdrawside · 8 months

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Well that's that. Was very fun.

Went with TOW Squad, cause all three are operators I like and use and you get Spinach. Reduction Module ended up still being the one I went with, even though I planned to go with Optimize Load. On the previous difficulties the Skalter/Whisperain/Mr. Nothing trio could just about handle Talulah's damage, so I figured with higher dot it wouldn't be enough with just an attack speed buff for healing. However, turns out I routinely forget about the Therapist long-range weakness and could just move Whispy a few tiles closer, which got her into Skalter range and out of low-heal distance. Overall the 4th trial wasn't all that bad, at least compared to the dread it spread over many months of knowing it would come. TDBS was a total non-issue, thanks to terribly weak trash that I could handle with GreyThroat, May and Spalter, Andoain is just kind of annoying, but the burst damage squad handles wave 2 spectacularly well and Emperor's Blade is just a matter of planning ahead of time where to put the clouds. You can put two, if not three, all the way in the far left (I could only do two, due to cutting Hellagur).

There was a funny moment with TDBS phase 2 where Elysium just wouldn't die.

I only had put him down to hold the line for a moment until Mr. Nothing came back up (pulled him for the fireballs).

But then Mr. Nothing did have to step in and tanked it all the way through. At 65 aspd, there's not much danger anymore. Had to break two sets of crystals, but even with the Merchant DP drain I had enough resources because Marksman Snipers are just so pleasantly cheap.

#arknights

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dangan-infinity · 1 year

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The Convening - Chapter 1 Trial Outcomes

It was hard to know who and what you could trust at this point, but after the confessions at least some of you could only come to the conclusion that you'd made a very wrong defendant nomination. Had Neko-Neko really expected you to single out the killer with only a third of the evidence available? The odds had been violently stacked against you, yet you'd be the ones to pay the price... or would you?

"THE DEBATE DRAWS TO A CLOSE... AND IT SEEMS AS THOUGH YOU BELIEVE THE KILLER OF ATSUKO SAMUKURA IS NOT AMONG THE DEFENDANTS."

"I CANNOT CHANGE THE NUMBER OF DEFENDANTS THIS FAR ALONG INTO THE TRIAL. IF YOU WISH TO REPLACE ONE OF THEM, HOWEVER, YOU MAY CONDUCT A MAJORITY VOTE AND SUBMIT AN APPEAL."

Aha! Neko-Neko's threat for failing to find the killer could still be null and void, then. And they'd said they had paperwork for every eventuality, hadn't they?

"Of course! I'll get started on the paperwork right away, Your Honor."

Exactly how they managed to procure a few sheets, and from where, you weren't sure. But they placed them on the nearest bench and took a pen... Which they couldn't quite seem to get a good grip on.

"U-um, this might be a little tricky..."

"No thumbs and all. Tch."

"HMM... MUST I ASSIST THE COUNSEL?"

Happily accepting, Neko-Neko carried their things over to the judge with some difficulty. It was then that they ran into the hurdle of their paperwork-filler-outer being blind, but they did their best to guide her. Precisely how they'd managed to fill out the initial paperwork without her you couldn't be sure...

The odd duo (trio?) made it about halfway through the first page before one of Neko-Neko's heads cranked around to look at the jury.

"Say, remember what we said about makin' things more fun for us if ya made us jump through more hoops?"

"We'll be cashin' that in now. While we're busy over here, we're gonna have each of you get out your notebook and write down which of the current defendants ya like the least."

"We'll come around later to look at your votes and tally 'em up. What happens to the grand winner?"

"Well, you'll just have to see, won'tcha? Nyahahaha!"

With that last evil cackle, they turned back to resume fussing over the court paperwork. You had a little while until they managed to finish that up, you presumed... But it was hard not to open a blank page of your notebook and feel a little trepidation. What exactly were you voting on here? The killer was supposed to be executed if you identified them, but the least popular defendant? There weren't any rules in here about that. Just what were you condemning someone to?

Whatever their fate, you had to choose someone. At the very least, given the criteria, some of you wouldn't have to debate the rightful winner too much.

[Forum Post]

#d8c1 #d8plot #d8trial

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imabeautifulbutterfly · 2 years

Text

The Gym Membership - Part 9 (Tech)

Summary: Tech takes a step with a friend he thought was out of reach.

A/N: Hello Lovelies,

Thank you for being patient, loves, you guys are awesome. Tech’s portion is very sweet - I least I think so, but it’s also going to be a bit of up and down.

There will be a chess game that is played through out Tech’s portion, it is the game played by Kasparov vs. Topalov - played Jan 20 1999, at the Hoogoes A tournament. Please note I am not a chess player, I do not watch chess, hence why I focused on an already played game.

I hope you guys enjoy this version of Tech, I thoroughly have.

Love oo

Warnings: Awkward flirting, chess play, sibling teasing, mentions of human trials for a prosthetic, mentions of prosthetics, mentions of surgeries, difficulties with human trials, fluff, babysitting, mentions of shock, parental yelling, I think that’s it, if I miss any please let me know.

AO3 Link | Words: 5,237 | PREVIOUS - -> NEXT

Gym Membership Master List | Main Master List

Tech and Zaina were finishing their workout by the far west wall of the gym, both sweaty from their workout, they’d already spent the better part of an hour building up to deadlifts, each bringing out the other’s competitive nature.

“I’m surprised you did not ask Hunter to help you”

“Well, as much as I enjoy Hunter’s company, I don’t necessarily want to spend every single waking moment with him.”

“Really?” Tech asked his eyebrow crooked upward, “I thought you two were …”

“Oh we are, it’s just …” Zaina placed the barbell down in front of her, turning to look at Tech, “I mean you know what it’s like when you’re dating someone, as much as you enjoy your time with them, and don’t get me wrong, I love spending time with Hunter and Omega, it’s…” Zaina couldn’t stop the giant smile that graced her lips, “they’re amazing and everything I could have wanted, but sometimes it’s nice to have a moment to yourself, or to spend time with someone other than them, just for a little bit. You know?”

“I suppose. Granted most of my girlfriends end up breaking up with me, because I forget I’m dating when I delve into a project.”

“I’m sorry, that sucks. They should be understanding at least”

“Oh no, you misunderstand. It is not that they are not understanding. In fact, it is quite the opposite, I once dated a woman for seven months before she finally broke up with me. Granted I was extremely consumed with my project for the better part of six months, out of those seven.”

“Oh. I see. Can I ask you something?” Zaina tilted her head to have her follow him towards the juice bar.

“Of course”

“Is there anyone now that has your eye?”

“Hmm” Tech took the seat beside her, thinking about the question, was there anyone? There was, but the chances of her being interested in him, that was another thing entirely “Why do you ask?”

“Cause there’s this woman” Zaina began slowly watching Tech’s expression carefully, “I believe you met her, when I had you guys over for games night about two weeks ago” Tech shrugged his shoulders, “she’s one of the girls I work with, blonde hair, gray eyes, very pretty.”

Tech remembered her, she was very pretty, but as interesting as a piece of blank paper, “Right, what about her?”

“She wanted your number, I said I would double check because I didn’t know what your status was or what your inclinations were; so would you be interested if she called you?”

Tech thought about it, he was unattached and maybe she would be fun for a few dates, but in the end it wasn’t his style. He wanted someone he could share ideas with, someone who would interest him not just physically but mentally as well, a quick fling was more up Crosshair’s alley “Thanks Zai for the offer but I’m good. She is …” Tech cleared his throat, scratching the spot behind his ear trying to think of the best way to explain what he meant, “as pretty as she is, she is not my type.”

“Well, what is your type?” Zaina asked, taking a sip of the drink Hunter had left in front of her after leaving a kiss on her forehead, which instantly caused her to look away abashed, yet there was still a coquettish smirk on her face as she looked towards Hunter.

“Zai, I am not sure I can explain it as easily as …”

“Hi Tech” Tech glanced up to see Kamarie, at seeing her beautiful smile his heart began to beat quickly, he felt as though he couldn’t breathe. If he could describe his ideal woman to Zai, well then that would have to be Kamarie, she was brilliant, funny, kind, beautiful and for some inexplicable reason she was his friend. She was the kind of woman you never forgot, at least to Tech she was.

Zai tapped his foot subtlety when he hadn’t said anything “Hello Kamarie, it’s a pleasure to see you”

“Not as great a joy as it is for me. In fact, it has been a while since the last time we met, is everything going well with you?”

He felt his throat go dry, and no amount of swallowing was helping the situation, “Yes,” he cleared his throat, glancing over to Zai, “have you met Zaina, this is Hunter’s girlfriend and Mel’s cousin” Tech motioned towards her, she’d been eyeing his interaction the whole time, Zaina pulled herself together, turning to look at Kamarie, holding out her hand readily with her usual friendly smile.

“Lovely to meet you, Kamarie. Take it, you're a friend of Tech’s?”

I was quick to take her hand, “Yes, we met a while back. He was kind enough to help me when a rather obnoxious and determined gentleman wanted more of my attention than I dared give him. He refused to accept my disinclination for what it was and proceeded to make his attempts to interest me even more forceful, which of course did not impress me even the slightest. As such, Tech interfered and promptly removed the gentleman from my presence with a promise should he attempt to influence my opinion in a manner that greatly distresses me, Tech would be the one to deal with him.”

Zaina glanced over to Tech, whose cheeks had a dark tint, “Wow, impressive Tech. You certainly know how to make an impression” Tech noticed the smirk on Zaina’s face, which he promptly tried to ignore.

“I did what any gentleman would have done” Tech waved off.

“I doubt that; you and your brothers were raised better than most” Zaina smirked.

Tech seemed to ignore Zaina’s statement completely as he turned his attention to me, “Kamarie, before time passes us, Bishop E3 to H6”

“Oh Tech, you must know such an action would only cause me to act in a manner to defend my Queen and King. Bishop G7 to H6 captures Bishop” I couldn’t help smirk at Tech, “As a man of skill and forthright, I imagined your attacks to be slightly more daring, unless I underestimated the skill with which we are playing.”

“Perhaps I wanted to provide a sense of calmness and wellbeing making sure you understood the gravity of the situation when I tell you, Queen D2 to H6 capturing your Bishop.” Tech looked so proud of his move a smile etched on his face that reached to his eyes, “I would suggest taking the time needed to fully consider the ramifications of your next move. I would greatly dislike the idea that you are leaving your royalty at their most vulnerable.”

I couldn’t hide the smile as I looked at Tech, I wouldn’t have expected anything less from him, “Ingenious, as always.” I looked away from him for a second and realized we had gathered a bit of an audience, I cleared my throat,” Tech, Zaina, Hunter, and Echo” I nodded to the four of them, a smile etched on my lips as I headed off to my workout.

Zaina looked from Kamarie’s retreating form back to Tech, “Okay, what the hell was that?”

“Oh we are playing a very intricate came of Chess, Zai”

“No. I know that; I mean the tension between the two of you” Zaina wiggled her eyebrows up and down.

“Oh, I felt that tension” Echo reinforced, he was biting his bottom lip keeping himself from laughing.

“Don’t bother, sarad’ika” Hunter stated as he passed Tech his drink, while winking at Echo.

“What? Why?” Zai looked from Tech to Hunter, “Tech, you want to tell her?”

“No”

“Come on” Echo nudged his brother

“Hunter” Tech’s tone was final, Hunter shrugged ignoring his younger brother and turning his attention to the woman who was beautiful inside and out, and had captured his heart completely, something that he didn’t think would’ve been possible.

“Fine, I’ll tell her.” Hunter leaned closer to Zaina, he took her hands in his, tracing her knuckles with his thumb, “He is heads over heels for her, has been for some time, right Tech?” Hunter glanced over to his brother, who simply glared at him as he chugged back his drink. He turned his attention back to Zaina, smirking as he continued, “I’m pretty sure she feels the same way Sard’ika, especially after that day Tech stepped in; but Tech is too cowardly to ask her out.”

“I am not as you say ‘cowardly,’ I simply do not wish to impose a desire she may have no inclination towards. I want to be her friend, rather than not being in her presence completely.”

Zaina bit her tongue to keep her from laughing at how adorable Tech was, “Do you notice how his speech pattern changed after she showed up?” Zaina teased smirking at Hunter’s nodding.

“If you both will excuse me,” Tech stood, irritated with the three of them the seemed to be studying him, “I have to change. I am meeting with one of our equipment vendors.”

“Oh of course, Tech” Hunter smirked, “a meeting” he teased, while he winked at Zaina.

Tech simply rolled his eyes, finishing his drink at the same time, walking away from the three of them. He wished he could be more forthright, more like Crosshair in that sense, being able to just ask or put himself in a position where he could potentially risk a friendship. After all, he never seemed to have any issues discussing how he felt towards someone; then again Crosshair never stayed with anyone long enough to make them valuable enough to treat with the dignity and respect. Tech wanted to be her friend and more than that he wanted to always treat her with respect and dignity, not as just something to occupy his time.

Tech scrubbed his skin harder than he realized, his frustration clearly evident on his irritated skin. He stepped out of the shower, wondering if he could take that step with her. He wasn’t a romantic per se, in fact he was most definitely not a romantic, according to his previous paramours he was the least romantic person they had ever come across. Granted, the only reason he was with most of them was because they asked him.

He didn’t want to think more about Kamarie, but no matter how hard he tried that smile, those eyes, that intelligence she demonstrated again and again, were permanently etched into his memory. What he needed was a night out, to forget what he was feeling. She was a brilliant engineer and the last thing she’d be interested in would be someone like him.

As Tech walked out of the locker room, he noticed Kamarie was sitting at the juice bar with Zaina, he wanted nothing more than to have his feet carry him over to them, to sit and listen to her, to hear her voice fill the space around him, listening to her discuss one subject or another, to hear her call his name yet again.

“Tech” It was almost as though his thoughts had granted his deepest wish, he glanced over to see Kamarie waving him over.

Before he even realized his feet were taking him to the very person, who he wished would become his world,“Yes?”

“I wondered if I may trouble you for some assistance with my latest project, as you know I’ve been having difficulties not just with the hydraulics, but the program coding focusing on making sure the hydraulics do not overexert themselves, worse still it appears the coding is refusing to recycle itself at the end of every action.”

“Are you sure the coding is properly entered?” I didn’t even answer him, I simply raised my eyebrow at him, while I leaned into my hand that was propping my head.

Tech noticed how Zaina was hiding a chuckle behind her knuckles as they pressed into her lips as her elbow rested on the back of her chair, Hunter seemed similarly amused.

He felt his face heat up, “I would be only to happy to help you address this problem, unfortunately, at the moment, I am on my way to attend a meeting with one of our suppliers.”

“Do not stress yourself, Tech. I will give you my number, contact me once you are free to do so” I promptly handed Tech my business card before I headed to the locker room. It was a little odd to have so many watching us, yet I understood it was due to their admiration for their brother.

Zaina tried, she really did try not to say anything, she wanted to be supportive of Hunter’s younger brother and did not want to embarrass him, but she couldn’t help smirk at his shocked expression, as his eyes read and reread the card in his hands.

“Do you think his brain short-circuited?” Crosshair’s voice teased as he walked up beside his younger brother.

“I think his brain is rebooting at the moment,” Hunter laughed, “let’s give him a minute or two to come back to us” Hunter and Crosshair chuckled.

“Will you two stop?” Zaina defended Tech, “Leave him alone. It’s not every day his Bishop captures the Queen” she tried, she really did but she couldn’t stop smiling from ear-to-ear at seeing Tech’s cheeks deepen a darker red at the teasing he was receiving from the three of them.

“For your information, Zai,” Tech smiled as he turned the card in his hand, before he locked eyes with her, as a self-satisfied smile appeared on his lips, “I always capture the Queen” he smirked as he headed off, tucking the business card into his pocket.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

My stomach was fluttering when I noticed Tech’s caller ID appeared on my cell. I wanted to answer, but of course at that moment, I was inundated with questions, as I did my best to answer the panel before me.

“Are you sure you’ll be able to meet the deadline?” Lama Su narrowed his eyes on me.

“I understand the panel's concern, but must I remind you we are here for the benefit of veterans and those in need of prosthetics. Human trials for our prosthetics are progressing at exceptional speed. There have been difficulties with seven percent of the trails.”

“Could you please clarify the difficulties?” Tong Wee asked as she readjusted her pen ready to take notes.

“Certainly” I pulled up the next slide from my presentation, “as you can see from overall feedback, most patients have reported they find the prosthetic to be a benefit to their life. Patient FJ-3645 directed our attention to one issue with their neural interface, at times the connection would drop between the patient and the prosthetic. We discovered the problem was a firmware issue; which has since been adjusted — however this particular patient has stated that the issue, although fixed, has affected the overall feel of the equipment. We are currently trying to determine the problem the patient is sensing. I would like to next direct your attention to patient EF-2487 this patient was at work when the prosthetic completely failed. It appears in this case the neural interface completely crashed.”

“I do apologize for interrupting” Nala Se began as she held her hand up, indicating for me to stop my presentation “are you saying most of the issues are neural interface based?”

“In these particular two patients it has been, for Patient FJ-3645 the problem with their prosthetic developed from a firmware issue; for Patient EF-2487, their problems arose due to a temperature issue.”

“A temperature issue? Would you please do your best to clarify this statement” Nala Se tilted her head at me.

“The patient’s body temperature runs higher then normal and works in an environment dealing with extreme heat raising their normal body temperature even greater.”

“Why was this not dealt with before human trials?” Tong Wee noted.

“None of the scenarios could have predicted a body temperature that normally ran as high this patient. Their physiology is actually quite unique.”

“No doubt there would certainly be some patients who inevitably end up running a fever”

“Of course, which was taken into account during the trials and even at time of development. However, what was not taken into account was a normal body temperature of 110. This particular patient was selected for the clinical trials due to their unusual biology.”

“How long did the patient wear the prosthetic before it completely malfunctioned?”

“A total of 875 hours, approximately 36.4583 days”

“That is quite the achievement, what exactly transpired?”

“The neural interface was burnt from the internal heat.”

“Have you been able to determine, what exactly about the patient’s physiology causes their temperature to run at a higher rate?”

“At this time we are unable to determine the direct cause. The patient has undergone several tests already, the theory at present is a belief the patient has a form of thyroid disease or possibly a heart arrhythmia we are currently running several tests to determine the validity of those theories.”

“What are the other issues?”

“Another patient had a hydraulic issue”

“Excuse me” Lama Su narrowed his eyes at me, “Do any of the problems actual deal with some sort of manufacturing issue?”

“If you turn to page 153 of your reports, you will note out of the fifty complaints we have received out of 700 patients, only one was a manufacturing issue which was fixed promptly”

“Any other issues we should become aware of?” Lama Su looked up from the report I handed out to them at the beginning of our meeting. I was about to open my mouth, when he cut me off, “More specifically, any issues that will cost the company money?”

I let out a sigh, “No. Majority of the issues are due to the physiology of the patient or a firmware issue.”

“In that case, I do not see a need to continue the meeting. Excellent work, doctor. We look forward to your next report.”

“Thank you ladies and gentlemen” I nodded to the panel of six men and women, grabbing my equipment and reports promptly leaving the meeting room, as soon as the panellists all left. I looked at my phone, as a notification for a new voicemail popped up. I couldn’t help smiling at the thought Tech had left me a voicemail.

I waited till I was in my office, closing the door before listening to his message.

‘Hello Kamarie, I do hope this message finds you well. As you requested, I finished with my meeting and contacted you as soon as I was able to; I wish to reiterate that I would be elated to help you figure out the coding issue you have come across. Please feel free to contact me at your earliest convenience. I look forward to hearing from you.’

There was a silence for a second before Tech's voice came back on the line.

‘In case, I forgot to mention, this is Tech. Tech from the Marauder Gym. The same Tech you play chess with …’ I heard him let out a sigh, ‘Again, I look forward to hearing from you at your earliest convenience.’

I couldn’t help smirk at his nervousness that clearly seeped through. I sat at my desk, staring at my phone, I wanted to call him, and tell him I could never forget him, I would always remember him, for as long as I could.

Yet, regardless of how much I wanted to take a step with Tech, I kept remembering the last time I was so upfront with my affections, not just my affections but also regarding my condition. The last time I informed someone about my future and what I was facing, it didn’t end well.

However, start something off with Tech on a lie, even if it was an omission was not the way I wanted it to begin and somehow I felt that he would be someone who would not shy away or run away simply because things may be more difficult than expected.

I took in a deep breath, chasing to have faith in a man who by all accounts seemed to be the encapsulation of what I had longed for, my finger shook a little as I dialed Tech’s number.

“Hello”

“Hi Tech”

“Kamarie … I … the message …” Tech took in a deep breath, “I cannot apologize enough”

“Tech”

“No please let me apologize”

“There’s nothing to apologize for”

“If you are sure”

“I am”

“In that case, how can I be of service?”

“Well, I would like to go over the coding issue with you, do you think you’d be able to come by my office?”

“When?”

“In an hour?”

“Unfortunately, that will not be possible, I’m finishing up with some work here, would it be all right if …” Tech cleared his throat, “Would it be all right if we met up for dinner to discuss it?”

“I believe dinner would be an even better suggestion, than what I had planned.”

“Gre…”

‘Did you get a hold of her?’ Another voice came on the line, it sounded like Crosshair cutting off Tech, however I hardly spoke with the man so I could be mistaken.

‘Yeah, I did…’ before he could say anything, more loud steps came booming over the phone.

‘Hey!’ Another voice called out.

‘Wrecker? What’s up?’ Tech asked

‘I’ve been calling you’

‘We didn’t hear you’ Crosshair’s voice rang through, ‘Anyway, Tech, you should just ask out Kamarie, you like her and she likes you, that’s evident by how she smiles at you.’

‘No di’kut!’ Wrecker’s booming voice came over the speaker, ‘I meant, when I tried calling Tech on the phone, I couldn’t get through, Cross.’

“That’s because I’m on the phone … right now … with Kamarie. She’s on speakerphone and no doubt has heard all of this”

“Hi Crosshair, hi Wrecker, I apologize for not saying anything earlier.”

There was nothing but pure silence for a minute, before I heard Crosshair’s voice trail off ‘Oh, shi…’ followed promptly by shifting feet and a door slamming shut.

I was smirking as I nibbled on my bottom lip, I couldn’t believe he liked me. I thought for sure there was no way he would’ve been interested in me, after all he was … he was amazing, intellectual, kind, dignified, treated me with utmost respect, and quite handsome. I couldn’t help the giggle that escaped from my lips at the sound of the door closing.

“Well, that happened.” Tech chuckled, “I believe there is a requirement here for me to express my deepest apologies on behalf of my siblings, please do not pay attention to anything Crosshair said, he is just … he is an idiot.”

I giggled at his reaction, yet doing my best to still my nerves, “I must disagree with your assessment of the situation, Tech.”

“Please enlighten me”

“Your sibling simply pointed out an interesting fact that has been a quandary of mine for some time”

“How interesting. That is an important factor in this observation. Wouldn’t you agree, Kamarie?”

“I wholeheartedly agree”

“Is what Crosshair stated factual?” Tech asked with hesitancy, maybe she was just being friendly.

“I believe it to be quite accurate, I know for myself it has been some time since my opinion of you has risen considerably. I find my mind often drifts to moments where I spend a significant portion of my time, contemplating your facial features, your kindness and your intellect.”

Tech cleared his throat, “This seems to be a dilemma for the both of us. With this new information available to both of us, would you care to join me for an evening meal with a romantic notion attached?”

“I would be delighted”

“Would you still care to discuss the coding issues at dinner?”

“It could be one of many topics we can discuss this evening”

“In that case, I eagerly look forward to our evening together”

“I do, as well. Tech, before you go, there is something I wish to say”

“Please feel free to alleviate any concern”

“I appreciate that, I simply wish to point out, Bishop C8 to B7”

“Oh now that is quite interesting. Pond A2 to A3.”

“Pond E7 to E5”

“Queenside castling”

“Queen D8 to E7”

“Protecting your King, I see, very clever”

“Would not want my King to be so vulnerable to opposing forces, he should remain vulnerable only to his Queen”

“I agree wholeheartedly, a King and Queen should only be vulnerable to each other”

“It takes a great deal of trust and respect to rule together, to know how to handle the skills each one brings forth.”

“Especially when going into battle for the first time.”

“At what time and where should I meet you?”

“Would 8 p.m. accommodate your schedule?”

“Perfectly, Tech.”

“I will call and make a reservation and provide you with the details promptly”

“I await with eager anticipation”

“As do I”

“Goodbye Tech”

“Goodbye Kamarie”

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Hunter watched as Zaina held Iris, rocking her back and forth. Even though Hunter understood how much it still pained Zaina to hold something she would never have the opportunity to have, he couldn’t help think she would’ve made an absolutely wonderful mother. He was glad at the very least she would be able to dote on her niece, and they had agreed to look after her for the weekend.

Wrecker wanted to surprise Mel with a special weekend away for the two of them, to celebrate their engagement. He had wanted to do it sooner, but between Iris remaining in the hospital for a tad longer than they had expected and Zaina being attacked, not to mention the wedding preparations, time seemed to slip away from him and before he knew it, Iris was six and a half months old.

“How’s it going babe?” Hunter whispered as he placed a gentle kiss on Zaina’s temple.

“Good, I think she’s finally asleep” Zaina answered back matching his tone, doing her best to keep her niece asleep.

“Guess what?” Hunter asked as he wrapped his arms around Zaina and Iris

“What?”

“Tech finally asked her out”

“No. Seriously?” Zaina turned to look at him.

“Yup, he was asking what restaurant we went to for our first date today after he got off the phone with her”

“Aww that’s so sweet”

“Dad!” Omega shouted as the front door slammed, waking Iris after Zaina spent the past thirty minutes getting her to fall asleep. Her wailing from the unexpected noise pierced not only the living room but everyone’s ears as well.

“Omega!” Hunter shouted back at seeing his daughter walk over to them wincing at seeing Iris in Zaina’s arms wailing. She felt guilty, she hadn’t realized Iris was going to be there.

“Sweetheart don’t, she didn’t know”

“That’s still no excuse, sarad’ika. How many times have I told you not to slam the door!”

“Sorry, I didn’t know Iris was here, but …” Omega began.

Hunter chuckled, feeling bad at raising his voice “Doesn’t matter. From now on, unless you are in trouble, bleeding, or running from some psycho, act like everyday Iris is here.”

“Okay dad,” Omega smirked, “but I was wondering, did you know Uncle Tech is sitting in his car in front of our place?”

“Before we begin with your uncle, do you know what time it is my dear?”

“I know I’m later than I said, but not by much, just …”

“Thirty minutes to be precise”

“Z wanna help me out?” Omega pleaded

Hunter looked from his daughter to his future, at least he hoped she’d be his future if everything went according to plan, however his look clearly stated no interference.

“You know Megs I would love to help you but I gotta take care of this little one, see if I can get her back to sleep” Zaina bounced Iris in her arms hoping the rocking motion would calm her down, she headed towards Iris' crib in the spare room, “She’s not wrong” Zaina mumbled under her breath, as she passed Hunter, noticing the smirk on his lips, “He has a point” she mumbled out to Omega as she stood in front of her, before placing a kiss on her forehead, smirking as she went off with Iris.

Hunter let out a deep sigh, “All right, did you eat?”

“Yeah, Hera’s uncle made us spaghetti”

“Did you finish your homework?”

“Yes. We started our project, which is why I was late”

“Okay, let me go talk to your uncle, but you gotta text me, you know the rules”

“Well you didn’t text either”

“Because Howzer texted, next time you don’t text, you are getting grounded missy” Hunter walked over to his daughter, wrapping his arms around her hugging the stuffing out of her as she hugged him back, “sorry for raising my voice.”

“Sorry for not texting and for slamming the door.”

“I’m serious though, next time you’re getting grounded”

“Yes, Dad” Omega chuckled as she released her dad, walking over to the living room.

“Not kidding” Hunter stated as he grabbed his phone simultaneously putting on his shoes and headed out the front door.

“Love you too, dad”

“Yeah, yeah. Say that now with the threat of being grounded looming overhead” Hunter chuckled, as he walked over to Tech’s car.

He was surprised to see the loon on Tech’s face, he looked shocked, shaken to his very core. The only other time he’d ever seen Tech look like that was when he received news about Echo and Wrecker’s injuries. Hunter knocked on the window, pulling Tech from his own thoughts.

Tech turned his head blinking at seeing his brother beside his car, as he lowered the window, “Hunter?”

“Hey buddy, you okay?”

“Yeah, what are you doing at my place?”

“Tech, you drove to my place”

“What?” Tech looked from Hunter, to the house behind his brother, there was no mistake he had driven to his older brother’s home. He must have been in more shock than he thought, not to mention his body clearly knew what he needed even if his mind was too in shock to register.

“You wanna come sit with me on the porch, tell me what got you driving to my place at 11 at night?”

“I … uhhhh…”

“Come on buddy, turn off the car”

Tech followed Hunter’s orders, moving without even realizing he had left the car, his keys dangling from his fingers, as he shifted on the seat on the porch.

“Want a drink?” Hunter offered, Tech simply shook his head ’no’ as he took in a shuddering breath, Hunter nodded as he took his seat, “Want to tell me what’s got you looking shocked?”

“Kamarie”

“Did something happen on the date?”

“It … ummm…” Tech looked at his hands they were shaking, Hunter reached over and grabbed them, hoping he would be a grounding force for his younger brother, “Tech, hey whatever it is, it’ll be okay.”

Tech nodded squeezing his older brother’s hand, Hunter was shocked, he wasn’t one for emotions or a display of emotion, whatever shook him up, must have been pretty intense, he waited to hear what Tech had to say.

“As you know I met up with Kamarie for our date” Hunter nodded, waiting for Tech to explain more, “everything was going great, better than could have been expected, when …

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iamknicole · 2 years

Text

A Special Victim

SVU Fic

A/N: This was for between visiting Carisi's family & Peach's family but the lives were off and had some difficulties when writing them visiting the Carisi family so this is no longer apart of the storyli e but didn't want it to go to waste so....ENJOY!

After visiting with her boyfriend's parents for the weekend, Peach was back at her desk trying to keep the smile off of her face. The highlights of her trip for the most part were pretty standard and okay to share with her captain. There was seeing baby pictures of their beloved Sonny Carisi, his mom making amazing food whether it was breakfast, lunch or dinner, going on errands with his sisters for his mom, and Teresa finally warming up to her. And then there were the ones she could only share with her best friend, that Kat may or may not have cringed about as she listened. Her and Carisi having sex in his childhood bedroom with his hand over her mouth for most of the encounter, Carisi sneaking up on her while she washed their clothes Saturday night and finding out how fun the spin cycle can be and the one that made her smile the hardest was what made them late for Sunday Mass. All in all, it was a great weekend and Peach couldn't wait for them to go visit her family once the trial was over.

"Earth to Peach," Amanda giggled waving her hand in front of the detectives face.

Peach pushed her hand laughing a little. "Sorry. What's up?"

"Nothing. Fin and I were just trying to figure out why you're smiling so hard. What is it?"

Kat laughed under her breath watching them.

"Nothing, nothing. Just in a good mood. We've been here all day and I've been able to finish my paperwork without interruption. We almost made a whole shift without a phone call."

"And now you've opened the flood gates," Fin chuckled, "Whatever it is ... you're up."

They worked another thirty minutes until Olivia came out of her office with phone and keys in hand. They all looked at her expectingly, waiting for her to speak.

"Remember the trafficking case we started a few weeks back?" She asked answering a text message.

"What about it, Cap?" Kat asked sitting back in her chair.

"We've got a location for another stash house. They're waiting on us to get there," she replied looking back up, "I'm gonna meet Carisi to get the warrant. You four go. Fin, you're in charge till I get there. Do not wait, go in, be smart, and wear your vests."

Fin and Amanda pulled up, Kat and Peach right behind them and the other cars pulled up without lights blocking the opposite side of the street. They all jumped out, Fin instructed the detectives then other officers. Fin and Amanda took the front with a knock and wait approach while Kat and Peach snuck around to the back.

Finding the back door unlocked, Peach eased into the back of the house with Kat behind her, both with their guns drawn. They creeped quietly through the house after hearing voices at the front door.

"I think I found the basement," Peach whispered. "I'll take it and you head upstairs. Go."

The pair split up taking on their tasks. Stealthily, she went down the basement stairs. When she reached the bottom, she found a well lit open bedroom. There had to have been at least 8 beds and a few cribs, a handful of females were huddle near the only in use crib. Peach put her gun away slowly approaching them then radioed that she had found some girls.

"I'm with NYPD, I'm not here to hurt you. Everything's okay now."

Peach realized that they were trying to hide the crib then saw a flash of fear on their faces making her draw her weapon and turn quickly. One of the traffickers was trying to sneak up on her but now stood with his hands up backing away.

"Take it easy. I'm just taking my girls and leaving."

"You're leaving but not with them," she responded still pointing her gun, "You can either leave in a body bag or in cuffs. Your choice."

He smiled at her as he sized her up starting to come closer. "A sweet, little thing like you wouldn't harm a fly. You look like you need some protection, I can help you out with that. Just ask my girls behind you."

"The only person who's gonna need protection is gonna be you if you take another step closer." Peach paused hearing Fin radio her that he was coming. "Ladies, go. Go now, he won't bother you."

The girls stood for a moment quietly talking amongst each other before one spoke up. "The baby? Take her?"

"I'll get her. Go." Peach instructed squinting at the trafficker.

Once they were going up the basement steps, Peach raised a brow at him.

"Looks like your girls are gone. You don't have anybody now. Poor you."

He chuckled, "The way I see it ... I have you and I have her behind you. I can make it work."

"The bullet offer is still on the table. Don't play with me."

"I don't really think you would shoot me."

Fin pressed his gun to the back of his skull. "If she won't, then I will. Don't push your luck. Put your hands behind your back."

Once he was cuffed and the other cops pulled him away, Peach put her gun away and went to the crib. The toddler was sitting inside the crib smiling at Peach. She picked her up, rocking her a little.

"Hey, Mama. You smiling at me? Let's get you outta here." Peach cooed softly grabbing her blanket wrapping it around her.

Upon getting outside, Peach tried to give the toddler over to EMS but she wouldn't let go. Olivia approached them trying to help unsuccessfully.

"How about you ride with her and meet us back at the squad? Good with you?"

After a successful check up at the hospital, the toddler was given the okay to leave but child services weren't able to pick her up. Realizing that the little girl would be in the hospital alone until child services got her, Peach took her back to the squad with her. Amanda was the first to see her.

"Uuh did you forget to leave something?" She asked confused.

"Long story," Peach shrugged, "Where's Cap?"

"She's watching Kat and Fin interrogate our two traffickers."

Peach nodded adjusting the little girl in her arms. "And what are you doing?"

"About to go finish the last interview then drive her to the shelter with Sister Peg. Her parents are picking her up in the morning." Amanda explained waving to the toddler. "However long that story is you better shorten it, there's Cap."

Peach cussed under her breath then turned around seeing her boss looking back at her. Olivia stared for a moment then headed towards her office beckoning for her detective. Toddler in tow, Peach went to the office closing the door behind herself.

"Before you yell at me, I can explain."

Olivia pulled her glasses off with a huff, "I'm listening. Talk fast."

Peach sat the toddler on the sofa then approached the desk. "Child services can't come get her right now and they're not sure when they can so I didn't want her to be at the hospital alone. And she's just gonna be in foster care until they find a relative anyway."

"So you figured you'd just take her home," Olivia finished with another huff, "Peach ... I get it but she would have been fine at the hospital."

"She would've been alone and sad. I didn't wanna leave her there alone especially after she gave me those sad eyes. When it's time to give her back, I promise I will."

"You have to be at work. Who is gonna watch her while you're at work, Peach? I'm not letting you off again the month before you're supposed to be off two whole weeks." Olivia fussed trying not to look over at the toddler who was humming softly.

Peach glanced to make sure the toddler was okay. "Nick's mom can. She doesn't mind. Please, Cap."

Olivia closed her eyes having a silent moment to herself. "You don't even know her name, Peach. How is this gonna work?"

"The bracelet she's wearing has her name on it. It's Sasha."

"It's after 7pm and you don't have a seat or anything. How are you gonna get her home?"

Peach played with her nails staring at her boss. "I may have had a fireman friend bring me a carseat from the station and some other things for her."

Starting at her detective in disbelief, Olivia couldn't do anything but laugh. She'd gone through all this trouble before she even knew if it would be okay or not. All the qualities she loved in Peach, she also disliked at times.

"Fine, fine, Peach. But you will not miss any work and you will help find a living relative. Understand?"

"Yes ma'am," she replied gleefully. "Thank you."

-----

Nick had met Peach at Carisi's house to bring the items she'd asked for. He stayed long enough to watch Sasha while she showered and changed clothes. After making sure she would be alright, he left heading home for the night. Peach and Sasha bounced between the kitchen and living room while she cooked.

An hour later, Carisi walked in leaving his briefcase by the door then took off his suit jacket and undid his tie. When he walked into the living room he noticed the toys then his girlfriend sitting on the sofa with a guilty smile and then Sasha approaching him smiling. He tossed his things aside to pick her up.

"Bibi," he called out, "Care to explain?"

Peach stood her smile still on her face. "Uuuh not really, no. We have a houseguest for a few days or so."

Much like Olivia, Carisi couldn't help but laugh making Sasha laugh along with him. Peach approached them playing with her nails as she always did when she was nervous.

"See ... she's cute, huh?"

"Very but why is she here, Bibi? And who does she belong to?"

Carisi went to sit down with the little girl waiting on his girlfriend's answer. Sasha was more than comfortable with Carisi playing with his hand.

"Well you know the traffickers house you got us a warrant for? When I found the girls, I found her too. She wouldn't let me give her to anyone so I went to the hospital with her," Peach explained standing near the sofa. "And then child services couldn't get her until who knows when and she would've just been in a foster home anyway so ... so I volunteered to let her stay here."

Carisi started at his girlfriend a slight smile on his face. "You have a good heart, BiBi. I can't be mad at you. And lucky for you, I know a thing or two about taking care of kids. What's her name?"

She smiled proudly, "Thank you, baby. So she's in good hands with us. Her name is Sasha. He's letting you stay, say yaaay, Sasha!"

Sasha giggled clapping her hands, "Yaaaaay!"

------

A week passed and Peach was finally close to finding Sasha's mother. Our at least she hoped. But it would be a lie to say she wasn't slightly dreading having to give the toddler up. In such a short amount of time Sasha had become a big part of Carisi and Peach's lives. They both looked forward to picking her up from Nick's mother together which helped them leave work at a reasonable time when doable.

Today was one of those days that Peach wasn't able to leave at 5pm so Carisi picked up their houseguest alone and got dinner ready while they waited. When Peach walked into their shared home, she smiled a little hearing their laughter and hurried to the living room. Carisi sat on the floor helping Sasha build with her Legos, smiles stretching across both of their faces.

"Now how come when I play Legos with her, she wants to destroy everything we build but with you, she's content with just building," Peach asked putting her purse on the end table.

Sasha giggled and waved to her. "Hey!"

Carisi laughed, "Because when the three of us play you're always tryna knock my stuff down. She thinks you like that and I don't."

Peach mimicked him getting down onto the floor with them. She kissed him then pushed over one of Carisi's buildings. "Yeah, yeah. Hey, Sasha! You had fun today?"

The toddler crawled over into Peach's lap and hugged her. "Yeah! Pway!"

"Oooh, you played? That's a good day, baby. Sonny being nice?"

Carisi watched the two of them, sneaking his phone from his pocket for a few pictures and videos. After a few minutes, Peach let her go back to playing so she could talk to her boyfriend.

"Soo," she started turning her attention to him.

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing bad. It's good actually," she shrugged. "I think I found her mom. She's been hiding from the traffickers. She escaped a few months ago."

"You think or you know you found her?"

"I'm 95% sure it's her, I'm gonna meet with her tomorrow just to be sure. She agreed to meet me in the morning at the dinner around the corner from the precinct."

Carisi watched his girlfriend's face. "And your sad that you're gonna have to give Sasha to her mom?"

She nodded looking briefly at the toddler. "I know I was gonna have to give her up eventually but it still sucks. I've gotten used to her."

"So have I but we'll adjust, I promise. And hey," he called out with a smile, "I'm more than sure Bella will let us keep our niece sometimes. How about that?"

Peach thought for a second then smiled, "Yeah ... yeah I'd like that. Thank you, baby."

#svu fic #law and order svu fic #carisi & peach #sonny carisi

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