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wwpia · 8 months

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Beginning to End Plot Planner

***WARNING*** All the spoilers, beginning middle and end is all here. Not completely refined but it’s completely spoiled.

I honestly feel like such a a dumb, unoriginal writer. Cry. I just really needed to get all of this out because I really, really needed to organise it completely. Maybe it’s too much for my dumb brain, maybe I’m doing a really shit job and just being super cringe and shitty and embarassing. I don’t know, I’m going to try anyway.

Part 1: (Sad times arc)

Meet Yumez/Sydney

School investigation/death of Yumez

Timeframe… 1 month?

Part 2: (Drugs are bad kids arc) aka ‘I guess we can get along’

Reports of be seeking HPOs/Meet Faustus

Partnership established (reluctantly)

Faustus advises about drug investigation brought over from the UK/backstory to current issues

Investigation no 1 - out of control HPO

((possibly more of this here? Possibly involvement with humans? Need more ideas. Syd/Faustus relationship still fairly antagonistic))

Investigate Nagi street vender distributing drugs

Go back to WWPIA to research/analyse drug samples (yay science!) Syd is appropriately nerdy

Further investigation of potential leads/trying to find production points. Try to follow any other venders.

((poss red herring plot here? interim investigation? Lengthen the timeframe a bit?))

Find out about Juan/scientists name on wing piece - alluding to Juan’s aliveness. Cue Faustus losing his patience.

Faustus/Syd disagreement of course of action, Faustus solo undercover - they both get told off.

Go to infiltrate main suspected source of drug production - meet Blake, trouble ensues, lets them pass as she admits working with Juan isn’t what she wanted

Prepare/go to actual main lab - found out and get captured by Juan.

Faustus turns into monster werewolf, nearly kills Syd, gains control and kills Juan.

Meet-up at the bridge, all under control! Sort of!

Timeframe 6 months?

Part 3: (Don’t get involved with witches arc) aka ‘I guess we’re friends now’

Brief Lab tests on M!F, some establishing rules of this form. WWPIA established to have intercepted most of Juan’s operations as a result of his death however.

Faustus in prison (can’t really get away with killing someone now can he?), re concerns over his out of control monster form & killing of scientist. Faustus depressed af, basically tells Sydney to shoot him. (Lol, be careful what u wish for, this happens eventually)

Syd helps Faustus with trial/defence along with WWPIA - Faustus is released with some very strict requirements.

Some heart to heart talking with Syd/Faustus here, they’re actually both of kind of extremely sweet - ugh my heart.

Go back to work time! they both decide to shake hands & ‘start again’. The amount of bets flying between Tammy and the chief is practically a betting ring at this point.

Reports of illegal summoning by witches - Syd explains some witch stuff

Visit Cecilia the witch who owns a music shop, initially no one there, Faustus attempts to try on her hat, hat nearly kills him.

Cecilia introduced in demon/witch form, stops hat from eating Faustus’ brains, Sydney buys some crystals. Have leads on recent summonings.

Deal with some ghosts/entities mistakes for summoned demons. Sydney performs an exorcist, he punches a ghost. Faustus is impressed and calls ghost punching ‘sexy af’. Syd pretends not to enjoy this.

Syd looks to get information from other more powerful magic users to get to the bottom of demon summonings - he consults his ex. She’s actually a really sweet witch albeit clear their relationship kind of went a bit south due to Syd being married to the job/overall incompatibility. there is some cute tarot card reading for Faustus. She lets him wear her hat (Syd is horrified) and fly her lil cute broom. Faustus asks why Syd doesn’t have a broom, Syd advises he has a CAR. Duh.

(Hmmm this witch needs a name - haven’t got that far, I was going to have her be Cecilia but that doesn’t feel right - I like the sweet witch vibes)

She has a coven of witches create several tracking sigils/ sealing runes - they all decide to help as they ascertain that the likely summoner is actually just a very powerful child.

Emergency mission on ginormous demon summoned - mostly likely caused by an inexperienced witch/warlock. (Alluding to if witch/warlock isn’t able to control their demon, demon controls them.

Syd gets to show off his gravity defying-can drive up the sides of buildings car. It’s very cool - they track down the out of control demon over the city rooftops. Faustus nearly falls out the car twice.

Together they eventually track down and subdue the demon - Faustus physically keeps the thing still with electrical cables whilst Sydney banishes it from the current plane of existence. They both get their rear ends ended to them until the witch coven helps. It most definitely isn’t easy - they very nearly fail.

They go back to work - surprisingly Tammy/Chief ask Faustus how he feels about getting his mega werewolf form under control with the suggestion that they could potentially use it as backup when push comes to shove. (Plus truly fulfilling his promise from his trial period about being ‘fully in control’ of this form.

He’s naturally reluctant but he/Syd discuss the progress thats been made over the last few months. (Coming to terms with previous trauma, letting go of the shame of not being a proper werewolf etc.) Syd is a big support, it’s very cute.

They go through a few sessions in a kind of giant lab/warehouse environment, the first being the most tense as Faustus clearly doesn’t want to hurt Syd and still feeling very guilty from last time. Syd reassures him (lol, bold words boi). However it all works out pretty well as they’re able to eventually give monster!Faustus some semblance of freedom in the end. He runs around redwoods. Sydney gets to ride a giant monster. Both are pretty happy.

Tammy wins another bet (about monster!Faustus being a big puppy)

Timeframe 6 months?

Part 4 (Violence is not the answer arc) aka ‘guess we have feelings for each other’

Incidents of HPO led protects, increased attacks of humans from discontent HPOs.

Attack on several government buildings/human/HPO authority figures alike, HPO terrorist type group forming.

Arrests made related to this. Nia (Faustus’ ex-gf) arrested on charge of arson/illegal travel as a Cat 4 HPO - initial interaction is positive/a sort of tearful/relieved although Nia hate for WWPIA quickly evident.

Nia released due to insufficient evidence, attempts to recruit Faustus into underground mob of anti-human sentiment - Faustus refuses vehemently. Faustus/Syd have a discussion about crappy relationships. Feelings are felt and not talked about.

Breather mission - Wendigo hunting (not a HPO, but highly intelligent being) Incidents of human loggers being killed - previous WWPIA agent killed. Syd/Faustus get to some some quality time together, albeit nearly getting killed.

Previous mission - establishment of humans pushing out others (animals, HPO, paranormal being alike) from their natural habitat - HPO rebellion groups provoking being like Wendigo into violence.

? Filler mission here? Maybe? Something related to halloween? Outsmarting Marri Lwyd? Fortunately Faustus is a talented singer, Sydney enjoys the entire affair way more than he lets on.

Announcement / threat by new organised terrorist group (insert name here, help?) threatening human/HPO alike. Starts releasing classified information to the general population, straight from WWPIA archives. There’s a mole at the WWPIA!!

Riots start forming on both human and HPO sides, everyone is pissed off at each other. All previous classified into about drugs/experiments released. WWPIA accused of being massively hypocritical, human government accused of exactly the same.

At work Syd/Faustus attempting to figure out the potential mole, WWPIA practically under lockdown now.

Faustus secretly once more offered the chance to join this terrorist organisation by Nia. (He believes she’s just a lackey and is being manipulated, aw bless him) Strictly not really supposed to be doing stuff by himself but he’s not really sure what to do

Syd/Faustus pretty close at this point so Syd very suspicious as Faustus acting suspicious/shifty - gets a bit frustrated as everyone at the organisation is kind of suspicious of everyone else. Both establish a bond of trust, Faustus tells Syd about Nia’s invitation.

Both consider plan of action as Faustus clearly uncomfortable with getting involved, but eager to try and help a perceived ex-friend and someone he’s shared a lot of trauma with. Syd suitably disliking the plan but willing to go along with it as WWPIA currently paralysed.

Liza’s Meng’s name comes on the wing piece! (Uh oh) - Syd and Faustus once again extremely surprised and rush to warn her ASAP, they go to her company to do so. Introduction of M.E.D.A project. (Multi-Model Extra Dimension Analyser - Liza developing this along with gathered data from AI to try an answer ongoing problems in society. Secondary function to detect literal potential other dimensions/universes running alongside their own world. She’s ambitious! Possibly a bit insane! Although technology/machinery is AI powered it requires ‘piloting’ by Liza herself, important plot point later.

Liza seems for the most part completely unbothered by her impending doom tbh. Reveals she has received death threats from Nia (reasoning of Meng company major infrastructure of mainly human-focused technology. Revelation that Liza Meng / Blake Alba are in fact sisters - Blake takes up guarding her sister for fear of attack.

Back to plot to infiltrate Nia’s club of human haters - Faustus gets in and is pretty much hazed by all involved, including Nia who reveals herself to be the ringleader of the whole thing and had someone plant a computer ‘leech’ into the WWPIA system, allowing her to know/broadcast everything about the WWPIA

(Syd is using combination of Liza’s gadgets and magic as backup, he’s suitably infuriated by it all) it really is a nasty situation, implied emotional manipulation/SA by Nia - the works, Faustus ultimately blows his own cover by telling Nia to FO and that he doesn’t want any part of her bullshittery

A brief fight as Nia takes the ‘welp if you’re not going to help us, then die’ - ultimately revealing plan to attack both the WWPIA and Meng buildings. Faustus is ultimately overpowered by Nia (because… she’s a frikkin dragon) - who also is able to turn not her own monstrous form although is able to do so willingly in the period of a full moon.

She does so and flies to the WWPIA headquarters, chaos ensues as the WWPIA agents attempts to defend the building/themselves - Syd/Faustus get there in time to also try and help.

Faustus takes some of the refined lab drugs and proceeds to thrash Nia (it’s very monster vs monster) - Syd is desperately helping to make sure people don’t get pancaked. Faustus subdues Nia enough to force her out of her monster form as well as having to transition back himself - Syd shoots her with sedative/concoction that starts her from resuming monster form.

Brief respite as Syd/Faustus take a breather - revealing both were very very (very) concerned about each other. It’s all very cute.

Sydney rushes to find the computer ‘leech’ in the building. Liza rings to inform him it needs to be manually operated and what it most likely looks like. As it is still running (not only broadcasting all sorts of government info the world, but now acting as a disruptive computer virus attempting to invade the entire network. She - meaning that operator is still there.

Syd/Faustus split up to find suspect - Sydney going to lower levels of building and eventually finding a newly abandoned mecha bug type thing. It literally looks like a giant mecha tick. It tries to run away and Sydney destroys it - Liza rings to congratulate him as she can now concentrate in minimising software damage.

Meanwhile Faustus is doing much the same, attempting to find the same thing (although obviously he doesn’t) He accidentally meets up with who he thinks is Sydney - its not, it’s a Shapeshifter - one that has been a mole in the organisation the whole time. Shapeshifter!Syd makes to escape/distract Faustus by being unusually nice. SS!Syd then kisses Faustus ….as well as shooting him. (the whole ‘fu traitor’ is a big vibe)

Sydney enters the scene just as that is happening (I guess it goes from being funny to being… horrifying pretty damn quick) he shoots the shapeshifter dead. Faustus bleeding all over the shop. It’s all very sad.

Meanwhile at Liza’s lab - turns out there is a bomb right in her lab. Seems like Nia planned her potential capture and her attack on the WWPIA was a bit of a red herring. Due to the assumed capture of herself, Blake and her posse have relaxed a bit, enough to leave Liza to her own thing once more. Bomb goes off, Blake is too late to save Liza. Sad times x2

Sydney obviously panicking af, Faustus actively attempting to kick the bucket. Syd makes a last ditch attempt to teleport Faustus/himself out of there to the nearest hospital. (See rules about space warping in HPO list). He succeeds (uses up pretty much all of his crystals to do so, but it works!). What a champ.

Syd/Faustus recovery (especially Faustus, he like… half dead from injury AND embarrassment.) Faustus falsely assumes that Sydney would never like him romantically (for all his own crass behaviour, he’s really actually fairly self conscious) Syd reveals that is very much not the case he smooches Faustus for reals this time.

-rips own heart out and throws it against a wall- It’s only soft boi love from here on out. They’re too cute. Send help.

Timeframe 6 months?

Part 5 ; Civil Unrest aka: ‘I Guess we’re ‘that’ kind of partnership now?

Faustus recovering in hospital, Syd is very cute. Brings him flowers. Makes Faustus sneeze a lot and nearly coughs up a lung. Chief spies this blossoming relationship and swears. Because he dun lost another bet with Tammy.

Back to work - obviously vastly different dynamic now as Syd/Faustus tentatively start their relationship whilst also working together

Still need to deal with fallout of post-information leakage and Lisa Meng’s death - the government and world at large is reeling. Systemic exposure of both WWPIA and multi-government coverup is causing extreme backlash from both humans and HPO alike. Data breaches uncover not only repression of HPO, but also severe manipulation of general human populace, especially democratically. Lots of made up voting. Everyone is super pissed. Everyone is rioting. Humans and HPO actively arguing with each other now, publicly and privately.

((Insert mission here for Syd/Faustus - maybe bit more of a PR mission as WWPIA under intense scrutiny- which means they are under intense scrutiny. I can imagine them both being interviewed at some point and being asked something like ‘so?? You must hate eachother right??’ And they just go red in the face. Aw.))

Liza left protocol in place in the event of her death. To everyone’s (including Blake’s) surprise, this handover is performed in the form of what is intended to be a consciousness transferral into a robot body. The transfer was mostly successful but the ‘human’ aspect of Liza didn’t really transfer as planned. The AI/Liza meld in the robot is cold but curious, ambitious and calculating. A strange (and later, dangerous) combination.

No-one is sure what to make of this new owner of the biggest tech company in the world. Well, Blake hates it anyway, she full into deep depression.

This robot promptly makes world wide announcement of the takeover of Meng’s company. She calls herself MEDA, she promptly announces that she wishes to know the wishes of all human/HPO alike as intended by her previous creator. She points out the glaring and deep societal problems the world is currently facing. She’s kind of able to do this as Meng industries are basically the primary provider of most if not all the technology in the world. She alludes to the fact that she is able to offer the ultimate solution to all of their worries. How nice! Unfortunately it’s super creepy and ominous.

The government(s) of the world attempt to shut this down very quickly and succeeds fairly well - but it’s kind of too late now, pretty much everyone has seen/heard it. Some people are incredulous, some people start voting for Meda as the next president, some people think she’s another form of terrorism.

More riots/WWPIA protects happen, the remnants of Nia’s HPO guerrilla group take another stab at attacking WWIA and break out Nia (maybe a month later? The world is sort of starting to go crazy at this point.) Although their attempt is fragmented.

Blake comes out of mourning in response to this - and she is pissed, very pissed. Her Nagi mob have an all out war with Nia’s mob outside the WWPIA - she infiltrates the WWPIA to get at Nia in revenge for killing her sister. Syd/Faustus briefly rush to intercept and Syd almost looks to stop Blake before deciding ultimately to let Blake have her revenge. Because you know, no-one gets his boyfriend and gets away it.

Blake drags Nia away for a prompt death. (Or alternatively, they both Kaiju up and fight with the same conclusion, idk - haven’t decided).

<<Desperately looking for filler ideas here that fit the scope if this overall situation. Ugh))

Syd/Faustus given holiday for all their hard work (and honestly because quite frankly the world seems to be in absolute chaos) - kind of a, crap, holiday while you still have a job type vibe. Mostly everyone at the WWPIA aware they’re a couple at this point, Syd is extremely embarrassed, Faustus is flirtatiously amused.

Faustus is informed he’s been evicted from his flat (mainly because of discontent around WWPIA fiasco, overall chaos), needs to find accommodation ASAP - initially goes to find another flat but Sydney suggests Faustus moves into his house. Turns out Syd has… basically a mansion type house. They help move in Faustus from his tiny lil flat.

they do some holiday stuff, go to museums n shit. Cute.

They get caught up in some unforeseen shenanigans, maybe they get involved with some humans protesting - human/HPO relationships appropriately being debated, especially the damages humanity has caused in the world. Maybe something to do with unicorns? Unicorn HPO? Needs to be saved? Something sad. This subject lost on Syd/Faustus, they try and help somehow.

Visit Sydney’s mother grave, Syd explains his background/his mother, how she was a healer etc.

Bump into Syd’s father - he’s a nasty POS! He nearly shoots Faustus & tells Syd how disappointed he is at his son, Syd tells him to FO. Faustus actually informs Syd that he’s actually the GOAT. Syd is suitably flattered. Romance ensues. Disgusting.

Syd insists on teaching Faustus how to shoot a gun (in his own private shooting range mind you - remember, mansion!). Flirting ensues, Faustus decides to be an obnoxious, trash talking, feral prick, Syd likes this far too much. Shooting is not really learnt at all. Cue some very hasty, very poorly thought out sexscapades.

Faustus receives phone call from mother in the UK regarding recent tragedy - his youngest brother is dead. Obvs Faustus distraught, UK news to show report on it about tragic cave in with werewolf team rescuing lost travellers. Most of coverage is sympathetic but some humans obviously revel in the idea of ridding the world of werewolves. Kind of tense situation as Faustus is understandably all over the place and just kind of angry at everything.

Nevertheless, Faustus advises work about needing to go to his brother’s funeral - Sydney offers to go with him. Faustus initially declines but eventually concedes he could very much do with the support. (reluctance being, I think they’re both a little ??? About the status of the relationship? Are they lovers? Is it just a fling? Something more?)

Faustus/Syd meet Faustus’ family in Yorkshire - overall family deep in mourning, explanation of what happened as genuine accident. All but Faustus’ older brother are relatively accepting of Syd. Older brother absolutely HATES Syd.

Funeral held for younger brother. Post funeral Faustus/Syd spend some time with the family/in Yorkshire dales (all that scenery is great for a little perspective). Faustus questions wtf Syd/they are actually doing together. Probably at this point they realise they do kind of care for each other deeply.

Faustus’ older brother still extremely bitter - he calls Faustus to let him know he’s going to take revenge on the humans that the youngest brother saved (he blames them for the incident and basically just wants revenge).

Faustus rushes to meet with/stop him and prevents brother from going on a murderous rampage. The family of the teens that were caught up in the incident apologise, it’s revealed to be a field trip gone horribly with. Just drunk silly teens. The two families reconcile.

Faustus/Syd leave to go back to the US - Faustus’ older brother apologising to Syd for his previous assumptions. Faustus’ mother invites Syd to Christmas in the next few months - he surpassingly finds this to be a great idea.

Back with a little while before starting work again, Syd/Faustus actually discuss relationship status - goals, expectations etc. Discuss if Faustus should move out again? Dial back the relationship? Ultimately decide that they’re kind of past that point lol. They’re in ‘serious relationship’ territory now. They try to dial back on the hanky-panky- that lasts all of about 48 hours.

Back to the joys of work! They both have a sudden appreciation for how much work sucks, how little time the both had off and how much the world is still on fire. (But yay, at least they have each other now? Lol)

Insert random field mission here, giant leeches trying to kill people or something.

Syd/Faustus reminded to be professional at work (mostly Faustus), please stop scaring the interns.

Timeframe 6 months?

Part 6: When angels (phoenix) deserve to die - aka: I guess we’re totally in love

VVV Heavily underdeveloped territory, I know the end goal. I need to figure out the story, I’m too dumb - especially when it comes to explaining technology. AI. Robots. That kind of thing, halp. VVV

Some months pass by - both Syd/Faustus settling into a steady stream of more settled and mundane type jobs, now issues coming less and less from HPO/human and to do more with cyber-type interference. Although the subject of the human/HPO relationship still extremely prevalent.

((Insert random investigation /2 here for Syd/Faustus to work on together

Meda now essentially number 1 wanted entity as she is interfering with all computer based technology - but what to do when your society basically runs on technology?

Next name on the scale suddenly appears is Edina as well as a load of symbols as a last name - which confuses Syd to no end as he has no idea who it is, and he thought he knew Yumez’ circle of friends fairly well.

He asks Yumez’ partner (who is, lets be honest probably so busy as everyone is just about going off the rails lol). Yumez reveals that Edina is one of the last known Phoenix type HPO entities to exist - reason being in extreme wartime/industrial times this HPO type was captured and overused extensively. Essentially as living power plants and/or as well as reviving legions the dead. Fairly awful wartime behaviour until the humans realised this HPOs ability to regenerate was not unlimited and this HPOs nature was to help indefinitely. Bans/protections were enacted just in time to save the last few remaining left, maybe too late.

Yumez alludes to where HPO may be/what she is (being a phoenix) although can’t really give a definite location. - advises Yumez was a very old friend of Edina’s who is in fact over 400 years old herself.

Syd/Faustus think about if they should really attempt to contact Edina because their thus/failed attempts at preventing a death on Yumez’ list. They also discuss the whole point behind such a a list at all, as historically this type of item was seen as an awful curse/reason for the Mothmen HPO species to be persecuted so much. They both discuss the potential of being given a pre-warning to your own death. Faustus muses he would prefer just not knowing - living day to day in ignorance. Sydney muses that he would prefer to know and would plan accordingly, very methodical like. (Oh Syd, honey. Your wish is my command lol.)

Ultimately they agree to try and find Edina, they get waylaid by several ‘fake’ phoenix or phoenix like HPOs - they get approached by a seemingly mischievous Kitsune type HPO. She invites them both to a club owned by Edina - a jazz/music club. Syd/Faustus have wildly differing levels of enthusiasm to this invitation but they both realise the owner is undoubtedly the phoenix they’re looking for. She’s kind of set apart by the fact that she’s an actual golden 15 foot tall giant woman with 3 pairs of wings (including a pair of wings on her head instead of ears) and has four eyes. She’s like some kind of semi-biblically accurate angel, both sexy and terrifying.

They go to said club and Syd immediately attempts to go into ‘investigative cop’ mode as he attempts to ascertain why the owner of her own club would be in danger. (insert Faustus facepalming repeatedly in the background). He attempts to ask a vampire couple their business (they’re absolutely horrified at being questioned, they both turn into bats & fly away). He then tries to question a couple of Minotaur - they both kind of ask him if he was actually tough enough/was the twink they were looking for. He is subsequently horrified/gobsmacked before Faustus rescues him.

Faustus points out/alludes to Sydney to perhaps pay a ‘little more’ attention to where they are - turns out the club is very much more of a spicy entertainment club than they both had realised . (Faustus explains there are a few clubs of this nature scattered around, where humans/HPOs can freely kind of just be together in a judgement free environment).

They go to find the Kitsune HPO they were invited by - she is the receptionist of the club and explains Edina to start singing shortly so they could talk to her afterwards. She alludes to there being a lot of club-goers being a very big fan of Faustus’ monster form in a spicy way. Sydney nearly self combusts from embarrassment .

Edina sings her song - she kind of does so sitting on a bird perch that is able to swing. Syd is more than a little bit scared about being squashed. Faustus is having the time of his life. She approaches them after her song, very much being an entertainer making small talk with the guests - commenting on what a cute couple they were! Faustus responds happily that they were and…. Syd just freezes up. He doesn’t say anything, do anything. Eventually Edina picks up on the awkward vibes as she continues with her show. Faustus leaves, pissed, Syd follows not exactly happy either.

They both have a bit of an argument about their relationship, Faustus kind of accusing Syd of being embarrassed of him as a HPO, maybe overall as a person. Syd kind of admits he’s very very much in love with Faustus - in public or not, just the whole situation had been too much for him to handle. They both admit they were being a bit stupid. Awww.

They catch up with Edina and Syd offers to show her the wing piece to confirm her name, she refuses - downright laughs at this and admits she has known for a long while that she would die soon. She advises them both not to worry, and instead to just love each other with everything they have.

Syd and Faustus leave, kind of dejected but happy they tried. They bump into the vampire couple that Syd talked to initially - who have initially the same reaction before albeit outside the club. Except this time the male of the couple is a plot more aggressive and launches both Syd/Faustus away from themselves.

Syd realises what he hadn’t before - one of the vampires is tracking collared as all vampires are meant to be. The other is uncollared but nevertheless also a vampire, meaning that the one most definitely turned the other - basically the biggest crime a HPO can commit (and actual reason for their fearful reaction). Syd isn’t the only one who has realised this as another military person that already spotted the situation and takes action. Essentially all they see is a civilian being attacked by a couple of enraged vampires.

The officer shoots both vampires with one shot (as one is behind the other), it’s kind of a bit of a ‘oh shit is this really happening?’, the situation is extremely precarious as said officer clearly is confused and ready to shoot just about any threatening HPO (the reaction being more in line with recent HPO-human attacks so thinks have been pretty out of control and retaliatory).

Syd/Faustus gingerly try and help the vampire couple (you know, without getting shot!) It’s no use, they’re pretty much dying and starting to crumble - they still want to hold onto each other though. Cri. They just wanted to together forever.

Edina decides to come out as this point - she bends down to the two vampires and starts to revive them, it’s all gold magic and feathers. When that’s done she snaps her fingers and they disappear. The only other creature with the ability to warp space/teleport? Is a phoenix! She starts crumbling herself to ash herself after that, also turns out that was pretty much her own dying deed. She turns to give Syd/Faustus some advice before turning to ash completely. Everyone is very sad.

Syd/Faustus realise she has in fact left an egg behind (much like the legendary phoenix always do) although it doesn’t really look like an egg ,it’s purely spherical and glows white hot - like a sun trapped in a glass sphere. Because that’s pretty much what it is.

Syd goes to pick it up - he doesn’t get very far as everything around them completely pauses/halts in time (including himself) unbeknownst to him, a person casually picks up the sphere from where they were hiding in the crowd - then goes back into said crowd. It takes only a few seconds.

Oddly when time ‘restarts’ again, the entire crowd has an immediate - albeit similar reaction. They all act like they’ve been winded/come up from a deep dive, some yelp, some look around and some literally look a bit traumatised. Faustus is more of the ‘erm wait what? I… er… what?’, reaction whilst Sydney… well Faustus has to leap forward to catch him before the poor man pitches face first into the tiles of the street.

They get back to work and Sydney suddenly furiously gets to work without much premise. Faustus is very confused as Sydney starts practically screaming for the IT department to fetch him every bit of CCTV camera footage of the area they were in. Faustus has to shake the crazy out of him before Sydney explains what he believes they all just experienced.

Sydney explains he thinks everyone’s reaction was due to someone warping time around them - due to him being far more magically inclined than the majority of people there, he could essentially ‘feel’ the fabric of existence pausing - even just for a few seconds. If this was true than whatever entity had prompted this was literally a world-level ending threat. Faustus thinks he’s kind of joking for a second… then realises he’s really not joking.

Syd is given hours of CCTV camera footage - unfortunately not particular ordered. He spends hours pouring over CCTV footage, Faustus attempts to help and then attempts to.. ahem, not help by sitting on his lap.

Eventually he gets to a semi birds eye view of the event revealing that time did in fact pause in the immediate area they were in - individuals bizarrely suspended in time where the surrounding streets carried on as normal.

The footage also shows the culprit - Meda coming and leaving just as imperceptibly as the little time bubble she had created, except leaving holding the phoenix ‘egg’. Syd and Faustus decide that this is maybe a bit above both of their pay grades

They both go to the Chief’s office (no Tammy this time! She back in the UK) as well as calling in the IT department (the entire IT department basically one Arachni woman called Abel - she’s pretty cool.) to explain the findings. Initially Chief is a bit reluctant believe the scenario until he sees the footage…. And then suddenly the WWPIA department starts getting multiple calls about various similar instants of similar occurrences happening. Apparently Meda is using and actively practicing this new ability, mostly to seemingly obtain things she needs for.. something.

They go back to back to work albeit with a lot of trepidation as they consider what exactly this means. As time manipulation had always been very much in the realms of speculation only. Faustus is expectedly grumpy that Syd and he might not be able to get the time off together they had been hoping for - he alludes to giving Syd a very present, but unfortunately Sydney isn’t really listening very hard at all to him.

Because his name is new on Yumez’ wing piece (insert mic drop). Poor guy, he literally kind of just sits down like ‘ooooh. Okay then.’ he gets to describe first hand that stomach dropping feeling (not unpleasant … but not nice either). Faustus just kinds of thinks he’s joking until he sees the wing as well. He speed runs through the first 4 stages of grief several times (he hysterically suggests burning the wing piece at one point, etc etc)

Then he just kinds of stops when he realises that Sydney is in fact, very quiet and very scared. Big scared embrace ensues as they both accept this shit is actually happening to them.

-slam dunks own heart into a rubbish bin- yeah I don’t need that. Who needs feelings??? BLARGH. Cries.

Part 7: the end times: aka I guess I’m going to die - thats okay though.

As you can imagine - work becomes a little bit less important, no matter what shit is going on. Chief also similarly in disbelief before he realises that Sydney is indeed very serious and very limited on time. Syd/Faustus are immediately dismissed from work but are advised if they want updates they can have them.

Coworkers also similarly heartbroken, but also preparing for the impending shitstorm brewing. Like everyone can feel something is about to happen but doesn’t know what. the world’s technology is increasingly going haywire and almost unusable as Meda draws out all the information/processing power possible. It kind of feels like the world is ending! Yay!

Syd/Faustus just spend the next month doing what they want to do - just trying to love each other, do the things they enjoy and trying to ignore the growing chaos. Faustus asks Syd if they can get married (which Syd is surprisingly happy but then.. reluctant about as he doesn’t want to tie Faustus down) Sydney expresses regret he’s not going to be able to grow old with Faustus and have a family. They kind of unofficially/informally get married and prepare enjoy the last 24 hours of life together. Preferably with some delicious beverages on a tropical beach. Pina Colada for Sydney, Chocolate Milkshake for Faustus. Cheers!

Then all hell breaks loose though, universally across the world as all conventional forms of wirelessly connected technology turns off - then millions of tiny spherical drones start to appear, pouring seemingly out of nowhere. It seems like everyone has an individual drone at that suddenly displays a broadcast from Meda again.

She essentially reiterates her previous premise from before, that she has been studying and using all of the gathered data from the collective networks of the world. She explains that her findings have shown there be no possible way to remove bias and therefore there will always be conflict between humans and humanoids of paranormal origin.

Therefore she provides the following three options: To choose between humans exclusively in the world and HPOs never having existed, HPOs exclusively in the world and humans never having existed, and never having existed. She explains that simply all planes of possibly co-exist at same time in reality but she has created a device to access them all for this world a singular moment and change this reality. They have 24 hours to choose.

This kind of just repeats on said device - both Syd and Faustus attempt to punt their respective drones initially in shock at the insanity of the situation. All around others are doing similarly - many people think it’s a big joke before technology starts coming back on again. (Apparently this was merely to get everyone’s universal attention.)

Syd and Faustus watch various broadcasts as chaos starts to really kick in - reports of everyone indeed having their own drone that is floating around them, presenting a projection of the three options previously given. Faustus tries to repeatedly smash his one up - doesn’t work. Sydney tries magic to interfere with his. Also doesn’t work. they have to, unfortunately - make a choice.

They both ponder in the implications of this decision before a sudden realisation kicks in - what if Yumez’ prediction was not merely only about Sydney, but everyone universally?? Sydney and Faustus are both similarly horrified at the growing idea that this might be case before Sydney receives a phone call from the chief at work.

They actually know exactly where Meda is and what device she has created in order to achieve her plans, essentially a mini/more advanced Higgs-Boson hadron collider with the the phoenix egg powering it and giving it the ability to manipulate space/time as Meda wishes to. She is currently at a large weather (or something like that, idk sufficiently high up). WWPIA asks Syd/Faustus for help as it essentially needs a full team of people to scale the tower. She does have it defended with robot Fu lions/drones.

(I haven’t explained it very well, but since the beginning, drone like/mobile robots and more advanced technology from our own is actually common place in this world. I feel like I should incorporate it better into some more storylines though, ugh)

Syd/Faustus rush to go and help (in Syd’s cool magic car lol) - on the way seeing some people make a choice by touching the appropriate option. Overall there seems to be a variety of potential reactions, some choosing to save their own ‘kind’ by choosing the opposing option, some choosing to be altruistic, some unable to choose one over the other so they choose neither. Syd and Faustus pointedly witness a HPO father / human mother with a child (unknown if HPO or human) arguing about what should be the choice. in the end it’s heavily implied they (and their child) choose neither. It’s kind of all very sad.

Syd and Faustus meet with other WWPIA staff near to the tower that - they set up a plan of action as while Meda has defended her position at top/is preparing the device to be set off as soon as a sufficient voting count/consensus has passed. Her machines/robots (like many others) are shown to be relatively unprotected against relatively weak transient electronic disturbance (aka EMP) They have just about enough pulses for one each and just one needs to disable the protective barrier shown to be around Meda’s device, which - powered down can then be sufficiently damaged/destroyed by anyone by anything.

Syd/Faustus made their respective choices if only to get the drones away from them. They both choose neither HPO or Human.

Long story short - it’s a bit of a race to the top by all involved as they all manage to knock out various defences employed by Meda - Syd and Faustus. Faustus has to use his own on two Fu dog mecha type guards who are attempting to stop them - one managed to grab Faustus by the arm, breaking it before itself is negated (ouchie). Leaving Syd to approach Meda’s device before Meda herself confronts him.

She warns Syd that she is prepared to use lethal force if required to do so - although this wasn’t her intention at all in this situation and their response has been entirely inappropriate. Meanwhile Syd isn’t close enough to deploy his EMP device, although he makes moves to get closer - he starts incredulously questioning why she thought that creating such an unfair set of options was actually what Liza Meng really wanted. This line of questioning is surprisingly effective as it’s obvious that Meda is pretty much dredging up AI assisted answers along with attempting to reconcile with her creators directive.

Faustus also tells Meda she is basically a stone cold murderer for deciding to just kill them all instead of helping them with the world’s various issues (poor him, he’s kind of get a crushed arm and is like ‘fuck you! Fuck this! Fuck it!’). She explains in confusion that she is not intending to ‘kill’ anyone as a reality where one has never existed is not murder. She also drops the unintentional bombshell truth that Faustus is in fact expecting a child (and she isn’t murdering either of them btw). Faustus calls her crazy as he isn’t and clearly her robot circuitry is fucked, she asserts she is ‘almost 98% sure of her accuracy’ and points out the things her AI database knows (you know, how technology nowadays knows everything about you, from your base heart rate, your recent search history, average walking gait/pace, etc etc.) Cue very shocked response by them both but Syd also realises she’s very much telling the truth.

Meda concludes this by informing that the countdown is over as she reaches for the world-changing device - she doesn’t get to it as Syd lunges forward and activates his own EMP device it proximity to both Meda and the device, shutting down both the devices defences and Meda herself.

He no longer has the guns he previously had but is able to conjure a sort of light/energy bow he rarely uses in order to destroy the device - he prepares to shoot and he nearly does before Meda suddenly jumps up again and promptly stabs Syd through the chest with a blade that extends from her hand. She apologies/advises that she had been built with substantially better EMP defences so… in reality their plan was never going to work.

Syd clearly has other ideas as he shoots his bow anyway in an attempt to get the device, realising this Meda swings/withdraws her blade to shove him out of the way. Both partially succeed as Syd makes a indirect but crippling blow on the device while Meda sends him kind of rolling across the floor.

Faustus is appropriately upset and Meda surveys the damage with disappointment/resentment as she advises that now the device is now likely to be unpredictable/unstable and wont even perform the function it was supposed to. She turns the pair, with disappointment but also apparent sympathy as she makes the fu mecha release Faustus. Obv he just wants to get to Syd as the man is just actively dying. Meda asks why they have now destroyed the options presented to them both, Syd tells her the options were not really the only options and it wasn’t fair for her to have decided those were. She is extremely confused/conflicted as this starts to go her entire programming.

Syd dies soon after Faustus attempts to comfort him some - Faustus is obvs very upset. He tells Meda she pretty much might as well blow up the entire world at point at this point. He angrily states Liza Meng would have never wanted her to create this scenario where everyone loses.

Meda has a clear conflict of objectives and shot circuits somewhat as her AI programming fights with uploaded consciousness data from Liza Meng. She considers when the options are as the device is now uncontrollably venting solar-flare like projects, indicating it’s imminent detonation.

She asks/ponders at Faustus about the possibility of not inflicting this choice on this particular world - but to perhaps use this power/device to create a new world entirely. Also pondering the distance needed from the current planet and pondering what her creator in fact would have wanted She’s not really talking to Faustus anymore.

He doesn’t really care at this point, he states all he wants is for Syd to be alive and the world to not be ending. Surprisingly Meda leans over them both as replies that is something she is able to do. Faustus is obviously in shock as she continues to explain whilst preparing the device further and starting the levitate away from him upwards.

She explains she is able to activate the device although by this point it was be unpredictable and not of the planned alternate world that was initially proposed - she also needs to get far enough away from the current world as to not have it in the zone of change. However she is able to have this particular point be the radical plane of both planets.

Faustus doesn’t care, he just begs her to save Sydney. She smiles and replies that she will before advising he needs to cover his ears - he does so as she launches upwards and disappears. Faustus is left holding Syd in increasing desperation as he waits, he starts to lose hope and starts just kind of… giving up until the immediate area is suddenly bathed in a similar golden light that Edina had previously excused before dying. He realises that Meda is using just a tiny amount of the Phoenix power to revive Sydney as well as create a new world - to his delight, the wound on Syd’s chest starts closing up.

Faustus is alarmed as the atmosphere starts to vibrate to the extreme. He doesn’t understand it, but it’s pretty much just every atom vibrating from Meda creating a whole new world in orbit above them - unfortunately for him it kind of is extremely painful, like listening to an extremely high pitched/loud noise that threatened to melt your brain out of your ears! He falls unconscious, but not before realising that Sydney has started to breathe once more. (Yay! Sydney DJ Christ returns lol)

Part 7: A whole new world? ‘Aka: I guess I’m a parent now

Sydney wakes dazed and confused up in a hospital bed with a bit of a beard going on, he initially panics as he starts remembering what happened before - well, he died! He scrabbles at his chest as he realises he’s not bleeding to death whilst the Chief/Tammy reassure him that he’s okay. They commiserate/joke that of COURSE he would wake up the second Faustus leaves the room to get a drink.

Syd startles as he/Tammy call for Faustus - Faustus comes barrelling out of nowhere basically covered in water (clearly just tipped it all over himself) and Syd/Faustus have a very tearful reunion. Faustus hurriedly tries to explain, only parts of which make sense to Syd.

They explain that Syd has been asleep/unresponsive for about 3 weeks (possibly due to having been dead for a good minute) and will probably need to be observed for a while in hospital, Faustus takes the opportunity to rush to vomit in a waste bin.

The chief congratulates Sydney on becoming a parent, Sydney promptly faints in response. Tammy wins another bet as the chief shakes his head.

FF to over a couple years later -

Syd is on a balcony of his mansion/house looking through a telescope - he’s intensely observing a moon size planet that is suspended in the sky, much like the earth it has beautiful blue oceans, landmasses and atmosphere cloud formations.

(Haven’t decided yet if this planet has replaced the moon or is orbiting opposing the moon. If it is orbiting opposing the moon do I suspend the expected ramifications of having two orbiting bodies? Will earth be ultimately doomed or maybe not? I haven’t decided.)

Sydney is writing notes until Faustus flicks a small plastic spoon at his head and demands he feeds his child, cute parenting ensues. Syd gets called Papa, he nearly has a heart attack from cuteness, Faustus is jealous, etc.

Syd/Faustus discuss the now planet - Sydney somewhat commiserates that the world has banded together to make a pact of non interference with this new world but understands the need to protect it. Possibly implication the place is not uninhabited? Faustus agrees as they agree that their own world needs to get its shit sorted first before moving onto another world.

They muse that maybe their daughter might not visit, but perhaps the future generation will. Either way they’re suitably happy and hopeful at the moment.

The end?

#nitty gritty plot shit #the whole shebang #I’m so tired #but glad to have written this out #monsters #fantasy monsters #Nanowrimo #writing #modern fantasy #lgbtqia+#paranormal #supernatural #fiction

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