MSPA fan fiction 2

[resdaMalos]

I'm really enjoying Scratch, but it kind of makes me feel guilty, because the more of it I read that means the more tiny circles Dave has to make.

It's like Rosencrantz and Guildernstern. But with more carpal tunnel syndrome.

SPOILER: He won't have to do that anymore.

EDIT: oops, hit reply too early.

Hearts Across Time, Hammer and Nails and Zazzerpan are all progressing well! I can't wait for the next parts to be posted!

[Solaris]

I'm getting hooked on a lot of these fics as much as I am to the main comic.

I hope NV gets to get some drawing done soon for our collab. You guys are gonna love it.

YESYESYESYESYESYESYESYESYESYESYESYESYESYESYESYESYE SYESYESYESYESYESYESYESYESYESYESYESYESYESYESYESYESY ESYESYESYESYESYESYESYESYESYESYESYES

[Tenebrais]

Have a quick ship fic. It focuses on Agents and is set in some successful session with three players.

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You find yourself in a jail. This is not the first time you’ve been imprisoned; your illustrious ruler made sure of that. But this is the first time you’ve been imprisoned in the enemy’s cell.
You are far below the three golden towers on Prospit. This you know, because every damn spy report of the place has run through your hands. Still, you are not particularly angry or upset. How could you be? The Black Queen, who had been breathing down your neck since day one and making life a living hell for you, is dead. Those three green kids killed her. Then they came and imprisoned you. You take the fact that you are still breathing to be a good sign.
You are of course already formulating a plan to escape from here. It should be trivial. They don’t call you the Sly Scoundrel for nothing. They don’t call you that at all, but they damn well will once you’re back on Derse.

Footsteps. Not the elegant and calculated gait of a queen, you can say that for sure. Clearly she does not consider you worthy of an audience. You’re only the Archagent of Derse. Queens. They’re all the same.
The sound is very careful, though. Probably nervous. Good. At least someone knows your reputation. You are quite certain you have a reputation for ferocity and ruthlessness. If you don’t, changes will have to be made, which you will enact as soon as your position is reinstated.
The door on the other side of the bars opens. A woman walks in carrying something made of cloth. She silently hands you the item through the bars. You take it and unfold it - it is a garment, simple and undecorated. Not stylish, but practical. A welcome sight after the hideous rags your monarch forced you to wear. The woman turns away with the clear implication that you should get changed. You do not need to be asked twice. For weeks you have relished the thought of shucking this detestable raiment. With relish, you take off your robe and wizard hat.
You savour it perhaps a little too long. You catch her peeking at your undressed self. You glare at her until she looks away. Still, you cannot blame her too much. You would have done the same, and would not have even tried to hide it. She is indisputably fair, wearing a pink hood and the other pastel colours characteristic of Prospit.

You cough to indicate she can look back. She nods politely and then turns to leave. You ask her name. She says that she is Ms Paint. You tell her that you are Jack Noir. She says she knows, as she picks up her bucket and resumes her normal duties.
Perhaps your escape can wait a little longer.

[Solaris]

What an incredibly odd ship.
FUN
ODD IS ALWAYS FUN
IT LEADS TO THINGS LIKE THAT AND UNHINGED

[Graven_Image]

Ms. Paint

O I C WHAT U DID THAR

[reclusiveAmateur]

Agh, I have put it off too long and there is way too much awesome to properly review @_@ Maybe I can make a quick flowchart.

Everything in this thread = awesome
Every series in this thread = super awesome
Every fic featuring the kids = super special awesome

Special mention to Zazzerpan, Scratch, and Saras because that's what I can clearly remember just now. ^^; sorry

[VagabondRaiser]

And if I only could make a deal with God, and get him to swap our places...

Be running up that road... be running up that hill...

...with no problem...

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"It doesn't hurt me," he mutters as she applies the white fluid tentatively, the feathering of her brush across the stab wound in his chest. He coughs, and it's a terrible noise, but she sets her jaw and continues applying the paint.

"Please be still," she whispers, and a little more of the paint is applied, faster now. Ease born of years of practice means that even the various joints in his carapace are quickly and easily coated over.

Here in the baking heat of the Skaian sun, the paint will dry quickly. She will be able to get him some help, and he will be alright. Even if he took the strike for her.

Even if he lay dying for her.

"Why are you helping me?" He rasps, and it's the twelfth time she's been asked this. She doesn't speak, only pulls aside shredded multicolored cloth. She swallows her embarassment at his lack of clothing. Prospitans and Dersites; both constructs, both ungendered save for the barest of hints.

More paint, this time coating his shoulders. It dribbles down his front, and she hands him a spare brush. "Spread it evenly, and be quick," she says softly. "It will stem the blood flow, help you survive long enough for us to get help."

He accepts after a moment. Whether he suspects her lie or not, he doesn't let on.

With his help, the task is complete far faster than she alone could perform it. Ebon carapace becomes pearl, and he is for the most part disguised. She tries not to worry about the fact that his wound remains open, the fact that crimson blood continues to trickle from the cut.

She briefly eyes a cut on the back of her hand from when he thrust her aside and took the strike from the brute himself. From when he slashed the broad Dersite's throat with a switchblade conjured seemingly from nowhere.

His blood is no different than hers. Black or white, they are both much alike.

"Congrats, dollface, you've converted me," he chuckles morbidly, coughs, hacks a mouthful of bile and blood to the checkerboard ground beneath them. She replaces her brushes in the pail, now half empty, and aids him in standing, taking clothes from a fallen comrade and dressing him in them.

Providence provides a convenient stab-hole in the clothes; he's just an angry soldier with a war wound.

"Why are you helping me?" He asks again. Thirteen, unlucky.

"...because you helped me," she says simply. Softly. A gentle whisper for a gentle nature. She is purity, she is white, she is everything he could never be, and she is helping him even though moments prior he had threatened her with death.

He had only killed the other so he would have the pleasure of killing her. He tells her this.

She understands.

"...too soft for the battlefield," he mumbles as they trudge up the hill, towards the battlements of the Prospitan Army.

"We do what we must," she replies.

He's silent, for a moment. When he speaks again, it's but six words.

"Tell me we both matter, don't we?"

She doesn't answer. She has no answer.

She only keeps walking up that hill.

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Assume they're in one of the many 'ended sessions'. This tore into my head when a certain song came on and refused to let go. I call it: 'Placebo Effect'.

Also: Worth noting, but it took me approximately five minutes to write this. It took everything I had to avoid crowbarring a few more lines from the song into it. I also considered this line, three times:

"We do what we must," she replies. "Because we can."

[Tenebrais]

Alright, so northernVehemence and I have been collaborating! We've come up with a three-part fic set in a similar setting to all these future-Dave ones. Except it's mostly focused on Rose.

Anyway, without further ado.

Tearful Farewell, Part 1

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22nd April 2009
-- turntechGodhead [TG] began pestering ectoBiologist [EB] --
TG: so i heard you got yourself a gig
TG: nice going bro
EB: hey thanks!
EB: yeah dad pulled some strings.
EB: its weird.
EB: first i thought he was like some street performer.
EB: then it turned out he was just a businessman.
EB: but now he does accounts for a comedy troupe?
TG: haha yeah i hear you
TG: so i hope youre ready for it
TG: i mean it hasnt been two weeks since you were crying like a baby over jack noir
TG: oh no dave please save me
EB: hey!
EB: i thought you said you werent going to bring that up again!
EB: also it totally wasnt like that.
TG: yeah right
TG: so anyway have you heard from jade lately
TG: do you even know where she went
EB: no.
EB: im getting kind of worried actually.
TG: yeah me too
TG: i mean she cant really go home now without that fucking devilbeast around
TG: but then you know jade
TG: shell be fine
EB: yeah.
EB: so what have you been doing the last few days?
TG: still getting stuff set up with my bro
TG: been kinda chaotic lately
TG: sorry i havent been on much
EB: its cool.
EB: you might want to talk to rose though.
EB: shes been acting weird.
TG: alright i guess ill go do that
-- turntechGodhead [TG] ceased pestering ectoBiologist [EB] --

-- turntechGodhead [TG] began pestering tentacleTherapist [TT] --
TG: hey whats up seer
TG: havent been online for a few days
TG: hows things with you and your mom
TT: Oh hi dave!
TT: I”m pretty good.
TT: Everything’s pretty good, really.
TG: whoa haha
TG: you never make typos
TG: hell you checked your spelling even when that giclops was bearing on you
TG: im putting this one in the book
TG: the greatest failure of rose lalonde
TG: the day she made a typo
TG: volume 1
TT: Oh be quiet.
TT: I had a drink.
TG: wait
TG: alcohol
TG: i thought your mom scared you off that shit
TG: by example
TT: Not reallly.
TT: Mom said it helped her when she felt down.
TT: So i thought I’d try it out.
TT: It does a bit.
TG: what have you got to feel down about?
TG: youre the big heroine living in a fucking mansion
TT: Its not like I’m depressed!
TT: I’m not that drunk, am I?
TT: I only had one.
TT: I think.
TT: Maybe two.
TG: nah youre fine
TG: just take it easy
TG: after all thats happened itd be a shame if you got hooked on the stuff
TT: I won’t, really.
TT: I do have self-control, you know.
TG: yeah sure
-- turntechGodhead [TG] ceased pestering tentacleTherapist [TT] --



26th April 2009
-- ectoBiologist [EB] began pestering tentacleTherapist [TT][/color] --
EB: rose!
EB: rose are you there?
EB: i need your help!
TT: I’m here, sorry.
TT: Had to deal with Mom for a moment.
TT: What is it?
EB: i got a letter from jade.
TT: A letter?
EB: yeah!
EB: rose they took her to a care home.
EB: they think shes crazy!
TT: A care home?
TT: Why?
EB: apparently she started telling people about sburb and everything.
EB: obviously no one believed her.
TT: An active imagination isn’t enough to be diagnosed crazy.
TT: But then we’re talking about Jade here.
TT: She’s not exactly... adjusted to normal life.
EB: yeah i know!
EB: look rose you know about all this psychology stuff.
EB: what should i do?
EB: i cant just leave her there.
TT: Hold on. I’ll be right back.
TT: Okay, I’m back.
TT: John, I really hate to say this.
TT: But you might have to “just leave her there”.
TT: If she’s been diagnosed with something, there’s not a lot we can do.
EB: rose this isnt like you.
EB: you never give up.
TT: I know a losing battle when I see it.
EB: well can you at least go visit her?
EB: i cant. ive got my show coming up.
EB: im thinking of cancelling it really.
TT: Don’t, john.
TT: You’ve been looking forward to that.
TT: At least one of us should be happy.
EB: what?
TT: Neber mind.
EB: rose whats up?
EB: rose.
EB: have you been drinking again?
TT: Does it matter?
EB: um
EB: well anyway
EB: do you think you could go and visit jade?
EB: she probably needs some company right now.
TT: I doubt I could talk my mom into it.
TT: I;m grounded anyway.
EB: jesus rose
EB: look lets talk about this later okay?
EB: ill go ask dave.
-- ectoBiologist [EB] ceased pestering tentacleTherapist [TT] --

15th March 2010
-- turntechGodhead [TG] began pestering ectoBiologist [EB] --
TG: yo john
TG: howd your big show go
TG: i bet you knocked em dead
TG: with all your totally real magic
EB: haha!
EB: it was great!
EB: everyone was really impressed.
EB: and i didnt cheat much i swear!
TG: yeah right
TG: i bet you got rose to give you her uber death wands
TG: death wangs
TG: nah that jokes overdone
EB: no really!
EB: just a little bit of smoke and mirroring.
EB: being the heir of breath has to have some use!
TG: i hear ya man
TG: oh hey i got a letter from jade today
EB: how is she?
TG: well you know jade
TG: nothing gets her down
TG: though if you read between the lines i think shes kinda bummed none of us have ever come to see her
EB: oh shit.
EB: ill have to tell her im sorry!
TG: yeah me too
EB: well now my shows are done for a while i think i can talk my dad into taking me to see her!
EB: maybe i could pick you and rose up too?
TG: yeah maybe
TG: if i can get out of this city at least
TG: jacked up in this shit so tight
TG: so many parties man
TG: the ladies would miss me so bad if i missed one
EB: oh that reminds me!
EB: this cute girl asked me on a date after the show!
EB: ill be meeting her this weekend.
EB: wish me luck!
TG: you dont need luck bro
-- turntechGodhead [TG] ceased pestering ectoBiologist [EB] --



19th March 2010
-- ectoBiologist [EB] began pestering tentacleTherapist [TT] --
EB: hey rose.
EB: how are you holding up?
TT: Ive been better.
EB: yeah you say that every time.
EB: your mom still mad at you?
TT: She’s always mad at me john.
TT: She always hasd been.
EB: thats not true.
EB: shes nicer than that.
TT: She really isnt.
EB: well my dad still sees something in her.
EB: i still dont really know what the deal is with those two.
TT: I really don’t want to think about it
EB: rose how long are you going to keep doing this?
EB: it seems like every time i talk to you youre drunk.
TT: I guess i just take after my mother.
TT: Nearlty a year, John.
EB: what?
TT: In one month jade will have been in that careh ome for a year.
TT: A whole year.
TT: And i couldn’t help yer.
TT: I can’t even go to see her.
TT: because my mom hates me.
TT: Beacuse I’ve been stealing her alcohol.
EB: rose
EB: rose please stop doing this!
EB: youre getting worse.
EB: you dont need to drown your sorrows so much.
TT: You can’t tell me what to do.
TT: I’n just a bit down today, that’s all.
EB: i hope so.
EB: rose please try to look on the bright side, okay?
EB: im sure you have better things to do that sit around feeling sorry for yourself!
-- ectoBiologist [EB] ceased pestering tentacleTherapist [TT] --

20th March 2010
-- ectoBiologist [EB] began pestering turntechGodhead [TG] --
EB: hey bro.
TG: yo dog
TG: howd your hot date go
TG: did you blow her mind
EB: i totally screwed it up!
TG: oh man
TG: how did you even do something like that
EB: i dont know!
EB: i talked to rose yesterday and she was in a really bad way.
EB: i couldnt stop thinking about her!
EB: i guess jessica got kind of offended.
TG: yeah well
TG: she was probably a total bitch anyway
TG: just trying to ride on your success
EB: haha.
EB: thanks man. i needed that.
TG: no problem bro
TG: i am dave strider
TG: fixer of problems
EB: i wish you could fix roses problem.
TG: man me too
TG: shes just fucking broken
TG: hell at least jade manages to be cheerful
TG: i think rose is just feeling sad for her
EB: i guess someone has to be the psychoanalyst without her!
TG: for real
TG: anyway cant stay long
TG: late night party starts in ten
TG: catch you later bro
EB: alright, see ya.
-- ectoBiologist [EB] ceased pestering turntechGodhead [TG] --

3rd December 2010
-- tentacleTherapist [TT] began pestering turntechGodhead [TG] --
TT: Happy birthday dave!
TG: oh hey thanks rose
TG: you seem very
TG: intelligible today
TT: Hahaha
TT: Yeah that;s funny.
TT: I think.
TG: so uh
TG: howre you doing?
TT: Not bad i guess?
TT: I dont really remember why I;’n drinking any more.
TT: So I think it’s finally working.
TG: what
TG: shit rose
TG: you have to stop this
TT: Evertyhine tells me that
TG: thats because you do!
TG: shit
TG: youre supposed to be the one that knows all this psychotherapy stuff
TG: whyd you have to turn to drink
TT: why does anyone do anything.
-- tentacleTherapist [TT] ceased pestering turntechGodhead [TG] --



4th December 2010
-- tentacleTherapist [TT] began pestering ectoBiologist [EB] --
TT: John
TT: John.
TT: JOHN!
EB: jesus rose im here!
EB: what is it?
TT: Ifucked up john.
EB: what?
TT: Dave’s been arrested.
EB: WHAT?
TT: John not so loud, please!
TT: Wait that doesn’t make any sense.
EB: what happened to dave, rose?
TT: Well, he was throwing this huge party for his birthday.
EB: i know that!
TT: Yeah. Well he got into a fight with someone.
TT: It got kind of our of hand and the police got called int.
TT: Then they found drugs on him.
TT: John its’ all my fault!
EB: calm down rose!
EB: shit.
EB: i can’t imagine him doing something like that.
TT: That’s why it;s my fault. I know it.
TT: I was talking to him yesterday and I was drunk.
TT: Relaly drunk.
EB: youre drunk now arent you?
TT: of course I’m drunk now!
TT: Why shouldnt I be drunk?
TT: My brother is going to jail and its all my fault!
EB: rose!
EB: its not all your fault.
EB: remember that okay?
EB: even if you did upset dave
EB: it was him who got into a fight and had drugs.
EB: shit i just cant imagine how that happened.
TT: John.
TT: You’re the only person i have left
TT: Jade is in sykiatric care
TT: dave is going to get imprisond
EB: he might not be!
EB: maybe hell get off!
TT: You know he won’t john.
TT: John please
TT: Promise me you’ll still be here.
EB: i promise, rose.
EB: no matter what happens im not going away.
EB: oh, its kind of pointless to say this now, but:
EB: happy birthday, rose.
EB: i wanted to send you a present but you never told me what your address is now.
EB: but i didnt forget!
TT: Thanks john.
TT: It means a lot to me.
-- tentacleTherapist [TT] ceased pestering ectoBiologist [EB] --

14th February 2011
-- ectoBiologist [EB] began pestering tentacleTherapist [TT] --
EB: hey rose.
TT: hey john
EB: how are you doing?
TT: could be better
EB: same as always.
TT: yeah
TT: john i want you to
TT: do me a favor.
EB: anything, rose.
EB: what is it?
TT: forget about me.
TT: forget i ever existed.
TT: i’m a stupid screwup who can;t stop drinking
TT: i’,just dragging you down
EB: rose dont
EB: dont do this!
TT: sorry john
TT: its for your own good
TT: and i don’t deserve you
-- tentacleTherapist [TT] blocked ectoBiologist [EB] --

[Solaris]

I hate love you guys

seriously

[raequiem]

^^^ What Solaris said.

Seriously. HAPPY ENDING PLEASE. And the pictures were perfect. Jade... ;_;

[Graven_Image]

We need MOAR. You cannot deny us MOAR.

[Metaflare]

...WHYYYYY MUST YOU TEAR MY HEART OUT SO PERFECTLY.

[VagabondRaiser]

Suddenly, a wild sadfic approaches! Is it that song meme thing people are talking about? Hell if I know, I'm as out of the loop as a man who got pardoned before he hit the gallows. Ahyuck, ahyuck.

This -was- gonna be an edit for my last post so as to not double-post, but then Tenebrais and nV finished their collab, so, whoops.

The Diary of Jade

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He got her into the game.

We thought he died before he could. We thought he'd been laid low by the denizen without even a fighting chance.

What we didn't know was that there was a return node. He blinded the beast, and retreated with his server disc.

He got her into the game. Yet, we still couldn't save her.

He took too long. Becquerel had broken the meteor up to buy time; one chunk was inside the 'boundaries' of the house when it skipped the rift into the Medium.

Did she have a chance to get away? Did she even know it hit her?

When I got to the Land of Sand and Radiation, the house looked like it'd been blown to pieces. It was weathered, and ruined.

Years had definitely passed, if the rusted lunchtop was any indication.

I'd searched, and searched. I screamed until I was hoarse, and screamed even more after that. She never answered. There was no sign of her anywhere. The house looked like it had been abandoned for years.

When I finally found a clue, it was the first thing on my mind and the last thing I wanted to see. A robot-Jade, missing one arm and both eyes, seated by a headstone, worn and unreadable. The robot had long gone to rust. I almost couldn't pry the fingers apart to reveal the tattered book in its' grip.

Her writing was a weird blend of chicken scratch and curls. The penciling was faded almost to illegibility, but it was clear enough that I could read some of it if I squinted.

Day 2.

I can't get ahold of the others!!! The meteor barely missed me (THANKS BEC! 3) but John stopped messaging me after I got through... and Dave and Rose aren't responding. It's like they're not even around anymore. I've got my food all lined up, though, and Bec is helping me fight off the baddies. I'm sure they're just busy!


It felt like I swallowed a rock the size of my head. I still can't read the headstone over that shallow grave. I've been reading this weathered book, the diary of Jade, since I found it. I haven't moved from this spot.

I know Rose's pestering me. I can see the blinking light on my iShades. It's been half an hour since my last message. She's probably flying off the fucking handle. I don't care.

Day 313!

The imps aren't coming around anymore... and I can't find Bec. I have enough grist to alchemize meals for the rest of my life if I need to, but I'm starting to wonder why I should.

My lunchtop's not working anymore. It's probably absorbed so much radiation from this place that the inside's a melted lump. I stopped having narcoleptic fits, though, so that's nice, I suppose.

I miss them.

I can't stop turning the pages. I can't stop reading. My head is pounding from picking out the faded lettering and I feel like I'm going to puke and it already feels like I've been damn near sandblasted bald but I'm still reading.

Another hour has passed already.

Day 612.

nothings happened today
no imps
no bec
no john
no dave
no rose
nothing

The G trails off halfway down the page, where there's a black spot, thick and stark against the rest of the page. She stabbed the page so hard it goes through the next two pages. There's nothing on them.

I'm almost to the back of the book when I find one page written in dark brown instead of black.

i miss you guys i want to go home i want to play with bec i want to make music with dave i want to talk about pranks with john and hear rose rant about her mother and take things apart and build them and

The rest of the page is a brown smear. I don't have to think to know what it is. My throat still hurts from screaming but now it's closing on itself and I can't see the pages well enough, but I turn them anyway.

I feel hands on my shoulders and Rose is shaking me, turning me to look at her, and she sees it. She sees the pain. She sees what I'm feeling and she knows. A quick cast of a spell and the words etched into the headstone are raised. Even through the tears I can see it plain as day. Three words matched by what the robot inked into the last page with its' own oil before shutting down.

IM SORRY GUYS

[Metaflare]

FOR FUCKS SAKE GUYS WHY MUST YOU WRITE THE BEST SADFICS.

[Solaris]

HOLY SHIT
I just noticed that there was a part 1 in the title!
still hope... but....
COMMENT STILL REMAINS

IT REMAINS SO MUCH



BLUH
VR
WHY HAVE YOU FED ME SADNESS?!?
A BLOO HOOO HOOO HOOOOO

[DocBeard]

Hey, Tenebrais, if you are continuing this there are a few logic holes to address.

Jade: Why did child services not put her in the Egberts's custody? Even if we assume Grandpa Harley had no will despite running a billion dollar company from beyond the grave, Jade is legally a blood relative. John's dad has a job and a decent income. She might not even see the inside of a courtroom for custody to be decided, stories or no. And being committed to an institution indefinitely? Man a buncha people would get fired and sued over that kind of decision making.

Dave: Okay, I get the implication that Rose's falling apart was sped up because the drugs were hers and Dave was taking the rap. But we need more information on the severity of the fight and the drug bust. Jail time is incredibly serious for a 16 year old, and the authorities would take the fight more seriously than most narcotics; the kind of stuff Dave and Rose would be starting off with is mostly fine territory, a misdemeanor at most.

There could be reasons for this, naturally! But then they need to be explained. A good device might be research John or Dad does looking into these painful things that have effected their extended family-both have an obsessive side that would meld well into that. This'd let you add more detail to the events.

[Derp]

Red Pen Red Pen

That was just

Auugh my heart it was so wonderful and I love character studies and I love the exiles and I love it when there are stories when not much happens but this its so sweet and kind and my heart and ahhhh how do I comment on fics I dont know

[sarasvati]

before I say anything, I just want to say that northernVehemence, your art is, as usual gorgeous, and I think it's so awesome that you're collabing like this! It really does add to the stories.

but for less pleasant things:

Doc pretty much covered most of everything I was going to say.

I'd like to add in that at the very least, all it would take is one call from Mr. Egbert on John's behalf to child services, with the chat logs used as evidence, and it would've been investigated with Rose's mom found negligent. That means the entire premise of your fic revolves around none of the kids giving enough of a shit about Rose's obvious addiction that they just let her drown, which I find pretty...incredibly unlikely. This is on top of the fact that I'm already suspending disbelief that Rose is a 13 to 15 year old alcoholic in a household with a mother who obviously cares about her, and no mother who loves their child is just going to sit idly by if they notice liquor going missing.

Also re: Jade and getting institutionalized: Even without any connections to blood relatives, they don't just drop kids without legal guardians into mental hospitals willy-nilly. At worst they would get her diagnosed, put her on medication, and work on finding a home for her. But again, this whole issue could be solved with John and Mr. Egbert stepping forward and claiming her as family. If there's no legal indication of relation, all they would have to do is run DNA tests on John and Jade and yeah, there we go. Even still, Mr. Egbert could go through the process of adopting Jade.

With these facts in line, on top of the suspension of disbelief being ruined, the premise basically comes down to "the kids don't give a crap about each other," which I don't think is what you were going for at all! On top of that, pesterlogs aren't a strong enough medium to carry a narrative of this weight. Everything seems very...out of left field, for the most part, especially Dave getting busted. There's no build up, it's like a friend you knew in high school just died and you find out on facebook. :\

[resdaMalos]

Tenebrais, northernVehemence, your collab made me sad; and then vagabondRaiser had to go and bring the hammer down. I swear the three of you must have organized this singular attack on the fandom's emotions.

That said, MOAR PLZ.

...oh wait there's more to the collab coming? Cool! In all seriousness, nV's pictures help add depth to Tene's pesterlogs. Can't wait for the rest!

[Eco-Mono]

Alright, so northernVehemence and I have been collaborating! We've come up with a three-part fic set in a similar setting to all these future-Dave ones. Except it's mostly focused on Rose.

Anyway, without further ado.

Tearful Farewell, Part 1

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22nd April 2009
-- turntechGodhead [TG] began pestering ectoBiologist [EB] --
TG: so i heard you got yourself a gig
TG: nice going bro
EB: hey thanks!
EB: yeah dad pulled some strings.
EB: its weird.
EB: first i thought he was like some street performer.
EB: then it turned out he was just a businessman.
EB: but now he does accounts for a comedy troupe?
TG: haha yeah i hear you
TG: so i hope youre ready for it
TG: i mean it hasnt been two weeks since you were crying like a baby over jack noir
TG: oh no dave please save me
EB: hey!
EB: i thought you said you werent going to bring that up again!
EB: also it totally wasnt like that.
TG: yeah right
TG: so anyway have you heard from jade lately
TG: do you even know where she went
EB: no.
EB: im getting kind of worried actually.
TG: yeah me too
TG: i mean she cant really go home now without that fucking devilbeast around
TG: but then you know jade
TG: shell be fine
EB: yeah.
EB: so what have you been doing the last few days?
TG: still getting stuff set up with my bro
TG: been kinda chaotic lately
TG: sorry i havent been on much
EB: its cool.
EB: you might want to talk to rose though.
EB: shes been acting weird.
TG: alright i guess ill go do that
-- turntechGodhead [TG] ceased pestering ectoBiologist [EB] --

-- turntechGodhead [TG] began pestering tentacleTherapist [TT] --
TG: hey whats up seer
TG: havent been online for a few days
TG: hows things with you and your mom
TT: Oh hi dave!
TT: I”m pretty good.
TT: Everything’s pretty good, really.
TG: whoa haha
TG: you never make typos
TG: hell you checked your spelling even when that giclops was bearing on you
TG: im putting this one in the book
TG: the greatest failure of rose lalonde
TG: the day she made a typo
TG: volume 1
TT: Oh be quiet.
TT: I had a drink.
TG: wait
TG: alcohol
TG: i thought your mom scared you off that shit
TG: by example
TT: Not reallly.
TT: Mom said it helped her when she felt down.
TT: So i thought I’d try it out.
TT: It does a bit.
TG: what have you got to feel down about?
TG: youre the big heroine living in a fucking mansion
TT: Its not like I’m depressed!
TT: I’m not that drunk, am I?
TT: I only had one.
TT: I think.
TT: Maybe two.
TG: nah youre fine
TG: just take it easy
TG: after all thats happened itd be a shame if you got hooked on the stuff
TT: I won’t, really.
TT: I do have self-control, you know.
TG: yeah sure
-- turntechGodhead [TG] ceased pestering tentacleTherapist [TT] --



26th April 2009
-- ectoBiologist [EB] began pestering tentacleTherapist [TT][/color] --
EB: rose!
EB: rose are you there?
EB: i need your help!
TT: I’m here, sorry.
TT: Had to deal with Mom for a moment.
TT: What is it?
EB: i got a letter from jade.
TT: A letter?
EB: yeah!
EB: rose they took her to a care home.
EB: they think shes crazy!
TT: A care home?
TT: Why?
EB: apparently she started telling people about sburb and everything.
EB: obviously no one believed her.
TT: An active imagination isn’t enough to be diagnosed crazy.
TT: But then we’re talking about Jade here.
TT: She’s not exactly... adjusted to normal life.
EB: yeah i know!
EB: look rose you know about all this psychology stuff.
EB: what should i do?
EB: i cant just leave her there.
TT: Hold on. I’ll be right back.
TT: Okay, I’m back.
TT: John, I really hate to say this.
TT: But you might have to “just leave her there”.
TT: If she’s been diagnosed with something, there’s not a lot we can do.
EB: rose this isnt like you.
EB: you never give up.
TT: I know a losing battle when I see it.
EB: well can you at least go visit her?
EB: i cant. ive got my show coming up.
EB: im thinking of cancelling it really.
TT: Don’t, john.
TT: You’ve been looking forward to that.
TT: At least one of us should be happy.
EB: what?
TT: Neber mind.
EB: rose whats up?
EB: rose.
EB: have you been drinking again?
TT: Does it matter?
EB: um
EB: well anyway
EB: do you think you could go and visit jade?
EB: she probably needs some company right now.
TT: I doubt I could talk my mom into it.
TT: I;m grounded anyway.
EB: jesus rose
EB: look lets talk about this later okay?
EB: ill go ask dave.
-- ectoBiologist [EB] ceased pestering tentacleTherapist [TT] --

15th March 2010
-- turntechGodhead [TG] began pestering ectoBiologist [EB] --
TG: yo john
TG: howd your big show go
TG: i bet you knocked em dead
TG: with all your totally real magic
EB: haha!
EB: it was great!
EB: everyone was really impressed.
EB: and i didnt cheat much i swear!
TG: yeah right
TG: i bet you got rose to give you her uber death wands
TG: death wangs
TG: nah that jokes overdone
EB: no really!
EB: just a little bit of smoke and mirroring.
EB: being the heir of breath has to have some use!
TG: i hear ya man
TG: oh hey i got a letter from jade today
EB: how is she?
TG: well you know jade
TG: nothing gets her down
TG: though if you read between the lines i think shes kinda bummed none of us have ever come to see her
EB: oh shit.
EB: ill have to tell her im sorry!
TG: yeah me too
EB: well now my shows are done for a while i think i can talk my dad into taking me to see her!
EB: maybe i could pick you and rose up too?
TG: yeah maybe
TG: if i can get out of this city at least
TG: jacked up in this shit so tight
TG: so many parties man
TG: the ladies would miss me so bad if i missed one
EB: oh that reminds me!
EB: this cute girl asked me on a date after the show!
EB: ill be meeting her this weekend.
EB: wish me luck!
TG: you dont need luck bro
-- turntechGodhead [TG] ceased pestering ectoBiologist [EB] --



19th March 2010
-- ectoBiologist [EB] began pestering tentacleTherapist [TT] --
EB: hey rose.
EB: how are you holding up?
TT: Ive been better.
EB: yeah you say that every time.
EB: your mom still mad at you?
TT: She’s always mad at me john.
TT: She always hasd been.
EB: thats not true.
EB: shes nicer than that.
TT: She really isnt.
EB: well my dad still sees something in her.
EB: i still dont really know what the deal is with those two.
TT: I really don’t want to think about it
EB: rose how long are you going to keep doing this?
EB: it seems like every time i talk to you youre drunk.
TT: I guess i just take after my mother.
TT: Nearlty a year, John.
EB: what?
TT: In one month jade will have been in that careh ome for a year.
TT: A whole year.
TT: And i couldn’t help yer.
TT: I can’t even go to see her.
TT: because my mom hates me.
TT: Beacuse I’ve been stealing her alcohol.
EB: rose
EB: rose please stop doing this!
EB: youre getting worse.
EB: you dont need to drown your sorrows so much.
TT: You can’t tell me what to do.
TT: I’n just a bit down today, that’s all.
EB: i hope so.
EB: rose please try to look on the bright side, okay?
EB: im sure you have better things to do that sit around feeling sorry for yourself!
-- ectoBiologist [EB] ceased pestering tentacleTherapist [TT] --

20th March 2010
-- ectoBiologist [EB] began pestering turntechGodhead [TG] --
EB: hey bro.
TG: yo dog
TG: howd your hot date go
TG: did you blow her mind
EB: i totally screwed it up!
TG: oh man
TG: how did you even do something like that
EB: i dont know!
EB: i talked to rose yesterday and she was in a really bad way.
EB: i couldnt stop thinking about her!
EB: i guess jessica got kind of offended.
TG: yeah well
TG: she was probably a total bitch anyway
TG: just trying to ride on your success
EB: haha.
EB: thanks man. i needed that.
TG: no problem bro
TG: i am dave strider
TG: fixer of problems
EB: i wish you could fix roses problem.
TG: man me too
TG: shes just fucking broken
TG: hell at least jade manages to be cheerful
TG: i think rose is just feeling sad for her
EB: i guess someone has to be the psychoanalyst without her!
TG: for real
TG: anyway cant stay long
TG: late night party starts in ten
TG: catch you later bro
EB: alright, see ya.
-- ectoBiologist [EB] ceased pestering turntechGodhead [TG] --

3rd December 2010
-- tentacleTherapist [TT] began pestering turntechGodhead [TG] --
TT: Happy birthday dave!
TG: oh hey thanks rose
TG: you seem very
TG: intelligible today
TT: Hahaha
TT: Yeah that;s funny.
TT: I think.
TG: so uh
TG: howre you doing?
TT: Not bad i guess?
TT: I dont really remember why I;’n drinking any more.
TT: So I think it’s finally working.
TG: what
TG: shit rose
TG: you have to stop this
TT: Evertyhine tells me that
TG: thats because you do!
TG: shit
TG: youre supposed to be the one that knows all this psychotherapy stuff
TG: whyd you have to turn to drink
TT: why does anyone do anything.
-- tentacleTherapist [TT] ceased pestering turntechGodhead [TG] --



4th December 2010
-- tentacleTherapist [TT] began pestering ectoBiologist [EB] --
TT: John
TT: John.
TT: JOHN!
EB: jesus rose im here!
EB: what is it?
TT: Ifucked up john.
EB: what?
TT: Dave’s been arrested.
EB: WHAT?
TT: John not so loud, please!
TT: Wait that doesn’t make any sense.
EB: what happened to dave, rose?
TT: Well, he was throwing this huge party for his birthday.
EB: i know that!
TT: Yeah. Well he got into a fight with someone.
TT: It got kind of our of hand and the police got called int.
TT: Then they found drugs on him.
TT: John its’ all my fault!
EB: calm down rose!
EB: shit.
EB: i can’t imagine him doing something like that.
TT: That’s why it;s my fault. I know it.
TT: I was talking to him yesterday and I was drunk.
TT: Relaly drunk.
EB: youre drunk now arent you?
TT: of course I’m drunk now!
TT: Why shouldnt I be drunk?
TT: My brother is going to jail and its all my fault!
EB: rose!
EB: its not all your fault.
EB: remember that okay?
EB: even if you did upset dave
EB: it was him who got into a fight and had drugs.
EB: shit i just cant imagine how that happened.
TT: John.
TT: You’re the only person i have left
TT: Jade is in sykiatric care
TT: dave is going to get imprisond
EB: he might not be!
EB: maybe hell get off!
TT: You know he won’t john.
TT: John please
TT: Promise me you’ll still be here.
EB: i promise, rose.
EB: no matter what happens im not going away.
EB: oh, its kind of pointless to say this now, but:
EB: happy birthday, rose.
EB: i wanted to send you a present but you never told me what your address is now.
EB: but i didnt forget!
TT: Thanks john.
TT: It means a lot to me.
-- tentacleTherapist [TT] ceased pestering ectoBiologist [EB] --

14th February 2011
-- ectoBiologist [EB] began pestering tentacleTherapist [TT] --
EB: hey rose.
TT: hey john
EB: how are you doing?
TT: could be better
EB: same as always.
TT: yeah
TT: john i want you to
TT: do me a favor.
EB: anything, rose.
EB: what is it?
TT: forget about me.
TT: forget i ever existed.
TT: i’m a stupid screwup who can;t stop drinking
TT: i’,just dragging you down
EB: rose dont
EB: dont do this!
TT: sorry john
TT: its for your own good
TT: and i don’t deserve you
-- tentacleTherapist [TT] blocked ectoBiologist [EB] --

what is this

what is this thing you are doing

i am making this face tenebrais

just this face over and over

[Sushi Database]

S-someday one of us is gonna write a happy fic where Rose gets drunk

but today sadfics rule the day

[PaulPower]

S-someday one of us is gonna write a happy fic where Rose gets drunk

but today sadfics rule the day

Great, now I feel like I've been set a challenge. I'm getting a few ideas for a story like that set from John's perspective already. You know me, I love writing optimistic fic .

But yeah, today seems to be a day for sadfic. And those fics certainly were tearful. Let's face it, I feel half-compelled to write something now just to cheer me up

[nightmarechild]

All this sadness! we need something silly and pleasant now. So without further ado,

Prince English: Chapter 2 [Ch. 1]

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After the heist was done and the money was in the van those who went on the mission slowly made their way to the van. After all the eggs and biscuits copies were done loading the money they were 'disposed of' and the originals got in the car. The young leader congratulated them on their fine work and walked off.

Of course they were going to take the van but the night before the heist the leader saw a black and green motorcycle and decided it was his so he stole it. He sat down on it and started the engine.

Snowman walked out, last as always, with a new cigarette. They all new whose carapace her old one was burned out on. She walked up to the front seat of the van and shot Crowbar a look that clearly said 'why are you in my seat?'

Crowbar smirked and snidely said, "Oh I'm sorry Snowman, but with all the money we can only fit the 13 of us and cans. We forgot to compensate for that."

"Well then looks like 1 will just have to walk to the mansion because what else am I supposed to d-" Her annoyed complaint was cut short by the loud revving of a motorcycle engine. She turned slowly and painfully knowing that she was about to see her boss offer her a ride on his motorcycle, she spat out, "Fine, but only because I know that as soon as I turned around they started driving."

Sure enough she turned her head to the side and the rest of the gang was laughing and driving away. English said in his usual full-of-himself tone, "Coming? Who knows you might like a ride on the back of a motorcycle with me more than riding shotgun with a bunch of annoying idiots."

He held out his hand and she took it, of course rolling her eyes as she did. She sat down on the motorcycle and hesitantly rested her hands on his sides, she could tell he smirked even though he wasn't facing her.

He started his cycle up right away and accelerated into top speed. Snowman was glad her employer kept his hair short as she felt the wind on her face. She wouldn't admit it but she did love riding with him than with all of the idiots, just barely.

Their ride was silent for a while but when they saw the mansion start to get closer English loudly said over the wind, "So can we talk about my compensation now?"

"I guess now is as good a time as any." She said suppressing a groan as they pulled up to the mansions vehicle lot.

"So what do I get for mindfucking Slick?" He said holding a hand out to her again to help her get off the motorcycle.

"Well, I'll let you put your arm around me for a month. Or something of the same value." She said once again taking his hand, not that she needed help, just acknowledging she noticed how much he was trying to impress her.

"Nah, I'd much rather this."

She was going to question what he meant but she was stopped because when she turned around to face him he kissed her square on the lips. She froze in confusion but he withdrew right before she would have pushed him away.

She lost her cool and yelled to her boss who was quickly walking towards the entrance, "You bastard you planned this whole thing out!"

He merely waved back in acknowledgment leaving her to her anger. Her anger turned to a horrified frown as she saw Matchsticks looking down out his window. He closed his window blinds but made sure she saw his lit match.

She stomped the ground, hard, and said to herself, "Fuck that shutterbug! English must have told him to take that! He won't even need the entire hour to plaster copies of that all over the mansion!" She just stood their thinking, then her anger melted to a look of respect and amusement. "What the hell, that was a good plan. And who knows, he could be right, he might just win me over someday."

She chuckled to herself, lit a new cigarette, and strode into the mansion and to her room without a care.

ok please tell me how you liked it! You don't really need to read the first chapter if you don't want to!

PS:

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A bit of clarification. I believe Matchsticks was the recon man for the felt. My theory for his power is that his matches burn for an incredibly long time (1 hour 11 minutes to be exact) and when he lights one he can see every future for every decision he could make from then until the time the match burns out (seeing every possible path he could take in the time frame of 1 hour 11 minutes). So he could be in an almost certain death situation and light a match, and he would know the exact set of actions he would need to take to get the most favorable future.

Therefore, he would know the exact path to take to avoid Snowman entirely and where to put the pictures so she wouldn't see them and tear them down. Should she even try.

And in case it wasn't clear. Matchsticks took a picture of Prince English kissing Snowman

[kmsumrall]

Man, and I thought I was good as sadfiction.

Well, have this little gem.

remnants: dave

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They didn’t realize.

I don’t blame, them, really. We were just kids back then, and still kids when we came back. Growing up just made us forget, made us not think about the things we should have.

Come back... We didn’t really come back, did we?”

~

“Ok, I’ll explain it just one more time for you, alright? This shit ain’t hard to figure out, you just gotta roll with it. Big thing we do make a split in time, like M.J. Fox in the Back to the Future shit with the skateboard stunt, only he couldn’t pick where he went after a change. That feathery asshole Dave came from one of those different lines, got it?”

“Ok...”

“So, what we do is find a timeline where this meteor shit didn’t happen or the government saw it coming and blew it up.”

“Like in-”

“Like in some crappy movie you are about to mention and quote like a parrot box. Focus, ok?”

“So how do we do it?”

Dave grinned. “We have a plan.”

~

“John? Hey, John!”

I woke with a start, nearly falling out of my chair. Luckily my assistant was at my side, as always, and righted me without issue.

“Sorry, Dave. Must of dozed off.”

“Don’t worry about it. My fault for keeping you waiting while I put out some fires. You would not believe the number of fires I have to put out every fucking day. I don’t think anyone has as many fires to put out as I do. I’m just about to fly of the fucking handle with this new duo I just signed.”

I gazed out the window as Dave ranted. It was comforting to know that at least that aspect hadn’t changed. From his penthouse room you could see all of Houston, the city still recovering from an earthquake a few months ago. Dave had built his own record label from scratch, in more than one meaning. Rose would have laughed about that. The money used to fiance the start was made during his DJing days. Days as a DJer. When he was a DJ. Whatever. “How have you been? It’s been a couple of years.”

Dave grinned, still wearing those shades I bought for him so many years ago. “Pretty damn good. Man, people everywhere are talking about Half Records and Dave fucking Strider. I still hear them going on and on about Doc Scratch, DJ at large. Off the beat, fucking ridicules. I was so on the beat that the beat and me had a picnic the next day. See, take one second. Let’s say you take that second and split it in half. Then you split it in 8th. Then for no reason in 5ths and 16ths. Basically, the smallest fucking measure of time ever. That’s how on the beat I am. Other people only dream of being only half as close as I am. Shit, people can’t listen to the uncut stuff. Makes them go crazy.” He walked over to a case that held one of his old turntables. From that he took the vinyl off of it. “This is the purest shit you can ever hear. Straight off the fucking timetables. This is the Beat Of Time.”

“Wow... Too bad the other one broke.”

“What?” asked Dave, distracted. “Oh yeah... Broke.” He seemed to look off into the distance. “You wanna listen?”

“Is that ok?”

“Fuck yeah it is. But, um, maybe you want your nurse to leave? Just between us bros.”

I nodded. “Mr Z., could you step out for a moment? I won’t require anyone to help me with the chair for a while.”

Mr Z. showed no expression behind his dark shades. He just left. Dave pushed a button and part of the the wall spun, the wet bar going in and an old record player coming out. Dave put the vinyl on and put the needle down. A slight scratch came from the giant speakers. And then it started.

The sound I heard was like the heartbeat of the universe. I saw things in that sound. I was eating cakes with my dad. I was back in the game, standing tall, holding off ogres and lichs with one hand behind my back. I was flying thought the air, dreaming. I was back home again, giving my father a big hug. But that hug- I shook those away. This was a powerful beat. This beat could make people believe so hard that they’d work their fingers till they bled. This could make warriors out of cowards. The one who controlled this beat would be the leader of anything they desired. It was magic. It was beautiful. It was dangerous.

I almost tried to get out of my chair, but stopped myself just in time. No, trying to get up would have been a very bad thing. I think Dave saw my pained expression because he stopped the record.

“Dude, are you alright? Did that-”

“No. In fact, that was the least amount of pain I’ve felt in a long time.” I grinned at him, feeling almost giddy. It was like a part of me was coming back.

On some level Dave must have known that. “Look, uhhh... I want you to take this.”

“Really?”

“Sure thing! Keep it safe for me, you know? People around here, they try to put my gold records on tables. If anyone got that, well... I don’t want anyone but us hearing that.”

I wished I could get up and hug him. Even sitting here and giving him a fist bump would have been nice. “Thanks, Dave. It means a lot to me.”

Mr Z. was called back in and the record was placed in a briefcase. The rest of the conversation was light, small. Meaningless. Unnecessary. Dave giving me the last remnant of his time in sBurb showed me that all the connections had been broke. The Knight of Time was now just Dave Strider.

As I was leaving, a pair of what I assumed were musicians nearly bumped into my wheelchair. Mr Z. intercepted them, of course, but I noticed a slight hesitation on his part. Both of the clowns stopped as well. They all stared at each for a moment, then one apologized and the other offered Mr Z. a Fagyo or something. I politely declined for him and we left.

Hmmm... Maybe not all the ties had been cut after all.

jade
rose
john

[JudgeDeadd]

@vagabondRaiser, what have you done, this is going to haunt me all week