https://jacksgreysays.tumblr.com/post/138593197604/audio_player_iframe/jacksgreysays/tumblr_o1ylm558au1u7pteb?audio_file=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tumblr.com%2Faudio_file%2Fjacksgreysays%2F138593197604%2Ftumblr_o1ylm558au1u7pteb

My Eyes (from Dr. Horrible’s Sing Along Blog)

“sung” by JackSGreyson

instrumental from here

~

A/N: … Speaking of duets… ugh, no, tbh I’m kind of embarrassed to post this but ugh. Might as well. So, yes, I know the singing is shit. 😦 My main priority was “staying in character” for each role; my actual singing range is ridiculously limited and basically right in the middle of these two extremes.

I dunno? I just wanted to keep playing around with Audacity and my new mic and see what I could do (your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could that they didn’t stop to think if they should.)


https://jacksgreysays.tumblr.com/post/138565805874/audio_player_iframe/jacksgreysays/tumblr_o1xxkhhKdv1u7pteb?audio_file=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tumblr.com%2Faudio_file%2Fjacksgreysays%2F138565805874%2Ftumblr_o1xxkhhKdv1u7pteb

I See Fire Duet Intro – JackSGreyson Mashes

artists: Ed Sheeran and Paola Bennet

~

Playing around with Audacity before I head off to work… I dunno, I really enjoy both versions and wanted to see what a duet of it would sound like… but considering how new I am to Audacity I couldn’t figure out a way to isolate the vocals on either tracks and, for some reason, the instrumentals do not match up.

So, I dunno, maybe it’s Thorin and Dis singing?

Announcement: Tags Replaced

In order to better myself as a citizen of fandom, I’ve decided to use less… cutesy terms for posts. So instead of “drabble” I am now using “writing” and instead of “ramble” I am now using “recording.”

Frankly, it just makes more sense since that is literally what they are. Also I want the jacksgreysays experience to be as easy and pleasant as possible.

(Why, yes, I have seen that post of “fandom grandmas” getting irritated at the misuse of the term drabble… I mean, they do have a point; and I should respect my fandom elders)


https://jacksgreysays.tumblr.com/post/138531454924/audio_player_iframe/jacksgreysays/tumblr_o1wsadEXdW1u7pteb?audio_file=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tumblr.com%2Faudio_file%2Fjacksgreysays%2F138531454924%2Ftumblr_o1wsadEXdW1u7pteb

Cross Post: Unintended Consequences (Prologue)

original here. dated 2013-11-23.

A/N: I got a pretty cool new mic and so I just wanted to do a test run of it as well as get to know Audacity a little more. I blanked on what exactly to do, so here’s an audio cross post.

“Unintended Consequences” is to “Externality” as “Trailblazers, Bright and Bold” is to “Trailblazers.” That is, Unintended Consequences was the first draft version of Externality many moons ago and not all of it would go into the final cut; unsurprising since Externality has changed quite a bit since then.

Anyway, enjoy!

~

Unintended Consequences are outcomes that are not the ones intended by a purposeful action, there are three types:

  1. A positive, unexpected benefit (usually referred to as luck, serendipity or a windfall).
  2. A negative, unexpected detriment occurring in addition to the desired effect of the action.
  3. A perverse effect contrary to what was originally intended (when an intended solution makes a problem worse)

​These are also called Externalities.

Her decision to join the academy is purely economical and entirely practical. She is six years old and an orphan. Having already completed the free two years of education provided to all citizens of Konoha, she has two options. Both of them have a high probability of her dying before she turns twenty.

The first is to join the ninja academy which is nominally free in exchange for a lifetime of military servitude. The second is to strike out on her own, probably be pulled into a life of crime or prostitution or, as the whispers around the orphanage go, be kidnapped and brainwashed into being a ninja anyway. For most other six year olds, their second choice is much nicer. For other six year olds with families and parents and incomes not provided by the government, their second choice is to continue at the civilian school for a set tuition and go on to a safe civilian lifestyle.

Though, that doesn’t mean six year olds who go to the ninja academy don’t end up as civilians. There have been cases where, despite personal desires and determination, a student simply isn’t cut out to be a shinobi. Even before they reach their final year, students with no potential are highly encouraged to withdraw or even straight out failed.

And sometimes, even academy students may go on to live a safe lifestyle as ninja. Students who have graduated from the academy, but fail to pass the jounin-led team tests, are shuffled into the Genin Corps who then go on to be administrative workers, outpost guards, teachers, long term infiltrators, nurses, and other low risk occupations. In peace time, of course. In war time, they’re called cannon fodder.

No one tells her any of this. Outrightly, at least. There are some benefits to being a lone child wandering around the village without supervision. Alternatively, the head of the orphanage has useful drunken ramblings and he keeps a not so secret stash in his office. The head of the orphanage is not a terrible person–overworked and cynical and borderline alcoholic, yes–but he knows where funding comes from.

Although there have been less orphans due to peacetime, the Kyuubi attack still left all of the orphanages over full. And for all that there is no war, missions still have their hazards–death doesn’t care if a shinobi has a family. In any case, it’s very easy to convince orphans to join the academy when so many of their games revolve around the sugarcoated glory and excitement of ninja. There is no “cops and robbers,” there is no “hide and seek,” there is no “catch”; there is “hunters and nukenin,” and “ambush,” and “target practice.” Of course, for her, there was none of that anyway.

The orphanage workers called her a wallflower, shy, didn’t like playing with the other children. Helpful, though, when she could be. Out of the way when she couldn’t. Curious but quiet. All in all, a somewhat well-mannered and intelligent but otherwise normal orphan girl. Which is obviously not the case. To be fair, not even a close observer–one not distracted by dozens of other orphans–would be able to say why.

The past six years of her life was similar to many other orphans: occasionally underfed, frequent nightmares, independent and mistrustful. Even her reasoning to enroll in the academy, well-thought out rather than the usual glory-seeking, was not too different from the other orphaned children forced to mature at a young age.

It wasn’t until after another indistinguishable six years of education, a risk taken, a friendship made, a graduation passed, and a team formed that even she realized she was very different from the other children. That her decision, purely economical and entirely practical much like most of her decisions, had the unexpected consequence of altering a universe.

I agree with your assessment of EAH. There are to many overlapping characters for both franchise to inhabit one world. What I was thinking of was a mis-cast spell resulting in a world swap of the various main characters. The fic being the journey back to their world (if they want to go back), and maybe learning to be better for the journey. I’d be interested in Chad meeting the Charming siblings of EAH. I think all three of them would give him an earful. Cinderella’s Daughter too.

2/2 Also, it is my personal opinion Evie would have an amazing time with the fashion in EAH. but that’s more of a fun aside compared to a story plot.

I’m glad you enjoyed my little brainstorm 🙂

Chad definitely needs to get chewed out by the EAH Charming siblings and Cinderella’s daughter (they certainly do not approve of his ways)–although I think at first they would be bewildered by having an alternate universe half-sibling. And theeeeen go after him for his philandering ways. I also agree that Evie ending up in the EAH universe would be interesting–especially considering her “double” is one of the main characters with Snow White’s daughter being the other.

Descendants didn’t really explore the background myths beyond the strict villain vs hero categorization which I find a bit of a shame–yes Mal and Audrey had some conflict, but Evie and Snow White never even meet, there is no mention of Jasmine and Aladdin’s child or even the Radcliffes. And yes, I understand that it’s because the movie is primarily Mal’s story–and it’s meant to, at most, be a springboard for Mal to become her own person outside of her mother’s past crimes. But I do enjoy the mythos of the original fairytales, how to interweave multiple stories into a single tapestry. I like how EAH acknowledges the past and the characters actively keep that in mind–an almost literal, remember the past so as (not) to repeat history.

As I said before I don’t know all that much about EAH so I wouldn’t be able to juggle such a fic as the one you described, but it does sound like a fascinating read and I’d love to help you with brainstorming if you want to have a go at it 🙂

Have you heard of the series Ever After High? when Descendants came out, a few people I know were comparing them to each other. I admit I’m shocked that no one has tried to cross/fuse the two Universes. I admit a (slight) preference to EAH (mostly because it has more for me to fangirl over) and with it’s newest movie hitting Netflix this weekend I was wondering what you thought of it, and it with Descendants.

I… have not, anon–let me take a quick look at the wiki page…

Okay, so, keep in mind that all I know about EAH is from the wiki page, I do find it interesting. I definitely see the parallels between EAH and Descendants which would make a fusion (that is, as I use the term, characters of one world transplanted into the other) very straightforward. A crossover (that is, both fandoms are the same world) would be almost… impossible? Just because there are so many overlaps… but I guess if you specifically pick and choose certain characters. Like some of the EAH characters fill in the blanks of Auradon Prep. But… :/ that’s not really fair, is it?

What I find most fascinating is the differing philosophies of Descendants vs EAH. Because in the former all the kids either take for granted or strive to end up like their parents–it’s villain kids versus hero kids all the way through. Whereas in the latter it’s “Royals” vs “Rebels” aka those who want to have the same destiny as their parents and those who want to make their own path. And it’s not all heroes on one side and villains on the other–although the leaders of both are as would be expected.

The strangest thing to me in EAH is that “according to Headmaster Milton Grimm, if the students don’t follow their individual destinies, their stories will cease to exist and they will disappear forever,” which just screams magical curse to me. Obviously I’d have to watch EAH to see how they explore that, but to me that’s what a fusion would revolve around.

Because it’s a magical curse that is very biased towards the heroes–I mean, a lack of free will sucks for everyone, but at least the heroes’ destinies are on paper “Happily Ever After.” So right off the bat there’s this discord and hypocrisy that adds depth to everyone’s motivation and behavior.

Take Mal for example–she would most likely want to break the destiny curse. At first, it’s because she wants evil to triumph over good. Though, arguably, breaking a curse goes against the whole being evil thing. But then, probably, she eventually realizes that she just doesn’t want to be evil. In contrast, Ben is against the destiny curse purely on principle (… or is he? Is his destiny, as was his parents’, in actuality to break a curse?).

Whereas then you have Evie who doesn’t completely mind her fate–since that means she will be a queen like her mother, and honestly might be a little evil at heart–but doesn’t want to end up defeated. Or Audrey who would prefer not to be placed under a sleeping spell, but does want her happy ending. And then there’s Chad whose womanizing is him taking for granted the fact that he’ll eventually find his one true love and settle down. Or Jane who is actively hoping to follow her mother’s footsteps because that means she’ll have magic.

I suppose the fic would then revolve around the mystery of the destiny curse–who cast it, how to undo it, if such a thing is even possible, etc. I doubt I’d actually write this particular fic, anon, given that I know so little about the EAH world, but it was an interesting train of thought to follow. So thanks!

If you could cross DoS over with one other fandom, what would it be and why?

OMG! Anon, you do not know how happy this ask made me 😀 … but also, very conflicted. Because–just one? How could I possibly choose? O_O

I guess it depends on how you mean by “crossover.”

Like… the DoS world and a different world are actually the same (via different continents or time travel, perhaps)? Or take the characters of DoS and transplant them into a different world (aka a “fusion” as I call them)? Or even, keeping in mind how many derivative fanfiction of “the second reincarnations of Shikako Nara,” in which world would I choose to have her reincarnate yet again? (Also, I’m assuming you’re not including the canon Naruto world…)

So, just to cover all my bases, I’m going to answer ALL THREE! And three times over at that! >:D

1) Crossover worlds (same universe)

In no particular order, the three fandoms I would choose as crossovers are: Star Wars, Final Fantasy VII, and Akagami no Shirayukihime. Why? Well… because in my mind each of them have different ways to be within the same universe–now whether or not that means the characters of DoS actually meet the characters of the other worlds would depend on what kind of story I’m going for.

With Star Wars, at first I thought it would be absolutely thrilling to Shikako to realize that the Naruto world was in the same universe (specifically, the same far far away galaxy) as the movies from which her beloved lightsaber originated. But then the more I thought about it–when in the Star Wars timeline this is, would make Shikako absolutely horrified.

Because it’s one thing to help prevent the (many numerous) excess deaths of certain people–essentially tweaking canon to be a little bit better–but it’s another thing entirely to… let’s say… prevent Anakin Skywalker from turning to the dark side. Not that that’s necessarily the storyline I would go for, but it would up the stress levels to ridiculous levels.

Of course… now that I think about it even more, it’s far more likely that all the shinobi in the Naruto world would be considered Sith which would make the Jedi (or at least, some Jedi) question what exactly is good and evil, etc. 

I’m cheating a little bit with the FFVII decision, only because I’ve explored this crossover before in my FFVII series, “Into Thin Air,” with my own SI!OC character Windy Strife, but the reasoning remains the same. There’s something about both fandoms’ mythology which almost resonates with each other and makes it seem like they are the same world but maybe a few millennia apart.

In my “Into Thin Air” series, I have the Naruto world being the distant future of the FFVII world with my SI!OC somehow being summoned and mistaken for a Namikaze. I also greatly hint at Kaguya being a remnant of Jenova. For a DoS crossover, however, I think I would still have FFVII being the past but… I think Kaguya would actually be a sort of failed Ancient 2.0? (For those of you who don’t know–in FFVII there is a race of basically Tolkien’s elves but by the main game, there is only one left aka Aerith and she dies before the game ends so…) 

Like… the giant tree with the chakra fruit is meant to be the Planet bestowing Ancient powers onto whomever eats it to restart the Ancient race but the Planet has been showed to be pretty bad at judging things? So it’s no wonder why Kaguya went berserk. It also draws parallels between the bijuu and WEAPONs which, as far as I understood, was the Planet creating giant monsters to defend itself from humanity.

Unsure how exactly Shikako would get involved with this all? I’m thinking most likely Gelel–because that’s the only thing that she would have had that no one else has had access to and which her reincarnation from “our world” doesn’t explain. So the Gelel stones were probably derivatives of materia (FFVII magic stones), and the voices of Gelel speaking to Shikako during her possession were actually probably the original Ancients.

Okay so, now that I type it out, the plot I would most likely go for is that Kaguya was meant to be Ancient 2.0, which backfired horribly, and Shikako gradually becomes Ancient 3.0 via exposure to her Gelel stone. So the Planet is urging Shikako to, basically, clean up their mistake (of Kaguya). Which, she was going to do anyway? But there’s some resistance because Shikako doesn’t appreciate being told what to do 😡

Akagami no Shirayukihime is now an anime! 😀 I primarily know it through the manga–but either way, it’s super cute. For this crossover, I do actually see the characters interacting with each other more directly. The lands/kingdoms mentioned in AnS would probably be a different continent than the Elemental Nations but still the same world and point in time.

Given the lack of world-ending melodrama in AnS, this crossover would probably be the most mild. As in, it would at most be similar to one of the filler episode missions that take up maybe two or three chapters and ends with no one almost dying or grievously injured. Frankly, the shinobi are just too strong for it to be a matter of battling between the two worlds, so the crossover plot would probably be something more political.

2) Fusion worlds (transplanted characters)

In no particular order, the three fandoms I would choose as fusions are: Katekyo Hitman Reborn, Harry Potter, and the DC universe. Mostly because they aren’t as compatible as the previous three fandoms with the Naruto world, but I do like the world structures inherent or at least implied in each.

So KHR is about a “normal kid” who turns out to be heir to a mafia famiglia in a world where organized crime also sort of has magic “Flames” based on the rainbow? Sort of. With this one, I would actually consider doing both a fusion and a crossover–in the sense that the characters of DoS are transplanted into the KHR world but they also get to meet the KHR characters. I think I’ve seen a fanart which kind of… let me see if I can find it… HERE IT IS! OMG, it’s been many a moon since I’ve seen this, but the bare bones of the idea still fits. The KHR characters would make a cameo but they wouldn’t necessarily be vital to the story line so…

So Tsuna, the main character of KHR, is the Juudaime of the Vongola Famiglia and I would have the DoS characters be yakuza members–in that similarly odd way that the mafia works in this world. Probably the Hokage position (and doesn’t that name work well given the magical Flames) is not actually the head of the yakuza so much as a Champion?

I guess it would be… the Clans of Konoha are actually separate yakuza clans, but they are all subject to the Hokage. Except there isn’t always a Hokage? Like… there are a series of challenges which a person must undergo in order to become Hokage–and each one corresponds a different Flame type/clan. Obviously, Naruto’s goal is to become the next Hokage and the various Konoha Twelve are his Guardians.

The Harry Potter series, as most everyone knows, is a fascinating world which is hindered by the titular character’s lack of knowledge of the world. While I have done a series of character analyses for which DoS characters would go in which Hogwarts House, I wouldn’t actually put them in Hogwarts. Given that… well… they are not British so why would they? And this would be an interesting exercise in adapting the Naruto world into the HP world.

Right off the bat, you have who are “pure-bloods” and “muggle-borns” being clan members versus non-clan. You can actually go further and do something like… Neji is a half-blood while Hinata is a pure-blood which makes his skill all the more damning for her. I dunno, something like that. I’m not sure what the storyline would be here, though? Beyond just, again, adapting the DoS/Naruto plot into the HP world.

DC universe, again, is an interesting world that suffers from its US-centric POV. Mostly it’s just an excuse for superpower AU which, again, would be fun to adapt. Take the clan specialties and crank them up into full-blown superpowers. 

Actually, the plot for this one comes easier to me–probably something like… the Konoha Twelve have to form a sort of Teen Titans to take down Orochimaru/Akatsuki/Madara. Or… maybe something like… Ra’s al Ghul takes one of the Big Bad’s place and you get some character crossover from DC as well–most likely Tim Drake (because he’s my favorite) and the other Bat family. OR maybe the League of Assassins aren’t just nameless cannon fodder and are in fact the shinobi of Konoha, but some members (basically, the Konoha Twelve) rebel against him–basically taking Danzo’s place?

Hm… :/

3) Reincarnated worlds

In no particular order, the three fandoms I would choose for Shikako’s second reincarnation are: the Tolkien universe, A Song of Ice and Fire (the Game of Thrones books, not the TV series), and… hm… it’s actually a bit of a toss up between Pokemon and Inuyasha. This is going with the same sort of set up of other recursive fanfiction in which Shikako has been reincarnated, yet again, into a different world by herself and a strange mixture of trauma and yearning for the DoS world. These worlds, though completely different from each other, all have an almost alien sociocultural mindset that forces Shikako to get some closure in one way or another.

Tolkien straight up has humanity not even the most important sentient race in his universe–hobbits are apparently where it’s at. Which I would actually have Shikako be–and, trying to hold on to her DoS roots, she’d try to be some kind of deer herder. Odd, but not that bad since she’d probably be a Brandybuck or a Took… or maybe a Proudfoot? I don’t think any of the LotR hobbits are from the Proudfoot clan and I wouldn’t want to overlap much… Either way, one of the genteel families so she’s forgiven for being a bit odd.

Of course, then Gandalf comes along and either whisks away Bilbo Baggins or Frodo, Samwise, Merry, and Pippin and she’s just like: “No, these hobbits have no idea what kind of madness lays in store for them–I can’t let this happen,” and she goes along with them.

In Tolkien universe, regardless of which fellowship she’s part of, Shikako slowly integrates herself into the group and finally… not lets go of her DoS life, but comes to accept the loss.

ASoIaF will go in the complete opposite direction–I mean, the Tolkien one would still require Shikako to use her shinobi skills, but she is very much so just acting as a bodyguard for her fellow hobbits–here she has to actively embrace her ruthless side. Not even necessarily her training as a ninja but the constant lying by omission; she has to use every bit of her DoS earned cunning to not only survive but enact justice for her Family. Because, let’s be real, she’d be a Baratheon. Not sure which Baratheon, but definitely a Baratheon.

I’m actually guessing she’d be one of Robert’s bastards but, like Edric Storm, a noble-born, and definitely one of the older ones–maybe around Gendry’s age… Like–Cersei would definitely want to keep an eye on her as the oldest Baratheon noble born heir, but not necessarily consider her a valid threat. Unsure if she’d be in King’s Landing or not (and held semi-hostage like Sansa) or, instead, sent to the Westerlands or… actually. That might be best? Because then it’d be hilarious if Shikako has to rely on the Iron Island pirates to get her out of there.

ASoIaF will definitely make her miss DoS even more–especially the relationships she made, her family and her teammates and her friends–but she also has to let go of those memories not out of any healthy reason but sort of out of shame. Because she’s no longer the “Shikako Nara” that those precious people of hers knew and loved–she’s a Baratheon, and she’s playing the Game of Thrones (the thing is, she doesn’t even want to be queen–she just doesn’t want the Lannisters to win).

Pokemon and Inuyasha, despite being very different worlds, both have a wishing component. In either world, Shikako is trying to find the wishing component in hopes to return to her DoS life. Obviously, that’s not how it turns out in either world, but that’s what she aims for at first. In both she starts off very much so as an animal preferring loner–much like in her Tolkien incarnation–it’s not that she’s bad at human interaction it’s just that, in her mind, she doesn’t want anyone to erase her past relationships.

In Pokemon she’s known as a legendary hunter (not in a hunt and kill way, but more like a storm chasing way) and she contracts with the laboratories. Unsurprisingly she runs into Ash/Satoshi (because I’m pretty sure he has literally met every single legendary) and ~somehow~ realizes that she can’t really go back. She can only go forward. (Or probably even Pokemon who are gods in this world can’t reverse reincarnation).

In Inuyasha… well. Frankly, I’d like her to have been reincarnated into the “present day” and think it’s just the normal world, then be completely blindsided by the Feudal Era demon nonsense, but I guess that takes away from Kagome’s story. I’m unsure, then, who Shikako should be instead. But regardless, she wants the Shikon no Tama, actually realizes that it’s more ofa monkey’s paw than a legit wishing tool, and commits to helping the group take down Naraku (and doesn’t his name offend her).

~

A/N: Anon, I hope this giant sprawling mess was entertaining for you. It certainly was fun for me–it took me several hours, hence why it’s after midnight.

could you do a Descendants Hunger Games crossover?

Hm… a Descendants x Hunger Games fusion…

Well, anon, it’s certainly an appealing idea, but I’m not sure how I would go about doing it. I actually haven’t read the books so my POV of that world is strictly via the movies (and… well… whatever shows up on my dash).

I guess the problem–from what I understand of both–is that the stratification of people in both worlds is very rigid. There are villains and heroes in one, whereas the other is separate districts revolving around a distinct industry or the capital. So the main obstacle is that I don’t really know how to transpose canon characters of Descendants very well into the Hunger Games world.

Most of the “heroes” we meet are royalty–and in the HG equivalent, they’d most likely be Capital citizens. That is, not fighting. I mean, I guess there’s also Doug, Lonnie, and Jane who aren’t technically royalty… and then it also seems wrong to separate the four Lost kids into separate districts.

Then again… maybe if I only take the bare bones of the idea?

Like… every year, Auradon demands four villain kids from the Isle of the Lost in order to “re-enact” the triumph of heroes over villains? So to Auradon it’s basically a pantomime, while of the islanders it’s literally sending off their children to slaughter. That way you can still kind of retain the same feel as the Descendants movie.

I mean, obviously, my “Predecessors” set (aka Jemma Hook; Uri son of Ursula; Querida the Princess of Hearts; and Anthony Tremaine) would have been the first Lost kids sent as tribute. Back when the villains thought that maybe if their representatives won, then they’d be released from the Isle. Except for how everything was stacked in Auradon’s favor.

So after that, they just sent minion kids for a few years… until the Descendants four decide that–hey, we can pull it off. We can win and end this farce once and for all.

Meanwhile, on the Auradon side, Ben has newly stepped into his role as king. And he is, frankly, horrified by the tribute system. But he, like his father before him, is hampered by the demands of the other royal families, so he can’t just straight out abolish it.

But he can help the Lost kids–even if indirectly, via Doug and Lonnie and Jane. Except, like in the Descendants movie, Jane betrays the Lost kids and notifies the the hero side of their plans.

And then I guess I have to figure out who the “heroes” will be: Chad and Audrey for sure…who else have we even met? (I haven’t been keeping up with the Wicked World shorts so…)

Hm… now that I’ve been able to articulate some brainstorming, I’m more fond of it than I was before. There’s still a lot that I’d have to figure out, but now it seems more doable than before. Of course, I can’t guarantee that I will do it… but the probability has definitely gone up.

This was pretty fun to think about–so thanks, anon! 😀

Word Prompts (G22): Grasping (2016-01-29)

A/N: I think I put too much pressure on myself to finish what I was working on yesterday, that I did absolutely nothing and now I’m frustrated with myself. But I didn’t want to have another missed post, so here’s a really quick Word Prompt.

~

I was five the first time I met a superhero, though I didn’t know it then. I had been grocery shopping with my grandpa–more like, clinging to the cart so as not to get separated from my grandpa as he went grocery shopping–and something caught my eye. I don’t even remember what it was now–probably something silly, like a fallen penny or maybe the colorful packaging of some candy.

Regardless of what it was, I remember that I had let go of the cart. Just for a second, it felt; I had looked away from my grandpa just for a second. And yet, when I turned to look back: he was gone.

I panicked, unsurprisingly. Felt a sudden bite of abandonment, and the sharp sting of betrayal. My grandpa had left me!

Of course, now that I am older, I realize he had just moved the cart around the corner of the aisle. No doubt, if I had walked a few steps, I would have spotted him immediately. But at that time, I was young and afraid and out of my depths.

I didn’t cry–only because I had always been a quiet child–but I did clutch at my shirt in confusion, unsure how to face the world all on my lonesome.

But, as this anecdote goes, I was not alone. A very tall man–or at least, he seemed very tall at the time, given my own childhood size–in the grocery store’s green uniform apron knelt down in front of me, putting himself at my eye level.

“Hello, there, miss” he said to me, voice soft and soothing, “Are you okay? Is there anything I can help you with?”

And I must have laughed, a little watery and tremulous, but a laugh nonetheless. Because here was this adult talking to me the same way adults talked to my grandparents, like I was an adult, too.

“My name is Brian,” he added, pointing at the name tag pinned to his apron.

“Hi, Brian,” I whispered back, “I’m Leanne.”

“I see your cart has misplaced itself, Miss Leanne. Would you like help in finding it?” He asked, not missing a beat.

I nodded, leading him to unfolding himself back onto his feet.

“And my grandpa,” I added, because I decided I could forgive his transgression if it had been an accident, “He’s old; I have to watch out for him,” I continued, because my grandma had said so.

Brian nodded, as if what I said had been perfectly legitimate.

It only took a few steps to round the corner where the cart and my grandpa–only just realizing I was not holding on to it–were. The ordeal was over in less than five minutes, and yet…

I remember he didn’t reach a hand out to me, but he did hold out one of his apron strings for me to grab–even though he had to undo the knot in order for me to reach it. At the time, I hadn’t thought it was strange. Truly, if that were the last of it, I wouldn’t have recalled that little detail.

But, of course, that was not the last of it. Unfortunately, that was the last time I met Brian because, not two weeks after that incident, the vigilante Griever was killed in action.

~

A/N: So Brian Odell, aka Griever, is an OC of mine whose super power doesn’t quite make sense? Basically, he has the ability to absorb injuries/pain and then transfer it to someone else with a touch. But he sort of has a max capacity, meaning that if he doesn’t get rid of the injuries/pain soon then they’ll either manifest on him instead… or on the next person he touches, whether or not he wants it to.

Hence why he doesn’t reach out to hold Leanne’s hand.

Leanne Peridot is yet another OC of mine who may or may not also be a superhero in the future? It’s complicated. There’s time travel involved…