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hopepetal · 11 months

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Part Five! Warning for brief, likely medically inaccurate, non-descriptive mentions of stitches.

Reblogs and comments are much appreciated! :)

@applestruda

“You can’t do something like that again.”

Grian looked up at Pearl, his hands pausing from their task of preening his wings. “Huh?”

Pearl set down her hairbrush, sighing heavily. “You know what I mean,” she began, “earlier today. With Impulse.” She leaned forward, narrowing her eyes. “You’re looking too deep and forgetting that, whatever is in there…” She gestured vaguely with her hairbrush. “...it’s not as important as Impulse is.”

“I just…” Grian grumbled softly, running his hands over his feathers, “I don’t know what to do, Pearl. I don’t even know what we’re going up against, other than it’s…”

“Wrong,” Pearl finished his sentence, nodding. “I know. I don’t really…” A yawn interrupted her, and she set aside her hairbrush. “I’m scared, Grian,” she admitted, leaning against him. “I don’t know what to do.”

Carefully wrapping his wing around her, Grian sighed. “I’m scared, too. But we have to do something, before whatever’s going on with Impulse gets really bad.”

The two sat in silence for a bit, taking comfort in each other’s company. In the space of silence, their thoughts had plenty of room to make noise.

What they knew was this: Impulse had been cursed. Or something of the sort. Whatever had been done to him was draining his life force, or at least had been. When it originally let up, Pearl and Grian had been skeptical but relieved. Given the burns on Impulse’s hand, they’d figured that he’d paid the price and let it go, but still remained wary.

But today…

“It must’ve come back,” Grian muttered, “or maybe it never really left.”

“It’s strong enough to almost completely cloak its presence,” Pearl added, “so there’s always a chance we try to do something about it and it just hides from us, and then we’re back at square one.” She let out a worried sound, her wings fluttering slightly. “What if this isn’t something we can fix, Grian?”

Grian reached out and gently took her hands in his own, rubbing his thumbs gently over the back of her hands. “Whatever it is, we’ll find a way. I promise you, everything will be alright.”

Pearl gave him a weary smile. “I’m gonna trust you on this one. Don’t let me down, now.”

Grian smiled back. “I won’t. It’s getting late,” he added after a moment, “and you look exhausted. We should get some rest and come back to this tomorrow.”

Pearl pulled away from Grian. “Yeah, you’re right. Try to get some sleep, at least.”

Grian stood, carefully stepping out of the tent before stretching his wings and folding them behind his back. “G’night, Pearl.”

She gave him a little wave goodbye. “Good night, Griba.”

Glancing up at the sky, Grian was relieved to see that it was mostly clear. The stars were bright, and that made him feel a little better. A small grin appeared on his face as he slowly walked over to his tent, thinking of the children’s story he’d grown up believing. That stars were actually the souls of courageous heroes, who died valiantly in battle. He didn't really believe it anymore, but it was a small comfort to the part of him that still made wishes when blowing dandelions.

He settled into his tent with a satisfied trill and took a moment to finish preening his wings, having only a small section left over from his chat with Pearl. Having already changed into his night clothes, it was just a few minutes before he was ready for bed.

Grian settled down on his stomach, spreading his wings out to either side of him until he was comfortable. Tucking an arm beneath his pillow, he shifted a couple times to find the perfect position before closing his eyes.

For once, his exhaustion bested his insomnia, and Grian fell into sleep.

–

The sun beat down on his skin as Grian held the body of his dearest friend close. Blood the same colour as his feathers coated his hands and the sand around them, and tears flowed in a constant stream down his sunburnt cheeks.

“I’m so sorry,” he keened, grief twisting his cries into a mournful birdsong, “oh Scar, I’m so sorry. It should’ve–” It should’ve been me.

He gently set his friend down, laying him to rest in the warm sand. Standing up, Grian extended his wings– broken, flightless, stained with the blood of his friends and enemies alike.

“One more life to go,” he murmured, and the voice of the sole survivor echoed across the land.

The flightless bird took one last desperate reach for the sky.

And Grian

fell.

–

Grian woke with a strangled gasp, the memories of a red desert already fading as he was struck with a feeling of danger like he had never felt before. And it wasn’t just danger– no, a feeling of pure bloodlust emanated from just outside the tent, someone was outside his tent, someone was in camp and wanted to kill him.

Grian instantly rolled out of bed, grabbing his dagger from the side table. Before whatever outside was given the chance to break in, he shot out of the tent and turned to face his would-be murderer head-on. His wings mantled themselves behind his back, feathers puffed up threateningly as he held the dagger out in front of him.

His eyes adjusted to the low light of the night, and Grian realized that he knew that silhouette.

Impulse stood in front of him, blinking away the red glow that had just been in his eyes, confused and slightly alarmed. “...Grian?” he asked, voice still groggy from what had been effectively a forced sleepwalking, “what are you…?”

“You’re not Impulse,” Grian hissed, his grip on the dagger tightening. “I saw you– I saw you!” His voice slowly rose from a whisper to a shout. “Let him go!”

Impulse took a few steps back, confused and now even more alarmed than before. “Grian, I don’t know what you’re talking about. I’m myself, I– I’m right here, just calm down…”

“I’m not going to calm down!” Grian snapped, his eyes fixated on where the red had lingered in Impulse’s eyes. He shifted back, preparing to strike. “I see you. I know you’re there.” He no longer saw Impulse– in his eyes, there was only whatever curse had befallen his friend. He knew one thing, and one thing only.

Grian had to get rid of the evil that had hidden itself deep in Impulse’s mind.

Time seemed to slow down. At the same time, it all happened so fast.

Pearl had sensed the initial bloodlust, though not as strong as it hadn’t been directed toward her, and woken up. Upon hearing the shouting, she– dazed and still half-asleep– had stumbled from her tent and realized exactly what was happening as Impulse scrambled back.

“You’re looking too deep and forgetting that, whatever is in there…”

Pearl ran towards the fight, shouting for Grian to stop, knowing he wouldn’t.

“...it’s not as important as Impulse is.”

She threw herself in front of Impulse, pushing him to the ground just in time for the blade to slice through her wing.

Pearl screamed.

A distant howl answered her cry, and the camp exploded into chaos.

Grian’s eyes snapped back into focus, and he dropped his dagger and staggered back. Horror shone on his face, especially when his gaze landed on Pearl’s damaged wing. Impulse shot up, eyes wide as he looked between Pearl and Grian, unsure of what to do and still terrified.

Scar burst out from the swaggon, his hair shining pure white and faint wings glowing behind him. “What’s happening?!” he called, stepping toward the gathered knights.

Mumbo stumbled out of his own tent, holding his rocket launcher and looking a bit taller than he had been before bed. His hair was clearly longer as well, and the way that the sprout on his head had shot up would’ve been comical had it not been for the situation.

Tilly burst into the camp, sprinting over to where Pearl was kneeling on the ground and pressing herself against Pearl’s side, whimpering softly. Pearl took in a sharp, shaky breath. “I’m alright, baby. I’m okay, Tilly girl.” She wrapped her arms around the dog’s neck, taking a moment to calm herself down.

“I don’t…” Grian cut himself off, shaking his head. “I… what was I doing, oh my gosh, what…” He stared at his hands as though he expected to see blood staining them red. “Pearl, Impulse, I’m so sorry.”

Impulse gave him a weak smile. “I don’t really know what happened either. One minute I was asleep, the next I was outside your tent. And then…”

Pearl slowly stood, glancing back at her wings and trying to extend them. While her uninjured one opened with ease, the other could only open slightly before sending sharp pain through her. “I think,” she started, trying to take deep breaths and keep her voice from shaking, “I think I’m going to need stitches.”

Grian looked absolutely devastated. “Pearl, I–”

She shook her head. “We’ll talk later. I’m going to need your help.”

Mumbo looked concerned, though he slowly lowered his rocket launcher. “Are you okay?” he asked, “I mean, uh, obviously not, but…”

Pearl gave him a reassuring smile. “I’ll be alright. Don’t think I’ll be able to fly for a little while, but it’ll heal. It was just an unfortunate accident.” She sighed. “You should all get back to bed. Grian, come with me.” She gave Tilly a soft pat and whispered something, and the dog padded away.

Slowly, everyone began to disperse, Scar’s hair regaining its colour and his wings fading away as he walked back to the swaggon. Mumbo seemed to realize that he had accidentally shapeshifted from the scare and changed himself back before disappearing into his tent. Impulse lingered a moment longer, his face unreadable but his body language giving away his anxiety.

“I’m sorry you got hurt, Pearl,” he said sincerely, “I’ll see you both tomorrow.” With that, he left, and the two were alone.

“Pearl–” Grian began, but she cut him off.

“Not here. Not now.” Pearl sounded… angry. Of course, she had every right to be, Grian was angry at himself, but still… oh, he hated when people were angry at him. It made him feel so small.

Nevertheless, Grian dutifully followed Pearl to her tent, where she went straight to a specific chest and pulled out her medical kit. “You know what to do?” she asked as she handed him the kit, but it wasn’t really a question.

Grian nodded, and Pearl carefully lit a lantern, putting it on a stable surface. She sat down, and Grian sat behind her, silently preparing the tools. “Aren’t you taking pain medicine?” he asked, his voice almost swallowed up by the silence.

Pearl shook her head. “After.”

“Doesn't it hurt?” Grian pressed as he finished preparing the tools and carefully prepping the injured area.

Pearl’s voice became slightly more strained. “About as much as you’d think it would,” she answered tersely, and Grian stopped talking.

He began to carefully stitch Pearl’s wing, falling into the repetitive motion after a moment. He wasn’t given long to sit in silence, as Pearl only waited a moment to get used to the feeling before speaking up.

“What happened?” she asked, and the anger in her voice made Grian wince.

“I… I’m sorry Pearl, I wasn’t–”

“Thinking?” she finished for him. “Yeah. You usually don’t.”

“Pearl, I…”

“What would've happened had you hurt Impulse and suddenly made whatever was happening to him worse? We don't know what he's going through. We don't know the full extent of what's happening. We can't act without thinking, Grian, especially when it's our friend's life on the line.” Pearl’s hands were shaking, and she clenched them into fists. “I told you. I told you that you couldn’t just laser focus on the curse. Even if you had managed to get it out of Impulse, what if that had hurt him? What if that killed him? What if the curse had jumped to you after you pulled it from Impulse? What if–?” And she had to stop here, to take in a breath. “What if you had died?”

Grian frowned. “Pearl, that won’t happen. I won’t let it–”

“We’re not invincible, Grian!” she cried, “tonight is a wonderful example of that, actually!” For a moment, there was silence. “We may be Watchers, but we can still bleed. We can still die. And even if we don’t, I…” She buried her face in her hands. “I’m sorry.” She slowly placed her hands back in her lap. “I’m still angry at you, though,” she added on. “What you did wasn’t okay. I know you’re hard headed and stubborn and you don’t think things through, but we can’t just solve every single problem with… enthusiastic violence.”

Grian nodded, before realizing she couldn’t see him. “Yeah. I… you’re right, Pearl. I really don’t… it was like all I could see was that thing, and it made me so angry and I just…” He took a moment to focus on the stitching before continuing. “I don’t have an excuse. I acted on instinct and I hurt you and I could’ve– it could’ve ended up so much worse, and I’m so, so sorry.” He had to bite back tears as he spoke, pausing in his stitches so he wouldn’t mess up because of crying. “I never meant to hurt anyone.”

The anger had faded from Pearl’s voice, though it still sounded a little strained from the pain she was in. “I know, Grian.” Most of all, she sounded tired. “I know.”

Grian finished up the stitches and carefully bandaged the area, before Pearl took a very generous dose of the pain medicine. He gave her a slightly concerned look, and she’d returned that with a deadpan stare.

“Has it been too long since your last wing injury?” she asked, raising an eyebrow, “have you forgotten how incredibly painful it is?”

Grian shook his head, holding his hands up. “No, ma’am,” he answered weakly, earning a small laugh from his sister. “No judgement here, none at all.”

Pearl carefully sorted her medical kit’s supplies before placing it back into the place it had been earlier. For a moment, both sat in silence again.

Grian started to stand. “I should probably head back to my tent…”

Pearl placed a hand on his arm, interrupting him. “Can you stay here instead?” she asked, a soft vulnerability hidden in the plea. “I just…”

Grian nodded, almost too eagerly, and sat back down. “No, I…” he trailed off. “...I think I need it too,” he admitted, his voice wavering slightly. “If you don’t mind.”

Pearl smiled– an exhausted, pained smile, but one of relief all the same– and pulled him into a hug. “Thank you,” she mumbled into his shoulder, and Grian hummed softly in response.

It took a few extra blankets and pillows for them both to get comfortable, but eventually the two siblings drifted off to sleep. Grian’s wing rested gently over Pearl, a comforting and protective gesture all at once.

Times would get difficult. Bonds would be tested, friendships would be strained. But no matter what, they would heal. Things would get better, and they would be stronger for it.

Pearl fell asleep, and dreamed of falling stars.

#my writing #boatem knights au #impulsesv #pearlescentmoon #grian #goodtimeswithscar #mumbo jumbo #hermitcraft fanfic

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plasticflwrs · 4 months

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★ ⠀⠀ ! ⠀⠀ DISCOGRAPHY — Under the cut, you will find an IN DEPTH look into the career of South Korea's favorite idol band, Plastic Flowers. Beginning in 2016, they would rebrand after failing to make a profit in 2017 and find true success with TEETH in 2020, just a few months before their 16 month hiatus would begin. In 2022, they came back stronger than ever with I'M ALIVE and have consistently topped the music charts since. They are known for their promotional style which revolves around a spring and fall release each other, amounting to about 16 releases across singles, minis, their three full studio albums. Despite their constant stream of releases, the quality never suffers despite being completely self-produced since all five members are now involved in the writing process.

★ ⠀⠀ ! ⠀⠀ TRIGGER WARNINGS — Death of a parent, descriptive mention of eating disorders + treatment ( 2021 section ). If this piece is too triggering, please DM and I can give you a summary of what happens!

★ ⠀⠀ ! ⠀⠀ THE YEAR IS ... 2016 !

Compared to their underground counterparts, idol bands have been relatively successful in the past as seen with FNC's trio of FT Island, CNBLUE, and N.Flying along with JYP's newest venture, Day6. However, Plastic Flowers would fall under the radar due to the influx of third generation groups debuting between 2014 and 2016 with all three of the major companies debuting at least one new group during that time. Plastic Flowers would debut as four members with SALEM, DAL, JIHUN, and GWYN on May 15, 2016 with the lead single SCARED from their single album LET ME GO. While the two songs were praised by music critics, it failed to reach the general public. Along with their other single album, it would sell 46 copies total within the year and has never been reprinted. Original copies of the album are priced very high on second-hand selling websites and no "real fans" currently own a copy. LET ME GO and MENTALISM were even taken off of all major streaming platforms until fans demanded for it's return in 2022.

MV VIEWS: 1.2 million.

MUSIC SHOW NOMINATIONS. 0.

MUSIC SHOW WINS. 0

In their debut, Plastic Flowers explores themes of fear and insecurity through the song SCARED. The lyrics suggest hesitant to approach someone and an inability to express oneself freely, with most fans interpreting this to relate to Salem's original group THE BIG GLOOM, which she left the year prior. The phrase why are you scared? repeats throughout the song and highlights a sense of frustration with the fear and reluctance in their relationship, despite attempts to change. The narrator yearns for reassurance and validation, seeking comfort in the hope that their fears and uncertainties will fade away.

This line-up would release their second and final single album MENTALISM in November of 2016 with the title track MOUSE. This would be a continuation of their previous release, in terms of themes and inability to perform well on music charts. Though Mouse is beloved by fans now, it made no noise in 2016 and remains their worst performing single of all time, selling even worse than their debut single. Mentalism marked their first attempts at performing at small venues like bars and other restaurants, however, due to Oliver's age, they were often denied by the promotional teams. They would return to busking and posting covers in hopes of gaining more fans. At the end of 2016, it was announced by Superbloom Media would be placed on INDEFINITE HIATUS as they evaluated where to go forward. DAL and JIHUN would leave not long after, moving to larger companies and debuting in traditional idol groups instead.

MV VIEWS: 3.9 million.

MUSIC SHOW NOMINATIONS. 0.

MUSIC SHOW WINS. 0.

In 2024, MOUSE is often compared to their later b-side BRAND NEW CITY from their 2023 album OHIO IMPROMPTU. Both discuss the sense of dread from being in one's prime and dreading what comes later. Mouse is described as what happens after the narrator of Brand New City moves and realizes that they need to find a way to survive, that simply moving was not enough to change their feelings and create happiness. The narrator vows to "find love / and find a way to survive here", giving them a new sense of hope for the remaining time that they have and will move on from the silence.

★ ⠀⠀ ! ⠀⠀ THE YEAR IS ... 2017 !

In September 2017, Plastic Flowers would return with an almost completely new lineup composed of SALEM, JUNYEONG, MINGHUI, SERIN, and OLIVER. Oliver would drop his initial stage name, Gwyn, during this rebrand for an unknown reason, though he still uses it to produce for other groups. They would release ROCKSTAR from the album SOCIAL REJECTS to limited success. They would sell 99 copies of their third single album, doubling the previous records set by LET ME GO and MENTALISM. Superbloom Media would also shift their promotional style in favor of the more traditional idol route, getting them performances on Music Bank and The Show for three weeks.

MV VIEWS: 3.4 million.

MUSIC SHOW NOMINATIONS. 0.

MUSIC SHOW WINS. 0.

ROCKSTAR moves away from their traditional melancholic sound for more critiques of the social landscape. Rockstar explores themes of frustration and defiance in the face of judgement and control from others. They are seen as a suspect, watched closely, and labeled as a hopeless murder by those around them. Similar to their other tracks, this is believed to have been written after the conflict with The Big Gloom and is Salem's take on it. Those around the narrator continuously reject and oppose them, leading to a growing sense of resentment with the world around them. The chorus emphasizes the narrator's resolve to stay true to themselves because they believe they are doing nothing wrong. This song would be revisited in 2024 and a re-recording with new pianist Oh Deurim would be included in their third studio album RUTHLESS ROCKSTARS as a b-side.

With a small but mighty fanbase under their belt, Plastic Flowers would return in December 2017 with their first mini-album NORTH STAR, which had five songs including the title track FREEDOM. This release would double their catalogue and allow for slow growth across the next few years. THE BIG GLOOM, composed of the four original members, would also release their newest album over Soundcloud that same day, leading to tensions amongst new and old fans as the debate of what Salem should have done returned. Rather than alienating the old fans, they went back to their old sound to prove that nothing has changed and Plastic Flowers will only be a better version of her previous band. NORTH STAR was promoted similarly to their previous single album with performances on all major South Korean music shows and even an appearance on The After School Club to connect with international fans.

MV VIEWS: 6.7 million.

MUSIC SHOW NOMINATIONS. 0.

MUSIC SHOW WINS. 0

FREEDOM returns to their original sound with the themes of liberation and desire to break from societal constraints from ROCKSTAR still following them. Freedom opens with lyrics expressing uncertainty about what to sing about, overwhelmed by the abundance of refrain in the world and emphasizes their understanding of the path that they have chosen. The narrator proclaims that they have finally found their own way and the metaphor of cutting the moon and devouring the night suggests a rebellious mindset, choosing to defy expectations and live freely. Freedom encourages fans to let go of the norm and find their own path, breaking from societal expectations for their own happiness.

★ ⠀⠀ ! ⠀⠀ THE YEAR IS ... 2018 !

2018 would cement Superbloom's promotional style for Plastic Flowers as they release an album in the spring and fall, the seasons in which they have found the band to be most popular in. The first release of 2018 was HIGHER & HIGHER, their second mini-album with the lead single LET'S GET LOST. This release continued their momentum forward and there was nothing out of the ordinary during this era. They were slowly being included in more variety shows, as seen by their joint appearance with Day6 on Weekly Idol and their first invitations to a major award show with the Golden Disc Awards and Seoul Music Awards. They were not nominated or even performed, but their photos from the red carpet got people talking about the unknown group.

MV VIEWS: 5.7 million.

MUSIC SHOW NOMINATIONS. 0.

MUSIC SHOW WINS. 0

By now, Plastic Flowers had also shown what their lyrical concept would be as they created another song about escaping hardships of life and embarking on a journey of self-discovery. The narrator has a desire to let go of the past and leave behind anything that feels uncertain in LET'S GET LOST. The verses encourages themselves and their companions to leave behind their negative experiences as they "open the curtains" and lock the door behind them. Later lines capture the excitement of encountering new experiences and embracing the unknown, showing their growth away from the past that seemed to follow them and rising above.

LOVE ME? would be the last Plastic Flowers album fully written and produced solely by SALEM and Superbloom's in-house production team. All of the members were growing interested in producing their own music, especially the two youngest members—Serin and Oliver. They had submitted drafts to Superbloom for Love Me?, however they were not chosen. Interviews this era were a bit tense because of this and Salem wanting to keep her creative control over the group. Superbloom would also give Plastic Flowers their first reality show, FLOWER SHOWERS, which followed them around and tried to show fans the "real" members.

MV VIEWS: 6.3 million.

MUSIC SHOW NOMINATIONS. 0.

MUSIC SHOW WINS. 0

TWENTY-ONE revolves around the themes of heartbreak, disappointment, and the realization that a once-special relationship has come to an end. The lyrics depict the emotions of someone who believed their relationship was unique and meaningful, only to discover that their partner does not feel the same. This is famously thought to be about former bandmate YING SHUHANG, more commonly known by his stage name IRUM. Throughout high school and much of their career together, they dated and broke up around the same time Salem left to join Superbloom Media. Through this song, she is coming to terms with the relationship being over after asking "why don't you adore me?" over and over again. She uses the concept of sleep and going to be bed to bury the past and move on from the relationship, showing that she would be ready to move on once she wakes up.

★ ⠀⠀ ! ⠀⠀ THE YEAR IS ... 2019 !

Plastic Flowers would release HYPOCREEP in March 2019, right before OLIVER was set to appear on the new survival talent competition show SUPERBAND, produced by JTBC. Despite the sound change, Hypocreep was met with positive reaction from fans and is their first mini-album to sell over 1,000 copies in the first month. It is often seen as a turning point for the band as their releases following would follow a similar sound and is the first song to credit another band member besides Salem, that being OLIVER. This would be the first of a long partnership between the two that would eventually fizzle out during their 2022 hiatus. Hypocreep is also one of the most popular songs for other idols and bands to cover given the technical requirements of each instrument.

MV VIEWS: 7.4 million.

MUSIC SHOW NOMINATIONS. 0.

MUSIC SHOW WINS. 0

HYPOCREEP expresses frustration towards people who are hypocritical and fake, particularly those who are thirsty for drama and attention on the internet. The singer identifies as a "hypocreep," which is a term they use to describe themselves as a different breed of person who is hyper and freaky. The singer acknowledges that they may be seen as strange or abnormal to others, but they do not care because those same people secretly wish they could be like the singer.

While Hypocreep opened the door for other members writing, THE CHAIN would be the first time another member would sing on a Plastic Flowers track. The Chain is a duet between Salem and Oliver and would mark the beginning for a lead singer change. It was under the direction of Kim Yuchan, a first generation soloist, and he advised the change since Oliver was well liked by the general public after Superband. THE CHAIN still remains a fan favorite song and would give the band their first award show nomination on Show! Music Core, much to the band's surprise. Most of the members recall this era as the first time they actually felt loved by the audience and could see people singing along.

MV VIEWS: 10.2 million.

MUSIC SHOW NOMINATIONS. 1.

MUSIC SHOW WINS. 0

The main message of THE CHAIN is that relationships can be enduring, even if they have difficulties. The first verse describes the struggles of having a relationship and feeling powerless to their partner's actions. They discuss the idea that a love can endure even in these moments of darkness, as the lover is trying to tell the other that they would never break the chain that binds them together. There is a strong guitar and bass solo--played by SALEM and OLIVER--that represents the strong connection between them that won't be broken so easily. The end is a plea to stay together, to keep the chain together, and not run into the shadows away from each other.

★ ⠀⠀ ! ⠀⠀ THE YEAR IS ... 2020 !

Fans of Plastic Flowers fall into two camps for their 2020 releases: either loving it or hating everything it stands for. Due to it's "inappropriate lyrics" FOR YOUR LOVE was banned by all the major South Korean music shows and would be promoted in a series of live concerts instead. They would instead promote READY TO FLY as their title track for this era, saving the performances of For Your Love for their smaller performances. Not long after the conclusion of For Your Love's promotions, Superbloom Media would confirm SALEM and OLIVER's relationhip, which had begun at the end of the year prior. This would be another reason why people did not like the song as it showed their relationship was taking away from making songs about important topics, not just each other.

MV VIEWS: 29.2 million.

MUSIC SHOW NOMINATIONS. Banned.

MUSIC SHOW WINS. Banned.

FOR YOUR LOVE talks about the desire to please and satisfy someone in a romantic relationship. The lyrics in the verses describe the singer's intent to be the first thing on the person's mind and engage in sexual activity with them. The chorus reinforces the theme of doing anything for the person they love. The bridge highlights the singer's willingness to give everything they have to their partner and the importance of communication in the relationship. The outro repeats the sentiment that the singer is willing to do anything for their partner's love.

TEETH, and it's accompanying album LOVESICKNESS, continues with the themes from FOR YOUR LOVE. Unlike the previous song, it was actually allowed on music shows and was loved by their fanbase for the aesthetics that came with it. Due to the show going semi-viral on TWITTER thanks to a tweet by a poppy asking "what business Plastic Flowers had releasing" the song, LOVESICKNESS sold over 10,000 copies by the end of the year. This would also be the final time they were promote prior to their 16 month hiatus, making it special to their fans. Teeth would later become a sleeper hit by going viral once again and entering the top 10 on the Circle Chart after being used on an OST.

MV VIEWS: 229.6 million.

MUSIC SHOW NOMINATIONS. 3.

MUSIC SHOW WINS. 0

The major themes of TEETH relate to toxic and tumultuous relationships, with the lyrics depicting the ups and downs of being someone that can be both loving and hurtful. Written completely by OLIVER, many fans have begun to debate the real meaning of the song as it relates to his former relationship with Salem. In TEETH, the protagonist realizes that the person they are with is full of contradictions as they compare their lover to a pair of teeth. The lover's heart is described as having teeth, meaning that while they may talk sweetly, they can also hurt and bite. The relationship is very complicated, in which both parties are hurting each other but can't let go with the narrator realizing that they are losing themself by the end of the song and maybe even the relationship.

★ ⠀⠀ ! ⠀⠀ THE YEAR IS ... 2021 !

The GOODNIGHT era was spent dreading what would come next for Plastic Flowers. It was obvious that the members were losing steam as shown by their smaller performances and the constant cancellation of their performances at their bar, Cheeky's. The release of 403 only made that worse as they went back to the melancholic sound and promotions outside of music shows were cut short. In fear of losing the band, Poppies made sure that it sold well, achieving a record-breaking 14,000 copies in the first month alone and securing them more music show nominations. However, it seemed that nothing they were doing was enough as Plastic Flowers slowly slipped away from the public eye.

MV VIEWS: 122.9 million.

MUSIC SHOW NOMINATIONS. 3.

MUSIC SHOW WINS. 0

403 focuses on liberation and moving forward from a difficult past. In the verses, detachment and release from pain and regret is encouraged alongside the image of taking off one's shoes and lying on the floor as an escape. The narrator wants the listener to forget about the past and focus on the possibilities of the future, becoming an active participant in their life rather than remaining passive. There is a reoccurring theme of breaking free as shown through the lyrics "get up in the morning" and "get out of deception", indicating the need to rise above negative situations and leave them behind. It suggests that nothing valuable can be obtained by staying where they are currently and encourages them to let go and move on.

Despite GOODNIGHT selling well, Plastic Flowers were put on an unofficial hiatus two months after it's initial release. Superbloom would be intentionally vague about the details behind the scenes to keep everything under wraps, however, sasaengs exposed the truth. Not only were they on hiatus to "fight burnout", but Oliver had returned to his hometown of Boston after the death of his father and Jiyeon had been checked into an eating disorder treatment by their manager, Cheon Garam. During this time, Salem and Oliver would also BREAK UP, creating a new tension within the band. The band's social media—both company owned and personal—would go completely dormant from March 2021 to April 2022, leaving many to believe that the group would never return and would be lost just before they achieved stardom.

★ ⠀⠀ ! ⠀⠀ THE YEAR IS ... 2022 !

Just when most fans began to lose hope for Plastic Flowers to comeback, Superbloom did the unthinkable: dropping a new set of teasers for a full album called INTERNET BLUES. During this time, it was also revealed that MINGHUI had left the band and was replaced by Timefighter contestant OH DEURIM, who had failed to make it into the debut line-up by one place. According to Minghui, he left on good terms with the members but could no longer handle the idol life anymore. Despite how protective poppies are, they surprisingly welcomed Deurim with open arms and wanted to see what she could bring to the table. INTERNET BLUES would be released on May 5, 2022 with the title track I'M ALIVE, which secured them their FIRST WIN and first NOMINATION at a major award show after selling 100,000 copies.

MV VIEWS: 392.9 million.

MUSIC SHOW NOMINATIONS. 8.

MUSIC SHOW WINS. 2.

I'M ALIVE is an uplifting song that talks about the feeling of overcoming challenges and persevering through tough times. They promise that even in the midst of uncertainty and darkness, the singer declares that they will keep themselves alive. The chorus serves as a mantra of sorts as the singer repeatedly affirms that they are alive and won't give up. The idea of "highlight" suggests that even in the bleakest moments of life, one can find something beautiful to hold onto. The bridge encourages listeners to keep searching, keep breathing, and keep alive. It's a call to action to hold onto life and never give up.

Plastic Flowers would return to their original promotional schedule with the release of PSYCHO, the title track for their first studio album, CALL ME CRAZY that November. The studio album was celebrated by all fans as it finally meant that Plastic Flowers were confirming that they were here to stay despite their earlier issues. The members looked so much more alive this era and they even held their first FAN SIGN, which went as well as expected. The members had fun with their fans, but hated the constant requests for cuteness or prying into their personal relationships. They would hold their own formal CONCERT, with over three thousand people in attendance.

MV VIEWS: 323.4 million.

MUSIC SHOW NOMINATIONS. 9.

MUSIC SHOW WINS. 3.

PSYCHO explores themes of obsession and dependency in a relationship. The lyrics depict a protagonist who is deeply infatuated with someone to the point of being obsessed, as represented by the repeated phrase "I can't stop thinking about you." The protagonist seeks answers and validation from a doctor, indicating a desperation for a solution to their intense emotions. They recognize their own exaggerated behavior, acknowledging that they may appear crazy or "psycho" to others. The chorus reinforces the protagonist's obsession, stating that they cannot live a day without thinking about this person. It conveys a sense of dependency and the idea that the protagonist's life revolves entirely around the object of their affection.

★ ⠀⠀ ! ⠀⠀ THE YEAR IS ... 2023 !

Coming into 2023, Poppies were promised many exciting things from the band. In March, Oliver's solo BURNOUT SYNDROME with the lead single STARTING LINE would be released to overwhelming success, cementing his popularity with the general public and showing everyone that he was here to stay. Though fans were happy for him, the same could not be said for his bandmates as SALEM and JUNYEONG began a smear campaign that lasted throughout the entire promotional period. Oliver would ignore any questions about the situation and chose to move on from it instead, celebrating his own achievements rather than focusing on those around him. In June, the band would come back as five to release LOVE AND WAR with the lead single of the same name, which became their best selling record at that point at just under 1 million copies.

MV VIEWS: 748.3 million.

MUSIC SHOW NOMINATIONS. 10.

MUSIC SHOW WINS. 7.

WAR tells the story of a broken relationship, in which the narrator realizes there isn't much to save if they cannot stop fighting. They are beginning to realize there isn't much to save and they have lost their love for each other, leading towards a state of emptiness or insignificance. The song's title WAR comes from the lyric "war of attrition without benefit", highlight that this war between the lovers is doing nothing to help with their current problems. The narrator wants to call a ceasefire, but it seems that their relationship's end if inevitable. Written by Oliver, many fans believe that this song was written about the end of his relationship with Salem, which has never been confirmed or denied by Oliver or Superbloom Media.

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blueparadis · 2 years

Text

▏spaces in between ▏s.kiyoomi ▏

CWs— bodyguard au , fwb tropes, female anatomy, smut, she/her pronouns, mutual masturbation, branding, cunnilingus, dub-con, orals. word count — 1.1k

precis — your brother, Hanma Shuji recruits a watch dog for you when you're back in town after years.

NOTES — this is for @luvbladez ’s all suited up collab and sizzling sextember self collab event.

+ links section + tags— @kentoangel

The weather was warm and the sunlight was bearable today. Clouds seem to be a little playful today since you were bestowed with shade every now and then. You could have booked a cab, but it is just a five-minute walk from your brother's home to the office.

The moment you stepped into the huge building a tall, well-built stature blocked your way. Looking up, you noticed a boy with wide-almond eyes with two flawlessly symmetrical moles on the side right side of his forehead.

A new face. The last time when you visited there was a different bodyguard. You secretly thanked Shuji for choosing such a handsome face this time. His hair was gelled back yet you could tell he had curly hair since those thin curled hair near his descending hairline was evident.

“Ma’am, could you please step aside?”

Of course, how would he know that you're the sister of CEO of the company, Hanma Shuji’s sister? You parted your red lips yet hesitated to speak. What if he doesn't come to know? What if you were just a mere visitor? Wouldn't that be fun?

“Raise your hands, ma'am.”, he barked and it suggested that he was getting impatient.

“Like this.”, you mumbled almost curling your arms around his broad shoulders. It was indeed a great choice that you decided to wear his. You thought he would inform the security of your misbehavior but he didn't.

He inspected you. The device roamed all over your body barely grazing your skin. There was flickering eye contact when he was done.

“There you are.”, and you immediately recoiled back recognizing Shuji’s voice. “Why do I bother buying you a phone if you do not use it?” The urge to have a glance at that boy was tempting but Hanma would deduce all of your mischievous ploy.

Hanma swings his hand pointing toward the man behind you. “Meet him. Sakusa Kiyoomi. He is your bodyguard as long as you plan to stay here”,

“Wait, so you did not fire your bodyguard?”

“UH-AH!”, Hanma nods his head sideways. “Secretary with special skills, y/n”, you rolled your eyes at his response. Wait, does that mean he knew me already? And played along with me?

As the realization hit you, you turned around to look at him, finding nothing but a slight curve at the corner of his lips. Fuck. Sakusa enjoyed it. In his whole career, no one has dared to pull that kind of stunt before. He is hired more for females rather than males. It is his clean reputation of not having any record of misbehavior or affair. He works for short tenures but yours was a rare case.

It has been more than a year since you visited your brother. Everything has changed so drastically that without Sakusa you had trouble knowing the city lanes. Well, you were always accompanied by Hanma but he can’t tuck you in his pocket everywhere he goes. He has a job to do, a company to run.

Sakusa was flawless. Punctual. Neat and handsome. When you read his file you were taken aback by his clean career like a brand new slate, with no stroke of any kind of chalky behavior. But his silence, his obedience was becoming quite annoying and so you tried to stir this awful pool of silence by a pebble of thought.

You ran your hands through the row of floral dresses murmuring, “Did you tell your boss about that day?” At first, there was a silence that made you cock your head at him.

“About what day?”, he quipped as soon as you looked at him. You parted your lips to speak but were halted by his stares. He eyed you up and down. Clearing your throat you mentioned that he has a clean reputation, why bother tainting it?

There was a party to be held this evening for various kinds of donations. Actually, it is just an occasion to make bonds with other business tycoons and to keep up the lustrous reputation of the company. You did not want to go, you wanted to enjoy long rides alone but your brother reserved a bodyguard for you. He was no less than a bounty hunter.

“My previous Bodyguard was a lot more fun. He used to take me anywhere I wanted to go, anytime I wanted to go”, that was enough. Sakusa was a cocooned man but you sure knew which string to pull to have him unwrapped, naked. He quickly pulled over and before you could protest he was already beside you holding your wrists firmly, “What do you want princess?”

Your eyes flashed from his dreamy dark pitch pupils that shone in hope to his perfectly moistened lips. Nothing needed to be told anymore. You were already on his web of charms before you knew it.

The shrill cry of cicadas was getting louder and louder as Sakusa’s lips ghosted over yours. Your mind feels all mushy when he rubbed your feminity in circles sloppily. It was getting so warm inside the car that it was getting hard to breathe.

He would not stop exploring your skin with his lips making you moan so roughly. Sometimes he bit too hard yet your sharp winces did not stop him from getting a taste of your blood.

“I’m going to be late Sakusa”, you moaned as he slides two fingers in.

“You should have thought before saying such things to me.” He quickens his pace abusing your puffy pussy lips with his long hefty fingers.

“You see, I'm a very jealous person” Now, that was something you could play with. He could feel your cum on his palm yet he continued.

While he continued his ministrations, you quickly unbuckled his belt having his cock in the display. “Fuck”, Sakusa uttered as you started to pump his cock. You were already soaking wet but giving him a hand job accelerated you enough to have you beg him.

“Do you have a condom?”, you asked but he was too drowned in his high. He was close since he was rubbing your clit so very roughly that felt his fingers so deep inside your femininity. “Ah noh!”, he managed to reply before his breathing shrugged, head thrown back having his cum all over your satin red dress.

He leaned against the car window. You sat having your legs hanging while he asked. “Should I stop by a shop? You could grab a dress and I could grab some condoms?”, breathing still ragged as he put his huge cock under his trousers and zipped it. He smirked noticing your eyes shift from his cock to him.

You looked at him blowing a kiss in his direction making him palm his face and chuckle merrily that reverberated in his ribcage so melodiously that you want to kiss him, tickle him till he grins again.

—

@tokyometronetwork

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justafairytailofinnocence · 1 month

Text

Modern Thranduil x anxious reader

Caged birds with broken wings

Chapter 1:

A Dance with tardiness

Synopsis: An antisocial, anxious writer in her early 20s attends a ballet class under the teachings of a mysterious, reserved, austere dance instructor. They form an unlikely within their solace and past.

Warnings: mentions of blood

Chapter 2

A/n: This fanfic doesn't follow along the lines of the hobbit but rather a loosely spin-off au that only uses some characters. I do not own the right to them as they are Tolkien's characters and I respect his creation. (even if the characters might be ooc). Feel free to comment, reblog and like. Let me know if you'd like a chapter 2.

I tended to daydream often, more so when I listened to the music. The tune and tone of the song that played one after the other sent me to the realms I immersed; typically, anyone would daydream into another realm far better than their own: a princess, pirate, elf, fae—anything. My imagination is my realm of comfort, a sealed bubble that I can freely roam however I wish. Unfortunately, within fantasy, we must face reality. Within my reality, I’m not much of an importance, at least not one to have a whole written memoir about. I’m more of one of those faces you’d pass by in the street or grocery store, not giving any second thought to. Though I’d prefer it that way, I’m not much of a talker but rather a writer; I’m more fluent in my words than my speaking. Every attempt I’ve made, I’ve stumbled or become still; my chest would rise heavily and lower deeply. I always asked how people can do it, how they can speak—talk—communicate like it’s a piece of cake. I’d rather shroud myself in my isolation than speak to another living being.

At my desk, in my somewhat clean apartment, I was planning my next latest story in a saga of 3 books. So far, I’ve managed to get in contact with a publishing company via email who were willing to get behind the idea of a feature-length young-adult romance novel, a romance novel about a pirate king and a fae queen. The first chapter was still relatively underdeveloped, yet I’m willing to spend an entire day finishing it. I had only five months to publish the entire chapters. I’ve been a fantasy fan ever since I was a child. To me, fantasy is what the word impossible turned into possible. For ten years, I’ve been writing, and never once has it stripped me of what I truly adore.

Whilst my fingers pressed against the keys on my keyboard, I received a text message on my phone from the side of my desk surrounded by papers. It was from my mom, who was wondering about my well-being. As always, I respond with the usual ‘everything’s going well—I’m pumping out new chapters for my new novel, ‘A Puncture in Time’, you know—the one with pirates and fantasy, new chapters soon to come ;)’. Even though she’s smart enough to see through my little façade, she writes back, ‘Hey listen, I know it’s hard right now, but I can assure you, things will get better; it just takes practice; I know you’ll meet someone you’ll find it easy to talk to’. I sighed heavily; within her words, I have faith, yet doubt. Should I choose to believe her, bite the bullet and try to speak up or wallow in a lie that can send her mind at ease? Before I wrote back, she sent a post with a link. I furrowed my brows as curiosity swelled my thoughts, my finger tapped the link. It was an ad. An ad for ballet classes. I thought it odd why she would send me something like this: I’m no dancer; I’m certainly no ballerina.

I replied with a question mark ‘?’.

A message bubble popped up: ‘…’ I awaited her reply.

As she was still typing, I took the liberty of glancing through the ad quickly. The tab loaded with a cursive font in bold ‘Les danseuses se réjouissent’. Scrolling past the stock images of ballet dancers, I came across a small section of different levels offered: beginner, Intermediate, and advanced. My mind raced with doubt; I had no experience in ballet, at least not since I was a young child. I wondered to myself, ‘Do I really want to take this? After all, I’m not exactly one for groups’. However, my mind was put at ease when my eyes came across an option for ‘one-on-one private lessons’. At least, I wouldn’t be with people who were far more experienced—let alone a group; the thought of many eyes staring at me—would have my heart sink. As I clicked the option, I was astounded; there were no reviews, pictures, or even a description of the instructor. I was sceptical. Surely, if you were to teach a class, you’d have at least a brief introduction of yourself. Even as an author, I have a concise introduction in my publications. I lightly sighed, weighing my options; on the one hand, it’ll please my mom, get me out of the apartment, and keep me fit; on the other hand, despite being private, I’m meeting someone I don’t know. Who knows what this person’s intention is, even if it’s for a class.

Finally, I heard a ‘ding’ as she replied, ‘Please try, at least for me; it’ll be good for your health, and you once mentioned you wanted to be a ballerina. I know the world isn’t always what we want it to be, but I know you can make it shine; I’ve seen it in your novels; give this a chance, give them a chance, to show them how you can shine, because I know you’ll be the brightest star there :).’

My eyes softened as I read every word; I couldn’t deny she had a way of getting through to me. She was always a caring woman, along with my dad. They were the only two people I could speak to without pressure or the weight in my chest.

I pressed back onto the tab with the private lessons. I clicked to see the booking dates—there’s an option to book for tomorrow, and the price is only $45 per lesson. For the price, it wasn’t too bad; yet still expensive. I filled in the details required to send the booking through, yet my finger hovered as I was about to press ‘confirm’. My mind came to a tussle of thoughts and hesitations; this would be the first time, in a long time, that I would speak face-to-face with an actual living being. However, I recalled Mom's words, ‘Because I know you’ll be the brightest star there’.

Breathing in—I pushed it, I pressed confirm.

I did it. I’m going to attend a ballet class. My head slowly lowers onto my desk, surrounded by papers. My hair dangled over my forehead. The adrenaline that reached the height of my mentality came crashing down. It’s like going on a rollercoaster you didn’t ask for, coming from the highest point of the rail down to the pit below. I start to feel light-headed. I want to sleep. I want to stay here. Perhaps I’ve made a mistake. What if this doesn’t work out?

I rose slowly from my desk chair, picked up my phone, and texted, ‘I’ve booked lessons for tomorrow…I hope you're right about this.’

I watched as once more, awaiting her response, ‘…’

‘Oh, I’m so happy, you’ll fit right in, I know it :)’ she texted.

I didn’t respond. She’s pleased, at least.

I decided to call it a night; I’ve had enough pressure for one day. I logged off, cleaned the papers on my desk, pushed them into a neat-ish pile and headed to the bathroom to shower. As I opened the door, I went inside to set down my pyjamas by the medium-small bathtub’s acrylic side rim. My bathroom isn’t big exactly, but neither is it small. It’s moderate for what it was: a bathtub, shower, toilet, sink, and a medium-sized mirror in the same room. It’s not precisely palace material, but it helps soothe my thoughts. I held my hand out as I turned on the shower, feeling the trickling water against my skin. The temperature quickly changed from cold to warm in just five seconds. Once I was satisfied, I stripped bare, sliding my long-sleeved green shirt off and sliding my darker tracksuit pants. I tossed my unmentionables inside the bathtub. I stepped inside the shower, allowing the warm water to run freely down my skin. I shut the shower enough to have a slit entrance still. I grabbed the soap, rubbing it over my skin, arms, legs, and body. I splashed water on my face as the water rinsed the suds away. I hovered my hands in my eyesight, glancing closer at my fingers. I could see the redness and patches from where I’d picked my skin; it’s a habit I developed since childhood. The habit would annoy Mom, often whispering or saying straight, “Stop picking”, even touching my hand to remind me. Unfortunately, this habit hasn’t subsided; I sometimes even look at my skin with little care, picking the cuticles or rough patches.

Once I finished scrubbing my body with soap, I turned off the water and opened the shower door to step onto the bathmat. I grabbed a towel from the single towel rack located beside the shower. I dried my body, running the towel over my skin. As I wrapped the towel around my body, I glanced at my face in the mirror above the sink. They say eyes are the most expressive in emotion. My narrowed, pinkish lips thinned.

I snapped out of my gaze, continuing to slip on my long blue pants decorated in owl prints, then, the next, a long-sleeve top with the basic purple on them topped with a giant owl embroidered in the front area. Owls have always resonated with me, whether it's their symbolism or captivating beauty. I placed the towel on the side of the bathtub’s rim. I picked up my previous clothes and took it into my bedroom. My bedroom was also medium sized, having a queen-sized bed and an oaken cupboard with a mirrored wardrobe. My room was decorated with tiny figurines I’d collect overtime, albeit from movies I’ve fancied or books. I placed the clothes in my hamper basket behind my door. My body relaxed when my eyes lingered toward my bed, the messy, deep blue sheets draped to the left side. I dismissed the thought of tucking them in for the time being, only plonking myself onto the mattress and wrapping myself within the single cotton sheets and doona drifting off.

Dreaming is the easy part, letting what visions came to my mind run wild. Sometimes, it’s suitable for inspiration, but other times, it's nightmares. The imagination is still enchanting, although, this time, it was peculiar. I was in a birdcage decorated with gold; the entrance was bolted shut; my hands gripped the golden rods holding the cage together. I tried to scream but to no avail. I tried to shake the cage, yet I was too small to provoke movement. My body lowered, feeling the coldness of the metal plate below. I had nothing but rosy ribbon pointe shoes. I suddenly felt myself, in no control, rise as though my limbs were attached to strings. I started to dance, my arms and legs stretching to fit the perfect movements. Eventually, I stopped mid-movement, standing on one leg while extending the other behind. I couldn’t move; I was frozen in place. I could do nothing but shut my eyes.

Suddenly, I woke up; my eyes fluttered open from the confusion I had just endured. Rising from the bed, I pondered for a few seconds. ‘What on earth did I dream about?’. My hands pressed against my face, trying to comprehend my dream and reality. I pulled the sheets off me and got up for the morning. A typical morning for me results in the usual routine: dressing, brushing my teeth and hair, and then looking forward to what the day offers me. Until I remembered that I had booked that class. I typically picked out green tracksuit pants with a white singlet, hoping that would suffice. I picked up my purse and headed out the door to my car. I entered inside, placing my purse in the front seat as I turned on the white car. I noticed outside that it started to snow. Snow is beautiful, especially the little snowflakes that fall into your hand and dissolve upon touch.

As the car started, I prepared to drive to wherever it was that awaited me. The location was further from where I lived; it must’ve been at least twenty-eight minutes. The drive wasn’t particularly bothersome for me; when you live in New York, you get used to the traffic.

As I drove, the snowflakes emerged in more significant numbers. Eventually, I found parking just next to the side of a café. I wasn’t aware if it was for the staff or guests. However, it seemed empty with only a few cars, so—if I get called out on it, I’ll move my car. No one seemed to notice, so I assumed I was okay. I grabbed my black parker from the back and zipped it up. Exiting the car, I stopped to admire the snow falling for a few seconds. It was January 4th, so the snow season was still here. My hands shoved in my pockets, beginning to wander toward where I needed to be. According to the ad, it was building ‘52’; it was vague, I know, but it was the details given. I trudged through the snow, seeing building after building, until I came across something with the number ‘52’, where I needed to be. My hand gripped the gold-looking handle attached to the glass door. As I entered, I came upon a staircase; I took one step after the other. I quickly glanced at the ad to see what floor it was on, yet to no avail. Was it the ‘4th floor? Oh god, oh god, please don’t resort to me asking someone. My fingers started to twitch; I raised one of my fingertips to my lips, feeling the rough patches. My thumb started scraping off the first layer, and small blood trickles formed. I ran my fingers over my lips again as I trailed up the stairs. I could feel my chest becoming heavier, my mind swell with thoughts of self-doubt. Suddenly, the anxiety soon started to subside as my eyes saw the sight of a door. My fingers hesitantly wrapped around the door handle; I took one breath in, trying to be brave. I pushed it open—only for my worst nightmare to come to life.

My breathing became heavier, my heart sank, my eyelids widened, and I could feel myself hyperventilating. There was a group of ballerinas staring directly at me. There must’ve been at least four? Five? Looking my way! Their ages varied, going into their late 20s.

The one brunette asked in French “es-tu perdu, cherches quelqu’un”.

I couldn’t concentrate; my mind dwelled with clouded thoughts of judgment. I pressed my finger against my lip, trying to feel the rough patches.

Another asked in English, “My friend asked if you’re searching for someone”.

Quickly, my eyes diverted to the ground, avoiding their gaze. “I-I-, pr-viate, less-on”. I stumbled over my words.

“Lessons? Private lessons?” the girl spoke once more.

I nodded, avoiding eye contact.

As I quickly glanced, a middle-aged woman in her mid-forties stepped closer; I assumed she was the dance teacher. “Are you referring to the private dance lessons advertised? the one taught by Mr. Oropherion?”.

I paused for a moment, trying to gather my words. Mr Oropherion? Is he the teacher I’m with?

“I-Is. This. Right. Floor.” I tried to sound out the right words, but it was impossible. Perhaps my conscience was right; perhaps this was a terrible idea.

The middle-aged woman, confused, pointed toward the direction I needed to go. “you’ll need to head up one more level, then head to your right” Her voice was calm with a hint of soprano.

Still avoiding eye contact, I left, not even saying thank you, focusing on wanting to escape. I closed the door in front and let out a heavy breath. My head lowered to touch the tip of my hands. I wanted to melt in that moment; I wanted nothing more than to return home. However, I reminded myself that I was doing this for Mom. I breathed in once more, looking up at the door; my hands quickly released, and I began to walk quickly, edging further up the stairs. My mind came crashing down, feeling the dreariness wash over me. Feeling tired, I finally, at last, came across the door I needed to be. It was blank, the painted white withering away around the edges. My hand reached the doorknob, feeling the roundness, turning it slightly. I could feel the adrenaline kick in. I was hesitant, but my nerves started to build.

I started to whisper to myself, “Just a general hello, that’s all it takes—

You're doing this for Mom—

Give them a chance to show them how I can shine; give them a chance to see who I am because I’ll be the brightest star there”.

I breathed in, closing my eyes and opening the door. As I tried to force my eyes open, I was confused. There was no one here. It was an empty space surrounded by mirrors with bar beams attached to them. My eyes scanned the room, yet no one was there. I suppose I should be relieved, maybe the teacher had caught a sickness and decided to ditch the whole class. I wandered further inside; I might as well take a quick peek. I unzipped my black parker with a furry hood, tossed it on the coat hanger and took off my shoes, leaving my white socks on. I stood in the middle of the dance room, embracing the quiet ambience. I looked in the mirrors, reflecting my figure. Was this even what ballerinas wear? Who even is Mr. Oropherion? If he doesn’t show up in the next 15 minutes, I’m heading off and not returning.

Perhaps Aelwynn, the fae queen in my novel, would’ve also been able to dance freely and eloquently in movement. I still wonder what would entrance the pirate king Sarek Salazar. I never pictured him to be devilishly handsome, though. I suppose Aelwynn would be a beauty, but there must be more to it—beauty can only go so far in their bond; what would their obstacles or hardships be? Perhaps the fae queen is somewhat intertwined with difference, the opposite of a fairytale. Aelwynn is fair, kind, beautiful and strong; she meets all the criteria for something otherworldly, yet what if Sarek is her opposite, a beast? No—What if he was average, a gross-looking thing? Pirates are anyway; what if he wasn’t powerful, just an average man with greed—and the dynamic changes, challenging Sarek to choose between the love of his life or treasure?

Or he would choose—

Suddenly, I heard a male voice emit behind me: “You best have a thorough explanation, girl. Do not even think about squandering my precious time.”

My breathing became heavier as I realized someone was speaking to me. I did not turn around; I was afraid to. Instead, I avoided eye contact, too paralysed to move. My head stooped low, and my hands stood to the side. He spoke again, “Clearly, you are here for a reason, are you not? I’ll admit your intrusion is rather fatuous.”

I didn’t glance up; I couldn’t look; I needed time to gather the words to explain. What should I say? Hey, sir, some ballerinas told me to come here, and I fear speaking to people.

“I see you have a mouth; that means you must have a tongue. Go on, speak.” His voice was deep and tranquil, composed yet icy.

I took a deep breath in, slowly turning around. As my legs moved, I slowly gathered the courage to look into the man’s eyes, even if I muttered a ‘hello’. It would be enough. As my head glanced up to meet his, I noticed his appearance.

He—was like—something out of a fairytale. His face was lean and chiselled; his eyes were like ice; his blueish-greyish irises complemented his cold gaze. His hair tressed down like water reaching his chest, light like snow. Whilst his skin was pale in comparison, a fair tone in colour. His attire seemed far more affluent than mine, donning a black trench coat with white underneath. His trousers complimented the darkness of his coat, and his black loafers were polished. I glanced at his right finger, an oval-shaped ring with a diamond glass stone crafted in sterling silver.

“Did you hear me not the first-time girl?” his tone turned stern.

My mouth moved, finally finding the words to speak. “H-hello, I’m Y/n”.

“y/n?” he muttered.

My eyes glanced downward once more as I slowly nodded.

“So, you have a voice after all, pray, tell. Why are you lingering in my domain?” he said shortly.

I muttered “private lessons”, though my voice sounded like a whisper.

“Ah, so you’ve seen the ad; I suppose you haven’t wasted our time after all, although you are five minutes late; I expect punctuality, to be exactly on time at the hour.” His voice sounded stern once more.

Well gee, it’s not like it’s my first time here, and gotten lost. My eyes still avoided his; I couldn’t look up, so I nodded.

He didn't react when I avoided his gaze, dismissing it. However, he commented on something else: “Your posture is lamentable. Stand up straighter like so.” The tip of his finger lightly touched my chin, lifting it to meet his gaze. I didn’t turn away precisely, yet I still flinched. My breathing slowed down as I once more met his gaze. His eyes narrowed, and his lips thinned.

“You stand there like a bird, wounded by the natures of evil, ignorant of the world’s knowledge, caged and sheltered from the shadows that lurk within the realm. Tell me, little bird, care to spread your wings?” I glanced at myself in the mirror, standing straighter. I could feel the flush in my cheeks, but I didn’t say anything, only breathing slowly.

His finger pulled away, and he turned his back to me, walking away.

“I expect to see you here tomorrow at exactly the seventh hour of the night”.

“Do not make me regret my decision, or you shall return to the cage from where you came, little bird”, He muttered.

With that, he walked out of the room, distancing himself further and further away. At that moment, I stood in disbelief for a few seconds, trying to understand what had happened. However, once my thoughts were collected, I gathered my things and scurried out of there, wanting nothing more than to enter my car. Once I exited the building, I was hit with the coldness in temperature as it touched my face.

I opened the car door, tossing my things in the back, turning the engine on. I looked back, trying to see the building to the left. As I drove, my thoughts were plagued with astonishment. I didn’t look away; I maintained eye contact for longer than three seconds, and—I managed to speak my name without stumbling over my words. My emotions displayed were as if I’d seen a ghost. Yet—his face—his appearance—it reminded me of snow; I always loved snow; even when I was a child, it was the happiest of my memories. I recall when my parents took me to the park; I was fascinated by the sight of the winter wonderland, my face lighting up with delight and laughing with joy. I always find that snow rekindles the fond memories I have.

Perhaps Mom was right after all; this might be the start of something I’ve never been able to do. Talk.

#thranduil au #thranduil x you #thranduil #thranduil oropherion #the hobbit au #the hobbit #thranduil fanfic #lord of the rings #thranduil ballet au #thranduil headcanon #thranduil fanfiction #thranduil x reader #thranduil oropherion x reader

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reilliane · 2 years

Text

Stranger ⊱⊰ Kazuha

A/N: How can I not make a special for a certain universe when GAA just presents some lovely, lovely plot material?

✤ Golden Apple Archipelago (2.8) Event Special

➸ Related Works: Vigil

His last domain seems to be more disordered than before, he observes after appearing in a space surrounded by floating debris and sparsely dried maple trees.

Nevertheless, he recognizes it as his mirage—for only a phantasm as distorted as can immaculately mimic the chaos he has gone through during the time of the Vision Hunt Decree.

As per the norm of the past two mirages, he is alone without the company of his friends. Or at least, he thinks he's alone.

“Mister?”

Spooked—having not detected any sort of presence when he first arrived—he turns around, only to see a child no older than four, maybe five, peering at him.

“Are you lost?” she proceeds to ask, [c] eyes blinking.

The samurai didn't think it was possible for his own breath to fail him until now.

“I...” he trails off for a number of reasons.

Why is there a child here? How can she be here?

His quietude is taken in stride, with the little girl circling him about in what he can deduce is both excitement and scrutiny. He hasn't felt so uncharacteristically small in someone's discerning gaze.

The girl smiles at him, “Ah! Are you a wanderer? You seem to look the part, mister!”

“That I am.” he finally finds his voice to respond, having let go of his prior surprise. He really shouldn't be so floundered, though.

This is a mirage, after all—anything can happen.

“I knew it!” the jubilant exclamation makes him smile, even though his chest squeezes. “Then, maybe you're looking for a way out? There's a huge ship over there, come, come!”

He is already being dragged along by the hand before he can answer—not like he'll turn down the offer.

Just as what was mentioned, the Alcor in the stretch is a couple of minutes away, floating in an empty space. Even from afar, he can tell how the mirage has whittled it to perfection, mimicking the original vessel to a tee.

If he's going to be honest, though, then he's a little lost.

He wonders whether he should be astounded over the phantasmagoria's uncanny ability to create things from his subconscious or be astounded by how the little girl doesn't seem fazed at the oddment of it all.

Kazuha observes the girl's silver tresses and eyes the section of vermillion that fades to crimson. Her pink kimono is tidy and she appears out of place in this disheveled domain.

Like a single dendrobium amid the shipwreck on Nazuchi beach.

“May I ask why you are alone?” he questions, seeing a couple of familiar structures located on other floating islands. “An estate lies in the distance.”

He wonders if the others are there, navigating through the labyrinth for the—hopefully—last time.

“I'm not ready...”

Hm? The samurai blinks, puzzled at the answer. Not ready?

He pauses his steps when the child does, her head tipped down and her smile no longer present on her visage. It is an unusual sight, dismaying to witness.

“Father said I should stay outside for a while, so...”

Kazuha respects privacy, especially that of a stranger's. Most reasons are personal and are preferably hidden, but he can't restrain his own curiosity. After all, the one before him is...

“Can I...” his uncertain murmur doesn't go unheard, and the set of [c]s fixate on him as though weighing the possible ramifications of divulging her problems to a stranger.

The samurai is a little thrilled that the youngster's pretty shrewd for her age.

“Well, mother said I'm going to be a big sister today.” she ends up revealing with a crestfallen sigh. “I don't think I'm prepared to be one, I'm going to be so bad at it!”

Oh. It's... well, he's not expecting that out of the endless possible answers he could've heard. Not like he's against it or anything, of course.

In fact, he's rather astounded.

Dismay paints the round, youthful features of the little girl, implying just how burdened she is with her self-doubt.

To see such a sight pulls his lips down, at least, until he brings them back up in order to display himself as a model of assurance.

“Hm, with the way you're so concerned, I believe you'll be a fantastic sibling.” Kazuha quips, unable to stave off the growing smile when he's met with a marginally misanthropic stare.

“How can you say so? You don't know me, mister.”

To think she's a little cynical—or perhaps just chary.

“I am a stranger to you, as well, yet you are helping me board the ship.” he says in an 'as-a-matter-of-fact' tone, accompanying it with a firm nod. “You've a good heart.”

He can tell that his words are taken into consideration, the silence looming over them indicative of the cogs working in one's mind. It isn't long until the child is looking back at him, voice still tiny, though far from being uncertain as she was earlier.

“... Do you think I'll do good, then? Truly?”

The ends of her pink sleeves are being picked and fumbled away with her fingers.

Hesitantly, Kazuha pats her head, relaxing when it's received with a brightening gleam in the eyes. He nods, chest filling with warmth.

“You'll be excellent.”

Cheeks flushing with the same color as her kimono, the little girl stutters, as though unused to the assurance.

She has a tiny pout on her lips that she battles away with a beaming smile. Far, far brighter than the first one she wore.

“... Yes, yes, you're right!” she claps her hands with a giggle, “I have to be strong so I can be good! I'll keep your words to heart, mister! Now let's get you on the ship!”

Invigorated, she latches onto his bandaged hand—only to yelp an apology following the delayed assumption that he's hurt. He chuckles at it, shaking his head and saying that it's fine.

With the granted permission, he's tugged away again, only much gently this time. Like she does not believe that his hand isn't hurting hence her gentle hold.

It's warm.

For someone who's only known the coldness of grief for the past few months... this feels nice.

Kazuha almost bites his tongue when the child races up the uneven wooden gangway leading towards the Alcor, the latter nearly tripping over the steps.

When she manages to catch herself, however, he relaxes, sighing as he follows her up. He notices that she does not cross the threshold, nor does she question the lack of the crew.

She stays standing atop the last wooden board outside the ship, whilst he's already in the breadth of the vessel. His chest squeezes once more.

“Hehe, father will be happy that I helped someone out.” excitedly mutters the girl before gasping, struck with a realization.

“Ah, that reminds me! I need to go back home now! Take care-.. ?”

Her words fall short when the samurai lowers himself to her level and pulls her close in a bewildering yet warm embrace. How sudden.

“Mister wanderer,” her voice rings, a little muffled. “You're not going to abduct me, are you?”

His soft laughter is already rolling past his lips before he can even register them. He does not let go just yet. “Of course not. Forgive my sudden embrace, I am just reminded of my sibling.”

A gasp.

“Then that must be why you're traveling, right? So you can go back home!” Concludes the child after she's freed from the embrace.

She sounds enthused at the concept of him having a sibling, just like her. In a sudden burst of boldness, she holds onto the hands that held her once and shook them with vigor.

He doesn't understand the need nor the reason, but he goes along, waving and shaking her hands in tandem. The handshake makes the girl giggle until she's pulling away.

“Don't keep them waiting, they'll certainly miss you because you're family. I'll be going now!”

His hands hold the remnants of the warmth of another and he clenches his fingers in an endeavor to preserve them for a little while longer.

Standing back to his full height, he overlooks as his small, fleeting companion rushes back down to proper land with as much elegance as she can exude despite her haste.

Gone is the void in his chest, replaced with a mellow bud of melancholia, soon to bloom into one of acceptance.

To his surprise, the child stops then swivels, raising a hand to wave at him from the distance.

“Ah! Thank you again, mister!” he can still see her smile even from afar, “By the way, I'm [Name]!”

“I know.” his words are heard only by the wind as he smiles, feeling his eyes sting with water. Though they do not fall.

Ribbons of pink eventually cover the running girl until she is gone from sight, much like the phantasm she was in the first place. Still, he is ever so grateful.

Kazuha holds onto his scarf, lifting the fabric close to his eyes as he expels a shaky breath.

“Thank you, too.”

Even if the wound in his heart remains fresh, he is thankful for having seen her. Seen her smile, seen her be alright, seen her be alive.

“Nee-san.”

His wonderful older sibling.

a/n: so an angst/comfort piece for vigil :')) i think this cured my heart a lil' from writing mercy lmao.

@cherryflushz @e7t3 @scarlet-halos @lordbugs @nebulaera @annoying-and-upset @hanniejji @applepi1415 @tjjjrsj @azirajane @hey-comrade-hold-stil @limelightsuperhero @chloeloe @loptido @windyventi @nejibot @ganyuqrt @justrinnn @yasunamilk @alana5021 @uwu-dreams @yvechu @mininji

#m-vigil #genshin x reader #kazuha x reader #kazuha fluff #kazuha angst #genshin platonic #female reader #genshin fluff #genshin angst

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marquisegallery · 3 months

Text

This took me. So long. To finish. I had hoped to finish it sometime in February, but now here we are. :u

Anyways! Much like the Devil Theory headcanons post I did a long while ago, this is a headcanons post for DOT EXE! All frickin' 8 of them!! Suffice to say this is going to be incredibly long, so keep that in mind before you jump into the Read More. You have been warned!! :P

(Also much like with Devil Theory, some of this might be based on stuff in the game, but a lot of it will just be "I personally think this would be neat!!")

There are going to be very many sections here, so I'm splitting them up to keep things organized and easier to follow. :u

The Overall Crew:

First and foremost, names! Plus heights, because I finally decided on heights for the individual members now :P

2 = Twoson (172 cm / 5’ 8")

4 = Fourside (173 cm / 5’ 8")

5 = Cinco (186 cm / 6’ 1")

8 = 8-ball (192 cm / 6’ 4")

9 = Neun (182 cm / 6’)

10 = Jūrō (178 cm / 5’ 10")

14 = Quatorze (196 cm / 6’ 5")

And then the cue ball member is just… Cueball, lol. He is 190 cm / 6’ 3". I was originally going to make him more-or-less the median height of the crew, but changed my mind later.

I know the 10 and 14 members found in the code aren't "official" members, especially since they seem to be just extra palettes for a potential playable 8-ball. But you know what, I made characters out of them anyways!! :P

Starting off with DOT EXE in general:

As mentioned in the game, they’re a group of full-cyber writers and breakdancers!! They also have a bit of a reputation as hackers, though truthfully it’s only some of them, specifically 8-ball, Neun, and Cinco. They’re the ones who came up with the name too, they just wanted something computer-y. It was originally just the three of them, and the others joined over time. In order, Quatorze and Jūrō were asked by 8-ball to join, then Twoson and Fourside asked to join after they went full-cyber, and then Cueball was the last to join.

Their writer aliases/street names are of course based on the billiard number shown on their screen faces. Which person gets which number was originally based on the actual number of letters in their real given name, but that doesn’t apply to Cueball, Twoson, or Fourside.

They have a reputation of being pretentious and stuck-up assholes (though at least not violent assholes like Devil Theory). They basically look down on most other crews as noobs, about the only writers they respect are DJ Cyber, Felix, and eventually BRC in general after the end of the game.

Of the current big crews in New Amsterdam, they’ve been operating the longest (with varying number of members of course), for about 2 decades at this point! However, them being an actual “big name” crew has only really happened in the past couple of years. They mostly stick to their own territory in Millennium Mall.

On that note! They literally own the mall. All of it. They collect rent from the various stores and companies operating in the mall. They keep the rent super low for local businesses so they can afford to compete with the big brands (especially huge international ones) that set up shop here. Meanwhile, said big brands are charged like five times more in rent. Of course, they’re never actually told that’s the case! Those companies even assume it must be the same for everyone else in the mall. The way DOT EXE spin it to them is along the lines of, “C’mon, don’t you want the prestige of having a store in the one and only Millennium Mall?!” Basically I imagine the Millennium Mall is a huge deal in that way, hence why the big companies don’t suspect anything’s off. :P

So yeah, DOT EXE make money that way. Even after taking out whatever has to be used for proper maintenance of the mall itself, for the most part they end up with a lot more than any of them need (especially since, being full-cyber, they don’t have to worry about food and stuff, just electricity and occasional maintenance/repairs). A lot of the money is saved for emergencies and fun stuff (like hobbies), and then they donate the rest to local charities.

The local businesses are aware of DOT EXE being the owners of the mall, and honestly don’t mind them being writers either! DOT EXE are also more reliable than the police when it comes to asking for help with a problem. In the case of shoplifters in particular, DOT EXE don’t even really punish the thieves, they’ll pay for whatever was stolen and ask if they need additional help (like if they only stole because they didn’t have a job and need help, etc).

The crew hate that the police can intervene at the mall, especially with the helicopters and walking tanks, not to mention the police tube things. They’ve tried to complain to the local government about it, but have been shot down every time. Now they will at the least sabotage the tubes and turrets whenever they can.

The mall is so big that there’s basically a huge solar panel farm on top. Whatever electricity doesn’t get used up by the mall ends up redirected to other parts of New Amsterdam that need it.

There’s also a whole community greenhouse up there! A rather illegal one actually, with New Amsterdam (currently) having some very strict regulations on larger-scale gardens and such (given there’s only one tree in the actual game, and it’s been dug up from Old Amsterdam). DOT EXE do not give a fuck about that clearly, and keep it operational. Especially since it’s a great source of food for a lot of people! DOT EXE managed to hack the local government offices to give the mall’s greenhouse an “official exception”, so the police have to (very begrudgingly) leave it be. Half the crew like the greenhouse since it’s such a great benefit for others, and the other half like it because they know it annoys the cops.

Their hideout is a small part of the mall that’s been sort of sectioned off just for them. Basically behind some pulled-down grates, a bunch of the stores behind said grates have been converted into rooms for them, and is collectively their hideout! There is an actual part of the mall in the game that looks like this, see below:

The rooms of the hideout are as follows: a main meeting/living room area (which also has a disused kitchen, since they don’t need to eat), a main rec area with a ton of custom arcade cabinets and hacked game consoles, a storage room, and then 4 personal rooms for the members, shared between a few of them. One for Cinco and Neun, another for Twoson and Fourside, another for Jūrō and Quatorze, and the last for 8-ball and Cueball. Though since 8-ball was killed, it’s been Cueball’s room by himself.

So yeah, they all live there, whereas pretty much every other crew has their hideout but then individual members (usually) live elsewhere.

They actually aren’t all the same age as the Oldheads, it’s just a cover so people don’t try and figure out any personal info about them. Specific ages/age ranges will be mentioned in individual sections, but really only 8-ball, Neun, and Cinco are around the Oldheads’ ages. Quatorze and Jūrō are actually a good chunk older than them, while Cueball, Twoson, and Fourside are all much younger.

Cueball in particular will always hide his real age, since part of it is related to how he went full-cyber. He will lie to most people and saying he's around the same age as 8-ball, Neun, and Cinco. He hates the pity he gets from people otherwise (more on this later!!).

Twoson and Foruside don't lie about their ages when asked, but would just say they were inspired by 8-ball, Neun, and Cinco to go full-cyber to keep being good dancers and writers. Meanwhile, Quatorze and Jūrō are pretty honest about why they actually did it (again, more on this later!!).

Their voice, outfits, and billiard screens are also covers for their identities!

For the voice, the idea is that there's a "default" voice all the DOT EXE folks use in public, but they still have their own voices based on how they sound from before going full-cyber (Twoson and Fourside are technically exceptions to this, but yeah, more on that later). Their actual voices are only used when they’re going around as “civilians” rather than writers, or otherwise in private at their hideout.

The tracksuits are basically just their costumes, similar to the costumes the other crews wear. So they do wear clothes besides the tracksuits. Sure, they don't really need to, but they like to! Especially when they're not out doing writer stuff, makes it easier for the cops to not suspect something. Each of them has their own personal style, which will be noted in the individual sections!

The screen face can be changed to different images. When they're out and about as "civilians", they tend to change their screens to sort of robotic faces, kinda similar to what non-screen cyberheads have. Those specific faces will be shown in the individual characters’ sections, with their "DOT EXE face" on the left and their individual faces on the right.

Combined with the difference in clothing and voices, it does a good job of actually hiding who they are from the cops!

Note that Cueball is an exception on the voice and screen thing, but I’ll get into that more in his section!

They are all gamers to some degree, otherwise why else would they have a rec room with so many games? They each have their own favorite genres, but overall play a wide variety of them. They’ll play by themselves or with each other depending on the game. The whole crew can get pretty competitive about high scores too, especially on the arcade cabinets!

They also each have their own hobbies outside of gaming, but again, another thing to mention in their own sections.

They all have the capability to communicate wirelessly like computers and phones, i.e. send messages directly to one another instead of to their phones. However, they don’t do that anymore. Mainly because the one time they tried to use it more often, Twoson, Fourside, and Cueball spammed so many memes to Neun that it caused him to crash. Hence why they still rely on text and calls like full-flesh writers, though some of them still do direct wireless messages to one another sometimes. Basically equivalent to whispering to someone so other people don’t hear them.

As full-cyber people, they all have sensors all over their bodies which can act the same as nerves. Detecting damage/pain, temperature, pressure/being touched, and even textures to a degree. The only difference is that these can be turned on or off, or even set to varying “levels” of sensing in between. Usually they turn down the pain/temperature detecting part of the sensors while they’re out (especially while doing writer stuff; basically just detecting damage/temperature without causing actual pain to them). They only turn them fully back on once they’re safe at their hideout.

🎱5️⃣9️⃣

8-ball, Cinco, and Neun in general:

They are basically the only ones that went full-cyber to be able to dance better for the most part, though they also did it to be able to get better as writers. None of them were particularly good at either of those before then, though they all clearly wanted to improve at it.

All three of them met and became friends via a transhumanism forum online, hence them going full-cyber together. The actual process is finished up around their 30s or 40s, and they're in their 60s by the time of the game.

Cinco is from Honduras and Neun is from Germany (or so he claims...). Meanwhile 8-ball was born and raised in New Amsterdam, though his father (who he shares with Cueball) had long since moved away to somewhere in the United States.

Both Neun and Cinco did writer stuff in their respective home cities, but 8-ball talked to them a lot about the writer scene in New Amsterdam, especially a lot of the big name writers at the time. That influenced all of them to want to get better at being writers, no matter what.

Once Neun and Cinco moved to New Amsterdam, 8-ball and them formed DOT EXE! They were all full-cyber by then, and practiced together to improve their skills, eventually becoming fairly big names like the other crews.

All three of them act (or acted in 8-ball’s case) as the IT people for the whole mall.

Them getting into hacking and computer stuff mostly started after they all went full-cyber, especially since all their augmentations made it a hell of a lot easier to do.

All three of them love rhythm games, but also have other genres they particularly like. They had rhythm game competitions between the three of them, and even with 8-ball gone, Neun and Cinco still do that from time to time.

On that note, yeah, in my ideas/AU/whatever you want to call it, 8-ball’s death is very much permanent. See this post with some further details on why that is, in particular how, just because his mind’s been digitized, doesn’t mean it’d be any easier to recover.

8-ball specifically:

8-ball refers to Cueball as his bro in the game, and I like to think they’re actual brothers and not just brothers-in-a-friend-way. For my headcanons, they’re actually half-brothers, but refer to each other as brothers anyways. 8-ball is the older of the two!

He’s a bit egotistical. Just a bit.

Kind of a daredevil too, compared to the others. He was like that before going full-cyber, but then after the conversion, being “effectively” invincible just made him more reckless. Dangerous stunts! Tagging more and more high up heaven spots! Getting heat up just to be able to fight the police! So on and so forth.

He is the one who designed the team’s graffiti in-universe, hence why their small tag is more related to him that the team overall. Like I said, bit of an ego on this guy!

He is the one who managed to get ownership of the whole mall, and then just splits the management and collected rent with the others. He actually managed to win ownership of the mall in a (very) risky game of poker. And he didn’t just made that up to sound cool, Cinco and Neun were actually there to witness it!

For his normal fashion style as a civilian, basically he just focuses on looking “cool”, in particular with cool jackets. This usually means jean jackets or leather biker jackets. Also tends to wear jean pants, and shirts with cool designs on them. Which is often stuff like sharks, wolves, dragons, volcanoes, lighting bolts, tornadoes, etc. Also cool shoes of course!

For his personal favorite video game genre, he likes playing shooters, but moreso arcade style shooters and SHMUPs instead of FPSs. Still kinda ironic, given what happened to him…

Real name Frederik Visser. He mainly got into transhumanism just because he thought it was cool, and eventually took it seriously and ended up on the forum where he met Neun and Cinco.

Cinco specifically:

From Cueball’s point of view, he’s the fun uncle!

Fluent in Spanish, speaks it with a Honduran accent. Sometimes uses Spanish words when talking casually, usually terms of endearment for others. Or insults/swears, because he finds it more satisfying to do so in Spanish, lol

Knows a ton of jokes, including puns, in several languages.

A charming guy, very outgoing and friendly with just about everyone!

Also a “he has your back when you need it” kind of pal to DOT EXE in general, but especially 8-ball and Neun. After 8-ball died, he got a bit more protective of Cueball too.

For his fashion style, he likes wearing patterned button-down shirts and sports shorts. For the shirts, of course that includes what’s called Hawaiian shirts, but really anything that has some sort of fancy/detailed patterned will catch his eye. Also tends to wear sandals/flipflops, or crocs.

He really likes racing games, also sports games in general!

Cinco was a bit of a jock type before going full-cyber on that note, playing a lot of sports back then too. He tried to get into various professional sports but never got very far. He’s good at whatever he plays, but evidently just not one of the best for it. Also doesn’t help that he never tried focusing on one particular sport at a time, to the point where he stretched himself thin after a while.

Occasionally plays basketball with the Franks, he’s actually good pals with them because of it!

Likes sports and muscle cars, though mostly driving them and not the maintenance part. He may or may not participate in drag races using stolen cars. Not that it’s hard to steal a car in New Amsterdam, there’s a lot of rich people with “smart” cars who don’t change the default passwords…

Real name César Hugo Raúl Garcia-Flores. On both sides of his family there’s histories of genetic illnesses, and after a certain point he was starting to show some early signs of them. This of course started affecting his health, and with his focus on sports and also wanting to get better as a writer/dancer, he ended up on the transhumanism forum to hopefully find a way to handle all that.

He genuinely didn’t intended to go full-cyber, just wanted to look into “less intensive” cybernetics. However, becoming friends with 8-ball and Neun and going over what they were planning themselves basically led Cinco to decide, “You know what? Might as well go all the way with this myself!”

A note on his full name, if people ask about it: he’ll say his parents couldn’t decide between the two middle names, and just gave him both. Meanwhile, neither parent was backing down about giving him one family name or the other, so they decided to just hyphenate it. But then they had an argument over the order (Garcia-Flores or Flores-Garcia), so they flipped a coin on it… that all being said, Cinco always says this like it’s another joke, so no one’s entirely sure if it’s the real story or not.

He had a boyfriend before going full-cyber. They broke up because of him hiding the fact he was planning to go full-cyber at all. Then again, them breaking up over that was inevitable anyways, because said boyfriend was the type of person to see cybernetics (especially full-cyber stuff) as something unnatural and disgusting. By the time of the game, Cinco has long since gotten over it (for the most part).

May or may not end up dating Escher, hee hee

Neun specifically:

From Cueball’s point of view, he’s basically the stern uncle lol

Has a bit of a “neutral” accent when speaking in his actual voice. It’s clear he’s hiding whatever his “real” accent is supposed to be, but no one knows what he naturally sounds like, not even 8-ball and Cinco. His voice gets shockingly deep when he’s angry, which is very rare.

Fluent in German and Spanish, having grown up speaking both languages. Claims to be from Germany. Though, he’s only ever spoken Spanish with Cinco in private “for some reason”...

… The reason being that he’s actually Argentinian (of German descent, hence him learning that language) and very much has the accent when speaking Spanish. Cinco clocked him as such when listening to him speak Spanish one time. Neun doesn’t want people to know that about him, so he’s sworn Cinco to never speak of it to anyone, even 8-ball. More on why later...

When in public, he basically puts up a front and acts the same kind of “dudebro” kind of way the rest of the members act. Outside of that, overall he’s a very serious and kinda cold guy, but he does genuinely care about his friends (and eventually the rest of the crew, though it took him a while to get there).

Between him, 8-ball, and Cinco, Neun is basically the “friend in charge of the one collective brain cell” kind of guy. It’s also why he’s second-in-command of DOT EXE, becoming the leader once 8-ball is killed.

Also the crew’s accountant, mostly in charge of sorting out collecting rent from the businesses in the mall. He gives a lot of leeway for local businesses if they’re late on rent, but gives no such mercy to the bigger brands in the mall.

Likes to stay organized. He will pick up after the others if they leave a mess, but will also complain and berate them while doing so.

Not exactly a fan of jokes or pranks. He dislikes puns in particular and finds them genuinely annoying (not in a “Damn it, I wish I thought of that myself!!” kind of way). He makes an exception for Cinco’s jokes, but mostly out of politeness as a friend. And even then it’s not like Neun will laugh, he’ll just politely stay quiet and shake his head.

For his normal fashion outside of the tracksuits, well, Neun can be described as looking like a stereotypical nerd. This means collar shirts and khaki pants, lol

Neun likes playing RPGs and strategy games, though he’s very old school and picky about what he plays. If it doesn’t have some sort of hard mode, at the very least a hard mode that can be modded in, he won’t bother with it. Just as an example, he likes playing Pokemon games but only with modded super hard modes and with Smogon-style strategies and team builds.

Claims his real name is Sebastian Jäger. He was originally just on the transhumanism forum out of curiosity, not really taking it seriously. However, at one point he had a mid-life crisis related to mortality, especially after having to deal with a string of family deaths around the same time. With him wanting to be a better writer and breakdancer, at that point he felt like he had limited time to even live at all, let alone enough time to improve at either of those.

Hence why he started being more active on the forum and looking into full-cyber conversion in particular, and that eventually led to him becoming friends with 8-ball and Cinco. He’ll never admit to this though.

He’ll also never admit that he accidentally crossed the wrong people on his journey to both go full-cyber and move to New Amsterdam. He’s convinced they’re still looking for him, even if the chances are incredibly slim. Thus why he’s hiding at least part of his origins...

His actual real name is Sebastián Montero, but again, he’s basically in hiding right now. "Jäger" was apparently the family name of an ancestor of his.

(1️⃣4️⃣) 🔟

Quatorze and Jūrō in general:

Quatorze is French, and Jūrō is of Japanese descent, both born and raised in France. Both can of course speak French, with their real speaking voices having a Parisian French accent. Jūrō is also fluent in Japanese.

They were both big time writers in their youth, with stories about them being what inspired 8-ball to become a writer in the first place! Then him talking about them to Cinco and Neun is what collectively pushed all three of them to want to get better at being writers.

They are a married couple and still consider themselves married as wife and husband, even after going full-cyber together (technically they are considered legally dead and thus no longer married, but screw the laws man).

On that note, surprise, Quatorze is actually a woman! Thanks to the default voice for the crew and the tracksuits, everyone just assumes she’s a man without hearing her real voice. That’s intentional, I’ll get into it a bit more in her specific section.

They are very, very loving to each other. Think Gomez and Morticia Addams, just without a morbid humor angle. Jūrō basically praises and is encouraging of everything Quatorze does, and Quatorze love to compliment him for anything he does too. Though sometimes it does get on her nerves, and he apologizes when she asks him to dial it back a bit. But also they have the mushiest pet names for each other.

They are both willing to kill and be killed for the sake of their spouse, but of course each of them would prefer that the other not going that far.

They see 8-ball, Cinco, and Neun as their peers. Meanwhile, both of them dote on Cueball, Twoson, and Fourside like their actual kids/grandkids. Cueball finds it annoying but secretly likes it, meanwhile Twoson and Fourside outright call them Granny and Granpy respectively.

Real names Marie-Madeleine Lucille Perrault, and Maximilien Théodore Perrault, respectively. Their backstory of how they went full-cyber is connected, so I’ll just go over it here: Tragically, in their 70s, Quatorze got cancer at some point, a kind that was unfortunately very hard to treat. She had the option to go full-cyber instead of continuing risky treatment just to potentially die due to being weakened by said treatment. And her husband Jūrō also went full-cyber to be able to stay with her!

Unfortunately, their kids were not happy with that. For some of them, there was confusion about how inheritance would work (eventually finding out that Quatorze and Jūrō would be considered legally dead anyways, so it was “fine”). For others, it’s moreso that they had already accepted that their mom will die, only for her to choose to keep living in the most “selfish” and “unnatural” way possible.

Suffice to say, Quatorze and Jūrō have not spoken to their kids since then, and they haven’t seen their grandkids since then either. They’re more torn up about not seeing their grandkids (they weren’t exactly happy with their kids fighting over inheritance and criticizing their parents’ decision on how to keep living). For the most part they’ve come to accept they’ll never see them again, but Jūrō is secretly holding onto hope they might see their grandkids again someday…

After the two of them went full-cyber, sometime later 8-ball reached out to them, having heard about what happened to them. He was basically like, "Hey you guys were big inspirations to us as writers! Wanna join our new full-cyber crew??" (at that point it was just him, Cinco, and Neun). They responded, "Well, we're not sure how to spend our retirement now, so sure! :)" So by the time of the game’s events, they’re in their 80s.

Quatorze specifically:

She’s basically the team mom! Very caring towards everyone in the crew, but also more than willing to put her foot down to get them to behave when needed.

Before going full-cyber, she was an actress. Her pretending to be a man when out and about as a writer is mainly to hide her identity. She was fairly famous at her peak, so even with her being “legally” dead, she doesn’t want people to find and bother her, especially not any overzealous fans. She does look back on her past work with fondness though, some of her favorite roles was getting to play as hammy, over-the-top villains in cartoons, animated movies, and live action movies.

Though as an actress, her pretending to be a man while in public as DOT EXE (including using the default voice the same as the others) is also just another role for her. She finds it a lot of fun!

She knits, as well as crocheting, weaving, and other crafts involving threads and such. She will knit you a sweater/scarf/hat if you ask politely!

For her civilian fashion, she likes wearing sweaters and long skirts. Sometimes she wears sundresses with a nice sunhat during the summer months, even if it’s not really necessary as a full-cyber person. She has fancier dresses she wears for date nights with Jūrō.

Her favorite kinds of video games are puzzle games and ‘slow’ platformers, mainly things along the lines of Klonoa, Kirby, Mario, and Banjo-Kazooie.

Jūrō specifically:

He’s basically the team dad! Very supportive of his crew mates. He leaves being the “stern parent” to Quatorze though, especially since Jūrō tends to be too soft on someone if they messed up or started issues with the rest of the crew. It was the same when they were full-flesh with their kids and grandkids, he’s mainly just afraid of seeming too “mean”.

Unfortunately he can’t do dad jokes, but at least Cinco has that covered, lol

He worked as an accountant, but didn’t like the work very much. He was able to be a stay-at-home dad once Quartorze’s acting career really took off!

He likes to garden, and he’s the one that works the most on the mall’s greenhouse.

For his civilian fashion, usually wears nice pants (like the kind for suits) + long button-down shirts. Also wears sweater vests that his wife makes for him! He has full suits and waistcoats for date nights with Quatorze.

His favorite kinds of video games are life sim games, such as Animal Crossing and Stardew Valley (“If only growing plants were this easy in real life!”). He also likes idle games, especially ones that don’t demand his attention too much.

2️⃣4️⃣

Twoson and Fourside in general:

Yes, their names are references to the Earthbound towns of the same name. They picked out their own billiard numbers to specifically make that reference, lol

Twoson is agender (they/he) and Fourside is nonbinary (also they/he). Note that they were like this long before going full-cyber, since some people may assume it happened because of the transition.

For their voices, they actually only use their real voices when they’re alone together in private, and no one else knows what they “really” sound like. When out as civilians or in private with their crewmates, they use different synthesized voices from the one used for DOT EXE. Their specific synthesized voices will be noted in their individual sections.

For their civilian screen faces, these two will actually change them to express certain emotions, usually with very anime-esque stuff (eye shines, exaggerated evil grins, etc). Other members will just keep their faces static and express themselves through their voice and hand/body movement.

They are both pranksters, they love to cause mischief and mayhem! Not even their own crewmates are safe.

They get along with Cueball in a sort of sibling way. Sometimes getting along great, other times being at each others’ throats (i.e. Cueball vs. Twoson and Fourside, the two of them are deep friends and have never really fought each other).

Jūrō has taught both of them Japanese. He insisted on it after hearing them talk (or rather, trying to talk) in Japanese once, they were really horrible at it before his lessons. They both also know a bit of Spanish from Cinco.

Between the two of them, they have a huge anime and manga collection! I will mention some of their individual favorite genres for that in their respective sections.

They make video games! Just as a hobby, so all the games they make are free. Said games are mostly in the form of super hard ROM Hacks, or weird/eccentric/trippy games (think along the lines of Yume Nikki, OFF, Hylics, Space Funeral, Goblet Grotto, LSD Dream Emulator, etc.). Neither of them can code very well, so they usually convince/force Cueball into helping them with their various projects. What they provide for said projects themselves is mostly the ideas (both of them), music (Twoson specifically), and art assets (Fourside specifically).

Suffice to say, the games they make are not ones that any of the other DOT EXE members normally play. Neun has played some of the ROM hacks they’ve made for RPGs though, mostly because of the ridiculous challenges they put in.

They both have similar tastes in music, usually stuff that is fairly “eccentric” compared to mainstream music. Basically along the lines of Caravan Palace, Will Wood, Lemon Demon, Jack Stauber, GHOST and Pals, Vane, and R.I.P.. Also enjoy a lot of Vocaloid and Synthysizer V songs, especially the more creepy and macabre stuff.

On that note, they’ve definitely hijacked the mall’s sound systems to play their favorite songs as pranks on people more than once.

They both really like horror games. With poorly made ones, they only play them to riff on them and make fun of their game design. They may or may not have a YouTube channel dedicated to this. They may or may not also do streams as vTubers on that note…

Honestly they like horror content in general. Movies, novels, games, anime, manga, comics, TV shows, art… they’d probably get along great with Daishō!

Real names are Beau Driessen and Robin Zaal respectively. Like with Quatorze and Jūrō, Twoson and Fourside’s backstories are connected. Twoson was severely injured in what was ruled an “accident”, to the point of only having two options: go full-cyber, or just stay bedridden for the rest of their life. Meanwhile, Fourside went full-cyber in order to bury their old identity, after having taken care of the people who caused the “accident”. Both of them going full-cyber happened in their late 20s, they're both about 35 now.

They were both writers before going full-cyber, and the “accident” was caused by some rivals they had to deal with. After the conversion, they heard about DOT EXE as a full-cyber crew, and decided to join up with them.

They are very protective of one another. Fourside in particular will get very vicious against anyone who tries to hurt Twoson, even if it’s another DOT EXE member.

They’re also the type to use insults to show affection to each other, “You nerd!”, “You’re such a dork!”, etc. Towards anyone else, it’s genuine insults.

Twoson specifically:

The voice they use when going around as a civilian is an androgynous synthesized voice that’s a bit on the higher side.

Twoson is the nicer of the two, for what it’s worth, but still tends to be obnoxious at times. They also like to be fakely sweet sometimes, especially when trying to get a favor out of someone else.

For fashion, Twoson likes wearing a jean vest covered in a ton of buttons. They also like to wear skirts over cargo capris, tie-dye shirts, chokers/collars, and headbands which have been modified to fit over their head.

They like to do craft stuff sometimes, like origami, needle felting, papercraft, and clay sculptures. They also make the buttons and tie-dye shirts that both themself and Fourside wear.

They make music! The best way to describe it is very weird and also sometimes creepy. Basically ranging from quirky digital/midi music, to dreamy but still unnerving drones and tones, to Silent Hill 1 industrial scary noises.

Besides horror video games, they really like dating sims and visual novels. They have a whole menagerie of what they call their fictional spouses.

Twoson likes the magical girl genre in particular for anime and manga. They actually really hate shows like Puella Magi Madoka Magica that try to subvert the genre or otherwise do an intentionally “edgy” take on it. A lot of magical girl series already have dark themes anyways!

Fourside specifically:

The voice they use when going around as a civilian is an androgynous synthesized voice that’s a bit on the lower side.

Fourside is the meaner of the two, for what it’s worth. They’re more quick to genuinely insult people and use a lot of sarcasm. However, they will be respectful when it counts, usually only for other DOT EXE members.

For fashion, Fourside also likes wearing a jean vest with tons of buttons and tie-dye shirts, like Twoson does. They also wear a skirt over skinny jeans, lots of bracelets, and beanies that Quatorze has made for them.

On that note, Quatorze made some of the thread/string bracelets that Fourside wears, and she showed them how to make bracelets on their own too. So the rest are the ones Fourside made! You can tell which ones were from when they first started out, and which ones are more recent and thus better quality. They’ve also made some of the collars/chokers that Twoson wears.

Fourside does digital art in the form of 3D models and complex MS Paint stuff. They mainly do this just to make weird stuff and put it out their for people to enjoy. A lot of it is very abstract and weird, with a sort of “old-school Internet” vibe a la ENA/Eastern Mind: The Lost Souls of Tong-Nou/Disillusion ST/Hylics/etc.

Besides horror video games, they really love beat ‘em ups and fighting games! Do not challenge them to some of the big ones (Street Fighter, Tekken, Smash Bros, etc.) unless you want to lose.

Fourside has no particular favorite genre for anime/manga, but tends to like series that end up categorized as shōnen. Also really enjoys superhero tokusatsu shows and movies (i.e. stuff like Super Sentai/Power Rangers, Kamen Rider, Ultraman, etc).

Cueball

He’s the lovable goofball basically. Lots of joking around and teasing people, especially his friends! That’s basically how he shows affection a lot of the time.

Though he’s also fiercely loyal to his friends and crew. Mostly because despite being friendly and outgoing, he doesn’t exactly have a lot of friends outside of DOT EXE. Eventually that changes once he joins BRC, but he still cares about and hangs out with his old crewmates.

He’s from the United States, and 8-ball helped him with moving to New Amsterdam.

He loves cats! Before he went full-cyber, he was very allergic to cats and wasn’t allowed to have any because of that. After going full-cyber, he eventually realized he didn’t have to worry about allergies anymore. And so he set out to adopt ALL the cats, lol. It got bad enough to be a hoarding situation, and the rest of DOT EXE at the time (8-ball, Cinco, and Neun, this being before any of the other and Cueball himself joining) had to step in for an intervention. They got the cats rehomed or put in adoption centers/cat shelters, and Cueball decided to just volunteer at those shelters to help out. A much better situation for everyone involved, especially the cats!

Cueball owns a ton of blankets and pillows, and likes to make his own pillow forts and stuff in his room for Extra Comfort. Also sometimes throws them in a clothes dryer to make them warm. With the thing about body sensors for full-cyber people I mentioned earlier, Cueball is of course the one that takes full advantage of the sensors whenever he can!

Quatorze has made whole blankets for Cueball. He doesn’t like to admit it, but he does appreciate those blankets, they’re very comfy.

His favorite kinds of video games are action, action-adventure, and search action (a.k.a “Metroidvania”).

Cueball hates his real voice for the most part, and he’s the only one who will keep using the default DOT EXE voice even when alone with the rest of the crew. They do know what he sounded like before he used that default voice (he only started using it all the time after he joined DOT EXE), but it’s been so long that most of them have forgotten it by now.

When it comes to fashion, Cueball’s “style” is more about comfort than anything else. Hoodies! Sweatpants! Sweaters! Oversized t-shirts! Comfy socks! Super comfy sneakers! Sometimes various winter hats if he can find any that will fit over his head lol. He has a ton of stuff that Quartoze has made for him, though he feels embarrassed to actually wear them outside of the hideout.

As mentioned previously, he doesn’t bother changing his screen face to a different one from his billiards face. Though he will change the red triangle in the middle to different emojis or reaction images/gifs for expressions. Or otherwise to mess with people.

So Cueball is the only one who doesn't bother with the voice changing nor face changing. The only thing different is his clothes. If a cop suspects he's the same Cueball from DOT EXE, he basically goes, "Oh? You think I look like a criminal just because I'm full-cyber too? Prejudice much?!" and that actually gets them to back down most of the time lol

He used to do programming and other computer related tasks (including messing with servers and hardware) as a job after going full-cyber and before eventually joining DOT EXE. He’s still good at those things too! But at least now he keeps up with those more as a hobby, which he honestly prefers. He thus tends to refuse to help with the IT stuff for the mall, he’s sick of doing that kind of thing for work.

He wanted in on the crew mostly because he was sick of feeling “left behind” by everyone else whenever they’d go out to do writer stuff. By the time he joined, Quatorze, Jūrō, Twoson, and Fourside had already become part of the crew.

He’s the only DOT EXE member with no prior experience as a writer (especially before going full-cyber), and so he’s had to put in a lot of practice with the rest of the crew. Due to his lack of skills, he was only really allowed to join because his older brother 8-ball let him join, and even then only after Cueball begged him about it a lot.

On that note, and as mentioned in 8-ball’s section, Cueball and 8-ball are specifically half-brothers. They cared about each other, and 8-ball very much tried to help out his little brother whenever he could. Back when the two of them were still full-flesh, they weren’t too close, but at least kept in touch via email and sometimes actual postcards despite the age difference between them. Mostly 8-ball wanted to be sure Cueball had another adult he could turn to if he was in trouble, because he knows how their dad is.

After moving to New Amsterdam, they did get a little closer as brothers. Cueball has a lot of admiration for his older brother because of his writer activities, though sometimes Cueball would be annoyed or even hate 8-ball for (in his eyes) “babying” him when 8-ball was just trying to keep him safe. Eventually, sometime after 8-ball died, Cueball mostly just regrets not really knowing 8-ball that well in the end.

Cueball starts trying to get into rhythm games after 8-ball’s death, and he even tries to join in on the rhythm game competitions with Cinco and Neun. He’s getting pretty good at it!

He does a lot of pranks with Twoson and Fourside. Also prank wars between the three of them! Neun makes a point to have plans outside of New Amsterdam for the weeks surrounding April Fools Day, while the rest of the crew just roll with it.

Besides Twoson and Fourside, Cueball gets along fairly well with Cinco, Jūrō, and Quatorze. For the last one, he has accidentally called her mom once, and he had her swear to never tell anyone else what happened.

He’s dating Bō! Cueball is really big on physical touch as a show of affection. He is thus incredibly cuddly and big on handholding and hugs! He also cuts back on the jokes and teasing just for Bō (for the most part).

He used to do a lot of cooking and baking before he went full-cyber. Once he started dating Bō, he actually go back into cooking to be able to cook stuff for his boyfriend! He still remembers all of the recipes he tried out, plus reads up on new ones to try. Unfortunately, due to of course having no sense of taste now, he has to either use recipes that don’t need tasting in between steps, stick with recipes that he already knows Bō likes, or otherwise make sure Bō is around for taste-testing.

Bō is the only one who knows what Cueball’s real voice sounds like, and even then Cueball only uses it when they’re alone together in private.

Real name Ernesto Alberto Visser. Cueball got Covid when he was about 15. The resulting long Covid was bad enough that, in his early 20s, he decided to just go full-cyber instead of continuing to suffer. His older brother 8-ball helped him out with that. At first it was just helping him move to New Amsterdam to get better medical treatment (and to get away from their dad and Cueball’s mom for that matter) once Cueball turned 18. Eventually that lead to helping Cueball with going full-cyber once the treatments proved ineffective. He did so sometime after 8-ball, Neun, and Cinco went full-cyber themselves. Cueball is about 43 during the time of the game.

Cueball originally had plans to become a chef or at least a baker, but when he got sick, part of the problems from his Covid infection was that his sense of taste got completely messed up. He was originally going to do programming as a hobby thing. But once he went full-cyber, he did programming as a full time job since he didn’t have anything else going for him, until eventually joining DOT EXE many years later.

Because of why he went full-cyber, he is distrustful of doctors (due to both the quack doctors his parents forced him to see to pretend that his Covid symptoms “weren’t that bad”, and the actual doctors later on who knew how serious his condition was but couldn’t do much for him anyways). He insists on accompanying his full-flesh friends to their doctor appointments to make sure they’re safe!!

#bomb rush cyberfunk #bomb rush cyberfunk headcanons #brc headcanons #brc dot exe #dot exe OCs #they might as well be OCs at this rate yeesh!!#kinda like what happened with Devil Theory :u #fan art

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thefiresontheheight · 7 months

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I had an incredibly detailed multipart dream so bare with me here.

At some point in the near future, like 2060s a woman’s twin sons both are in a car wreck and end up in vegetative states. She, just a janitor, out of her mind with grief when a super shady business approaches her and says they can possible save her sons if she agrees to their experimental procedure. She does and one of them not only miraculously recovers fully but his brain grows new connections and he becomes a super genius. But the other, mentioned to love ttrpgs, mysteriously vanishes. In the background an increased effort to reach Mars is mentioned on a news broadcast.

Jump forward several decades into the future. The Procedure as it’s called is still mostly only used sparingly and in emergency situations. It’s understood that sometimes it creates super genius brains and sometimes it’s known make people bodily vanish for no understood reason. The company behind it has revealed the got the Procedure from a crashed alien probe from Mars and that is behind the increased interest. In fact right at the start of the section a dozen scientists who have all survived the Procedure are landing on Mars.

As they do they do land they discover to their shock that not only does Mars have the plant life in the form of small, fungal growths but it also has a thin but breathable atmosphere. Satellites in orbit still show it as uninhabitable and they theorize that it’s some sort of hologram that makes it look far less alive than it is. Then they look up into the thin clouds and see huge orrery like machines made of marble, floating above, covered in statues of Greco-Roman gods.

The scientific expedition struggles in vain to understand these impossible machines. Nothing about it makes sense and they cannot discovered how they work until one scientist in a fit of desperation undergoes the Procedure a second time. He does not vanish but rather, on an expedition to the cloud machines activates one of them. As the rest of the expedition watches in awe from the surface and begins sending a message back to Earth one of them notices that the marble machine seems to be expanding.

We jump forward several decades again to a society of scientists that the company has set up on Mars. The marble machines have grown, and continue to grow, now crowding the surface. The company keeps sending people to interact with them, all fueled by the Procedure. The Procedure seems less and less effective, now disappearing around five out of six people who undergo it, with debates around if they are dead or not. But the entire civilization seems obsessed with solving the inexplicable mysteries of how the machines function and who made them.

But one scientist growing afraid of the increasingly claustrophobic corridors between the machines huge, moving, marble barriers decides to ask his friend, a janitor living on Mars who has never undergone the Procedure even once. He has no ideas but tells a story of the time his wife died and he felt mad with grief. He describes this grief as a labyrinth, and that the more he tried to find a way out the more lost he became. The only way to escape a labyrinth, he says, referencing a small RPG group he DMs, is to stop trying to solve it.

The scientist thinks about this as the walls of marble draw closer. Another six scientist undergo the Procedure again, the third or fourth time for all of them. And this time they all disappear.

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obscurecharactershowdown · 1 year

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Before I reveal the contestants, I want to shout out some characters that didn't end up getting in, for one reason or another, but stood out to me

Prince Peasley (Superstar Saga): I mentioned him as a character I really enjoyed learning about, but since he won the Luigi ship competition, I'm unsure of his obscurity status and he may overpower the other characters. I'm sorry your highness, please know I love you

Francis York Morgan (Deadly Premonition): I was stunned to see not one, but 2 people submit this character. I'm endlessly entertained by his weird ass game. He would've been a shoe in had he not been submitted twice. Sorry buddy. Also if he was I would've put in my own propaganda, consisting only of this image

and a video of the squirrels that make monkey noises

Crow T. Robot (Mystery Science Theater 3000): the only reason he's not in is because another MST3K I consider comparatively more obscure was submitted, but I am going to post part of the propaganda for him now because I really loved it and it would be a shame if I was the only one who got to read it:

i have to take a chance on crow, for he is my #1 blorbo and my favorite mst3k character since forever. i charted out a whole TIMELINE for him and there's like. 4-6 of him just existing in various locations. he's shaped like a friend. he can be folded into a torpedo. he has legs and i constantly forget this until he has them on-screen and i'm like OH SHIT this guy is mostly leg (he's around 5'4"). he managed to kill mike (the human guy he lives with in space) TWICE on accident and neither time stuck. all of his presentations are insane and completely factually inaccurate. he claimed women were myths like bigfoot in a short-film style black and white presentation. he's friendly/friends? with pearl, one of the main antagonists (and a woman, who he just claimed didn't exist). he can play the trombone. he just kinda bounces up and down sometimes and is so shaped. he spent 500 years alone because he got bored of being pure energy at the edge of the universe after five minutes. he wrote patrick swayze christmas, the only christmas song ever. he's constantly doing t-rex arms. he keeps falling from extreme heights. to a few ancient romans he's a spider-duck god. he's a bit of a pyromaniac. he went to thanksgiving in deep 13 and walked away unharmed (everyone else got poisoned). he causes an illusion in the theater where it looks like he's staring at you instead of the movie. he's an absolute menace. he contains so much gender yet none at all. he's different! he wants to decide who lives and who dies, and i think he should. he is simply so guy. ty for reading my crow rant sorry for the wall of text

Thank you for this. I love Crow and MST3K too, you are in good company

Mister Qi (Stardew Valley): In the propaganda section, the submitter wrote: "He sucks and I hate him. It'd be really funny if he lost." and it made me laugh

Chuck Cunningham (Happy Days): The submitter's dad told them to submit him and that was also funny to me

Vincenzo (kdrama of the same name): Submitter's dad has a crush on Vincenzo <3

Pioneer 9 (17776): This was the most submitted character, with a total of.....4 submissions! Wow!

Husky (+Anima): This is the second most submitted character, with 3 submissions! I'm sorry to you both but this means you are automatically excluded from being picked for the competition.

Less specifically, shout out to the many characters who were just barely well known enough to drop out of priority. And the major characters/protagonists of major series. A couple were clearly jokes, but several were not.

And all of the characters from albums, commercials, various Real Life Things, myths, some OCs, etc: I have a plan for you. It's not the main bracket, but you are not being left out here. More information on that when the time is right.

Thank you for all your submissions! The list of contestants and their matchups are coming soon!

#obscurecharactershowdown

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panda-writes-kpop · 7 months

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Platonic! Handong ~ The University Experience

A/N: My pearls, this story is based on my own experience. I'll let you guess who I am in this story. ;) Also, this is for @sanccharine because they requested this from me a long while ago, and who am I not to deliver (at a much later date)?

TW: Alcohol mentions, college antics, bad language from multiple parties, Reader is NOT a model student.

Summary: Handong goes to her Chem lecture, expecting much of the same boring content, until she overhears the conversation from you, Ryujin, and Yunjin about Dongie's oddly shaped pencil pouch.

♡ Masterlist ♡

Handong quietly sketches a figure in her Chemistry notebook as she waits for the lecture to start.

University had been an… interesting transition for her, especially since she was going to be so far away from her old school friends and her family. Handong had moved away from her family to go to primary school, but she had made a group of friends that became her new family. Primary school, unfortunately, had come and gone, and her friends had moved on to greater pursuits in many different places.

Luck had been on her side for a little bit, as she went to college with one of her old friends: SuA, and SuA was in her Chemistry lecture and recitation. Handong’s luck ran out because the two were in different majors, but it was nice to see a friendly face a few times a week.

Handong mostly stayed on her own throughout university, and she didn’t really mind it. The best company was her own, after all. Studying and eating in peace was nice, but she did miss the chatter of friends talking over one another and sharing incredible stories of their ridiculous shenanigans.

Then, of course, you had come crashing into her life with the grace of a rhinoceros stomping through a feeding ground.

Handong got herself ready for the lecture as time ticked down, and you came walking in about two minutes before class had started. You sat a row back from her, and you lazily threw your backpack to the side before checking your phone.

“Are you always this disorganized?” A voice to Handong’s left asks.

Shin Ryujin.

With her glasses slightly askew, Ryujin types on her computer without hesitation.

You scoff before rolling your eyes.

“You shouldn’t visit my dorm, then.”

“I’ve heard from Jisu about the mess that you’ve made of that poor room. And your drinking habits, by the way, aren’t exactly… how should I put it?”

“Ryujin!” You scold before setting your phone aside. “Don’t bring that up. I only vomited once, and it was Yunjin’s fault!”

You grab your tablet and open your computer as Handong continues to listen in on your conversation.

“Where is the she-devil, by the way?”

You scoff as you roll your eyes.

“First off, that’s not a very nice thing to say to someone, and secondly, you know how she is: she’s either 5 minutes early, walks in when the professor starts lecturing, or she skips because she’s hungover or overslept.”

“Whatever.” Ryujin sighs as you flick a pencil over to her, and it smacks her in the back of the head. “Seriously? How old are you, five?”

“I’m six, actually.” You stick your tongue out at her as the door in the front of the lecture hall opens. “There she is! The woman of the hour in the flesh and blood.”

The professor starts lecturing as Yunjin sits down and leaves a seat between the two of you. You give her a high-five as you lower your voice to speak with her.

“How was your nap?” You quietly mutter.

“I was getting food at the dining hall, actually.” Yunjin matter-of-factly tells you, “And I did some Calculus while I was eating.”

“Did Lisa have to help you?” You jokingly say as Yunjin reaches over and punches your shoulder.

“I did two of the problems by myself, thanks for asking.” She hisses as you rub your shoulder in pain. “What section of Chem are we on, by the way?”

“You’d know if you did the notes.” You say.

“Did you do the notes, genius?”

“Fuck no!” You exclaim before immediately hushing your voice. “I have better things to do.”

“This is why neither of you have an A in this class.” Ryujin rolls her eyes as you tap your tablet’s pencil against your chin.

“Okay, smart-ass, we get it.” Yunjin shoots back at Ryujin before taking out a notebook. “Seriously, what chapter are we on?”

Ryujin chuckles to herself before turning back to her computer.

Handong finds herself enthralled in the conversation, and she’s managed to keep up with the notes along with the conversation.

“We’re on Chapter Four, the one with electrolytes and titrations.” Handong quietly says as three sets of eyes travel to her.

“Thank you, ah…” Yunjin trails off as Handong quickly answers.

“Handong. My name’s Handong.”

“Huh Yunjin.” She cheekily smiles before looking over at you.

You stick your tongue out at Yunjin before saying your name.

“It’s nice to meet you too, Handong.” You add on as you nod at Ryujin. “Are you going to say anything, or are you just going to be all mysterious over there?”

“Fuck you.” Ryujin spits out before glancing at Handong. “Shin Ryujin is my name.”

“Ah, it’s a pleasure to meet you all.” Handong says while continuing to take notes.

You continue to chatter with Yunjin throughout the lecture, and Ryujin joins in your banter every once in a while. Besides complaining about Chemistry itself, the conversation jumps to parties, Halloween, and the newest shows on Netflix and Disney.

Eventually, once the class is almost over, your discussion with Yunjin jumps to a more… irrelevant topic.

“Is that someone’s shoe on the table?” Yunjin asks, and you shake your head before sighing.

“You’re being ridiculous. Did you drink too much last night?” You joke, and Yunjin scrunches her nose before pointing at the spot next to Handong.

“Do you not see the shoe right fucking there?”

“Sure, it’s a shoe, but I don’t think it’s her shoe.” You stare at the brightly colored shoe as Yunjin looks at you like you’re an idiot.

“Of course it’s her shoe! Why else would someone have a shoe on the table?”

“Oh my god,” You smack your head against your hand, “it’s not a shoe, Yunjin!”

“It’s clearly a shoe! What else would it be?”

“It is a pencil pouch because it has a zipper, you dumbass!”

Ryujin laughs as Handong chuckles to herself.

This was going to be one interesting semester.

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ourlittleforever · 6 months

Text

Blue Moon

Boone/Courier

Rating: T

Words: 3351

Kinda-sorta pre-relationship fluff, for feelings that are a long way away from being fully explored.

Also on AO3!

Note - There are some sections of dialogue taken directly from the game, like when Boone is describing Carla's death, the Bitter Springs massacre, etc. I just felt like what was in the game was perfect and any attempt to rewrite it was gonna end with me screwing it up

Millie was one of the strangest people Boone had ever met.

When they came to Novac, they marched to the top of the dinosaur at midnight to introduce themselves to him. And like an idiot, he’d mentioned Carla. Millie offered their sympathies – and then, to his surprise, they offered their help. “I’ll look around,” they’d said, and the next night, they had proof Jeannie May Crawford had sold Carla off, and the old bitch was dead on the ground.

Millie had handed Boone his beret back with a soft look on their face. “So what’s next for you?”

“I don’t know,” he said.

The courier looked out across the stark desert with a slight smile. “I’m going to New Vegas. To find the man who shot me.”

He’d forgotten that Millie had been shot. They certainly didn’t behave like someone who’d taken two bullets to the brainpan, prancing about naively with a big grin and friendly disposition.

When he said nothing, Millie continued. “I heard Carla loved New Vegas. You should come with me.”

Boone pursed his lips. He had nothing left here in Novac – and if he was going to die on his own terms, it’d have to be out in the wasteland, not rotting here. “Fine by me.”

Millie grinned. “Awesome! We’ll leave tomorrow morning, ‘kay?”

Boone wondered if this was the last mistake he’d ever make.

—

Millie was easy company, for the most part. They couldn’t shoot worth a damn, usually oblivious to bugs and raiders until Boone took them out with his trusty rifle. How had they ever become a courier? Maybe they were more observant before the injury, he thought.

Still, Millie was cheerful and easy to get along with. They sometimes prodded at him for information, but when he didn’t budge, they knew better than the press further. He and the courier could travel in comfortable silence for hours, and when it was time to talk, they usually did all the talking.

They tried to dig at their own memories during these conversations. Millie admitted that they had amnesia (perhaps that was why they couldn’t remember how to use a pistol), and this frustrated them. “The only things I know are my name and my age, ‘cause those were on me, on my ID,” they explained. “Everything else was scratched out.”

“On your ID, or in general?”

“Both,” they replied with a sigh. “Millie d’Fleur; 23 years old.” They frowned, staring off into the distance, as if trying to form some image of their past.

“No way you’re 23. You look like a kid.”

“I get that a lot,” Millie laughed, scratching a scab on their cheek. “It’s just ‘cause I’m really short, huh?” They couldn’t be more than five feet tall.

“You act like a kid, too.”

“Then it’s good you’re here to look out for me, huh?” They nudged his arm. “I get the feeling that I always wanted a big brother.”

Boone stayed quiet. He wasn’t the kid’s brother; he wasn’t sure what he was to Millie. A friend? They thought of him as one, certainly.

“I think… I think I had a sibling. A brother or sister. Younger than me, though.” They looked up into the twinkling starlight. “And my grandmother. I remember her better. But she’s still… so vague.” They frowned. “I can’t remember her face. I wish I could. I know that I loved her.” Millie pulled their knees up to their chest. “Maybe after I find the checkered-suit-man, I can try and find out who I was – who I am. Someone’s got to know, right?”

“Right,” he grunted.

They laid down on their bedroll, staring up to the stars. “Thanks for talking with me, Craig. I appreciate it.”

Craig? No one had called him that in years. He didn’t even refer to himself by his first name anymore. It felt odd. Still, Boone didn’t correct them.

“Yeah,” he said, and he watched the desert until it was time for him to sleep.

—

Boone soon learned how Millie had managed to survive in the Mojave: charm.

He was starting to learn their behavior, how they could soothe even the gruffest old man or the most hysterical, wailing woman. A gentle touch on the shoulder, the slight tilt of their head, their lips curving into a slight, knowing smile as they spoke confidently and calmly: this was how Millie navigated the NCR, not with a blazing gun, but with a sharp, cunning charisma.

Not that they seemed to realize it, of course.

The two were standing in front of the King, some religious leader operating out of a “School of Impersonation.” So prestigious, Boone grumbled to himself. Still, the King was respectful, especially as he asked Millie to solve yet another problem for him. Someone was kicking up trouble with the NCR at the soup kitchen, and the King couldn’t solve it his damn self.

“Of course,” they replied, that knowing smile playing out across their features. “I’ll head there right away.”

As soon as the duo were out of the building, Boone turned to them and asked, “Why are we doing this? Don’t you have someone to catch up to?”

Millie shrugged. “He needs help.”

“He could help himself.”

“He might lose his reputation,” Millie countered. “Who knows? The NCR might shoot him on sight if they see him walking up.”

“The NCR –” Boone paused. The NCR wouldn’t do that, he was going to say, but he knew that was dead wrong. “Fine.”

“You don’t have to come with me.”

I kind of do, Boone thought. If there really was a shoot out – if Millie couldn’t defuse the situation – they’d need his help. He said nothing.

As it would turn out, the King’s idiot friend had tried to take on the NCR alone.

Lucky for him, Millie was there, and they knew exactly what to say.

“I’m so sorry, Major Kieran. The King had no idea about this; he asked me to come and patch things up between y’all and the Freeside citizens,” Millie said, tilting to their head to right slightly, and Major Elizabeth Kieran was putty in their hands. “You see, there’s a lot of sickness and starvation in Freeside. He just wants his people fed. He didn’t intend to fight you.”

Major Kieran pursed her lips. “Our envoy…”

“He’s awful sorry about that.” A hand on the shoulder, and the major was done for. “Here, I can walk you over to the Kings, and you can talk it out. Maybe come to an agreement – pool your resources together so everyone gets fed.”

“We’ll see,” Major Kieran said, glancing at her fellow soldiers. She looked over at Boone with an expression that screamed What the hell, soldier? He simply shrugged.

Millie and Boone left. “That wasn’t so bad,” they commented cheerfully.

“You’re lucky they didn’t stick a gun in your face the minute you walked in, kid.”

“I am quite lucky,” they chirped with a grin.

They walked in silence for a bit, before Boone’s curiosity got the better of him. “Why did you insist on helping the King and Major Kieran?”

Millie sighed. “Look around, Craig. This place… it’s awful. People are starving, addicted to chems, wasting away… If I can make even a little bit of difference, make someone’s life just a little bit better, why shouldn’t I try?”

Gonna get yourself killed doing that, Boone thought. Still… It was a nice thought, wasn’t it? Even if it was foolish and naive – that someone could waltz in, fix a problem, make a couple people happy, and leave, knowing they made a “difference.”

Good thing they had him around to keep them safe, then, if that really was Millie’s goal.

—

“So what all did that robot have to say?” Boone asked as Millie stepped out of the hole in the wall. They brushed drywall from their short brown hair, shaking out their locks and frowning.

“Benny’s got the Platinum Chip, which is like… this super important upgrading device. Mr. House wants it, and Benny does, too. To take over New Vegas, the Hoover Damn. Or, in House’s case, I guess, enforce his, uh, presidency.” Millie rubbed their eyes. “Or… Yes Man said he could help me, if I took the chip.”

“If you took the chip? The robot suggested that?”

“He did. His programming is… well, Benny made him too friendly and open, it seems.”

“Where’d that bastard go, anyway?”

Millie swallowed hard. “He’s… he’s at the Fort.”

Boone’s heart was lead. Fortification Hill, the capitol of the Legion. Caesar’s palace.

“You don’t have to come,” Millie said, laying a hand on his bicep. “I know it’s…”

“You told me you were going to try and take down the Legion,” Boone replied, his voice graven. “Is that what you’re gonna do?”

Millie nodded.

“Then I’m going with you.”

There was a slight twinkle in the courier’s eye at that. “We’ll leave in the morning.”

—

Boone had been silent the entire battle through Cottonwood Cove. Swarms of Legionnaires had attacked, and he’d taken them out with deadly efficiency; for what it was worth, Millie’s aim had improved significantly, and they managed to score a few kills of their own. When all was said and done, he and Millie stood on the boat dock, and they beamed proudly at him.

“You saw that headshot I got, right?” they babbled excitedly, their hunting rifle slung haphazardly over their back. “It was so cool!”

Boone simply grunted.

Millie’s face fell, and he felt rather sorry. “Are you okay?”

“Fine.”

“You’re not,” the courier responded, tilting their head slightly. Don’t do that. Please. “You don’t have to tell me anything, Craig, but you know I’m here for you. Right?” They laid a hand on his shoulder, reaching up as far as they could, their arms almost too short. “You’re not alone.”

“This is where…” Boone looked away. He almost couldn’t stand their sympathy. He didn’t deserve it. “Carla. She... I tracked her down. Southeast, near the river. They were selling her. Saw it through my scope. Whole place swarming with Legion. Hundreds of them. Bidding for things no man has a right to. I just had my rifle with me. Just me, against all of them, so... I took the shot.”

Millie’s eyes were shiny with tears as Boone continued. “What they do to women... that's worse than death. There was no choice in what I did. It was more like... being forced to watch something you can't stop. All this was only ever going to play out one way. It still is. I don't have any say. All I can do is wait for it to be done with me.”

“You have a say now,” Millie said, their fingers curling in his dirty T-shirt.

“I should've never gotten close to her. I've got bad things coming to me. You'd better keep your distance, too.”

“You can still go back, if you want to. I know this is hard for you. I can deal with Caesar–”

“No,” he replied sharply. “He’d take you away, too.” Shit. He didn’t mean it to come out that way. “I mean – I… you would get hurt. If I’m there, then you stand a better chance.”

Millie studied him carefully, glistening tears rolling down their dirtied face. “Then we’ll do it. For Carla. For everyone.”

Boone couldn’t stop himself from almost smiling.

The two stepped onto the raft.

“This might be the last boat we ever take,” the sniper muttered.

“Then let’s make the most of it, yeah?”

“Yeah.”

—

Caesar was dead.

The bastard lay on the ground face-down, blood pooling around his body, turning the dirt crimson. Millie and Boone, along with Rex, were surrounded by dead Legionnaires, and he felt a deep sense of pride. Maybe he had things left to do in this life, after all.

“What next?” he asked, wiping the blood from his brow.

“I’ve gotta get into the Fort,” Millie replied, slinging their gun over their shoulder. “See about the Platinum Chip, what’s up with alla that. And then…”

It was eerily quiet in the camp. The courier turned, scanning the area, their eyes catching on a slave cage. A few women skittered from the bars, clutching each other in fear. “We free them,” Millie declared.

“And those boys?” Boone asked, a bitter taste in his throat. The little boys outside the camp – future legionnaires. It made him ill.

“We’ll take them to the Followers. Maybe that can set them on the right path. Clear out all the hate.” Millie was oddly stern yet serene. They examined the Platinum Chip in the low evening light. “I’ll go down into the bunker, if you’ll let the slaves free. Make sure they’re allowed into the food stores and stuff. Once we get back to Cottonwood Cove, we’ll radio the NCR, and they can clean up here, get everyone out, since we don’t have enough room on the raft. Or we can head back to Freeside, and I can call in that favor with the King…”

“You have an answer for everything.”

“I have to, right? People are counting on me.” They looked up at Boone, their face deadly serious. “I’ll be right back.” Millie knelt and petted Rex behind the ears. “Stay with Craig, buddy. Be good.”

—

When Millie returned from the bunker, Boone had managed to round up the slaves in the center of camp, passing out food and pure water to the women. A little girl had run off and gleefully found her torn-up teddy bear before returning for a meal.

There was a strange, distant look on Millie’s face as they sat by a fire far from the others, snacking on a few pinyon nuts. Rex whined at their feet, and they absentmindedly scratched under his chin.

Boone sat across from them, sharpening his machete. One ghost from his past had been put to rest – shouldn’t he feel better? But Bitter Springs hung heavy on his mind. He could kill all the legionnaires he wanted, but it wouldn’t change what had happened at Coyote Tail Ridge. His chest felt tight.

He glanced at Millie, who was still lost in thought. “What happened in the bunker that’s got you all shook up?”

“Oh!” Millie blinked, then shook their head, as if shaking their thoughts away. “It was Mr. House’s Securitron army. The one Yes Man wanted me to find. Well, and Mr. House, too. But…” They paused, took a deep breath, then continued. “I won’t give it to him. We’ll have to… take care of him, now that he knows I have the chip and the Securitrons.”

“So you have your own army now,” Boone mused. “What are you going to do with it?”

“Make the Mojave a better place.” At Boone’s bitter chuckle, Millie became defensive. “Listen – you saw all the pain and suffering in Freeside. People starving, alone, sick, while the rich gamble away their wealth in the Strip, and Mr. House keeps New Vegas and Freeside divided with violence. The NCR – and don’t be mad at me for saying this – the NCR hasn’t done anything. You really think they’ll shake up the status quo?”

Boone wanted to argue, but he knew better than most that Millie was right. He was living proof.

“We can make New Vegas better,” they insisted. “Take its wealth. Tear down the gates between the Strip and Freeside, spread the wealth to the people who need it. And once we’ve helped Freeside, we can start moving out and helping the rest of the Mojave. It’ll take time, but it can be done.” Millie spoke with such conviction, such pure, unadulterated faith, that Boone almost wanted to believe them.

How could they have seen all they’d seen – been shot in the head twice, been betrayed, been attacked and beaten down and chased and threatened – and still believe that there was goodness left in the Mojave? It was an admirable foolishness.

Perhaps it was Millie’s starry-eyed, dreamy, but complete and utter conviction in the world that made Boone mention Bitter Springs.

“There’s somewhere I need to go,” he said. “You know I was at Bitter Springs. Maybe… you could come with me.”

Millie’s eyes lit up. “Of course! Once we get everything settled here, we’ll go. Okay?”

“Okay.”

—

Bitter Springs was a refugee camp now, no thanks to the NCR, who patrolled the camp with bored indifference. Boone walked along, mindful of his long stride, deliberately slowing himself so Millie could easily follow. They said nothing as the two came to a stop at a graveyard, and Boone’s stomach was tied in knots. He had to tell them.

“What happened?” Millie asked quietly, turning to look up at him with their earnest, gray-green eyes.

“Main force got spotted too soon. We heard shooting. Then Khans started coming through Canyon 37 in bunches. It was all wrong, though. Women, kids, elderly. Wounded started coming through, too. We radioed to confirm our orders but command didn't get what we were seeing. They told us to shoot till we were out of ammo. So that's what we did.”

Millie’s face was soft, the compassion in their face intolerable to Boone. He didn’t deserve it. Not one bit. He didn’t deserve their kindness.

There was a shout from behind them, like someone being startled; then, a gunshot. Boone raced down the ridge, Millie in tow, and spotted them – legionnaires, looking for easy pickings. “There might be too many of them. I’ll stay, but if you want out –”

“I’m staying,” Millie said firmly, grabbing their rifle.

Eventually, the Legion’s numbers thinned, and Millie and Boone were left standing in an empty field of crimson. They’d done it. They’d managed to hold the legionnaires back.

The sniper sighed, letting the warm sun hit his face, and the sensation soothed him. “I thought I was going to die here.” He could feel Millie stepping closer, their arm brushing against his. “But I'm still here and nothing's changed.”

“You’ve changed,” Millie said gently. “You saved these people from the Legion just now.”

“Have I? A murderer who does good sometimes is still a murderer.”

Millie stepped in front of him, and he looked down at them. There was that conviction again, their eyes like steel. “You can't take back what you've done. But your regrets can set you on a better path,” they said. “You’ve got so much time left, Craig. And so much good left to do.”

“What can I do now, though?” he asked insistently, try to fight down his anger. Was it anger at Millie, for continuing to believe he was good, despite it all? Anger at them for trying to make him better? He couldn’t truly tell.

Millie tilted their head, smiled sweetly, and laid a hand on their shoulder. “Come with me,” they said, and their earnestness nearly broke his heart. “I’ve got a plan. We’ll make New Vegas – the whole Mojave – a better place. I’ve got the chip, and you’ve got the gun.”

Boone said nothing. This was far more than he deserved; but Millie truly, honestly believed in what they were saying, and he couldn’t help but feel moved by their words. “I can’t do this without you.”

The courier took his rough, large hands in their dainty, tiny ones and squeezed. Their eyes met his, their bright gaze disarming him entirely. “Are you coming with me?”

He’d seen their personality, how they treated others. How they lived by the values they espoused, of hope and compassion and goodness.

If anyone could save the Mojave…

“I’ve got your back,” he replied after a long moment.

Millie grinned, then, to his surprise, embraced him. He could feel their hot tears soaking through his shirt, and Boone was hugging them back before he realized what he was doing. “What’s–”

“I love you, Craig,” Millie blurted, hugging him even tighter. “Thanks for sticking around. I… I can’t tell you how much I appreciate it.”

The sun was warm, Millie’s embrace was tight, and for the first time in years, Boone felt some semblance of peace.

“Yeah. Love you, too.”

#self ship #yes this is who i was talking about last night. rip millie #self insert #selfship #self ship community #f/o community #blue moon

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thesmallmeggles · 11 months

Text

〰️ Lo-Wav Delay 〰️ (LWD for short)

Another Role Swap AU!? The idea initially sparked after seeing @gorochuva 's Vandelay Sibling swap and I wanted to push it further. I know @magmalaz also has a role swap au, but it'd be weird for me not to share mine when I mentioned it in my playlist post. So here we go. 🙃

What's This All About?

Roxanne and Kale lead Vandelay Technologies together, with Kale developing SPECTRA in secret. Unlike in canon, Roxanne discovers it early on and fires Kale on the spot.

The corporate culture at Vandelay is healthier than canon, but there's an undercurrent of unease. Misbehaving employees return from Human Resources listless, robotic. It has not escaped Kale's notice. He looks into it, discovering to his horror that Roxanne revived SPECTRA and that she plans to include it inside Project Armstrong applicants' prosthetics.

Kale and his team has a month to shut down SPECTRA before Project Armstrong launches. Assuming they can get their act together.

The Protagonists

Mimosa, Social Media Account Manager for Vandelay Tech and a former pop star. Assumes Chai's role. She joins the team after an interrupted HR referral. (Girl dodged a bullet.)

Kale Vandelay , disgraced former Vice President. The Peppermint to Mimosa's Chai and 1/2 of Mission control (shared with Roquefort). An important detail to note is that none of his teammates knows he created SPECTRA in the beginning.

Roquefort, retired economic advisor and Kale's business mentor. He hasn't been converted into a robo-werewolf so he is... fragile.

W01F-G4NG, Roquefort's robotic service dog (commissioned by Kale). 100% Certified Good Boy. Like 808, Wolfie acts as Roquefort's eyes and ears on the field in addition to being the squad telephone.

Zanzo, an eccentric engineer evading disciplinary measures by hiding in a storage area he converted into an office. He's in Macaron's role, but with Korsica's mechanics. Zanzo alternates between a walker and wheelchair because of his Cerebral Palsy (headcanon go brr). He doesn't have cybernetics as he can't afford them.

Rekka, a Production supervisor with a near flawless conduct and output records. The Korsica of the team (with similar mechanics to Macaron), as she needs further convincing to go against Vandelay.

Also a secret temporary teammate who I'm not going to name. 🤫

The Antagonists

Roxanne Vandelay, founder and CEO of Vandelay Technologies. Assumes Kale's role. Foils Mimosa in a similar way to Chai and Kale.

Chai, newly hired Brand Ambassador for the pending Project Armstrong. Works closely with the Head Of Marketing. Might still have musical and magnetism powers, only on purpose this time.

808, pretty much the same except she can turn into a panther mech.

Peppermint Vandelay, favored younger Vandelay sibling (according to Kale). Officially on record as a programmer, but her role in the company is closer to VP. Peppermint heads Vandelay Tech's "secret security force" which consists of her, 808, Chai, Macaron, CNMN, and Korsica.

Macaron, Head of Research and Development.

CNMN is considered the co head of R&D. He also helps out in Human Resources.

Korsica, heads Security after the previous head quit without notice. She's still getting used to her position six months on.

Also OC department heads for Production, Marketing, Finance, and Human Resources

The AU Name

Hi-Fi RUSH -> Lo-Wav Delay

Subtle reference to Ultra Low Frequency. Definition: Ultra Low Frequency (ULF) is a low frequency electromagnetic wave band that can penetrate the earth. It's used for communications in mines and might aid in predicting earthquakes in the future.

If LWD were a game, I see its gameplay as being more stealth and social engineering based. Also puzzles and Space Channel Five type rhythm sections (since Mimosa is the player character).

#hi-fi rush #hfr #hfr mimosa #hfr kale #hfr roquefort #hfr zanzo #hfr rekka #role swap au #lo-wav delay #i'm not going to tag all the characters I mentioned for brevity's sake

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nickmaghighlights · 11 months

Text

Nick Mag Highlights - #118 February 2006

Welcome back to Nick Mag Highlights! Would you believe it: Two of the greatest Nickelodeon shows crossing over in one half-hour special? For the second time? It’s a kid’s dream come true! Again! So let’s read all about it.

So yeah, sorry for the wait on this one. A couple of IRL setbacks plus taking on a volley of different big personal projects at once resulted in quite a hit towards my motivation. But hey, we’re here now, and I’m happy to get back into it.

Little sneak preview while I’m here: One of the things I’ve been working on is a new NMH Side Issue post! One that’s covering a mag that’s ostensibly part of Nickelodeon history thanks to its connection to a very prolific creative figure at the studio. Very wordy book though, so naturally both reading it and my analysis of it is gonna take longer than normal. And then I gotta do the research and fact-checking and yadda yadda, it’ll be ready when it's ready. In the meantime I’ve always got Nickelodeon Magazine to come back to.

Read along if you’d like, I think it’s the cool thing to do!

Neopets was still Viacom (parent company of Nickelodeon)’s latest big purchase at the time of this mag’s release, with them having bought it eight months earlier back in June of 2005, so it’s not surprising seeing the new blockbuster Neopets thing getting a big ‘ole two page spread right at the beginning of the magazine.

While Neopets is famous for originally being financially supported by scientology, it was Viacom's stint with the brand that actually got me to give the site a try for a short time (thanks to a Burger King promotion of all things, if memory serves me correctly). If they don't delete old, inactive accounts then I hope my T-Rex Neopet has been doing well for itself. They can’t die, right?

I love this ad. I’m not sure what kind of vibe they were going for here but it almost feels kind of dystopian with the polluted-looking air and all the TV screens weirdly protruding out every which way. Adding to that feeling for me was that I initially thought all that shrubbery down below was a huge audience of adoring viewers. Feels like something out of The Running Man. Super cool.

Always important to check out what Nickelodeon itself was doing around the time. I remember being really excited for Drake & Josh Go Hollywood, and seeing how it went on to gross more than 5 million viewers, I guess I wasn’t alone. Really bothers me to find out it’s just called Go Hollywood and not Go To Hollywood like I thought it was all these years, but I guess I’ll live.

And speaking of millions of viewers, this section also mentions the then-upcoming SpongeBob SquarePants special “Dunces & Dragons” (oddly not actually referred to here with an actual title), which grossed more than 8 million viewers.

Oh, and it’s Black History Month. Y’know just kind of a footnote slotted in the middle there. You'd think that'd get an article or interview, I don’t know. I’m sure Kyra appreciates the shoutout at least.

Woah. Imagine living in a pre-High School Musical world. Nowadays High School Musical is the made-for-TV-movie that baby made-for-TV-movies want to grow up to be. Now we’ve got two sequels, a TV spinoff (a TV spinoff that won five Kids’ Choice Awards apparently, funnily enough), and a mountain of films that tried to cash in on that success. Mostly from Disney Channel themselves. Camp Rock, anyone?

Funny to see the not-Jumanji family classic Zathura listed as Josh Hutcherson’s big recognizable role when he’d end up co-starring in the critically lauded cultural touchstone The Hunger Games just a few years later. And now he’s starring in that Five Nights at Freddy’s movie coming out this year. What a career.

There’s gotta be some irony to me sitting here and enjoying what I probably called the “boring parts” of the magazine back when I was a kid. C’mon though, this is pretty neat! I’ll run through all the topics real quick if you’d like to learn more.

Notes From Underground - The Great Stalacpipe Organ

Still standing to this day, the instrument has been refurbished a couple times since it was featured in this magazine. In 2012 a band by the name of Pepe Deluxé composed and played the first ever song exclusively for the Stalacpipe Organ, called “In The Cave” and featured it in their album Queen of the Wave. Give it a listen, it’s a creepy kind of beautiful. Must’ve been hard to record, too!

Playing With Their Food - The Vienna Vegetable Orchestra

The orchestra is still active and has even done a couple of performances this year! I doubt they still make soup from their instruments though. But to be honest even without having to worry about viral diseases I’m not too interested in soup made exclusively of vegetables that have been blown into for several hours.

Talk About Slow Jamz! - Organ²/ASLSP

Miraculously the performance is still on track. They didn’t play a note this year but the next one is scheduled for February 5th. The second slowest performance of the piece lasted 16 hours and took place last year.

World’s Hottest Tunes - Fire Organs

I can’t really find much about this one online, but I guess it speaks for itself, doesn’t it?

Take a look at a performance and try not to think about how hot it must be in that auditorium whenever he plays that thing.

Alright, it’s time for a confession. You ready to hear the horrible truth? …Okay, here goes:

I don’t know very much about music.

I guess it was probably a bad choice for me to write about a magazine themed around music. I got pretty far without having to disclose my lack of knowledge though, right? And in my defense, Nickelodeon lured me in with that Jimmy Timmy Power Hour cover.

And I mean, don’t get me wrong, I like music. I love a bit of jazz now and then*. But still, none of the names here really ring a bell, so I don't know if any of these answers are ironic or out-of-character or so in-character it’s adorable or whatever. At least I can appreciate they spared no expense, they never usually have this many interviews. There’s even a third page with even more of them if you want to check it out.

*My top jazz favorites are Kim Scott (Spotify) and Pieces Of A Dream (Spotify). If you were curious.

It’s really cool to see something encouraging kids to make their own mix CDs. I do kinda wish there was more than one cover though. Not everybody wants to chill.

Aw man, come to think of it, is Gen-Z the last generation to do personal mixtapes and CDs? Or is that still a thing? Regardless I kind of wish I had gotten into doing that when I was younger, it seems like a fun thing to do between friends. Plus my knowledge of music would probably be way stronger than it is now. What do kids do nowadays, send each other Spotify playlists? I guess that's a bit more convenient.

I think I've talked about these Pop-Tart ads before. They were in these magazines all the time so they must’ve come up already. I think I even gave them some credit. But as attention grabbing as they were I really still don't understand the intention. What's so appetizing about seeing these little guys just get absolutely destroyed all the time? Are kids supposed to think about how they’re snuffing the life out of their morning Pop-Tarts?

A very awesome and adorable cover we have here, courtesy of Vera Brosgol (author and illustrator of the award-winning Anya’s Ghost, plus Head of Story on Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio). You can check out her website to see more of her work here.

Nice little comic by Greg Cook. And wouldn’t you know that guy’s Wikipedia article has Nickelodeon Magazine mentioned in its first sentence? That’s cool. Also I feel like the man himself might’ve written his own Wikipedia article. The lack of citations and the way it’s written like the “About Me” page for a blog gives me that kind of vibe. If so, thanks for remembering us, Greg!

Now here’s some of that Jimmy-Timmy content I was promised! I was starting to get worried.

I find it interesting how well Jimmy and Timmy bounce off of each other, but I guess now that I think about it their shows weren’t that different really, at least in terms of subject matter, were they? In broad strokes they’re both kids with big egos whose imaginations tend to get them into trouble. And seeing those big egos clash is naturally gonna lend itself to some good comedy.

In regards to the art, I love the warm colors utilized here, it’s very cozy. The art throws me off just a smidge though. Absolutely no disrespect to Scott Roberts of course, writer and penciler behind this comic (and also creator of Patty Cake, a recurring comic for Nickelodeon Magazine that we… haven’t actually encountered yet on this blog unfortunately), he’s got some great work under his belt, and Timmy and his fairies look as to be expected here. But I do think it was a weird choice making Jimmy look like a Rugrat though. That’s not just me, right? The second page in particular has him pulling off some serious Rugrats-faces. Maybe Roberts was just doing what he knows, because he actually did tons of work on a Rugrats newspaper comic strip just a couple years before this.

Aside from that, Jimmy’s lab is a bit weird. It’s not the usual cave, instead being a regular room with windows and a checkerboard floor? And the exterior shows it to be a wooden cabin? Maybe it’s supposed to be the shack that’s built above the lab Jimmy uses as a secret entrance. Doesn’t really matter, I certainly didn’t notice as a kid, but it does make me wonder if the artist wasn’t provided that much reference material.

I love that snail comic so much like you wouldn’t believe.

Throughout the years I always managed to miss out on LEGO’s constant edgier reinventions of itself, y’know like Bionicle or that one about the ninjas. I guess it helps that I was never really into the toy itself. Unlike those previous examples though, Exo-Force here isn’t ringing any bells for me, but I do find it noteworthy how they were trying to go for a more anime/gundam vibe with this one, what with the Japanese affixed to the bottom of the logo and the faux-anime designs of all the main characters. Surprised to see this one didn’t even warrant its own cartoon, instead having its epic storyline played out through a series of commercials. And while I may like an overarching commercial narrative as much as the next guy (anyone remember those Goldfish Cracker commercials that did the same thing?), I bet you any fans of this line were sore it never got the whole TV show package like Bionicle did.

Oh right, Valentine’s Day is in February, isn’t that right? How many more years do you think that holiday has, you reckon? Nobody likes it. It’s just a reason to buy more greeting cards and do nice things for people that you probably should just be doing anyway and not need a holiday to tell you to do. Eh, still though I guess if you were in a small class at school this would be a pretty useful sheet of cards.

Skyland, huh? Can’t say it rings a bell, but it certainly looks cool. How did this slip by me? I even had this issue as a kid and watched Nicktoons, so I must have just completely tuned it out. I wonder why?

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Oh, that’s interesting, it seems like it's all done with motion captured 3D animation. That’s fine, I guess, but that illustration in the magazine had me thinking it’d look a bit more like The Last Airbender. I’m impressed that they spared no expense on the story at least. This intro here can barely keep down its exposition to forty seconds!

So, does anyone remember this one? Apparently it was a French production that was licensed to different channels across the world, airing on Teletoon in Canada and CITV in the UK. I’d love to know if it was any good!

Pretty good smorgasbord of facts in this month’s calendar. And I guess a blanket theme is good as any other theme. Ooh, National Pancake Day! What a great month.

The Jimmy-Timmy quiz is fun, but I wish we could’ve gotten an interview with someone a part of the production of the episode or something. Obviously they’re not going to just interview some random part of the staff (although I’d find that interesting personally), but a voice actor would’ve been cool. I like how Jimmy’s answer considers Sheen a responsibility. Maybe all of Jimmy’s town-threatening inventions were just to distract Sheen from causing any real damage. We all know what kind of terror he’s capable of.

Wow, Bill Clinton! BC himself! Pretty impressive guest for an issue of Nickelodeon Magazine, I must say. ‘Course they got him talking about eating vegetables and exercising instead of something cool, though. It is good to know that being on the receiving end of the most widely-reported-on gobbling in the United States wasn’t enough to get you disqualified from having a spot in Nick Mag.

Another neato guest in theory, Tommy Tallarico is a pretty big name in the video game music space. He’s known for having a hand in loads of different soundtracks over the years and also allegedly being a pathological liar and taking credits for lots of other peoples’ work, which isn’t as nice as the former thing I listed. If you’re interested you can check out more info on the topic in this video here by hbomberguy, which basically runs through a lot of the lies Tallarico has told throughout the years, made as a response to him using legal pressure to get a sound effect he claims to have made removed from the online game Roblox. Oof.

But yeah, to give him some credit, this interview is better than ‘ole Clint’s was. At least Tallarico’s talking about the thing he gets paid for instead of vegetables and dieting. And that “What’s on Mario’s iPod” section is pretty good, but considering Tallirco’s track record it makes me question the legitimacy of his answers… I always thought Crash Bandicoot was more of a Dead Or Alive fan.

Oh god, not QZ again. I did not miss seeing this freak, I’ll tell you that. Why was anyone encouraging this guy with any more questions? He was getting kids names and addresses and we all sat idly by! I like how he sidesteps half the questions too, only giving a direct answer when it concerns protecting a kid from bullies. Maybe he’s not such a bad guy after all…

…Nah. Screw him.

If you remember these guys, you qualify for an Apple Jack’s discount!

I’m willing to admit as a kid I was more than willing to buy into whatever brands wound up on my TV as long as they had a funky mascot and even funkier commercials (and having a website that sported a suite of Flash games and cartoons certainly helped), but the hijinx of this Rastafarian cinnamon stick and goblin-looking apple particularly stick out to me as some rather memorable marketing. I’d say chalk it up to the distinct claymation style the commercials sported (which I’m pretty sure got replaced with 3D animation at some point, which kinda stinks). I found it funny how the character known as “Bad Apple” here eventually got redeemed and just became a friendly competitor that races Cinnamon to the bowl as opposed to the villain he’s presented as here. Did the marketing team really not see from the get-go that people might have a problem with a commercial depicting cinnamon and sugar as the good guy and apples as, well, “bad”?

Still, as much as I loved the commercials, I never actually had a single bowl of Apple Jacks as a kid. Shocking, I know, but my friends told me they sucked and I remember reading one particularly nasty long-winded online review that basically said the cereal is garbage, so I stayed away. I eventually did have a bowl or two of the stuff many years later, and… they’re alright. I will agree with this comic on one thing, Apple Jacks definitely do not “taste like apples”. In fact, they don’t really taste like anything.

And that’ll do it for this edition of Nick Mag HIghlights! Thanks for sticking around, and I hope you had a fun time going through this issue with me. It had tons of fun stuff (that article on the strange and interesting instruments and that Jimmy-Timmy Power Hour comic were my personal highlights) and hopefully some of you can get more entertainment out of all those musical interviews than I did. We even got a Billy C cameo! It doesn’t get more engaging than an old president, does it?

As well, I’d like to reiterate my apology for the time it took to bring this to you all, and I’m hopeful I can pick the pace back up and rebuild my motivation now that I’ve gotten this finished. I’m looking forward to finalizing my aforementioned new Nick Mag Side Issues post, I think that’ll be pretty interesting and add a little spice of variety to the page. Guess we’ll see!

Keep on reading, and maybe listen to your favorite song while you’re at it. I’ll catch you next time!

#nmh post #2000s #2006 #nickelodeon #magazine #jimmy neutron #the fairly oddparents

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c0ntr0lledchaos · 1 year

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i am not ok after that episode jesus christ...

but I do have some thoughts

assuming that hetch was telling the truth, he mentions that the company 'moved into' the mall. they didn't rent a space, they moved in, like a parasite. this is also shown by the wires and cords in the server room and other places in the mall resembling veins and looking like they were infesting the place.

that would also explain why the security is a strange amalgamation of wires and other technology

hetch talks about showfall in a very specific way, calling it 'the company' in a way that sounds like he is talking about it like a creature. a singular entity.

the office is a creepy concept. to have the mind-controlled people stationed as if they were in a snapshot of an office, and with the row of them standing in the window like mannequins. it felt weird the first time watching but now that I'm going back and analyzing it, they were set up like this for us, the viewers. there is no reason why a hivemind would need whiteboards or computers, or even to talk by the water cooler. Gl!ranboo didn't notice the corkboard with the clue about the color red, that was all for us to see and help with the next puzzle. why else would they be posed like that, who else would even see them

hetch talks again about how something 'moved in' and 'repurposed' the people in the office. I know a lot of people didn't trust him at all anyways but right there was a very clear sign that he was not a good guy. he talked about people and objects like they were the same thing

I also think that the showfall staff were people who were unfortunate enough to have been inside the mall whenever showfall first infected it. the mall was probably already dying but that was probably a good thing with how big that mall was.

'they set up these missing posters just on the off chance you managed to escape' is such a weird line to me. was Hetch just trying to convince gl!ranboo that he was special? what was the purpose of telling him that? All it did was prompt gl!ranboo to question how long he had been there which hetch doesn't even answer

I can't make out some of the smaller red writing on the first whiteboard shown but the rest is defiantly just the general idea of what happened in episode 2.

there is a bunch of letters that represent all the characters from that episode with all of them except for R (gl!ranboo) being crossed off.

part of it is covered in a smudge of something (kinda looks like slime? idk could just be a spot where the whiteboard got fucked up) but it says 'audience will choose N' I believe. did they predict we would choose gl!Niki? she was crying the hardest out of all of them which would have gathered the most sympathy and emotion from us. in the same bullet point, it also says 'two plus two equals five' which could indicate towards them guessing we would make an emotional decision rather than a logical one.

I did have a thought that started with episode one about showfall knowing how to control our voting. The Create a Creature section at the beginning of episode one was a normal vote at first, with four equally good options. yes, shark probably won because of the meme but that meme is kinda old now so idk how much it actually affected the outcome. but in the second vote when 'pickle' was randomly thrown in as an option, of course that was going to be the one to win, it's the funny option, it's not like the rest, it's a bit. the slime demon even mentions how the other options got barely any votes in comparison to pickle. this happens a few more times in the episode, with the funnier choice winning. Mr. Squiggles also demonstrates how our choices can be easily manipulated in episode 2 during the first pipe puzzle. when chat was about halfway through the puzzle he mentioned how we could also turn pieces that were not directly next in the sequence and immediately people started clicking on other pieces. he then came back a moment later bragging about how he divided our attention.

'play me in case of death' proves my theory about the puzzler's death being planned and not from him accidentally blowing himself up like how it was made to look for the show and I really wish I could read what it says in red next to it but I can't. maybe ranboo or someone else will post pictures of the whiteboards or something so we can read them better

the next whiteboard doesn't reveal much from what I can see, but there is still some text that is hard to read. what it doesn't say though is interesting cause it appears to only have notes about the cooking show portion of the episode with no mention of gl!Sneeg or Frank from what I can see

there are two pictures next to the printer, one being just an employee of the month picture but the other one looked like it could be an area view of a rural area? It's kind of hard to tell but I think I see a lot of trees and a building or two. It's not directly what's outside the mall most likely so what is it?

again, I really wish I could read all the stuff up on the cork board but some is just too small so oh well

I've already seen some people point out the paper that says a person named Frank is deceased meaning that Frank was a real skeleton this whole time and we just couldn't see

there is also a color blind test that has the colors red and green on it which is probably a reference to the gl!charlie vivisection

and right smack in the middle is the hint for us about the color red for the code. it's not even subtle, just a note that says 'The color of the wire is RED' just like you would find in a point-and-click video game. a convenient note that has no other reason to be there. that was just another hint that this was still part of the game

I think its interesting that gl!ranboo says 'your not giving me much here' he has spent the past who knows how long following a script and now suddenly is left with little to no guidance, it makes sense that he is confused

I am pretty positive that ranboo was never going to be able to shut the server room down at all, but I don't know what would have happened if he had put in the right code. maybe a false victory that just would have ended with Hetch betraying him anyways?

I just realized something kinda sad. so gl!ranboo has not made many choices that were his own, all before this being either scripted or left up to chat. with these codes though, he was made aware of the choice as hetch gave it to us. It's understandable that gl!ranboo didn't wait for us, he's almost free and still having other people choose for him? no thank you (Plus not trusting us which is also understandable, all he knew was the viewers were watching a show about killing people how was he supposed to know if they wanted to help or not). but he chooses wrong. the first real choice he made on his own and it was wrong.

Charlie was live during this but does anyone know if any of the other streamers were also live? I imagine it would be confusing for their chat to just hear ranboo yelling in the background of the stream randomly lol

while it could be just for convenience that the streamers are all set up in part of the old food court but I think it's also a bit on the nose. showfall is getting something from viewer interaction during these episodes but what if they get something from viewer interaction in general? what if they are feeding on it? that would explain why they have just a bunch of streamers that aren't even a part of projects or anything.

(I have to put a brake here cause of a text limit)

I think it was really funny that gl!Charlie got his own sign. also him being actually live was perfect. I wasn't watching his stream but was anyone suspicious of his background or did they get it accurate enough that no one questioned it?

the shrine for the puzzler is a bit strange but it again confirms that he was a part of showfall and killed by them. the thing is who is this shrine for? like, who is going to see it besides us? As far as we know there isn't and hasn't been anyone with free will inside the mall for the entirety of the show. it could be like the office again, set up just to get information to the viewers, possibly attempting to get another emotional reaction out of us.

on second thought that most likely is the case since the puzzler was just playing into Hetch's plan anyways. who knows if the puzzler actually wanted to help gl!ranboo or if he was just unconsciously following a script. plus the notes I can see are very emotion-driven but short, saying they loved the puzzler and one of the flower arrangements having a note that just says 'DAD' on it.

the map doesn't have a lot of information on it but it does show a blinking red dot that we soon see is the security, meaning they have trackers on them. it makes sense but I feel like it is a bit unnecessary for a hive mind to need. (not that they would need a map at all either) another thing that is just a prop meant for the characters and viewers probably

this dead body is interesting cause it shows two things. 1) that the security creature does not care about who it is attacking, attacking even people who are still under mind control and 2) this person is/was bleeding. that is important to remember later

the bucket of slime in the supplies room just confirms what most people were already suspecting for episode one. all the slime we saw was actually blood and gore seen through a filter

as cool as it was when gl!ranboo destroyed charlie's camera, can you imagine how cool it would have been if the stream was left going and caught them on camera when they eventually came back around?

I mentioned earlier that I believe the showfall staff are just people that were in the mall at the time of it being infested by showfall but what if that goes for the characters as well? what if no one was 'chosen' for this show and it was just a case of wrong place wrong time? would add just a bit into the tragedy, their whole lives stolen from them on random chance

the kill button sounded too good to be true and it was, especially after trying to take down the server room it didn't make sense. we know Hetch wasn't helping but gl!ranboo didn't. hetch must have been taking advantage of them being scared and confused to give them instructions that conflicted with other things he had told gl!ranboo

gl!charlie asks 'is this even what you want?' and I think that is an important question. gl!charlie, while still being scared and confused, can tell that there are still other ways to control people and is at least starting to question if that is happening to gl!ranboo, which it is. while not directly under mind control anymore, gl!ranboo is being manipulated just like Chat is being manipulated, using strong emotions to push them in the direction showfall wants them to go

remember how I said it was important to remember that the body earlier was bleeding? the one ranboo kills does not and I don't think it's because of a filter since we haven't had a filter on anything else in this episode. what we see with the person gl!ranboo kills is what I believe a late stage of showfall infestation looks like on a person, the wires literally growing inside them and slowly replacing their organs and tissue

going off that theory, that would mean that the security could have been a person at one point that was just completely turned into a mess of wires and other tech

the button is huge and red and right out in the open, it should never have been trusted. it was connected to showfall though, as seen by the wires on the floor and walls around it. it's not a normal prop like the slime or anything on the cabin set we just saw.

hetch gives us a lot of information in his villain speech and I am going to attempt to dissect it to the best of my ability

so first he says 'I have a role to play' suggesting that he is not completely of his own free will either, although it's probably more like a job to him and not complete mind control but his wording is interesting. it would not surprise me if we find out that Hetch is just as much of a pawn in showfall as anyone else is

he also says 'The founder gave me a purpose many many years ago' implying that showfall is old. just how old is anyone guess. it also shows though that Hetch isn't the founder but did know them, perhaps was even close to them to be given such an important role

'to repurpose this company and create these experiments' again has interesting wording since he has used the word 'repurpose' other times, usually while refusing to the people or tech that was taken over by showfall. I am not sure what it means though to repurpose the thing that is repurposing other things though. what did showfall do before Hetch took control of it?

and its experiments, plural. again we are reminded we have no idea how long this had been going on or how many experiments have been conducted

he says the experiments were to find people for 'future shows' but what could be the qualifications to be cast in future shows? could it be a hunger games situation? whoever survives these shows makes it onto the next ones

he also says 'Who in your world' which could imply Hetch and showfall are from a different world. could be aliens, a different dimension, or maybe even just something that has been there but hasn't made itself known to most of the world. what I'm curious about is if chat is from the same world as gl!ranboo or not as well

hetch mentions 'real human emotions' is 'where the real fun is' which could confirm my theory about them controlling our votes and some of gl!ranboo's choices by influencing us with emotions. yes, the choices were manipulated but at the same time we still up to us. like then gl!ranboo stabbed that person. yes it was understandable, yes gl!ranboo probably deserved to do a little killing but in the end he still did it. he still choose to do it, with no one forcing his hand

I wonder if that is how the mind control actually worked. It didn't outright tell gl!ranboo what to do but instead controlled his memories and emotions to get him to do what they wanted

hetch says this is the first time they have a live audience meaning the other shows were not live like this one. I'm curious what the other shows were like if they were not live

as the camera zooms out we can see we are back in the server room, the 'heart' as Hetch called it earlier. gl!ranboo is being held in place by the wires growing on the walls and I wonder just how much control hetch has over the wires themselves

I do think that death was the best option, as sad as it was. if gl!ranboo had been kept alive he would have just been thrown into another show, maybe not even as the hero this time. there would have been no guarantee for his survival just like how the other characters were killed off on this show

I really hope the tapes at the end imply more shows, I would love to learn more about this universe and what is happening. I wonder if the order is important, which would mean there would be four shows before this one and three after. at least out of the ones that were kept on tape for one reason or another. the tapes being blank is also a possibility since none had any writing on them. new shows are yet to be recorded maybe? either way, I am excited for more genloss stuff

closing thoughts:

my main theory is that showfall is more alive than previously thought. showfall is a parasite-like thing that takes over whatever it infests, whether that is a person, a place, or any tech it comes in contact with. I think it feeds off viewer interaction and with the ability to now stream to a live audience, it can get so much more than it could any other way. what we choose didn't matter, just the fact that we chose did.

I also want to say I am kinda happy with how this ended. it was sad but still satisfying. I know I had guessed ranboo might take his mask off but I'm kinda glad he didn't mainly due to the fact that it would have set the bar too high lol. no other faceless streamer or youtube would have been able to top it.

I really hope we get more genloss stuff in the future, this was so amazing and impressive and defiantly fun to watch.

#generation loss #generation lost spoilers

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dandelion-wings · 4 months

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For the ask thing- a BTS for something from "An open hand" please! I love that fic!

Thank you for the ask! :>

I'm not going to try to pick one personal favorite scene from that fic, because I have multiple. XD But any with Eroch are up there--he's one of my favorite kinds of villains to write--and for this I'll pick the one at the end of Chapter 11, because of the horse.

In fact, Kaeya is done signing off on his company's reports by half past five, which leaves him plenty of time to get to Good Hunter. He hands the last off them off to another apprentice knight to be turned in and copied, then stands and stretches, feeling joints crack all the way through his frame as he unbends. The chair behind the desk was built for Diluc's comfort, which means it puts him closer to the floor than he prefers. He needs to replace it. He needs to rearrange the office more thoroughly in general. A painful spike of deja vu goes through him as he looks around. The slant of the afternoon light coming in through the window onto Diluc's horse statue, the wire bins that Kaeya had set up to keep papers clearly sorted when both of them were working, even the lingering scent of smoke rising from the padded chair and the faint, scorched fingermarks on the edge of the desk from a hot burst of temper, they all feel so familiar that it makes his breath catch in his throat.

This whole section is just a dump of my headcanons about Diluc and Kaeya as teenage knights. XD Kaeya being at least six inches taller than Diluc, Diluc having worse control over his temper and it coming out in flame, that Kaeya did the actual organizing of the paperwork while Diluc struggled to focus on it....

The past week has been too busy. The next few days probably will, too. Once he has another lieutenant, and his company even halfway sorted, and he's run out all his leads on their little investigation for Master Fredrica, and he's sure of Barbara's security, then he can take half a day to change out office supplies and move furniture around. Maybe Captain Herschoff will swap desks with him. For now he picks up the little gold horse, worn smooth from years of Diluc and Jean and Kaeya all playing with it whenever they needed something to do with their hands. The sun has warmed the metal, and Kaeya holds it in his hand, noting how much hotter it feels now that he has the Cryo Vision, now that he runs cold. It feels exactly as it used to feel whenever he plucked it right out of Diluc's Pyro-warm palm.

The horse statue is, I think, a very fun example of Why I Don't Post As I Write. This statue didn't exist until this scene in the first draft, and it ended up feeling essential to the emotional impact of the end of the chapter. So in the second draft I found a handful of places to go back and pepper in mentions of it! There's an author I enjoy, Ursula Vernon, who has a poem about editing, and every time I read the line "and nobody will know that I thought of her three thousand words from the end," I think of the gold statue of the horse. XD

Not a thought he needs to be dwelling on. Kaeya shoves the horse into his pocket and feels it bump against his other little metal burden. He'd almost forgotten the ruined bird was there. He starts to reach into his pocket, to pull it out, intending to secret it in a desk drawer until he gets a chance to take it to the Angel's Share. Before he can grip it, though, his office door swings open without a warning knock. Out of the corner of his eye, Kaeya sees white and gold, red but no blue, and he pulls his hand hastily out of his pocket as he turns around. "Inspector Eroch."

The color-references here as Eroch arrives are a deliberate call-back to the scene in Chapter 7 that this scene is building on/reiterating, where I spend a paragraph of narration focusing on descriptions of Eroch's office and clothing: "the leeway that officers and Vision-wielders are granted in their uniforms turned to a glory of white and gold ... There's no touch of Mondstadt blue to his, though, aside from the faint gleam of the stone in his ring. All of his accents are pure Favonius red." At the risk of being overbearing about symbolism XD;; these are deliberate color choices, especially the emphasis on white (false innocence) and gold (for selling out the Ordo), and the absence of "Mondstadt blue" (for the traitor to Mondstadt). In a sense, the colors are a warning that Kaeya is subconsciously picking up on here.

"Captain Gunnhildr," Eroch says, with that smug, oily smile, in that smug, oily voice. He closes the door gently behind him. "I know you have a family appointment, so I won't take much of your time." "I appreciate that, Inspector," Kaeya says. He pulls his shoulders back and draws his feet together and stands at attention, pressing his palms against his pants in the hope they won't start sweating. "What can I help you with?" "Nothing of great importance," the Inspector says, his eyes flitting around the room. "I read your report earlier, by the way. Very precisely written. I must agree with Master Fredrica that you have a talent for it. I simply wanted to make sure that you had... left nothing out, that you might feel compelled to mention later, during your inquiry." The bird. He's asking about the bird. Which means that he knows it was there. "No, sir," Kaeya says. Cold is settling over him again, but it isn't the numb chill of fear. It's the pulsing cold he's felt when calling on his Vision. A calm chill, slowing his racing heartbeat, slowing his breath, soothing the tremors trying to jitter through him. "I prefer to make sure my reports are thorough, and contain everything relevant to the situation. There's nothing I intend to add after the fact. If I may be permitted to say it, there's no guarantee the Grand Master would pass extra details along to you and the Master of Knights, so it's foolish to rely on speaking to him to get something into the permanent record."

I love the idea of Kaeya's rage as cold, and that's what's happening right here! Fear, too, but he's also just realized that Eroch tried to kill him, and he is pissed.

He meets the Inspector's eyes square on. It's not a lie. He won't be telling the Grand Master about the bird, because he already knows the consequences. The Inspector doesn't need to know that Kaeya found it. Better if he thinks Kaeya is oblivious to its presence. "Perhaps an impolitic thing to say, Captain Gunnhildr, but I'll let it pass, as it was said between us and in private. I simply wanted to be sure that your inquiry will go well. Some of the reports I received from your company had me somewhat concerned. But I suppose every captain struggles at the start, and the Grand Master doesn't need to be troubled by personal difficulties so long as we can be assured you're doing your best." Inspector Eroch smiles a little more widely, sharp and more cruelly smug. Of course. Why use only one angle of leverage when he can have multiples, lined up to hold over Kaeya's head? It's what Kaeya would do in his position, and Kaeya wouldn't be able to recognize Inspector Eroch's brand of foulness if it wasn't a little in tune with his own. The greatest difference is in how much power they have to exert.

Any time I write Eroch--in fact, the reason I return over and over to "Kaeya helps Jean rooting out Eroch and his cronies" in headcanons and WIPs--I am playing with, and delighting in, the notion that he and Kaeya are recognizing something of themselves in each other.

"My best is all I can offer the Knights," Kaeya says, since he seems to expect some kind of response. "I'm sure it will be sufficient. Though, on that note, I'm of the understanding that you and our other Captain Gunnhildr are working on an investigation for the Master of Knights. Or rather, a follow-up to one of mine." Kaeya can feel his stomach drop out from under him. He takes a deep breath, trying to stay in that cold, calm place, to keep sweat from breaking out on his skin. A fresh wash of cold radiates from his hip. "I'm sure there's no need for the oversight, but Master Fredrica wanted to give us some exposure to investigative procedure," he says, with a lightness he doesn't feel. "I expect it will come to nothing, Inspector." "Perhaps you should suggest to your wife that, as it's so pointless, it come to an early end." That's such an impossible request that Kaeya has to stop himself from goggling at Inspector Eroch in disbelief. Tell Jean not to follow her mother's orders? Has the Inspector ever paid any attention to her at all? Though perhaps he should be glad that Jean has, apparently, escaped his notice thus far. He wonders if it's because she lacks a Vision.

Eroch does, in fact, underrate Jean--both because of her lack of Vision, as Kaeya suspects, because it means that she's not high on his list of targets, but also because he assumes she's completely under her mother's thumb, and he thinks he has a handle on how to game Fredrica.

If he doesn't know Jean, though, the Inspector surely knows Master Fredrica. And possibly Kaeya can leverage her against Inspector Eroch. He can't want the Master of Knights to turn her full power against him. No matter how much strength he's accrued to his own position, if sufficiently motivated, Master Fredrica will win. Her history with the Grand Master goes far longer and deeper than the Inspector's professional bond.

Again, Eroch thinks he has all of Fredrica's levers mapped out. And he's only about 10% wrong! It's just the 10% that gets him.

"Unfortunately, Infantry Captain Gunnhildr considers herself beholden to the Master of Knights. Though she doesn't have much personal experience with such an investigation, so I doubt she'll conduct it with particular skill." Kaeya pauses to gauge the Inspector's reaction, and sees his eyes narrow. He needs to toss him some kind of a bone. "I don't find it of particular interest, myself. Not enough to put a great deal of effort in, when I have so much else to do. I'd rather not encourage her about it and have her put more work on my plate." "I'm glad you understand the need to prioritize your new position," Inspector Eroch says, relaxing slightly, his eyes softening back into the smile again so that they no longer contradict his mouth. Kaeya really needs to learn how to do that. "Though I must say I do find it of interest. If Sir Jean does find anything you think would intrigue me, I'm sure you'll pass that on. It's more convenient for both of us than if I have to call her in to exchange information myself."

The other side of "Kaeya sees some of himself in Eroch" is "Eroch is older and more experienced at this, and Kaeya can recognize a learning opportunity when he sees it."

Kaeya has to call on every inch of calm his Vision is granting him to smile as he answers, with that elegantly-veiled threat lurking so near. "I would be glad to facilitate you, Inspector." "I appreciate your cooperation," Inspector Eroch murmurs, low and silky, grease dripping from every word. "I'll let you carry on with your family affairs, Captain Gunnhildr. Thank you for entertaining my interruption. Though, before I go- what was it you had in your pocket?" Terror rings through him like a bell, only just barely subdued by another pulse of cold. Kaeya reaches down into his pocket and feels out the golden horse, its smooth surface, the familiar prancing arches of its legs. He pulls it forth and holds it out in his palm. "A trinket belonging to Sir Diluc, when he was Cavalry Captain," he says, his mouth dry, frost forming from the sweat on his left palm. The faint warmth lingering in the horse's metal body keeps his right from freezing over. "I had meant to send it to the Dawn Winery, so that Adelinde can set it aside for him when he returns." "Let me take care of that for you. I'm sure it will be less awkward for everyone involved if I'm the one to send it." Inspector Eroch reaches out and plucks the horse from Kaeya's palm. It takes everything Kaeya has not to close his hand around it, or reach out and try to snatch it back. A wrestling match with the Inspector is the last thing he can afford. That knowledge doesn't keep the loss from cutting deep, slicing like a knife between his ribs, through his chest. He swallows against an impotent cry.

It was very important to me that once Eroch started blackmailing Kaeya, he keep the upper hand emotionally, and this scene worked so much better once I involved the horse. When they were just lying back and forth to each other, they were too much in balance--but taking the horse was a violation, and that was what I needed to keep Eroch emotionally dominant.

(Kaeya doesn't get to personally dig himself out from under the pressure Eroch is putting on him. Jean does that for him. That's the whole point.)

"Thank you, Inspector," Kaeya says, and all the ice in the world can't keep it from sounding choked. Holding the horse, the Inspector smiles at him, sharper still, not even hiding how it pleases him to have so handily demonstrated his power. He tucks it into his own pocket, gently, like a prize. Then he turns and sweeps out the door. It swings quietly closed behind him.

Eroch, like Kaeya, is a little bit of a sadist. :>

(As an additional bit of general commentary, re: the horse, I wish I'd had the room in the back end to give it back to Kaeya, but there wasn't space within the pacing of either Chapter 19, for Jean to retrieve it for him (it slowed down the urgency too much), or Chapter 20, for the same (there is a lot that didn't make it into that scene, because I could very easily have overloaded it with wrap-ups, and I had to pick and choose what I most wanted to resolve either logistically or emotionally). It did survive, though! I looked up at the time whether gold would melt at house-fire temperatures and the verdict is that it would have made it. XD)

#asked and answered #why not meme i guess #fic nattering #bells and spires

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