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bounce-a-coin-off-your-witcher · 3 years

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Trick or Treat

The next A Very Bouncey Halloween installment and a belated birthday gift to my darling @veritasrose. Thank you so much for the last year of friendship, I look forward to celebrating with you again. <3 you are much loved.

tw: curses, Geralt is an idiot, competent Jaskier

---

Light flashes through the room and momentarily blinds Jaskier, who stumbles back against Geralt. He mumbles an apology to the ever-sturdy Witcher as he waits for his vision to return and when he blinks clearly for the first time after a few long moments, the bard feels utterly and totally confused by the scene unfolding before him.

The Duke’s grandest ballroom, which had been bustling with excitable party guests only moments ago, is now flooded with ghouls, ghosts, vampires, and monsters of all sorts. A woman with swan’s wings is huddled in one corner, squawking angrily at anyone who tries to draw near. A minotaur stumbles through the center of the dance floor, lowing in frustration as he tries to control his bulky limbs. Two werewolves wrestle for dominance atop the furthest banquet table to their left. As Jaskier takes it all in, he feels Geralt’s hands wrap suddenly around his bicep; the Witcher is clinging to Jaskier fiercely, leaning his not insignificant weight against the bard’s side as his eyes grow round and watery.

“What’s happening?” Geralt finally asks. His tone of voice seems breathy and high, filled with a terror - almost totally foreign to Jaskier’s ears. Geralt fears nothing and yet… “Let’s get away from this dreadful place, please!”

“Aren’t you going to try and solve this problem?” Jaskier asks, glancing at his companion. He gestures at the various monsters roaming freely past the buffet table. “You’re likely the nearest Witcher, after all.”

“I’m no Witcher,” Geralt declares. He splays a hand over the very center of his blue velvet doublet (a nearly perfect imitation of the way Jaskier reacts to a perceived offense). “I am a Count. Witchers are dirty things, not meant for such a public life as my own.”

“For fuck’s sake, Geralt, now is not the time for a prank of this nature,” Jaskier huffs. “Something is clearly going on here. We need to help these people!”

“I know something is wrong,” Geralt sniffles - fucking sniffles - and squeezes the bard’s upper arm even more tightly. The sound of Geralt crying shakes Jaskier into understanding, even as Geralt begs: “But I don’t know how to help! Please get me out of here, Milord, I’m scared.”

Milord? Jaskier mouths to himself, even as he wraps one comforting arm around Geralt’s waist and ushers him away from the growing chaos at the center of the ballroom. Jaskier hurries them down one suspiciously empty hallway after another until he reaches the small suite that he had accepted as payment for his performance at the party. Jaskier ushers Geralt inside and locks the heavy oak door behind them.

“My Lord Geralt,” he gets the not-quite-Witcher’s attention. “Do you mind taking a seat by the fire for now? I’ll be right with you as soon as the room is secure, and then we can figure out what’s going on and what to do from here.”

“Yes, Milord,” Geralt nods. He hurries to comply with Jaskier’s request, to the bard’s continuing shock and awe, and stays still and quiet as Jaskier removes his doublet and rolls up his sleeves. Using the strength he’s spent twelve years at Geralt’s side developing, Jaskier shoves a bookcase, a dresser, and an unfortunately designed roll-top desk in front of the locked doors for added protection.

Moving behind Geralt with practiced efficiency, Jaskier also closes, shutters, and locks every window in the room, pulling the curtains closed to keep any light from spilling out and alerting stray creatures of their presence.

When he’s finished locking down all of their room’s possible entrances and breathing hard from exertion, Jaskier tugs the Witcher’s xenovox from his bag and flips it open, waiting with bated breath until Yennefer’s irritated voice snaps: “What do you want, Geralt?”

“Who is that?!” Geralt cries from his place near the fire. He has a white-knuckle grip on the overstuffed armchair he’s perched in and his clothing is mussed; Jaskier motions for him to be quiet and Geralt bites his lip, worrying the soft pink skin between his unusually dull canines.

“Was that Geralt?” Yennefer asks. "Did Jaskier summon me?"

“Yes and yes,” Jaskier replies. “I think he’s been cursed or enchanted or something. I was hired to play at the Duke of Rinde’s All Hallow’s Eve celebration and Geralt accompanied me - even dressed up for the occasion - but something happened at the party and now he’s acting strangely. I don’t know what to do.”

"What's happening?" Yennefer prods.

"Geralt is acting rather out of sorts. He’s speaking strangely, he wanted to flee the party rather than investigate the source of the changes-”

“What changes?”

“Everyone sort of… Well, a good portion of the party guests suddenly transformed into their costumes,” Jaskier explains, his speech stunted by his disbelief. “I know it sounds incredible, and it was! One moment we were all enjoying the music and the next… there was a minotaur and a mermaid and a faun… Geralt went nearly mute and started clinging to my arm like some sort of aristocratic maiden!”

“Oh shit,” Yen groans.

“Who is that?” Geralt repeats. Jaskier continues to ignore his companion. He knows that the moment he turns his attention to caring for Geralt, he won’t be able to tear it away again, and he needs to finish this conversation with Yennefer first.

“Why are you swearing?” he asks the sorceress. “What is it?”

“Geralt asked me for advice about this stupid ball a few days ago, while you were busy making arrangements with the Duke. He wanted to impress you with his All Hallow’s Eve costume and prove that he could be just as fancy and well-mannered as all the other men of your status.”

“Why in the world would Geralt want to dress up and act like a nobleman? It makes no sense! He detests small talk, he hates vanity, and he finds most men of my station to be cowardly and overly delicate - myself included! I just- I don’t quite understand why he’d go through all of this just to impress me. Or why he thinks this kind of thing would be impressive in the first place.”

“Jaskier, please tell me that you aren’t as stupid as our mutually beloved Witcher…”

Jaskier considers for a moment, pondering the things that he does to impress Geralt: gathering wood, learning to cook with game meat, preparing the Witcher’s potion ingredients while he's out on hunts, organizing their packs when they're spiking camp, brushing Roach’s mane… Realization dawns suddenly and all at once. He has a moment of pure understanding, a moment much beloved by every poet, bard, and playwright across the Continent: “Oh.”

Yennefer gives a tired laugh. “Yeah.”

“So he’s stuck as… a noble?”

“I suppose,” she sighs. “I’ll portal you to my location and we can figure things out in peace. Get your things together, I’ll open it up in precisely five minutes.”

“What’s happening!?” Geralt demands. Jaskier pulls the Witcher/Count to his feet and bows shallowly.

“I am Jaskier Pankratz, Viscount de Lettenhove. I will be your protector and chaperone for the foreseeable future, Your Lordship,” Jaskier bows shallowly. “I’m going to gather our things together and then we are going to meet up with a very lovely sorceress, Yennefer of Vengerberg.”

“Is she a friend of yours?”

Jaskier barely manages to hide his surprise at Geralt’s utter lack of recognition. His memories of Yennefer have also been taken, then.

“She’s a mutual friend.”

“Are you my friend?”

“I would like to think so,” Jaskier smiles. Geralt remains oblivious to the bard’s heartache, even as he curls himself against Jaskier. He tucks his face against Jaskier’s shoulder and sobs quietly. The bard runs his hands comfortingly up and down Geralt’s spine for a long, soothing moment. The smooth, royal-blue velvet tickles his fingertips. “Shh, dear heart. I’ve got you. Everything will be alright, I swear.”

“I trust you,” Geralt whispers.

Just as Jaskier is about to reply, Yennefer’s portal snaps open in the center of the room. Jaskier hands Geralt a set of bags and hauls his own over his shoulder. “Time to go, Your Lordship. Just take one little step…”

---

“Do you know who I am?” Yennefer asks. Geralt shakes his head before burying his face in the back of Jaskier’s shoulder-blade.

“I’m so frightened, Milord.”

Frightened? Milord? Yennefer mouths. Jaskier shrugs nearly imperceptibly and makes a panicked gesture in the Witcher’s general direction.

“I don’t know what to do either!”

“Well, start from the beginning. Tell me what happened at the party before all of… this.”

Jaskier recounts every detail he can remember in the most straightforward way possible, momentarily renouncing his poetic skills in favor of efficiency - for Geralt’s sake, of course, not Yennefer’s. When he's finished he asks: “And you said he did all of this to impress me?”

“Yes.”

“But why?” Jaskier repeats his earlier question. Yennefer understands that his meaning is different; Jaskier understands that Geralt is interested in him romantically, but the bard can't seem to get it through his head that Geralt has deemed him worthy. Although, knowing the Witcher, he isn't even sure how to go about doing such a thing in the first place.

"I just... I don’t quite believe you," he adds.

“He loves you,” Yennefer reiterates. "And now he’s stuck like this until the effects of the spell wear off, so I suggest you take his precious Lordship to one of my spare rooms and make yourselves comfortable. I’ll see you both for breakfast, providing the magic is null and void by then.”

“And if it isn’t?”

“I hope you enjoy small talk, you bardic bastard.”

Yennefer smirks and disappears from the room in a whirl of black and white silk, the scents of lilac and gooseberry curling through the air in her wake.

Geralt clings to Jaskier’s bicep again as the exhausted bard stands, keeping his larger body pressed against the human’s side as if Jaskier is the one who wields the Witcher’s swords. “So I’m under a spell?”

“Yes, darling.”

“At least I have you here to protect me, Jaskier. You’re so brave and strong; my hero!”

“It’s usually the other way around, dear heart, but I appreciate the sentiment. Now, how about we find a comfortable place to bed down for the night, Milord?”

"Alright."

Jaskier moves Geralt's hand so that it's curled around the inside of his elbow, the proper etiquette for a platonic escort, and leads him quickly down the long hallways of Yennefer's sprawling manor house. He chooses the blue-themed bedroom at the back of the East Wing, far from the sorceress' own suite of rooms.

He has to help Geralt change out of his lordly costume, the Witcher-turned-Count fumbling uselessly at the laces and buttons as if he'd never seen a fastening before in his life. Geralt whispers shyly as Jaskier pulls a nightshirt over his head: "Thank you again, Milord Jaskier. I feel as if I can't help but continue indebting myself to you."

"Think nothing of it, dear heart," Jaskier smiles, ignoring the pang in his chest. "I am happy to help you."

Jaskier tucks Geralt into bed before changing into his own nightclothes, tossing his things back into their travel bags as he swaps outfits. He feels Geralt tense up when he sits on the edge of the bed and his eyebrows narrow in concern.

"Are you alright, Geralt?"

"Are you going to share a bed with me?"

"Would you rather I didn't?" Jaskier answers with a question of his own.

"I... I wouldn't mind it if we shared."

Jaskier wishes he had Witcher sight, so he could catch a glimpse of the blush no doubt attempting to stain the Witcher's face. Despite the mutagens, Geralt's face still went pale pink when he encountered a strong emotion. It was adorable. And incredibly rare.

As soon as he pulls the covers over his chest, Geralt glues himself to Jaskier's side, snuggling close. "Feels safer," he says in lieu of explanation.

"Goodnight, dear heart."

"Goodnight."

---

"Fuck," Geralt groans, sitting up in bed. Jaskier sits up beside him, wiping the sleep from his eyes with the back of his hand.

"Good morning, Milord," he teases.

"Shut up," Geralt groans. Jaskier does get to see him blush this time, and the bard revels in it; he would trade all the gold in the world to see Geralt flush like this. "I can't believe I cried on you!"

"It was rather adorable, actually."

"Hmm."

"Still..." Jaskier reaches out, tentative, and cups Geralt's cheek with his palm. He turns the Witcher's face and locks their gazes together, blue meeting gold. "Still, I think I prefer you as you are. My big, strong Witcher who cares so much about defending the little guy. Willing to step in and help wherever and whenever he can."

Geralt's eyes get a little glassy and he leans forward, pausing and letting Jaskier make the final decision. The bard meets him halfway, pressing his lips against Geralt's without any sense of urgency at all. It's warm and sweet, time fading away as they let their feelings pour through this one simple gesture. When they pull apart again, Geralt gives a surprised, lopsided smile. "Oh."

#geraskier #geraskier fluff #a very bouncey halloween #geraskier first kiss #geraskier and buffy #btvs au #geraskier fluff and silliness #curses #cursed geralt #nobleman geralt #yennefer was there #bamf jaskier #competent jaskier

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duhragonball · 3 years

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Hellsing Liveblog Ch.4-6

This arc is called “Sword Dancer”, and I have no idea why, since they never call Anderson’s weapons anything other than “blades”. Are they swords? Maybe, but you never see him dance.

The story starts at an orphanage, where Alexander Anderson is a priest there, settling a fight between two boys. He sounds gentle and patient at first, until he tells them that the only thing they should be fighting are demons and heathens. That pretty much sums up the character. His mercy and compassion are almost entirely confined to the membership of the Catholic Church.

Then another priest shows up and informs him of all the vampire incidents going on in the U.K. Anderson doesn’t much care, since it only means more dead Protestants, right? Except this latest incident is happening in Northern Ireland.

So this neatly sets up one of the major conflicts within Hellsing. Kouta Hirano took the vampire lore from Dracula and expanded it into a sort of 20th Century Cold War thing. Instead of a single vampire hunter using crosses and holy water, we have an entire government agency, a secret service steeped in religious imagery. But that religion isn’t a homogeneous thing. Christendom has splintered a few times over the centuries. Most notably, there was the East-West Schism of 1054, which saw the Eastern Orthodox Church separated from the Roman Catholic, and the Protestant Reformation that began in 1517.

I’m not sure how much research Kouta Hirano did into this topic, because he seems to have distilled the whole thing down into two major vampire-hunting groups, the Catholic “Section XIII” also known as the “Iscariot Organization”, and the Protestant Hellsing Organization. Hellsing only bothers with vampire stuff in the United Kingdom, while Catholic Ireland is under the protection of the Iscariots.

Presumably, the Iscariots are tasked with protecting other Catholic nations as well, and maybe other Protestant countries have their own vampire-hunting sqauds to mirror Hellsing, but this overlooks the bigger issue: Catholics and Protestant populations don’t just fit neatly inside of political borders. There’s plenty of Catholics inside Great Britain, for example, so it’s kind of glib for Anderson to write off British casualties as “not my problem”.

And I think Hirano recognizes this, which is how Northern Ireland ends up in this story. All of Ireland was British territory until 1921, when it was partitioned. Southern Ireland became an independent nation, while Northern Ireland wanted to remain in the U.K., so it did. This has caused no small amount of conflict in the decades since, and Hirano uses it here rather effectively. There’s a treaty between Iscariot and Hellsing, one that recognizes Northern Ireland as their territory, but Iscariot still sees a duty to protect the minority Catholic population.

So Anderson is sent to deal with the vampire attack at Badrick (or “Patrick” depending on who’s translating, and if he runs into Hellsing, well that’s too bad for them. Despite the treaty, Iscariot considers themselves to be the morally superior group, so they won’t back down if confronted.

From all of this, I get the sense that the normal relations between these two groups sort of depends on the rarity of vampire attacks. There’s a lot of unsettled issues between them, but as long as nothing happens in disputed zones like Northern Ireland, everyone sort of minds their own business.

Anyway, it’s now August 15, and Hellsing is indeed intervening in Patrick. I never understood why Alucard had Seras sitting outside while he fought the ghouls in this house, especially when he was just going to call her in later. But now it makes more sense to me. He went in expecting to kill the vampire inside, and she’s outside to shoot down anyone who tries to escape, just like in Chapter 3. Except Al found more ghouls inside than he bargained for, and he finds this dull, so he’s calling an audible and bringing Seras in to handle them instead.

And this marks the debut of Seras’s Hellsing uniform. In the anime, she gets this look pretty much from the start, so it’s weird to see her wearing pants in Chapter 3. I assume she’s wearing pants in Chapter 2, but we don’t see her lower body in that. My head canon is that she was still wearing her old police gear up until Chapter 4, while this uniform was still being tailored.

I have mixed feelings about the design. My first time seeing Seras was a cosplay photo, and I dug the idea of a vampire soldier. Once I found out Hellsing was all about weaponizing vampires, I got into it pretty quickly. And I found out Seras started out as a police officer, and that seemed really cool. Like Alucard would handle all the spooky blood licking stuff, and she would dust for fingerprints and use pencils to pick up guns. The uniform implies a professional discipline, the sort of thing that would set it apart from the almost casual villainy I find in vampire shows like Buffy or what-have-you.

But, the artwork tends to make this look ridiculous, because Hirano keeps drawing it like it’s skin-tight around the boobs. I don’t understand why he keeps doing this, since you don’t normally see it on the other women characters in this story. Unless the idea is to set Seras apart from the others, which I can sort of understand. Seras is the sidekick, and to a certain extent, she’s supposed to look kind of silly. Even in this heroic pose, there’s still something goofy about her, like she can’t quite achieve full dignity yet. Maybe this is supposed to be like Robin wearing the short pants until 1991, but I never really cared for that creative choice either.

So she starts going to town, and Alucard takes a lunch break while she’s at it, which is a cool moment that didn’t make it into the anime. He reminds her that the ghouls have to be killed expediently using shots to the heart or head. That one who fell down the steps was still moving, you see, so Al had to finish him off.

And this is where Seras first addresses Al as “Master”. This was one of the first scenes I found when I started trying to find out more about the character. At first, it seemed like Seras was all business, but then you get stuff like this, where she’s doing the creepy vampire bit as well. I like the way Hellsing approaches this. Seras is gradually adjusting to being a vampire, and she isn’t always aware of that adjustment as it happens. It seems like combat helps her get into that zone. Early on, Seras would seem to change into a berzerker state, then snap out of it. Except she never snaps out of calling Alucard “Master”.

This is the start of that hard-to-define relationship between the pair. Remember, the Cheddar Priest said she would have free will as a vampire, but she defers to Alucard anyway. Before, that just seemed to be a practical matter. She recognized Alucard as a superior officer, and as a mentor figure. But now it seems more fanatical.

Watching the anime, I was suspicious of Alucard’s intentions, because... well why wouldn’t I be? He’s fucking Dracular for pete’s sake. I thought maybe he was angling for some chance to escape from Hellsing’s control, and maybe Seras was part of his plan. Scenes like this didn’t exactly dissuade me from that notion. Seras got some ghoul blood on her, and she finds herself compelled to eat it, and he’s looking on very excitedly. But then she gets impaled through the neck, and that puts an end to that.

Back at headquarters, Integra gets word that the Iscariots have send Alexander Anderson to Barick, and she realizes that this could escalate into a major incident. No one at Hellsing seems to know much about Anderson, except that he’s powerful, and if he runs into Alucard it could be a major battle.

This page marks the first appearance of Walter C. Dornez, whom she calls for consultation. I find it odd that Walter has already received the same report, and has already taken steps to deal with it. Almost like he expected something like this to happen...? 🤔 🤔 🤔 🤔

As it turns out, Anderson’s already there. He’s the one who impales Seras with a bunch of blades/swords/bayonets/whatever, and he already killed the vampire that Alucard was sent to find. As far as Anderson’s concerned, the only thing left to do is kill Alucard and Seras, but Al shoots him in the head before he can really get started. But as he goes to remove the holy blades from Seras, Anderson gets back up for Round Two.

Alucard calls him a “Regenerator”, like this is a thing he’s encountered before. Anderson’s not just a priest with blessed weapons, he’s got special powers that the Vatican gave him for the purpose of hunting vampires. Then he stabs Alucard a bunch of times and prepares to cut off his head for good measure, until Polnareff jumps in and... no, wait, wrong story. �� Yeah, Andy just chops his head off, then goes to finish off Seras.

Except Seras got away. Somehow she got up and lumbered off while he wasn’t looking, pulled out all the knives in her back, and then managed to double back and fetch Alucard’s head. Trouble is, she still can’t get out of the house, because Anderson set up a mystical barrier using sheets of paper. Boy, that’d suck if you touched a wall and it shocked you. Seras probably won’t forget this moment....

Then Al’s head is like “Ight Imma head out,” and melts into a puddle of blood.

The blood then arranges itself into words, which tell Seras to drink the blood, as this will make her into a “true” vampire, instead of a “servant” vampire, which I guess is what she is now. And this is also the first time we learn Seras’ true name. Everyone had been calling her “Police Girl” up until this point.

Although, one might argue from this scene that this is not her original name, and perhaps it’s a brand new name Alucard invented for her, one that she has to earn by willfully drinking blood. I’m pretty sure this was disproven by later flashbacks to Seras’ childhood, but it’s fun to think about. Maybe we never knew her human name. Maybe she doesn’t even remember it.

But before Seras can make that choice, Integra shows up with a couple of guards and tells Anderson to stand down. He kills the guards, and promises to finish her off as well, but she tells him that Alucard can’t be killed with a simple decapitation.

Also, Seras is back up. She hasn’t consumed Al’s blood, but she does pick up a gun to defend Integra, which is pretty cool. See? She looks badass here, maybe because you can’t see her anime boobs in this shot.

Anderson still likes his chances, until Alucard starts to reassemble his body. Unlike other vampires, stabbing Al through the heart and cutting off his head aren’t enough to kill him. This is because of... something the Hellsing family did to him over the past century. I don’t think it gets spelled out in this story, but it’s heavily implied that the Van Hellsing from the Dracula novel defeated Dracula and then enslaved him, and his family line has been modifying him ever since to turn him into their anti-vampire weapon. And a big part of that involves making him stronger than the typical vampire.

So Anderson withdraws, but only because he now sees he’ll need a bigger boat. Alucard tells Integra that Seras’s performance was “the usual”, which is funny considering how pleased he was with her before. Also he scolds her for not drinking his blood, and calls her a coward when she asks to be addressed by her name. One way or another, the theme here is that Seras has to earn a name. The way she is now, Al doesn’t seem to think she needs one.

Volume 1 ends with some notes by Kouta Hirano, including the part about how Alucard and Anderson never seem to run out of weapons. Cosmoguns? Fourth dimensional priests? I’m beginning to think this manga about super-powered vampires may not be entirely realistic.

Since chapters 1-6 aren’t quite big enough to fill out a collected edition, Hirano also includes a backup feature called “Cross Fire”, which he produced for “a defunct comic master”. He calls this a “springboard for Hellsing”, which isn’t hard to see, since it features the Iscariot Organization, including Enrico Maxwell, Heinkel Wolfe, and Yumiko Takagi, who show up later in Hellsing.

This short helps me understand these characters a lot better, because when I watched the anime, Wolfe and Yumiko just seemed to show up out of nowhere, with no explanation given. I think it was assumed that you would have read the manga collections first, and would know who they were. Anyway, they’re both nun assassins. Heinkel dresses like a man and uses guns, while Yumiko weilds a sword, but only when he “berzerker” personality, named “Yumie” is activated. In this story, she’s actually among the hostages that the duo were sent to protect, but Heinkel shows up and knocks her unconscious, which prompts her to wake up as Yumie and they killerize everyone.

I’m not sure if the Cross Fire stories are considered canon or not. The characters show up in Hellsing later, but not quite the same as before. So maybe these are prototypes rather than the real things. Maxwell, in particular, looks a lot like Integra here, to the point where I thought he might be a woman in this version. But the Heinkel/Yumiko team bears a strong resemblance to Alucard and Seras working together in Chapters 4-6, so it’s not hard to see the connection.

#hellsing #2021hellsingliveblog #sword dancer #alucard #sir integra hellsing #seras victoria #walter c dornez #alexander anderson #heinkel wolfe #yumiko takagi

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catbotbrian-archive · 4 years

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PLEASE tell us about scenepunk partyghoul

you do not know what you have askd for. i have so many thoughts. you are getting an entire not!fic/fic outline here (also its 4am prepare fr typos this took so long to write my wrists hurt)(also put it under a cut bc it got LONG)

so basically it started with me Hating the pastelxpunk trope and making it Better. that is not important context but i also want it to be known

party is. Obnoxiously scene. they can and will pretend it is still 2007. the world past 2012 does not exist in their eyes. absolute king of kandi bracelets and neons you WILL get a headache from looking at them. they are the reason their school changed the rules about what hairstyles arent allowed and they r proud. did i mention this is sorta hs au. anyway they end up goig 2 a lot of local shows bc when it comes 2 alt music you cannot pick and choose in a relatively small city. reminder they are WILDLY scene they CAN and WILL glow in the dark from the amount of glow sticks they wear

ghoul is PUNK. and i mean he is properly PUNK he has the aesthetic the mindset the music. all r nothin baybe! and also. Doesnt like scene kids. bc headache inducing. he always has a shitton of patches on everything and makes most of them himself r they were gifts and like. hngh i just think he is Neat. patches nd denim jackets and doc martens that are falling apart nearly. so hes from the Big City and jus moved 2 party/kobra/jets town (they r childhood frendz) at the start o summer (YES TIMING IS IMPORTANT U WILL SEE) and is getting in2 the local alt scene.

and at one of these super cool shows he sees party poison fr the first time and is. Woah. theyre BRIGHT. and party is like used 2 ppl staring bc theyre the only super scene kid around but GOD, that guy doesnt seem 2 b staring in the GOOD way bc ghoul is fucking blind but refuses 2 wear glasses and cannot see anything other than Neon Blur (i am projecting here. also thats a cool kj name) but he KNOWS thats a scne kid so hes glaring bc this is a misfits cover band Why Are You Here kinda thing i guess? and partys all “whats up with you, fucker?” bc theyre defensive and impulsive and ghoul flat out punches them (he swears he was aiming fr their shoulder. but he also couldnt see very well. so he hit their face) and they end up getting thrown out fr fighting and they hate each other now.

and then. one day. kobra jet and party are all chillin sewhwere public. and party goes off probably to claires bc theres a sale and they Need more gloves and when they come back That Kid from the show is there???? talking to kobra and jet???? and party is like “kobes wht rh FUCK???????” and koba nd jet r just like. uhm. s this is fun ghoul? the guy? we told you about him? and party is like OU DIDNT SAY HE WAS DOUCHEBAG PUNK GUY!!!!!! and ghoul is like gay panicking bc they can actually See party now and Fuck Theyre Pretty but also PARTY POISON YOUR SIBLING AND TRUSTED FRIEND IS ANNOYING SCENE KID????????? ANDALSOREALLYCUTEOHDESTROYAHELPME but kobra and jet catch on and are like “nuh uh ur both coo people no fighting when we r around keep ur dumb little spat between urselves” and ghoul nd poison r like “>:( fine >:(” except secretly ghoul is :flushed: :pleading: :flushed:

so we fast forward 2 school starting in september and since i dont fuking understand the american school system, kobra is a year below ghoul&party and jet is a year ahead but somehow ghoul has classes w kobra bc i want them to and it is plot relevant. so ghoul and kobra bcome friends bc obviously they do and ghoul jet nd kobra hang out a lot bc party is Busy With Things i guess?? but like ghoul and party have a class 2gether and even tho they both have 2 tone down the aesthetics fr school they still intentionally annoy each othr in discreet ways

nd they sorta? keep that up? but ghoul and poison both realise “aw fuck, theyre actually. super cool” but both have chroic Cannot Admit My Mistakes disease so they resort to no longer plotting murder but PINING bc “oh noooo they hate meeee how sadddd” but theyre BOTH pining and think the other hates them. so to compensate thy keep doing little flirts in their own ways? party special orders darker kandi beads so they can make ghoul a bracelet that matches their aesthetic but ghoul of course knowns nothing of kandi and just. accepts it. and kobra and jet are like :bonk: bc WHAT THE FUCK???? cause they have baincells sorta kinda. and of course ghoul flirts by handsewing a patch fr party with ALSO special ordered neon thread and party is ALSO oblivious. this happens bc i think it is hilariously adorable that in their own subcultures thy r basically shoving signs saying DATE ME!!!!! I LIKE YOU!!!!!!!!!n each others faces but they dont know enough abt eachother to know that. miscommunicaion and gay pining. mmm yummy.

nd at this point they r Very Close 2gether and ghoul hands party the choker back ad is like ,,,csn you,,, help me put it on,,,? and it is very very charged as ghoul moves their hair out of the way for party to reach up and fasten the hoker and ghoul KNOWS they should TURN AOUND so party can see better and party KNOWS they should move their hands away from the ghouls neck even when theyve fastened it and they BOTH know theyr standing Very Close and partys hands r sota half holding ghouls shoulders nd partially his face and ghoul is just. Staring. and then they both sorta lean in and :)))) kith. and jetndkobra are like THANK FUCKING GOD FINALLY and party nd houl r like WE WERE HAVING A MOMENT also wdym FINALLY i totally couldnt tell they liked me! then they look at eah other like. HOW DID YOU NOT KNOW I LIKED YOU??????? HOW???? I GAVE YOU PATCHES/KANDI BRACELTS THATS BASICALLY A MARRIAGE PROPOSAL and then kith more. :)))) liddol homos

then,,,,,,,, one day the four r at the mall and the tension is THICK bs ghoul has an Extra Special patch they spent ages on and party has a very awesome kandi/chain? choker they spent ages designing and they r both convinced This will b the gift that shows the other how they feel (spoiler alert It Does Not) and jet and kobes r like. right fuk this WE are gonna go. to the food court. or something. somewhere Not Here. and ghoul nd poison r just :heart eyes: yeah sure,,,,, and they both like,,, shyly reach in2 their bags,,, nd are like :flushed oh? you uh :flushed: u got me smth too? :flushed: bc gay idiots. and party is like OH MY GOD GHOUL THIS IS SO COOL WHERE D YOU GET ALL THESE PATCHES THIS IS LIKE MADE FR ME I LOVE IT andghouls like ,,, i made it,,,,, for you,,,,,,,, uhm,,,,,,, and party gives him the choker nd is like ,,,oh,,, well uh,,,, i also,,,, made this,,,,, for you,,,,,, like you specifically,,,,,,,,

anyway. you were not expecting this. it took almost an hour. its 5am. this was very fun though cant wait for the day (never) that i write this as a real fic

jet and kobra watch every interaction with amusement and horror bc they like. understand what the two are doing. and they both TRY talk 2 party nd ghoul bc party nd ghoul are convinced the other hates them bc theyre fucking idiots.

#lickthatbattery #im sorry if u werent. expecting this. but i needed 2 get my thoughts down #scenepunk au #partyghoul #killjoys #mypost #myfic #long post #edit: made it my pinned im very happy w this i love this au #i know kobra nd jet arent in it much... its partyghoul. if i wrote it fully there would b scenes w them more #danger days #ttlofk #ttlotfk #ages later i noticed two paragraphs are out of order im so sorry oml

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radreactions · 4 years

Note

First off love your blog. Your so much fun to read, and your reactions are great. So in the truest spirit of Fo4, how about the companions reacting to Fo4 glitches? Gonna let YOU surprise us with what glitches they are.

Damn this was fun! I even added a few pics of my own experiences 😂 Enjoy!

Ada -

She stops and turns, gazing at the young man enjoying his dinner on a floating plate, sitting backwards in his chair with a table right behind him. She glances up at Sole, the little light on her processor unit blinking rapidly overtime as she tried to make sense of such an impossible scene. "Hey George," Sole greets overly casually, as if nothing was wrong it the world. "Good food?" The physics defying man looks up with a grin. "Oh the best! Molly just got in a new shipment of bloatfly, it's the best I've ever had!" Sole glances to Ada, that little light rapidly picking up in speed as George places down his now floating knife. "Good to know, thanks Geroge." They walk off but Ada remains still, staring uncomprehendingly at the poor man who just wanted to enjoy his dinner. He didn't know a series of "!Error!" messages were flickering throughout Ada's HUD.

Cait - "Ohh THAT is the creepiest goddamn shite I have ever seen." She mumbles, clutching her shotgun tightly as she watches the bones of a long forgotten corpse jump and rattle around on the ground. "What'd ya do ta it?" She demands, casting Sole an accusing look, a single skeletal leg fluttering up between them before dropping back down again. "I don't know," They replied, face pale. "I stepped over it and my boot must have caught on something." Suddenly the whole thing lurched upwards almost to the roof, causing the both of them to yelp and jump back, before it calmly floated to the ground where it finally lay still. "Fer fuck's sake, I thought goin' clean was supposed ta stop me from seein' shite like this."

Codsworth - "Oh heavens!" He gasps upon seeing the settler pumping water. If he had a chest, he'd place a hand over it. As it was, his pincer was clutched dramatically to his hull as all three of his optic units focused themselves on the headless settler who just made as if to wipe sweat from their nonexistent brow. He turns to Sole then, shocked and more than a little disturbed. "Sir/mum, are my optical units malfunctioning or are they suffering a severe case of a headache?"

Curie - "Oh! Mon Dieu! I seem to be...structurally compromised!" She gasps, pushing with all her little body's might against the ground she had suddenly fallen through. The concrete was at her waist and despite how hard or fast she kicked her legs - seemingly underhindered by soil that was alarmingly nonexistent below the surface - she just couldn't get herself up. Sole tried pulling, as did Dogmeat, but alas to no avail. "This will pass, yes?" Sole's noncommittal shrug certainly didn't alleviate her worry. But hey, on the bright side, she decided to study this rare phenomenon of intangibility while it lasts.

Danse - He could feel it burrowing around under his feet. He could hear it squealing and hissing, hungry for his blood. His eyes tracked it's movements through the sights of his weapon, finger halfway depressing the trigger in preparation for when it finally makes it's move. A silent, breathless moment later and suddenly it burst through the ground in a raucous explosion of soil and rock and fury....only to sail right over his head and up into the sky. He watched, shocked, as the radscorpion hissed and clicked it's pincers metres in the air above the treeline, it's tail whipping about in a frenzy as it sailed away into the distance, never to be seen again. "Danse?" Sole called, emerging from behind the Red Rocket and startling him. "Did you get it?" He lowered his weapon and scratched his head, still trying to come to terms with the fact that he ACTUALLY saw that. "It...got away?" Sole gave him a questioning look but didn't press the matter further. Even hours later he was still thinking about it, brow pinched in confusion, bewildered mind wondering where the heck the thing ended up. What if it was still out there? Looking for him? Waiting for the perfect moment to strike? He shudders.

Deacon -

"Umm. Sole? Uh, a little help? Gravity is...well...I think I must have broke it. In related news, guess who's looking fabulous?" *tilts shades, gives a wink* "That's right, it's me!"

Dogmeat - He bounds ahead of Sole, panting excitedly because Sanctuary and all his friends are just over the rise and he's got a new collar on and wow, doesn't he look fancy! Just as he turns his head to check on his companion, he see's them disappear. Immediately, he stops in his tracks and tilts his head in confusion. That's a new trick. Is that normal for humans? He knew they were a little weird but...how did Sole DO that? And where did they go? He looks left, he looks right, he sniffs around for a bit and still can't find them. Where...? Suddenly he hears them screaming and there, falling from nowhere above him, they tumble from the clouds shouting words that would normally cause his tail to hide between his legs. He winces when they hit and trots over to give them a questioning lick. "Fucking Todd fucking Howard. Mister 'it just works'. Yeah right you sonofa-" Suddenly they're gone again and he hears "Are you fucking kidding me?!" shouted once more from above. He sits down and sighs. This could go on for a while.

Gage - "Now how in the...?" He shields his eyes as he gazes up towards the roof of the dilapidated pre-war home where a caravan's Brahmin stood, chewing calmly on a peice of yellow straw. "That ain't the weirdest shit I've ever seen, but it's up there." He grimaces as the thing lifts it's tail and shits through the rafters, a grin spreading across Gage's lips when he hears cries of disgust from the occupants within. He looks to the Overboss and lifts a mischievous brow. "Wanna make their day even worse? My caps satchel is feeling a little...light."

Hancock -

"Whoa! What the hell is this? And why the hell didn't I get an invitation?" He turns to Sole and waggles an eyebrow, already removing his trenchcoat. "You gonna join in or do you like watchin'?"

MacCready - He couldn't stop it. He just COULD NOT stop it. "Seriously, I'm freaking the fu-heck out here, Sole!" he yelled, paddling for his life in thin air. He was walking fine one moment, then suddenly his body developed a mind of it's own. He's swimming. On land. And he can't FUCKING stop it. Sole, laughing, kept backing up a few steps of which MacCready couldn't help but following with a big kick of his legs and a stroke with his arms. "Help me out here, for fu-argh-God's sake!" Sole just kept laughing and backing up, resolutely deciding for him that he's gonna kick their ass as soon as this humiliating ordeal is over.

Maxson - He stared in horror as Paladin Danse approached him, all words seemingly lost in the face of this...this...ABOMINATION. Gone was the power armour, despite the clunk of each of Danse's steps, and in it's place was freakishly elongated limbs that Danse didn't even seem to notice. "What the hell?" He demanded. "Where is your designated power armour, soldier?" In the past he had wondered if Danse was one of those soldiers who took to liking their armour way too much, but this? This was...certainly unprecedented. "I'm wearing it, Elder." Danse replied, a questioning furrow on his brow. "What are my orders, Sir?" Shaking his head, Maxson gave them and immediately reached for a bottle of bourbon once Danse's freakishly long back was turned. He was pretty sure, as Danse made his way through the Prydwen, that he heard suprised screams followed by gunshots.

Nick Valentine - He watches disbelievingly as Sole shoots down another raider. "Nick, are you gonna help or are you just gonna stand there and look pretty all day?" They shout, promptly reloading the clip in their gun. Their UPSIDE DOWN gun, that they seemingly still operate as if it were the right way up. Their left hand was grasping nothing but thin air but still looked as though there was something clutched in their hand. He could see the trigger being pulled, but their finger was miles above it. "Uh...sure...sure." he replies, still watching as Sole aims through the upside down weapon, literally through the stock, and still manages to hit their target. "You just...have a little something on your piece there." They look at him before looking down at their upside down gun, giving a sheepish grin as they wipe away a bit of congealed blood. "Thanks, Nick." They promptly go back shooting and he watches, noticing the muzzle flash appearing at least thirty centimetres above the actual barrel. "I need a hard reboot." He mutters.

Old Longfellow - He squints into the sky, watching in half amusement as the mudcrab drops from thin air and splats on the ground only meters away from him. "Well," he grumbles, his white eyebrows lifting a little as he turns to look at Sole. "That's new."

Piper Wright -

"Umm. Blue? You're seeing what I'm seeing...right?" She timidly shuffles closer to the giant pink behind of what she can only assume is a Brahmin and stares at the way it is seemingly stuck THROUGH the solid concrete wall. "Is...is it still alive??" Suddenly it moos and she jumps back in shock, clutching Sole's arm as if for dear life. "I can't tell if that came from the front or the back, but either way...what the heck do we DO with it?"

Strong - The sound he made was almost defeaning in the dark and stuffy subway station. It was also creepy. VERY fucking creepy. Sole has never heard a sound like that before and they desperately hope, as Strong remains doubled over laughing, that they'll never have to hear it again. On the ground, where they've just killed a lowly ghoul, it's corpse was spinning like a beyblade and was apparently the most hilarious thing Strong has ever seen. "Are you done yet?" They ask impatiently, but get nothing but another roll of creepy ass laughter that finally prompts them to move on into the darkness without him. At least ghouls were a lot less scarier than...whatever THAT was.

Preston Garvey - He and Sole were gazing out over the ocean just after successfully winning back the castle from the queen mirelurk, her corpse being promptly dissected by the Minutemen in the courtyard behind them. "Wow. Not that long ago, I never would've thought we could-" He cuts off because just as Sole turned to look at him, the ocean suddenly became a flurescent green rectangle stretching endlessly before him. "What the hell?!" He sputtered, eyes going wide. Sole turned back and the ocean promptly reappeared. "What?" they asked, turning to look questioningly at him. Again, the ocean flickered and the almost blindingly bright green glared up at him. "The ocean!" He exclaimed, pointing. Again, they turned and again, the deep blue of the ocean reappeared. "Preston, this can't be the first time you're seeing the ocean." They turned back to him and he had to squint from the brightness of the most hideous colour green he's ever seen. He shook his head, breathed a sigh, and decided that he'd help cut up that monstrosity after all. At least that thing was meant to be green.

X6-88 - "Sir/ma'am, you seem to have displaced your ammunition cartridge." He states calmly, gesturing to Sole's left hand where one seems to be lodged through their palm, an end sticking out of both sides. It looks painful and he silently commends them for their handling of it. "What do you mean?" They ask, lifting up the hand in question. "I have it right here." He frowns, noticing that their fingers are clutched around air roughly the shape of the cartridge. "Are you feeling alright, X6?" He doesn't know what to say to that, or when they go to place the damn thing in their satchel and it magically floats through their fingers. Literally THROUGH their fingers. For the next couple of hours on the road, he runs a self diagnostic and feels like screaming when it comes up normal.

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iya5rt · 4 years

Text

Kalopsia Project [Bakugo Katsuki x Reader – Tokyo Ghoul AU]

Chapter 11 – Games – of Waiting, of Gambling, and of Time

Chapter Summary: And yet, the timer was quickly ticking down…

Kalopsia Project Masterpost

Glossary:

Tartarus –a ghoul detention center owned by the CCG. Captured ghouls get detained here after the decision is made to keep them alive either for information, Quirk materials, or any other exceptional need from them. (Called Cochlea in Tokyo Ghoul)

(excerpts taken from the Tokyo Ghoul Wiki)

***

Just this morning, he had slipped on a black face mask to hide his face from the bustling world of humans. And the very same night, he had to adorn a different mask of black and orange to remain hidden among others of his own kind. It seemed like lately no one was allowed a break.

Bakugo had never worn his mask all that much and he remembered going to a strange pink-haired girl (who’d been a tad too energetic for his liking) many years ago. Aizawa had told him that, as a ghoul, he needed to possess a mask to hide his face from humans and especially the pesky Ghoul Investigators when he was out to look for food. A week after their initial visit to “take measurements”, he’d returned to that pink-haired girl and received a mask that was apparently designed by her.

He didn’t want to admit it out loud, but at the time he’d found the design to be quite cool – with all the shapes reminiscent of an explosion and the colors matching his kagune exactly. Now, a few years down the line, he realized it looked a tad too immature and stupid. Though perhaps that was for the best – after all, the further this mask strayed from who he was, the lesser the chance somebody would recognize him.

He put it on, though lifted it a bit, so as to not hide his face quite yet – the need for that wouldn’t arise for another hour or two. He only hoped an hour or two won’t be too late…

Walking to the door, his eyes briefly registered the sight of the small bed covered by a pure white sheet. The memories flooded his mind – he could recall how they’d been forced to throw out what used to be a perfectly good white sheet from the very same bed, after he’d brought in the injured and practically dying [F/N] to Yuuei, where Midoriya had tended to her wounds.

And speaking of that first night she had spent there…

“Damn that sly bastard…” Bakugo muttered under his breath, just as Midoriya and Todoroki peeked their heads inside the room to check up on him. “He slipped off to somewhere again. He reeks of suspicion,” the grumbling continued. And he was right – nobody had seen Monoma since he’d first walked out upon Bakugo’s arrival and the news that [F/N] had been kidnapped. Who knew what he was doing or how he might have been involved with this whole thing from the beginning…?

With all three boys now out in the halls, soon joined by the remaining couple of members to this impromptu “rescue operation” – namely Uraraka and Ida, preparations seemed to be complete. Aizawa also emerged from somewhere nearby and passed by them, motioning for everyone to follow him into the main area of the café, where he stopped and gave one final explanation.

“Good to see you’re all ready. We have to be rational with our time, since we don’t know how much of it we have. We’re taking off any minute now.” He tapped a few times on his phone and brought up a map with a clearly marked start and end point, and a curvy red line connecting the two. “It will take us about an hour to get to the facility All Might told us about. He’s prepared to send the anonymous message to the CCG at dawn, so we will have to wrap this up as early as we can. Objections?”

The five remained silent, only exchanging worried glances – though whether it was for their own safety, for the success of the rescue, or even just for [F/N]’s wellbeing, was a mystery to them as well. The crushing silence was broken by a single pair of footsteps, followed by the jingling of a bell, as Bakugo opened the front door and briefly stopped in front of it.

“We should hurry up and leave already.”

***

You’d never realized how easy it was for one to start pitying themselves. In fact, you were pretty sure you’d done this time and time again without even knowing it.

But with pity, came the urge to give up. To just accept the place you’re in is one you can’t escape and greet whatever gruesome fate awaited you with open arms.

You’d never really come to that conclusion before, so perhaps you were relieved when it finally dawned on you. Because with it, came the will to show you could defy it – to struggle and to not give in, to find a way no matter what.

It’d taken you a few minutes to finally get a hold of yourself but, once the last of your tears had been wiped away, your train of thought picked up again at last and you swiftly checked each idea it hauled over from the darkest depths of your mind.

First, you’d stuck your hands in your pockets, sighing when, much like you’d expected, you found them to be empty. They had taken what little money you’d been carrying, your cellphone, and even the train ticket from your trip to meet with All Might.

So, your first conclusion came – you couldn’t call for help, neither from your own phone (though you doubted this place would have had any signal to begin with), nor from a payphone, due to all your change being taken away too.

But that bridge was one you were going to cross when you got there. Before the bridge, came a much bigger and intimidating wall you’d have to climb – escaping from this room and the building it was part of.

Next, you moved to observing the walls. You must have looked like an idiot, just moving along the perimeter of the room, gliding your hand across the walls and staring at them with furrowed brows. Fortunately, there was nobody here to see you acting like this.

And if looking like an idiot was what it took for you to get out of this mess, you’d make that trade in the blink of an eye.

There weren’t any windows (the only light in the small stuffy room was coming from a dim light in the middle of the ceiling, which was a bit too high for you to reach), and though you didn’t dare try the door’s handle in fear of alerting whoever the muffled voices you kept hearing from right beyond it must have belonged to, you were absolutely certain it was locked. In fact, you regretted not listening more carefully when Ujiko had left the room earlier, but your vague memory was enough to recall the sound of at least another few locks, before his footsteps had faded away into the distance.

So then… what did this mean? If there were no windows and the walls were naturally too sturdy to break with your bare hands, that meant you had to sneak out the door, right? But if the door was locked with who knew how many locks and had guards positioned in front of it… did that mean it was a no-go too? There simply had to be a way, right!? Unfortunately, that way might have had to wait until they came to lead you of here themselves…

The deafening silence of the room only served to remind you of yet another thing you were utterly helpless about – the hunger that kept worsening and worsening. It was as though you had been suppressing it for years and suddenly it was all coming back to bite you with full force. But that was something you were sure you’d figure out as soon as you returned to Yuuei safely. Surely everyone there would have a way for you to deal with it.

Yes… returning safely… To Yuuei. To your… home? Yeah, perhaps that wasn’t too far off.

Returning there was all that really mattered to you in this moment.

As if with the sole intention of interrupting that momentary peace the thought of Yuuei had brought you, the door was freed from all the complicated locks that separated you from freedom and yet again creaked open. Two men walked in, followed by Ujiko himself. Ah, how you were quickly growing to hate every inch of his appearance and every word that left his mouth. To think the first time you would ever hate someone with such a burning passion, it would be directed not at a ghoul, but a fellow human.

Though perhaps “fellow human” didn’t quite apply. Not for you, quickly turning into something much too different, and not for him, who’d long lost his humanity with the launch of this cruel project.

You knew struggling now was pointless, so you had to grit your teeth, even as the two men who’d entered the room alongside Ujiko walked up to you and took a hold of one of your arms each, forcing you to stand up and walk. The couple of seconds you’d used to take in their appearances told you that those faces weren’t quite as unfamiliar as you had thought them to be.

They were the two who’d trailed you just yesterday, disappearing only once Monoma had come to your “aid” (you still couldn’t quite tell whether it was for his own gain or not), and, though you’d lost consciousness quite quickly and hadn’t seen much of your attackers, you were also suspecting it had been those two that had ambushed Bakugo and you and had kidnapped you and brought you here in the first place.

As you were led away, your mind swarmed with many questions and even more harsh words you wanted to spit in those grinning faces of theirs. Still, after a week long string of struggle after struggle, of causing trouble after trouble for everyone at Yuuei and always having somebody come in to save you, you finally knew better than to push your luck. It wasn’t a matter of setting everyone against you from the start. No, this was a game. But unlike the game of cat and mouse you’d played with Monoma, this was a waiting game.

Those who won the game were always those who first knew they were playing. Thus, you hoped that small advantage of yours wouldn’t be revealed. Not before you could escape.

When Ujiko had finally had enough of your silent glares, he cleared his throat.

“It seems our guests are almost here, so we better hurry. Wouldn’t want to keep them waiting long.” The smirk in his voice was evident. This statement – it was pointed straight at you. A challenge. He too had joined the game. On his side, this was nothing but a gamble. But he had played all his cards well so far. It was a gamble he was confident in.

“Guests…?” A small sinking sensation whispered to you that you knew what he was saying, that this answer should have been quite clear before he’d even spoken. The doctor stopped in his tracks, looking back at you, his grin growing even wider.

“There were a handful who learned of this project alongside you. Quite unrightfully so. It’s only natural we should get rid of them.”

Whatever it was that was causing this sinking sensation finally hit rock bottom, yet the impact of the crash resulted in a sudden gasp, the widening of your eyes and momentary falter of your heartbeat.

No, he can’t be serious, he can’t-

Though you couldn’t even utter another word, you finally snapped out of your daze and tried to struggle out of the grip of your two captors, kicking out with your legs and swinging your arms without regard to what you could have hit. If anything, you were hoping they’d hit something.

Yet your burst of defiance came to end as quickly as it had begun, the two men tightening their grip on your forearms and sharply twisting them at an unnatural angle. The sudden pain made some water gather at the corners of your eyes and you bit your lip before you could cry out in pain – no way were you going to give them that satisfaction. But it was a demonstration that it wasn’t you that was in control – the game had simply been rigged against you from the start.

“Why…” you quietly muttered. “I’m never going to be on your side after all this. Then… why do you sound so sure this is all going to work out in your favor?”

If the aim of this project was to create perfect soldiers to combat the ghouls, why would I, someone who has been shown nothing but kindness by ghouls these past couple of days, ever agree to fight them…? This doesn’t seem right.

There has to be something even I don’t know about yet…

Ujiko gave a small chuckle, as he practically skipped on ahead.

“That’s not something you need to worry about. You see, I have slowly but surely been perfecting each subject as time went on. I’ve long figured out that part.” As he spoke, his eyes darted to the far-off corners of the dark hallway you were led down. There, hidden so well by the darkness that you almost hadn’t even noticed him, a figure sat hunched unnaturally. Only then did the faint noise of frantic scratching break the silence, as you stared with wide eyes at the hands almost clawing at his neck.

You couldn’t see his face, but something in you told you it must have been some heart-wrenching mix between a sight that was both pitiful yet chilling. Was this another one of Ujiko’s heartless experiments…? Another person whose life had been wrecked just like that. And if your luck had really run out, perhaps you were going to meet a fate much like his.

“However, the subjects who listened and remained obedient were heavily damaged by the RC cells. They were no good. Or at least, not as good as they could have been, though I’m sure they’d do just fine in a simple fight.”

Soon the figure disappeared into the darkness yet again, as you turned a sharp corner in the hallway and arrived in front of a large door with the single man you recognized as having guarded the room you’d been locked in earlier standing in front of it. You’d only gotten a mere glimpse of him earlier but now that you took a closer look, you noticed how his eyes, despite still being much like those of any other ghoul, had the bright red hue replaced by a yellow color.

However, soon enough you were ushered to walk inside the room and lost sight of the peculiar ghoul.

He even has ghouls working for him, doesn’t he…? Maybe he promised to forgive their crimes and take them in as the assistants that would do his dirty work, instead of letting them rot in Tartarus for the rest of their lives.

Unlike the hallway, this room was much bigger and lighter. Your eyes darted all around, looking for another exit, perhaps even a window you could’ve escaped from. If only Ujiko could have just dismissed those pesky guards of his holding you in place.

The room was large and open, with almost no furniture inside. Only in one of the darker corners was there something of interest in the form of a small table with all sorts of tools and odd liquids in transparent containers scattered all around. Some of them looked much like those you’d find in a regular doctor’s office, yet there were a few that seemed slightly more unsettling.

“We didn’t really need a child soldier on our side, you see,” Ujiko began, tinkering with some of the tools. You didn’t have much time, so you focused on scanning the rest of the room – there had to be something to aid your escape. “But we found the experiment worked best with our younger subjects. So then, we were faced with a dilemma – what to do now, which option to choose?”

His approaching footsteps made you turn to look at him. The moment you did however, you realized your time was up.

He was right in front of you and, before you could even think to move, a sharp pain came from your neck, the sight of a syringe barely registering in your peripheral vision.

“That’s when we came up with the perfect solution. What about a subject whose transformation is activated through a sudden increase of RC cells?” He retrieved the syringe and the two holding you stepped back, letting you drop to the ground, a hand pressing hard at the throbbing spot where whatever he had injected you with had entered your system.

No… It wasn’t “whatever”… It was…

However, even your thoughts had soon cut off. Once again, your world was merely blurring in and out of view, as your entire body screamed in pain.

***

There was no need to even try and make out Bakugo’s silhouette in the pitch black night. The sound of his hurried steps was more than enough to give away where he was.

A little ways behind him, Midoriya’s eyes were pointed at his back in concern.

“Has he ever acted like this before?” Todoroki asked, surprising Midoriya for a moment, even though he’d been beside him from the start. “I’m asking because you two have known each other for a long time, right?” After a momentary silence, Midoriya nodded, moving his gaze somewhere off into the distance instead.

“No, you’re right – we have known each other for a while now. But… I don’t think I’ve ever seen him act quite like this. Ever since he first brought [F/N]-san to Yuuei, he has slowly but surely been changing. Or at least, I think he has been. But in the past…” A distant look accompanied the sad smile that played on his lips. “He used to be disgusted at the mere thought of humans. And not to mention his personality is kinda unapproachable to begin with,” he laughed. Todoroki on the other hand mimicked Midoriya’s earlier actions and took a slow look at the blond up ahead.

“Then there has to be something about [L/N] that makes her different?” Both thought for a moment or two.

“I wonder that too. She has been a welcome change for all of us, ever since we all met her for the first time. When you think about it, there aren’t many humans who decide to approach us, talk to us, even befriend us. Not after they learn what we really are, at least. It’s almost like a dream come true for those of us who want to simply live a normal life without the constant fear of being shunned by everyone. Of course, I can’t really blame them either – I’m sure if I were a human, I would also be afraid of ghouls. It’s how our world was created and there is little we can do to change it.

“Out of all of us, maybe it hit Kacchan the hardest. He used to be even more closed off in the past, did you know? Never trusting anyone – not after it was trust that killed his parents.” Todoroki’s eyes briefly widened – Bakugo had never been one to openly share his past, but this was the first he’d ever heard of that. Then again, he had a lot he hadn’t yet shared with anyone at Yuuei but Midoriya.

Though he had opened his mouth to speak up again, Midoriya went silent as soon as Bakugo came to a sudden stop and looked back towards Aizawa, who was guarding the back and making sure none of the five were left behind. After receiving a nod of approval, they proceeded to stealth their way beyond the wired fence of the large building they’d found themselves beside.

One by one, everybody climbed over the fence and took a defensive stance, expecting the enemy to attack any moment now. This was, after all, the building where they should have been holding her captive. The very same building which had been attacked by all those ghouls years ago and was supposedly wrecked and left abandoned.

Well, perhaps it wasn’t as abandoned as it had once seemed.

The sudden gust of wind was all the warning the rescue team received before an array of four different kagune and their owners jumped at them.

There was no time for this bullshit. They had to get in, now.

Bakugo fended one of the attackers off with his own kagune, only for Uraraka to step in right in front of him, pushing the enemy back. She turned to Bakugo and called out.

“Go inside with Aizawa-san, we’re gonna hold off these guys!!”

With a single nod, Bakugo and Aizawa disappeared from the fight that had already begun, advancing further within the enemy’s lair.

They too were playing a game. Theirs, however, was a game of speed. Of who would catch the other first.

Everybody was playing a game.

And though for everybody it was a game of their own, they were all together in a single twisted competition. But it was their lives they were competing for.

And the timer was quickly ticking down.

***

Author’s Note: Feels weird not having the Classified Information files… Alright, time to bring on the sad news – what you just read was Chapter 11. Next Wednesday, I will be posting Chapter 12, and the following week comes the Epilogue.

I haven’t written them yet (amazing time management on my end, I know), so I’m not 100% certain I will be able to fit everything else into a single chapter, though I don’t think I can split it into two chapters either, so chances are, Chapter 12 is just going to be on the longer end, similar to the first chapter.

It’s been quite the journey but I’ll save all the cheesy talk for the Epilogue (which, might I add, is one of the chapters I’ve been most excited to write lol) Until then, enjoy the current developments! I hope you liked this chapter – there aren’t any crazy twists here but hey, we need to set up the endgame.

A quick clarification about Ujiko’s explanation that the transformation begins with an increase in RC cells (I forget if I ever explained what those were, so basically – a certain type of cells that form a ghoul’s kagune and, while they’re present in the bodies of humans too, their numbers are miniscule, compared to those in the bodies of ghouls). Well, then you might be wondering why Reader-chan’s transformation began prior to Ujiko injecting her with what was actually just some liquid containing RC cells?

Now, might I remind you that she got stabbed by Monoma’s kagune in Chapter 1. I’m not sure how well that would stand in the canon Tokyo Ghoul universe but hey, this is an AU anyway. Basically, this caused some RC cells from his kagune to enter Reader-chan’s system and trigger the transformation a bit earlier than Ujiko and co. had planned. Oof, that was longer than I expected.

Anyway, I hope you enjoyed this chapter and that you’re all doing well amidst the quarantine. I’ll see you all next week and in the meantime – please drop a comment to share your thoughts on yet another chapter! I love you all and I’ll see you again next week♥ Bye~

(Psst, @afuckingunicornn @creativedogs @chims-kookies - you know the drill by now - thank you for the support and here is the next part!)

#bakugou katsuki x reader #katsuki bakugou x reader #bakugou x reader #bnha tokyo ghoul au #bnha x reader

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returnn-of-the-mac · 5 years

Note

I love the way you write the companions! Especially X6! Companions react to Sole giving them nicknames based on pre-war movies?

Thank you! X6 is one of my favorite characters to write (along with Ada and Danse)! Sorry this took so long, there were a few characters I struggled with (looking @u gage & preston). Also, again, I usually write a silent Sole, but I couldn’t for this one, obviously. Please enjoy!😄

Fo4 Companions React: Sole Giving Them Pre-War Movie Nicknames

Strong:

Strong and Sole where walking around Sanctuary when the super mutant heard rustling in the bushes.

“COME OUT, PUNY RADROACH! STRONG SMASH YOU INTO THE GROUND!”

Sole smirked, “Easy there, Hulk. It’s just Dogmeat.”

Strong scratched his head, “Who Hulk? He a Radroach?”

Danse:

Sole was in Danse’s quarters as the Paladin was trying on some new patriotic power armor he had designed. He stepped out in his red, white, and blue mechanical suit and twisted around a bit to show Sole.

“What do you think,” He asked, “Is it too much?”

Sole giggled, “You kinda look like Optimus Prime.”

“You mean Liberty Prime?”

“Nope. I mean Optimus Prime. He’s a Cybertronian from a pre-war movie called Transformers.” Sole explained.

“Cybertron? Is that like a synth,” Danse scoffed, “Cuz I’d be damned if I looked like a synth.”

“Well, no. Cybertron is the planet they’re from. It’s complicated, but it’s basically a fictional species of robots that can transform from ordinary objects. Like cars.”

A confused Danse gave his companion an acknowledging nod, “Ah, okay. That actually sounds pretty interesting. Maybe the Brotherhood could start crafting armor based off of these ...uh...’Cybertronians.’ You’re going to have to show me sometime, soldier.”

Nick:

“Hmm...” Nick pondered, looking over his latest case, “This Marowski fellow seems to be up to no good, yet again. His chem lab is more secure this time too...I’m thinking we’re going to have to tinker around with some scrap and invent a device to break into there undetected.”

“And what do you suggest we create, Inspector Gadget?”

Nick rolled his eyes. “Ha ha. Very funny. I happen to who that is, you know.”

MacCready:

MacCready and Sole where camping out at Outpost Zimonja for the night, lying under the stars, next to a campfire.

“You know what stinks,” Macready began, “Being an adult. So much is expected of you, and all the other adults are all just a buncha bullies.”

Sole gazed at their companion and he continued, “I swear, the kids at Little Lamplight were more mature than at least half the mungos in the Commonwealth. I wish I’d never had grown up...I wish I could’ve stayed a kid forever.”

“Okay, Peter Pan,” Sole laughed, “Growing up is a part of life. Everyone goes through it. Society wouldn’t thrive if people didn’t get older.”

MacCready was still caught up on the first part of Sole’s statement. “Peter...who? Who’s that?”

“Peter Pan. He was a mythical boy who never grew up, and he lead a group called The Lost Boys in Neverland. They’d go on adventures and stuff. It was a story that got adapted into a popular pre-war movie,” Sole explained.

MacCready was captivated by the description. “That seems...awesome, actually! Can you tell me more about it?”

Ada:

Sole and Ada were trekking through the wilderness just beyond the glowing sea when a RadStrorm hit. Adamant about making it to their destination, Sole continued to their journey, despite the wind, rain, and rads.

“[Sir/Ma’am],” Ada beckoned, “Being that I am non-organic, these rads don’t have an effect on me. You, however, might get sick if we continue.”

Sole ignored Ada and continued to press forward. Ada tried again.

“[Sir/Ma’am]? It is highly likely that you will not be able to successfully complete your mission if you were to fall ill.”

Sole, once again, ignored their companion and continued forward. Ada, ardent about keeping her companion healthy, tried a third time.

“[Sir/Ma’am]? I believe I saw an abandoned barn a few miles back. We could camp there for the night.”

Sole stopped and gave Ada a stern look. “C-3PO. Please. Be quiet for just a minute. I can’t even hear myself think.”

Ada beeped a few times. “I am unfamiliar who this model C-3-P-O is. My model number A-D-4.”

Piper:

“Okay, look. I think we’re really gonna get him this time, Blue,” Piper began, peeking through her binoculars at an unsuspecting Mayor McDonough, “Oh! Oh! Look! He put the toilet paper on the holder flap-side-up. Mm-hmm. Definitely a synth.”

Sole raised an eyebrow, “And what’s your master plan here? We gonna break in there and catch him in the act of changing his toilet paper, Lucy Stevens? Kinda not a good look.”

Piper cocked her head to the side, “Lucy...Stevens? Who’s that?”

Sole giggled, “She’s a reporter from one of my favorite pre-war movies.”

Piper smirked, “And what movie would that be?”

“Detective Pikachu.”

Gage:

Sole and Gage were building a raider base when suddenly Gage stopped hammering.

“Hey, got any more nails over there? Can’t see for shit with this eyepatch.”

Sole rolled their eyes and handed the raider the container of nails, “Why don’t you just take it off then? I know you have a fully-functional eyeball under there.”

“Yeah but it’s part of the image.”

“Alright, One-eyed Willie.”

“The fuck is that?” Gage asked, “You pickin on me, boss?”

Hancock:

Hancock and Sole were hanging out in Hancock’s quarters listening to the radio, taking hits of jet, and drinking whiskey.

“This is niice,” Hancock mused, taking a long hit of jet, “Sometimes ya need a break from running the city, yanno?”

Sole nodded.

Suddenly, the song changed and Hancock grunted. “I hate this one. It kills the vibe in here.”

As he got up to change the station, drink in hand, a random Goodneighbor resident barreled into the room, nearly knocking the mayor over.

“Woah, friend, I’ve got a beverage here.” It was then the ghoul noticed he had spilled his drink all over himself and the rug. “Ah, come on, brother. That was a new rug.”

“Easy there, Lebowski,” Sole consoled, standing up and putting a hand on their companion’s shoulder, “Whiskey shouldn’t be too difficult to clean off a rug.”

“Sorry Hancock,” the resident apologized, “But your friend here is right. I mean it is practically water.”

Cait:

Cait and Sole were crouched behind a stack of boxes, fully prepared to ambush a group of raiders who were holding an innocent settler hostage.

“Can’t wait to use this new machete ye gave me,” Cait gushed, excitedly studying the weapon, “Never have had the chance to use one of these before.”

Sole smiled.

“Ready darlin?”

“Ready.”

The pair sprung out from their hiding spot and began their onslaught. Sole took cover behind an old desk, shooting at the raiders with ease and Cait decapitated them with her machete.

“I’m just gettin warmed up, ye clowns!”

The redhead suddenly ran up a side wall and did a flip, slicing two raiders heads off at the same time. Sole lowered their weapon and watched in awe as their partner singlehandedly decimated the raiders with her melee weapon. When the last raider was taken out, Cait took a little bow.

“Damn, Uma Thurman! Leave some for me next time,” Sole joked.

“Couldn’t help it. This machete is way too much fun.”

Deacon:

Deacon and Sole were hiding in an air vent, preparing to take out some synths as asked by Drummer Boy, when Deacon started fumbling around.

“What are you doing?” Sole whispered harshly, annoyed by their partner’s commotion.

“I’m due for an image change,” Deacon answered matter-of-factly, taking his shirt off, “I’ve been in my Elvis Presley Wannabe disguise for two hours now.”

Sole clenched their teeth in frustration.

“What do you think I should go for? The intelligent Bald Doc or intimidating Street Punk?”

“How about the bumbling Austin Powers?”

Deacon chuckled, “Yeah bAbY! I’m flattered you would even suggest that. Such a cool character.”

Sole rolled their eyes as Deacon began to dress as the iconic British spy.

Curie:

Curie and Sole were walking along the coast of Salem when the synth suddenly stopped. Sole turned around, concerned.

“You okay, Curie?”

The synth looked at Sole and smiled. “Oui. I was just thinking...thank you so much for giving me the opportunity to exist in human form.”

“No problem! I’m just glad you’re happy.”

Curie nodded, “It’s not like I wasn’t happy being in my old body it’s just...I can do so much more now in this new body. Do field work, collaborate, share my findings and be taken seriously. That and...this body is very flattering. Much more attractive than metal and bolts.”

Sole laughed, “Hey, I thought your EVE form was adorable.”

“Eve? Who is that?”

“She was a character— a robot— from a pre-war movie called WALL-E.”

“I see...well, that is very interesting, [Madame/Monsieur]!”

Longfellow:

“Damn snow. I hate the North. Move me to the tropics,” Longfellow complained as he and Sole walked through a light snow flurry.

“It’s not even that bad,” Sole reassured, “Besides, what would Christmas be without snow?”

“I don’t care about Christmas. Got no family to celebrate it with anyway.”

“Oh come on, Scrooge,” Sole teased, “We can celebrate Christmas together if you want.”

“Yeah, you’re right. I am old Ebenezer. Bah humbug,” Longfellow grumpily muttered, taking a shot of whiskey.

X6-88:

X6 and Sole were on a mission tag a synth with a tracking beacon when Sole suddenly stopped.

“Is something wrong, [sir/ma’am]?” the synth asked, concerned.

“No it’s just...what would you look like without your glasses? I’ve never seen you take them off. Do you even have eyes under there?”

X6 nodded, “Of course I have eyes. The glasses make me look slick. More professional, if you will.”

“You look like Morpheus from The Matrix.”

“And he was an influential individual, was he not?”

Sole remained silent.

“Case in point, [sir/ma’am].”

Preston:

Sole had just returned to Sanctuary after a lengthy fight with some gunners with Preston beckoned to them.

“Another settlement needs our help,” he began, “The settlers at Nordhagen beach are complaining about a wobbly chair and—“

Sole raised their hand in the air, “Do it yourself, Fix-it-Felix,” they mumbled before retreating to their room for a nap.

Codsworth:

Sole and Codsworth were in their old house, assembling furniture and reminiscing about the past.

“This was such a happy home before the bombs dropped. I wish we could go back to it, [sir/mum].”

Sole nodded in agreement as they discovered old photographs in cracked frames. Codsworth hovered over to examine Sole’s finding.

“Ah! That photograph! That was the first day you adopted me,” the robot gushed, “I’m so glad you chose the name Codsworth and not any of the absurd names the [hubby/wife] was suggesting.”

Sole laughed, “But Codsworth was their idea! I was going to name you BB-8.”

“Seriously? Why? Just because I’m round and I’m a robot?”

“Exactly!”

Codsworth huffed in annoyance and floated away from an amused Sole.

#fallout 4 #fallout #fo4 #danse #paladin danse #hancock #deacon #maccready #piper #curie #x6 #x6 88 #ada #strong #codsworth #nick valentine #longfellow #gage #porter gage #cait #react

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catsvrsdogscatswin · 5 years

Text

Higurashi Month 2019, Day 19: Carnival

Keiichi sighed heavily beneath his hockey mask as he adjusted his vest under the enveloping leather of his too-large jacket. He supposed that he shouldn’t be surprised Mion managed to dig up an actual bullet-proof vest from her family somewhere, but the fact that it was already red and tangentially in the same style as his usual vest gave him pause.

Oh well.

He hefted his bat and prepared to look menacing, knowing that hordes of Hinamizawa youngsters would be pouring into the haybale maze at any moment.

…

…any moment…

……any…moment…?

Keiichi lowered his bat and scratched his head.

In retrospect, perhaps it hadn’t been such a good idea to let Satoko design the maze.

~.~

Proudly seated atop her crackling throne of old twine-bound hay, Satoko grinned at the small crowd of young Hinamizawans and Okinomiyans milling about, baring her additional plastic fangs.

“Alright, ladies and gentlemen, boys and ghouls, welcome to the Hinamizawa Hay Maze!” she chirped as angelically as she could manage, clapping her hands together and trying a beatific smile. Perhaps it was offset just a tad by her ominously-flapping, high-collared, red-lined black vampire’s cape, but really, who could blame her for trying? She forged onward valiantly, gesturing towards the gate below her. “Behind this doorway lies a ghastly concoction of delight, horror, fantasy, and terror! Yes, designed by yours truly, this hay maze holds a vast array of ghoulish delights, traps, and treats! The first group to find their way to the center gets the greatest prize of all –otherwise, everyone who finds their way out without assistance by our inhabitant monsters gets a whole bucketfull of candy!”

The crowd below her cheered excitedly, and Satoko beamed, whipping out her arm as her oversized cloak flared dramatically. “Now go forth, my minions of darkness, and enjoy my maze!” she crowed, and the assembled youths gave varied whoops of excitement as they flooded forward into the haybale maze.

Satoko’s pointed teeth all but sparkled as she rubbed her hands in glee while the last few trickled in, smirking diabolically. She was so glad Mion had assigned her to the “maze creation” portion of the club’s impromptu Halloween festival. Poor Keiichi-san and Shion had to be the monsters, and she was pretty sure by day’s end at least one of them would be coming home with bruises from panicked maze-goers throwing defensive punches.

She was betting on Keiichi, with or without his extra assurance of a Kevlar vest and functional hockey mask. Shion’s y��rei, with her white kimono and long bedraggled black hair, was absolutely terrifying, and Satoko doubted anyone would get close enough to punch her. No, they’d be running in the opposite direction the moment they saw her, squealing in terror.

Satoko loved this Western-style Halloween.

~.~

“Carve, carve, carve, carve out the eyes~!” Rena sang happily, chipping away at the yellow flesh of her pumpkin with the small knife she’d gotten from her dad’s toolbox. All around, the younger members of Hinamizawa echoed her faithfully, grinning and squealing at the cold, sticky feel of the pumpkin juice on their bare hands.

Gathered around the auburn-haired teen like ducklings around a mother, these costumed children were all carving out jack-o’-lanterns of their very own under her august supervision, reproducing some of the ghoulish and the giddy designs Rena had drawn out and pricked onto the hard outer layer of the pumpkins herself.

“There!” Rena said with satisfaction, finishing out her latest example and turning around in her lap to show to her rapt audience. “Isn’t he cute?”

The children all oohed and aahed over the droopy-eyed pumpkin face, and Rena grinned as she placed it on the wooden fence near the Furude Shrine and gave her most-recently-finished jack-o’-lantern a fond pat, looking at her other examples, several of which bore rather more gruesome and frightening expressions than the innocent chibis she and this latest group were carving out.

She couldn’t wait to see these lit with candles and lining the paths of the wagon ride.

~.~

“Mew, what a cute little bat.” Rika hummed as she finished the last delicate line of black, drawing her slender paintbrush away as the fidgeting boy in the chair leapt up and grabbed a mirror, squealing excitedly at the chibi nocturnal mammal painted across his cheek. He scampered off into the autumn sunshine, and another youth plopped herself down on the plastic chair as Rika sighed and reached for her paintbrushes again, laid alongside the artist’s pallet Keiichi had swiped from his dad.

“Hau, your hair looks so lovely.” Hanyuu complemented her latest victim alongside Rika, brushing the dye-loaded comb through the excitedly-bouncing toddler’s shoulder-length locks, leaving an orange and black streak behind. “Would you like some purple, too?”

“You’re enjoying this a lot, mew.” Rika commented around her angelic smile, starting on the requested pumpkin as her client pointed excitedly at the laminated folder, babbling incoherently. An irk mark throbbed at the side of her temples. “Perhaps one of my brushes will slip and poke you in your stupid excited eye, Hanyuu. Nipah~!”

“Hauhauhau…” the lilac-haired miko whimpered, shoulders sinking as she brushed a purple streak through the other toddler’s hair. “Rika, you don’t have to be so grumpy about facepainting…”

I’ve been doing this for four hours! The Furude shrine maiden shrieked internally, sending her latest project off with a smile and a wave.

“Mew, its hard to paint every single person in Hinamizawa, sir.”

~.~

“Alright!” Mion shouted over the ominous rumble of her four-wheeler, looking behind herself to see the host of excited children clinging to haybales atop the rickety flatbed trailer hitched up to her vehicle. “You guys ready to have some spooky fun!?”

“YEAH!” the younger residents of Hinamizawa cheered, and Mion grinned, turning and revving the engine with one foot.

“Get ready for the Hinamizawa Trail of Terror, then! Whoo-hoo!” she cried excitedly, the entire contraption picking up speed as she drove towards the distant, twinkling lights of the jack-o’-lanterns laid out along one of the more obscure paths. Her club waited there, waited to scare the pants off the delighted children bouncing on the haybales in the back, waited in an array of costumes both childish and practical.

They were so doing this again next year.

AN: Today is my 20th birthday, yay! Also, I stole, and tweaked, most of Satoko’s introduction speech from the opening to Greatest Show Unearthed, a song by Creature Feature. I was also going to have Shion dressed as Sadako from The Ring, but then I learned The Ring was a remake of Ring, which in turn was a Japanese film made only in 1998, based off a book of the same name, written in 1991. So none of the Higurashi cast have any concept of The Ring, which saddens me for some reason. So I made her a yūrei, which is apparently the type of ghost that Sadako is. Fun!

#Higurashi no Naku Koro ni #Higurashi When They Cry #Higurashi Month #Higurashi Month 2019

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fallout4holmes · 6 years

Text

Journal 8

The Personal Journal of Mr. S. Holmes

Diamond City, The Commonwealth, 2288

The journey south was quiet, at first. Getting out of Boston does not facilitate conversation to begin with, but even so, there wasn’t much for the mercenary and the Mayor of Goodneighbor to talk about. Still, fighting raiders does bring out something of a bond between people I suppose, because once we were outside the city proper Hancock spoke.

He apologized for the “dictatorial shit” from before, having his guards ready and waiting for Bobbi to rob him blind. He really does take the idea if everyone being allowed to do anything they please seriously. No, not anything. It's a particular code of acceptable behavior, but a code nonetheless.

He told me about the previous mayor, some character named Vic. Overpowered scum with a squad of thugs to keep people in line. Hancock witnessed them kill a drifter in cold blood. To this day, he's ashamed he did nothing, even though he likely would have been killed as well. Instead, what he did was nearly overdose, steal the clothes of the original John Hancock from the State House museum, convinced Kleo to loan him some weaponry and assembled a sort of drifter militia, training in the ruins. The next time Vic’s men “went on a tear,” Hancock and his army burst from the windows and rafters where they'd been hiding. It was a coup; Vic’s men were slaughtered, and the former Mayor hung from the balcony of the Old State House.

As he stood there, looking at all the people of Goodneighbor assembled below, the newly christened Hancock said the words that would become his city’s motto; Of the people, for the people. They made him Mayor on the spot.

He finished with the declaration, “I just hope you get where I was coming from. I ain't out to bring harm to anyone that didn't earn it.”

I remained slightly skeptical. “Our definitions of 'earning it’ may differ.”

“Nah, we're on the same page.” He grinned, “I’m just a bit more straightforward in dealing out the punishment, that's all.”

Warwick Homestead is on the point of a peninsula east of Quincy. To our benefit, the Gunners still inhabiting the town were locked in battle with the Brotherhood of Steel, giving us the opportunity to sneak around the town undetected. As we made our way down the peninsula, I said, “I should warn you, I'm not certain what sort of reception we'll receive.”

“Well, that's encouraging,” MacCready quipped.

“Spill, trouble,” Hancock said, “These people asked for your help, right? So what gives?”

“They asked for the Minutemen’s help. It is an important distinction.” I explained, “Our destination is Warwick Homestead. The patriarch of the Warwick family is Roger Warwick, father, husband, and according to a terminal within the Bioscience division of the Institute, a synth.”

They stopped in their tracks, looked at each other, and back at me. “You mind runnin’ that by us again?” Hancock said.

I sighed, “You were both aware I was inside the Institute? That’s how I managed to blow it up.” Rolled eyes indicated I should get to the point. “Some of the scientists were experimenting with modified strains of crops, and using Warwick farm to test them. They replaced Roger Warwick with a synth agent to oversee the experiments. Everything went well apparently, Roger and the crops were to be retrieved and all evidence of the initiative purged.”

“They were going to kill everyone,” MacCready stated, disgusted. Hancock swore.

“That seems the likeliest scenario, yes.”

“Well if this guy starts shooting, he’ll be the one purged.”

“Wait a minute,” Hancock said, “the Institute’s gone, so didn’t you save this guy’s family?”

I continued walking. “Those are the two options, yes. Either Mr. Warwick will be hostile to the man who destroyed his creators, though I don’t think he’d be foolish enough to open fire, or he will be glad to spend the rest of his life with his family.”

“Hey, boss. What are the chances of a nice straightforward job with a decent payout at the end after this?”

“Slim to none, MacCready.”

“Figures.”

“You’re under no obligation, I consider our contract fulfilled.”

“Yeah, but this still beats drinking myself to death in Goodneighbor, so. Let’s go help an ex-Institute synth and his family.”

The farm is built on the remains of a sewage plant, resulting in the most fertile soul in the Commonwealth. With it comes a stomach churning aroma, but one adjusts. Roger Warwick greeted us pleasantly enough, though he clearly didn’t realize who I was. He told us about the farm, and said that after super mutants had wiped out most of their crops, he and his family were starving. “No man should watch his wife and family suffer.” The crops were restored now, but the super mutants were still a threat. He’d put out a call for help to the Minutemen, though he didn’t expect anything to come of it.

“I’m happy to say you’re wrong,” I told him. “The Minutemen have arrived. We’ll take care of those super mutants.”

He was surprised. I imagine we didn’t look anything like what he was expecting. He told us the direction the mutants had come from, and we headed out.

“Seems like a family man sort of guy,” Hancock said as we left.

“Yeah. He also doesn’t have any idea who you are,” MacCready said.

We focused on the mutants, taking them out with devastating efficiency, but it was well past nightfall by the time we returned to the homestead. A trader had stopped for the night as well, setting up camp with her brahmin near the gate. I recognized her as Cricket, a somewhat deranged merchant who specializes in anything designed to do damage to living things. She was also one of the Institute's informants regarding escaped synths. Ironic she would stop here. Warwick was waiting on the steps of the treatment plant, converted into a living space. We could hear the family inside, cleaning up and preparing for bed.

He was hopeful, but also wary. “You’re back. Either you haven’t taken out the mutants, or… good news?”

“Super mutants won’t be bothering you again. At least, not that particular group,” I said.

He breathed a sigh of relief, “Thank you. That’s great to hear. I guess the Minutemen really are here to help.” He stepped down, and gestured we follow him, leading us a little away from the door. “Cricket told me she saw the General of the Minutemen headed out from here, with the Mayor of Goodneighbor and some mercenary.”

“Some merc,” MacCready drawled with a grin, “great.”

“You’re him,” Warwick pressed, “the one who destroyed the Institute.” It was a simple statement, waiting for a simple answer.

So, I gave it to him. “Yes.”

He was quiet a moment, then said, “Well. Thanks.”

It wasn’t quite the reaction I’d expected. “You’re welcome… Mr. Warwick, I know about your purpose here on this farm. I had a chance to explore every department of the Institute, including BioScience.”

His expression hardened. “Whatever you want, I’ll do it, but just leave my family out of -”

“Whoa, slow down, brother,” Hancock stopped him, “it ain’t like that.”

“Could be like that,” MacCready muttered.

“Ignore him,” I said. “I only brought it up because I want to know if you need help. Is your cover secure, are you happy here?”

Warwick couldn’t believe what he was hearing. “… yes, everything’s fine. There was some trouble before - Bill, our foreman, he was getting suspicious, started trying to turn my wife and kids against me, but then with the Institute gone and the trouble with the mutants, it all sort of stopped. I guess he figured there wasn’t much point in splitting us up anymore.”

“We could get rid of him, just in case,” MacCready said. “I don’t care if you’re metal or flesh, no one should split apart your family.”

Warwick wasn’t sure if he was serious or not. “That’s not necessary, I think everything’s going to be fine.” He looked at me, “And yes, I am happy here. I know I’m not… they’re still my family.”

I nodded. “Good. If you need anything, there’s a Minutemen checkpoint north of here, near Neponset Park.”

“Thank you.” He smiled, “It’s a relief not to worry about any more late night secret meetings, waiting for every visitor to say a passphrase, all that nonsense. Now I can just live. Anyway. Come on inside, we’ve got a few spare sleeping bags set up for you.”

MacCready was asleep, snoring lightly, while Hancock made a quick walk around the farm. All three of us are dissatisfied with the farm’s defense systems, or lack thereof, which I intend to remedy in the morning. Hancock returned and quietly snuck past the sleeping family to join me in our far corner.

“Hey,” he kept his voice low, “you look like you could use this.” He offered an inhaler of jet.

“Tempting, but no, thank you.”

He shrugged, sitting down next to me. “Suit yourself. You look like your head’s running a million miles a minute.”

“It usually is. Had you offered mentats, I may have taken you up on it.”

“Fortunately for you,” he produced a pack, half empty, from inside his coat, “I keep a personal stash. Happens to be my ride of choice, too.”

I nearly laughed, and accepted one.

“You’re somethin’ else,” he said with a bewildered shake of his head. “Not a lot of folks would travel with a ghoul, even one with my kinda charisma. Hell, that business when we met, with Finn? I thought I was trying to protect some drifter from getting taken for everything they had. Didn’t know I was meeting a goddamn superhero.”

I scoffed. “I was hardly a superhero, and I’m certainly not one now.”

“Eh. These days, there’s too many good folks not willing to get their hands dirty and too many assholes taking advantage of it. Look at what happened to Diamond City. Before McDonough took over, it was a half-decent place to live. A little stricter than I usually go for, but not terrible.”

Valentine had mentioned Hancock was originally from Diamond City. “You grew up there?”

“Yeah, I thought he and I had a pretty happy childhood. But then he decides he's gonna try and get elected with his anti-ghoul crusade - "Mankind for McDonough." Before ya know it, you got families with kids lining up to drag folks they called "neighbor" out of their homes and throw 'em to the ruins.”

The facts fell into place. “You’re his brother.”

He nodded. “I remember storming into his office above the stands after the inauguration speech. He was just standing there, staring out the window, watching as the city turned on the ghouls. He didn't even look at me, just said: "I did it, John. It's finally mine." Should have killed him right there, but I don't think it would have changed anything. Instead I pleaded with him, begged him to call it off. He said he couldn't. He had nothing against the ghouls, he was just carrying out the will of the people and he couldn't betray the voters. And then he smiled. That hideous, fucking mile-long smile. He never smiled like that when we were kids. I didn't even recognize him.”

I hesitated a moment. “Hancock. Did you hear about -”

“Yeah, yeah, I heard. Guess everything makes sense now, knowing that he was with the Institute, but honestly? I think I'm even more angry. I mean, where do I draw the line? Was the guy I grew up with the amoral piece of trash who gave the ghouls the boot or was that just some synth makin' a play for the city? Have I been hatin' the guy all these years for nothin'? Almost makes me wish I didn't know. At the time though, I just couldn't wait to get away from him and his whole damn constituency. I still wasn't a ghoul at this point, so I didn't have to leave, but I couldn't bring myself to stay in that cesspool after that. I'd been sneakin' off to Goodneighbor for years to get decent chems, so I knew the safe routes. I managed to track down a couple of the families, lead 'em there, but most couldn't get used to the Goodneighbor lifestyle. I brought them food for a couple of weeks, but after a while, they just disappeared. Folks in Diamond City signed their death warrants and all the good people were willing to just sit by and watch. I felt like I was the only one who saw how screwed up things truly were, who couldn't just pretend things were fine.” He sighed, “I know I run my mouth, but having someone who sees the world for what it is and is willing to do something about it. It's meant a lot to me. I feel damn lucky to have you as a friend.”

I was surprised. “Friend?”

“That ain’t a term I toss around lightly. It doesn’t take much to see you’re my kind of freakshow.”

“As flattering as that is, I’m still trying to decide what I think of you, Hancock.”

He laughed. “I’ll take it. Anyway, thanks for hearing me out. You probably weren't looking for a history lesson, were ya?”

“On the contrary. I’m consistently amazed by the people who inexplicably decide I’m - how did you put it? Their sort of freakshow.”

“Can you blame us?” He lied down, a hand behind his head, hat tipped over his eyes.

I thought for a while longer, digesting everything Hancock had told me. As I watched the family sleeping nearby, the men without families beside me, I suddenly had a desperate urge to return home to mine. In all my years of long stakeouts, cases that took me away from my wife for days, occasionally weeks, I never once felt homesick. Not like this. I always knew she would be waiting. It was a horribly naive certainty, but no one would have blamed me for it then. In this world, where nothing is ever certain… The fatigue following the mentat wearing off was the perfect excuse to lie down, and for once, I slept when I wanted to.

#fallout 4 #sherlock holmes #crossover #fan fiction #hancock #maccready #warwick homestead

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todokori-kun · 7 years

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Yeah, I think I’m ok :D (I’m gonna reread the entire series now though because my parents decided to buy it for me. I might cry during the reread…)

Ah, well. Death does make the most sense for Hohenheim, and now that I think about it, he was probably tired of living (that’s depressing but hey)

I don’t really know how I feel about Ed’s alchemy but I was a tiny bit disappointed because it felt like it was a small-ish price to pay to get Alphonse’s body back? Maybe it’s just me?

I’m always happy to get recs :D

WAIT. I actually know that book!!! I saw it when I was searching for a new fantasy series to read…most of the reviews were really negative and now I see why XD

Hisoka’s trash, but so is his best (only) friend (who could totally cut off his head with little to no regrets), Illumi. Illumi is the oldest son of the Zoldyck family. Let me tell you about the Zoldycks:

-asassins

-terrifying assassins

-baby assassins

-did I mention that they’re assassins?

-birthdays in the Zoldyck family=cake, presents, hugs

-the cake is probably poisoned to build up tolerance

-the presents are bombs

-mom’s probably hiding a knife in her skirt to stab you as she hugs you

-now figure out how to get out of this party alive

-good job, if you’re still fine by the end of the day momma is proud of you

-now go out into the world and murder people like a good child

-(Apparently they sometimes don’t bother to teach kids about manners and basic human interaction though, because Illumi has all the charm and social skills of a wet rag)

-(a wet rag with dead fish eyes)

-(a wet rag with dead fish eyes who literally digs holes in the ground and sleeps in them)

-(he’s also so obsessed with his adorable little brother Killua that he basically shoves a magic needle into Killua’s head and uses mind-control on him in order to make sure he never does anything dangerous)

-(even if that means controlling Killua so he’ll abandon his best friend to save himself)

tysm ;-;

sometimes I hate TG so much

Kimblee x Explosions vs. Alex x Shot glasses: which one is the bigger OTP?

Kimblee’s idea of sweet: “I only blew up twelve people and two buildings today. Are you proud of me?”

(and imagine when this couple gets into fights

Kimblee: “Really, Evans, I don’t understand why you can’t appreciate my art. I always support yours.”

Evans: “MY art doesn’t involve explosions! This ISN’T FUNNY, ok?!”

Kimblee: “No need to shout. And of course it’s not funny, it’s beautiful.”

Evans: “You know what, couple therapy. That’s what we need. Along with a lot of relationship counseling.”)

omg we’d literally be team rocket thank you for that mental image

That’s SO CUTE <333 I’d probably call you queen on purpose sorry not sorry

Evans might actually join you at some point. Poor Moblit would be left all on his own with three maniacs XD (I know right)

Hopefully Armin will live ;-; cinnamon roll child

I’m actually considered really tall for my age and I was actually mistaken for a college student once XD but yeah, I’m smol compared to you…

(that’s cool ^^ and wow, Levi.)

Glad I could make you laugh :D (I laughed way too hard while writing it too). But Kimblee would probably just blow up the court tbh

TYSM I’M SO HAPPY IT DOESN’T COMPLETELY SUCK ;-; and yeah, when I saw that quote I immediately thought of Uta…

I totally need help so yes, please, if it’s ok? TYSM <3

(and you’ve probably seen by now but I sent in two other aesthetics :D)

I adore all of FMA’S OPs and EDs. I agree with you, though, ‘Again’ is beautiful- I love the singer’s voice :)

I HAVEN’T SEEN IT YET BUT I’M TOTALLY GOING TO SEE IT NOW

Aww, it’s gonna be fine! You’ll get over it ^^ Eventually… And that’s so nice of your parents! I wonder if you’ll actually cry :))

Honestly, I can’t blame him… His life wasn’t all that nice, but he was at least reunited with his wife? So he’s probably happier this was ^^;;;

Well, considering how valuable alchemy is to Ed, and how much he actually relied on it, it might not be such a small price after all. But, then again, a whole body in exchange for a skill that could potentially be brought back, that might be a bit unfair, true… I’m just glad my cinnamon roll finally has his body back T^T

FATE/ZEROooooo. Zankyou no Terror. Re:Zero. All of these have plenty of suffering mixed in. Also, don’t let Re:Zero fool you with its light colors and character design. That is one of the most mentally draining anime I’ve watched recently, because it’s literally a never ending loop of suffering.

This is Re:Zero.

This is also Re:Zero. Pay attention to the head.

Oh god if I was a person who left reviews on books, I’d leave a whole wall of text for the review. There’s a difference between making a character seem perfect, but making that a facade and using it for character growth and actually making the chacter flawless. Wow, that book irritates me XD

I mean… we all have our own quirks? But wow that’s messed up, big time. Shoving a magical needle into your younger bro to ‘protect’ him? Boy, that’s like one of those ‘I’m pushing you away to protect you’ *proceeds to angst* plots. Is Killua by any chance one of the two kid main boys? Cause the name sounds familiar ^^

Tokyo Ghoul is the manga that you have the love-hate relationship with. It’s more hate, but whatever.

Well, Alex x shot glasses at least isn’t destructive? So I’ll pick that one over Kimblee x explosions any day XD

Right, so sweet. Instead of 40 buildings, he only blew up 12. You should buy him chocolate as a reward XD Hopefully he doesn’t blow that up as well...

If you ever get Kimblee into art, make sure to give a separate room for that, otherwise, it might become a hazard. I mean, I can imagine him filling up water balloons with paint, hanging them on a canvas and then blowing them up.

Who’d be the smol pokemon tho? ((I don’t know the names XD))

I’d probably become an actual tomato.

I feel sorry for Mobilt XD He wouldn’t have just Hanji to deal with anymore, he’d have to deal with us as well... Poor Moblit.

He will! The fandom would probably riot if anything happened to Armin, especially after we already had the scare.

Kimblee would blow up Shuu. No evidence left behind (other than the huge crater that was probably left after the explosions)

You’ll definitely grow some more soon ^^

Uta is the one who brings popcorn to the fights, because they entertain him.

I’ll be honest, when I saw Tatsuo’s aesthetic, my first thought was Jumin Han. Then I remembered you never played Mystic Messenger XD

Right, so the thing you have to watch the most when making aesthetics is color. Always have a color palette in mind, because it’ll make finding the right pictures easier. Pick a color and stick to it. That way, it’ll be a tiny bit better, since it’ll also please the eye more. Also dark/light shouldn’t mix too much. It’s better if you pick one of those and mix with another color. Heck, if you get stuck, you can at least search *(color) aesthetic* and find a pic that fits through that XD

SO WHAT DID YOU THINK?? I WAS ALMOST SCREAMING THE ENTIRE TIME, I’M SO EXCITEEEED

I’m sorry I didn’t answer yesterday, we had guests over and were preparing more or less the whole day. Among those guests was my 9 year old cousin, otherwise known as the most annoying kid on the planet. I wanted to punch a wall... First of all, I had to entertain him the whole time, and that’s not an easy feat for someone like him. I swear, the boy has worms in his ass or something, cause he can’t sit still for more than 10 seconds. Then, at one point, I took the laptop and started writing something, because inspiration struck (and internet died again). It was in english and he can barely speak the language, yet he was still trying to read what I wrote out loud and always asked me to translate what I was writing. At one point, I wrote the word ‘Shit’ and he went to my parents and told them ‘Luna is writing bad stuff’. I had to explain that the character swears a lot and that I actually keep it very kid-friendly with how it should be. Then, I received a message from my friend, but the two of us talk in english, so he started reading my texts out loud (a huge no-no for me, because I want my privacy when talking to people) and was basically being a brat the whole evening. Also, he chews with his mouth open. I almost ripped out my hair... True, I also get childish when he’s over, because he brings out that part of me. I mean, he’s the kid who tells me to let him win if we’re playing a game, even if the game is based on pure luck and I couldn’t let him win even if I wanted to. I sincerely hope your little sis is nicer than him XD

#evans #submission

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componentplanet · 4 years

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Researchers Are Dusting Off WoW’s Corrupted Blood Plague to Understand Coronavirus Infections

Fifteen years ago, World of Warcraft was rocked by an unexpected event known as Corrupted Blood. The boss of the Zul’Gurub raid instance, Hakkar the Soulflayer, had a debuff he could apply to nearby players that caused damage every few seconds. The debuff was designed to kill players quickly enough that anyone without healer support would die fairly quickly.

Unfortunately, Blizzard made a mistake. Hunter pets, if put away while the debuff was applied, would still have it when they were pulled back out again — like, say, in a populated area. That was the first problem. The second problem was that Corrupted Blood was infectious, and spread to people nearby. The third problem? NPCs could catch it. When they did, they didn’t die. They just transmitted it to everyone within range, indefinitely.

Combine ingredients with player ingenuity. Add one penchant for mischief. Distribute thoroughly and you’ve got the recipe for a virtual pandemic. But that’s where, from an epidemiological perspective, things got interesting. It turns out that players responded to these events similarly to how people do in real life.

The event was heavily studied, along with another deliberate outbreak of Undead plague that occurred in 2008, known as the Scourge Invasion / Great Zombie Plague of 2008. The latter was described as being more true-to-life (and remains my personally favorite event World of Warcraft ever held), but the former was more widely studied. And now, 15 years after WoW shipped, that work is actively informing our coronavirus response. PCGamer interviewed Dr. Eric Lofgren, who co-authored the original paper.

“One of the things we are finding, if we look at both Wuhan and Italy, is there’s a huge demand on the healthcare system, and that’s a genuinely serious concern here in the United States,” Dr. Lofgren told PCGamer. “So essentially validating what a bunch of hospitals are doing right now, preparing, and a little bit bracing for the worst.”

It might seem like a stretch — or like the sort of link that WoW-loving journalists might concoct to make an MMO seem important. Lofgren was quick to stress this was not the case.

“For me, it was a good illustration of how important it is to understand people’s behaviors,” he says. “When people react to public health emergencies, how those reactions really shape the course of things. We often view epidemics as these things that sort of happen to people. There’s a virus and it’s doing things. But really it’s a virus that’s spreading between people, and how people interact and behave and comply with authority figures, or don’t, those are all very important things. And also that these things are very chaotic. You can’t really predict ‘oh yeah, everyone will quarantine. It’ll be fine.’ No, they won’t.”

Lofgren is right. I had a serious argument with someone in my own social circle over the weekend, who was declaring that everyone should be going out and socializing as much as possible. According to this individual, the important thing to do is “Show this flu we are not scared.”

Beyond the questionable efficacy of attempting to behaviorally intimidate a virus, this individual was not alone. Ranking GOP Member of the House Intelligence Committee Devin Nunes has declared that people should ignore the quarantine and go about their daily lives:

“If you’re healthy, you and your family, it’s a great time to go out and go to a local restaurant, likely you can get in easily,” Nunes said during an interview on Fox News as many cities announced new restrictions on bars and restaurants to limit gatherings. ‘Let’s not hurt the working people in this country … go to your local pub,’ he added.”

youtube

The net effect of listening to Devin Nunes. Also an amusing example of how people used Warlock pets to create their own havoc.

Devin Nunes is wrong. The best way to help the workers of America is for the government to pass laws suspending mortgage payments and other bills, mandating paid sick leave, and providing funding to pay the cost of treating Covid-19 for everyone in the United States. The worst way to help workers in America, particularly restaurant workers who often lack both paid sick leave and insurance in states that refused to expand Medicaid following the passage of the ACA, is to stay away from them. But studying the contradictory way that people act during a pandemic is quite analogous, it turns out, to studying how people trolled each other on purpose in World of Warcraft back in 2005.

The positive responses people take in response to a pandemic also have in-game analogs. During Corrupted Blood and the Scourge Invasion, people would practice social distancing by avoiding capital cities. In the case of the Scourge Invasion, your chance of getting the infection when someone near you died (and thereby becoming Undead yourself) was a low-chance event in the beginning, with a long timer (several minutes) before you died and plenty of time to find a nearby Spirit Healer to remove the Plague.

As the event wore on, however, both the chance of catching the disease when someone died and the amount of time before you died yourself gradually shrank, while the strategically placed healers that could remove the debuff didn’t get any faster at curing it. The result? Players who clustered at a Spirit Healer hoping to catch a cure (which happened every 30s, IIRC) would die, en masse, before the heal was cast. Attempting to go to the “hospital,” in this case, meant being at Ground Zero as a new wave of Undead ghouls spawned into the world.

But the Scourge Invasion had one interesting twist that Corrupted Blood didn’t. Corrupted Blood was a dimensionless debuff. It had no “type,” which means that virtually no player ability could remove it.

Scourge Invasion 2008: Ghouls were their own faction, hostile to both Alliance and Horde. NOM!

In 2005, the only class that could remove a typeless debuff was Paladins, and only for the length of time that Divine Shield lasted. Once it expired, you had to be out-of-range from reinfection. In 2008, however, the zombie plague was actually a disease — and several player classes could remove diseases.

Thus, even as the plague worsened and the bodies mounted, there were players who would take up station near the overwhelmed NPC Spirit Healers, adding their own removal abilities to the periodic cure that would hit all characters within a certain radius. This, too, mirrors how altruistic people behave during pandemics. Of course, those valiant healers could themselves become disease vectors — if you’re standing near the Spirit Healer when 15 people become Zombies, they’re probably going to eat you, too.

Both of the epidemiologists who studied Corrupted Blood in WoW echoed urgent calls for people to practice social distancing. Stay close to home, wash your hands, and stay safe.

Feature image by WoWHead Classic; in-line image by WoWWiki.

Now Read:

World of Warcraft Classic vs. Retail, Part 2: Leveling Comparison, 20-40

World of Warcraft Classic vs. Retail, Part 1: Which Early Game Plays Better?

Blizzard Confirms WoW Subscriber Base Doubled After Classic Launched

from ExtremeTechExtremeTech https://www.extremetech.com/gaming/307717-researchers-wow-corrupted-blood-plague-to-understand-coronavirus-infections from Blogger http://componentplanet.blogspot.com/2020/03/researchers-are-dusting-off-wows.html

#Researchers Are Dusting Off WoW’s Corrupted Blood Plague to Understand Coronavirus Infections

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ecotone99 · 4 years

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(SF) The Noise

Gilbert continued to try to keep his temper from boiling over. It’s not like he stood much of a chance though without his gear. When the reverberations began he knew that it was only a few moments before he lost his peace. The way that it managed to catch his attention and set off his lizard brain was not lost on his peers. Not much was lost on them these days considering they were mostly forced underground. It seemed to them that it was the only way to avoid losing one’s mind. The ghastly creatures that were once their mentors served as useful reminders to be prepared.

Gilbert strapped on his helmet and earmuffs and began gearing up for his next operation. He knew he only had about 10 minutes to insert his team in the mission zone. That wasn’t much time for him, but he’s managed to cut it closer. He began setting up the explosives he would need to breach the entryway. If this raid was to go off without a hitch, they would have the copper alloy they would need to repair the anti-seize generators that kept his home-bunker safe for him and his team.

Gilbert, by far the youngest at 26, was also the hardiest and managed to make use of the state that he was put into by the Noise. When exposed, he would find himself losing control of his frontal lobe and moving to a much more primal state that made him extremely dangerous, not only to the enemy, but to anybody standing in his way. As such, his team produced him with a special set of earmuffs that couldn’t be taken off without the express wishes of his team. It would also filter out the effects of the Noise such so that he could take advantage of the primal state it put his body in without the mental side effects that twisted so many.

“We’re at the door commander, you ready to be unleashed?”

“Affirmative, please step back once you’ve set the explosive” responded Gilbert whilst tuning his headset to allow in some of the Noise

“Let that bitch loose fam” the demolitions expert

The loud explosion shook the ground and sent dust flying up everywhere. More than enough to shock, confuse, and send the average person flying; it didn’t stop the Commander for a single moment. Flipping up his night vision goggles, he ran in without a care and began taking out anybody who looked like a threat. The first man behind the door mercifully received a .223 round to the head, leaving the rest of the infantrymen for the commander. No matter how much they attempted to fire upon him, the savage state he was in allowed him to work the multiple blindspots left by the inexperienced army men. Winding through the openings, he managed to maul each one worse than the last, leaving every single one of them more damaged and bloody than the last.

“Honestly, I thought they’d provide a little bit more resistance, that was just sad. Are these guys all recruits or something?” The commander spit out as he tore the head off the last member of their squad.

“Looks like they’re all just enlisted men, no officers in the ranks here” piped up John, the demolitions expert

“Yeah, their patches indicate they’re mostly privates and corporals, they’re something wrong about the chatter, we were supposed to face much heavier-” The Intel agent was cut off as his head exploded into a thousand pieces.

“MACHINE GUN, GET DOWN” screamed John as he dove for cover.

The remains of the young men cut down in the Commander’s fervor began melting while releasing fumes. The bodies were infected with the Second Work. A sort of genetic bomb tied to end of their telomerase that would release a biochemical cocktail designed to destroy anybody foolish enough to take on one of their own. It was a defacto suicide vest, guaranteeing the aggressor would die along with the fallen.

“We’re pinned Gillie, and they’ve fucking secc’d themselves. Admit it, we’re focked” screamed John.

“Not for fucking long! Put your masks on” responded Gilbert as he ripped off his headset, exposing himself to the full depth of the Noise. It began to twist his mind further than he was knew was possible, causing him to go into a blind rage. The rage was only a part of the side effects the Commander knew of, as well as the fact that he would never again be the same. His personal experience was always different, never letting him become the man he believed he was truly destined to become.

JOHN

John looked over in horror as his Commander ripped off his headset. Within moments, he started bleeding from every orifice, and he began to recognize that look coming over his face. He couldn’t tell if it was that of a caged animal or beast in heat. Either way, he knew that whatever was coming this time, he didn’t want to be around. The last thing he remembered was the commander throwing a grenade into the M.G. nest, providing him with just enough time to make it to the next room.

In that moment, John remembered his first time watching the Commander transform into the beast he was looking at. John was in the parking lot of the local super store with Gillie when the first towers fell. He couldn’t believe his eyes until the news reports started coming in. He had been checking out his, new to him, noise cancelling headphones in the car; waiting for his yet to be Commander to come out. Gilbert hadn’t been so lucky. He had been held by loss prevention regarding the merchandise him and his associate had stolen from the big box store. When the news reports started rolling in of unfathomable creatures and the Noise that was creating them, it was already too late for the plain-clothes security guard. Gilbert had fully transformed into the creature that would end them.

John still didn’t believe the reports. Regardless, he had to let Gillie know so that they could prepare. He made sure to keep his headphones on just in case the crazy lady on the news network was right. But soon, he would find all the evidence he needed when he walked back in. What he saw he considered the next step in humanity’s devolution. Gilbert had turned into a ghoul like creature, gripping the security guard tightly around the throat and lifting him while stabbing his other hand, which at this point resembled claws and daggers rather than a human hand, through the security guard who was questioning him.

John immediately remembered that the lady recommended noise cancelling headphones to anybody caught outside. He threw the other pair he’d snuck onto his partner’s head, immediately quelling the violent creature. The damage had already been done, as the security guard’s body ceased convulsing.

BACK TO PRESENT

Gilbert’s rampages have always been unpredictable, but even that wouldn’t prepare John for the unceasing destruction that Gillie would release on the machine gunner, literally shredding him with his razor sharp claws. Remembering his instructions, John immediately pulled on his mask, angry with the privates for allowing their superiors to insert the Second Work into their bodies. He knew that only the truly evil and desperate would do this. He began to wonder what they were truly protecting behind their vaults. Copper was valuable in the new world, but it was not anywhere near valuable enough to put two dozen troops and a machine gun nest there to protect. There was something nefarious in the air, and it wasn’t just the noxious gas being let off by the corpses. There was a much bigger score to walk away with…if they made it.

Finding a new way in wasn’t possible at this point. Their intelligence officer was dead and the team was separated. Not knowing if they’d survive, their only option was to push forward and hopefully see this mission to the end.

John’s vision was hindered by the gas mask. The filter was standard B. He made sure of it. It’s become a necessity in the world post-Incident. He ran for the next door after taking a key card from one of the Privates’ bodies. He swiped the keycard and the machine beeped and the light flashed green. He got into what looked like their armory. The room was lit by a couple fluorescent tubes. He grabbed ammo for his rifle and some grenades as the shots began to die down. He looked over through the reinforced glass at his commander. Gilbert had what looked like the enemies commanding officer by the throat. John looked away and proceeded to the next room.

The storage room was what they had come for. He grabbed the copper and began loading it into his tactical duffel. He grabbed what they had come for. The next room was tempting, but he made a note of it and left to get reinforcements. He knew they had come across the score. Backup was only a few minutes away and his Captain had eviscerated the enemy combatants.

He knew that they had plenty of time to come back for the rest. The less he considered his mind a violent action the less he had to lose. That moment John started to sense Euphoria; his eyes losing their ability to track for a moment. He knew his headphones were leaking in the noise. This is precisely why they needed the copper. It was almost more valuable than gold to the new world. Everything from bullets, pipes for drinking water, and their technology utilized copper. Steel still held everything together.

In the early turn of the century the world began to move away from conventional energy sources realizing the dangerous disadvantages. People were tired of the war and poverty. They began to revolt all over the world. As this occurred, a collective amongst the Parliament realized that this would cut short their runway to gaining political capital along with the power they’ve long lorded. The shift to more renewable energy sources created opportunities of economic justice for the downtrodden. They saw that this would see them out of the political system forever. They would lose all their bases.

The emotional and physical effects of music have been well recorded. This led them to listen to the noise that they once heard in their mind, collectively finding all of the sounds that fucked with a person to the core. Their search found a few things.

The sounds of infants and children crying.

The final sounds of a body perishing.

It didn’t take them longer than a few months before they found the recordings from a Nazi death camp. Not much longer after that they realized they couldn’t play it on any modern electronic stereo. It would literally self-destruct any stereo, microphone, or medium it was played back on. Through shear effort, they managed to make a digital recording and began to analyze what was stored on it. They heard and managed to pick out nothing but despair. The auditory feedback in initial test subjects led themselves to kill themselves using any means in their vicinity. For some that meant a pencil in the eye, for others it meant a long fall to their hopeful death, and for many more it was a swift knife across the throat. They managed to filter out some of the sounds using modern technology available and reduced the side effects to blind rage. In some instances it simply caused the intended target to lose consciousness immediately. This was going to be a successful tool of war for them.

Before long, they steadily began pumping out the vitriol soaked sound-waves across the streets. At first it was isolated incidents; one man chewing another man’s face off was written off as drugs. The next was written off due to a history of mental health episodes. It was too late for most of the public by the time they began to stockpile supplies necessary to counter the noise. The intranet made it possible for some people to get schematics for anti-noise generators. They built this within their homes and safehouses. Some preppers defended their homes from the corporate walruses using home-made radio-jamming and electromagnetic pulse grenades. The corporates countered this by becoming almost guerilla in their deployment of the Noise generators.

John had blacked out from the noise. His headset was working; again filtering out the noise. He stood up, wondering how long he had been out. He noticed that his men were filing out of the other room. They began to voice some serious objections to the brutality they had just witnessed. They hadn’t understood how serious their confrontation with the enemy had been. He wondered again how long they had been here

“How long have yall been here?” He asked

“Just a few minutes, we just got the ANGs going. We’re working on recovering our casualties sir. The commander is in rough shape, but we think he’ll pull through” Replied the fresh eyed cadet.

That explained why he had just woken up.

“has the rest of this place been cleared?” he asked

“Yes sir, and that’s the strange thing I was going to mention. It doesn’t look like anybody's been here for months at least sir. If I was a betting man, I’d say that it was probably closer to a few years.”

“The resistance we faced would make that unlikely Cadet. They had machineguns and if you can tell, they’d been secc’d. And they’re not much older than you. They were desperate.”

“Whatever they’d been protecting was probably worth it sir.”

“You can say that again” scoffed John.

John watched as Gilbert was loaded into a medical van. He didn’t have anything to say to him yet. It wasn’t as if he was in a condition to hear what he had to say.

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