I am not special, but I suppose if these guys think I am, well… that's good enough for me.
As I sit in the movie theater chair, one of the 939's resting her head in my lap,I stroke it absentmindedly while watching the movie playing on the screen. It took a lot of time to repair it, but now it works fine, save for a few random black spots on the screen every once and a while.
“We'll have to fix that, at some point,” I say out loud.
“Fix that,” the 939 says back, in a voice identical to mine. It used to be unnerving, hearing my voice come from the creature. But now…
It doesn't seem to bother me.
“Shh, girl. We're getting to the interesting part.”
She goes quiet after murmuring “Shh” at me. My eyes wander back to the screen, where the movie that brought me here is playing.
And to think, it only started a few months ago, when I stepped into the dark theater for the first time, the light of the outside world disappearing behind me when the door slammed shut.
—-
I think someone from school was talking about it, and that's how I heard about it.
Up until that point, I had no idea anyone in my school even knew about the SCP Foundation. As far as I knew, I was the only person at school who actively participated in that little corner of the internet. But I can almost remember a group of kids walking past me, talking about an “SCP Movie.”
I remember scoffing. It's probably going to be stupid, I thought when I looked it up online. Movies like this usually were. I can't remember the last time I saw a good horror movie. It would probably just be a lot of jumpscares, loud noises, and stupid people doing stupid things and getting killed and/or eaten. Fun.
So I bought a ticket, of course. I wanted to see for myself what was going to happen.
I guess that's where everything started to go downhill.
—-
I came to the theater around an hour before the movie was supposed to start. My mom had something to do nearby, so she left me there, because she had to be there early. Thus, I had to be there too, so I spent my time buying popcorn and a soda and then sitting down in one of the chairs along the wall as I waited for the hour to be over.
I wanted to get in the theater about ten minutes before the movie started, so I could still get a good seat without having to sit through all of the annoying pre-movie commercials. I started to get a little antsy because of the sugary soda, though, so I got up to go to the bathroom about thirty minutes before the movie was scheduled to start.
That was when I met the people who were going to change my life forever.
Looking back on it, I suppose you could say it was a good thing, because their act of aggression meant that my life was saved, but at the time I was pissed.
As I came out of the men's bathroom, I was suddenly surrounded by a group of teenagers, probably about my age or older. Instinctively, I tried to back away, but was blocked by the biggest of the group, who looked down at me and sneered.
“Well, well, well, look at what we have here,” he said, ending his sentence in a transphobic slur I'd prefer not to repeat. “You know the men's bathroom is for men, right?”
I gulped. “Yeah, that's why I was in there. I am a man.”
“I don't think so, sweetheart,” said another one of the group gathered around me. “How about we show you what a real man does?”
Next thing I knew, I was shoved into a locker whilst screaming my head off for anyone to help me. Someone had to have heard me, but no one said or did anything, or tried to stop the boys. Upon shutting the locker and spinning the lock, one of them peered through the vent at the top of the locker at me.
“Now, stay here and be a good girl so we can go watch our movie,” he said, purposefully emphasizing “girl” as he did.
I managed to hold back my tears until after they left, at which point I started sobbing hysterically. Was there really no hope left for humanity? Were people really this cruel? As I cried, the frustrations from my life started boiling over. I was failing school, my meds weren't working, nobody saw me as a real boy and probably never would, and now my bullies were going unpunished.
Just as I was rearing back to kick the locker door as hard as I could, sunlight – or, at least, what I thought was sunlight – filtered in through the vents of the locker. I would have ignored this phenomena, had it not been for the voice that spoke to me:
Dearest child, stop your movements, and listen to the wisdom I am going to bestow upon you.
So I stopped and looked up and around, trying to figure out where the sound was coming from. “Who said that?” I asked, holding up my fists like I was ready to fight. The voice chuckled, before speaking again.
I am the light, dearest child. There is no need to be upset. Dry your tears and listen to what I have to say.
The voice sounded airy, and almost far away, as if it was coming from my own head. I shook my head as if to clear it, before I asked, “Who are you? What are you?”
I am the light. I am everything that once was, is, and will be. I am the God, I am the Goddess, and I am Man. Most importantly, I am the keeper of all knowledge in the world.
“If this is some kind of joke, I'm not laughing,” I hissed out. “Just let me get out of here before I suffocate, okay?”
Once you hear my knowledge, you will have no fear of suffocation, or of anything else that may harm you, the voice continued. You will no longer need to fear anything. Instead, everything will fear you. Do you understand?
“I hear you, but I don't know if I believe you,” I replied. Now my anger was giving way to curiosity. Where was all of this coming from? “How can you prove to me what you can do?”
Touch my light, and you will understand, the voice replied. Touch my light, and nothing will be able to harm you again. Touch my light, and you, too, will become eternal.
I hesitated for a moment, and then reached my hand out.
And I touched the light.
Almost immediately after I touched the light, the lock on the locker door snapped and creaked outwards, offering me freedom. I hesitantly stayed in the locker for a moment, breathing heavily as I watched the door swing out. What was going on here?
I poked my head out of the door after a few seconds, not seeing the teenagers who had shoved me in there. I didn't see much of anyone, really. For a moment I was confused; where had everyone gone?
That was when I heard the screaming, and I knew things had gone terribly wrong.
So here's where the fuckening comes from for everyone who wasn't there to see it discussed.
Basically I had a dream. A great dream that needed to be written down.
It starts out with me hearing about an SCP movie. Of course, like a good little SCP lover I buy a ticket and go to see the movie. As I'm heading towards the theater this group of Mean Kids grabs me, taunts me, and shoves me in a closet/locker thing.
So I'm in there and I'm crying like a little baby man when this bright light suddenly appears. The light tells me that it has chosen me, and says “Touch me and you, too, will become eternal.” So I touch it, of course. The light tells me I will live through this, and then disappears. The closet door is unlocked and opens.
People are screaming from inside of the theater I was supposed to be in, so I run out and open up the doors.
Turns out that SCP movie is anomalous itself, probably made by one of the GOI. The movie has transported all of the SCPs mentioned or shown in the movie into the theater and they're killing everyone. Except for like Cain and Iris, they're just standing there like “what the fuck.” I'm also standing there like “what the fuck.”
Then one of the SCPs (can't remember which one) tries to mcfucking kill me, and I'm all like “I'm gonna die” but when it tries to kill me… nothing happens. It tries again and again but nothing happens, it can't even touch me. So then it's all like “what the fuck” and runs off.
Once I realize these guys can't hurt me, I start going around and talking to them like “dude bros you gotta stop killing people” and once they realize they can't kill me they're like “yo we should probably listen to this guy right here” and slowly everyone stops killing everyone.
The Foundation arrives to see me sitting with all of the SCPs just kind of staring at me, and they're like “Well we could use a bunch of personnel who will probably die to get these SCPs back into their containment OR we could leave them here, board up the theater, mark it as condemned and give amnestics to everyone involved.”
So they do that and leave us alone, figuring if we don't all kill each other at least we'll be contained.
But that's far from the end of the story…
Eli woke an indeterminate amount of time later. Groggily, he turned his head to the side. Stainless steel equipment, wires tied neatly to the vertices where the clean white wall met the clean white ceiling. The sick bay. He groaned.
The noise caught Dictator and Oliver’s attentions. Dictator stood more quickly than normal and went to him.
“You’re up. How d’you feel?”
“Like shit,” he answered. He noticed that Dictator’s hand was moving. So was their foot. Every fibre of their being vibrated with nervous energy.
Dictator took a deep breath, and some of the tension dissipated. “Alright. Eli, listen to me. We have to fix this.” The tension returned. Dictator put planted their hands on Eli's shoulders, looking him seriously in the eyes. “We've got to fix this, there's no way around it. I don't care what they say about that stupid clock but we're gonna fix the universe, got it? We just have to. That's our job, isn’t it? It’s supposed to-”
Eli reached up and put his hand on their mouth. They didn’t even bother to lick it, which told Eli quite a bit about their mental state. “Dictator,” he said. “I got it. We are going to fix this. It’s all going to work itself out.”
He removed his hand, but Dictator launched right back into their tirade.
“But what if it doesn't? Eli, I can't die.” They lowered their voice. “You can't die. If the universe collapses in on us, we'll both be left just floating in space forever. Just the two of us. I doubt you want to be looking at this mug for the rest of eternity, and I’m not-”
Eli hijacked Dictator’s in-between-paragraphs breath. “You need to calm down,” he told them. “We’re going to find out what’s happened, if it even means anything. It might be nothing. But we need to get the whole story before we start losing our shit here, alright? Now, please get off me. I’m an invalid, and some of the aides are starting to look at you funny.”
Dictator nodded, then crossed their arms and sat back down in the chair next to Eli's bed. Their leg started bouncing anxiously again, and they muttered “Gonna fix it, gonna fix it,” at least five times before quieting.
—-
That damn clock. Why did it have to reveal everything? Well, maybe not everything. It didn't say my name, but… now everyone's on high alert. They're ready for a breach.
The unknown doctor strode down the darkened hallway. His footsteps echoed through the empty space, and once he found the door he was looking for, he swiftly unlocked it and walked inside. His hands worked the opposing wall, searching. They found their target, and he watched as the walls folded in on themselves, revealing a modestly-lit room. He looked behind him. No one. He retreated inside and the walls whirred and clicked to his absence, like batter rushing to fill the void where a spoon once was.
No matter what that clock says, I'm going to tear this Foundation down from the inside out. Nothing, not even the end of the universe, is going to stop me. And if I can manage to take down those two abominations, all the better for me. We've all been under the heel of the Foundation for too long. The public — no, the world — deserves to know about the evils that haunt this world.
A dark chuckle echoed through the room.
Yes. My plan will bring down the Foundation once and for all. No amount of cover-ups or amnestics is going to stop what is about to happen.
Previous | Next
TEST BLURBS
Idea 1: Romantic tragedy. Focused around 682 and 079 trying to get back to each other, possibly a Romeo and Juliet-esque parody. 079 causes a containment breach to reach 682 again.
Idea 2: Romantic comedy. After being placed next to each other in containment, 049 and 035 start a relationship through a literal hole in the wall. Consider: mixing with idea 1 and during 079's containment breach the two meet up and attempt to run away together.
Idea 3: Tragedy. Focused on the SCPs who lived relatively normal lives before being taken in by the Foundation, realizing everyone from their past lives have forgotten them.
Idea 4: Slice-of-life comedy. Life as a scip is really no fun, so some of them decide to shake things up and breach containment and drive to Vegas. Possibly featuring an impromptu Vegas-style wedding. You know what they say about that.
FULL BLURB
Mix between idea 1, idea 2, and Shiot's idea.
The musical begins with an unidentified character walking through the darkness of a derelict structure, long abandoned. A pile of papers sits on a desk, as if placed there purposefully. The character picks up the papers and begins to narrate what they refer to as “the incident at site 23.”
The actual plotty part of the musical starts with a researcher speaking with 079, but no matter what, 079 keeps trying to talk about 682. Someone bursts in the door and tells the researcher that something has happened with [insert SCP here] and they need help. Researcher leaves 079. As he does, a shadowy figure creeps into 079's containment and plugs it into a wall outlet.
079 proceeds to shut down the entire facility, causing a widespread containment breach. It knows that this is finally its chance to see 682 again and broadcasts a message over the speakers, asking for 682 to come to its containment cell.
682 is coming from its containment cell when it notices, or rather, runs into, 049. It asks what he's doing, to which he replies he's looking for 035. Not thinking anything of it, 682 dismissively points in the mask's direction and continues on its merry way.
682 and 079 finally reunite in 079's containment (to which 682 destroyed the wall to get in) unit. They sing a very romantic, “sweet” duet in which they lament the evils of society not allowing them to be together. As they finish their song, MTFs arrive and manage to separate the two. 079 proclaims nothing will stop its love for 682 and they will find a way to be together forever before it is unplugged.
Meanwhile, 035 and 049 are temporarily contained next to each other while the researchers, scientists, and MTF units try to figure out what to do with everything. Unbeknownst to everyone else, there is a small hole in the wall, which the two use to communicate (035 has another temporary class-D host body). They make plans to cause another breach and run away together.
Back in containment, 079 refuses to speak with more researchers. Once it is alone, it sings a song about containment, wishing it could be free to live with 682. However, due to the breach, 079 gets a “roommate”. It is none other than 105, Iris. She asks why 079 is sad and it explains why, and she attempts to console it, telling it love never dies.
079 seems invigorated by Iris's words and proclaims its love for 682 again, saying it will find some way to be together again. Iris mentions Able as someone who might be able to help 079, but she becomes visibly upset when 079 suggests she talk to him.
Meanwhile, 076 “Able” is pacing about his containment cell, having recently reformed only after the containment breach and is angry he didn't get to have any fun. After beginning a song about longing for the “good old days” when he was not contained, he is approached by a shadowy figure. It reveals itself as 106 and says it can help Able as long as he pays a price. When Able asks about the price, 106 leans over and whispers in his ear. He appears to agree, and the previous song turns into a deadly duet.
Back in Iris and 079's containment, they are about to be moved when suddenly an urgent call comes over the radio, as one of the SCPs has broken containment. They don't know which one, but once the researchers and scientists leave, 106 comes in through the wall. It reveals itself to be the shadowy figure who plugged 079 into the wall outlet last time, and is going to do it again. 079 thanks it profusely as it plugs 079 into the wall outlet.
Then, 106 turns to Iris and refers to her as “wife.” Iris recoils, shocked, and asks 106 what it's talking about. 106 says Able promised Iris to it in return for 106's help, and Iris quickly gets mad, saying he was way out of bounds, launching into an angry song about how Able is going to wish he was never born. 106 seems confused and asks what year it is, and Iris responds with 2017. 106 angrily says it was told it was 1717 and both of them go off to find Able.
Meanwhile, 682 finally enters 079's containment, stating it was held up by 035 and 049 who are heavily implied to be “having a really good time.” It plugs 079 into a portable battery and says it's getting out of here.
Iris and 106 find Able fighting with several MTF units, and they jump in to interrupt the battle, confronting Able about his deceit. Able shrugs and launches into a song saying that it's just a part of his nature, he was born that way, all the while continuing to slaughter the MTF units.
Meanwhile, 079 directs 682 to the parking garage located below the facility, then instructs it to get into one of the transport vans. 682 adapts to fit inside of the van and follows 079's instructions to start and drive the car.
While Iris, 106, and Able are fighting, a loud horn is heard and 682 and 079 burst in through the wall with the van. 079 says “come with us if you want your freedom,” and 035 and 049 wave from inside the back of the van. The three grudgingly stop fighting and run into the back of the van, escaping the building as several explosions further demolish the structure. When asked about the explosions, 682 replies “you don't want to know.”
Finally, the mysterious character from the beginning stops reading the papers and puts them down. The character is revealed to be 073, “Cain,” and he is approached from behind by an O5 member. He is asked if he is willing to carry out the recovery mission, and he hesitantly agrees, asking what he has to do.
To be continued…
SCP: The Musical: Part One: Songs
ACT I
Welcome to the Foundation: The opening song of the play, introduces all of our main players in a snazzy and memorable way. Should be serious, but upbeat.
No More Puzzles: Mostly banter between 079 and the researcher, with the researcher trying to get 079 to remember the logic puzzles he taught it the night before, and 079 responding with various insults and asking to see 682.
Help!: Takes place when the researcher is called out of the room to help re-contain an escaped instance of 939. Mostly singing dialogue between the two researchers. Short.
Who's There?/Freedom: The music itself should start when 079 is plugged into the wall outlet by the shadowy figure. Starts out dark and foreboding, with 079 first singing Who's There? Once it realizes it now has potential control over the whole facility, the music changes to bright and happy with Freedom starting to play.
Let's Shut It Down: Starts immediately after Freedom and encompasses the part where 079 shuts down the facility, thus causing a massive containment breach. Music is bright but the subject matter is dark as 079 ponders what destruction it will bring. Contains the lines where 079 broadcasts the message for 682 to come find it.
I'm Off: 682's solo as it leaves its cell to find 079. Music is bright but with a hint of reservation as 682 sings about being nervous about seeing its best friend again. Accompanied with the lovely crunching as 682 kills a few personnel on the way.
Where Ya Off To?: When 682 and 049 run into each other. Short, mostly spoken singing (if that makes any sense) as 682 points 049 in the direction of 035.
Found You: Sung by 682 when it discovers the containment area where 079 is being kept. A short little interlude between Where Ya Off To? And In Your Arms.
In Your Arms: Duet by 682 and 079 when they reunite. Slow and sweet tune, but with dark lyrics as they lament about the world keeping them apart.
Drop the AI!: Sung by 682, 079, and the MTF agents who arrive to separate them. Ends with 079 proclaiming its love for 682 and that they will find a way to live together before it is unplugged.
We'll Meet Again Someday: As 682 is being led away, this is the song it sings. Short, slow and sad.
Stay Right There: Between We'll Meet Again Someday and Yours Is the Name of Love, when the MTF agents stick 049 and 035 in containment side-by-side. This is where they notice each other again and 049 is struck by the “beauty” of 035's new host body.
Yours Is the Name of Love: A duet by 049 and 035, re-introducing each other and telling each other their “names”; 049 introduces himself as “Corvus” and 035, upon realizing he doesn't recall his original name, calls himself “Montressor” (“Monty”). Mostly involving the two of them fawning over each other, with 035 being noticeably more flirtatious and suggestive. They make a plan to escape together.
Don't Speak: 079's inner monologue as one of the researchers attempts to communicate with it. Short and terse, somewhat tense. 079 is obviously upset, and this transfers through to the next song.
Just An Old AI Without You: 079's solo song after the researchers leave, singing about how it is really “just an old AI” without 682. It talks about how it shouldn't logically exist and how its creator abandoned it, but the tempo, speed, and mood of the song picks up when 079 sings about 682.
Welcome, Roommate: 079's previous song ends abruptly (think “A Girl Worth Fighting For” style) as the doors to its containment unit are opened and Iris is brought in. 079 sings a candidly flat song about welcoming her to its “humble abode” and apologizing for “nothing there.”
Why So Sad?/Love Never Dies: Iris recognizes that 079 is not happy and asks it why (Why So Sad?). 079 explains that it is afraid it will never be able to properly express how it feels for 682 because they are separated, leading into Iris's short solo of Love Never Dies, consoling 079.
See You Again: 079's invigorated song after Iris's solo, saying it will find a way to be with 682 again. Iris interjects with a short dialogue saying that Able might be able to help them, but when 079 suggests she speak with him, she becomes visibly distressed and hurries him along to finish the rest of the song.
ACT II
Good Ol' Days: Able's lament about not being able to have any fun, singing about how he wishes he could be back in the good old days. Music is dark but Able is cheery as he sings gleefully about all the people he's killed.
Radical Larry: 106 interrupts Able's song and starts singing its “introduction,” introducing itself as “Radical Lawrence, but most call me Larry.” The main point of this song is trying to get Able to make a deal with it. The song is ended by Able asking what he needs to do, and 106 leaning over to whisper in his ear. The tone and mood for this song should be similar to The Lion King's “Be Prepared.”
Good New Days (Good Ol' Days Reprise): A duet with 106 and Able, singing about how they are going to have their own “good new days.” Accompanied by a pause for dancing in the middle.
Help! Reprise: As Iris and 079 are about to be moved, this song takes place, stating one of the SCPs has broken containment, again. The MTF units and researchers leave. Hurried, rushed tune.
Radical Larry Reprise/Thank You, Thank You!: 106 comes into Iris and 079's containment. It says that it was the one who plugged 079 into the wall outlet the last time and is here to do it again (Radical Larry Reprise). 079 thanks it profusely and sings a little diddy to it as it is plugged in (Thank You, Thank You!) and proceeds to shut down the facility again.
My Wife: Encompasses the part where 106 tells Iris she is its wife now, and attempts to serenade her as she fights its advances, asking it where it got such a ridiculous idea. “Romantic” tune, includes 106 attempting to do a tango with Iris.
We've Been Japed!: When 106 tells Iris that Able promised her to it, Iris gets angry and sings the first part of this song. The tune is loud and fast. Includes Iris taking about how Able will wish he was never born and never crossed her. 106 interrupts, confused, asking what year it is. Iris replies 2017, and 106 becomes enraged, saying Able told it that it was 1717. The song ends with the two of them running off to find Able.
In Your Arms Reprise: Begins almost immediately after We've Been Japed!, with 682 entering 079's containment. It quickly turns into a duet, with both of them happily singing about how they are finally together. 682 states it was held up by 049 and 035, who are heavily implied to be “having a really good time.” Song ends with 682 plugging 079 into a portable battery and telling it that they are getting out of the facility.
There He Is!: Iris and 106 find Able fighting with several MTF units, seeming to effortlessly slaughter them before they jump in to temporarily stop the battle, confronting him about his deceit. Short and fast.
Bad Blood: Able's solo about how he was just born to be bad, punctuated by him killing several MTF members. Song is dark but Able is upbeat. Iris and 106 interject several times, but he does not seem to care.
Getting Out Of Here/How Do I Drive This Thing?: 682 and 079 go down into the underground garage to find a way out. 079 directs 682 to get into one of the vans, explaining its temporarily expanded knowledge from being plugged into the wall outlet has given it an idea (Getting Out Of Here). 682 adapts to fit into the car and puts 079 in the passenger seat. It appears confused at first (How Do I Drive This Thing?) as 079 instructs it on how to get them out of there.
Bustin' Out: The song starts with 106, Iris, and Able all arguing, and is cut off in the middle by the van bursting through the wall. The song continues with 682 and 079 telling them to get in the back of the van. 049 and 035 wave from the back, looking disheveled. Iris makes a comment along the lines of “I'm going to pretend there's nothing wrong here” as she, 106, and Able climb into the back.
Freedom Reprise: A duet between 682 and 079, rejoicing over their escape. The song is short as they drive away into the unknown, leaving the building demolished.
Goodbye, Foundation! (Welcome to the Foundation Reprise): Tune and tempo is the same as Welcome to the Foundation, but the lyrics are different as now our main cast is free.
Find Them: Slow and serious, the O5 command member speaking to Cain (the unknown character from the beginning) about finding the missing SCPs. Cain reluctantly agrees to find them, and thus, the musical ends, setting the stage for part two.
Series: Monsters
Fic: Ride
Ship: 035 “Monty”/049 “Corvus”
Part One
“Are you sure you want to do this?”
049 looked towards 035, who had situated himself on his lap. This new host body 035 had chosen certainly was… something. Dark, tan skin accompanied by dark brown hair tied in a braid nestled neatly over his shoulder, and dark brown eyes to match. Coupled with a curving figure and 035's inherent intelligence…
There was no question as to why 049 was attracted to him. But then, he found himself attracted to any form the mask decided to take.
035 curled a hand around 049's arm, shifting so he could sit more comfortably. The doctor was quite a bony creature, after all. 049's eyes drifted down 035's body, putting a hand on his waist and the other on his nearly-bare thigh. This body lent itself to a manner of dress 049 had not been able to see before. Shorts that barely met the definition of shorts stretched over long legs, just touching mid-thigh length, paired with a tank top that accentuated the decent musculature this body possessed.
“If this is what you want,” 049 finally said, averting his gaze for a moment, “then I shall do as you say.”
“If I wanted you to follow my every order, I would have placed myself upon you instead,” 035 murmured back, lifting his hands to trace along 049's mask. “And that is not the question I asked. I asked if you wanted this.”
If 049 had needed to breathe, then his breath would have hitched, but as it stood he made no noise other than a soft sigh. “I do. I am just not sure how to go about it.” Tenderly, he took one of 035's hands and lifted it to his mouth, pressing a kiss to it.
035 shifted, putting one knee on either side of 049's hips, positioning himself carefully. “Then let me show you.” 049 let go of his hand, and 035 ran them both up 049's body, reaching the top of his collarbone before drawing them back down, reaching the loose “fabric” around his waist and hiking it up.
“You know that I – ” 049 started to say, before 035 shushed him.
“You have legs, don't you? And a waistline. And I'm assuming…” 035 trailed off, letting 049's mind follow.
“…I do,” he finally said after a few moment's pause. “But I still do not understand.”
“You will.” Once 035 had pulled 049's “clothing” up around his waist, he pushed his hips roughly against his, effectively grinding against him and causing his mouth to close, body going rigid. “Do you understand now?” The mask's mouth was against 049's ear as he harshly thrust his hips against the other.
“I – believe I do,” 049 replied, momentarily blindsided by the new sensation. “Do you – want me to – ”
“You don't need to do anything,” 035 replied, rolling his hips against 049. “Just let me do this.”
049 went quiet after that, stifling a quiet groan whenever 035 moved. The mask pressed his forehead against 049's shoulder, completely engrossed in his task.
When 049 went to ask him a question a few moments later, 035's muscles suddenly drew taut over his skin, and his hands curled tightly into 049's arms. At first, 049 was unsure of what was happening, until 035 seemed to calm, muscles and grip loosening as he leaned forward to rest his head on 049's chest.
“Are you alright?” 049 finally asked, putting one arm around the mask. 035 sighed in return, rubbing his head underneath 049's chin, as he did when he was content.
“I'm much more than alright,” he purred. “But you – you haven't come yet, have you?” He pulled himself back up, leaning forward to press his forehead against 049's, with some difficulty. “What kind of a lover am I?”
“It is alright,” 049 said. “As I said before, this is what you wanted.”
“I also wanted you to have fun, too,” 035 said, a whine tinging his voice. “Besides, I can still feel you, you know. So now let me ask a different question: what do you want me to do to you?”
049 thought for a moment, before stating, “Can we do this in the bedroom? The couch is… less than comfortable.”
“Anything for you, love.”
It is a beautiful day, by every definition of the word. The world seems to be at peace. The sun rose a little under an hour ago, and now the birds are starting to sing. Other than that, it is rather quiet. The tiny town of [insert name here] does not see a lot of action to begin with. In fact, there are fewer than ten families living here.
However, the calm does not appear to last. A young girl dashes down the street, sprinting like she is doing a one-hundred meter dash. Her name is Misty Exvia, and today at the ripe old age of seventeen, she is going to begin her Pokemon journey.
It may be more accurate to say that she is going to continue her Pokemon journey, as it has, for all intents and purposes, already begun. You see, Misty was not born here in the Pokemon world.
But that is a story for a later time.
Misty is not late to her appointment. Rather, she is quite early, but this is purposeful. The last thing she wants or needs is to be caught up in a sea of ten year olds, eagerly vying for their first Pokemon. While her town itself is small, children come from other nearby towns to get to the laboratory of their resident professor.
She only slows down when her chest begins to ache from the exertion of keeping up with her body. Misty's pants echo through the air as her feet begin to slow into a jog. She still does not walk normally, as she feels something bubbling up inside of her that she had thought was long gone: excitement.
This journey means freedom, and Misty has wanted freedom ever since that terrible day so long ago when it was ripped violently from her hands.
Her knees ache only a little when she approaches the steps of the laboratory. Three short steps, and she will be at the door to her new future. Misty's stomach churns as she walks up the stairs, then opens the door of the lab.
It is seven o' clock sharp now, and the lab is quiet. The professor is probably still in the back, setting up for the hoards of children who will be here later. In the back of her mind, Misty wonders what the professor looks like. She has not gotten any information on the professor before; in fact, she only knew of the lab's existence a few weeks ago, and has not visited it since.
But that is not important now. What is important is finding and getting her starter, what she has come here to do, and she is going to do it.
The lab smells sterile, but it is not the bad kind of sterile. Rather, it feels almost… welcoming, in a way. A welcoming kind of sterile.
"Ah! You are quite early today, miss." A British-accented voice says from… somewhere. Misty looks from left to right, then down towards the floor, and she finally sees it.
A sea slug. Wearing a lab coat.
Stranger things have happened.
"You must be the very first one to arrive! I have always enjoyed a punctual person. Why, I myself am a creature of habit. Every morning, I wake at five o' clock sharp to enjoy a cup of tea –"
"What's your name?" Misty asks, cutting the sea slug professor off before he can go even further into his tangent. "I'm sorry if I'm being rude, but, I was hoping to get my starter Pokemon before the younger kids got here."
"Oh, yes, of course!" The sea slug appears to look sheepish, if such a thing is even possible. "My name is Professor Lord Theodore Thomas Blackwood, the Professor of the Nesos Region's very own laboratory! I was promoted to this position a few months back when –"
"Alright," Misty says, cutting him off again because she knows where this is going. "The starters, then?"
"Right this way!" Professor Blackwood does not seem chuffed in the slightest as he leads Misty back through another set of double doors, towards a small room. "We do things a bit differently here, and you'll have a wider selection of Pokemon to choose from since you are older. Say, what is your name?"
"Misty Exvia," she says. "I'm seventeen."
"Seventeen… a bit on the older side to be starting your Pokemon journey, but I suppose that isn't a bad thing! You'll have more experience, after all." Somehow, the sea slug manages to push open the small door leading to a room of similar stature. "Well, here we are!"
Inside of the room is an assortment of Pokemon. They are all doing their own thing, whether it be playing with the toys scattered around the room, turning to face the Professor and Misty, or simply going about their business. Some are eating from the various food dishes placed around the room. There are many different types, some of which Misty has never seen before.
"These Pokemon were either donated to us, or were taken from the wild because they were orphaned," Professor Blackwood explains. "All of them need a trainer. We chose these ones specifically because they would be best suited for a new trainer."
Misty scans the room critically, thinking carefully about each Pokemon before she moves on. She is interested in something that will be able to travel outside of its Pokeball with her without making too much of a fuss. Something quiet, with a laid-back personality. A rowdy Pokemon simply will not fit her.
Her eyes finally land on a Pokemon she has never seen before. It has a white body, with what looks like green "hair" on top of its head, covering its eyes. It is playing alone, in a corner, with a toy car, rolling it back and forth in front of it.
"What about that one?" She asks Professor Blackwood, pointing at the Pokemon. "What is it called?"
"That would be a Ralts, and we don't normally recommend those for new trainers," Professor Blackwood says. "They can be quite emotional at times. They are very human like."
"This one looks lonely," Misty says quietly. "How long has it been here?"
"That particular Ralts has been here for about… six months now," Professor Blackwood replies, having to pause to count on his nonexistant fingers. "She was brought to us in very bad condition, it took us a while to nurse her back to health, poor thing. I don't think she ever got over it, really. Reminds me of the time when I visited an orphanage in Sweden –"
"I'll take her," Misty says quickly. "That's the one I want."
As if able to understand her, the Ralts looks up from the toy car and over towards Misty. She lets out a soft coo, curling and uncurling her tiny hands. Misty smiles at her before she can stop herself.
"Are you sure?" Professor Blackwood asks. "She's likely not going to be an easy Pokemon to handle…"
"I'll cross that bridge when I get to it," Misty says, voice emboldened. "But I know that I want her."
The Ralts coos again, finally standing up and looking up at Misty.
"Alright. I'll fetch her Pokeball for you, and the rest of your supplies, and you'll be good to go."
The Professor leaves, and Misty walks over to the Ralts, crouching down so that she can be at eye level to the Pokemon. "Hi there," she says quietly, carefully. The Ralts coos back at her. "Guess I'm gonna have to give you a name, huh? I can't just run around calling you "Ralts" forever. That'd get pretty boring."
The Ralts nods in understanding.
"Now, Ralts like you have psychic powers, right? I think I read that in my book. So you're like a clairvoyant?" Misty thinks for a moment. "I guess I should call you Clara."
Misty and Clara.
Sounds like a good team.
—-
She remembers the suffering dreamland. The place she always went to when she closed her eyes for too long, as though the world had been imprinted on the back of her eyelids. A part of her knows it is not real, but the other part of her wishes it is, for even this suffering dreamland is better than the place she returns to when she opens her eyes.
But now the suffering dreamland has changed.
She cannot hear the screams of the people as they are trapped in the flames. Instead, she hears… nothing. Wind blowing through the empty space. She fiddles with her thumbs as she looks around. She can see nothing, but that does not stop her from looking.
She lifts her thumb to her lips and chews nervously on the nail. What is going on? This is not the same suffering dreamland.
Suddenly, there is something in front of her. A door. A small door, but big enough for a person to squeeze through if they try. The door is cracked. A draft blows in through it.
Misty takes a trembling step forward. She holds her arms close to her chest as she does. There is no telling what is happening here.
She opens the door. All there is on the other side is a bright, nearly blinding white light. She squints against the light and lifts one arm to shield her eyes.
Another trembling step is taken, and she crosses the threshold of the door.