MSPA Fanfiction III

[-Benedict]

Do you guys mind theoretical spritelogs?

In light of the recent spritelog, you'd think Dream!Jade plus THAT would have a bit of trouble mixing:

JADE has now prototyped DREAM!JADE. Open Spritelog:

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GG: so, how do you-
JADESPRITE: HOLY FUCKING SHIT!!!
GG: ._.
GG: are you ok??
JADESPRITE: THIS IS REEEEALLY FUCKING INTENSE RIGHT NOW!!!
JADESPRITE: I MEAN
JADESPRITE: THIS IS UNCOMFORTABLY ENERGETIC I FEEL LIKE IM GONNA EXPLODE!!! D8
GG: is it like, gonna calm down or...
JADESPRITE: OW OW OW
JADESPRITE: REMEMBER WHEN WE, I MEAN YOU
JADESPRITE: DRANK LIKE A GALLON OF MOUNTAIN DEW WHEN WE WERE SIX
JADESPRITE: AND THEN GRANDPA GAVE US THAT 'MOONSHINY' STUFF ON TOP OF IT???
GG: oh god that was horrible!!
JADESPRITE: WELL PUT THAT IN THE FUCKING COOKALIZER
JADESPRITE: AND SET IT TO NUCLEAR OVERLOAD!!!
GG: O_O!!
JADESPRITE: WE'LL TALK LATER, MAYBE I'LL FEEL LESS LIKE I'M HAVING ALL OF THE SEIZURES
JADESPRITE: AFTER I'VE SHOWN A COUPLE THOUSAND FUCKING IMPS THE BRIGHT SIDE OF SOME ASSORTED FUCKING RADIUM ISOTOPES!!!!
GG: um ._.
JADESPRITE: FUCKING WOOF!!!!
End Spritelog

Oh wow this is amazing. Jade flipping the omnipotent fuck out is hilarious completely, and oh man I can imagine toddler!Jade freaking out on Mountain Dew, this is completely hilarious.

[Kassiopeia]

@BlastYoBoots HAH. Amazing. I love the idea of mini-Jade flipping out on fizzy drinks too. ALTOGETHER UNNECESSARILY CUTE.

Oh also I wrote some more of this thing. There's one more chapter to go and then I think I'll pull the whole thing together and post it on AO3. Need to think of a better title, though - the concept ran away from me rather. Any ideas?

Notes From A Doomed Timeline
Second Intermission

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Rose lies curled up in the dirt beside John's body for what feels like aeons. Wind and dust stings her eyes but she cannot cry, beyond a few broken sobs. She longs for black wings to fold around them both, and hide them from the glaring sky. John barely looks hurt, but when she tries to lift him she feels the twist in his spine, like a broken doll. The force of the blast must have been immense. And she had done it so casually. So lightly.

What is she going to do? What can she possibly do or say to make this all right?

Against all logic she finds herself wishing Jack was here. When she hears footsteps in the dust behind her, her heart leaps with - not hope, but relief and comfort.

"Rose?" says a voice, and it isn't Jack. A soft female voice with a jagged edge of shock and alarm. "Oh, god, Rose? Darling?"

Her mother is kneeling over her, one slender white hand brushing her hair out of her eyes.

Go away, Rose thinks, I don't deserve this. After all that she has seen and done, it doesn't seem right.

"Rose?" says her mother again, panic rising in her voice.

Rose opens her eyes. "Mom," she says, "I-I'm okay. But John-"

"Hush," says her mother, lifting her in her arms as though she was a baby. "You're safe now."

"John's dead, Mom!" she says, clinging to her Mom's shoulders despite herself.

Her mother's eyes flicker over John's body. "Need to call Egbert," she mutters to herself, but before she can do anything a man emerges from the mist - ghostly-pale and holding a fedora limply at his side. Though her face is pressed against the lapel of her Mom's jacket, out of the corner of her eye Rose sees him fall to his knees at John's side.

"Have to get Rose out of here," Mom murmurs to the man, "I'll be back."

The man Rose knows must be John's father collapses like a house of cards. The last thing she sees is his body fallen in the dust, his head resting on the boy's chest.

As her mother turns her back and sets off down the ridge, Rose finds herself screaming.

"Don't you dare take me away from him I want to stay with John let me stay!" she yells. Her mother continues down the blasted hillside, stroking her hair soothingly, and soon she has no words left but tears.

* * *

Rose wakes up in the Land of Light and Rain and everything is as it was. Her pile of knitting is scattered across the floor in the same haphazard arrangement as before. A few imps have infiltrated the place, but they scatter when they see her sit up.

This is who she is now. Someone whom little creatures fear.

Her mother had carried her all the way back to her tower in Derse, shielding her eyes carefully from the things in the sky, and laid her down to sleep. She has half a mind to try and rest again, and just to let the dark gods take her. They deserve her.

Her head is aching and her eyes sting, but she forces herself to get out of bed and stand at the window. The light of Skaia beats down unrelenting.

Suddenly there is a familiar electronic chime from her computer. Someone is trying to talk to her. She wants to crawl back into bed and pull the blankets over her head, but whoever it is is being very persistent.

Was there the slightest possibility that Jack had worked out how to use Pesterchum? No, of course there wasn't. She was being a silly girl. She never wanted to see him again. But it was still worth checking. Perhaps. Perhaps.

-- turntechGodhead [TG] began pestering tentacleTherapist [TT] --

Oh. Wonderful.

TG: whats up lalonde
TG: oh sorry youre probably too busy hunting down jade or something
TG: with your boyfriend
TT: That's unfair.
TG: hahahahaha
TG: right
TG: shame my bro didnt have a dreamself or you couldve taken care of that
TT: Enough.

-- tentacleTherapist [TT] has blocked turntechGodhead [TG] --

-- gardenGnostic [GG] began pestering tentacleTherapist [TT] --

GG: oh rose
GG: i'm really sorry
TT: I don't need your pity, Harley.
GG: ...fine :/
GG: excuuuse me for trying to be understanding!
GG: i knew i should have listened to dave
TT: Jade, I didn't mean to say that!
GG: fuck
GG: you

-- gardenGnostic [GG] has blocked tentacleTherapist [TT] --

-- grimAuxiliatrix [GA] began trolling tentacleTherapist [TT] --

GA: Excuse Me
TT: Kanaya. This is not the best time.
GA: Yes I Am Aware
GA: The John Human Informed Me
TT: ...
GA: He Is Aware Of The Manner Of Death Of His Dream Self
GA: He Is
GA: As One Might Expect
TT: Enraged?
GA: Forgiving
TT: That's almost worse.
GA: You Are Being Remarkably Blunt
TT: Oh, do please excuse me, I'll just take some time out of the grieving process to crank up my sarcasm motors, shall I?
GA: Neatly Done
TT: ...
TT: For fuck's sake, Kanaya. Please go away.
TT: There is nothing you can do to help me.
GA: I Would Advise You To Speak To John At Your Earliest Opportunity
GA: All Is Not Lost My Dear
GA: He Lives
TT: ...
TT: "My dear"?
GA: A Colloquialism
TT: Nonetheless. He saw me murder him and laugh about it. He's lost his dream self. His father had to mourn for him.
TT: I collaborated with Jack Noir.
TT: I'm not sure I'm comfortable being forgiven for that.
GA: We All Do Things We Regret Rose
GA: Your Friends Are Hurt But You Must Begin To Make Overtures of Reconciliation
GA: If Not For Your Sake, For The Sake Of The Safety Of All
TT: Tell me, Kanaya, have you ever considered a career in writing educational cartoons for small children?
GA: It Is Merely Pragmatic
GA: The John Human Needs A Server Player
TT: I imagine he will have some difficulty trusting me after this.
GA: He Is An Exceptionally Hopeful Creature
GA: You May Be Surprised
GA: I Believe He Used The Term
GA: No Harm, No Foul
GA: I Am Uncertain Of Its Meaning
GA: But Nobody Is Blinded Nor Crippled
GA: Nobody Is Even Really Dead
GA: Your Friends Will Forgive You If You Let Them
GA: Is This Really About John
GA: Question Mark
TT: No, clearly it's all about my relationship with my mother.
TT: Well done, Dr Freud.
GA: You Know That Isn't What I Meant
TT: I have to go now.
GA: I Hope You Will Sort This All Out In Your Head
GA: Goodbye, Rose

-- grimAuxiliatrix [GA] ceased trolling tentacleTherapist [TT] --

[ceruleanTresses]

The current title is pretty awesomely dark-sounding, but if you are going to change it, maybe something involving "corruption?" It would have a double meaning all the way, because it's sort of like Rose and Jack are both corrupting each other in a sense.

Also, poor Rose. But THAT IS WHAT YOU GET FOR TEAMING UP WITH THE PSYCHOPATH, ROSE. DO I DETECT THE SOUND OF A PAINFUL RECOGNITION OF YOUR EPIC MORALITYFAIL, I THINK I DO. And John's reported reaction made me d'awww, because that is so what he'd do.

[raequiem]

Kassi. Kassi Kassi Kassi.

This is perfect. Rose is perfect. Jack is perfect. John (from what Kanaya says) is perfect. Everything's perfect forever.

I'm not sure what I'm going to do with myself once this fic is over - reread it a million and a half times?

[Douhneill]

Agh. Too much to read. Can't take it all in. Tried to write next chapter. Dunno how well narration turned out. But don't want to start over, so here you go.
*edit* Screw it. I'm Retconning the title to Heirman. That's what everyone (myself included) calls it anyway.

Heirman - Chapter 3
Prologue, 1, 2

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There was an emergency.

He woke from his repairs a little later than usual - doctor Lalonde was making sure that Sollux's virus hadn't caused any permanent damage to his system. He arrived in the control room to find everyone in a panic. Sollux was typing up something on his computer, Gamzee was freaking out at one of the displays, and doctor Lalonde was busy speaking with someone on the phone.

"John!"
"Jade, what's going on?"
"It's terrible! Kanaya's attacking the city!"
"What?"

She lead him to the nearby television set. There was a live report.

"...army of robots attacking wildly about 20 kilometres from here. Law enforcement are currently doing their best to contain the situation, and an evacuation is underway. Wait, this just in, we're receiving a transmission from their leader."
"Greetings. This Message Is Addressed To Whomever It Was That Has Been Interfering With Our Plans. Surrender Yourself, Your Accomplice, And Our Fallen Bretheren. If You Do Not Comply, I Will Personally Bring Down The Entire City. Further Refusal To Comply Will Result In One City To Be Destroyed Each Day Until Our Demands Are Met. That Is All."
"And, there you have it. To whoever..."

John turned off the television set. He bit his knuckle.

"John?"
"...accomplice?"
"Heirman."
Doctor Lalonde was at her desk, motioning him to come. Sollux and Gamzee were there as well.
"This is a very urgent matter. I've spoken with the chief of police, the entire sector is clear. However, the authorities cannot hold out their defence much longer."
"So what do we do?"
"We take over."
"II've been workiing on my viiru2. IIt won't work on a robot ma2ster, but iit wiill recode any machiine two follow the robot that iinfected iit."
"SoLlUx AnD i CaN eAsIlY tAkE oN tHe LiTtLe GuYs."
"I'm sending Sollux and Gamzee ahead to distract the masses. Your job, John, is to find and disable Kanaya."
"Got it."
Sollux stepped onto the teleporter and went on his way. Gamzee followed after.
"There's something that's been bothering me, John."
"What is it?"
"Kanaya spoke of an accomplice."
"That's been bugging me too."
"Do you have any idea who she could be referring to?"
"The only other thing I saw while I was out was that red guy."
"Hmm."
"Doctor?"
"No time for talk, Heirman. Sollux and Gamzee have made your path."
"But-"
"Now."

He stopped pressing the matter. There was a city under attack, after all. He stepped onto the teleporter and found himself in the city.

Heirman, do you read me?
Loud and clear, ma'am.
Kanaya is on the far side of the city. This is the closest I can get you without them being able to track where you came from.
On my way.
I've added a transporter to your tools subroutine. It should make your trip much easier.

A transporter, eh? John activated his tools subroutine and called up his new ride. It was some kind of rocket board with the number 2 etched on its side. He stepped on. It began to move forward, accelerating to a very high speed. John had trouble staying on, let alone controlling the thing. Fortunately for him, he was on a straight course through the city.

He crashed into a large group of imps. Confused, they all turned to see what had just taken out a third of their number. By the time John had picked himself up, every single one of them had their guns aimed at him.

Another whistle.

Shots were fired from above toward the group. John reacted and quickly took out the remaining few. He looked upward to try to spot his helper. Nothing. He checked his radar. Kanaya was just around the block. He walked up to the street corner and took a peek. There she was, with a rather large group of all kinds of machines.

John checked his heirbuster modes. He had his default, Gamzee's acidic pies, Sollux's virus, and another virus shot. Wait, why did he have two virus shots? It didn't matter, he supposed. He switched modes to Sollux's virus and walked directly toward Kanaya.

"Hello, Kanaya."
"Heirman, Was It? You Are Surprisingly Bold To Come Directly To Us After Attacking Our Men."
She motioned to her entourage, and they all took aim toward John. He stopped walking.
"I'm here to give you a chance to surrender."
"Me, Surrender? I Don't Know Who You Are, Heirman, But You Are Mistaken If You Believe You Can Take Me On As I Am Now."
"Okay."

John began to fire on the group of robots. The virus worked amazingly well. Within a few seconds, Kanaya's entourage was down to 4 units, and those 4 were turned against her.

"You can still surrender, you know."
"I Have Told You Before, Heirman. You Cannot Hope To Defeat Me."

Kanaya pulled a chainsaw, and cut through what was left of her troupe. John changed modes and began to fire pies at her. She dashed toward him. He stood there to intercept her. Once she got close enough, he fired some pies toward her weapon. No effect. She rammed into him.

Warning!
Torso chassis beyond auto-repair!
Functionality 38%
Warning!

Having a chainsaw through his chest wasn't the best feeling he ever had.

"And Here I Thought You Would Put Up More Of A Fight. Typical."
"And Sollux said I was the soft one."
"Pardon?"
"Nothing."

John changed modes and fired a shot. Despite what Sollux had said, the virus was still worth a try. Nothing happened for a second. Then Kanaya began to twitch.
"Ugh - What have you done?"
Her chainsaw disappeared. She fell onto the ground, squirming uncontrollably. John changed modes to his regular shot, and fired until she stopped. He knelt next to his now beaten opponent.

"I don't need to hope, little sister."
"John? I should have known it was you."
"Do I look that different?"
"Not right now."

All enemiie2 are taken care of.
EvErYtHiNg'S gOoD hErE, bRo.
Heirman, have you taken out Kanaya?
Done and done.
LeT's GeT tHe FuCk HoMe, MoThErFuCkErS!
Gamzee, what have I told you about using that kind of language?
SoRrY.

Teleporting back, John smiled.

That could have gone a lot worse.

A/N

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John really needs to learn to dodge. And strafe. And pretty much do everything that involves combat besides shoot at the enemy. Seriously. Not all the robot masters can set themselves up to be beaten by an unexpected use of his newest attack while they gloat.

Couldn't come up with a good Kanaya-based look for John. Oh well. Who's next?

[-Benedict]

Awesome, more megaman-styled fun with the trolls. I don't get why the virus worked on Kanaya, but s'all good, s'all good.

Next Heirman should fight John.

[Metaflare]

TereziTereziTerezi!

[SkaianRedeemer]

You know, I see "saw" and "Mega Man" and immediately think Metal Man. Poor Kanaya's going to have such an embarrassing time during a potential refight. I would actually like to see that chainsaw in Mega Man, though. It reminds me of Flame Mammoth's weapon, but with more 8-bit.

Hm, story-wise or item-wise? Story-wise Kanaya's closest surviving relations are Vriska and Eridan, but it seems more likely to me that Eridan would be weak against Feferi's weapon than the other way around. Item-wise, it'd be kind of cool to watch a fencing match between a chainsaw and an ultra-strong trident or cane.

[KilroyWasHere]

I am so glad Exposure isn't on this page. Otherwise I would BAWL ALL OVER AGAIN. DAMN YOU, TENEBRAIS!

[Douhneill]

Awesome, more megaman-styled fun with the trolls. I don't get why the virus worked on Kanaya, but s'all good, s'all good.

Next Heirman should fight John.

John hit her with the virus from chapter 2, not the new virus. The whole "two viruses" thing was the Checkov's gun to explain that. Also John is Heirman. Or did you want some sort of paradoxical Quintet nonsense?

You know, I see "saw" and "Mega Man" and immediately think Metal Man. Poor Kanaya's going to have such an embarrassing time during a potential refight. I would actually like to see that chainsaw in Mega Man, though. It reminds me of Flame Mammoth's weapon, but with more 8-bit.

You have no idea how hard it was for me NOT to steal Metal Blade. No idea whatsoever.

[-Benedict]

Awesome, more megaman-styled fun with the trolls. I don't get why the virus worked on Kanaya, but s'all good, s'all good.

Next Heirman should fight John.

John hit her with the virus from chapter 2, not the new virus. The whole "two viruses" thing was the Checkov's gun to explain that. Also John is Heirman. Or did you want some sort of paradoxical Quintet nonsense?

no see it was a joke because john is on the character select screen and you know how it is like in the games you cant select the megaman head until its dr wily but like maybe he could actually just go and
ill shut up now

[Quixotic]

The problem with some of these long, excellent fanfiction is that when I catch up with them I have a lot to say. And, of course, it makes commenting take longer because in my mind it is set up to be an endeavour, because I don't want to crap out on them. But it's about time I got around to these:

A Hand in Holding Hands: A COMMENTARY
Oh screw it, I just posted this on AO3 because it was really long.

Notes From a Doomed Timeline: A COMMENTARY

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-There is something about the style of the drawings/writing in this that really screams "dark fairytale" to me, which is really appropriate given the characters it's focusing on. It has the same kind of aesthetic beauty, I think.

-I loved the reappearance of Noir's complete inability to make a clever one liner work for him. Considering how dark it is in general, having that bit of levity in it is amusing.

-The scene where Rose finds John's body after she blasted him was really well written, especially when Mom and Mr Egbert showed up.

-Both Dave's and John's reactions to what Rose did felt true to character. Especially given what Dave's just been through.

-Rose killing DD was pretty damn hardcore. That was a good choice in getting across her dissolving morality. Also, I really liked the part where she was asking Jack if her arms were actually torn up. That spoke volumes without actually saying it straight up.

So yes, over all very cool! My only real worry is that I can't entirely grok why Rose is doing what she's doing. Why did this seem like a good idea to her? What is she trying to accomplish? Then again, she doesn't really seem to know, either.

But yes, good work, keep it up!

Man, it sure is annoying how characters walk away before they can spill more juicy exposition, and then you have to wait for the next update :P

Terezi is a master at making people's lives miserable, including yours.

[Douhneill]

no see it was a joke because john is on the character select screen and you know how it is like in the games you cant select the megaman head until its dr wily but like maybe he could actually just go and
ill shut up now

Oh, I understood that, but I countered with Gameboy Megaman game trivia.

*edit* hey, 150 posts. I gotta start planning these milestone posts ahead of time.

[-Benedict]

You have to admit that having John fight his own... paradox clone... would be fitting, as long as you substitute that damn pogo stick for like a kickass motorcycle made of air or something. (like inauspiciousQuartet because unlucky 13 and 4 dammit my mind needs to stop doing stupid things)

But I say go with Fef- I'm thinking a progression from CC wrecks CA hates AG tricks GC hateloves CG, and then Zahaak's fortress.

[Katrika]

KASS.

Kass Kass Kass. I think your fanfiction is my matesprit. =P

[Ganato]

Notes From A Doomed Timeline
Second Intermission

Yesssssssssss!
I really like the characterization of the people in this one. Very powerful.

Heirman - Chapter 3

I think you should make the fights with the masters a bit longer. So far they all seem a bit anticlimatic to me. They go down pretty fast. Other than that I like them.
Terezi, I guess? Her or Vriska.

Oh and then I wrote another story.
I think this might turn into a series, concentrating on the Midnight Crew and the trolls, since I kinda wanted to make some interaction between the two groups. Buuuuut I'm not too sure.

This City

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Slick looked upwards. To try and see the place where the scrabers ended and the sky began. But it was impossible of course. The skyscrabers were simpy too high and their looming created the perfect atmosphere for a man like Slick. He turned and looked at the three persons behind him. His three most trusted allies. His friends.

“Gentlemen!” he said spreading his arms. “This is now our city!”
--------------------------------------------------------------

1000, 2000, 3000, 4000...

“How much have you been drinking?”
“I swear, boss. I ain’ drunk.”

7000, 8000, 9000, 10000...

“Then how many fingers am I holding up?”
“... 4?”
-slap-
“Two, you dimwit!”

15000, 16000, 18000, 19000...

“Eugh, what did you drink anyway? Gasoline?”
“I swear, boss. I’ was only a couple o’ –hic- beer...”
“More like a a couple of bottles of pure alcohol!”

24000, 25000, 26000, 27000...

“Hey, Droog?”
“What?”

29000, 30000...

“Do you know how many marble balls there are in this pouch?”
“32000.”
“I think there’s only 17...”
“What? Oh for fucks sake!”

Diamonds Droog threw the money he had counted onto the table making a mess and stared angrily at Clubs Deuce, who quickly withdrew himself from imminent danger. Meanwhile Spades Slick was teaching Hearts Boxcars not to go out drinking alone after a succesfull heist. He currently held Boxcars in a choke hold, none really knowing how he got him in it, with Boxcars being so much taller. Slick took a quick glance at Droog and Deuce, then quickly returned to beating up the drunk Boxcars.
Droog was practically fuming. ‘No. Shouldn’t attack Deuce. He’s a part of the gang’ .He thought the sentence over and over again while massaging his temples to let himself cool down. With a sigh he got up from the chair he had been using.
“I’m grabbing a smoke.” He said climbing the ladders to the exit and entrance of their hideout.
“Don’t get shot,” was the only comment he got from Slick who was busy with Boxcars, who had decided to stand up, but sill couldn’t get his boss off. Deuce just watched Droog and then realised he probably had to stop Boxcars and Slick before it escalated.

It was cool outside. It was always cool outside. The sun was barely ever up, and the city is in the middle of the fucking desert. It didn’t really matter though. As long as you had a carapace and a custom tailored suit, the cold ain’t gonna hurt. Droog drew a cigarette from his pocket and put it in his mouth. He then took out a lighter and set the cigarette aflame taking in the smoke in a deep breath. It wasn’t like he didn’t like Deuce, but the little bugger just didn’t know when to stop bothering him. And sadly, he was the one mostly bothered by him. Hearts Boxcars went out too much and Droog knew Slick could scare the living shit out of the small Deuce.

He exhaled the smoke slowly rising up towards the sky. How many years had they been here now? Didn’t remember. Didn’t care to. Sure, he remembered the purple planet, the other people just like him and the three others as well as walking around in a desert wearing only some rags he had found. But now he had a good suit and a city with his gang. Why would he want to remember a shoddy past when he had a nice present?

The manhole cover down to their hideout slowly lifted and out peeked Deuce. Droog wasn’t surprised. The little bugger couldn’t stand anyone being mad for too long.

“You okay, Droog?”

Droog nodded.

“Did they kill each other?”

“No, but I think Slick might’ve dislocated his shoulder. But thankfully I got Boxcars into bed where he should sleep pretty hard for while.”

“Yeah, he always goes out like a light after drinking.”

Deuce stood next to Droog and looked up at him.

“What are you doing?”

“Reminiscing.”

“Oh...” was all Deuce said. Droog wouldn’t be surprised if Deuce didn’t remember anything from before the city. But then again he wouldn’t be surprised if he remembered everything. The little guy certainly was a bit weird. Funny how the little guys memory worked.

“You coming back down?” Deuce asked.

“In a minute,” Droog answered shortly.

Deuce nodded and retreated back to their hideout. Droog really had to learn him how to stand up for himself, but he wasn’t going to do something like that tonight. Right now he had reminiscing to do.
He remembered the suits they were forced to wear back on the purple planet. He shuddered. Not only had it been ugly, it had been to tight and yet too large. All in all, the worst suit one could imagine. Even the materials would break from a simple pool game or saxophone solo. He then remembered the first he had worn a good suit. Back when they had exiled the queen. Oh how he had loved the day, being free. And then thoese damned trolls had exiled them as well. Damned seer. Thinking she was so smart.

That train of thought suddenly turned his mind to the weird found he had made not too long ago. A large underground complex which had made him able to ‘command’ one of the trolls. It had been joyful to let the robot troll he had ‘controlled’ extract her revenge (and his). He wondered what had happened to all of them, before realising his cigarette was nothing but a bud now. He threw it on the ground and squished it with his heel before turning back to the entrance. No sense in reminiscing.

Why remember a shoddy past, when you had a nice present?

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I personally believe the groups way of interacting with each other is quite the same way as the 'quadrant' they've each been giving.
Slick is spades and hates everybody. The only people he doesn't hate are in this very group, and he still loathes them, just a bit. But he's still their respected leader.
Deuce is clubs and the one panicking when they start fighting in the group. He always tries to make sure everyone is happy, but he still gets confused and tricked rather easily.
Droog is diamonds and is the backbone of the group. While Deuce focuses on the interaction between the members Droog focuses more on the group members themselves. He's the one making sure they don't do stupid and reckless stuff. Unless he's angry of course.
Boxcars is the 'loving farther'. He easily gets angry like the other two, but is also quick to forgive. Also loves to drink, though he doesn't have a very high tolerance to alcohol.
I hope that wasn't too confusing.

I'm not giving it a parts name since I'm not sure if it will really be a series.

[Kassiopeia]

@Quixotic aaaa thank you so much for the lovely comment I'm so glad you're enjoying it! Rose's motivation is... well, I don't want to justify myself here if it doesn't come across in the text, but it was supposed to be a mixture of a) she enjoys the power and feels unable to do anything about the harm it's doing her, which further drives her to level up and alleviate that sense of powerlessness, b) she lacks any kind of mentor figure in her life due to her Mom's lackadaisical approach, and c) she's incredibly emotionally repressed as a result of both of these things and thus is able to convince herself that shes doing all these things in order to try and break the game and find a way out. I'm not sure how much I managed to bring these across in the story, though! XD (aaa, this sounds super defensive. This is basically my headcanon for Rose anyway, so... anyway.)

@Katrika but my fanfiction is too evil to love anyone except caliginously ;3;
@Ganato thank you so much :3

[Katrika]

Kass: Oh well. TWAS NEVER MEANT TO BE.

[Douhneill]

Heirman - Chapter 3

I think you should make the fights with the masters a bit longer. So far they all seem a bit anticlimatic to me. They go down pretty fast. Other than that I like them.

I actually want longer fights too, except that right now, John... can't... really... fight. He can shoot, but he can't fight. He's got to learn actual combat before I can start to make the battles seem actually long (something I hope to be able to do in the next chapter ). Besides that, there's also the fact in the games, battles are pretty anticlimactic once you hit the other guy with his weakness, but that's not what I'm trying to portray.

[ceruleanTresses]

Blood and Bloodless: Chapter 26 is forthcoming, but I have a ton of homework, so I just wrote something really fast because I was inspired. I guess it is kind of an intermission.

Karkat's Diary, Part 4

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DEATH OF A NOOKSTAIN

ONCE UPON A TIME THERE WAS A SNOOTY PRICK NAMED EQUIUS ZAHHAK WHO THOUGHT HE WAS SO MUCH BETTER THAN EVERYONE BECAUSE OF HIS FANCY BLUE BLOOD. ALSO, HE WAS DISGUSTING AND HAD NO SENSE OF APPROPRIATE SOCIAL BOUNDARIES. EVERY DAY HE WENT AROUND BEING A TOTAL ASSHOLE, JUST FUCKING RELENTLESSLY.

BUT THEN ONE DAY HE WOKE UP AND SAW THAT HE AND HIS ILLUSTRIOUS LEADER HAD SWITCHED BLOOD COLORS. NOW EVERYONE RESPECTED KARKAT NOT ONLY BECAUSE HE WAS FUCKING AWESOME, BUT ALSO BECAUSE HE NOW HAD THE BLOOD COLOR TO MATCH. BUT ALL EQUIUS HAD EVER HAD GOING FOR HIM WAS HIS BLOOD, SO NOW THAT HE HAD NASTY MUTANT BLOOD, NOBODY RESPECTED HIM AT ALL.

EQUIUS BECAME THE SERVANT OF ALL THE OTHER TROLLS BECAUSE HE WAS SO TERRIBLE. HE HAD TO CLEAN ALL THE LOAD GAPERS AND CHANGE OUT THE SOPOR SLIME IN THE RECUPERACOONS EVERY DAY. EVERYBODY ORDERED HIM AROUND ALL THE TIME, SO HE SWEATED SO MUCH THAT HE DIED OF DEHYDRATION. THE END.

[Quixotic]

Blood and Bloodless: Chapter 26 is forthcoming, but I have a ton of homework, so I just wrote something really fast because I was inspired. I guess it is kind of an intermission.

Karkat's Diary, Part 4

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DEATH OF A NOOKSTAIN

ONCE UPON A TIME THERE WAS A SNOOTY PRICK NAMED EQUIUS ZAHHAK WHO THOUGHT HE WAS SO MUCH BETTER THAN EVERYONE BECAUSE OF HIS FANCY BLUE BLOOD. ALSO, HE WAS DISGUSTING AND HAD NO SENSE OF APPROPRIATE SOCIAL BOUNDARIES. EVERY DAY HE WENT AROUND BEING A TOTAL ASSHOLE, JUST FUCKING RELENTLESSLY.

BUT THEN ONE DAY HE WOKE UP AND SAW THAT HE AND HIS ILLUSTRIOUS LEADER HAD SWITCHED BLOOD COLORS. NOW EVERYONE RESPECTED KARKAT NOT ONLY BECAUSE HE WAS FUCKING AWESOME, BUT ALSO BECAUSE HE NOW HAD THE BLOOD COLOR TO MATCH. BUT ALL EQUIUS HAD EVER HAD GOING FOR HIM WAS HIS BLOOD, SO NOW THAT HE HAD NASTY MUTANT BLOOD, NOBODY RESPECTED HIM AT ALL.

EQUIUS BECAME THE SERVANT OF ALL THE OTHER TROLLS BECAUSE HE WAS SO TERRIBLE. HE HAD TO CLEAN ALL THE LOAD GAPERS AND CHANGE OUT THE SOPOR SLIME IN THE RECUPERACOONS EVERY DAY. EVERYBODY ORDERED HIM AROUND ALL THE TIME, SO HE SWEATED SO MUCH THAT HE DIED OF DEHYDRATION. THE END.

Oh Karkat, you're such a six year sweep old.

[Katrika]

Ahahaha, that's great, Cerulean.

[precariouslyAware]

Quixotic:
Holy. Shit.

I've been following Conquest from the beginning........and I would just like to say. That it is purely orgasmic. I mean that in the least sexual way possible.

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Maybe.

I love it. I'm pretty sure so does everyone else.
We want more!

[Katrika]

I proudly present part one of my collaboration with MayorSillyBiscuits!

Exiles, part 1

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Week 1

The Solitary Refugee adjusted her hood, protecting her sensitive white carapace from the glare of the sun. She was tempted to stare at it, but she remembered what she’d read. Suns were not for staring at, not if you wanted to keep seeing things. It would be a shame, she mused with a thrill of excitement, to go blind before she saw something as wonderous as a sunset.

Week 2

SR looked up at the moon, eyes wide. There was no doubt about it. The moon was actually shrinking, small slivers disappearing from the right side every night. What a strange world this was, with a sun and a small distant moon that orbited freely, untethered to the ground! The strangest and most wonderful things of all were the stars. The first time the clouds had parted to reveal them, SR had actually cried. She felt like the protagonist in one of her stories, off to see new things and new people, and ready to fearlessly complete her mission.

Week 3

The Solitary Refugee was quite certain that no protagonist in any story she’d read had thrown up after butchering an animal, or forgotten that meat needed to be cooked.

Week 4

Even after so long, SR had found no way to complete her mission. Moreover, she was just starting to realize what an open-ended mission it was. She had thought that she’d go down, complete her goal with stunning heroics, and get brought back and praised by the Queen. She had expected to be back in the Royal Library by now, surrounded by books. She had, in short, been completely and utterly wrong.

Week 5

The days were too hot. The nights were too cold. Her rations had run out a long time ago, and she was always hungry. She had taken to talking to herself just to hear a voice, and her throat cracked and bled from thirst and overuse. She didn’t think about her mission anymore. Off in the distance, a smudge on the horizen grew larger and larger as SR walked, weary.

Week 6

She had reached the ruins of a city.

[egregiousBass]

Loving Notes from a Doomed Timeline again. Jade's reaction was hardcore.

And now, have some semi-romantic weird time shit. I basically just jotted this down in ten minutes, so beware of crappy pacing.

Trails

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I find a note in my room. It's from you.

You've been gone for three days, but the ink is fresh. You delivered it to the future. It reads "Follow me". I tap into the past and see your trail sliding it under my door.

You look back at me, cracking a half-faded smile. The trail is at least a few days old. I begin tracing it; you urge me to keep up. No matter how fast I go, your trail is ahead of me.

You know how you're going to end up. You could tell from my trail. But I still don't know what happened, and neither you do. We'll find out together.

Your attention shifts away from your rear and to your right. We are now walking side by side. It feels like we're together, even though we aren't. We're just ghosts to eachother. But it's still real.

You lead me into an alley, a dead end, but I don't see you come back out. You lead me to the spot where your trail ends. I move beside you.

I can feel your hands grabbing mine, faintly, yours as far into the past as mine were into your future. Your expression is too expired for me to make out, and you probably can't tell mine, either. Suddenly, the thin scent of bullets phazes through the air and cuts into you. An ambush. You cry out in pain, noiselessly, and drop to the ground.

I can't catch your fall. You're already rotting.

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...but not before they had a kickass cello duet!