MSPA fan fiction 2

[Metaflare]

But I have to say, I lost it at "How Do I Exit Program"

[nextian]

Oh, geeP, that is -- wow. That was something else. Sometimes after a series of pesterlogs I'm really sick of the whole format -- not this time. I found it completely enthralling and saddening and adorable, and I loved the idea of the FLARP-game-gone-wrong being sort of the locus around which they all met. And ohhh Sollux.

The only critique I'd give -- and only because you asked for it before! -- is that it seems like you use the extended humorous metaphor technique that AH loves quite a lot. It wouldn't be noticeable if you weren't writing a bunch of different characters all in a row. Mostly they're very distinct, though!

[geeP]

The only critique I'd give -- and only because you asked for it before! -- is that it seems like you use the extended humorous metaphor technique that AH loves quite a lot. It wouldn't be noticeable if you weren't writing a bunch of different characters all in a row. Mostly they're very distinct, though!

Yeah, I know. It's something I've always tended to do on my own, and like you say Andrew does it a lot too, so when I'm trying to write Andrew's characters it's kind of natural that it comes up quite a bit. I tried to mix up the delivery a bit by character, and one of the main reasons it shows up so much is that I assign quite a lot of it to Sollux--some of the others don't really get into that at all.

[reclusiveAmateur]

Heh, I've never felt I was good enough at the extended metaphors, myself, because it does come up so very often. Congrats, because those were excellent.

Like I said, I tend to skip over a lot of trollfic, because I just don't like most of the trolls enough to have much patience for it. (For which I apologise. ;_; ) I only make an exception if it's really friggin' good. That? Was excellent. Please stay.

[kmsumrall]

remnants: john


dave
jade
rose

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~

“John! What’s going on?!”

“I don’t know! I think a wire broke!”

“It’s going to blow! Dave!”

“Fuck! Shit, the Record broke!”

“Ugh....! The voices are getting louder!”

“I can fix this! I’ll put these back together, right?!”

“John, no!”

“I got them- AAHH!”

“John! Johhhnnnn!”

~

Home was like a breath of fresh air. Having my room back to normal made me feel the same. Normal. Like I belonged. I was just a normal kid with cool friends and a big loving goof dad. Just like everyone else.

I met Mr V. for the first time while studying Biology in college. Somehow we just kept getting paired together. I didn’t mind. He had a foul mouth but was very smart. Natural leader. But he wouldn’t shut up about those damn movies.

Rose’s Mom took me in after my Dad died. It wasn’t weird for me, although I did have a little crush on her. Rose had a harder time dealing with me being around. Made her nervous, on edge. Thinking back, it may have been because of the powers. Echos.

The lab was equipped was with all of the tech from Jade’s old place. Mr. C. helped me get it up to spec. He was good with programs. I worked with Mr V.m Mr C., and Miss P., although they weren't like themselves anymore. Either version of themselves. They were like me, remnants. My experiments drained their power. The power that made them remnants. I could give them that power back by calling them by their real names. But I needed the power. I needed it. Mr Z. was the first one we experimented on. He was very strong. I made him my personal assistant afterwards.

During my first year of highschool I broke a pencil. Well, shattered a pencil. It was a hard test and I has stressed and I gripped a little too hard. No one noticed. I tried to be careful. The next year I broke my Dad’s spine.

The power of the others lead me to my plan. The pieces seemed to call to each other. I could tell. Each one of use had hanger-ons that used to be something. Pieces of a lost world. I just needed a bigger source. Sources, as it turned out. I hated it, being in the chair. Hated it. What else could I do? It was so painful. Not daring to move. Not daring to flex a muscles or walk on solid ground. I could break the world. I could make metal into powder with barely a flex. I was a monster. Even talking was a danger. Exhale to hard and someone could die. Die! The chair compensated for a lot, but soon that even that would work. Something happened! And I kept getting stronger! Fuck!

I had to go back. I could go back. I could use the power. I had to go back! That was the only place I was safe... my only home! Only real place! No one would stop me... no one! Ha! No one could stop me!

The beat was playing. The map was laid out.

I would hang out with the turtles and Casey and Doctor Meowgon Spengler and Maplehoof and all my friends! They loved me! Of course they did, they had to.

This was it. All I’d have to do was stand up. But would the compensators work? If they didn’t then the whole eastern coast could be gone. Gone.

No! This was the time. What I planned for, what I sacrificed... This was the time. I said the words words and all the others fell down. They couldn’t handle it. I had to stand up. Just stand up.

Biology is what I had to study. I needed to know. I had to know. Know how we were different. I knew we weren’t human cause there was no way we could have been human. I found some hair. My hairs. But not my hairs. Dad kept a scarpbook. A baby scrapbook. He keep the hair from when I was young. I tested it. Tested it against myself. It didn’t match.

It didn’t fucking match!

Why... Why! Why! Why why why why! I just had to stand up, the machine would make the portal. The portal back. Back to my home. Convert the energy into the portal. I could go home.

It didn’t match. We came into this world by force. Forced our way in. We took over. Pushed them out. Pushed out the real kids. Where did they go? I know. I know.

We weren't human. They were.

We killed them.

I stood up.

Contained in the spoiler below is some possible endings. Which you feel most true is the true ending.
They are all sad.

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#1

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It didn't work. The building was falling all around me, but I didn't try saving myself. I could feel it. I broke the world.

#2

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Yes... Yes! It worked! I was back! And there was Casey! My loving daughter! Come here Casey! Come right over-
.
....
I made a mistake. The power isn't going away. This world couldn't handle my power either. No.
No.
I was alone. And nothing was lasting.
Nothing.

#3

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"John? Hey John! We made it! You saved us!"

"Fuck yeah John! I knew that bunny was right for you! Fucking Nic Cage or whatever shit you like!"

"Yes, good job. I believe we are finally free of that curse."

"...John?"

[Solaris]

Man, geeP
That was awesome.
I saw the ending coming... but it still hurt.

Why kmsumrall... why?
So good and so sad.
;-;

[PaulPower]

That was really, really good, geeP, and this is coming from someone else who tends to skip over Trollfic. The characters were accurate, it's nice to see Sollux at the centre of the action, and that ending... :'(.

e: aaaand ninja'd by kmsumrall. Aw, man. The saddest ending. Good concept, though, with the whole "they displaced a different universe's Kids" thing.

[foxesforsale]

WAAAAHHH GEEP

That last line is CHILLING

brb going to cry my heart out

(well done, EVERYONE was fantastically in character, there were real laugh out loud moments, and it built up really well to its conclusion. Loved it!)

[irenicPie]

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

That sounds a lot like Snowy. :P

Love it, hope there's gonna be more!

[Tenebrais]

Nice subtlety with the trolls, Kms. And I like the way it all comes together in the end.

[Ember]

geeP, you have all of the Trolls down. All of them. Long pesterlog fics oftens drive me nuts, but yours had me gripped all the way through. Keep writing!

[Graven_Image]

Gamzee is now my mIrAcLe WoRkIn' HeRo.

[Shadow of the Lotus]

Been working on a couple fics; so far behind in this thread (and the previous one) it is damn ridiculous. Here are a couple 'previews' of stuff I've been working on though.

Preview for "A magical evening" (warning: spoilers for "Sorcerer's Apprentice")

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Boom! The sound of an explosion thundered down and shook Balthazar Blake as he rushed to climb the stairway. Accompanying him was his peer and fellow disciple of Merlin, Veronica Gorloisen, as well as a dull grinding noise which crawled along the stonework of the walls as individual stones pushed into one another. The climb was short. Nearing the wooden door at the top of the stairway, Balthazar could hear the shrieks of spells on the other side. His ring glowed a bright red as Balthazar pushed against the door. Although driven by a fear for Merlin's safety, the two disciples found it hard to imagine the powerful sorcerer in danger from any intruder. However, a sharp pain had alerted them both to Merlin's danger earlier. Fearing the worst, Balthazar and Veronica left without searching for Merlin's third disciple and their friend, Maxim Horvath.

The door swung open. The finely worn wooden surface felt smooth to Balthazar's touch. It was an old door, an ancient door. Merlin had been alive for centuries and had spent his years gathering the three most talented sorcerers and sorceress as his personal apprentices. A bright flash greeted Balthazar and Veronica as they walked into Merlin's room. Maniacal laughter filled the room as Horvath, their trusted friend, loomed over Merlin who had collapsed onto the floor. Balthazar's eyes widened while Veronica took a small step back. Their beloved master, Merlin, defeated by their own comrade. Balthazar let out a yell as he dived towards Horvath. Their rings crossed as magic spells burst forth and cracked the stone walls of Merlin's room. Given the time, Balthazar surely would have defeated Horvath. However, a cloaked figure from a nearby corridor leapt forth and aimed her ring at Balthazar. The evil sorceress Morgana le Fay had long been a rival of Merlin. Jealous of Merlin's power, she had seduced Horvath and convinced him to betray his former master.

All powers have their limits. To push against this boundary and taste the absolute perfection of any power requires sacrifice. It is a dangerous thing, to push against this boundary. But for the desperate, such sacrifices must be made. Morgana had a power which could contend with Merlin's. With Morgana's ring aimed at Balthazar, Veronica has little choice over what to do if she was to protect her friend and love. Without second thought, Veronica aimed her ring at Morgana and bound Morgana's soul to her own. Although temporarily saving Balthazar, a battle soon raged within Veronica. Although Morgana's soul had been bound to Veronica's, it was possible for the bound soul to dominate the one it was bound to. The sheer magical intensity of Morgana's soul quickly overtook Veronica's own. As Veronica struggled to maintain her dominance, Balthazar dispatched of Horvath. Turning to view Veronica after his victory, Balthazar witnessed as her soul was fully taken over. With no other option, Balthazar pulled out his Grimhold and trapped both Veronica's and Morgan's souls within its bounds. As Balthazar was occupied, Horvath jumped outside a nearby window to escape. However, his escape would be short and, centuries later, he too would be trapped in a separate layer of the grimhold. Balthazar vowed to one day find an apprentice gifted in magic who could defeat Morgana and save Veronica. Clasping his old Master's ring which he had taken from Merlin's corpse, Balthazar set out to find the Prime Merliner.

"John."
"Just wait, just wait! That's only the beginning. It gets ever better"
"I'm sure, John. It does sound... interesting."
"Oh man, and Balthazar is played by Nicolas Cage. He's a wizard, Rose! A wizard!"
"I know, John. And I appreciate you describing the movie's opening scene."
"He wears this fedora and everything! It is so awesome."
"John, I'm sure the movie will be wonderful." Rose tugged at John's shirt. She could understand that John was excited about the movie but wasn't this a little much?

Preview for unnamed horror fic (pester preview; sorry no color. Being lazy)

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TG: rose
TG: come on
TG: i know i own at this game and all but youre being hella unhelpful here
TT: i've already said my mind on the matter.
TT: and really, i don't care.
TG: look
TG: i found the stupid magic lamp already
TG: rubbing the shit out of it just so some fatass genie can come and grant our wishes
TG: i have the timetables
TG: so hey john and jade get to be alive again
TG: no sweat
TT: yes, they do.
TT: so why haven't you reversed yet?
TG: yeah ok
TG: its not like i was getting nagged at by a broad for the past month about pushing forward
TG: nah its cool
TT: the only reason i advocated continuing with the game was to see if we could bring john back.
TT: stop wasting time. i'm sick of this.
TG: chill out damn
TG: and stop leaving jade out
TT: she could still be alive.
TG: not the point
TG: and could you stop typing like egbert already? jesus
TT: i'll type how i want.
TG: see like
TG: i thought youd get less fucking mopey here since we can save them both now
TG: damn
TT: whatever.
TG: i dont feel comfortable reversing until we wake you up
TG: just trust me on this alright
TT: i don't care strider.
TT: just reverse. i'll be fine.
TG: nah
TG: im already on your planet anyways
TG: so you should just shut up and help me
TT: delightful.
TG: the ruins on my planet pointed to the island im on now
TG: something about you and jaspers
TG: i think its how we wake you up
TT: I suppose that could be the case.
TT: Fine, what do you need?
TG: finally
TG: i dunno yet
TG: gotta check out this island first
TG: just respond to me alright?
TG: kinda annoying when you just ignore what im saying
TT: Explore as you wish; just hurry up so we can get out of here.
TG: on it

[elation2.0]

Half-steps was wonderful.

You're wonderful.

[KarneWarrior]

Me:
People:
Me:
People:
Me:

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THE GAME ISN'T OVER YET.

(Pesterlogs will be shown in the spoilers)

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RiskyArbiter [RA] has begun pestering TentacleTherapist [TT]

[RA]: Are you, or are you not, the Rose Lalonde.
[RA]: The famous one
[RA]: Eh?
[RA]: Eh?
[TT]: You know, I don't usually answer people like you.
[TT]: The adoring fans, that is.
[RA]: Alright, well.
[RA]: That's your perogative.
[TT]: Indeed.
[TT]: So what did you want?
[RA]:Help
[TT]: The kernelsprite comes out of the cruxtruder.[RA]: What? No.
[RA]: I meant, I need your physical help
[RA]: With Sburb.
[TT]: I see, and how are we to pull off that feat?
[TT]: And why would I help you?
[RA]:The Dark Ones said they'd help
[RA]: And because you're nice
[TT]: Nice?
[TT]: You must be mistaken.
[TT]: What you saw was merely an elaborate act to create a stable time loop for my own personal gain, which is and shall be the defeat of my mother in our power struggle. Nice had nothing to do with it.[RA]: Oh the hell it was.
[RA]: You know I know that that very monologue was a hoax to destroy my self-esteem and hopes, just so you could build them back up in your own fashion.
[RA]: Which is, co-incidentally, very close to my usual train of thought.
[TT]: I doubt that, somehow.
[TT]: I think you may be a very articulate troll.
[RA]: Speaking of trolls...
[RA]: Terezi hasn't been answering any of my messages
[TT]: I wonder why? It couldn't be your charming personality.
[RA]: You know you love me, admit it.
[RA]: But seriously, tell Terezi to answer, I'd rather not talk to anyone else. [TT]: If I do so, will you leave me in peace?
[TT]: This also assuming I decide to descend into that hellhole people call a game again.
[RA]: Baby, if you descend into my hellhole you can do whatever you want.

TentacleTherapist [TT] has blocked RiskyArbiter [RA]

[RA]: Really?
[RA]:Gah. Women.

Rose Lalonde was seriously considering beating her head against the wall. Who was this person who thought that they could just ask nicely and Rose would leap right back into Sburb? And why did they want to talk to Terezi, and only Terezi? The entire affair was very suspicious, And she wasn't entirely sure she wanted to get involved. Certainly not with the trolls again, who were getting more and more irritable with every passing second. Understandable, what with their utter lack of any hope for life, but still.

Rose rubbed her forehead, massageing what was growing to be a very large headache. This was the last thing she needed on her fourteenth birthday. After a while of rubbing, the headache seemed to be over, or close enough to brave a brush with the trolls.

She clicked her trollslum to the forefront of her computer screen. A series of cryptic names, often having to do with the imminent destruction of civilized life, rolled down the screen like a plush red carpet. Rose sighed before commiting herslef to the adventure by clicking the tiny red name, a little tag saying gallowsCalibrator...

****************************************************************************

1 4M T3R3Z1 PYROP3. MY HORNS 4R3 STR41GHT 4ND N34RLY HOR1ZONT4L, 4ND 1 LOV3 TH3 COLOR R3D.

4LSO, 1'M BL1ND. B3T YOU D1DN'T S33 TH4T ON3 COM1NG.

BUT FOR B3TT3R OR FOR WORS3 (PROB4BLY WORS3, 1 C4N'T S33 4NY GOOD COM1NG OF TH1S), 1 4M ON3 OF TH3 L4ST 12 TROLLS L3FT 4L1V3. 4ND TH4T'S R34LLY 4LL TH3R3 1S TO S4Y ON TH3 M4TT3R.

Terezi grimaced at the writing on the page. Looking at how the humans wrote, this journal would be illegible to anyone any further down the line without translation. And from what she'd gathered, humans wouldn't be all that into translating a book full of numbers and letters.

But gogdammit, she couldn't write a whole book without the quirk! It just felt... Unnatural. Like walking on all fours, or sitting upside down. She certainly wasn't the one to write this. Let someone else, like Karkat or Kanaya do it.

Terezi let out a little screech and tossed the book at the door. Unfortunately, it was at this point that Sollux made his entrance into Terezi's room. The book hit him square in the nose, knocking the hacker back into the hallway. Karkats mocking laughter could be heard from somewhere farther down the hallway.

"SOLLUX! 1'M SO SORRY, 1 D1DN'T M34N TO H1T YOU W1TH TH3 BOOK..." Terezi said, rushing to Sollux's side. Sollux just grunted and rejected Terezi's offered hand, climbing back to his feet alone.

"Don't. try. two. help." He said, making his intentions of great harm very clear. Little red and blue sparks danced over his skin. Terezi backed away slowly, knowing the dangers of pissing off Sollux in person. After what happened to Vriska, no-one was going to ever take risks aroud Sollux again.

"W3LL, O.K, JUST DON'T G3T M4D, O.K?"

"Terezii, calm down. Ii'm not goiing two hurt you. On purpose..." Muttered Sollux, rubbing his nose.

Terezi's laptop chimed, signifying a new message. She looked at Sollux once before rushing over to grab the bloated thing.

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tentacleTherapist [TT] Has begun pestering gallowsCalibrator [GC]

[TT]: Terezi.
[GC]: ROS3?
[GC]: WH4T 1S 1T?
[TT]: Well, I just got contacted by RA. I don't know who he is, but I know what he wants.
[GC]: WH1CH 1S?
[TT]: He wants to play a game...

((A/N: I'm not sure I did a great job with the characterization... I may have to work on that. Please post so this doesn't die, because I really do have a plot with plenty of silliness and Action and probably something you don't expect going on with Jack. Things are far, far worse this time around.))

Me:
People:

[geeP]

I'm a bit taken aback by the praise on Half Steps; thanks to everyone who commented! I guess some people enjoyed the Gamzee part, which surprises me since I didn't think it was one of the stronger ones (I pretty much ran out of things for him to say.) I wasn't expecting to see so many comments about people not normally reading trollfic, but in retrospect I guess when I've looked in the fiction threads in the past they've always seemed pretty kid-centric. At some point in the future I might do something to help rectify this imbalance, but I don't really write much--writing is fairly dependent on having a story to tell, and while this one happened to be conveniently left dangling I can't say I've really been struck by anything else I might consider writing about.

[Graven_Image]

Gamzee'a bit was surprisingly deep, but deep in a way that fits Gamzee.

I think that's why I liked it.

[paperandpencil]

I liked Gamzee's part because the bit where Sollux was ranting and Gamzee was egging him on with things like "preach it" and "honkelujah" was pretty much...hysterically funny, I have to say. If you want some inspiration, you can head over to the Homestuck request meme over on LJ, where you have pages of people throwing out ideas for fics and/or art that they'd love to see realized.

[JudgeDeadd]

@KarneWarrior, this looks quite promising, but why does Terezi type in cyan-on-white?

[resdaMalos]

Everything I have read up to this point has been awesome.

Time to combo break.

Scratch, Chapter 6

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Dave reeled back as the timetable burst into pieces, sending a shockwave throughout Rose's room. Within moments, he was back on his feet, thanks to his own agility. He looked around. Had it worked? Instantly, he turned to Rose.

She still stood, the same look on her face, arms extended out as if flailing.

"Oh fucking christ, no." Dave ran straight at her, as if to snap her out of a trance, and wrapped his arms around her. "Damn it, Rose... I'm sorry." His mind began reeling. "I couldn't save you... I..." He cut himself off, as a new sensation arose. He felt the rise and fall of breathing, and the steady pump of a beating heart. Neither belonged to him. "Wh..."

"I didn't know you cared," Rose whispered into the hysterical Strider's ear.

Dave pushed himself off of her. "Rose?" He straightened his suit and cleared his throat. "If that was a prank, I take back every positive thing I have ever said about you."

"How was I supposed to react? You kissed me, and then a split second later, you're wrapped completely around me in some clumsy excuse for a hug." Rose did her best to hide the furious blush on her face.

"Excuse me for having a god damned heart attack over here." Dave adjusted his glasses on his face, his voice cracking against his will.

The two teenagers stood apart from each other for a few moments, as they allowed their heartbeats to return to normal.

Dave was the first to break the silence. "Rose."

"Hm?"

"I'm glad you're alright."

"I'm glad you're alright too."

"...I can hug better than that, you know."

"Is that so?" Rose gave him a questioning look.

In reply, Dave pulled her back into his arms. She tightened, then allowed herself to relax in his grip. "I would have missed talking to you. I think."

"Thank you for saving me," she replied back. "All of us, really."

"Yeah," muttered Dave, "all it took was to destroy one of the most important items we had in our arsenal..." A bewildered look suddenly appeared on Dave's face. "Wait. The left one," he thought aloud, as he immediately summoned it to his side. He spun the record, a slight movement. But as soon as he touched it, it began to come to pieces, collapsing into a heap of red metal and vinyl on the floor. "Fuck."

Rose stepped back, to get a look into his eyes. He seemed truly crushed by the loss of the timetables, that much was clear. He had become dependent on them, she realized, with a start. Just how often was he rewinding? How many do-overs had he given himself? "Dave, please, you're overreacting."

"Oh, I'm overreacting," Dave mocked her. "What do I know?" He raised his arms, a bitter half-smile on his face. "Time travel saved our asses once before. Who says we'll need it again?"

"You're a good enough knight already without the timetables," argued Rose. "But you've already fixated on their loss. As useful as they were, you don't need them."

"You don't get it," he snapped back. "we do. They're our reset button - our save point. We're fucking breaking all the rules right now, and without the tables I can't go back if we fuck it up! Do you realize how much shit we're in right now without them?"

"What happened to Mister Cool Guy?" challenged Rose, causing Dave to stop his rant. "John and Jade idolize you, for whatever reason, because you don't panic or fall to pieces in the face of adversity. And as much as I hate to admit it, I thought it was one of your admirable traits."

"Yeah, that was before I had a whole fucking timeline to take care of," he retorted. "When it was just me things were cool." He turned around, probably out of shame. "But now it's me plus you guys, and the Consorts, and the Exiles, and the whole goddamn universe." He clenched his fists. "I'm fucking thirteen, for god's sake."

Rose stopped. She slowly reached forward, to put a hand on his shoulder, when Dave spoke again.

"I'm going back to LOHAC now. Gotta talk to Davesprite, find out how he made the timetables the first time." Without waiting for her to reply, he had already boarded his skateboard, and was floating back towards his gate.

Rose sighed, and slumped into her chair. Dave would not be talked down this way; the best thing she could think of doing was simply going back to her business.

She drew her Thorns, readying her flight spell, but she stopped short. She looked down at her hands, and how natural they looked wrapped around the occult tools. With a resigned look on her face, she lowered the weapons, pocketing them instead. She trudged out the door to her room and began the long climb to her rooftop.

-- turntechGodhead [TG] began pestering turntechGodhead [TG] --

TG: so
TG: update
TG: rose fix them yet
TG: no but i got a better idea
TG: we got to thinking
TG: realized that they broke because they came from your crapsack timeline
TG: using them here was fucking up continuity
TG: it was only a matter of time before some shit happened
TG: glad time just stopped
TG: as opposed to me suddenly turning older
TG: wearing diapers and yelling at kids from the apartment window
TG: back in my day the world wasnt destroyed
TG: get off of my gears
TG: all shaking an angry fist
TG: heh
TG: but okay
TG: what are you getting at
TG: im just gonna make my own
TG: new and improved
TG: hey maybe i can make them better than you did
TG: i mean whose idea was it to put a record on top of a floating gear
TG: welp that looks good
TG: ill call them the timetables
TG: grade school was awesome
TG: and lame puns are even more awesome
TG: okay no you know they were fucking badass
TG: but really dont do that
TG: just hop back and make sure they dont break
TG: you arent nearly strong enough to take on hephaestus yet
TG: hell hammer you into the fucking ground

Dave stopped in his tracks, lurching a bit from the sudden deceleration. "Okay, that doesn't sound good," he said to himself, continuing the conversation. The gate loomed ahead; he hesitated a moment. Davesprite would be furious. It would be better to try to resolve this before seeing him in person.

TG: you didnt beat him either
TG: but at least i stood a chance
TG: i got pretty high up my echeladder after
TG: the
TG: yeah
TG: but i dont think i could take him in a fair fight
TG: so you didnt fight fair
TG: damn straight
TG: but no lets not put us through that again
TG: he might expect it this time i dont know

Dave gulped, looking down at his feet to shield himself from the flashing bright lights of the Land of Light and Rain, yet still unwilling to step through the gate back to his planet.

TG: okay
TG: lets say that you didnt think that my idea was a bad idea
TG: and that you wanted to be helpful for once
TG: what
TG: where are the timetables
TG: on lolar
TG: ok well thats almost good
TG: in pieces
TG: just went from almost good back to shit
TG: one of them exploded
TG: now its down from shit to fucking doomed
TG: when i put my sword through it
TG: situation has just gone down more levels than we knew existed
TG: scientists cannot grasp just how deep this shithole is
TG: we didnt even know shit was viable at this kind of depth
TG: oh but were in fucking deep now
TG: get back here so that i can throttle you properly
TG: then well decide whats next

Dave put a hand up to the Gate, already feeling the searing fire of the Land of Heat and Clockwork on the other side. He cursed once, and pushed himself all the way through.

[Sushi Database]

Me:
People:
Me:
People:
Me:

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THE GAME ISN'T OVER YET.

(Pesterlogs will be shown in the spoilers)

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RiskyArbiter [RA] has begun pestering TentacleTherapist [TT]

[RA]: Are you, or are you not, the Rose Lalonde.
[RA]: The famous one
[RA]: Eh?
[RA]: Eh?
[TT]: You know, I don't usually answer people like you.
[TT]: The adoring fans, that is.
[RA]: Alright, well.
[RA]: That's your perogative.
[TT]: Indeed.
[TT]: So what did you want?
[RA]:Help
[TT]: The kernelsprite comes out of the cruxtruder.[RA]: What? No.
[RA]: I meant, I need your physical help
[RA]: With Sburb.
[TT]: I see, and how are we to pull off that feat?
[TT]: And why would I help you?
[RA]:The Dark Ones said they'd help
[RA]: And because you're nice
[TT]: Nice?
[TT]: You must be mistaken.
[TT]: What you saw was merely an elaborate act to create a stable time loop for my own personal gain, which is and shall be the defeat of my mother in our power struggle. Nice had nothing to do with it.[RA]: Oh the hell it was.
[RA]: You know I know that that very monologue was a hoax to destroy my self-esteem and hopes, just so you could build them back up in your own fashion.
[RA]: Which is, co-incidentally, very close to my usual train of thought.
[TT]: I doubt that, somehow.
[TT]: I think you may be a very articulate troll.
[RA]: Speaking of trolls...
[RA]: Terezi hasn't been answering any of my messages
[TT]: I wonder why? It couldn't be your charming personality.
[RA]: You know you love me, admit it.
[RA]: But seriously, tell Terezi to answer, I'd rather not talk to anyone else. [TT]: If I do so, will you leave me in peace?
[TT]: This also assuming I decide to descend into that hellhole people call a game again.
[RA]: Baby, if you descend into my hellhole you can do whatever you want.

TentacleTherapist [TT] has blocked RiskyArbiter [RA]

[RA]: Really?
[RA]:Gah. Women.

Rose Lalonde was seriously considering beating her head against the wall. Who was this person who thought that they could just ask nicely and Rose would leap right back into Sburb? And why did they want to talk to Terezi, and only Terezi? The entire affair was very suspicious, And she wasn't entirely sure she wanted to get involved. Certainly not with the trolls again, who were getting more and more irritable with every passing second. Understandable, what with their utter lack of any hope for life, but still.

Rose rubbed her forehead, massageing what was growing to be a very large headache. This was the last thing she needed on her fourteenth birthday. After a while of rubbing, the headache seemed to be over, or close enough to brave a brush with the trolls.

She clicked her trollslum to the forefront of her computer screen. A series of cryptic names, often having to do with the imminent destruction of civilized life, rolled down the screen like a plush red carpet. Rose sighed before commiting herslef to the adventure by clicking the tiny red name, a little tag saying gallowsCalibrator...

****************************************************************************

1 4M T3R3Z1 PYROP3. MY HORNS 4R3 STR41GHT 4ND N34RLY HOR1ZONT4L, 4ND 1 LOV3 TH3 COLOR R3D.

4LSO, 1'M BL1ND. B3T YOU D1DN'T S33 TH4T ON3 COM1NG.

BUT FOR B3TT3R OR FOR WORS3 (PROB4BLY WORS3, 1 C4N'T S33 4NY GOOD COM1NG OF TH1S), 1 4M ON3 OF TH3 L4ST 12 TROLLS L3FT 4L1V3. 4ND TH4T'S R34LLY 4LL TH3R3 1S TO S4Y ON TH3 M4TT3R.

Terezi grimaced at the writing on the page. Looking at how the humans wrote, this journal would be illegible to anyone any further down the line without translation. And from what she'd gathered, humans wouldn't be all that into translating a book full of numbers and letters.

But gogdammit, she couldn't write a whole book without the quirk! It just felt... Unnatural. Like walking on all fours, or sitting upside down. She certainly wasn't the one to write this. Let someone else, like Karkat or Kanaya do it.

Terezi let out a little screech and tossed the book at the door. Unfortunately, it was at this point that Sollux made his entrance into Terezi's room. The book hit him square in the nose, knocking the hacker back into the hallway. Karkats mocking laughter could be heard from somewhere farther down the hallway.

"SOLLUX! 1'M SO SORRY, 1 D1DN'T M34N TO H1T YOU W1TH TH3 BOOK..." Terezi said, rushing to Sollux's side. Sollux just grunted and rejected Terezi's offered hand, climbing back to his feet alone.

"Don't. try. two. help." He said, making his intentions of great harm very clear. Little red and blue sparks danced over his skin. Terezi backed away slowly, knowing the dangers of pissing off Sollux in person. After what happened to Vriska, no-one was going to ever take risks aroud Sollux again.

"W3LL, O.K, JUST DON'T G3T M4D, O.K?"

"Terezii, calm down. Ii'm not goiing two hurt you. On purpose..." Muttered Sollux, rubbing his nose.

Terezi's laptop chimed, signifying a new message. She looked at Sollux once before rushing over to grab the bloated thing.

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tentacleTherapist [TT] Has begun pestering gallowsCalibrator [GC]

[TT]: Terezi.
[GC]: ROS3?
[GC]: WH4T 1S 1T?
[TT]: Well, I just got contacted by RA. I don't know who he is, but I know what he wants.
[GC]: WH1CH 1S?
[TT]: He wants to play a game...

((A/N: I'm not sure I did a great job with the characterization... I may have to work on that. Please post so this doesn't die, because I really do have a plot with plenty of silliness and Action and probably something you don't expect going on with Jack. Things are far, far worse this time around.))

Me:
People:

colorfixed! i'm a helper.

Cool, new Scratch! I approve of these developments on the grounds that Hephaestus still sounds like Brian Blessed.

[resdaMalos]

Hephaestus still sounds like Brian Blessed.

This is now a part of my personal canon. Thank you Sushi.

[paperandpencil]

Yessss a new chapter of Scratch! Oh be still, my beating heart~
rM, that was such a sweet moment between Dave and Rose there, I was totally grinning while reading it. You've got me on the edge of my seat, wondering how Dave's going to make new timetables. Loved this chapter, loved all the previous ones, and looking forward to future chapters as well!

[PaulPower]

An extension of the concept of John taking up rugby post-SBurb, now with pesterlogs.

10th October, 2010

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EB: hi rose!
TT: Hi John.
TT: How did the match go?
EB: pretty well, we won 23-9!
TT: Excellent. Score any of these "try" things I've heard so much about?
EB: no but i did help set one up!
EB: also i made some pretty important tackles, including one that stopped them scoring!
EB: coach said i did really well for my first proper game.
TT: Nice work. One of these days I'll have to get Jade to teleport me over so I can watch you play.
EB: actually i was going to ask you something about all this.
EB: you know i've got to wear contact lenses on the field, right?
TT: Yes, you did say something about that.
TT: What with glasses being a hazard in a sport like rugby.
EB: yeah!
EB: well i was talking to my team-mates after the game and they were asking me why i didn't switch to contacts all the time.
EB: and i dunno i was wondering what you thought.
TT: Why me?
EB: well i'm going to ask dave and jade too.
EB: but dave's not on and jade's practicing her bass so i don't want to disturb her right now.
EB: also for what it's worth i thought you'd give the most helpful answer!
EB: :)
TT: You flatter me.
TT: So what exactly did they say to you?
EB: oh something like "eggs, you'll never impress the chicks if you keep wearing those nerdy glasses, even if you're on the team".
TT: Eggs?
EB: oh right yeah, nickname.
EB: well inside centre wears the number 12 shirt and my name's egbert and at least one of them reads MSPA so ;)
TT: Ah, right.
TT: Just make sure you never play against anyone called Hearts Boxcars.
EB: lol yeah!
TT: Regarding your query... do you mind if I indulge in a little psychoanalysis?
EB: not like saying "yes i do mind" has stopped you before :p
TT: Well the question is, what is your motivation for being on the rugby team?
EB: well i guess i'm pretty good at it and it's always fun to do things you're good at.
EB: and it's nice to be on a team again.
EB: not that the four of us aren't still a team but, y'know.
EB: we're not a team in the sort of actiony us-against-them sense any more.
EB: i guess i kinda miss the excitement!
TT: Ok.
TT: So it's not an attempt to be popular and "impress the chicks".
EB: no, not really!
TT: In that case, that shouldn't be a factor in you deciding whether to wear glasses or contacts.
TT: Really John, it's entirely up to you.
TT: Which do you feel more comfortable with? Which fits your own self-image better?
EB: hmm...
TT: Also, for what it's worth, this particular "chick" is already suitably "impressed", irrespective of glasses.
TT: :)
EB: hehe, thanks.
TT: So that's at least one counterexample for you.

"Two," says Jade, giving you a surprise hug from behind.

EB: two, according to jade.
TT: There we go, you're practically having to beat us off with a stick already.
EB: yeah ok i guess i'll keep the glasses.
EB: i kind of wanted to, it's just you know, getting a second opinion and stuff.
EB: and i guess i've got my counterexamples lined up if they ask me about it.
EB: not sure if they'll accept my sister as an example though.
TT: Well, you've got at least one non-sororal example.
TT: Print this pesterlog out as evidence if necessary.
EB: that might be going a bit too far!
EB: also i think jade wants to talk to you quickly.
TT: Ok, punch her through.
EB: hey rose!!!!!
TT: Hello Jade. It's certainly a good job we have these unique punctuation styles, isn't it?
EB: hehe yeah!!
EB: rose i just need to ask you something.....
EB: theyre not called contact lenses because you wear them in contact sports are they???
TT: ... Somehow I doubt it.
EB: yeah im a bit behind on some of this stuff sorry!!
TT: Not to worry. I guess living for several years on an island with only a dog for company will leave you behind in certain areas, regardless of intelligence level.
EB: i know im finding out all sorts of stuff!!!
EB: i never knew how you guys cleaned houses without automatic systems to do it for you!!!
TT: One can only imagine what it must have been like for Dave when he was your client player.
EB: actually it was kind of similar to being your client player :p
EB: what is it with girls wrecking bathrooms, seriously.
EB: also i'm back.
TT: Welcome back.
TT: Speaking of your team-mates, made any proper friends on the team yet?
TT: Friends who don't make remarks about your glasses, that is.
EB: yeah, actually, the openside flanker's pretty nice.
TT: Openside flanker?
EB: they sort of go along the sides of the scrum and...
EB: oh look, let's just say the number 7 for now.
EB: calls himself crowbar.
TT: I take it he's the MSPA fan then.
EB: yeah, he gave me the nickname!
EB: he's kind of the team nicknamer so they're pretty much all felt references.
EB: i don't think the captain realises why he gets called "snowman" so that's pretty funny!
TT: To be fair, Snowman is a badass regardless of gender.
EB: yeah but i bet he wouldn't see it that way.
EB: he's more what you'd call a stereotypical jock.
TT: Ah.
TT: Let me guess, Snowman's the one who gave you the "impress the chicks" line.
EB: basically yeah.
EB: he's kind of hard to ignore, what with being the captain.
EB: but i'm sure crowbar'll stick up for me on this.
TT: Fair enough.
TT: Shall I tell Dave he's wanted on Pesterchum?
EB: ok yeah i guess i've made my mind up on this glasses thing but may as well.

TG: rose said something about you wanting to talk to me
EB: yeah, kind of.
EB: just my team-mates were suggesting I go to wearing contacts all the time.
EB: and i wanted to know what you guys thought.
TG: is this still about that stupid rugby business
EB: pretty much, yep.
TG: well if you want to look REALLY cool
TG: go for some prescription shades
TG: that way you can be just like me
TG: which i know is what youve always wanted
TG: and best of all unlike me you wont get told off in class for wearing them
TG: because theyll be prescription lenses
TG: teacher cant argue with that
TG: i mean how else am i supposed to see the board miss
TG: its just this big blurry white blob
TG: words what words i dont see any words
TG: great now rose is reading over my shoulder
TG: One question, Dave.
TG: Why would someone wear sunglasses while using a computer?
EB: :p
EB: also jade says "hi dave!!!!!" and "<3" and stuff I guess.
TG: how do you even vocalise that

e: also Rose phoning John up about flashbacks:

26th May, 2009

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It's five to midnight and the phone rings. Two months ago, you'd've been surprised at such a late call, but this is now the fourth time since you saved the world. You head downstairs and pick up.

"Hi, Rose."
"Oh, thank goodness, you're alive!"

Alternate timeline flashbacks. The last attempt of a different version of Rose to avoid being wiped completely from existence. It helped wake her dreamself up, gave her some useful information... but also left her with a bunch of memories from a timeline where you and Jade died. Memories that sometimes... interfere.

"Yeah. Want me to go get Jade, too?"
"Please."

You keep talking as you carry the phone upstairs.

"What was in the dream this time?"
"I think Dave was producing an experimental version of the timetables."
"Oh hey, so these flashbacks are definitely moving forward then."
"Yes, it seems that way. I lost track of time after a while, but I think it was around about this long after... after you died that he..."
"Sshhsshh, it's okay, I'm here, I'm not dead..."
"... sorry, John."
"It's not your fault at all, Rose. I'm the dumbass who got himself killed."
"No you aren't. That was a different you. Just like I've ended up with the memories of a different me."
"Yeah, I guess. You think they'll ever clear up?"

You knock on Jade's door, and hear movements from the other side.

"I hope so. I have a theory. If they're connected to the times in the other timeline, then once I reach the point in time where Dave goes back to save you, they should be gone."
"But that's another three months!"
"... yes."
"Oh well. You know the drill by now. If you ever want reassuring that Jade and I are still alive, whatever the hour, just call. I know it's midnight here, but it's 3AM where you are so I'm getting it easy. Speaking of which, here she is."

Jade's poked her head blearily around the bedroom door. "It's Rose," you tell her. "Another flashback." She takes the phone.

"Hey Rose.... aww, sorry to hear that... do you think you'll ever be done with them??..... okay, I really hope so..... it's no problem... shall I put John back on?.... okay." She hands you back the phone.

"Me again."
"Thanks for that, John. Don't know what I'd do without you... hah, well in a sense I do, don't I?"
"Heh, yeah. Okay, see you soon."
"See you."
"Bye"
"Oh dear, it's another one of these, isn't it?"
"Hehe, yeah. Okay, hang up on three. One, two, three"
click

"I feel bad for her," says Jade sadly.
"Yeah, me too. Speaking of dreams, though, how's it going?"
"Okay. The dreams I get now are so... boring, though."
"Jade, they're the type of dreams that ninety nine point nine nine nine nine nine nine... nine percent of the world gets. Dad gets them. Even me, Rose and Dave get them now."
"I know! But it's still weird for me."
"... yeah, sorry. But you've got to admit it's really not all that bad."
"I guess..."
"And you'll get used to it, I know you will. I believe in you."

[KarneWarrior]

D'awwwwww. Jade is cute.

I'm debating wether or not to make the game all just that, a game, or actually follow what appears to be canon and glass the F'ing planet.

What I do know is that WV is due to become the comedic relief, with RA filling in the vocal gaps.