Checking in with a preview · 3:40pm May 24th, 2021
Hey there, fellow adventurers!
Just wanted to let you all know I'm alive, over here! I've been struggling a lot with my mental health lately, so writing has been REALLY difficult. I know that doesn't fit with the classic "tortured artist" trope, but a secret most artistic-types won't tell you is that we don't actually feel like creating when we're in pain, physical or otherwise. I'm seeing a therapist now and am trying to make an appointment to get new medication, so I expect I'll improve and be able to get back to really creating soon.
As a way of saying thanks for your patience, have a preview from the next chapter of The Multiverse in a Nutshell!
"On your left!"
Skye turned and fired. Instincts honed by training directed her aim without conscious thought. A bullet shattered through the bone-like material on the monster's face, and a moment later its body had dissolved to ashes as its life ended.
She didn't like using guns, especially when she wasn't using her team's non-lethal "icers," but she was getting used to them. For monsters like these, it wasn't necessary to try and take them alive... plus, it helped her take out some of her frustration. Ever since HYDRA had turned SHIELD inside out, they'd been dealing with one wildfire after another while Coulson tried to pick up the pieces.
"I'm not liking these numbers. Even if these monsters go down easy, I've only got so many bullets!"
Coulson fired a trio of shots, taking down two centipede-like monsters.
"SHIELD's job here is to keep the perimeter secure, so that's what we're going to do! We're keeping these 'Grimm' from turning the main fight with Salem into a numbers game!"
Both of them had their attention drawn to the sound of cracking wood and rustling leaves. Both of them raised their weapons as a massive, white-armored scorpion tore its way through the trees, coming to a stop just in front of them. It hissed and snapped its pincers in a threatening display.
"Um, Coulson? I don't think-"
"I know!" Coulson shouted, raising his gun in spite of the fact they were woefully underarmed. "Aim for the weak points! Eyes, stinger-"
Before Coulson could finish stating the obvious, another voice cut him off. "Like, TEAM ATTACK!"
A hailstorm of glowing white projectiles rained down, pummeling the scorpion hard enough to force its body to the ground. Before it had time to recover, two hulking figures leaped in, swords flashing in the moonlight. The first one sliced clean through the base of the stinger, and the second buried his cleaver-like sword in the center of its head. The monster let out a shriek before dissolving away. The two figures both looked like burly brutes in plate armor, one with a pair of long rabbit ears coming from the top of his helmet and the other with a pair of wide fin-like protrusions. Both of them were extremely muscular, and nearly as broad-chested as they were tall.
"Like, you two okay?" The bunny-eared one asked, leaning his sword on his shoulder.
Skye and Coulson both glanced at each other before nodding in the affirmative.
"Th-Thanks..."
"Like, no problem! All in a day's work for the Royal Guard!" He declared cheerfully. The second one nodded in affirmation, seeming to prefer to keep silent. "The Captain's doing her part, so, like, we'll make sure to do ours!"
The two creatures rushed off back into the trees, already seeming to know where their next target was.
"Monsters, magic, other worlds..." Coulson muttered quietly, "If I hadn't been reading Sunset and Penn's reports every week, I wouldn't believe it all."
"You're telling me... Those things read like some kind of self-insert fanfiction." Skye chuckled to herself. "The fact that we live in a world where they have to be taken as fact blows my mind."
"Still, that's part of what makes them so great, right?" Coulson smiled. "Reaching out into the multiverse with an open hand and a SHIELD badge? Boldly going where no one has gone before?"
Skye blinked, turning to look at him with confusion. "I thought Star Wars was your thing?"
"I can have multiple interests!" Coulson declared indignantly. "Besides, I've been learning from Penn's example, learning more about other worlds through popular media. Figure maybe it'll help to expand my repertoire."
Skye spotted more motion in the trees, Grimm waiting anxiously for the moment they let their guard down. She tightened her grip on her weapon, taking only a second to double-check her clip. "Well, Director, be careful how much time you spend binge watching. We've got enough problems in our own universe."
"A universe which, to be frank, I cannot WAIT to get back to..." Coulson muttered, locking a new magazine into place. "Once this is all over, I no longer feel bad about what I'm gonna be putting on their shoulders."
Skye looked at the numerous red eyes glowing in the dark. She knew she needed to conserve ammo, which meant waiting for these monsters to make the first move. She tightened her grip on her gun, keeping Agent May's training in mind to keep herself calm.
They needed to stick to the plan. From the moment Penn had shouted the code word for Undyne to move in, they'd closed the trap on Salem. SHIELD and the monsters' Royal Guard were responsible for making sure that trap STAYED closed. They had to keep the perimeter ironclad, nothing in and nothing out. That was the plan they'd all made together.
The agents of SHIELD weren't going to be the weak link in all of this.
I was starting to worry about you because of the lack of updates, is good to hear that you are “Ok”.
Now in regards to that “ok”, hopefully things get better soon. Remember that we (as in your readers and the fandom in general) are very comprehensive, and don’t wish to pressure you, so is ok for you to take your time to get everything in your life back on track.
Ps: At the risk of being repetitive. I hope you get better soon
You go dude! Preview looks amazing, and I'm excited of course, but if you need the time to make sure you are okay and to recover, that's infinitely more important. Thank you for the status update, it's very kind of you to let us know what's going on instead of being completely silent, and I hope you feel better soon!
Best wishes Penn! Hope everything goes well!