MSPA fan fiction 2

[Limot]

I'm kind of dying to read a fanfic of Vriska making a memo; purely for the fact that it can be called "The Vriska Circuit."
I just might do it myself for the good of everything punny.

[foxesforsale]

AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA geeP that was HILARIOUS

[Cathartes]

Metaflare: I think you have an interesting concept. What is life like for the adult trolls? I'd like to see more!

Red Pen: Unhinged is fantastic as always! I really like the new characters. They counterbalance each other well, and it's interesting that from their point of view the Prince and Princess have slept since the beginning of time. There's probably a whole culture based around the ascendants.

GeeP: That was fantastic! It was a whirl of color and hilarity. All of the trolls' interactions with each other should end with tears, injuries, and fire. Alright, not all of them, but this was pretty great!

[foxesforsale]

OH I totally missed the latest chapter of Unhinged! Red Pen, you are an absolute marvel

[Bink]

I need to make a request.

I need a Karkat x Karkat x Karkat Ashen Quadrent fanfic.

It... is done. Well. Kind of.

Blarg. I posted this in the wrong thread... Welp. Now it's in the right one. In all its glory.

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Karkat x Karkat x Karkat ASHEN QUADRENT ♣ (DEFINITELY NOT BINK) (BINK is nowhere near cool enough)(unless he reeeaaally wants to)(yes i agree i am bink)(wut?)(NO I'M BINK! ALLCAPS, ALLCAPS!)
characters:
K1: Hates K2, blames him for causing some sort of goofy time shit that got them all stuck
K2: Hates K1, blames him for causing some sort of goofy time shit that got them all stuck
K3: No one left to hate, so he auspices.
Different dimensions? Goofy rift shit? Time travel?

Running Miniseries name: KARKATS. IN. SPAAAAAAAAAAACE.
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Scene 1: sucks right now
Karkats playing chess.
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K1: I move my pawn to your last row, I exchange it for a queen.
K2: What? Bullshit! You're a fucking cheater!
K1: No, it's in the rules.
K2: Like fuck it is! You can't beat me playing your stupid made up game and now you're cheating!
K3: Guys, would you chill the fuck out! No one gives a shit about your goddamn game anyways.
K1: I give a shit! It's not like there's anything else to do here! We're all fucking stuck in this god damn asteroid in the middle of nowhere, and all we have are these god damn cans of food!
K2: Yeah, and maybe we wouldn't be IN this situation if ONE of us wasn't such a shitty leader!
K1: Why the fuck are you refering to yourself in the third person, fuckface?
K3: Karkats, please, we're all in this shit together. Now will you both stop acting like little wrigglers?
K2: I didn't even know I could miss Gamzee. I am actually honestly surprised this is possible.
K1: Would you say it's a "FuCkInG mIrIcAle"?
K2: Shut the fuck up, Karkat.
K1: For once we agree! Shut the fuck up!
K3: Oh gog. How about we just stop fucking arguing and ATTEMPT to get something done!?
K2: What the fuck is there to do? Gnaw on some fucking cans for a few more hours? Because I've got to say that plan of yours was just fucking genius, Karkat.
K1: I'd like for you to come up with something, 'o fearless leader. There isn't even any usable devices in here except for the lighting. It's like this is a 3 person SGRUB game full of fucking bullshit.
K3: Well... Fuck. What about that... thing over there?
K1: Yes, that unidentified terminal over there. Let me just saunter over there, bang the fuck out of it with my two favorite cans, and hope we don't violently decompress (what's the term?)
K3: Uh...
K2: Now you sound like fucking Tavros, what a shitty auspice.
K3: At least I'm trying, you fuckwads!
K2: We may as well just get naked and rub our fucking horns together for as much good you're doing.
K3: Why the fuck would you fucking suggest something so... kinky, you moron!?
K1: Gog, don't tell me you're fucking considering it.
K3: The lack of anyone but ourselves is getting fucking boring. What do you WANT me to think about? I mean, John was telling me about this one Freud guy. And he said, uh... Never mind.
K2: What the shitfuck? What did the humans DO to you?
K3: It didn't help that apparently John had "feelings" for... Eh, never mind. This is waay too disgusting with the human shit.
K1: Dude... when did I become such a girl?
K3: The fuck are you talking about?
K1: Concerning yourself with what a human scumball said or felt? Jegus, next thing we know you're gonna tell us that the humans make you have pity for the fucking highbloods.
K3: Nothing could make me sink THAT fucking low. Thankfully.
K2: So, I take it all three of our time lines weren't exactly the same then?
K3: Well, did Equius "get together" with Nepeta in yours?
K1: Did Gamzee get together with Eridan and Vriska in yours?
K2: Nah, Vriska ended up with Nepeta... and that's about it. No one really had it out for eachother. Except maybe Kanaya.
K3: Wow. Although John said something about "opposites attracting." I suppose that could somehow apply for trolls. Although I have no idea how the fuck it would.
K3: Also, Eridan... Killed himself in mine.
K1: That's nothing. I had to take down a rogue Tavros myself. Do you know how fucking strong that guy is? Here's a hint: really fucking strong!
K3: Really? Please. Have you tried GETTING A FUCKING EQUIUS OFF YOU!? Vriska is such a bitch. That's all there is to say on the matter.
K2: Yeah, well, it couldn't be nearly as hard as taking down a 12 time prototyped Black King without any backup.
K3: Shit. Was yours prototyped the same as mine? It had fucking tentacles coming out of its TENTACLES!
K2: Ha, is that all? Mine had fucking flaming breath coming out of its tentacles!
K1: Bitch, please. Have you ever tried dodging fire-tentacles while riding on the GOGDAMN KING ITSELF? That was fucking Shadow of the Collusus shit!
K2: Alright, fine, fuck it, you win.
K3: Another game of chess then?

--END OF PART 1-- OR IS IT? FUCK!

[Kebs]

What have we done.

We've created a monster.

[Zigkirby]

And it will be voiced by Kebs, Ledundead, and myself one of these days.

[Sushi Database]

So hey couple notes about End of the Trollian empire that people may or may not care to read so I'll spoiler them.

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The ending was originally gonna be Isishi hypnotizing the entire fleet into a deep sleep so none of them would feel the Vast Glub asploding their minds. All except her, who would face the death head on. But I figured that she wasn't THAT sympathetic of a person so

Then I tried a different ending. Pretty much the same thing, but instead of waiting for the end, she'd kamikaze the entire fleet onto the enemy stronghold. Then I thought "that just doesn't seem right. :\" And then I got the ending I wrote because hey, I've never written an inspiring speech before so why not?

Also, Isishi comes from Isis, goddess of egypt or something. And Venhem comes from venom. THE MORE YOU KNOW :mpsa:

The next series of fics can be about Isishi chilling on the mothership as the only living troll, since I think Andrew said that the Empress and Feferi would be able to survive the Glub. At least I think he said that? People mentioned it in the MSPA Chat thread but I didn't see the actual post.

IDE/THEORY: Isishi is going to watch ALL the movies now that she can talk over them without people shushing her. All of them.


ALSO Unhinged continues to be insanely good and my favorite ongoing fic! Seriously, so good. @_@

[kmsumrall]

Man, I have a diverse body of work.

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The more I write, diverse it gets.

Ok, my favorite mechanical pencil broke. I blame any deficiencies in this story on that fact alone.
i really miss that pencil.
Writing a lisp is not something a do well.

The Alternian and the Troll Part 4

Part 1
Part 2
Part 3

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“Nepeta? Is that you? What are you doing?”

There was a slam and the refrigerator light could no longer be seen. In the low light that remained one could see several out of place objects on counters, like a microwave or the gas stove, but no real details could be seen. In the middle of the large kitchen was a island that would normally be used in food preparation but was currently being used as a poor hiding spot.

“I know you are in here. It’s alright.”

Nepeta peeked out from behind the counter, large eyes flashing in the darkness. She relaxed a little when she saw who it was. “Oh, Kanaya. I’m, um, just checking to make sure everything is ready for breakfast in the morning?”

“At 2am?”

“Uhhh.... yeah?” Nepeta stood up straight, closed her eyes, and spoke as if from memory. “It is proper to make sure everything is in order for the next days activities.”

“Ok... I’m sure everything is in its place. I myself was just getting a glass of water, but I no longer feel thirsty.” She gave Nepeta a light pat on the shoulder. “Just make sure Aunt Nancy doesn’t find you wandering the halls at night.” And with that, she left.

The younger Alternian sighed in relief and grabbed the cans she had gotten from the cabinets just moments before almost being caught taking food that wasn't hers. She made her way into the dark foyer, making sure that no one else was around. Yesterday she was almost sure Terezi had heard mewing, but the blind girl didn’t say anything. But right now everyone was in bed or at least going back to it so Nepeta pushed open the hidden panel in the wall and descended.

“Pounce!” she whispered loudly into the dark. A little white head poked out from a pile of clothes that had accumulated during the day. It licked both of its mouths and tumbles out of the clothes, a sock stuck to one tiny kitten claw.

Nepeta laughed and picked the small creature, holding it close. “Sorry I didn’t come down at lunch like I said I would. Aunt Nancy was watching really closely and I couldn’t sneak food away. And you almost got caught too! We were down here playing and I heard Karkat asking why Aunt Nancy was heading into the basement and we had to get you hidden really quick!” Nepeta giggled despite herself. “It was still fun! Here, I got you something. It’s tuna!” Pounce mewed happily and leap down. There she looked up expectantly. Nepeta laughed again as the little thing happily ate up the food. “Today wasn't too bad, though. The others seem to be making less messes than they used to, so I have a little more free time during the day. Mother is supposed to be back tomorrow with the other guys. Oh... what were names?”

Pounce de Leon mewed through her food.

“Oh I am not! I just have a small gap on their names. Kanaya said they were nice and at some convention thingy. Having fun.”

The grandfather clock upstairs chimed three times. Pounced meowed in response. “Ok, I’ll get going. I love you Pounce de Leon. Be safe.”

~

It was perhaps noon when Aunt Nancy burst into Nepeta’s room, looking more stern that normal.

“You need to get outside. They are back and have things that need to be put away. Then the car needs to be washed.”

The young girl jumped up from the patterned rug and headed for the door. She went down the elegant stairs and into the front yard.

In the driveway was a long black car with an almost smiling grille and large round headlights. The hood came almost perpendicular to the windshield, rounding off at the top of the cab and racking back to two large tail fins. A thin strip ran along the side of the car, taking a sharp 45 degree turn at the rear door and another to the tail fins. The driver side door opened and Mother stepped out, looking radiant as always. The opposite door opened and a short young man with odd glasses came out.

“Mstr Captor,” said Mother in her light voice, “please help Mstr Nitram into his chair.”

“Get thomeone elthe to do it. I need to get that thuff into the houthe before the rain tharth.”

Mother frowned but before she could protest Nepeta ran out. “I’ll help, Ma’am!”

“I’m sure you would be a fine help but you haven't yet met either Mstr Captor or Mstr Nitram.”

“I can introduthe mythelf. I’m Thollucth.”

“Thollucth?

The new arrival took off his red and blue shades and sighed. “I have a lithp, ok?”

“Ok... What’s a lithp?”

Mother stepped in before the young Alternian could yell. “Sollux, this Nepeta. She is living with us now. Miss Nepeta, be a dear and help him take these boxes in.”

The guy named Sollux took a few deep breaths. “Fine. You can help.” He ungraciously dropped a heavy box in her arms. “Try not to drop it.”

Nepeta walked up the flower lines path up the to front porch steps. At the top she glanced over her shoulder and saw Mother helping someone else into a chair with wheels. “Whose that?”

“Him? Don’t you know anything? Of courthe it cometh to me to educate the maththth. That’th Tavroth. And to anthwer your next quethtion thinthe you don’t theem to underthtand thimple conthepth, he can’t uthe hith legth.”

Nepeta nearly dropped her box. “That’s so sad!”

Sollux glared at her with his oddly colored eyes. “Don’t you dare fucking pity him. Don’t even think it. Juth get thith inthide.”

The young girl went into the house, making sure she held the troll open for Sollux, and followed him to the living room. They placed the items on the big wooden table. Nepeta asked if he need anymore help and when he replied in the negative, she ran outside.

The boy called Tavros was already secured in his chair and was wheeling himself up to the ramp.

“Hi!” Nepeta called from the rails. “I’m Nepeta!”

“Uhhh... I’m Tavros... I guess?”

“So you were at a thing?”

“Yeah... There was a card game tournament... thing.”

“Wow, that’s so cool!”

Tavros smiled shyly. “R-Really? Karkat says it’s a kid’s, uhh, game.”

Nepeta cocked her head to one side. “Aren't we kids?”

The boy grinned almost as wide as his horns. “Yeah... yeah! We are kids!”

The two laughed and laughed and went inside.

~

“Ok, explain this shit again.”

“Karkat, you are really going to need to learn to lithten. It’th called a BB eth and you can potht newth that other people can read.”

“That’s fucking awesome bro! So you use this, whatsitcalled, comtutor?”

“Computer.”

“What’s this, you’re correcting the way I talk, Thollucth?”

“Fuck you Karkat. Anyways, unleth Aunt Nanthy getth another phone line, you can only uthe it at thertin timeth of the day.”

“Why?”

“It utheth that line to connect to another bbeth, tho you can’t make callth when doing it.”

“Damnit!” Karkat looked at the quad horned guy next to him. “...Whatcha think of Nepeta?”

“Her? I dunno. Thhe been living in a cave or thomething? Her and Tavroth hit it off.”

“Not fucking surprising. Some wavelength, those two. Aunt Nancys been having Nepeta do chores, so she might be distracted enough to agree.”

Sollux picked up a spool of phone cord. “I’m going to see what I can do to rewire the houthe mythelf.”

Karkat decided to look for Kanaya to tell her about it when her heard a woman’s scream. Everyone rushed out to the foyer and found Sollux back up against the wall, gibbering and raving and pointing. “What the fuck is that?”

The aggressor currently making the young troll nearly wet his pants was standing in the middle of the room, stalking back and forth, licking its mouths.

The monstrous creature had shiny white fur, like sun bleached bones in a desert, eyes like the most deadly of snakes, and mouths that looked like they could tear a groundhog in half, snapping open and shut.

Karkat started laughed and Terezi joined in, the two leaning on each other for support. Tavros looked confused at Kanaya, who only shook her head.

“It’th a fucking mutant thing! Get it away! Get it away!”

“What is going on here?!” Shouted a booming voice. Aunt Nancy advanced to the middle of the group, staring at the beast. “What is this horrid thing?”

“She’s not horrid!” Nepeta rushed forward, pushing Aunt Nancy aside and scoping up the kitten in her arms and held it tight. “She is Pounce de Leon and she is not horrid and she is my friend!”

Aunt Nancy’s eyes narrowed. “You brought that flea bitten rag into this house?”

Nepeta didn’t say anything.

“Little girl, you will give me that animal for proper disposal. Now!”

“No! I won’t let you hurt poor little Pounce!”

“It needs to be put down.”

“No! You won’t do it! Even if it means we have to leave!”

The two stared at each other, one with steel in her eyes and the other with tears.

“Fine.”

Nepeta faltered, then straightened. “Ok. I-I’ll leave.” She started to walk out but Aunt Nancy blocked her path.

“If you have to stay together, do it right. Take it to the vet tomorrow. Make a bed in the basement, and make sure it doesn’t make a mess on the carpets or you will be paying for a replacement.”

“I don’t understand...”

Mother stepped in and held Nepeta’s shoulder. “We would never desert an Alternian in need, whether they stand on two legs or four.”

Nepeta’s eyes lit up. “Oh wow! Oh thank you!” She gave Mother a big hug. “Thank you!” She gave Aunt Nancy one as well. “Come on Pounce! Let’s search for a nice bed for you!”

She was halfway up the stairs when she stopped and turned. “I’m sorry, ma’ams. I will make sure all my-”

“Actually,” interrupted the older woman, “Karkat, Terezi, and Kanaya have agreed the clean the whole house by themselves. You go have... fun.”

Nepeta clapped her hands and was gone in a flash.

“Wait, why the f- why are we cleaning this shi- stuff?”

Aunt Nancy’s eyes narrowed to almost closed slits. “You three didn’t tell me about the kitten.”

Hoping to finish this soon.

if there are blatant spelling or grammar errors, give me a heads up, I wrote this kinda tired.

[Tenebrais]

open 2priitelog

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Bicyclopsprite: SOLLUX!
Bicyclopsprite: SOLLUX!
Bicyclopsprite: I BACK!
Bicyclopsprite: I BACK!
Bicyclopsprite: SOLLUX?
Bicyclopsprite: SOLLUX?
Feferi: Sollux!
Feferi: Oh... I'm too late!
Bicyclopsprite: WITCH!
Bicyclopsprite: WITCH!
Bicyclopsprite: YOU WITCH OF LIFE.
Bicyclopsprite: YOU WITCH OF LIFE.
Bicyclopsprite: YOU HELP SOLLUX!
Bicyclopsprite: YOU HELP SOLLUX!
Feferi: Well, okay!
Feferi: I'll do w)(at I can!

Sollux: what the hell ii2 goiing on iin here.
Bicyclopsprite: SOLLUX!
Bicyclopsprite: SOLLUX!
Bicyclopsprite: YOU DIE, NOW YOU BACK!
Bicyclopsprite: YOU DIE, NOW YOU BACK!
Sollux: ii gue22 ii diid.
Sollux: and 2o diid you.
Sollux: diid you get any 2marter?
Bicyclopsprite: I TALK NOW!
Bicyclopsprite: I TALK NOW!
Bicyclopsprite: AND I KNOW LOTS OF STUFF.
Bicyclopsprite: AND I KNOW LOTS OF STUFF.
Sollux: 2o no then.
Feferi: SOLLUX!
Feferi: IT WORK-ED! Y--------ES!
Sollux: uh
Sollux: hii feferii.
Sollux: what worked?
Feferi: I BROUGHT YOU BACK TO LIF---E!
Sollux: how?
Feferi: ummmm...

oPEN SPRITELOG,

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Tinkerbullsprite: Tavros!
Tinkerbullsprite: Tavros are you okay?
Tinkerbullsprite: Are you hurt?
Tinkerbullsprite: Please say you're okay!
Tavros: uHHHH,,,
Tavros: yES, i THINK i'M OKAY,
Tavros: tINKERBULL,
Tavros: wAIT,
Tavros: wHEN DID YOU LEARN TO TALK,
Tinkerbullsprite: I always knew how to talk!
Tinkerbullsprite: I just couldn't with my throat and my mouth.
Tinkerbullsprite: But as a sprite I can communicate with you directly!
Tavros: sO,
Tavros: dOES THAT MEAN,
Tavros: yOU UNDERSTOOD ALL THE THINGS i'VE TOLD YOU,
Tavros: iN THE PAST,
Tavros: i MEAN,
Tinkerbullsprite: Yes!
Tinkerbullsprite: You don't need to be ashamed, Tavros.
Tinkerbullsprite: Lots of people treat you worse than you deserve.
Tinkerbullsprite: But that's because they're them!
Tinkerbullsprite: And if you didn't take it the way you did you wouldn't be you!
Tavros: sO YOU MEAN,
Tavros: i SHOULD RESPECT PEOPLE FOR WHO THEY ARE,
Tavros: i ALREADY DO THAT,
Tinkerbullsprite: But you do not need to always respect what they do!
Tinkerbullsprite: Vriska will always be Vriska but if you can get her to treat you better she will be a better friend while still being Vriska!
Tinkerbullsprite: Does that make sense?
Tavros: uM,
Tavros: i THINK SO,
Tinkerbullsprite: Then what are you waiting for?
Tinkerbullsprite: Go and tell her what you think!

Kms your story continues to be cute and exciting. I love it.

[kmsumrall]

One reason I like writing things out by hand is so I can erase something I want to change. I really like erasing things. It takes a certain kind of rubber or high grade polymer to erase the right way. You want a good clean page, and hard pink rubber doesn't do it. It's like the difference between putting a hole in the paper and taking the lead off.
It's also a powerful feeling, knowing you can erase something physical and tied to the world.

Ok, I would swear I was high if I didn't know, for a fact, that I am suffering from sleep depravation.

[Graven_Image]

Wait. You can get high off of sleep deprivation?

Dude, I'm all over this.

[Sushi Database]

Wait. You can get high off of sleep deprivation?

Dude, I'm all over this.

Ehh. It's not really a good high. You get a splash of paranoia, and more hallucinations than you'd expect if you let it drag on long enough, but it's essentially like a very, very mild bad trip. It's free, but I can't say I recommend it as a recreational.

On the other hand, pulling just one all nighter will trick your body into thinking it's in a life-or-death situation and give you a natural boost of adrenaline; what is colloquially known as a "second wind". It doesn't last for long, just long enough for your body to try and get you to "safety" (or, more likely, to finish writing that English paper), but it's not unlike a mild amphetamine buzz. Note that subsequent all-nighters will not give you this effect if you aren't giving your body time to recover.

Um.

Also, I really like the spritelogs, Ten! Good work!

[Red Pen]

I write all my fanfiction while high off sleep deprivation. It... probably shows.

@Lotus: Oh hi, you asked this question once before and then I was going to answer you but I probably got distracted by something shiny. I'm not entirely sure how many parts are left. The original plan was to do a five-parter, but that idea fell through pretty fast, because every time I sat down to write a chapter I found myself making it way longer than I'd planned on. We're probably closer to the end than the beginning, though. And there's one particular scene that I know will mark the beginning of the climax, so I'm looking forward to that.

[CeeJay]

Okay you guys! Get ready for me to be super nervous about this fanfic I'm going to post.

I started this back when the other thread was still going. I know that "What happened after John went through the gate?" has been done before, but I got this idea and I wanted to get it out. Hopefully it isn't too boring.

Reset Again
Part 2, 3, 4

Part 0

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John's heart raced as he set down his rocket pack and stepped into the lair of the denizen. It was cold and dark, he could barely see the hallway in front of him. Gripping his hammer in one hand he put his other to the wall for support and let it guide him further inside.

He swallowed back his fear as he rounded the corner into the room that housed the boss of his land. He rounded the corner. At first glance of the beast he dropped his jaw and his hammer. This thing was huge! Why did he even think he could... The hammer clattered to the floor, alerting the creature of his presence. John was frozen in place. He couldn't move. Couldn't even breath. The denizen opened its mouth and screeched:

bEEp bEEp bEEp

John's eyelids flickered and the ceiling of his room came into focus above him. He rolled over and flailed his arm sleepily toward the nightstand, managing to flick the off switch on his alarm clock. He rubbed his eyes with his other hand, slowly waking himself into a state able to comprehend the nightmare he had just experienced. He rolled out of bed and headed toward his desk, collapsing into his chair's cushion. He had to tell his friends about this one.

Surprisingly, none of his friends were online. No new messages either. Huh.

He shrugged and started sending messages of his own.

-- ectoBiologist [EB] began pestering turntechGodhead [TG] --

EB: hey
EB: I had this crazy dream
EB: I'll tell you about it later

-- ectoBiologist [EB] ceased pestering turntechGodhead [TG] --

He stood up from the chair and raised his arms above his head in a comfortable stretch. He started to head toward the shower, but reconsidered. Maybe he should tell Rose too? She might try to psychoanalyze it or something. She could tell him if it meant anything cool, and even if it didn't it might be good for a laugh. And while he was there, he figured, he could tell Jade, too. She had mentioned that she really liked dreams. He set his fingers clicking on his keyboard and sent the two of them similar messages.

But at the end of the day, none of them had pestered him back.

They never pestered him back.

Part 1

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John woke up to the sound of ringing. He mumbled under his breath and fumbled blindly for his cell phone on the nightstand, wondering who on earth was calling him now. "Muh?" he answered, utterly incapable of making any sound more coherent in his morning stupor.

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY JOHN!" a girl's voice yelled through the phone. He startled and quickly pulled the phone away to save his tender eardrums. When the squeal ceased he cautiously returned the phone to his ear.

"Thanks, Opal." He could hear giggling on the other line in response. "You know it's eight 'o clock, right? I was hoping to sleep in today."

"Oh, I know! I just had to be the first to wish you a happy birthday! How does it feel to be fourteen?"

"Not much different than thirteen really."

"I didn't think so! Anyway! Daisy, Wheeler, and I are going to come by and take you shopping for your birthday present in two hours, so be ready!"

Click. The girl hung up the phone and John rubbed his temples. He rolled out of bed, lamenting the fact that he was awake now. He began his morning routine knowing he would never get that extra hour of sleep he had planned back.

While pulling his new shirt over his head with a firm tug he reconsidered Opal's question. "How does it feel to be fourteen?" Now that he was more awake, it occurred to him that while today he might not seem much different than he was yesterday, he had changed a lot over the past year.

John looked over at the corner of his room that used to display an impressive collection of Matthew McConaughey posters. He chuckled to himself remembering the day he took them all down. Only one remained; “A Time to Kill” was left up next to the new shelves he had installed in the place of his shrine. Adorning the shelves were bowling trophies that he had won over the past few months. When Wheeler first suggested bowling, John thought it would be totally lame. He had complained the entire time, but after he landed his first strike he couldn't help but get excited about the game. It turned out he really liked it, and he was good at it too. Yes, he still liked McConaughey, but these achievements in his new favorite sport meant more to him now.

He smiled to himself and turned his attention back to getting ready. Taking a sweeping look around the room he considered what to take with him. On the table was his deck of cards, reminding him that he still needed to show Opal his new trick. He reached over and captchalogued them in his pocket modus.

Wondering how much time he had left, he flipped open his phone to check. Above the time display the icon informing him of a missed a call flashed. Someone must have tried to get a hold of him while he was in the shower, he assumed. He got a lot of calls these days, his friends were always so impatient! Always asking him to hurry to go places with them. Sometimes John wondered if it would be nice to just stay locked up in his room for a while, to enjoy his own space and not go anywhere. He remembered that it used to be that way, that a year ago he spent most of his time stuck at home, talking to his friends online.

He briefly wondered why he didn't talk to those friends anymore, but the thought quickly vanished. Did he ever even have friends online? What was he even thinking about just now?

In a daze of confusion he looked down at the phone in his hand. Oh yeah! He had a missed call from Wheeler. Most likely his bro was wanting to know if he was ready to go shopping with them. Rolling his eyes he let out a sigh. They were so impatient! Still, he knew the best change he had experienced this year was meeting them, they were always there for him, the best friends he could ask for.

He met Opal first. She moved in next door soon after his thirteenth birthday, and they quickly became friends. Later she introduced him to Wheeler and Daisy, and since then the four had become almost inseparable. Daisy had even bought him the new shirt he was wearing today as an early birthday gift. It was black with a picture of white ghost grinning slyly on the front, and it was his new favorite.

John headed to his desk, thinking that he wouldn't mention that he had got the shirt as a gift to Opal. There was no need to upset her by letting her know that she hadn't really been the first to wish him a happy birthday. He captchalogued his wallet to his back pocket before turning toward the door. Suddenly a flash of red caught his attention from the corner of his eye. Curious, he returned to the desk. There on the top was a red box that he hadn't noticed before. It looked almost familiar. Without thinking he reached to touch it, but was interrupted by his phone ringing.

Flipping open the phone revealed Daisy's picture on the screen, informing him that she was the caller. She hated the picture he set to her name, but it was his favorite picture of her. He thought she was cute with her chalky cat ears sticking out, rather than hidden by the pink princess hat she normally wore.

"Hello?" he answered.

"Are you coming, John? We're all outside waiting for you."

"Yeah, I'll be down in a second."

He shut the phone with a snap and peeked out his window. There his three best friends stood, looking up at him. Daisy waved a tentacle at him, and Wheeler gave a cool nod. If you didn't know him enough to notice, you wouldn't see the slight smile at the corner of his amber beak.

Suddenly something about the picture struck John as strange, but as quickly as the idea entered his mind it was gone again. He turned from the window and started toward the door.

The red package was still drawing his attention from the corner of his eye, calling him to examine it, to uncover its mystery. John bit his lower lip... his friends could wait just a second for him to peek inside, he reasoned.

Stepping toward the desk the strangest feeling came over him. It was as though he was falling with each step. The kind of falling only felt in dreams, where you never hit the ground. It took all his concentration to continue forward without stumbling. He focused on the box in front of his fingers, trying to ignore the impossible way his walls were flickering in his peripheral vision.

John stood in a void of white with the red box in his hands. He furrowed his brow, knowing somehow that he couldn't think about anything but the box. If his mind slipped again, he wouldn't be able to remember. From the depths of his mind he heard the universe silently screaming at him to forget.

He opened the box. Red text scrolled through his mind.

one day your gooberish ways are gonna land you in a jam and i know im going to have to get you off the hook but its cool i got your back bro.

John's mind was adrift in an ocean of deja vu. He was barely conscious of his hand reaching into a box and pulling out a ragged, dirty bunny rabbit.

This was his bunny rabbit. Of course! He kept it right by his bedside. It had been there every night since he received it from his best friend last year.

Except he didn't.
He had never seen this rabbit before.

John dropped to his knees and cradled his head in his hands. "What's going on?! I don't understand!"

He looked around in a panic, trying desperately to figure out what was happening. All around him there was nothing. Not even the floor he had dropped to existed.

"SOMEBODY HELP ME! I... I don't understand!"

In the vacuum of paradox space, no sound was heard.

_____
It should be known that I write a lot of fluff. This is because I'm terrible at writing angst. It's hard for me to write, I get frustrated, it never comes out as good as it could. But I had this idea in my mind, and I was determined to see it through to the end. It's taken me about a month to write, mostly because I open the file, write a sentence, and then quit, unable to find the right way to write the emotion I want to convey.

But I have trudged through and finally finished this. And it feels good, even if it's not great, to know that I finished.

I'm posting in parts, because my friend is gonna help me with the ending. She's agreed to read it and tear it apart so that I can fix it up and hopefully provide you with a better finished product.

[Tenebrais]

Ooh. This is really good, CJ. I'm highly intrigued.

[kmsumrall]

CJ visits this thread? Awesome! She (oh please tell me I got this right) is like the coolest art cheerleader out there. And she (sorry if you are a guy, i really need sleep) writes well too? So cooool!

Tenebrais: I'm really liking these sprite logs, it's like a little slice of life. I can just see tinkerbulll trying to help Tavros figure his head out after the great vriska smooch of two aught ten.

Red Pen: Remain as talented as you aer. I don't think the world can hold much more.

Bink: I really liked (all the) Karkat(s) arguing with each other/himself. I could see that happening in some weird cloud dream that never really comes true, much to all the ladies dismay.

On sleep deprivation

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I have two days out of the week I stay up for 24 hours, as my weekend shift is opposite my normal sleeping shift. I don't recommend it for anyone. Plus I'm hypoglycemic so a combination of not eating and not sleeping reallllly messes me up. I probably wouldn't ramble so much but I'm fighting a cold as well.
Rabble. I'm not sure why I am talking about my self so much.

You know, Troll Flowers in the Attic would be a simple RomCom.

[Red Pen]

Oooh, CeeJay, that is awesome! Especially that casual reveal that John's new friends aren't... quite who we thought they were. This is gonna be good, I can tell.

[Shad]

Ohman CJ I'm liking this so far aa.

I always end up writing at 3 in the morning when drawing seems unreasonable, but ideas are still coming. So 3 am is when I decided I was going to write a short bit on each of the Felt? Of course, in no particular order because going in a linear path just wont suit the Felt.
Part 1 of...uh, 15 I guess orz

Should Have Seen It Coming

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The television was still running when Fin woke up. Must have fallen asleep some time in the night, he didn't even remember what was playing before nodding off. Oh well.
He squinted at the light, changing between light and dark between scenes, not letting his eyes adjust well at all. The television was the only source of light in the room, and it was far too bright at the moment. The only good part about it is that Fin could catch sight of the bright yellow cap beside him. Itchy was there, he must have come in and fallen asleep at some point as well. It didn't look like he was going to be leaving the couch for a while based on his future trail, either.

Fin checked around to make sure no one else was around before getting up from the couch, slowly, in hopes to not wake Itchy. He was so calm when he was asleep. It was weird, but it was nice. A few careful steps and a click and the room went dark, Fin having shut the TV off. He stood still as his eyes adjusted to the lack of light.

One of the nice things about seeing what people do in the future is that it gave Fin the chance to change things, some times. He could help prevent some small mistakes, some accidents. Things were meant to happen for a reason, and it probably wasn't the best idea changing everything all the time, but there were some things that weren't fair. Some things needed to be changed, they deserved to be changed.
Fin smiled at the thought as he scooped Itchy into his arms carefully. The couch wouldn't be comfortable to sleep on, and with all the running Itchy did, it wasn't a good idea for him to sleep there. As soon as he moved Itchy, the orange trail warped and changed, it grew brighter as things were going to happen sooner. Itchy wasn't just going to sleep on the couch for hours, no, Fin was changing that.


Quiet steps, but the stairs still squeaked and moaned under Fin's feet. It was as if the floor knew he was trying to be quiet, and that's when it decides to be loud. There was no way the stairs were this bad this morning when any of them walked. Even the small sounds weren't enough to wake Itchy, though. He ran all day, being rambunctious and playing and tiring. When he slept, he must have slept soundly.
Or so he thought.
A few more steps, a few more creeks, and Itchy stirred. Fin saw the path ahead of him warp and change again before looking down at the member he had in his arms. It looked like the path went away completely. When Itchy realized he wasn't in bed, or on the couch, or somewhere reasonable to be, he squirmed and shoved away, getting out of Fin's arms and falling to the stairs with a thud. Fin flinched at the sound, and then the thuds that followed as the other tumbled down the stairs. Quiet, for a moment, and then cursing from the bottom of the stairs.
The path hadn't disappeared, just moved out of sight.

Fin rushed back down the stairs in a hurry, skipping every couple steps in the rush. Luckily it didn't look too bad – Itchy was bound to have some bruises, but he'd be perfectly fine. Still, he was complaining and cursing a storm at the bottom of the steps.
“ Ahhh man what the fuck what was that for?” Itchy sat up, slower than normal, and rolled up a pant-leg to inspect the damage. There wasn't anything visible, but he still poked at a tender spot and hissed at the pain, like he wasn't expecting it.
Fin went to offer an apology, but of course, Itchy was already rushing ahead in the conversation and didn't leave a chance.
“Man you would'a seen that coming too wouldn't you that was a dick move how am I supposed to do anything if my leg is hurt I--”
The only way to get a word in with him like this would be to cut him off. Fin didn't like being rude, but honestly. Sometimes – a lot of the time – it was the only way to deal with Itchy.
“ I wouldn't have meant to drop you, Itchy, and you know it. If you are hurt we can go see Stitch...” They both knew Stitch wouldn't want Itchy in there. He was in there often enough as it was, and him waking Stitch up in the middle of the night for a few bangs and bruises wasn't going to make Stitch want to help.
“ Naw I'm fine but geez “
At least that ended that conversation, and neither of them seemed to have woken up any of the others. Waking up everyone in the middle of the night wouldn't have ended well, what with Snowman, or Crowbar, or Stitch...or most of the gang, actually. There weren't any visible trails from what Fin could see, so he was confident that they would be fine.
After a moment Fin helped Itchy to his feet, then up the stairs. He was just going to follow the future trails just as they are.
For now at least.
Trying to change the trails never seems to end well. Even when something is prevented, something else happens. Sometimes it's better, a lot of the times it was worse. Fin frowned at the idea – he ought to be able to help everyone out if he can.


Crowbar was always saying how they shouldn't be messing around with time the way that they all do. A lot of the gang think that he just says that because he doesn't have fancy time-travel abilities like the others, but really, he might be right. Time was a funny thing, and none of them really understood it. Everyone bent it one way or another, they understood their powers. No one really understood time, or how their powers were going to effect things in the long run.

One day, something really bad is going to happen with all this time-travel. Maybe on that day Fin would be able to prevent it.

[Nakkirz]

Oh my gosh I am very excited for this series!!! Keep it up, Shad! This one was very nice

On that note, is it Felt Fic time??
I think it's Felt Fic time, ayup. Might as well post something I've been working on for a while!

Felt, Part 1

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The two men had been walking for days, now, with no sense of where they were going. His friend insisted that it was the right way, and he knew in the back of his brain that somehow his friend was right, but neither of them had an inkling of what it was they were going towards. All he knew was that one moment, they were normal, just exploring outside their little town, and then… then, they were different. And then they started traveling.

“Are you sure this is the right way?...” he asked tiredly, his feet trudging in the sand they’d been trekking through for a day and a half. A fiercely annoyed glare was turned on him almost immediately, his friend’s tired eyes creased into a glower.

“If you’re so unsure about my navigation, why don’t you lead?! Oh, that’s right! You’re too damn slow! Like a fucking sloth, honestly…” his friend retorted hotly, turning his gaze back to the dunes as his train of thought rapidly jumped to other things and he scratched his back. The man had never had much patience, but the strange change he’d gone through seemed to destroy any sliver of it he’d had left. Nowadays, all he wanted was for things to get done, and fast. And he always seemed to poke and tease about the change his poor ol’ companion had gone through, too- it wasn’t his fault that he got slowed down so easily…

In any case, the two were soon silent again, just walking through the dunes upon dunes of sand. No one they had ever heard of had traveled out into the sands before. He speculated, over the days after their changing, that it was because whatever seized them to go drove them out immediately- before they could announce their departure. Clearly, this included the possibility of madness. He shrugged that off, though- no sense in being paranoid about it. Still, other questions and possibilities swirled in his head, making him wish he had someone to answer them. And somehow- though his mind wasn’t sure- his brain was completely positive that where ever they were headed, they would get answers along the way.

Their first answers came in the form of another traveler. A few days after they first entered the desert, the two of them had exhausted the few supplies they had managed to prepare before setting out, leaving them without provisions. Needless to say, they were soon hot, tired, and thirsty- which is why his friend asked him through his weary panting:

“Uh… hey. Do you see that little guy a few dunes away, or… is it just me?”

He squinted against the heat in the direction his friend was pointing. For a moment, he was afraid that he would have to let madness back in as a possibility for what had happened to them- but then, as he rubbed his eyes, he made out a small, bobbing form treading through the sand not too far away from them. It seemed to be trying to carry too many things at once, but managing all the same.

“I… I see it too, I-“

“Don’t call me that!” his friend snapped. “It’s not like it fits anymore, you know. We already went over this. Anyway- let’s get a move on. We should talk to him.”

“…Right, sorry. Uh… yeah… that sounds like a good idea- huh? Wait!” He grabbed his friend by the arm to stop him from walking away as he saw the small person take notice of them. For a moment, he was frozen, almost fearful; and the apprehension didn’t go away as the small person altered his course and approached them. However, it slowly dissipated as he made out more and more details of the person.

They were about the size of a child, and seemed to have the mannerisms of one; though they must have been traveling as long as he and his companion had, they still had a spring in their step and a wide grin on their face, full of teeth which glinted like the lenses of his huge, circular glasses. It looked to be a little boy, dressed in surprisingly clean clothes, though his shoes were long discarded. He carried a disproportionately huge backpack over his shoulders, made of weathered old leather and loosely clasped to keep its overflowing contents in, and had a few small bundles under one arm.

“Well, hello, hello, hello!” he greeted them cheerily, looking back and forth before their bewildered faces. “What brings you two fellows out into the desert?”

“…Are you a kid?” his companion asked. He could see several thoughts racing a mile a minute inside of his friend’s frenzied head. “Y- you’re just a kid!”

These claims made the small person laugh heartily. “Ahaha! Seems I can never escape the accusations of youth! No, my friend, I’m merely an adult with an unfortunate stature,” he explained, “and a mysterious destination. Who are you two?”

“Ah….” He looked up at his friend, then back to the little man. “We… we’re…. we’re just normal people, I suppose… But… we’re… looking for something… out here in the desert….” He looked out in the direction he and his friend had been taking. The little man’s face brightened, and his grin grew even wider.

“You’re looking for something? Goodness, I am too! What happy coincidence! I believe I am looking for the end of the desert, and whatever people live on the other side!” The little man said cheerfully. He grinned up at the two men, the shorter of whom seemed to be staring off into space aimlessly. “Do you know what you two are looking for?” he asked the taller one.

The taller man- the shorter man’s friend- scratched his head absently. “Weeeeell, we don’t quite know what we’re looking for, y’see,” he replied absently, his words tripping over each other as he tried to slow them down in the thought-to-sound conversion. “We just… kinda… started looking, you know? Er…”

The little man looked knowing. “Ahhh,” he said, slinging his backpack down all of a sudden and dropping his little parcels. “I think I have just the thing to help you two discover your destination, then.” After a little digging, he finally pulled out a ball- a smooth, white, glinting ball, shining in the planet-light.

The two travelers gave a start. The shorter one stiffened, and his friend gaped. Both were wide-eyed… they had seen something like this before. Maybe. Perhaps in a dream? It was a lot bigger in the dream, if it had been a dream, and it had hands and a gun and a suit… and…

“What are you two gawking at, then?” the little man asked, somewhat confused. “Yes, yes, I know you think my cue ball is absolutely smashing, but it doesn’t work when everyone’s staring at it! Mine.” Making a quick joke, he clasped the ball to his chest and, for that moment, looked exactly like a sullen, greedy child who was NOT going to share. This caricature managed to snap his taller friend out of it to laugh at the display.

“What did you say that was? …A cue ball? Isn’t that… something they use in pool?” The shorter man asked, still trying to figure out why he’d been so transfixed.

“Yes, it’s a cue ball. They use ‘em in pool to move the other balls around. But I’ll let you in on a little secret… this one’s magic. How can I tell, I hear you ask?”

“I didn’t ask that-“

“I can tell because whatever I ask it…” the little man stared at it a second, then spat on it and gave it a polish with the arm of his shirt. Continuing, he said: “Whatever I ask it, it answers with alarming precision and accuracy. I seem to be the only one who can read it, though. Anyway, watch and be amazed!” With a dramatic little flourish, the little man brought the cue ball up to his face and squinted at its surface. Then, slowly, he asked sweetly:

“Where are these two gentlemen headed, my dear little cue ball?”

Ever so slowly, he opened his squinting eyes until he was staring in amazement at his cue ball. Then, suddenly, he looked up to the two travelers.

“It says you’re going where I’m going.”

“Huh? Let me see that!” his friend said, looking unimpressed. The little man clutched the cue to his chest again.

“No! You might break it, and you probably can’t read it, anyway- WAUGH!” He gave a small screech when he realized that the cue wasn’t in his grip anymore- for his friend had quickly pilfered it and was now twirling it in his hands. He squinted at it, and slowly, he gained the same look of epiphany that the little man had. “D… hey, look at this.” He handed his friend the cue ball.

He looked plainly at the cue ball, resting in the palm of his hand. Was that… was that a small hole in its surface? No, it couldn’t be; when he felt it, there was no indent whatsoever. But still, he could see a small, dark hole, with a blue triangle inside it, which read… He squinted, and saw:

THEY ARE GOING TO THE SAME DESTINATION AS YOU ARE, CLOVER.

“Your name is Clover?”

“Y… yes, it is, actually. Not my given name, but, ah…. I decided on it a few days ago,” the little man replied, carefully taking the cue ball from him. “My old name doesn’t really… fit me, I found out. So I decided to just let it go. In any case, ‘Clover’ is a bit better than ‘Clyde,’ don’t you think?” Clover looked up at the two after he’d tucked the cue ball back into his ratty old backpack, his smile returning by degrees. “Don’t you two have names?”

“We… had names… but something like what happened… to you… happened to us,” he replied.

“They don’t fit anymore, like y’ said,” his friend added. Clover’s smile got larger again.

“Perhaps I could come up with some names for you…?”

“No, no! We… we’re fine. We’ll think of something,” he replied quickly. Then, he switched the topic: “Perhaps we’ll think of something as we travel…. Do you suppose… we should travel together, now?”

“Well, since we’re all headed to the same place… Why the hell not! It’ll be nice to have some company!” Clover replied jovially, quickly grabbing each of their hands and giving them firm shakes. “First things first, though- you two look absolutely dog-tired! I assume provisions are in order?...”

AAAAAAAAAAAH I hope it's not too confusing! ;~; To clarify a couple things:

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No, the nameless pair are not fan characters. Their identities will become more apparent as the story goes on, hopefully.
Yes, Clover has a magic cue ball. And yes, he- and the two- can read it. Clover came across that thing for a purpose, you know...

[Shad]

Teeehehe I have a good enough idea of the nameless two.
I don't think it's too confusing, I could follow it pretty ok!


Also yesssss Felt fics I always love Felt fics.

[kmsumrall]

Shad: That's a sweet moment for those two. Its like the softer side of the felt.

Nakkirz: Exile felt? I like where this is going.

[KarneWarrior]

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BLIND JUNGLE

Struggling, he twisted in the air, the noose cutting ever deeper into his neck. He thrashed about silently, as he always did. Damn her! The bitch caught him again, tossing him out the window like some cheap toy.

Senator James R. Lemonsnout was NOT. A. TOY.

A sufficiently violent thrash, and the knot slipped. The rope spun Lemonsnout about and dropped him the full 3 stories or so to the bottom of the tree. The senator landed with a grunt, rolling to absorb the impact. Due to his small stature, the impact came out only as a soft squeak. The senator struggled to his feet, casting one last glance back at the hellhole that was the hive of Terezi Pyrope. Lemonsnout spat. The vile she-witch could go to hell for all he cared. He turned to the forest, his new home. Most likely the forest was no less of a hellhole, but at least it would be simpler than dealing with Pyrope. Lemonsnout limped off into his new home, a home of purple and white.

And, a land of primal danger.

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

Lemonsnout was battered and torn. Quite litterally. He was missing more than a few scales and a bright yellow blood was dripping slowly from a few deeper cuts. He squinted deeper into the forest. This was rediculous, how far could one forest stretch?

Lemonsnout had been walking for almost a week, weaving through the forests, feeding on the slimy sap that was revealed when the trees were cut by Lemonsnouts claws, gorging himself of the meagre fare. Unbefitting of a senator, yes, but when faced with the choice of life or death, Lemonsnout chose life. The bark also was good to chew on, giving off a soft minty flavor. Lemonsnout could sypathize with the she-witch there. He did enjoy the trees.

Brambles, not so much, He thought, picking thorns out of one claw as he weaved his way through the forest. To be sure, the forest was a beautiful sight, but Lemonsnout wouldn't reccomend anywhere nearby as a recreational facility. First things first, he would have this forest chopped to peices, ground up, and made into a nice box of inscense for his office.

Assuming he even had a office. Lemonsnout had been gone for a long time, being interrogated by Pyrope. Slapped just enough to sting, not to bruise. How nice of the she-witch to be so lenient on Lemonsnout. So forgiving. It made Lemonsnout sick to his stomach how vile and treacherous these trolls could allow their children to be. The trees bagan to thin, tempting Lemonsnout on. Faster, faster, faster! On and on, until the senator was almost at a full run, speeding through the forest as fast as his stubby legs could carry him. Just a little farther.

Just a little farther...

A little farther...

A little more...

There! A house, perched on a cliff, hanging precariously over the cliff. Perhaps it was abandoned, as massive spiderwebs laced the sides of the house like a spidersilk covering. Lemonsnout dropped to his knees, thanking whatever god had delivered this home, this safe haven. Surely, this was the place he was meant to be, not with that irritating, horrible, vile excuse for a prosecutor.

The senator slept there, just in view of the house he belived was a safe haven, just in view of his promised land.

[Derp]

So uh, I wrote something and I'm bad at giving things names, so uh!! Have a carapace fic about the Agents when they were exiled!!!

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Jack Noir- no, the Scurrilous Straggler's legs finally buckle beneath him as he continues to try to lead his crew through that goddamned multi-coloured desert. He tries to pick himself up again, but his tired legs won't let him this time. His toes ran through the rosy sand, catching in his joints as his fingers clawed, looking for purchase to help himself back up. The grip was no stronger than a soft touch.

"Quit pushing yourself," says the Desolate Deserter, carrying a Curious Dawdler who had passed out miles ago. He shifts around, giving the Dawdler a better hold on his back. as his arms were loosely holding onto the front of the Deserters weathered garb.

The Hapless Brigand glances at the Deserter before he goes to help the Straggler off the ground, and he attempts to swat him away, only weakly tapping the other's carapace. "We have to keep going" He mutters, his words jumbled from his body too tired to even move his lips properly.

"You need to rest." The other scowls, his voice enough to wake up the one on his back, whose tired eyes surveyed the group.

"I don't need to rest. Jack Noir never needed to rest, and neither do I." Despite that, The Brigand’s huge hands wrapped around the Stragglers arms, and he tried to use that as a way to get his feet beneath him, but he kept slipping in the sand.

"Jack Noir is dead," was the last thing he heard before exhaustion took over his body, sending the Scurrilous Straggler into unconsciousness. The Brigand took the Straggler in one arm and looked at the only other conscious one left.

“What should we do?” His deep voice spoke, careful not to wake up the Dawdler, who had already drifted again.

Looking comfortable, the Deserter looked around. “Can you carry him for just a little bit more?” The Brigand nods. “Good.” He points to a dune. “We are going to sleep there for the rest of the night, and we should get up early morning before it gets too hot. Does that sound good? There will be shade there to help keep us cool If we wake up before the Straggler does, don’t wake him.”

The Brigand nods, and they start their trek to the sand just a few hundred meters away, and the Straggler almost looks peaceful while he’s asleep.

“He doesn’t know how to handle himself,” The Deserter finally says. “The Straggler, I mean. Even when he was Jack he had no idea what he was doing. That’s why he got Exiled, you know.”

The Brigand just sighed, not wanting to get into this with the Deserter.

“I just needed to say that.”

“Of course you did,” The Brigand says, sounding more aggressive than he intended to. This had been going on ever since they first met up with each other, and it wasn’t helping anything. The Deserter just shrugged it off, and the rest of the trip was silent until they placed everyone in the sand and fell asleep, not bothering to leave anyone awake for guard- no one had ever bothered them before, the just allowed Jack to guard because his intense paranoia would keep the awake all night otherwise.

They slept soundly, and woke up early enough, The Brigand holding Jack over his shoulder, as they continued wandering in the desert.

"LET ME THE FUCK DOWN-!” They hear him spit out when he finally wakes up, and the Brigand gently places him on the ground, the Straggler’s legs buckling before he gets his balance, brushing himself off and pulling his rags back into their original position. “I told you not to pick me up.”

“Well you certainly have a lot more energy, Straggler.” The Deserter said, looking at their self-proclaimed leader balance himself precariously. The Dawdler trots away from Deserter over to the Brigand, wanting to avoid any of their conflict.

“Oh, shut it. We could have covered so much more ground if you hadn’t made us stop.”

“If we had woken up when you did we’d still be miles back.” The Deserter’s voice is calm, not showing any hint of fury behind it. He’s just trying to make the Straggler look bad, and with that smug little grin at the side of his facial veil he’s pretty sure he’s succeeding. The Dawdler and Brigand are looking the other way, not paying attention to this.

“Yes, and now we’re completely off course!”

“You don’t even know where the hell we are in this god-forsaken desert.”

“SHUT UP” He screams, his voice cracking from frustration, and he pushes his arms against the Deserters chest, unable to make him move more than a few inches from his weakness. “I am the leader and god help me you will follow MY orders, not just do WHATEVER YOU WANT because that is what will cause us to FALL APART, you shit!” His hand itched at the sword wrapped beneath his clothing, and the Deserter took note of this.

The Brigand and Dawdler stopped, not wanting to get to far ahead while the two bickered, the Dawdler looking the other way, as if not seeing it would make it not happen. The Brigand opens up a conversation with him about the green moon, keeping an eye on the fight unfolding behind them, in case he had to interfere.

“Well then, Straggler, where are we going?"

“We’re looking for water.” He replies, calming down a little, but the vehement hatred hadn’t left his face.

“We’ve been looking for water for days. Nice job, ‘lead-’”

The Straggler unsheathed his sword and snagging his sharp fingers into what would be the Deserter’s collar, and within a second the Brigand had him restrained, the Dawdler dashing behind him. “I told you to SHUT UP-” He snarls, struggling against the larger’s arms, but no one could win against those. “I am the leader, and you will treat me as such, you mutinous piece of SHIT I should have left you wandering by yourself in the desert!”

The Dawdler pushed at Jack’s stomach, trying to keep him back, though he wasn’t doing much, since the Brigand had it under control. “Stop-!!” He cried out, but the Deserter wasn’t even nonplussed, laying a hand gingerly on the arm tightening it’s grip on his clothing. “Please! Stop fighting...” The Straggler looked down for a second, snapping out of it briefly. The Brigand used this opportunity to pick Jack- no, he was the Straggler- up and place him on the ground, effectively trapping him with one arm.

“Calm yer ass down!” He said, feeling the other’s steadily rising heartbeat in the palm of his hand, and the Straggler was snarling. The Brigand wouldn’t be surprised if he started to foam. “Dawdler, keep watch on him-” He jerks his head at the Deserter- not that he thought he would do anything wrong, but because he knew the Straggler would go into a fury if he was the only one being treated like a distempered child. “I’m going to keep you here until you calm down, boss-” the Deserter scoffed. “-so you’d better do that quickly if you want to be able to move any time soon.-

Their leader started hyperventilating for a second, before getting control of himself and taking deep breaths to calm himself down, slowing his fury down to a quiet annoyance after a few minutes of struggling to get a hold of himself. The Brigand calling him boss seemed to help a lot though.

“Fine. Alright. I’m okay. Get off of me.” He says, his voice back to normal.

The Deserter opened his mouth to say something before the Dawdler held his hand on his wrist, as if to say, “Please, don’t.” That was enough to get him to stop, and just cross his arms, holding his tongue.

“Now... this way. I have a good feeling.”

They walked in silence, going the way that the Straggler suggested, the Deserter trailing in the back with the Dawdler. If asked, he would say it was to keep the other company, but they all knew that it was to keep himself away from the Straggler.

And in the distance, something glinted. Fascinated by the shine, the Dawdler started to trot, and then run towards whatever it was, apparently extremely excited by the prospect of something shiny. The remaining three exchanged looks and slightly sped up their pace, their longer legs easily making up for the lack in speed.

The Dawdler took his stubby little arms and started to dig away at the shining silver in the sand while the others stared, the Brigand pulling up his collar to shield himself from the sandy wind, which had been wearing away at everyone’s carapace for months. They’d been smart enough to cover their softer shell, but their face was still taking most of the damage with every sand blast.

“Ah, ah!” The carapace cried out, finding a handle on the metal container and pulling. “Hegemonic, help!”

The largest bent down, holding his hands on the large object and pulling it out of the sand. No one bothered to correct the Dawdler, he hadn’t been able to grasp the reason for a name change yet, and had difficulty remembering the new names. Well, nearly no one.

“Brigand. He’s a Hapless Brigand now, Dawdler.” Jac- the Scurrilous Straggler growls, keeping his distance.

“No one cares, just leave him alone. He can call anyone what he wants.”

“No, we have new names for a REASON, Deserter, so you should hold your tongue.”

“Don’t you tell him what’s right and what’s wrong,” an argument was already starting to brew.

The Dawdler visibly deflated from their bickering, realizing his mistake as the Brigand managed to pull out some sort of metal cabinet throwing it on the ground. “Sorry, don’t fight,” the smallest said, curling his hand in the tattered edge of his rags. The Brigand didn’t mind, and used his strength to rip the door off its rusted hinges.

Inside, there were ancient pieces of food, somehow preserved in the metal, but still old and disgusting. But perhaps they were edible.

The Straggler volunteered to test. “I need to make sure it’s safe.” While he took out one of the tins of something dried up and green, the Dawdler stared at the magnetic pieces sticking to the outside of the torn- off door. He pulled the once-red one off, and saw a scrap of paper stuck beneath it, reading “y Ga”. It didn’t mean anything to him, so he just ate the scrap of paper, hiding the shiny magnet in his hood with the collection of other trinkets he’d picked up.

The brigand dug through it, pulling out jars of a sort of fruit, which was just a slurry anymore, and threw away everything that wasn’t sealed into the desert, they only had a chance of getting sick from it. There was a bottle of water, and the Deserter eyed it in the Brigand’s hand, his eyes widening. The Straggler hadn’t noticed, but the green crust had been discarded, him swaying with the wind.

The Straggler sat down on the ground, staring up at the moons, as the sun set, transfixed. “Don’t eat the green stuff. S.. Something’s wrong with it,” his words started to sound like they’d slur.

“Boss,” The brigand said, holding the bottle of water.

Both the Deserter and the Straggler looked, but the Deserter tried to play it off as if he were looking at something else, following his head through to look down at the Dawdler, who saw the water as well.

“You... you three drink it.” The Straggler said, having difficulty keeping upright. “If there is any left, I’ll take it but.. you.. first....” He stared at the moon, holding his head in his hands, as if something about the glowing sphere was terrifying.

The three passed it around, and the Deserter purposefully took a longer drink than a fourth, leaving just a small sip for the Straggler, who took it without complaint. The Brigand frowned at the Deserter, who just raised an eyebrow as if to say, “What?” The Straggler stood up in his stupor from the rotted food and started to walk, swaying from side to side before collapsing.

"There’s no way he can lead us in that condition,” The Deserter said, pointing at the body in the sand, getting on his feet and brushing the sand off his backside, assuming the role of their boss. “Brigand, go and pick him up-”

“No.” He replied, cutting the Deserter off. “He got himself like this looking out for us. We’re not going to leave against his orders.” He was angry, and tired, and sick of the Deserter always trying to take charge whenever the Straggler couldn’t even if he was right. They needed to stick together, and if that meant letting him take the position of leader instead of the Deserter, so be it. None of them knew what they were doing, but the Straggler was trying his god damned best, sacrificing himself over what he considered to be best for them, even if it wasn’t.

Dumbfounded, the Deserter turned his head towards the Dawdler, who was just drawing pictures in the sand. The smallest glanced up at the Deserter. “I... I agree with Hege-... Brigand. He’s our leader, and we have to wait for him. And we found food, so we can rest for just a moment.”

Twitching, the Deserter acquiesced, sitting back down, rummaging through the metal cabinet. The Brigand walked over to a dip in the sand and started to dig a hole for the Straggler to sleep in, somewhere cool where he wouldn’t have the chance of dying from the heat they all had, and he stopped, turning back. “There’s water here.” He said, digging his arm further, feeling something definitely wet beneath his hands. “Get me that bottle, Dawdler, he needs some of this.” They all knew who the Brigand was referring to. The Dawdler quickly came with the bottle, and pressing it into the deep hole in the sand, the container slowly started to fill itself with dirty water. They stood and brought it to the unconscious carapace, cupping his mouth and carefully pouring it into the Stragglers mouth, The Brigand careful to keep him upright as the Dawdler ran back and forth between the two and the hole, the Deserter watching.

After the first two bottles, the Straggler coughed up some of the water, jolting awake while expelling the water from his lungs, and the Deserter had gathered up all of the cans with acceptable food on the inside, and brought them to the spot where the Straggler laid, offering him a can of an orange slurry, which had been tested to be fine.

That night they sat around a fire of the inedible foods, drinking in as much as they could before the well they found went dry. With their stomachs full and their bodies rehydrated, the tension had eased up, but none of them knew for how long. They didn’t dwell on it though. Right now, the only thing that mattered was that they were a family, and they were together.

[geeP]

@KarneWarrior: Oh you tease! I thought I saw you heading for the obvious allusion and was giggling at how clever it was but then it turned out you were going someplace completely different! Now I have Ambrose Bierce blueballs.