Frank ocean wallpaper

Hello, I know that the general vibes with this sub are agitated, due to recent events. I just want to send an… open love letter I guess.
Channel Orange released when I was 12, second album I ever bought. Frank Ocean is the first gay man I ever had any knowledge of.
For a variety of reasons, I didn’t think I was going to survive my teen years. Reasons besides being gay myself, reasons which I won’t share. Frank became kind of a role model, or at least an example of someone like me who has achieved success. (I can relate to being quiet!) & Blonde has been extremely useful in processing some trauma.
Silly dreams get you through difficult times, & I had a dream for a long time of making an album like Blonde/Channel Orange. (I’m okay at singing now.) Lying on the floor of an apartment you can’t afford, feeling like you could swallow the world, it’s sometimes what gets you out the door.
I don’t think that’s in the cards. I’m 23 now. I don’t know anyone who’s built a career like that around me. I’ve managed to achieve enough financial stability to think about going to university, building a future somewhere else. I’ll keep singing, but I just want a stable home, & to find some people to love.
All of this is to say; I don’t know what my life would look like, & I don’t know if i would be here today, had I not made that connection with Frank in my teenage years.
I don’t want this feeling to go nowhere… & since it can’t go to Frank, or (unfortunately) to anyone around me, maybe y’all might appreciate it. Thanks for reading
Also, comparing your significant others to your celebrity crushes; my current boyfriend has a smile like Frank’s. Lol

WANG$AP or Frank Ocean collab album?
View Poll

Adult Male looking for Adult Female
Hey there! I'm looking to chat and vibe with someone with similar interests! If you're in NJ as well or relatively close I'm okay with pursuing something further if it's mutual (Maybe within a couple states is okay, I just ideally would like to be able to regularly see each other and whatnot)
About me:
• I play video games pretty often! I have a Ps5, a switch, and now I just built a PC! Some select faves in all my years playing have been kingdom hearts, hollow knight, the batman arkham games, soulsbourne games, etc. I have a LONG catalogue of games played
• I'm into anime/mangas and some ive recently been keeping up with are Jujutsu Kaisen and BlueLock
Some artists I like to give an idea of my music taste: Tame Impala, Thundercat, Blood Orange, The Weeknd, Steve Lacy, Hotel Ugly, Unknown Mortal Orchestra, Her's, Frank Ocean, Bad Bunny, Tyler The Creator, Isaiah Rashad, Freddie Gibbs, Denzel Curry, Ski Mask, The Strokes, JID, etc.
• Additionally I like to listen to older music, (90s and under), Spanish music such as salsa and bachata as well as Japanese citypop from time to time too :)
Tell me one of your favorite foods and a little about you so I know you read this far and have a great day/night!

Adult Male looking for Adult Female
Hey there! I'm looking to chat and vibe with someone with similar interests! If you're in NJ as well or relatively close I'm okay with pursuing something further if it's mutual (Maybe within a couple states is okay, I just ideally would like to be able to regularly see each other and whatnot)
About me:
• I play video games pretty often! I have a Ps5, a switch, and now I just built a PC! Some select faves in all my years playing have been kingdom hearts, hollow knight, the batman arkham games, soulsbourne games, etc. I have a LONG catalogue of games played
• I'm into anime/mangas and some ive recently been keeping up with are Jujutsu Kaisen and BlueLock
Some artists I like to give an idea of my music taste: Tame Impala, Thundercat, Blood Orange, The Weeknd, Steve Lacy, Hotel Ugly, Unknown Mortal Orchestra, Her's, Frank Ocean, Bad Bunny, Tyler The Creator, Isaiah Rashad, Freddie Gibbs, Denzel Curry, Ski Mask, The Strokes, JID, etc.
• Additionally I like to listen to older music, (90s and under), Spanish music such as salsa and bachata as well as Japanese citypop from time to time too :)
Tell me one of your favorite foods and a little about you so I know you read this far and have a great day/night!

Adult Male looking for Adult Female
Hey there! I'm looking to chat and vibe with someone with similar interests! If you're in NJ as well or relatively close I'm okay with pursuing something further if it's mutual (Maybe within a couple states is okay, I just ideally would like to be able to regularly see each other and whatnot)
About me:
• I play video games pretty often! I have a Ps5, a switch, and now I just built a PC! Some select faves in all my years playing have been kingdom hearts, hollow knight, the batman arkham games, soulsbourne games, etc. I have a LONG catalogue of games played
• I'm into anime/mangas and some ive recently been keeping up with are Jujutsu Kaisen and BlueLock
Some artists I like to give an idea of my music taste: Tame Impala, Thundercat, Blood Orange, The Weeknd, Steve Lacy, Hotel Ugly, Unknown Mortal Orchestra, Her's, Frank Ocean, Bad Bunny, Tyler The Creator, Isaiah Rashad, Freddie Gibbs, Denzel Curry, Ski Mask, The Strokes, JID, etc.
• Additionally I like to listen to older music, (90s and under), Spanish music such as salsa and bachata as well as Japanese citypop from time to time too :)
Tell me one of your favorite foods and a little about you so I know you read this far and have a great day/night!

Adult Male looking for Adult Female
Hey there! I'm looking to chat and vibe with someone with similar interests! If you're in NJ as well or relatively close I'm okay with pursuing something further if it's mutual (Maybe within a couple states is okay, I just ideally would like to be able to regularly see each other and whatnot)
About me:
• I play video games pretty often! I have a Ps5, a switch, and now I just built a PC! Some select faves in all my years playing have been kingdom hearts, hollow knight, the batman arkham games, soulsbourne games, etc. I have a LONG catalogue of games played
• I'm into anime/mangas and some ive recently been keeping up with are Jujutsu Kaisen and BlueLock
Some artists I like to give an idea of my music taste: Tame Impala, Thundercat, Blood Orange, The Weeknd, Steve Lacy, Hotel Ugly, Unknown Mortal Orchestra, Her's, Frank Ocean, Bad Bunny, Tyler The Creator, Isaiah Rashad, Freddie Gibbs, Denzel Curry, Ski Mask, The Strokes, JID, etc.
• Additionally I like to listen to older music, (90s and under), Spanish music such as salsa and bachata as well as Japanese citypop from time to time too :)
Tell me one of your favorite foods and a little about you so I know you read this far and have a great day/night!

Quick Author's Note:
For better clarity of intent, the 'worthwhile opponent' stipulation in Lifedrinker is being changed to 'non-negligible opponent' moving forward.
​
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​
"The Gellin Empress was the catalyst for our breakthrough," a mage explained. "Tracing Lord Rob's lingering mana signature through the space between dimensions proved effective at first, yet it came with an insurmountable problem: he only attained mana after initially leaving Earth. At a certain point, there was no more of a signature for us to trace. We had found his home dimension, but finding his home world within the infinite expanses of that dimension could have taken years of aimless searching, like blind men stumbling in the dark."
He leaned forward, clearly enjoying having a captive audience. "The key, then, lay within Lord Rob's memories. Even without mana, memories have a power all their own. The Empress looked within his mind and found locations of personal importance to him. Ones that he remembers with pristine clarity. By scrying for areas within Lord Rob's dimension that matched those specific locations, we were able to narrow down the scope of our search considerably."
The mage spread his palms wide, and his voice dropped a full octave, as if he was imparting a great revelation. "The result will soon be made self-evident. You shall bear witness to the foremost magical achievement of our era: a one-way viewing window into Lord Rob's world. The first of many to come."
In respect for the man's showmanship, Rob started up a clap. Granted, he would've clapped even if the explanation was done via a mindnumbing PowerPoint presentation, because nothing in the universe could stunt his enthusiasm right now. Riardin's Ranger, the Elders, Diplomacy, and the Soul Surgeon clapped as well, although Rob was pretty sure they were just following his cues. This moment couldn't possibly hold the same gravitas for them as it did for him. They mostly were here to provide moral support and satisfy their curiosity.
While for him, this meant everything.
"Do we need the Gellin Empress here to create the window?" Rob asked. "I'd also like to thank her for the help she's given."
The mage shook his head. "I'll spare you the details, but to be succinct; she taught us how to save a mana-based copy of the necessary memories, which will allow us to attune to a subset of Earth locations. Her presence is not required. In fact, she insisted that we proceed without her, as the Gellin have gone to rest for the night."
Must be nice. I'd trade ten Levels for a consistent sleep schedule. Rob internally frowned at himself, punting the envious thoughts away. No sour grapes. If the Empress helped me see Earth again, then I hope she sleeps like a baby for the rest of her life.
"One question," Keira interjected. "In your explanation, you stated that, without the Empress' assistance, it may have taken years to discover Earth. That is hardly the weeks or months you claimed in the past."
The group of dimension mages froze, embarrassment blooming on their features. They looked to the head mage for guidance, whose veneer of showmanship was deflating like a leaky balloon. "We were perhaps...optimistic."
"By years?"
"The previous estimate I put forth was one that assumed we would develop breakthroughs as we went along." His mouth widened into a sheepish grin. "As you can see, we, um, succeeded."
Keira raised an eyebrow. "Only with the timely assistance of a Leader." Her tone was calm, yet unyielding. "Rob is too grateful to point out this contradiction, so I suppose the task falls to me. You have also told us that you should be able to 'open' the window and let Rob send a letter home within the next week – is that more unfounded optimism?"
"No." The mage straightened his posture. "Now that we have located Earth, the rest is simply a matter of refining our spells and collecting reserves of mana. We are no longer blind, nor are we fumbling in the dark, and thus our progress moving forward shall be predictable and steady. This, I swear."
After a few seconds, Keira nodded. "Then I thank you for the wonderful boon you've granted to the man I love."
From behind, Malika giggled under her breath. Rob squeezed Keira's hand, gave her a warm smile, and faced the mages. "I'm ready whenever you are."
The tent thrummed with mana as the dimension mages formed a Mage Circle with Malika. It was no different from any other time they'd done so, yet the knowledge of what they were about to accomplish heightened the tension in the air to a fever pitch. Rob's pulse quickened, his throat tightening. He'd been disemboweled by monsters, decapitated by eldritch abominations, and none of those events made him a fraction as nervous as watching the dimension mages at work.
Minutes passed. Rob forced himself to be patient. Reaching across the boundaries of space and dimensions wasn't like heading to the store to pick up a carton of milk. It involved a level of spellcasting prowess that would take Rob decades of committed study to have even the slightest chance at grasping. Frankly, the fact that it was possible at all still beggared belief.
Maybe...maybe the mages were wrong. Not lying; just wrong. They could be overeager, sharing before they were actually ready, and they'd end the circle looking contrite and ashamed.
That was okay. No biggie. Rome wasn't built in a day, or...something. He could wait–
Creak.
It was the sound of a rusted hinge, of crumpling paper, of breaking bones, and more. A combination of all the noises things made when subjected to an external force. Like reality itself was groaning under the pressure.
Creeeak.
A thin, imperceptible line appeared at eye-level, dark as the endless void. Slowly, inch-by-inch, it widened.
CREEEAK.
It had become a rectangle. Two feet wide, three feet high. With a final CREAK, reality threw in the towel. The void dissipated, as if smoke blown away by a gust of wind, revealing...
Home.
Everything was as he remembered it. The same furniture with scuffed marks of wear-and-tear. The same living room where they'd watched movies each Friday. The same kitchen with a sink perpetually filled with dirty dishes. The same tacky wallpaper that his mom refused to change, and that he secretly enjoyed.
Identical. Like a portrait had been painted straight from his memories.
A tsunami of aching nostalgia surged through him. Rob didn't realize he was extending his hand until his fingertips were already brushing against the viewing window. Its surface felt solid, and for an instant he was terrified that this really was just a painting. Something invented to give him false hope.
Then he noticed that a window had been cracked open. Not the mages' window; the window inside his house. A small breeze blew inside, jostling a curtain ever so lightly. Just enough to make it move.
"It's real." Rob's voice was hoarse. "It's my home."
No one said anything. They allowed him his silence, a gesture which he greatly appreciated. Eventually, Rob took a deep breath, clenched his hands so that they wouldn't tremble, and looked at the dimension mages. "Thank you. I owe you...so much. Even if observing from afar ended up being the limit of what you could do, just seeing my house again like this is..."
He trailed off, unable to find words that were sufficient. Thankfully, the dimension mages seemed to understand. "You are most welcome, Lord Rob." The head mage smiled. "This is far from the limit of what we can do, however. Give us time, and this window shall open."
Rob nodded, choosing not to believe them. They were probably right, but on the off chance they weren't, he didn't want to look back on this moment with bitterness. Best to assume the worst and be grateful for what he already had.
As if drawn by a gravitational pull, his eyes drifted back towards the window. It was displaying a fixed point in the center of his home. "Can you switch perspectives? I want to check other rooms." His parents were likely asleep in their bedroom at this hour. Assuming they didn't sell the house out of grief and move, that is.
"I am afraid that isn't possible. We can transpose the viewing window to other specific locations that the Empress provided, but having it 'walk around', so to speak, requires finer control than we are yet capable of."
Yet, he says. Which means that with practice, they'll be able to. Rob placated himself with that notion. This was a minor setback, and he wouldn't let it get him down.
He especially wouldn't listen to that tiny voice in the back of his head, whispering that the reason he couldn't see his parents right now was because they were–
"Got it," Rob stated, in a wooden voice. "What other locations did the Empress pick out?"
The window's perspective blurred and shifted. Rob swallowed a gasp as an extremely familiar place was displayed before him. He'd seen it many, many times, even after coming to Elatra. It used to be at the top of his nightmare rotation, only ousted from its throne when Blights started coming into play.
In front of them was a small grassy lawn, surrounded by lecture halls in the near-distance. The place that had forever altered the course of his life.
"This is where it all started." Rob pointed to an empty spot in the middle of the field. "Portal opened up. Right there. Saturated with darkness. Chains shot out, tried to grab at Jason. I pushed him out of the way, and...the rest is history."
Silence reigned once more. After a few seconds, Orn'tol stirred. The young Ranger opened his mouth, preparing to say what would undoubtedly be some platitude reassuring Rob over his noble sacrifice.
"The grass truly is green."
Rob burst out laughing. He kept going until he was short of breath, wheezing as the others looked at him with eyes full of concern. "I'm okay," he managed to cough, once the laughter had died down to snickers. "Thanks, Orn'tol. I needed that."
"You're very welcome?" Orn'tol exchanged confused glances with the rest of Riardin's Rangers. "I am unsure of what I did to assist you, yet it's good to see you in high spirits nonetheless."
"Sometimes a little silliness is just what the doctor ordered." Rob offered him a high-five, which the boy accepted with zeal. They returned their gazes to the viewing window, Rob tilting his head as he peered closer. "Hmm. That's weird."
"What do you mean?"
"There's no people. It's early evening, but college students have the worst sleeping patterns on the face of the planet. Trust me; I'm speaking from experience. Usually you'd see a dozen partygoers strung out on energy drinks racing around now."
"Perhaps this location is known as a place of danger," Keira posited. "I would certainly be hesitant to tread where a portal of darkness sprang from the aether and kidnapped a civilian."
Rob watched the viewing window for signs of life, finding none. "Could be. Parents probably pulled their kids out after what happened to me. Then either the government condemns the area, or enough money is lost that the college goes bankrupt." He snorted. "Would be the least of what it deserves, considering the tuition fees. Bloodsucking vampires."
"People on Earth drink blood?"
Normally, Rob would have played along with their confusion, but there were more important things to focus on. "Can you change this to the next location from my memories?" he asked the dimension mages. "How many are there, anyway?"
"Five in total. One moment, please."
The window's perspective blurred, shifted, and reformed. Now it was displaying a city sidewalk, its view positioned right outside the best god damn burger joint in existence. Rob didn't care what anyone else said; two greasy slabs of beef squeezed between two sesame-seed buns was the absolute pinnacle of culinary delight. So what if his palette was 'like a five-year old's?' Wasn't his fault that delicious things were delicious.
Belatedly, he realized that his memory of this restaurant had been strong enough for the Gellin Empress to choose it as a point of reference for interdimensional portal magic. That...yeah, that tracked. Aside from the burgers, he had fond memories of sitting at the outside patio with Jason and his folks, drinking Minty Fresh Phantasma and inhaling cheesy fries as they mocked his dietary preferences. Good times.
He was about to explain what this place meant to him when a human casually walked past the viewing window.
She was a normal working woman like any other. Tired eyes, a purse slung over her shoulder, and dressed for lukewarm weather. A cell phone was held in her right hand, her eyes glued to some form of social media. She strode past the window without a care in the world, visible for merely a second before disappearing from view.
To the Elatrans, it was like a horror movie jumpscare. All of them froze. Several gasped. Elder Alessia grimaced. Faelynn muttered "a world of Humans" in a hushed tone. The only exceptions were Elder Duran and the Soul Surgeon, who crept closer to get a better look, their eyes shimmering with curiosity.
In contrast, Rob let out a sigh of overwhelming relief. That bored, everyday woman was exactly what he'd needed to set him at ease. Earth hasn't completely gone to shit behind my back. People are still living their lives.
As he watched, a few more humans walked in front of the window. A middle-aged man, a young boy with his mother, and an old woman with a walking cane. The old woman pivoted straight into the burger joint, Rob internally praising her good taste.
"W-well," the head mage stuttered. He paused, cleared his throat, then started anew. "As you can see, the viewing window is imperceptible to those with low Levels of Sense Mana. Naturally, this will not be the case for a portal that can be interacted with from both sides."
"Dangerous," Meyneth commented. "I would advise that you conceal this type of spell for as long as you are able. The viewing window especially."
"Why is that?"
"If this window cannot be sensed by those with low Levels of Sense Mana, then that makes it an ideal tool for spying on non-Mages. In your haste to glimpse into the world of another dimension, you have inadvertently developed a field of magic that puts every nation in Elatra at risk of subterfuge. People have been assassinated for much less."
The mages blanched. "We are nothing more than simple researchers," the head mage protested, in a faltering voice. "Who besides a madwoman like the Dragon Queen would stoop so low as to threaten noncombatants?"
Keira averted her eyes, pointedly examining the floor.
"We can discuss matters of life and death at a later time," Duran interjected. He gestured to the viewing window with the demeanor of a child in a toy story. "There's a world of discoveries to explore! Take a look at those structures the Earth Humans have built – they resemble the buildings within Human territory, yet small differences set them apart."
Duran ooooh'd as another person walked past the viewing window. "So many humans are ambling about despite the late hour. Is this area a well-traveled location in your home city, Rob?"
"This is around the level of street traffic you should expect for early evening. If it were daytime, you'd see a hundred people per minute."
Duran aaaah'd. Before he could launch into a series of questions, Zamira beat him to it. "Pardon me if this comes across as an insult," she began, hesitantly. "But Earth Humans appear marginally...uncoordinated. It is hard for me to describe the notion, yet when I watch them move, they appear as if they're liable to fall over at any moment."
They look normal to me, Rob almost said, before remembering that Earth's normal wasn't Elatra's normal. "That's called being permanently Level 1." He shrugged. "They've all got crap stats. Except athletes, I guess."
Zamira stared at the human passerby with obvious sympathy. "My condolences."
Does Earth seem like a world of cripples to her? Rob wondered. Even Utility Class users have the option to put a couple points into Dexterity and Perception. That's not counting the natural stat boosts they gain as they grow up, either. And when combined with Vitality and healing magic, it means that people in Elatra tend to age gracefully.
Rob tried to think of the last time he'd seen an Elatran with the same frailty as that old human woman with her walking cane. The oldest person he'd met so far was the Fiend High Soulseer, and in spite of being positively ancient – and blind – the dude could get around fine. Elder Duran was having health problems, but that was only after suffering from severe Corruption poisoning for weeks on end. An incident like that would've landed an Earth human in long-term hospice care.
Actually, no, that was wrong. It would've just killed them.
"We should switch to the next location," Rob said, preempting any further questions. "There's still two more left." Maybe I can see...no. Keep your expectations in check.
He was right to do so. Rob's heart sank as the viewing window solidified once again, revealing battered, empty streets. Half the buildings had collapsed to rubble, as if visited by a wrecking crew with an axe to grind. He recognized this spot as the street leading up to his favorite movie theater on the other side of the city. There'd been good times here, as well.
Although not anymore. The theater's roof had caved in, and half the letters in its ostentatious PRIME CINEMA logo were missing. It would take years to rebuild – assuming someone was willing to invest millions of dollars into what was essentially a ghost town.
"This..." He ran his hand down his face, aware of everyone gazing at him with pity. "As you can probably infer, this isn't normal. In the past–"
Bang.
Rob practically jumped out of his skin at the abrupt sound of gunfire. At first he thought the shot had come from outside, but no, it was both too distant and too close for that. The noise also sounded different from the rifles that the Dwarven Thunder Rod wielders employed.
A series of repeated bangs swept his thoughts away. Everyone watched in astonishment as a crew of Earth military soldiers ran into view from a side street, desperately fleeing the eight-legged Blightspawn that was hot on their tails. The abomination was more of an amalgamation of flesh and limbs than anything resembling a living creature, and the way it skittered made Rob reconsider if spiders were really that bad in comparison.
"Keep firing!" one of the men commanded, his voice sounding like it was coming from the bottom of a lake. The soldiers blasted their assault rifles in a retreating offensive, peppering the abomination with a hailstorm of bullets. Their response was swift, their aim was true, and it did not matter. The Blightspawn bulldozed through the rain of bullets as if it was a light drizzle, the creature's five cavernous mouths wailing for blood and sustenance.
It was nearly upon them when an explosive rocketed in from the opposite side street, knocking the Blightspawn off its many feet. The reprieve was temporary, but it was just long enough for the soldiers to escape unharmed. Unfortunately, the creature was also mostly unharmed, sporting minor injuries despite a direct missile strike to the torso. With a chorus of screams that prickled Rob's ears, the abomination continued its chase, batting away a second missile as it resumed the chase with renewed fervor.
Then it was gone, having left the window's range of sight. Distant sounds of battle grew quieter, the gunshots and explosions becoming more faint as predator and prey ran deeper into the ruined city.
Rob closed his eyes. He said nothing for half a minute, allowing himself time to process what he'd seen.
"Okay." He opened his eyes, nodding. "This is fine."
Keira laid a hand on his shoulder, struggling with what to say. "Rob...you don't need to–"
"Hold it in? Bottle up my emotions?" A wry chuckle escaped his throat. "Honestly, I'm not as affected as I thought I'd be. The Blight dropped one too many cryptic hints for me to be surprised, anyway. At this point I'm just glad that Earth hasn't been completely overrun. Some parts of the city might be fucked up, but not all of it is."
He narrowed his eyes. "The biggest thing I'm worried about is the Blightspawn itself. You saw those weapons the humans were using, right? Think of them as substantially upgraded versions of the Thunder Rods. They should've put a real dent in a fully-grown Blight, let alone one of its spawn."
"Perhaps the creatures have gained a defensive Skill?" Duran theorized. "What we witnessed appears consistent with other damage reduction Skills such as Tough Skin or Heat Resistance. I would surmise that the Blight has learned something akin to – for example – Thunder Rod Resistance."
Rob paused. Elatra didn't have a specified 'Bullet Resistance' Skill, but that was because conventional firearms had been removed from the system for balancing purposes. The Blight wouldn't give two shits about balance. They'd cheerfully grant themselves Bullet Resistance, Missile Resistance, and whatever else tickled their fancy.
And the more Earth fought back, the more resistant they'd become.
"...This doesn't change anything," Rob eventually concluded. "Earth is a big boy planet. It'll figure something out. In the meantime, we'll clean up our problems here and be ready to help if the Blight's still around by then."
"You're sure?" Keira asked. Two words that held so much intent. 'Are you sure you'll be alright? Are you sure Elatra should remain your primary concern? Are you sure you don't want to head home the instant the dimension mages create a working portal?'
Rob gave her a thumbs-up. "I'm sure. And I know you'll worry about me regardless, but I promise I'm feeling fine."
Or maybe he was just numb, and an avalanche of emotions would bury him when he least expected it. The good news was that was a problem for future-Rob to deal with. Present-Rob had one last area to investigate.
I'd be satisfied with seeing my old bedroom intact, he thought, as the dimension mages altered the viewing window for the last time. I have strong memories there, right? It should be a candidate. Those late night Netflix binges were uh...riveting. Yeah.
The window finalized.
Rob felt the strength leave his body.
Some parts of what he was seeing were incongruous. Strange details that he'd need to figure out soon. All of it took a hard backseat to the one sight in the room that truly mattered.
Jason was alive.
He was at his house that Rob had visited so often. Alive. Surrounded by people. Alive. Chatting away. Alive. Gesturing in that exaggerated manner he often used. Alive.
Smiling.
Alive.
A dam broke. Silent tears began streaming down Rob's face. Thoughts cut out, leaving only the realization that his best friend since childhood, the sole person he'd have trusted with his life before meeting Riardin's Rangers, the man whose place he'd taken when the gods picked a new chew toy...
Was alive.
"Hey, man." Rob's smile was the most genuine it had been in a long time. "Been a while."
At that moment, almost as if he could hear him, Jason grinned.
​
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Author's Note:
When I was writing Chapter 199, I was mildly annoyed that Rob didn't reach 200 Vitality on Chapter 200. That would've been hilariously coincidental. But if I had to choose between that chapter or this one for a big milestone...I think I like this better.
Happy Chapter 200, everyone. Thanks for reading and staying on this journey with me.

https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZT81LPhp

jello! i’m temperance
i’m a girl, i’m 15 years old and i’m from america!
i’m looking for some people to talk with around my age because summer has started and i am quite bored, as i don’t have many people to talk to! im not the greatest at starting a conversation but i can talk pretty well:)
i love playing roblox, so if u play that dm me ur user and let’s play!
im a huge fan of marvel, stranger things, the walking dead, and hunter x hunter! my favorite movie is forrest gump:)
my favorite music genre is R&B, some of the artists that i listen to a lot are frank ocean, kendrick lamar, jhene aiko, rihanna, swv, tlc, kali uchis, the neighbourhood, bruno mars, doja cat and adele! (i know that’s a lot lol)
i enjoy cooking in my spare time, cleaning (ik basic lol), spending time with my family, and taking pictures in the forest!
thanks if you read all this, my DMs are open only for people around my age! (20+ please don’t dm:)

DC Next presents:

Suicide Squad

Issue Thirty-Four: Brains Scrambled.:maxbytes(150000):strip_icc()/optaboutcomcoeusresourcescontent_migrationsimply_recipesuploads201005_chili-dog-horiz-a-1600-1a1f025054124cd886baab5b14d8d5b6.jpg)
Arc: Road Trip!
Written by Deadislandman1
Edited by UpinthatBuckethead
 
 
The high pitched whine of the cargo plane slowly wound down, its turbine-assisted wings quieting with the shutdown of the behemoth’s engine. The denizens inside, the remaining members of the Suicide Squad, took this as a sign that they had finally made it to their destination. Flag grabbed a duffel bag, which contained what was left of his belongings after they had totalled their RVs, while the squad simply collected themselves, preparing to step off the plane. The bay door unlocked, slowly lowered until it hit the runway, and the Squad was hit by that familiar mix of heat and humidity.
“Goddamn,” said Raptor, a heavy sense of exhaustion in his voice. “It sucks to be back.”
Flag sighed before stepping off the plane and onto the runway, making the long walk towards a boat set to take them to the prison proper. They had landed on a secret runway out in the swamp, and now it was time to make the final leg of the journey. The rest of the squad followed suit, though in a variety of different states. Dante had ditched his metal suit with the return to a climate with more moisture, yet he also wasn’t entirely covered up in bandages. He allowed his skin to be out and about…free. He didn’t care that the gym shorts and white t-shirt seemed strange when set with his long scarred flesh, he was just happy to feel a bit more like himself again. A bit more normal.
Nicholas was carrying Adella on his back. She had fallen asleep on the flight over, and he didn’t want to wake her. It wasn’t much of an effort, he could flip a car with the flick of a finger, but being gentle, being delicate…that was something he was never taught. Weapons are crafted to harm, not to comfort, Nicholas found he took to the task surprisingly well.
Raptor was sweating up a storm, begrudgingly flipping back his hood to make sure he wasn’t being oven-roasted. The journey had been a rocky one for most, and Raptor couldn’t lie, the road trip over the past month had been one of the bumpiest rides he’d ever had, but truth be told, a part of him was probably going to remember most of it fondly. Still, the remaining bits would also be tainted permanently by Mitchell Mayo’s demise. He hadn’t gotten to know him super well, but he considered him to be a good guy.
Croc felt similarly, though right now he was feeling a lot better about the heat. This was his kind of climate, just like back home where he grew up. If it weren’t for the bomb in his neck, he’d jump into the river for a dip, like a kid rushing into the ocean for the first time. It was almost a pity that they only really ended up near a few city rivers, where the water would probably cause you to grow an extra toe or two.
And then there was Harley, who was clearly not as relieved as everyone else for the trip to be over. Her partner was gone, and while she knew that the team was there for her, it was going to take a damn long time to work through what happened. She could barely feel the heat as she got onto the boat, grabbing a more cushioned seat before lying down in it. Flag dropped his bag to the side and took the helm, starting the engine as everyone else piled in.
Flag himself was, to put it mildly, weary. A kernel of anger had made its home at the back of his brain, a fury at the fact that Waller had yet again refused to tell him everything. However, he wasn’t chomping at the bit to get some answers at the moment, because he felt like he could drop dead at any moment. It was probably unsafe for him to even be driving the boat, but hell, they were almost there. He’d make it to his bed.
The boat slowed to a stop at the dock, and while the Belle Reve guards came out with tasers and batons, Flag simply waved his hand at them, “Relax, they know the drill. No need to be rough.”
As the team got out of the boat, led back into the concrete fortress that was, begrudgingly, their home, Flag grabbed his bag and stepped onto the dock. Realizing something, he called out to one of the guards, “Hey, let Waller know I’m here and that I wanna talk….but not today. I wanna meet tomorrow, because today’s been about a thousand miles of traveling.”
 
 
It took Flag no time at all to navigate the halls of Belle Reve, making his way through the bones of such a vast beast of a prison. There weren’t too many faces to his surprise, but there were quite a lot of renovations happening. Entire cell blocks and research wings were being converted, though Flag had no clue what they would be after construction, and frankly he couldn’t give a damn at the moment. He just wanted to lie down and go to sleep.
Eventually, he rounded the corner to the hall with his room, occupied solely by a man in a doctor’s coat. As Flag approached the door, the man noticed him, jumping in front of the Colonel, “Oh! I’m sorry sir, but you can’t go in there.”
Flag shouldered his duffle bag, grunting in annoyance, “Why not, it’s my room.”
“Well, it’s because-”
“Nevermind, I don’t give a shit,” said Flag, “You have two seconds to get out of my way before your teeth take a trip down your throat.”
“Urk-” The doctor stepped out of the way, and Flag trudged through the door, happy that the final obstacle to rest had been dealt with. Closing the door behind him, he dropped the duffle bag on the ground, kicked his boots off, and promptly fell into his bed. He groaned, shifting to let himself sink into the mattress.
“Uhhhh.”
“Oh for the love of - ” growled Flag. “Listen buddy, I don’t care if they decided you could room here. It’s my place, now skedaddle.”
“Uh, alright Colonel! I know they took my bomb out, but you’re the boss!”
“Took your…” Flag turned his head to face the voice, finding the one eyed Mitchell Mayo sitting at his desk, a pen in his hand. Flag grunted, “Are you real…I think sleep deprivation’s taking its toll on me.”
“No, I’m real,” said Mayo. “I know Waller said I was dead, but really, I’m not!”
“...I don’t believe you. You’re a figment of my imagination,” said Flag, who lied down again. “Gonna catch my z’s now.”
“Wait, no! I am real,” said Mayo. “ust lemme prove it to you.”
“Good luck with that.”
Flag turned away from Mayo again, prompting Mayo to quickly grab a glass of water from the desk, dipping his fingers in it. Then, he trudged over to the bed and dripped the water onto Flag. Flag immediately cringed at the touch of the liquid, jumping out of bed in anger. Mayo quickly backed up, though he found himself against a wall fairly quickly.
“What the fuck?!” growled Flag.
“I know I know! I’m sorry!” said Mayo. “But look! You’re wet…literally, not the figurative way! I’m real, because who else would put the water on you.”
Flag wiped his face, realizing that there was truth to Mayo’s words, “You’re…you’re not dead. You’re actually-”
Mayo rubbed the back of his head, turning away sheepishly, “Here? Yeah, yeah! Apparently Waller lied to you guys about me surviving, though it’s hard to remember how I-”
Without warning, Flag grabbed Mayo and pulled him into a hug, squeezing him tight. There was a shakiness to his voice, but Mayo could tell that Flag was just…so incredibly overwhelmed.
“You’re… still here,” said Flag.
“Yup! Still here! Loving the hug,” said Mayo. “But I think I’m good now.”
Flag continued to hug Mayo.
“Flag? Flag?” Mayo began to tap on Flag’s shoulder, his voice becoming more of a wheeze as the hug grew tighter. “Flag! Lemme tap out! I can’t breathe, you’re gonna put me in the hospital again! Flaaaaag!”
At that final screech, Flag finally let go, allowing Mayo to catch his breath. The Colonel took a seat on the bed, amazed, “I…this…this feels like a goddamn miracle. I mean, when do any of us catch a break?”
“Catch a break? I mean, I lost an eye,” said Mayo. “But I’m not dead, so I’ll call it a pyrrhic victory.”
“Shit. I’ve got more to say to Waller now,” said Flag. “But that can wait. How have things been?”
“Well, aside from adjusting to the fact that I don’t have depth perception anymore,” said Mayo. “I’m mostly just trying to figure out more life stuff. I was writing down some recipes for different marination sauces.”
“You cook here?” asked Flag.
“They let me into the kitchen sometimes. I’ve had a lot of the flavorless goop when I lived in the cells, so I thought I’d try making something with taste,” said Mayo. “I managed to make some really good Huli-Huli chicken, some chili cheese dogs. I’d love to make more than the others.”
“I’m sure they’d appreciate it!” said Flag. “Though you being alive is already gonna make ‘em happy, Harley especially.”
At Harley’s mention, Mayo’s cheery expression wavered, and his gaze drifted away from Flag’s eyes, “Oh, yeah! Harley.”
Flag raised an eyebrow, “Mitch? What’s wrong?”
“I,” Mayo sighed. “Listen, it’s probably occurred to you that I’m not really a normal prisoner anymore. I don’t have my bomb, and they put me up in your room.”
“Right…”
“And it’s because…it’s because Waller doesn’t think she needs me anymore,” said Mayo. “This cooking stuff? It’s my way of having a skill set for the outside. I say the word, and I’ll be able to head out and grab a job at some top military general’s favorite food joint. Job’s waiting, and I won’t even have to do any parole stuff. It'd be an early release, no strings attached.”
“Shit,” Flag’s eyes widened. “That’s a hell of a deal.”
“Yeah, but I haven’t taken it because…”
“Harley?”
Mayo sighed, “Because of everyone. If I take it, I don’t think I’d be able to face them, Harley especially.”
Flag crossed his arms, “Well…after you said what you said to her, I think you should talk to her either way.”
“After what I said?” Mayo frowned. “What did I say?”
“You…” Flag shook his head. “Wait, you don’t remember?”
“I don’t remember anything from about a week before I was in the hospital,” said Mayo. “The Doctors told me this was lucky though. I got shot in the head, could’ve been really really bad. I could’ve lost all my memories, or my cognitive abilities….or y’know. I could’ve straight up died.”
“So you don’t remember-”
“No,” said Mayo. “Which is why I need you to tell me what I said.”
Flag grimaced, “I don’t think it’s my place to say.”
“What, why?!”
“Because you said some very personal things to her,” said Flag. “If you talk to anyone about what’s going on with you, you should talk to her.”
“Ah jeez.” Mayo shook his head, sitting down at the desk, “I just…god I don’t know what to do. I don’t want to be here anymore, even in my current circumstances. But I also don’t want to leave anyone behind.”
Flag took a seat on the bed, across from Mayo. “Then talk to them, tell them this stuff yourself. They might think differently.”
“I don’t know if I can face them, knowing I can leave at any time and they can’t.” said Mayo.
“I can be there,” said Flag. “And trust me when I say that whatever choice you make…it should be your choice only. Don’t let anyone else tell you otherwise. They might be giving their opinions, but it’s your ticket, and you can do what you want with it.”
Mayo smiled, “Thanks Flag, I think I needed to hear that.”
“Good, then get ready, because tomorrow you’ll be able to see them,” said Flag. “Not now though. Now is when I hit the sack.”
Without another word, Flag laid down in bed again, closing his eyes. Sleep came almost instantly. Nodding to himself, Mayo turned back to his desk, writing down some extra notes for his recipe. Tomorrow was now potentially one of the biggest days of his life, and he had to be prepared to say what he wanted to say to everyone else. Yawning, he put down his pen and got out of his chair, deciding that it was time for bed. Looking at the occupied mattress, Mayo suddenly realized something, “Shit…now where am I gonna sleep.”
 
Next Issue: Will he remain?
 

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