DOOM BRINGER.

He curses the damned rats—moles, whatever—while surveying the assigned area for concerns over potential Alterasian spores spreading from the tunnels to the plains. The quest had been accepted solely under the promise of getting the keys to the core hidden below for reference, and a couple of leaves. A task so effortless to complete when overlaying previous data with the current one, and where oblivious persons weren't walking directly to their imminent doom.

"Hey you, stop right there!" 

Add reflexively lunges forward, and by extension, Dynamo does, too—zipping ahead and beyond the girl, shortly pinning itself mid-air before her. Its sharp edge angles forward, trembling with warning. 

"Are you an idiot?"  Add scolds, catching up to the stranger in a glide. He sizes them up, eyes narrowing into a thin veneer of discontent and wonders what someone like this is doing out here. Add is not in the business of playing heroics, nor is he interested in watching a shower of gore raining down nearby. 

"This field is littered with landmines just like that one—"  He gestures to a point on the ground, two paces away, where a bronze-colored device lies concealed between a pocket of reeds. Dynamo prods forward, encouraging them to back away. 

"Wandering around carelessly is asking to be blown to bits, or is that what you intend on doing?"

Colette giggled, picking up her pace a bit to match Add’s. Why was he shy? That was a cool talent! Surely he could make something cute if he tried!

Colette’s eyes widened as the small flying robot circled Add. “Wowww, you really made something like that?!” Colette stood on her toes to try and look closer at it. Although there was no way she could understand exactly how well made it was, she knew that it had to be. Look at it, flying around like that, after all!

She turned her grin back at Add. “Aw, don’t say that. You and Sou are both really smart, you know. Maybe about different things, but you’re both really cool!” It wasn’t a competition! Everybody had their talents!

Colette laughed a little as they continued their walk. “Ehehe, I am grateful, Add. I can’t wait to see what kind of doggie you make!” Though, his comment about it not being cheap made her frown a little. “Ah, the parts and stuff are expensive, right? Umm… if you need help paying for it, since the dog was my idea, I could help out a bit, you know?” She didn’t want him to go broke because of her request! 

What the hell?  The series of compliments from Colette force the heat in his face to climb higher, right up to the point of his pinprick ears——she called him cool!  And, of course, he is ( although much cooler than Sou ).  But such straightforward flattery is never handled well on Add’s part.

Dynamo abruptly whirls away from her and hooks behind him, swaying with an intensity that matches his self-created irritation.  His hand balls into a fist.  Why does Colette have to be so damn cute nice for?

“You … !  I said it’s nothing!  What you should find is the money to pay for your ticket back home instead.”   He scoffs, gesturing to the maglev station finally coming into view.  It’s a terrible method of changing the topic, but enough to counter the obvious fluster in his expression.  Further talk about his plans of gift-giving will undoubtedly drive him mad.

Add then clucks his tongue, slowly regaining his composure.  Contrary to his claim, Add has long decided to use his unlimited district pass for her ride.  However, Colette didn’t need to know that.

an undoing influence

Can someone tell you what to do? You have been carrying so much love within you for so long it is starting to turn into anger ( why does it matter, all you see is red anyways ) and you have been dragging this body through each day and every night you are split open on your bed and it is so so so lonely. If someone were to walk in while you were on your bed that way and they stitched you back in a new way, lining the seams with their love and kisses, you’d probably find this dreary world a little more bearable. You want someone to turn you over and over until you look in the mirror and see yourself looking back at yourself with a gentleness which has been lacking in you since forever.

yes, but you’ve become something much worse.

the cruelty finally got to you, the relentless torment of friends and loved ones pushed you over that fine line & now your enemies hit the ground and they DON'T get back up, but you're okay with that [ but not everyone else is. they don't look at you the same way, do they? you can tell yourself that you don't care, but you can't lie to me . i know you do. i do. ]

Sou had to try hard to repress his excitement. It was embarrassing how happy he was to find out that Add not only shared his passion for a collecting idol gacha-game but also was a high-tier Magiwars player as well! Considering the class of his choice, he really knew what he was doing too! Awesome… what if there were any more games they both played regularly?

“Ah, yeah. The mass raid will be worth to check out for sure. Tell you what, I can take my laptop over to your place and we can grind together through all the rewards. How does that sound?”

It’s been a while since he did hang out with a friend like that. Because of that he felt somewhat awkward offering this. Which was why he decided to tease his friend once again to distract from his clumsy offer:

“I can bring some snacks too, my treat! That is… if you don’t want something as overly sweet as these cakes you just devoured. Yikes.”

The prompt invitation comes off as a bit of a surprise.  Add examines Sou with a curved brow and a subtle look of doubt.  Contrary to the jaded expression, spending time with a partner in the throes of challenges sounds enticing.  It’s an offer that doesn’t come often.  So, likewise, he can only accept it with an additional tease.

“You sure know how to invite yourself.  Well, that’s fine with me … if you don’t mind my roommate,”   he says the warning nonchalantly as if it weren’t a pressing issue.  Add shrugs his shoulders, diverting his attention back to his phone.   “The girl is weird — creepy, even.  There’s a probability you’ll see what I mean.  Keheh, you won’t be scared, though, right?”

He’s still half-convinced Kanade is a ghost, or some form of waking spirit that haunts the apartment.  There is no scientific explanation for the mysterious slinking in the darkness, especially in the dead of night.  So that must make it supernatural, as much as Add would hate to admit it.  But, maybe it’s best not to think about it for too long.

Add didn’t even look back…! Colette trotted to keep up with him, humming in her cheerful mood. 

“’Nasods’? That’s a weird name.” She wondered if there were dog-shaped Nasods… Colette had no idea what that might look like. 

The robot dog hadn’t seemed shoddily made to her! It was just cute! Though, she didn’t know enough about robots to really tell. It doesn’t matter, cause it was cute anyway, Colette was about to say, but then Add said something even better.

“Huh?! Wait, really? You can make robots like that, Add? That’s amazing!” He seemed to know so much about robots already, but to actually make one?! “If you do make a dog robot, will you please show me?! I want to see it! I bet it’ll be even cuter!”

If he wanted to argue, the term ‘robots’ is strange enough, too.  But Colette’s genuine intrigue and the following questions make that topic seem forgettable.  Add nearly staggers, despite having started this conversation in the first place.

“Don’t, Don’t say what it’ll be like when you haven’t seen it yet!”   He then huffs loudly and walks faster, trying to mask the sudden heat that rises in his cheeks.  Geez —— it must be a byproduct of the anger he feels for having Colette assume what kind of creations he’s capable of; Add is sure. 

“Tsk, of course, I can build Naso— er, robots.  Dynamo is my creation, after all,”   Add boasts as the six-paired drone emerges from his coat and circle around him in a demonstration.  Though this time, he furtively glances in her direction to see her reaction.   “What do you take me for?  I’m not like Sou who couldn’t understand something like this.”  

Of course, that is a lie; he just can’t admit that the two share far too much in common.

Magic? No, her Arts are her ticket out of here. She feels this, she knows this, somehow. The guards already know Haze escaped her cell, right?

“No?” It’s a question at first. “No.” Her insistence comes with a vehement head shake. “I don’t need a boost — you do. I need shadows and fog and… revenge.”

She lifts a hand and snaps her fingers. The fog doesn’t retreat. It deepens and expands, washing over the prison grounds like a thick, dark wave. She repeats the motion — once, twice — as many times as it takes, and with each snap, another missile of condensed shadows shoots towards the tower, until the searchlight finally — finally! — expires.

Haze falls down on one knee, a trickle of blood dripping from the corner of her mouth. There it is, that special brand of pain from within. She can feel the crystals grow, claiming more and more bits of her insides. Oh well, who cares.

“You should get out of here.” Haze’s voice has become a dangerous whisper. “I’ve sworn to myself… if they ever try to lock me up again, I’ll bring it down. I’ll bring it all down, unleashing countless Catastrophes… Add, you should run.”

——That takes care of the search tower.  But what about Haze?  Her strange power continues to profuse at what seems to be the expense of her health.  It’s only intermediately visible through the dark fog, but he can assume the deterioration from his position. 

“You ...”   Add frowns, his concern finally mounting into a physical expression that only deepens upon the talk of catastrophe. 

Is that what he sounds like?  So nonsensical, obnoxious, claiming to lay waste to all the obstacles in his path and reign destruction.  This must stem from power and bitter feelings of scorn that have been honed and sharpened within for a lifetime, right?  Because he understands; truly.  Yet, perhaps it’s because he lacks that power now — or at least half of it — and is aware of the situation that Add can see through a lens of minute reason.

Run away?  No thanks, even if it were possible.  Instead, he reaches through the misty shadows for her.

“Listen to me——”   Add growls out, grabbing Haze by the collar.  He then gives her a slight shake, hoping it rattles some sense and for good measure.   “Snap out of it!  This is only a memory—your memory.  There’s nowhere to run to.”   A hint of desperation resounds as he curls his lip and continues. 

While the Magiwars story did have it’s flaws, Sou did have to admit that he still enjoyed the depth of it. However, there was no way he could just admit he was a lore enthusiast! That’s why he just shrugged at Add’s first negative comment about the game.

“Well, duh. No one plays this game for it’s story. It’s the gameplay that counts, right?” Yeah, definitely the only reason he plays! 

To Add’s condescending question if Sou was beaten by him before, he could only sarcastically laugh.

“Me? Beaten by you? Ahaha, stop making me laugh! I solely heard of you from some noobs that were talking about who would win a battle if it was a me against you! I’m no newbie myself! Surely you must have heard of the username Shinichi before? I main the dark magician class! Everyone who knows anything about the meta knows it’s one of the most effective classes if it comes to combat.”

With an arrogant chuckle, Sou finally picked the stage ‘D4′ for them to start their before discussed grinding plan. “Maybe once we’re done here, I’ll add you to my friends-list in Magiwars. That is… if you won’t drag me down in raids. What class do you main anyway?”

Is that sarcasm he hears?  Add clicks his tongue, unimpressed by Sou’s display of arrogance. 

“Khaha, you took the words right out of my mouth!  Assuming you can even keep up with me.  I’ve never even heard of the username Shinichi.”   Of course, that’s a blatant lie; the name has frequented his sessions more than he’d like to admit.  But that means they’re both roughly on the same raid level and prominent in the Magiwars community — finally someone worth his time.

Although Add wouldn’t have expected anything less from his friend. 

How could anyone eat two slices of cake that fast? Wouldn’t that guy get punished with one awful stomachache right after? Maybe it only did disgust him as much because he was jealous of Add’s digestion, not like he’d ever admit that though. Ugh, whatever! The time to grind was finally here!

“Stages D4 and NC3 are boththe only valid choices, really. I think we should do D4 for the leveling up materials, and if we have some energy left after, NC3 for skill improvement materials? Since I heard the drop rates of these differ greatly in each… If my calculations are correct, which they should be…  We should, once we maxed out our Mikaela’s and Lucia’s cards, have enough gems for at least another 10 pull…” 

Just when Sou was about to send an invite to Add, he couldn’t help but recognize the other’s username… It sounded way too familiar.

“Wait, xDYN4M0x? I heard that name before…” Yeah, wasn’t that the name that dropped in Magiwars’s pvp-arena when other users said xDYN4M0x would be a worthy opponent for him?

“C-could it be… Add, do you also play Magiwars?!”

“Huh?”   He looks up from his phone to Sou with a curved brow. Magiwars?  Well, if he’s recognizing the username, that must mean Sou is a player, too.  And considering how often Add takes on challenges in the PvP area, his renown must have reached the other at some point.  The idea isn’t all too far-fetched.  

But what a funny coincidence that they also happen to share an interest in MMOs.  Add chuckles lightly.

“Yeah, that’s me.  I play sometimes.”   He answers, glancing between his companion and the stage on-screen as the round begins.  ‘Sometimes’ being an understatement as he can often be found active in the later hours of the day when not tasked with plans or works.   “The story is utter garbage; I only go online to crush a bunch of newbies and get raid gear—why?”   Right then, a sneer curls upon his lips and eyes narrow as his expression comes alive with sarcasm. Can it be?

reipasento​:

sylvarantichosen​:​​

Colette perked right up as she heard the shop bells jingle and she saw a pair of familiar faces walk in. She offered a bright grin, waving to Add and Shin in greeting. 

“Hi, Sou, Add! Did you want anyth—”

However, Add spared the menu only a cursory glance before deciding what he wanted to order. Did Shin tell him ahead of time what they had? Colette turned the name of Add’s requested drink over in her head, but to her, it just sounded like a random collection of syllables. 

“Um, one moment. Let me see. Um…” Trying to keep herself from panicking, Colette browsed the version of the menu on the tablet in front of her, looking for the drink Add requested. Her confusion only mounted as she went over it for a third time and still didn’t see anything that looked right. “I-I’m sorry. I don’t think we have… Cool Laid… here…? I’m so sorry! What is it, exactly? Or, I could ask… Mariela…?” Please just ask for something else!!

@reipasento​

Honestly speaking, Shin wanted to hang out with Add in Sunlight’s Canopy today mainly because it was a nice place where he’d run into Colette and Altair as well. There were no vile intentions, well, at least not until now.

As soon as Add ordered the Kool El-Aid, he had to pull his scarf up to hide his chuckle. What the hell was that? Absolutely no idea! But knowing his good friend, he’d get quite upset if they wouldn’t have what he wanted in their inventory.

Naturally, he didn’t want Colette to be the victim of Add’s bad temper… But there was another person nearby, that he would love to expose to this!! Having those mischievous thoughts, there was no way he could keep hiding his bright smile:

“No worries, miss Colette. Let me handle this!” With quite an arrogant grin he waved toward the busy girl on the other side of the store now.

“Miss Manager!!~ My friend here has a complaint to make! Mind coming over here for a sec?”

@alchemistwhosurvived​

Mariela placed a basket of freshly made muffins on the countertop, removing her oven mitts when she heard a small disturbance and a call for her attention in the storefront. As soon as she saw the group responsible for it Mariela’s normal chipper attitude dipped to something grotesque, as if she had just seen someone throw up on the sidewalk. 

Of note, in back of the counter beside her were two signs. The first read the daily and seasonal specials followed by staff recommendations for drinks. Nothing usual there…but the second sign? Above read the words “No Service” with a crudely drawn picture of a useless guy in a green beanie and polka-dot patterned scarf. This sign regularly went ignored here at Sunlight’s Canopy much to Mariela’s chagrin, but the manager felt it necessary to keep it up anyway. The target of this wanted poster was amongst the rabble, unsurprisingly, but she’d never met the person beside him before. Did he actually finally make a friend?

“Friend? Uh huh…okay.” Sounds fake. “I got a funny feeling it’s you who has the complaint here, and you know I won’t listen to it so you’ve pushed it off on someone else…” Mariela unties the apron strings around her back and shoves the apron on a hook in a huff. She walks over to the group, sizing up the newcomer.   “Well, what is it, then? I’m all ears.”

@psykinetic​

“TCH.”  It’s Kool El-Aid, Colette. 

Add crosses his arms, mood obviously soured from the lack of service.  This place sucks, after all, and he isn’t sure why Sou would call for managerial aid when it would be a severe waste of time.  But as soon as she walks in, the thought of ditching this place is put aside for a moment.

He wants to complain about this.

“You’re the manager?”   Add asks, his tone edged with a hint of mockery as he sizes her up in return.  Well, that would explain most things.   “Hmph, I’m wondering why the hell you can’t even serve the most simplest juice in this damn place.”  There has to be an El spring somewhere.   “Anyway, isn’t the customer always right?  Where’s my Kool El-Aid?”