#adventure?

[ligeiahawthorne]

y'all i broke a whole tooth on my cereal today

໒꒰ྀི × ˕ ×｡꒱ྀི১

b e t r a Y a l

[0perfectimperfections0]

Hi!!! Can you continue the factory default.Its really good!! I kinda wonder what if Lou meet the spy girls(and maybe Nolan?).

I think it would be pretty funny.Like,the spy girls heard the gossips about Lou coming back and try find out if its true.And it was.When they met face to face,the spy girls were shock,scared( maybe) and mad at the same time.The spy girls was about to cast Lou out but Ox stop them.Ox then explain to the girls about Lou condition.Some of the girls didn't believe him and thought that Lou was acting innocent except Tuesday.Tuesday kind of take advantage of this.Like trick Lou into thinking that he did something soo bad to her and Lou try to have Tuesday fogiveness since he wanted to prove that he's a good doll.Lou then turn into a romantic gentelmen as he do everything Tuesday ask him to.Like,kiss her cheeck,gives hes flower and all sort of that as she said that everything he did was a good doll doing.Its like the table turn around where Lou looks like he obsessed with Tuesday.

Well,that was pretty long.I hope this is okay and sorry for my grammar.English is my second language.Have a good day/afternoon/night!!

I don't know if I'll get to this point in the story in this part or not, I really just am kind of using this ask as a means to "answer" is whilst posting another part to Factory Default.

But I like this idea! And yes I will incorporate it in some manner, just probably not to the same extent because Lou is, well, oblivious to what romantic actions are and how to do them, so ultimately I think Tuesday would use "teaching" him as an excuse to get really lovey-dovey with him without the other realizing it.

------------

Ox nearly missed the coffee cup the following morning. His body jerked slightly to quickly abort the action before he shook his head, reassessed his hand-eye coordination, and finished pouring himself a cup of hot coffee.

Sleep had not come easy to him.

Not because he'd been worried or stressed. No, being a mayor of two different types of dolls makes one accustomed to such feelings. It was because a certain blond had refused to go to sleep. Not even acknowledging the fact that Lou had refused to change into something as simple as pajamas - something about rules, Ox didn't know what he'd been blabbering about - but because Lou was adamant that he wasn't supposed to sleep.

It was something about those stupid rules he kept spewing out like scripture.

Ox didn't understand it, and he would have asked Lou about them, but something told him the blond didn't entirely understand his blind faith either. He upheld those rules he preached and had no basis behind any of them other than "my Creator told me to."

It came to Ox's attention that Lou had never just innately known wrong vs right and had simply based all of his morals on a set of rules his creator had given him. Which explained many, many things, in the context of the old Lou's actions.

"What is that?" Said blond asked curiously, standing beside Ox with his arms folded neatly behind him and full eyes fixed on the strange liquid that the bunny nearly spilled again.

Ox jolted slightly, having not heard Lou even approach. The kid's footsteps were almost silent if one wasn't paying attention. Or half awake, in Ox's case. "It's called coffee," Ox answered after recomposing himself, his voice a bit rough from sleep - or lack thereof.

"Caw-fee," Lou tested the word on his tongue, but there was no green light from his microchip. Apparently Lou didn't learn by example or pictures, he learned by definition. Which also explained a lot.

Ox decided to supply him with a definition. "It's a type of drink that gives ya energy."

Coffee: a type of drink that gives energy.

The green flash finally appeared where Lou's chip was embedded and his eyes lit up at having learned such crucial information about the world he lived in.

"Like a Model 12 drink?" Lou inquired again, trying to piece together just what exactly this "coffee" thing was.

Ox furrowed his face for a moment at the question, not quite understanding where Lou got it from. It took a moment for him to realize that Lou was basing that inquiry of the word "type" that he had used. Lou probably only associated the word from "doll type Model 12."

"Ah, no, well," Ox teetered his head, pouring Lou a cup of coffee as well and setting the pot back into the coffee machine. "Model 12 dolls can drink coffee, but anyone can drink coffee.

Coffee: Can be drunken by anyone.

Another green flash of light.

"May I have cup?" Lou asked, head tilting this time as he copied the way Ox had teetered his head.

Ox, of course, already had one prepared, but the polite phrasing of the question was cute anyway. He gave Lou a tired smile. "Do you like sweet or bitter?"

Lou didn't know what either of those words meant.

The bunny trilled his lips. This was going to be a long day. "Y'know what, nevermind," he rolled his eye and went to the fridge to grab the creamer. If he remembered correctly, Lou loved sweet things. Which was ironic, considering his personality.

His current personality, though, was definitely sweet.

Lou copied the way Ox had picked up his mug and drank it in the same manner the bunny did. He instinctively recoiled, though, and stuck out his tongue. "Hurt," he shook his head, gingerly setting the cup back onto the counter.

"Oh, sorry, I guess it's still hot," Ox quickly filled a small glass of water and handed it to Lou. At least the blond knew what water was and didn't ask questions.

"Hot?" Lou asked after sipping the cooler liquid.

"Like...," boy Ox was going to need a dictionary at this rate. He rolled one hand through the air, the other holding his own cup, as he searched for the proper definition. "What you just felt. That's hot," he gestured lamely to Lou's cup of coffee, having found no better way to explain that didn't use synonyms for 'hot'.

Hot: something that hurts.

A flash of green appeared again beneath Lou's felt and Ox had to wonder if it did that whenever Lou learned the correct thing, or if it did that if he learned anything at all. Which meant Ox was going to have to be careful with what he taught. If Lou had no sense of right and wrong, then he also had no way of distinguishing truth and lies.

Which also explained a lot.

Lou sat down on the edge of the couch with his coffee in both hands, eyeing the steam curiously and wondering if there was any connection between the two states of matter.

Another thing that came to Ox's attention was that Lou didn't seem to come to his own conclusions. It appeared that he solely believed and learned only that which was strictly taught to him, but he learned nothing of his own.

Which meant that the solid rock beliefs he had had a vice grip on prior to his factory reset was taught to him and not something he had chosen to believe. Lou didn't even entirely understand what the word "ugly" meant.

It seemed that every new discovery just led to more questions.

"Maybe his creator was teaching him that stuff?" Moxy had suggested once everyone finally communed back at Ox's house, later that morning. Her and Ox stood by the wayside, where the kitchen and living room joined together, separated only by the line where the kitchen tile and carpet met.

Ox didn't respond for a moment, physically or verbally, but it was apparent that Moxy's theory was the only one they could really lean on for the moment. Whoever Lou's creator was, he seemed to have a strong influence - and was quite possibly the only influence - on the blond doll.

Lou was currently being entertained by Mandy and the Spy Girls - the latter of which had heard the rumors around Imperfection that Lou was back, and they had to see for themselves. The blond had Mandy's glasses on his face. While the old Lou would have neither wanted to try them on nor would he have gotten permission to wear them, Mandy couldn't resist the innocent curiosity he was exuding and had slid them onto his face.

Ox made a mental note to get Lou a pair of glasses after all this was over. The blond was both adorable in them and seemed to actually have impaired vision, if his sudden surprise to his old-yet-new surroundings were anything to go by.

"You have frozen time on your wall!" Lou had exclaimed with a glance in Ox's direction, one hand pointing both innocently and excitedly towards a picture frame hung on the far wall in the living room.

"It's a picture, bud," Ox corrected with an endeared smile.

A flash of green beneath Lou's felt.

Picture: a frozen moment of time hung on a wall.

Lou hummed and continued observing his not-new surroundings. Ox had to admit that this version of Lou had an odd way of titling things. It was as if Lou knew what something was, like he'd seen it before, but had never put a name to it.

Then it clicked.

Either Lou still had bits and pieces of his original memory, or the objects he was already familiar with were things he'd seen during his second awakening with his creator.

Both options were beneficial to getting Lou's memory back, but it would have to be tested somehow.

"Lou," Ox spoke up suddenly, drawing the blond from his observations.

"Louis," Lou corrected innocently, for the umpteenth time.

Ox merely gave a short sigh and a smile before continuing. "Do you remember where you were when you first woke up?"

"With my creator," he answered simply.

"Yeah, but where," Ox stressed, not quite knowing how to clarify his question further should Lou still not understand.

Lou blinked, his eyes darting around as if the answer to Ox's question was somewhere in the room. His eyes, still aided by the glasses on his face, pinpointed the picture again and he pointed whilst returning his attention to Ox. "There."

Everyone gave him various looks of confusion. Wage merely gave a look that clearly suggested she thought he was stupid. Ox understood, however, as he nodded and smiled as a means of showing Lou he had done a good job. "Alright. What else? Can you find where again?"

'Where', in Lou's mind, meant pinpointing things that had been in the place he recalled. Each object was a clue to exact setting he had reawakened in.

Lou pursed his lips, driven by the directive and supportive smile of the bunny. His eyes darted around again and he pointed this time to the window. "There."

Window. Picture.

"Light," Lou spoke a word this time for the 'where', already knowing what light was, thank God, because Ox dreaded to think how he would have had to explain something as elementary as light.

The blond pointed to the TV and opened his mouth to say something, but Mandy connected the dots at the same time Ox did.

"A computer," she looked at Ox with wide eyes, mostly to compensate for her lack of vision at the moment.

"He must've been in an office," Michael continued their train of thought, arms crossed as he watched Lou tilt his head at them.

The blond looked at the TV, keeping his head tilted during the motion. A flash of green lit faintly beneath the felt of his neck. Computer: a large object with a lit picture on it.

Ah, dang it, they'd have to remediate that later. For now, Ox supposed it wasn't doing Lou any harm to think that a TV and a computer were the same thing.

"Which means the hard drive is probably kept at his creator's desk," Michael spoke again. "If Lou was close enough to the computer to see it, then the information we need is near wherever the desk is."

"Again," Wage spoke up, her voice a bit brisk, "we're talkin' like we're gonna go there and just grab it. How big is a hard drive, exactly?"

"Pretty big," Michael shrugged, "but if Babo and someone else helped, it shouldn't be a problem."

"When did you suddenly switch sides?" Moxy questioned, her gaze towards Michael slightly accusing. "I thought you preferred this Lou?"

"Yeah, well, this Lou is almost more trouble than he was before," Michael grumbled, looking the blond up and down in slight contempt. "It's harder to insult him when he doesn't understand half of what I'm saying." Both Moxy and Ox gave him a flat look.

"Whatever sways you, I guess," Moxy rolled her eyes. "So, are we heading in that direction or what? Is this a today thing?"

"We need to make sure that Lou knows exactly where to go, first," Ox shook his head, nodding towards the blond. "I don't wanna just assume he remembered the way back here and end up gettin' lost halfway through a pipe. Especially now that the recycle was unblocked."

"You mean we're trusting him with directions?" Wage jerked an incredulous thumb over at Lou, her eyes on Ox as if the notion was incredibly ridiculous.

Which...it probably was.

"The kid has some kind of photographic memory," Ox reasoned, folding his arms. "Even if he don't learn that way, he remembers things vividly. Like just now," he nodded vaguely towards the TV/Computer. "I wouldn't be surprised if he at least remembered specific landmarks between here and there."

Wage rolled her eyes, teetering her head as she spoke sarcastically. "Yeah, turn left at the pipe, then another left at the other pipe. Oh! And don't forget the pipe that connects to the other pipe right before you enter the fifth pipe."

That...was true. Part of the way there was through the pipes and none of the inner features in it were distinguishable enough to be of use, even if Lou knew which directions he had gone in.

"Thirty-two taps, left," Lou spoke up then, arms folded behind his back and full eyes on Ox. "Forty-seven taps forward, right."

Ox blinked. "What?"

"Thirty-two taps," Lou repeated, moving over to the kitchen before pausing and walking forward in an exemplary manner. The slight heel of his shoes made a tapping noise against the vinyl. He then made a turn towards his left. "Left. Forty-two forward." He took more steps before pausing, not going the whole forty-two, but just enough to make his point.

"He's memorized the distance," Moxy muttered in awe, looking between Lou's feet as he gave his example and the blond himself.

"How do you know that?" Ox quickly asked Lou, a sense of urgency in his tone.

Lou straightened - as if he wasn't constantly upright in his posture - and gestured with a single finger towards his eyes and then ear. "No see. Hear. It was dark."

"And you said he was stupid," UglyDog gave Moxy a sarcastic look over his shoulder.

"Okay, well, can you blame me?" Moxy threw her hands up in exasperation, gesturing towards Lou. "How does he remember any of this, anyway? Who just instinctively counts the steps wherever they go?"

"Rule number forty-eight," Lou responded, arms still behind his back and his words sounding more educated as he repeated what was very likely his version of scripture, "Prototype must be attentive at all times."

Ox's mouth quirked into a grimace at how robotic and brain-washed it sounded whenever Lou recited a rule. He didn't even know where the kid was getting this stuff from, outside of what his creator must have taught him.

"Well, that explains the photographic memory," Wage muttered under her breath.

"We'll use it to our advantage then," Michael was already heading towards the door, wanting to get this escapade over as soon as possible. He paused with a hand on the knob, looking over at the Spy Girls. "You three coming with us?"

Kitty crossed her arms, giving him a smile that suggested that the notion of staying behind was absolutely laughable. "We wouldn't miss a chance to break in somewhere."

"And with Ox's permission, too," Lydia added with a grin over at the mayor.

"We could use the extra pairs of eyes," Ox waved a hand flippantly as he followed Michael out the door, the others following suit. "Just don't get cocky and don't narrate everything you're doin'."

At that last command, both Lydia and Kitty gave Tuesday a look, who in turn just smiled sheepishly.

-------

Okay, so I didn't get to the little tidbit in the ask where there's that moment with Tuesday and Lou. I had planned on sneaking it in, but the story kept moving and it felt too awkward to just shove in that interaction. The next part will have it, though.

I think I just needed a break from the fandom, cause now I'm in a writing mood and have a lot of momentum going for me, so I apologize in advance for the post-spamming. But after so many months of not posting anything, I think I'm past due, anyhow.

[luveline]

Your original thing sounds a bit like mine! I keep describing mine as similar to Supernatural and The Magnus Archives. However, despite having the ability to write a story about the paranormal/supernatural, it’s a romance. However there are times where I think about adding more stuff or changing the genre cause I enjoy world building.

I think mines a firm mix of horror and ‘coming of age’ or something like that

[tohakumaru]

reach out and hold the creature's hands

do you remember, when you were 4 years old and someoone read to you a poem about a dog that ran away during the bombing of the north, and a child that would endlessly wait for it to come home? and for a while you would cry yourself to sleep, to the lost dogs that didn't come home.

bad habits die hard, don't they?

you are falling through the sky now. you wonder why you are always surprised to see stars. they are, afterall, precisely where they are meant to be. aren't they?

you see a shivering being, like a stork on its side. translucent skin softly quivers as every uneven breath shakes its brittle bones, like hollow ceramics shattering under the tablecloth in the summer. and then it is gone and you are alone with the stars again. you feel a lump forming in your throat, rising to your eyes, as though every goodbyes you have ever uttered comes together and embraces you, all at once.

but you don't cry. you open your eyes.

what do you see?

a dessert spanning out for miles

(cold, glittering sand sings to the stars above. a moonless sky)

a rocky landscape, windswept.

(towering pines of rocks piercing the heights)

(low hills in the distance engraved with what seems to be roads)

an abandoned village, torn awning covers fluttering in the winds

(the streets are drowned in white sand)

(the windows are either boarded or taken over by darkness)

(all but one)

Voting ended onOct 15, 2023

[justskulkingaround]

Now I’m beginning to wonder what kind of writing I’m known for??

[agentmothman18]

Idk?

During high school, many kids go though many changes. From facial features to their overall outlook. The ugly girls that got picked on, well they blossomed and became the center of attention. And even some jocks, bullies once, had changed into more of gentle giants. So when Dib Membrane went from gothic alien loving freak to gothic bad boy, it wasn't much of a surprise. The geek that everyone hated was now either feared because of his looks or thought to be the coolest guy ever.

And then there was Zim. Who, after finding out about the truth, started to express his defective emotions. He practically became the school's flower child, one with a bad temper of course. As a way to cope with being banished and defective, Zim had thrown everything out that wasn't from earth, except Gir. He redecorated with anything vibrant in color and took a great liking to earth plants. Hint as to why he was called 'flower child.'

The two were completely different from when they first met. But they still talked, sometimes argued, and sometimes just ignored each other all together. With how their looks and personalities had changed, many students thought their little rivalry would get worse. It didn't, in fact, the change was probably the healthiest thing to have happened to them.

"Dib!" Oh, and then there's Keef. The once chaoticly hyper child was now mellowed out. Taking on more of 'I dont care' type of persona. Though the boy was still quite hyper and easily excited about certain things.

Dib glanced up from his sketch book and watched as Keef pranced over. He knew this could only mean the boy was excited about something and was going to tell him everything. Sometimes, Dib had to wonder how Keef and him became friends.

"My 18th birthday party is the same night as prom!" Keef sat on the bench next to Dib, glancing at the drawing only momentarily before closing the book for Dib. "You now have to come to prom." Keef stated, shaking Dib's shoulder. Some kids where watching them, the ones that believed Dib was like how he dressed. Dangerous and ready to snap someone in half. So they had curious and shocked expressions as they watched a preppy guy shake a scary guy like it was normal.

"Keef, buddy." Dib started, scooting away as to hint he didn't want to be shook anymore. "As much as I want to go to prom, I'm not." He was sarcastic, looking at Keef with a blank expression. Dib would like to spend time with his friend for their birthday, but going to prom to do so was a no go. If one thing has stayed the same, it would be Dib's hatred for crowds. Sure he has done many things involving crowds and all attention to be on him, but that doesn't mean he likes it.

"Prom is boring anyway. Why not throw a house party instead?" Zim questioned, jumping into the conversation as he plopped himself between them. He had plans for Friday night, and that was to yet again, throw the control brains guards off his back. Zim may have thrown everything Irken away, but he still did stupid and illegal things. Like steal secret information about the tallests.

Keef then went on to whine about how everyone would be at prom. Or how they needed to go and support him to become prom king. Neither boys cracked under the pressure, until certain things were brought up into the pleading. Keef was using blackmail, even though he didn't want to, he really wanted them to go. This was the only way, at least that's what he thought. It worked, both finally agreeing to go to prom.

"That was low." Zim hissed, crossing his arms and legs. Dib only nodded and open his sketch book.

--

Prom was loud and annoying. To many people were there, talking and dancing and eating. Dib had hid in the corner of the gym, by the food and punch and was glaring at everyone. He hated the tux he had to wear, and loudness of the music and chatter, and it was pretty hot with. Dib had only seen Keef once, telling him happy birthday before the boy disappeared in the crowd. And Zim has yet to arrive.

"You're being antisocial." Dib quickly looked down at Zim, completely thrown by his outfit. Instead of a tux, the short alien was wearing a loose blue dress and 2 inch heels. And surprisingly, Zim looked really good in it.

"You're wearing a dress." Dib stated back, still confused. Well he shouldn't be all that confused, for nearly 3 years he got to see Zim in that irken dress thing.

Zim looked down at himself, lightly dusting off his dress even though it wasnt dirty. The only reason he was wearing a dress was because he found the female clothing cute and fun. And much better then men clothing. "Yes. Zim likes this dress." He looked back to at Dib, then looked him over. Like most teen boys he was wearing a tux but with a dark blue button up and a white tie.

"Aw!" Both jumped at hearing Keef. "You two didn't tell me you were coming together, and with matching colors!" Keef wrapped his arms around their neck, giving them this awkward hug. Both Zim and Dib looked at themselves then at each other, only now realizing just how ironic their color choices were.

"Coincidence." Dib said, slipping from Keefs hold. He brushed himself off and glanced around. Most were standing around and talking instead of dancing to the music. He then noticed someone he hadn't seen at school before. They were dressed appropriately but something felt off about them to Dib.

"Let's all dance!" Keef cheered, quickly pulling the two out into the crowd. It didn't take much for Keef to convince Zim to dance, but Dib refused. He could dance but doing it in front of people was a no for him.

Though he did tap his foot and sway just a bit to the music. Nothing compared to the other teens who danced as if at a rave. But soon the song slowed down, and Keef took this as his sign to go find a dance partner. Leaving the two boys alone in a slightly uncomfortable silence.

Though, Dib finally decided he wanted to dance. "Wanna dance?" He questioned Zim, holding out his hand for the alien. Zim was only shocked of a seconded before taking the boys hand letting him lead. Unlike others that danced to the slow song, the two talked about random things and kept a little distance between them.

As the song came to the end, the two hesitated before separating. Smiling nervously at each other before turning their attention to the principal on stage. It was time to announce the king and queen of prom, and if it wasnt for Keef Dib would have left at this time.

"Think he's going to win?" Zim asked, folding his arms over his chest. He knew this was going to take forever because the principal will give a long speach about safety.

"Yeah." Dib nodded, glancing around. He was searching for that person again, curious to know who they were. His gut was telling him to yo search for them but he wouldn't.

The principal talked on and on about safe driving after prom and even safe sex. Which no one would probably listen to. Soon enough it was time for him to announce the king and queen. Starting with the queen, it was some popular girl Dib didn't care about. Keef had been announced king, no surprise, but everyone still cheered and wished him happy birthday.

Everything was going pretty normal until the roof of the gym was ripped off. A bunch of screaming filled the air and everyone trying to get through the doors. When Dib saw the irken symbol on the ships above, he immediately glared at Zim.

"What the hell did you do?!" He exclaimed, irritation bubbling up.

"I didn't do anything!" Zim hissed back at him, watching irken soldiers dropping down. "Okay maybe Zim stole important data, not the point!" Zim quickly grabbed Dibs arm, pulling him through the crowd of people.

More screams erupted from the crowd, teens being kidnapped by the irken soldiers. The two continued pushing through the crowd, picking up Keef along the way.

"What's going on??" Keef questioned, scared like any normal teen as he followed his two friends.

"Zim fucked up, that's what." Dib grumbled, earning a slap from the alien. He would have slapped him back if it wasnt for the lazer like bullet shooting between them.

Zim picked up his pace, ripping the long part of the dress off to make running easier. He may be shorter than the two humans but he was still fast enough to keep up.

They weren't fast enough though, an alien ship landing in front of them and easily cornering them. The three surrendered, knowing it would be death if they didn't.

--

Dib had long since stripped from the tuxjacket and tie. Pacing around the small cell as he thought of many different plans to escape. All seemed good enough but he couldn't think to far ahead because he didn't know the layout of this ship. Plus he would also have to save all the other teens that were kidnapped. He didn't mind, but this all brought him back to a few years ago. Leaving him with the strong urge to say 'I told you all.'

"Could you stop that?" Keef questioned, his nervous already on edge. Watching Dib pace around only made it worse. The taller boy sighed but stopped, sitting down on the metal floor. Across from their cell was an empty one that would probably be used later. Their cell at least had a bed. "Thank you." Keef sighed, glancing around.

Ever since they were taken, neither of the boys had seen Zim. This raised more questions in Dibs mind. Last he checked, the Tallest hated Zim and told him off. Now they probably had him locked up away from the humans or worse, erased.

As Keef was going to voice his concerns, their attention turned to the door opening. A big alien stepped in front of the door, obviously not an irken, and pointed at Dib. "Come." The alien ordered, stepping out of the way of the door. Dib glanced at Keef before getting up and leaving the cell. He felt a bit bad leaving Keef behind but there was no telling what was going to happen from here.

[writeinspiration]

Writing Prompt

Faded photographs in the back of your kitchen drawer unlock the secrets of the past.