TVTropes Now available in the app store!
Open

Follow TV Tropes

Following

Enter The Arena As Your Avatar -- The Spinoff!

Go To

ISZATSO The Web-Slinger from Queens Since: Apr, 2020 Relationship Status: All is for my lord
The Web-Slinger
#396601: Jun 5th 2025 at 12:53:50 PM

What are you?

You’re nothing.

She dug an elbow further against the railing and looked at the lightsaber in the other hand.

Too weak to be a Sith, and you’ll never be a Jedi.

The harsh reality set in. You’re a failure. Nothing more.

Lorelai turned back to the edge and stretched a hand over it. She turned the lightsaber down to the open air, dozens of floors between it and the pavement, and closed her eyes. She unfurled her grasp.

Silence. Freedom. Free of her curse, free of choice, free of failure. Free of it all. She opened her eyes, and the shackles clamped tighter around her ankles. It was hopeless. The lightsaber remained there, hovering, only inches out of her palm. She couldn’t bring herself to truly release it.

You even fail at failing.

The first raindrop pattered upon the back of her hand, followed by another, a third, a fourth…the rumble of thunder overhead. Lorelai glanced up from the railing, through the perpetually-dark curtain draped over Hub Centralis’ District 82, the Midnight City, out over the rest of the urban horizon. A faint glow like sunlight pierced the veil, raw luminance carved into words. A cry for help. Lorelai shook her head and discarded the sight, recalling the lightsaber to her palm where it belonged and turning away. She didn’t care. It wasn’t her place to.

So Lorelai had no idea why she found herself in a room the following morning with over a dozen others, a crowd that made her uneasy. Any of them could be an Imperial, she realized, any of them servants of the Emperor she’d betrayed wielding her death with a crimson glow. Lorelai tapped agitated fingers against her thigh, having found a good spot far from the stage in the dark shadow of some building to reside in. Long, dark sleeves clung to crimson skin, a vest of the same night-black color on her shoulders disappearing into a simple pair of equally dark pants. All that could be seen of her were red hands and a red face, bracketed by short flows of hair which curled at the ends.

I shouldn’t be here. The tips of the Trueblood’s lips weighed down and she gave in, turning away and marching from whatever destiny waited upon that stage. She had just blindly rounded a corner, nearly free of the whole assembly, when—

Oof!

The failed Sith tumbled over onto her back with a grunt, a hesitant hand rising to the back of her head where it’d recoiled into the sidewalk. As the focus returned to her eyes, she saw a white and blue mass looming over her, descending to his knee, the costumed human extending a helping hand. "My apologies. I didn’t see you coming."

”Don’t worry about it.” Lorelai mumbled, ignoring the offer for help as she rose on her own and swept past the Captain, disappearing behind the corner he’d just come from. Once out of sight from anyone but also still unknowingly within earshot of the stage (this is a surprise tool that’ll help us later), the Pureblood collapsed against a wall and slid down to a crouch. Lamenting the string of unconscious decisions that had led her here in the first place, Lorelai slid her hand through her hair and massaged the still-stinging back of her head. What a waste of credits that cab was. The MOC was just outside the city, she could get back in under a few hours if she made the next magrail…

That was strange. Captain America had spared only a quick glance behind him at the fleeing alien before returning his attention to the stage and the people on it, largely unfamiliar so far to him. He had come here on Spider-Man’s behest, a favor to the web-slinger after he’d lost last week’s game. The favor, of course, being to ensure the safety of a robot he’d met…Glock? Subby? Something like that. I’d do it myself, Cap recalled the vigilante’s exact words being, but this neighborhood doesn’t defend itself! (although i really wish it would) So Cap found a good, open spot in the crowd, keeping an eye out for familiar faces…

Edited by ISZATSO on Jun 5th 2025 at 3:55:28 PM

With great power…you know the rest.
BombonBombin Nightmare lord from Across time and space Since: Jan, 2021 Relationship Status: In love with love
Nightmare lord
#396602: Jun 5th 2025 at 1:04:37 PM

Pataclaun District

Shortly after the couple and the two "ghostbusters" left out, the three ghosts began to talk:

We should not let those two get away from us. Our job as house-haunters is at risk!

Wendy, this man isn't enough for you! You should be mine!

The only one genuinely worried for the couple is Gonzalete, who looks at the nothing.

Gonzalete, what happens?

...Dunno, man, those two gave me bad vibes... Nobody offers you free housing in the big '25.

Y'know, the Arena is full of empty houses, there is nothing to...

In this moment, the shining ad of Miquella appears on the night sky. Upon seeing it, Gonzalete began dancing and writhing, as if having a seizure, before falling on the ground.

I knew it! This is... [squeaky voice] baaaaaad!

Decided: we are going to Utopia with them.

Yeaaaah! They aren't going to get rid of us so easily!

The three ghosts snap their fingers at the same time, and with a harp strum, they appear in the meeting.

This is... Certainly, a multitude.

Gonzalete notices somebody familiar among the multitude: Miquella and his partner.

Those two!

Meanwhile, at Utopia...

Pataclaun Intro 2 (Imagine this same sequence, but without the ghosts, with Utopia instead the toon city, and other utopian residents instead the character copies. And the title card reading Utopia instead of Pataclaun.)

Upon arriving their new home (with furniture), they let the things they took out with them, and decorate the house (all in another fast-track montage), and then, they go to the bedroom. Machín jumps on the bed, lying suggestively.

Welcome to our new home, dear! Now, come on me!

But Wendy wasn't paying attention on him. Instead, she is reading the giant letters on the sky.

Machín! We have to save the town! Look out the letters!

But Wendy, we managed to get rid of the ghosts! Nobody must interrupt now!

She says with a suggestive voice: Machín... If you come with me... And whispers something on Machín's ear. He blushes.

Are you sure!?

Wendy nods.

Alright, then. To the Pata-mobile!

The couple rides again the car, and starts driving towards the gathering.

Edited by BombonBombin on Jun 5th 2025 at 3:21:48 AM

Three freaking ghosts!
ArbiterOfTheBog Parasmagate from The Mortal Realms Since: Feb, 2022 Relationship Status: Cast away
Parasmagate
#396603: Jun 5th 2025 at 1:13:22 PM

Utopia

Among the massive crowd of unlikely heroes, Nymbulda stood tall among the summoned callers.

She wished there were more people here who looked the psrt she had to admit. Bar... Law and Jason she supposed. She might be a sight for sore eyes honestly. The lasy time they had seen her... probably, was being evaporated by that... curse.

She looked to Miquella, and was unnironically thrilled. This looked properly Arthurian, something up her alley entirely. She'd protect the innocent, bring honor to her name, and gain a title.

Embued with some new energy, she waved to Law and Jason.

Casper meanwhile was eating a cigarette out of a Newport box, drinking some canned coffee as he tried to stay up. Miquella had made some cryptic remark before him and Baz had to confront Damien. He supposed that if the Blonde weirdo wanted his help, it'd be good pay for the $90 in takeout they had under his card.

His eyes immediately shot to The Emperor, Casper immediately smiling back at the Mind Flayer.

"Hey! Ilithid... cool as shit. You working with Miquella? How'd they rope you in?"

Around his neck was a necklace in jade, with some... perculiar Qualith writing on it.

Awawa
RainbyPlays fae being from yes Since: Nov, 2019 Relationship Status: Hiding
fae being
#396604: Jun 5th 2025 at 1:37:32 PM

District 13

Iris swore under her breath as she saw even more demons appearing, but just then, a drone swooped by, depositing her SOR-22 into her waiting arms.

Delivery.

"Fucking finally."

holstering her pistol, she was forced to dodge out of the way of both of the charging Pinkies- by way of a Sandevistan-assisted dash, though it was still mostly cooling down. Instead, she took aim at the three imps, hissing as one of the fireballs singed her sweatshirt the rest of the way off- though thankfully her body was augmented so far as to not have any visible breasts. Still, some of that skin paneling caught fire- not that she seemed to particularly care, grabbing some sort of inhaler from her pockets, putting it to her mouth and pressing the button, and breathing in deep before tossing it aside.

Can you take care of the armored bastards?

Oooooooone moment.

Koru had also been busy elsewhere- hacking into and taking over a nearby security mech and piloting it over to the club, only now did it bust through the wall and start unloading on the Pinkies, all the while laughing maniacally- he seems to have a habit of doing this...

Kashyyyk

As Chuli set her ship down upon a bed of branches, she got up from her piloting seat (which was more like a motorcycle saddle than anything, and it had to move back to let her get out), and moved to the back, grabbing her helmet off of a rack and pushing it onto her head, where the seals between it and the suit she's wearing click into place.

<"Systems check.">

Text flashes across the helmet's HUD as it boots up- though most of it isn't of any note, simply ensuring everything is working properly. After it finishes booting, she taps a button on her ship to open the bottom airlock and hops out, landing on the floor below with catlike grace.

She has both a proper rifle and her reliable form-changing pistol on her, alongside the various helpful things her suit provided- primarily things for survival and operation in harsh conditions... like this one. Her eyes flicked up, the cameras on her helmet adjusting to the environment quickly, both her sight and the multitude of sensors picking up on the plume of smoke.

<Probably where the ship went down... Guess it's time to get moving.>

While most normal people would probably take some sort of recon vehicle, Chuli isn't... normal. With a deep breath, she takes off towards the downed craft- at a casual pace of 30 miles an hour.

UTOPIA

Fading in from nowhere is fuckass cat (affectionate)- I mean Seeker-of-Stars. Or just Seeker. (Not his actual name.) Despite wearing rather modern getup (consisting of a black t-shirt, a light grey jacket with a white faux-fur lined hood, and some jeans), there's a longsword in a scabbard across his back- well, that and an acoustic guitar.

Hopefully I can find what I'm looking for here... And maybe find a way outta this contract while I'm at it.

...he finally looks up at the giant ad.

Well, that's somewhat convenient.

aeiou: the second
SacredSpirit123 Isengrim Heath-Stalker - Lupine Lawman from Jorrvaskr (Elder Troper) Relationship Status: THIS CONCEPT OF 'WUV' CONFUSES AND INFURIATES US!
Isengrim Heath-Stalker - Lupine Lawman
#396605: Jun 5th 2025 at 4:55:23 PM

Meant to say Pandora but I said Titania, got my cybernetic angels crossed lol

Just Retcon'd it so he said Pandora so I'll just ignore that part and you can reply to that part of Shadow's speech in the next post Psyco

Blackreach Alliance Headquarters

Shadow blinks, his gaze quickly, covertly flicking to his amulet, then tilts his head, shrugging.

   "Huh. Fair enough. I was hoping for something a little bigger, I guess."   

He then gives Yumuse a smile.

   "But you were right on the money. I'm not exactly a complete being. I'm actually a deity, or at least part of one. I was formed from a fragment of a cosmic divinity named Unity, who gave their life to create my siblings and I, and the world we live in, because they were the only thing that existed in an empty void that they couldn't fill or escape. Now we call ourselves the Aspects of Unity, and we protect the Omniverse from threats that would put other worlds in the situation that Unity found themself in, fulfilling their wish to experience - and protect - what makes every individual world special."   

He clicks his fingers, creating a small book, bound in intricate black leather, with a monogrammed 'AU' etched on the front in iridescent filigree, which he holds out to Yumuse.

   "I don't exactly know how long you plan on sticking around, so I won't get into my siblings' and I's life story right now like I did for Pseudo, but if you're curious, this breaks it down pretty well. You can read it when you want, shouldn't take too long."   

"Life isn't a fairytale. There isn't always a 'Happily Ever After' waiting for you at the end of the road." ~ Isengrim Heath-Stalker
shroobot3000 Witch of Scarlet Dreams from Behind you Since: Apr, 2014 Relationship Status: You can be my wingman any time
Witch of Scarlet Dreams
#396606: Jun 5th 2025 at 5:12:28 PM

UTOPIA

"Do you really think they'd let a known Decepticon join?" Doll 'said' (more like thought) to the voice in her head.

   "Never underestimate the foolishness or desperation of such people."    Unicron replied back.    "Besides, you're not infamous as of yet."   

Doll isn't sure she'd ever like to be infamous but by this point knew not to argue with the dark god. Nevertheless she arrives at the Utopia District, pointedly wearing a winter jacket instead of her usual cheerleader getup since it hides the big purple Decepticon sigil on her chest.

Also it looks nice on her.

She strolled up to Miquela's recruitment place, sizing up the others present. Hydraxon might recognize her as the same type of robot as N and Uzi.

"That was a pointless encounter with a pointless person."
josh6243 Betty "Blast Hornet" Blanctorche Doppler from Digital Realm Since: Apr, 2009 Relationship Status: Anime is my true love
Betty "Blast Hornet" Blanctorche Doppler
#396607: Jun 5th 2025 at 7:47:43 PM

Vanilla Cream Sherbet - Hub Centralis, Utopia District

A familiar yeti-elf wanders into the district in search of something interesting to do. Curious as always, Vanilla casually approaches the sudden gathering of people and asks, "What's all this about...?"

Unfortunately, Vanilla's bluntness bites her in the ass badly. Honestly, she really needs to work on her tact. Then again, being part snowman makes anyone suck at social cues. Oh, well.

Arachnos (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: Above such petty unnecessities
#396608: Jun 5th 2025 at 8:40:48 PM

Previous

"I will never forget your assistance," Konngara tells the Timekeeper. She approaches the time-slow bubble and concentrates...

KREEOOOOW

Final Smash 「Agni Yajñā」

Sūtra of Immolation (The Tiger Warrior)

Just like when she casts Great Yajñā, rings and spirals of golden light form, swirl and arc around, accompanied by Japanese scripture, only this time they surround her as she runs a hand along her katana.

「不動尊、この生贄を⋯⋯」

Fudō-son, kono ikenie wo……

Acala, please accept...

She stabs her katana into the ground, and a pillar of flame shoots up in front of her, swirling and spiraling in a rising helix to ensnare her foes.

「お受け取りください!」

O-uketori kudasai!

This sacrifice!

The flames around them peel away to reveal them in an infernal court, similar to the one representing Konngara's mental world when she faced her Shadow. Konngara stands on the floor in front of her kneeling foes while a figure in the shape of Acala Himself watches from the throne above.

Divine flames coalesce in a roaring white-hot eruption, engulfing Queen Sectonia and the Flamelord Rahkshi while Konngara watches, hand over her heart as she chants.

「南無妙法蓮華経。南無妙法蓮華経。南無妙法蓮華経。」

Namu Myōhō Renge Kyō. Namu Myōhō Renge Kyō. Namu Myōhō Renge Kyō.

Glory to the Dharma of the Lotus Sutra. Glory to the Dharma of the Lotus Sutra. Glory to the Dharma of the Lotus Sutra.

She takes her katana in both hands and raises it overhead. The white flames leap from the pillar to her sword, absorbed into its edge, turning it a pure glowing white with no excess burning aura.

「南無妙法蓮華経!!」

Konngara turns her sword sideways and delivers a single wide-sweeping execution slash. There's a momentary delay as her opponents reel back, then the flames discharge from her sword in a wave of pure destructive force, blowing them away as the scene returns to the Other Place.

With the damage the Flamelord has sustained and the power of this attack, its nature as a Final Smash making it impossible to resist or negate, this will surely send it at least to the outer reaches of the field of floating platforms, if not all the way into the abyss.

Which is Sombra's cue to call out to William.

"Whatever you had planned, now is the time!"

BoniniBanana Fortunate Sun I from real Since: Aug, 2021 Relationship Status: RelationshipOutOfBoundsException: 1
Fortunate Sun I
#396609: Jun 6th 2025 at 8:38:48 AM

William is once again hit with the reality that he has no friends, at least ones prior to the Arena. His old adventure party's nowhere to be found. He does have a lot of strained relationships and enemies though!

"...Son, you know I'm too old for this shit... Just fucking with ya, I know who wrote that sign, manipulative sack of ass. No good's gonna come out of that. If it's between you and Mark on 'which idiot I'll actively let die.' I'll take the one that already had decent experience in dying." Cecil's out the question, time immemorial stings.

He does brief him on what transpired in Nohr, largely as an excuse to catch up with William till he eventually goes off again.

"Catch up with him for me will ya?"

"WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU DOING HERE?!?" Mark's out the question, he is in Cairo anyway... And William should probably fly away before getting caught up in that mess.

"AT LEAST EXPLAIN BEFORE YOU FUCK OFF YOU CRYPTIC FUCKWAD!!"

Approaching the Patrol Vessel is effectively suicide and he's not that insane. Speaking of kids.

"Father, I would love to but I have other diplomatic business to deal with. They allege war is coming." Wilhelm's out of the question, war is coming, apparently.

"If you are in need of someone. In Reprium, intel tells me they have located a new Fortu—" Nope. Nope. Nope.

"A super lib, that's new. You go eat your vegan apples, let the real hero do real saving." Homelander wasn't even part of the question but a man can try. Strange words out of his mouth though, wonder what his opinions are on minorities.


Larp

After that... strange encounter, Homelander follows after Guivre and flies beside him. At least this time he had the courtesy of calling him an American while. Now that the media's out of the way, he can somewhat relieve himself of the high and mighty posturing and get down to the dirty work.

Which involves trying to abuse x-ray vision, again, to look for the furry man. He takes a glance over at Guivre, the wyvern sounded like they want to keep an eye on him. He's keeping tabs in case that thing going to crash out at a couple of monkeys dying on his watch and make sure that doesn't happen, for now, if he does spot anything.


Back to UTOPIA

Emptyhanded, William might as well chip in by himself. He gathers some energy beforehand — made a bet in a nearby bar he could drink out of their deep fryer while the oil was still boiling.

After letting them keep the change he realizes that something like this is a new chance to meet new people. He's wary of the Emperor given Cecil's debriefing but is looking at everyone else, he'll probably fit right in.

Edited by BoniniBanana on Jun 6th 2025 at 11:40:25 PM

real
DevilPsyco from The Underworld (pretty deep down in the ground) Since: Jul, 2014 Relationship Status: In another castle
#396610: Jun 6th 2025 at 12:46:28 PM

UTOPIA

Hydraxon is looking around at all the people who have gathered. But once he sees Doll he immediately approaches her. She may just get slightly nervous by the giant biomechanical being coming right for her.

"You!", Hydraxon says, perhaps a little more harshly than he intended. "Are you familiar with two similar-looking mechanoids named N and Uzi? They're in possession of a badge that I must reclaim."


Blackreach Alliance Headquarters

Eneru has a hard time following. Not unexpected since he's a child.

"You're a... cosmic... fragment... what?"

"He's saying he's a part of a bigger god and that all the parts are siblings and they protect all the universes.", Yumuse says.

Wow.

"Oh, uh, okay. Wow."

He takes the book right after and furrows his brow a bit, but not out of anger.

"Thanks, uh, but I can't read."

"But I can. I'll read it to you. Then I can try to explain the stuff you don't get that I do.", Yumuse says. Eneru actually shows a smile and nods at his friend.

"That sounds good to me."

He looks back at Shadow.

"Thanks."


The Other Place

William groans. He can still barely move.

   "I...can't..."   

Weber, scrying on William, sighs in disappointment.

   "Emelyn, can you do something about this?"   

The female Darkling shrugs.

"Patch me through to him."

Weber nods and places a hand on Emelyn's head, creating a telepathic connection between her and William.

"Listen up, idiot!" Emelyn barks in William's head, jolting him upright. He's hyperventilating, but listening.

"I know you have a crush on me or whatever. We all know. So tell you what — you pull this one trick off and maybe I'll consider..."

There's a moment of hesitation before she continues.

"...g-going on a date...with you...when you make it back. IF you make it back."

Though embarrassed to find out she already knew, William takes a deep breath, pats his cheeks, and focuses. It's his one chance to save the day and get the girl. He can't ruin this for everyone.

   Devil's Gift "Explosive Surprise"   

Using his final spell card, he channels Weber's power to conjure a bottle of nitroglycerin in the air vaguely between himself and the Flamelord Rahkshi, then starts firing danmaku bullets at the Rahkshi. If even one bullet hits the bottle, it'll explode, doing normal explosion things as well as sending out an omnidirectional expanding wave of hundreds if not thousands of bullets.

And while the spell card dictates William can't aim directly at the bottle, he strafes to put it in his line of fire while still aiming at the Rahkshi, to guarantee he'll hit the nitroglycerin on 'accident' if the Rahkshi doesn't move.

Edited by DevilPsyco on Jun 6th 2025 at 1:09:20 PM

In the year 202X, all is devastation... Soon, any last shred of hope had by the saintliest optimist shall die and decay.
KiriK The Grey Pilgrim from across time and space Since: Mar, 2015 Relationship Status: Singularity
The Grey Pilgrim
#396611: Jun 6th 2025 at 1:49:56 PM

The Other Place

Both Sectonia and the Flamelord Rahkshi are powerless before the Agni Yajñā. Indeed, even in Turboblaze Mode, no amount of internal or external attunement to fire will allow the Flamelord to withstand the fires of a Final Smash.

Both are sent flying, Sectonia's super armor defied by the ultimate attack, but she catches herself in midair and recovers while the Flamelord crashes into a floating rock.

It pulls itself up while William is shooting at it, aims its right hand, and launches the devastating attack the party has yet to see in full, its Turboblaze allowing it to fire in seconds without a charge. The disk in its launcher is engulfed in a howling inferno, and when it shoots, it comes out as a massive arrowhead projectile that hurtles toward Konngara.

This turns out to be a final parting shot, as the nitroglycerin subsequently detonates, destroying the terrain between Tarahk-Kal and the others and pushing its rock away. It attempts to leap off and rocket to them with its waist emitters, but the bullet storm interrupts its jump, blows away the Turboblaze flames on its emitters (revealing at the last possible moment that focusing on the powered-up parts could have disrupted its Super Mode), and sends it plummeting into the void at long last.

They can't celebrate yet, though.

Sectonia's whole body trembles in fury.

   "You DARE disgrace me?! Force ME to bow my head?!"   

She crosses her hands, then sweeps them to her sides, conjuring a golden bladed ring like a chakram around her body. The insect queen throws smaller rings at her remaining enemies in arcs, then flies directly at them to slice them up with the big one around her body, then teleports away and throws it at them, followed by two more giant rings. On impact with the ground, the giant rings make a piercing ringing noise and send out shockwaves of destructive light, like one of Galeem's own attacks.

The Timekeeper Vahki bats away the smaller rings with its triple-blade, then throws the weapon to knock away one that would have hit William. Afterwards, it splits its Skrall blade into two and wields each half, increasing its agility enough to dodge the shockwaves without any time powers. It goes in on Sectonia for a wild flurry of slashes faster than any combo it could perform before.

Next


UTOPIA

Who's this bum?

A plain-looking dude in a hoodie, hair done up in a topknot and a sword on his back, strolls up to the gathering spot. He squints his eyes as he looks around.

"Jeez...Everyone here is so weird."

The much cooler-looking Young Sephiroth appears next.

"Utopia. A perfect world...that's the only hope I have."

He sizes up the others gathered in silence.

Edited by KiriK on Jun 15th 2025 at 4:32:41 AM

"A wizard is never late, nor is he early. He arrives precisely when he means to."
SacredSpirit123 Isengrim Heath-Stalker - Lupine Lawman from Jorrvaskr (Elder Troper) Relationship Status: THIS CONCEPT OF 'WUV' CONFUSES AND INFURIATES US!
Isengrim Heath-Stalker - Lupine Lawman
#396612: Jun 6th 2025 at 5:35:02 PM

Blackreach Alliance Headquarters

Shadow gives a sheepish smile to Eneru, but this then changes to a surprised expression when Yumuse catches on almost immediately.

   "...woah, that's pretty on-the-mark! You're really good at keeping up with the details. I'd given a very brief summary of my history to Ken earlier and I could practically see the metaphorical gears in his head grinding to a halt."   

He then smiles when he hears Yumuse offering to read to Eneru.

   "That's an awfully kind offer! I can tell you two are very good friends."   

He nods to Eneru, smiling.

   "You're very welcome. I've gotta' say, my siblings and I have led pretty unique lives. It hasn't been sunshine and roses all the time, sure, but we've had just as many significant ups as we've had major downs, if not more."   

He taps a finger on his temple, glancing aside thoughtfully.

   "...y'know, with how many times I end up explaining my siblings' and I's history to new people, maybe I should try to find a publisher for our autobiography, someone with Omniversal connections...not for money, of course, since we don't need it, but just to get the word out...maybe it could help others learn of our efforts, give them a way to reach out to us if they need help...worth a shot."   

"Life isn't a fairytale. There isn't always a 'Happily Ever After' waiting for you at the end of the road." ~ Isengrim Heath-Stalker
DevilPsyco from The Underworld (pretty deep down in the ground) Since: Jul, 2014 Relationship Status: In another castle
#396613: Jun 6th 2025 at 6:04:18 PM

Blackreach Alliance Headquarters

Eneru puts his arm around Yumuse's shoulder, half-protectively, half-friendly.

"Yeah, we're each other's only friends, so we'll stick together no matter what."

"We've, uh, not had a lotta ups.", Yumuse says. "But at least we've got each other. And Mr. Locke!"

Pilly looks genuinely happy for them. As for what Shadow says next, Pseudo speaks up.

"You could ask a Divine Guardian if they'd be okay with your autobiography being distributed in their worlds. I don't know if they'd like the idea of foreign deities acting in their worlds, but you know what they say. You have a no, but you can potentially get a yes."

In the year 202X, all is devastation... Soon, any last shred of hope had by the saintliest optimist shall die and decay.
SacredSpirit123 Isengrim Heath-Stalker - Lupine Lawman from Jorrvaskr (Elder Troper) Relationship Status: THIS CONCEPT OF 'WUV' CONFUSES AND INFURIATES US!
Isengrim Heath-Stalker - Lupine Lawman
#396614: Jun 6th 2025 at 6:18:31 PM

Blackreach Alliance Headquarters

Shadow gives Eneru and Yumuse a sympathetic smile.

   "Well, hopefully you guys can end up making some more, both inside this organization and out. The Omniverse is a pretty big place, after all."   

His eyes light up when Pseudo mentions the Divine Guardians, and he turns around to face him.

   "Ah, that's not just a great idea, that actually jogged my memory! Besides having something to talk to Iris about, I actually need to recap something else to you! Something involving Mara, who I ended up running into when I left the Grand Resurrection after the whole fiasco with Lorenzo."   

He tilts his head.

   "Oh, before I forget, there's this young woman who's started working at the Grand Resurrection. Her name's Lei Kugo, and she's from the world that had been terrorized by Odio and his reincarnations. Her info should be in that world's dossier. She's the last surviving student of a powerful sensei who had pioneered a unique, mighty form of martial arts, so she'd be worth reaching out to if you were looking for more allies. She can be brash and blunt at times, but she's got a heart of gold under her rough exterior."   

He gives a soft smile, his eyes twinkling with amusement.

   "In fact, she even offered to give me a hug after I ended up venting off some of my stress regarding the day's events to her. Someone like me doesn't get that kind of offer often, and it really ended up helping my mood. Made sure to thank her for it."   

Edited by SacredSpirit123 on Jun 6th 2025 at 8:19:56 AM

"Life isn't a fairytale. There isn't always a 'Happily Ever After' waiting for you at the end of the road." ~ Isengrim Heath-Stalker
ISZATSO The Web-Slinger from Queens Since: Apr, 2020 Relationship Status: All is for my lord
The Web-Slinger
#396615: Jun 6th 2025 at 6:20:48 PM

”Casper!” Cap smiled, having found a familiar face among the crowd. He navigated his way through it, towards where the man stood with a…tentacle alien, thing. Cap wanted to say he’d seen weirder, but all things considered, the creature probably made his top ten. Top five. ”How’s Baz?”

With great power…you know the rest.
ArbiterOfTheBog Parasmagate from The Mortal Realms Since: Feb, 2022 Relationship Status: Cast away
Parasmagate
#396616: Jun 6th 2025 at 6:28:34 PM

Utopia

Casper was legitimately surprised someone actually recognized him, and additionally was someone he actually did an adventure with. Even if the experience was... nightmarish.

"Steve Rogers! Not only are you intact, you don't look a day over...

...Twenty-three."

He laughed a little and slapped his back, before twisting his neck away from the emperor and turning to face good ol cap.

"Baz is great! Granted we had some roadbumps, met her pyscho sister... lounged at Stark's. But now! Employed, is apparently some Dragonscale Cenobite, we got weekly takeout money, and we do some late night training for a few hours when we can afford it.'

Edited by ArbiterOfTheBog on Jun 6th 2025 at 6:28:58 AM

Awawa
DevilPsyco from The Underworld (pretty deep down in the ground) Since: Jul, 2014 Relationship Status: In another castle
#396617: Jun 6th 2025 at 6:33:09 PM

Blackreach Alliance Headquarters

Eneru looks unsure.

"I mean... we don't really need anyone other than each other."

"We'll, uh... see if it happens or not.", Yumuse says, perhaps to not disappoint Shadow.

Pseudo blinks for a moment.

"Mara, huh? Did you learn anything new about her?"

But Shadow gives him another update first.

"I see. It sounded like Tahn's situation had greatly improved. Let's hope Majima can do the same for her."

He then smirks at Helryx for a moment, while she grumbles and looks away. Apparently it's something only they know the context to because Pilly seems confused for a moment too.

But she then turns to Shadow.

"If you want a hug you just gotta ask, I'll give you one! You're our friend, after all!"

"... please do not ask from a hug from me. I don't do those.", Pseudo quickly says.

"Idem.", Helryx says. Seems she already learned what those are while in the Arena.

In the year 202X, all is devastation... Soon, any last shred of hope had by the saintliest optimist shall die and decay.
ISZATSO The Web-Slinger from Queens Since: Apr, 2020 Relationship Status: All is for my lord
The Web-Slinger
#396618: Jun 6th 2025 at 6:37:15 PM

The soldier in spandex smiled to hear it. The memories the man brought with him were much less than pleasant, but the man himself seemed a good enough guy. Still a shame how that whole thing turned out. Zeloai and Siffrin…

He realized, with a frown, that of the four members who had plunged into the other world, the two standing here had been the only ones who made it out. "That’s good. Tony’s…well, he’s eccentric, maybe a little egocentric too, but beneath it all he’s a good man. It doesn’t surprise me to hear he let you two stay at his place."

With great power…you know the rest.
ArbiterOfTheBog Parasmagate from The Mortal Realms Since: Feb, 2022 Relationship Status: Cast away
Parasmagate
#396619: Jun 6th 2025 at 6:59:55 PM

Utopia

"Im pretty sure it's because I was useful for something... Miquella came to me, and I did sort of use his debit card or whatever to get some Brazilian Barbecue...

You know Steve, what of you? I haven't seen you in ages. "

Awawa
SacredSpirit123 Isengrim Heath-Stalker - Lupine Lawman from Jorrvaskr (Elder Troper) Relationship Status: THIS CONCEPT OF 'WUV' CONFUSES AND INFURIATES US!
Isengrim Heath-Stalker - Lupine Lawman
#396620: Jun 6th 2025 at 7:03:03 PM

Blackreach Alliance Headquarters

Shadow gives a sympathetic nod to Yumuse and Eneru, holding up his hands.

   "It's alright, I understand."   

He then glances back to Pseudo, noting his interaction with Helryx, which makes him cock his head, giving a curious smile.

   "...hm, care to share? I feel there's a story here..."   

He then gives a bright smile to Pilly.

   "Good to know! I might take you up on that in the near future, but, ah, not during this meeting. Lotta' important stuff I gotta' run through..."   

He gives Pseudo a look of amusement, nodding.

   "Understood, chief. Wouldn't want to scuff your stoic, majestic image."   , he jokes.

He then quirks an eyebrow at Helryx, grinning slightly.

   "Latin, eh? Valde eruditus es, mi bone Toa. But I understand. What I said for Pseudo goes double for you, eh?"   

"You're very well-learned, my good Toa."

He then nods to Pseudo.

   "Oh, I've learned many things, besides her being scared thoughtless by Fate, like I said."   

He tilts his head.

   "When I ran into her after the Grand Resurrection, we had a chat that was...astonishingly pleasant, at least until she pretty much tried to pull a knife on me, but I'll get there."   

He folds his arms.

   "We discussed the ethics of the Divine Guardians, and how they compare to the ethics exercised by myself and the other Aspects of Unity. Notably, she was actually very understanding and sympathetic toward our goals, and I made it clear that I didn't disagree with her role as a Deity who oversees Necessary Evils, only her particularly egregious personal actions, especially those she enacts as one of the Assassins. We had a very enlightening chat, learning a lot from each other about how our respective families operate, and I even floated the idea of checking out the worlds the Guardians oversee, which she was surprisingly not averse to, even warning me about a Guardian who protects the edge of their universe, who attacks anyone who trespasses, divine or not. But, ah, shortly after, the mood soured when I told her I'd been alerted to her when I heard her talking to someone who seemingly wasn't there, and she tried to attack me...only to be halted by her mysterious benefactor."   

He pauses to let what he's said sink in, accenting it with a ruffle of his feathers and a mysterious glimmer in his eyes.

"Life isn't a fairytale. There isn't always a 'Happily Ever After' waiting for you at the end of the road." ~ Isengrim Heath-Stalker
ISZATSO The Web-Slinger from Queens Since: Apr, 2020 Relationship Status: All is for my lord
The Web-Slinger
#396621: Jun 6th 2025 at 7:09:04 PM

He has a debit card? Cap stole a glance at Miquella (dont ask how he knows which one he is), squinting at his…her(?) fantastical appearance. Then, he sighed. The man really didn’t understand any of this new stuff.

He shrugged in response to Casper’s query. "Same old. Helping out. Running missions. Trying to do good where I can." The soldier looped his thumbs through his belt and leaned against the stage, his shoulder glinting where a ray caught the shield behind it. "How about you? What brought you here?”

With great power…you know the rest.
DevilPsyco from The Underworld (pretty deep down in the ground) Since: Jul, 2014 Relationship Status: In another castle
#396622: Jun 6th 2025 at 7:11:08 PM

Blackreach Alliance Headquarters

"She said it'd likely be a terrible idea to entrust Tahn to Majima since they are both criminals. I dared her to give it a chance because after the brief meeting at the restaurant I felt like good results could come from it. And I was right."

"You cannot blame me for assuming as such. In my thousands of years I've not really dealt with 'layered' criminals, as Pseudo Porky would call them."

"Save for Krika."

"... I suppose he counts, yes."

She then looks at Shadow as if he's speaking Chinese.

"... I do not understand what you just said. I only know the one word."

They go back to paying attention to what Shadow says. Pseudo and Helryx look surprised that Mara was willing to talk to Shadow at all given their different moralities.

"Wait.", Pseudo suddenly says when Shadow gives them a brief cliffhanger. He looks at Pilly and gestures to Eneru and Yumuse.

"Sorry guys, this is personal business stuff.", she says as she approaches them. They don't really seem all that against the idea of leaving the room, though Yumuse quickly waves at Shadow before Pilly opens the door.

"Oh hey Ken.", Pilly says once she looks outside, which is followed up by some quick running. Pilly pauses, then Pseudo chuckles.

"I think your presence here got his attention more than we thought."

Pilly leads Eneru and Yumuse out, after which Helryx and Pseudo look back at Shadow.

"Please continue."

Edited by DevilPsyco on Jun 6th 2025 at 4:11:37 PM

In the year 202X, all is devastation... Soon, any last shred of hope had by the saintliest optimist shall die and decay.
ArbiterOfTheBog Parasmagate from The Mortal Realms Since: Feb, 2022 Relationship Status: Cast away
Parasmagate
#396623: Jun 6th 2025 at 7:14:25 PM

Utopia

His face contorted a tad bit as if drawing upon a cruel memory. His eyes began to water, his hands to his chest.

"Because if I don't... If I don't do this... she'll make me sleep on the couch. I've slept in a cardboard box, I've slept on a bench, I've slept on a bed. But the couch? No one deserves to sleep on a couch."

Casper really could weep, and it was convincing...

Until he began to snicker. Shaking his head as if he wore a dog trying to dry itself, he looked back to Cap with a more tame smile.

"Because if someone calls me it's a big deal. Don't know why dogs and children are here but me personally? Same reason as you."

Edited by ArbiterOfTheBog on Jun 6th 2025 at 7:18:29 AM

Awawa
IchigoMontoya (Don’t ask) Relationship Status: Not caught up in your love affair
#396624: Jun 6th 2025 at 7:28:05 PM

Hub Centralis, Utopia District

As he waits to see who else was in charge of this mission, Jason briefly scans the crowd to see who else might've answered Miquella's call; if anyone familiar was present, he could have a potential partner or two on hand to help with his investigation. Upon noticing Nymbulda waving at him, he offers her a nod, remembering her from the Hub Centralis incident as well as Maki's recounting of her clash with/pursuit of Kenjaku in the subway.

"Maki's doing good, if you were wondering," he says. "She tracked down a couple friends of hers who'll be helping us put down Sukuna whenever he resurfaces."

ISZATSO The Web-Slinger from Queens Since: Apr, 2020 Relationship Status: All is for my lord
The Web-Slinger
#396625: Jun 6th 2025 at 7:30:17 PM

The Captain’s face turned as he trued to decide what was going on. The right hand at his belt nearly lifted to fall on Casper’s shoulders, but his hesitation saved him from looking a fool. After the reveal, a conflict warred on his expression for a moment before reconciling into a smile. "That was good. Have you considered theatre?" Then: "You’re right about that. Though…still, this somehow isn’t the strangest company I’ve kept." He looked out over the group. "I infiltrated a nazi base with a cowboy once. From the 1800s. That was in 1943. A few months ago I fought a dragon in New York with a little girl and her pet dinosaur."

With great power…you know the rest.

Total posts: 399,928
Top