#ic reply

"Come now Raimundo, being my apprentice wasn't all that bad now, was it?" Wuya hummed, still trying to manipulate him, "You can't just pretend it didn't happen after all."

| Muse interaction

The wind was whipping around, not out of control; Raimundo was keeping it contained. That didn't deter the force behind them as they whipped around, moving layer and layer of dirt and sand off the ground in a personalized attack. The divet Raimundo was creating was slowly turning into a crater. His jock locked in place as his brow furrowed deeply. Nails dug in against his palm.

Raimundo was often seen as laid back and uncaring, maybe careless even. Drifting with the wind.

But his anger could storm like a typhoon.

The worst of this all? It always felt like no matter what, the one mistake would always follow him. Raimundo didn't need anyone to throw it back at him, betraying everyone the way he had. The way the single memory crossed his mind was enough to crack the ground under his windstorm.

"it be so much easier if I hadn't gone and taken Wuya's offer that day."

"Come now Raimundo, being my apprentice wasn't all that bad now, was it?"

Raimundo wasn't too surprised. She might not be a ghost these days, but she still seemed to haunt him like one. A constant reminder. Raimundo thought they had all moved past it at last. Raimundo felt like his achievement of becoming the leader of the group helped establish that much, even. Showing his own growth. Earning everyone's trust back after everything....

Least he thought he had.

Even now, Wuya's voice reminded him. He had been in a place like this before. The temptation for the 'easy' way out. Was that why Jack stayed on the Heylin side? Even with being with Clay?.... Would it be easier for Clay if he swapped to the same side as well? That's why he did it himself, right? It was easier; he didn't have to battle so hard for trust. To prove himself to his teacher. After feeling like he did what was right only to be told he was wrong. Raimundo, couldn't help it. Rai felt like it was better they stayed back and fought. How could he be wrong about that?

How could they be wrong for being in love?

"You can't just pretend it didn't happen after all."

"You're right." Raimundo agreed. Finally showing some acknowledgment of her way. Letting the wind calm down, slowly dropping into a more gentle breeze as he seemed to come to a conclusion at last. "I can't pretend; I haven't pretended either. I could if I wanted, but then I wouldn't have learned a damn thing, would I? Yeah, I fucked up. I switched sides, joined you, and helped you take over the world. Wasn't worth it though." He remembered how lonely he felt, how empty the win felt.

Raimundo just smiled a moment, feeling like an idiot. If you asked his friends, they likely would say he always was one anyway. "But oddly enough, you bringing it up helps," Raimundo stated, feeling slightly confident. The most he has been since everything went down with Clay.

Clay had seen the entire thing playout, and quietly watched with a growing curiosity. It was nice seeing Jack open up, be vulnerable, even if he did it to a robotic version of himself, as opposed to well...himself.

Walking down the rest of the steps, Clay just shrugged his shoulders,

"Trainin' was a bit of a bust; Kimi started a few too many fires, Raimundo jus' spread it, an' Omi, bless his heart, he's still tryin' to get his twenty gallon head into a ten gallon hat."

It was wrong to speak about his friends like that, but also pretty damn cathartic.

"An' I aint had many chores to take care of," Clay shrugged, looking to the robot, "Ya'll seem to have been busy though."

He was a little upset that Jack hadn't been that open with him, but at least he had been able to hear most of it.

Brushing past the bot, giving it a slight glare as he did, Clay soon looked to Jack with a warm smile, and soft gaze,

"Ya'll really aint gotta do stuff like this yanno," Clay repeats, his hand now cupping Jack's face, "My eyes aint the type to wander," His voice grew soft, "Why would they, when all I wan' an' need is standin' right in front of me."

He tilted his head to the side, and pressed his lips to Jack's own. Warm, delicate, and with the right type of sparks. Clay let his hands wander down to rest on Jack's hips. The music was still playing, and Clay gently began to step forward, leading Jack on a small dance; he knew even then they would be the perfect partner for whenever he got the chance to take them to a hoedown.

Lifting his lips from Jack's own, Clay pressed his forehead to their own, just wanting to keep close. He kept his voice quiet as he spoke once more,

"Oh, an' to answer your question, I think the fairy lights woul' look best," Clay smirked slightly, "Less of a fire hazard when compared to candles."

| muse interaction

In truth? Jack was mortified to say the least. His boyfriend caught him playing out a whole ass date! It be one thing if it was Jack planning a date, or Jack even practicing some cheesy romantic slop to say to the cowboy of his heart. But it wasn’t! No because that stuff was normal that stuff was something characters on TV would even do and you would laugh because it was relatable at least!!

Or horrifying if you were not a fan of the second hand embarrassment shit.

BUT this was worse this was something Jack was caught doing when he thought he was alone and safe in the privacy of his workshop. The second Jack has taken notice of Clay at the top of the stairs his heart had come to a sudden stop, his blood was running cold and his mouth was left hung open in pure shock. Wondering when exactly Clay walked in how much did they see how much did they watch before they decided to open their mouth to let jack know he was even there to began with. What was Clay going to think of him now? Clearly Clay saw Jack as this cool guy who had experience with dating. It was clearly all part of the allure of dating a bad boy like himself. Knowing his way around the block and all.

Expect Jack needed Google Maps to tell him where common routes were. In this metaphor of his.

“Trainin’ was a bit of a bust; Kimi started a few too many fires, Raimundo jus’ spread it, an’ Omi, bless his heart, he still tryin’ to get his twenty gallon head into a ten gallon hat.”

If Jack wasn’t lost in his shock he might have chimed in with his own insults here and there.

"An' I aint had many chores to take care of," Clay shrugged, looking to the robot, "Ya'll seem to have been busy though."

Jack felt like the world was ending. He wished and begged for a whole to just open up under him and swallow him hole. Craved the feeling of Wuya’s ghostly spirt phasing through him. At least the unnatural chill would be better then this humiliation, he seemed to come to his senses at last as he shook his head clearly the ‘panic’ out.

“Chameleon bot shoo shoo get outta here!” Jack near about squeaked when order the bot away seemed annoyed enough it undid it’s Clay deguise and made way for the closest exit. Jack offered a smile towards meting the warm one that Cla gave him after the faint glare he noticed Clay shot over towards the Chameleon bot.

"Ya'll really aint gotta do stuff like this yanno,"

Jack swallowed down his embrassment a moment. As he in stead took the time to focus on the warmth of Clay’s hand against his cheek. Leaning into the feeling as Clay’s soft voice spoke to him.

"My eyes aint the type to wander," His voice grew soft, "Why would they, when all I wan' an' need is standin' right in front of me."

“Alright I get it.” Jack offered smiling, stilling wishing Clay hadn’t seen any of that.

"Oh, an' to answer your question, I think the fairy lights woul' look best,"

Jack caught that smug grin finally as Jack gave a dramatic roll of his eyes.

"Less of a fire hazard when compared to candles."

“Alright I get it, ya know for a god guy you sure can be a real smug ass bastard” Jack said as he broke away from Clay’s hand but not away from them swallowing as he thought back on all he said to his bot and it seemed Clay heard the full conversation in the end. Oh well he couldn’t do anything about that.

Maybe if he could find the sand’s of time?

Anyway. Jack looked up to clay and smiled back

Clay smiled, warmly, softly, as he carefully placed his hat on top of Jack's fiery red hair. Each movement slow, almost careful, as if he'd startle Jack if he moved a little too quick. Clay's hands delicately cupped Jack's cheeks, thumbs stroking over their soft skin; somehow, he didn't smudge their make up.

Tilting Jack's head back, Clay remained quiet, but his smile said enough. Warm, full of love, as he admired Jack; his whole World, that he so easily held in his hands. He leaned in, and lightly pressed his lips to Jack's own, lingering for a brief moment before pulling away. Only to press against kiss to the tip of their nose, and then their forehead. He just liked keeping him close.

Actions always were louder than words.

| muse interaction 

Jack never dated anyone before. Jack would go out with Ashley and sometimes hit the bars. They both always scored. But Jack never got a number. Both because it was clear things were just a one time deal or because well he might suck their dick didn’t mean he saw a reason to see them again. In truth Jack didn’t think he ever have that. Just didn’t seem in the cards for someone like him. 

Till Clay.

Of course he noticed Clay was attractive at first. This big tall berly westner guy. With hair so yellow it looked like illustrations of straw beds. A villain maybe shouldn’t know as much about his foes as Jack did. But, hey it came in handy when he swapped Kimiko with a bot the other monks didn’t seem to even notice the difference between them. And well Jack’s interest in knowing about the others could fall to borderline stalkers. With Clay he was past the border line even tracking Clay at times. Jack just liked knowing. Having the information he needed sure he always seemed to have a gap, Wuya had a point sometimes Jack wasn’t the greatest when it came when it came to covering all bases when he felt things were good enough.

Maybe thats why Clay was able to get in close to him?

Clay smiled, warmly, softly, as he carefully placed his hat on top of Jack's fiery red hair. Each movement slow, almost careful, as if he'd startle Jack if he moved a little too quick. Clay's hands delicately cupped Jack's cheeks, thumbs stroking over their soft skin; somehow, he didn't smudge their make up.

Jack could feel the weight of Clay’s hat rest on top of his head as he set it there. Just such a natural action Jack had become so used to the feeling of it. No different than the weight of his goggles even. Before Jack could even say a thing though he felt how they took hold of his face. Holding Jack in a way that said everything that they may see Jack as at least to Clay. A soft stroke of his thumbs. A feather touch that made Jack melt uncaring if they smugged his eyeliner. Though Jack knew Clay wouldn’t. They knew it would upset jack after all and Clay would sooner hang up his lasso. Or whatever countryism fit for that line of thought from Clay. Jack let his eyes close as he held to the back of Clay’s hands. A clam he never felt till Clay draped over him like a blanket. Any worries he had were wiped clean the moment they were like this together. 

His heart betrayed him at moments like this. 

Jack was the Prince of Darkness, his heart should be black and cold. Yet, it beat in such an unruly rhythm when Clay gave him the smallest bit of attention like this. 

Tilting Jack's head back, Clay remained quiet, but his smile said enough. Warm, full of love, as he admired Jack; his whole World, that he so easily held in his hands. He leaned in, and lightly pressed his lips to Jack's own, lingering for a brief moment before pulling away. Only to press against kiss to the tip of their nose, and then their forehead. He just liked keeping him close.

Jack left his head to Clay’s control as he felt it tip back that warm lovely smile only made more as Jack could just see their bright blue eyes peeking out form under his bangs Jack eyes closed as he saw Clay’s own head tilt to the side. Breath hitching the moment their lips made contact. Jack’s lips moved during that far too brief moment. As Clay pulled away Jack wanted to continue the kiss and tired to follow only for Clay’s lips to press to the end of his nose and this how forehead. 

Jack smiled, peeking an eye open as he looked up to Clay. Clay was someone who didn’t speak much. Clay’s words were always said with a purpose nothing less. Sometimes he can be cheeky, and lie even. But, still Clay never said anything with out a reason. Clay also wasn’t really known for talking he was quite and hard to read. Well he used to be.

Jack wasn’t sure when he learned to speak Clay. But he knew the actions were more verbal than Clay ever could be. A loud and clear way of stating how much he loved Jack. Setting his prized possession, Clay’s cowboy hat, on top of Jack. Like a way of saying he felt similar to Jack. The soft way he held his face, firm but gentle. Because Jack was something he cared for a lot and would treat gente, soft and with only love. Kisses a wordless ‘i love you’ with each press to Jack’s skin. Not just because kissing felt good. When he kissed the end of his nose and even his forehead. Clay wanted to shower Jack in his affection. But Clay felt words were the only way and Clay wasn’t good with words.

But Clay never needed any words. 

Not till Clay had Jack wanted to date someone. Consider the chance of a long-term thing with even. Jack planned out and considered dates even with. Jack didn’t think himself the type to do dates. Now Jack wondered why he ever thought that in the first place. Dates with Clay? Were the best. Didn’t even have to go anywhere he just wanted to be with Clay. Hell Jack would go on walks with him even. 

Love was weird. Nothing about Clay should be something or someone that Jack should Love either. But he did. So much. So much more than he thought possible. Jack didn’t know loving someone was like this. Jack blamed that on his parents.

Just like how he never knew the same person he loved would move to stand between Jack and his friends, all to protect Jack. From them.

"G'day mate! Hope you're having a nice day as well :-)

I do not have favorite artists, most music i listen to is just whatever's on at the moment.

The only ones I know by name are The Alan Parsons Project, Michael Jackson , Collective Soul and Daft Punk (mostly because they're the only artists I've bought a physical album of haha)

"I sure am, love.

"Currently I'm working on Mr. Tenna's projects. He's hosting several shows that involve retro-style games, which not only need modified ROMs but also last-minute bug fixing.

Which is nearly impossible to do with these kinds of programs but there's nothing a little intermission or commercial break can't fix. ;⁠-⁠)

The main game he's been using is a heavily modded NES Zelda ROM (which at one point we should've just made it from scratch but alas). Complete sprite overhaul, completely different storyline, cutscenes and game mechanics. A huge effort that took at least 6 weeks of work.

And pray tell who did all that? Not him. That's for sure.

Bloody thing had me waking up in a cold sweat for weeks after. Not to mention I was left absolutely knackered. (Thanks to the SFX intern for the sneak photo)

Still, I'm proud of the final product, it was a good thing to use my knowledge on. Maybe once I have more free time I will make my own, without the huge time crunch. xP"

What have been a few fave coding projects of yours (big or small)? 👀

"I've done quite a few projects, almost all are abandoned but I like to keep them backed up in case I ever want to finish them.

A few of them are:

An "underwater" clone of Adventure (1980) (the entire palette was blues)

A very bad clone of ELITE (1984), which was doomed from the start. I started it at a time I wasn't that experienced yet.

An OutRun ripoff, with bad graphics.

A higher difficulty mod to The Earth Dies Screaming (1983)

Almost all are carbon copies of games I've liked. It is obvious that I am not very creative. :⁠-⁠P

Apart from those I mostly did ROM hacks for friends (sprite mods and difficulty tweaks).

My favorite work so far is a custom cartridge with several dozen games I made as a gift for a kid I used to babysit. It had games like Contra, Tetris and other more obscure games I could scrape the ROMs off of.