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maybefae · 7 months ago

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Your First Impression of Your Person

Pile 1 - Pile 2 - Pile 3

Remember, this is a general reading and it may not resonate for everyone or completely. Tarot is a tool to help guide but you are responsible for your actions and life, you choose your path.

I was leaning more towards a romantic partner that you are going to end up with that will have a significant place in your life but take it as it resonates for you.

Tips!

|Pile 1

Tarot: Eight of Swords (horizontal), Death, The High Priestess, Seven of Pentacles, Ten of Cups (horizontal), Page of Cups, Four of Pentacles, The Star (reversed), The Fool

Oracle: The Ladybug and Sweet Pea (happiness), The Chipmunk and Laurel (success), The Otter and Cattail (peace)

This person is someone that your soul has been letting you know was coming with certain signs or messages. And this could be someone you wished for, but there is a strong sense that this person was just meant to come into your life. It’s like you wished for this person and didn’t know that they were gonna come in whether you wished for them or not. I believe fate and freewill coincide together and this is one of those grey areas.

Your person comes in either when a new chapter starts for you or this person comes in and triggers it. Whichever this new chapter is happening, there is a feeling of uncertainty and pessimistic caution - as if trust had been bruised. You almost feel like a wolf backed into a corner and someone is encroaching on your space and you’re trying to decide if they are safe or if you need to bite your way out of a situation. I don’t know if the new chapter has left you feeling a little vulnerable or if you did your little spells (writing down your persons characteristics, a letter from their POV of you, or moodboards), but it took longer than you expected so you developed a resentment of some kind. You’re skeptical of them. It’s like a “oh, now you decide to show up when I don’t want you anymore.” But you know that you still do but your own expectations have hurt you. Your person has done nothing to you.

In fact, you decide to give them a singular cup with caution to see if they can fill it because you still want them. You’re treading lightly and they realize this. They genuinely want to offer you ten full cups and you realize that quickly with how much they bring to the table. They do bring you a lot of happiness and peace, which their entrance into your life probably wasn’t anything grand. Their peaceful stroll into your life probably made you skeptical as well as angry. “But they are what you need(ed).” You probably expected something dramatic because of past people or situations and when you didn’t get that from your person, it felt unsafe. You may have some doubts and think “this wasn’t what I wished for.” But it was, deep down it was. And your wishes were a success.

I think you will be very emotional after dropping the wall finally. I think they will do something that will show you that they love you early on and it will make your walls instantly fall. There’s a feeling of guilt for being so resentful and angry towards your person and you may not know how to forgive yourself. But just know, your person says that you have nothing to be sorry for. There could be a moment when you decide to tell them this and your tears will be dried by them.

|Pile 2

Tarot: The Hierophant, The Hanged Man, Nine of Pentacles, Nine of Swords, The Empress, Ace of Wands, The Lovers, Four of Wands, The Star

Oracle: The Eel and Iris (safety), The Boar and Pumpkin (confidence), The Snake and Fern (starting over), The Skunk and Magnolia (protection)

Before I pull the cards, I ended up shuffling face up for a moment. Your person may show you all their cards upfront so you know what they want, their boundaries, and their feelings towards you. There isn’t any pussy-footing around feelings and playing games. They are too grown for that and they take love and relationships very seriously. I had to go back and pull an oracle card I say while resetting the deck and it was The Eel and Iris card which represents safety in this deck. There are two messages here. They will leave if they don’t think you are safe. They are slimy in the way of being able to get away if you start to play with their heart, not that they are a player and wiggle in and out of your life. Absolutely not. And they offer you and your heart a lot of safety by presenting all their cards to you right away. They don’t play games. If it’s important, Iris by The Goo Goo Dolls could hold significance. - Just from getting all these messages without pulling any cards, or just from this one oracle card, I have a very strong feeling about this message. They get to business in a very determined and sure-footed way. They are dependable.

Now that I pulled the cards, my top messages are correct. You will find their confidence very attractive because it doesn’t come off in a cocky way. Their confidence comes off just in a sure and stable way. They made it very clear to you that they find you “absolutely breathtaking” as soon as they got to talk to you (and in the same moment, they ask you on a date and your NUMBER, not your social media.) I think they will also be very attractive and not someone you expect to be attracted to you. They are very successful - everything else in their life is in line but they don’t have a lover. They are very picky so you should feel lucky they chose you. They are looking for commitment, something serious. For some this could be marriage but if you don’t like that idea, make that clear right away because they will like how you’re sure of your wants. They will respect it, especially if you make it abundantly clear that you want something committed and long term outside of legal bindings.

There is a lot of sexual tension in this pile. And there is a very wealthy energy coming off the both of you, especially with how formal I felt writing this. It was like I was writing a contract.

I think that they will also let you know pretty early on that this could be a start over for them and they are giving love one more try before giving up. Maybe they could’ve given up before hand but you two got sexually involved and it led to them giving the both of you a shot. With them laying their cards on the table and you laying down yours, it creates a very stable foundation for the both of you to grow off of. This feels like a very mature energy, maybe 30s? There is a feeling of creating some sort of foundation for yourself, even it you could just be starting your foundation then.

|Pile 3

Tarot: Three of Swords, The Hierophant, Ace of Wands, Judgement, Knight of Wands, Queen of Cups, The Hermit, Nine of Cups, Temperance, Strength

Oracle: The Wolf and Rose Hip (guardianship), The Vulture and Asphodel (upheaval), The Sheep and Blackberry (devotion)

The Three of Swords instantly jumped out when I started shuffling. And before I started, the knight of cups was at the bottom…I believe your person wanted to bring your own heartbreak to light first and foremost. I don’t believe this card is part of your impression of them. This feels like a combination of their opinion of you combined with what you think of them. There’s a deep feeling of heartbreak from you but I don’t think you’ve given up on love, you really just want to finally meet the person you’ll spend your life with. The love of your life. This pile isn’t for someone seeking something temporary.

Pile 3, your person is the love of your life. They truly love you and I think that is why they wanted me to talk about you first. They come in very protectively, a wolf guarding their sheep. It’s not that you’re fragile but they have a good understanding that you are sensitive and a soft soul, which brings out their protective side. I think you welcome it because there is a feeling of instant safety you get from this person, like finally finding shelter to stand under while the rain clouds clear up. They instantly light up the passion you had for love again because they come in with the same passion, which isn’t inherently sexual either. This passion comes from a place of safety and comfort from each other, it’s like finally experiencing a love that isn’t so intense. Puppy love…maybe love that is usually experienced when you’re younger. There is a sense of them bringing back light-hearted fun, that love doesn’t have to be so taxing on your soul (and it shouldn’t be).

There is a message of, “your patience will be rewarded.”

They see you as an angel, pile 3. And they are merely your knight and they offer you so much devotion. I know this should be your first impression of them but I think you see this practically right away. “Light dawns on marble head.” They bring you out of the hermit phase and show you that they have all nine cups and you only need to bring your one cup so you can have the Ten of Cups together. They don’t expect anything other than your presence, you just have to show up and give them love. That’s all they expect from you and I think that comes as a surprise to you because people had expected so much of you and stripped you of it all so you were left empty. It probably took you a long time to fill your own cup again. They bring new and wanted change even though it may come with some uncomfortability from your end.

Dividers: @inklore

#pick a card #tarot #pac #pick a pile #maybefae tarot #tarot reading

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brandstifter-sys · 2 months ago

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Hot Mess

@dukexietyweek 2025 Day 8 - Music

Word Count: 2626 (Ao3)

Rating: T+

Characters: All mentioned

Warnings/Content: Genderbend, sex mention, alcohol mention, drunk ree, song fic

Vi works at a night club as a DJ and bartender, and a certain repeat customer has her attention. Reina is a wily, untamed whirlwind of confidence and a knack for getting into trouble, and she wants the hot gothy bartender so bad

---

Sometimes Vi really hated her job, usually the days when she had to help at the bar instead of spinning discs. And it would be no different that night.

She was in her favorite coffee shop, enjoying a blueberry danish and an americano, just listening to her music. The seat in the back away from the windows was the perfect spot to relax and enjoy some time to herself with some not-so-calming Hawthorne Heights.

She was just finishing her treat when a group of women walked in, chattering away excitedly. She recognized them, they were from the only sorority she knew of that didn't party and never hazed pledges. They were nice enough, but Vi tended to avoid them, lest she get swept up into socializing.

There was Peyton Jones, the sweet adorable one who loved pastels and cozy clothes. She was adorable and kind, and she seemed to love wearing her textured hair in twin puffs on top of her head. Then there was Leila Darzi, an Iranian student who chose to study geology. She was well spoken and eager to impart knowledge, except for details about her religion and why she wore a hijab. Vi asked her once, respectfully, how she put it on and kept it in place. Her answer was curt and precise, but she didn't get angry, which Vi considered a win.

Those two were discussing a history assignment while two other women followed them inside. The twins, Romana and Reina Castille Fernandes. Romana was a boisterous theater lover with a soccer scholarship and an ego to match. She was the princess on campus and she wasn't so bad, even if she had a way of grating on Vi’s nerves. They were a trio of upstanding young women.

Which is why Vi was surprised to see Reina with them. Reina was a party animal with a taste for booze and random hook-ups, and she was taking full advantage of her freedom to indulge. It was a miracle that she still had her scholarship and that she wasn't pregnant. And here she was with her hair down, in jeans, a t-shirt, and leather jacket, hanging with the good girls.

Vi didn't bother wondering what was going on, she was sure she would hear all about it later. While she was working.

Vi was right to think she would be forced into bar duty. Apparently the club managers weren't looking to play any cybergoth beats on their busiest night. It was a shame that she bothered dressing for the occasion—a purple plaid skirt, her favorite hoodie, fingerless gloves, and a tank top with straps across the waist.. It wasn't like she wanted to look good, she wanted to blend in and hide in plain sight.

As the lights flashed and the music blared, Vi was busy making cocktails upon cocktails. But not even the sheer amount of work on her plate could distract her from the infamous duo that strutted into the club.

“What is up bitches!” Remy shouted above the music as she made her way to the dance floor, past the bar and seating area. The woman who was with her, immediately made her way to the bar, through the occupied tables.

Vi was so glad she had her hands full. Reina was back in her element, away from her sister and ready to steal the show. She was wearing the tightest black mini dress with a neon green, leopard print bodice, strappy platform heels, and her favorite leather jacket. Her makeup was bold with green eyeshadow and sharp eyeliner, and her hair was up in a wild ponytail, save for the front that framed her face with skunk flair.

Vi noticed her ordering two drinks from her coworker, and decided to keep her distance. She had a job to do and she could not get distracted by the gay.

She finished pouring the daiquiris she was working on and looked for the people who ordered them. To her dismay, they were right next to Reina.

She regrettably handed them their drinks and froze when a familiar hand grabbed her wrist.

“Hey, cutie,” Reina beamed, “I thought you were supposed to DJ tonight.”

“Plans change,” Vi shrugged, internally screaming. Reina called her cute—but that didn't mean she was interested, she was friendly like that with everyone. And she might have been straight.

“Aw, and I was looking forward to going all Eisenfunk tonight!” Reina pouted, “And you're so much better on stage than Randy!”

“You're just saying that because he sticks to basic bitch house music,” Vi scoffed. Before Reina could respond, another customer flagged Vi down. She had to make a living.

Reina pouted as she left and waited for her drinks. She would still have her fun, even if she wasn't getting the attention she wanted.

After a couple hours, the crowd had thinned out. It was an hour before closing and Vi was handling the bar solo while her coworker cleaned up. She was glad she didn't have too many people to tend to, mainly so she could keep an eye on the disaster a few feet away.

Reina was absolutely smashed, standing on one of the tables and dancing seductively. VI was surprised that she was able to stand, let alone flaunt her body without looking like she had too much to drink.

If she wasn't worried that Reina would get hurt or kidnapped, Vi would have enjoyed the show. There was something about Reina that drew her in. It wasn't her body, not that Vi wasn't interested, she was too interested. It could have been her laugh or impish grin, it could have been her warm brown eyes or her bubbly energy. But Vi knew better.

Reina was confident to the point of brazenness. She thought she was hot shit, the life of the party, the duchess of the club. She wasn't afraid to flirt with anyone in the building, even if they were spoken for or uninterested. And she could do it all despite having way too much alcohol in her system.

Vi spotted Remy leaving with a hot butch jock and sighed. She snuck her phone from her pocket and texted Romana. It was going to be one of those nights she had to take Reina home, or to her place, lest she take to the streets, drunk and still willing to party until dawn. Vi did not want to risk anything, including waking up at 5am to Reina shouting outside her window.

“Hey, Jacks,” Vi said loudly over her shoulder, “I think I might have to get a drunk skunk home.”

Her coworker came out to the front of the bar and wilted. They wanted to go home on time, and that was a challenge if Vi didn't count her till.

“Duchess?”

“Of course.”

“Fine, but next time, get her sister to get her, and don't make me count your stuff.” Jacks sighed. Vi nodded and went to her register. She was counting her bills and glancing at Reina, making sure she was okay. If she worked fast enough, she wouldn't have to fret.

She had to stuff the extra cash in the safe in the back, taking her eyes off Reina for a couple minutes. It was the most stressful few minutes of the night.

When she got back to wipe down the bar one last time, she was met with a cute little imp leaning over the bar. Reina was flushed and a little shaky, probably because she was on her toes so she could lean on her elbows and draw attention to her chest.

“Hey gorgeous~” she purred and blew a kiss. Vi exhaled through her nose and rolled her neck. She was drunk flirting, it didn't really count.

“I'm not pouring you anything else tonight,” she said firmly, making Reina shudder.

“I don't want a drink,” she muttered, “I want you to take me home tonight!”

“I’m clocking out now, so just wait here for a bit,” Vi said, getting Reina to grin. She punched her number into the register computer and tilted her chin at Jacks.

With a nod in return, Vi backed up as far as she could go and ran at the bar. She leapt over it, and stuck the landing on the other side. It would have taken too long to go around the back to meet up with Reina. She had a knack for wandering off.

Reina was gawking as Vi pulled her hoodie on and then pulled Reina to her side, away from the bar. Reina was lucky that Vi’s apartment was a block away, because there was no way she was walking to the subway and then to her dorm in those heels when she was liable to trip.

“You're sleeping over,” Vi said and led Reina to the exit. She hugged Vi around the waist and nuzzled her shoulder.

“I'm finally gonna get to suck Vi tiddy!” she giggled as the cool night air hit them. The city streets were mostly empty, with the occasional car passing by. It was safe enough to get Reina out of harm’s way.

Vi, however, was not safe. She had a bold, drunk woman trying to get under her skirt, and she didn't know if she would be able to handle rejecting the little imp.

“You're not doing that,” Vi sighed and led the way down the street. Reina pouted and whined.

“What do I have to do to get you to notice me?”

“Duchess,” Vi sighed, “If I didn't notice you, I wouldn’t be making sure you're safe.”

“No!” Reina whined and held her tighter, “You don't notice me! What do I have to do to make you want me?”

Vi stayed silent for the rest of the walk. She didn't have a good answer, not for someone who wasn't all the way there. How could she begin to explain that she was second guessing every hint, that she was not the type Reina went for, and that she didn't think she was worth the effort? At least sober Reina had a shred of a filter.

When they got into her apartment, Vi was beet red and flustered. Reina was casually groping her chest and butt, blissfully unaware that she was out of line. Vi had no qualms about throwing her on the couch to get some personal space.

Reina landed on her back with a giggle and sat up. Her smile fell when she realized Vi was walking away instead of joining her.

“Wait!”

“I'll be right back. I need to shower, and you need to rest,” Vi said and made her way to her room. She would be quick, and she would at least get Reina in some pajamas.

As soon as Vi went into her room, which was connected to the bathroom, Reina hiccuped and tears rolled down her cheeks. Vi didn't even want to cuddle her! What if Vi secretly hated her and only put up with her because Romana was making threats?

Reina brought her knees to her chest and sobbed. She really was drunk if she was getting this emotional, but it truly hurt.

Fifteen minutes later, Vi emerged from her room in an old band tee and pajama pants, holding a set of pajamas for her guest. Her hair was still wet, but she could dry it after Reina was in some pajamas and passed out, hopefully in that order.

To her dismay, she found Reina on the couch with bloodshot eyes and running makeup. She was on the phone and clearly upset.

“I'll get an uber—no, she doesn't, she's probably asleep—no, just let me in, I left my ID key!—Ro!” Reina babbled, sounding far less drunk. She huffed and pocketed her phone when she realized her sister hung up on her.

“Reina?” Vi asked hesitantly, getting Reina to jolt.

“I thought you were sleeping,” Reina grumbled. Vi sat next to her and set the pajamas aside.

“I said I was showering and I'd be back,” Vi said softly, “And that you need to rest.”

Reina sniffled and curled into herself.

“I'm sorry,” she breathed, “I'm just making a mess for you. I can go—”

“In the morning,” Vi cut her off firmly, “I don't trust the world with you like this.”

“You're just being nice because Romana’s threatening you,” Reina huffed, “You don't have to deal with me.”

“Duchess,” Vi said after a beat, “Romana won't threaten me, I have twice as many counter threats as her.”

“Then why!?” Reina shouted, “All I do is get in your way because I want you to like me back! I even tried getting help from those bitches and I still don't know how to get you to notice me!”

“You—You like me?” Vi squeaked.

“Yes! I want to cuddle and kiss and fuck you! I want you to be my girlfriend and hold me!” Reina pouted, “But you don't see me like that—”

Without thinking, Vi kissed her forehead and pulled her into a hug.

“All you had to do was get me alone and say it,” she mumbled and stroked Reina’s hair, “I overthink everything unless you're direct.”

“So you want to be my girlfriend?” Reina responded, in complete shock, “Even though I'm a hot mess?”

“You're a mess, you're a wreck. You are perfect,” Vi replied and pulled out of the hug, “But you need to change your clothes. You're not sleeping in that, and if you want to sleep in my bed you need to wear something.”

“Will you help me and ogle my half naked body while you dress me?” Reina asked, perking up a bit. Vi snickered and shook her head.

“I don't need any more excitement tonight,” she said and pulled Reina’s legs onto her lap. The shoes would go first.

“The thought of me in my undies gets you excited?” Reina jeered and giggled.

“Almost as much as the thought that a confident, sexy whirlwind like you would be into someone as bitter as me,” she answered and freed Reina’s feet, tossing the heels to the floor.

Before Reina could pounce, Vi quickly slipped the pajama pants over her ankles and held onto the waistband.

As expected Reina lunged at her and tackled her on her back in a hug. She was a giggling mess as Vi pulled those pants up to her hips.

“Once you're dressed and I dry my hair we can go to bed,” Vi hummed.

“And we'll be girlfriends!”

“Ask me out when you're sober, then we'll be girlfriends,” Vi countered as Reina nuzzled her chest.

Reina sat up and tore off her dress, not caring who saw, except Vi, she wanted Vi to like what she saw—she was proud of her boobies!

Vi, however, was quick to grab the shirt she brought and tug it over Reina’s head, covering her up as fast as she could.

Reina pouted at her. But she couldn't stay upset, not when Vi was blushing so cutely.

“Violetta,” Reina purred, getting Vi to swallow thickly. To be fair, pushing a horny drunk woman away from her probably was nerve-wracking.

“Is it bedtime?”

“Depends, what are you plotting?”

“Cuddles and boob squishes,” Reina giggled, “I get grabby in my sleep!”

Vi exhaled through her nose fondly and shook her head.

“Yeah, it's bedtime. You get settled and I'll join you when I'm done with my hair.”

Reina squealed and kissed her cheek before running to the bedroom. VI had a feeling Reina would be passed out by the time she got there. The Duchess was a hot mess, unstable and fun, obnoxious and beautiful, and she was Vi’s. Or she would be in the morning.

#dukexietyweek2025 #day 8 #dukexiety #sanders sides #remus sanders #virgil sanders #fem!remus #fem!virgil #genderbend #fem!sides #alcohol ment tw #sex ment tw #drunk flirting tw #sandyscribed

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masterghandalf · 11 months ago

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MG Reads Embers: Chapter Eleven

Note: This is a continuation of my reread and commentary of Embers by Vathara, originally posted last fall and winter on my Dreamwidth account.

Chapter Eleven We open the chapter with Huojin as he, happy to be back on a regular schedule, approaches Amaya’s clinic – only to stop in shock as he sees a Dai Li agent knocking on her door. He freezes in panic, and then “Lee” opens the door; the agent says he’s here to see Amaya, and Huojin jumps in to say that he is too, and that he’s bringing word of a potential plague at the docks, something from Omashu. The agent says that his patient is at the palace, and Zuko goes to get Amaya. A moment later, she appears, asking if the patient is human or animal and guessing it’s the bear again. The agent says it’s important to the Earth King, and Amaya tells Zuko to pack his kit and get ready. She has he has experience with animals, and she has full confidence in his ability to handle the situation. As Zuko gathers his things, the agent is surprised to notice his firepot, and Zuko explains that warm water can help soothe patients, especially animals who don’t know what’s going on. After Amaya assures him again that he’ll do fine, Zuko and the agent head off. Once they’re gone, Huojin asks if it’s a good idea, but Amaya says that he’s strong and he can handle it, and that he’ll be good for Jinhai as well. He’s already given the Wen family advice for putting accidental fires out and told them to make sure Jinhai gets plenty of sun – firebenders need it, even more than waterbenders need the moon. And if they go without it too long, they can die. As they head off for the docks, Huojin notes that Amaya seems to have forgiven Zuko for attacking her, and she says she has – he may not have been physically ill, but he's spiritually sick and barely clinging on, and not understanding what was happening, he panicked. If he hadn’t attacked, it would have been a sign he’d given up fighting altogether. Amaya, though, is starting to think that for Zuko, giving up simply isn’t an option.

Amaya then brings up that Huojin has traded stories with soldiers who served on the wall and fought firebenders, and he admits he’s heard tales about how the best firebenders seem almost inhumanly strong and skilled. And Zuko may have done something similar, during his fight with Jet. Amaya then brings up how Zuko’s strike casually shattered Meixiang’s cellar door, and how he treated it like it was no big deal, and that someone really skilled could have done better. Huojin thinks of Iroh and remembers stories he heard from the Siege of Ba Sing Se. Huojin realizes that Zuko and Iroh are a pair of great name, imperial firebenders, and wonders what exactly they can do about them. The sort of firebenders who could win even against the best earthbenders, outnumbered three to one. Amaya, however, doesn’t intend to do anything just yet – they’re people, and refugees, not weapons. Huojin reluctantly admits that if Zuko and Iroh had meant to cause trouble, they could have done a lot more by now – and they may not only be looking to start over in the city, but have no choice, if they’ve been branded traitors to the throne. Finally, Huojin decides to change the topic to the plague, and asks if Amaya has ever heard of something called pentapox…

At the Earth Kingdom palace, Zuko is stunned to see his patient – he’d been expecting a platypus bear, a skunk bear, and gopher bear, even a polar bear, not just a plain… bear. The agent is surprised that he’s seen a polar bear before and agrees that the Earth King’s bear is the weirdest creature he’s ever met. Zuko flashes back to some of the things he’s seen from Aang and decides that maybe the bear isn’t the weirdest thing he’s ever seen. He takes a moment to double check Amaya’s instructions, then spots a well-dressed, bespectacled young man tending to the bear. Only when the man tells him to bow – which Zuko reluctantly does – does he realize that this is none other than the king himself. The Earth King wants to know where Amaya is, and Zuko – stumbling over how to properly address him, since there are no kings in the Fire Nation, except for some old waegu pirates who gave themselves the title – explains that he’s Amaya’s apprentice, here in her place. The Earth King is concerned that whatever else Amaya is dealing with isn’t serious, sounding so naïve and earnest – and so different from how someone like Azula might act in the same situation - that Zuko is left with the impression that there are only two adults in this room, and the king isn’t one of them. The king then calls for Zuko to come over and give him a hand, and as he approaches Bosco growls at him.

We cut to Long Feng, frowning as one of his agents reports that Amaya sent an apprentice – he thought he knew all the waterbenders in Ba Sing Se, of whom there aren’t many, mostly refugees. The agent, Quan, explains that Zuko’s a new arrival, apparently of Foggy Swamp ancestry, and they’re researching his history and family tree now. Long Feng is displeased, finding people of mixed ancestry unpredictable, as Quan continues to explain about Zuko’s scar, which was obviously caused by a firebender. The agent earthbends open a small passage over to the king’s rooms, so they can overhear the healing. They can hear Bosco growling, an unfamiliar voice telling him to be still, the Earth King’s protests, and then finally the sound of the bear vomiting something up, which turns out to be an expensive earring. Apparently, it looks like grapes, and Bosco was confused. Zuko berates him for eating something that’s not food, and the Dai Li agent in the room promises to send in some servants with fresh clothes so they can get cleaned up. Closing up the hole, Long Feng comments that the agent, Shirong, seems to like Zuko, which is worth noting since Shirong is, among other things, a recruiter – and tells Quan to make sure he takes a good, long time in the baths, since they’ll all appreciate it. And indeed we then cut to Zuko, in the baths, finally starting to feel clean. He starts to get out, and startles Shirong, who is interested in his scars. Zuko quickly fabricates a story about story about not learning much healing from his mother before she died, and how Amaya is the first healer he’s met who didn’t try to skewer him. Shirong notes that if Zuko grew his hair out, he could pass for Fire Nation – Zuko is unsettled, but Shirong introduces himself and says he suspects they’ll be seeing a lot more of each other. However, Shirong has brought Zuko clothes – and as he puts them on, he’s a bit disturbed to realize they’re almost in the exact shade of dark green as the Dai Li’s uniforms. There’s something else strange about them too, but Zuko can’t quite put his finger on it.

We then cut to Amaya having tea with Tingzhe Wen, who’s still in shock about his youngest son turning out to be a firebender. Apparently, Min, his oldest son, thinks that his chances at an official career will be ruined if it comes out, and Tingzhe is already not happy about him potentially joining the Dai Li. He makes an offhand comment about Min having too much of his mother in him, then realizes what he just said – and Amaya assures him that the Fire Nation doesn’t have a monopoly on ambition. But Min does have a very Fire Nation drive to be the best – and everyone knows the Dai Li are the best. Amaya then assures him that Zuko is more than qualified to teach Jinhai, and that even though he’s sixteen, he’s very much grown up – only for Zuko himself to storm in, looking quite disheveled and insisting he wants to forget today ever happened. Amaya isn’t surprised to find out that Bosco tried to eat an earring - apparently, he once ate a soup ladle, and she has no idea how he forced it down. Zuko then greets Tingzhe, who he recognizes from his resemblance to his son. Tingzhe says it’s not something he hears often, but Zuko says it’s in the way they both look at people. Amaya is quietly pleased with the exchange, recognizing that Zuko is sincere under all the secrecy he’s forced to live with. She suggests that Tingzhe and Zuko take their conversation out to the garden, but first she explains that the “plague” was nothing but a trick played on the Fire Nation troops in Omashu that led to rumors that got out of hand. She idly mentions wanting to meet the person who started it, Sokka, since he sounds brave and clever – Zuko bursts out that he has met Sokka and thinks he’s a moron with occasional flashes of brilliance. And that he’s traveling with the Avatar. Tingzhe thinks he recognizes sour grapes when he sees it, and wonders if Zuko came off the worse when he met Sokka, and Zuko’s grudgingly forced to admit he did.

Zuko goes outside to get some air, and Amaya admits she didn’t expect any of that. Tingzhe comments that it’s no wonder Zuko is bitter, if he lost to someone who had the Avatar backing him up– Amaya says that Iroh insists that he and his nephew weren’t involved in the war, but Tingzhe thinks that the Water Tribes have a history of attacking first, and if Zuko and Sokka ended up in the same village at the same time, it could have been trouble. Amaya thinks Zuko’s probably calmed down – or at least gotten his anger under control – and Tingzhe goes out to talk to him. He spots Zuko sitting by the pond and thinks that his features look very classically Fire Nation and he could easily pass as a great name from the old scrolls. Zuko, meanwhile, is muttering to himself about how many of his crew drowned in the cold water after Aang swept them overboard during the escape at the south pole. Tingzhe guesses that’s when he met Sokka, and Zuko explains that he’d been sent to investigate the Avatar. He says he didn’t hurt anyone, just scared some people – though he’s not proud of that – and then he took the Avatar with him, Aang having promised to go, and left. And then Katara, Sokka and Appa attacked and everything fell apart. Tingzhe says that, from a Fire Nation perspective, if Aang promised to go with him and then broke his word, he understands it would be a very grave insult. Zuko agrees and says that Sokka’s the sort of person who does things and doesn’t think of the consequences, and with Aang and Katara on his side, he doesn’t have to worry about them. He tells Tingzhe not to ask him about the North Pole. Tingzhe thinks that he should feel a sense of righteous retribution, after everything the Fire Nation has put the world through, but he can’t feel anything but sympathy for Zuko. Zuko himself then starts explaining that Jinhai will always be Tingzhe’s son first – other nations aren’t bound by loyalty, but he’s a firebender, and the first loyalty is always to family. Tingzhe recalls a bit of old poetry, about a firebender looking for a good lord to serve, and a letter from someone named Lady Kotone writing to her father a few generations ago about something he’d promised on his honor, though the letter didn’t say what. Zuko explains that fire and earth aren’t as different as they might seem, and a lot of the basic techniques look similar, and Tingzhe can see for himself in case something happens to Zuko.

Tingzhe assures him nothing will happen, but Zuko can’t promise anything, with the things that happen around him. He also wants to know if Meixiang wants to practice too, and Tingzhe is stunned, since she’s not a bender – and Zuko hadn’t realized that not everyone in the Earth Kingdom practices basic bending forms for self-defense. Tingzhe, in turn, is stunned that the Fire Nation teaches women to fight, since he’s never heard of such things outside of legends and the spirits, though he grudgingly admits to having also heard of the Kyoshi Warriors when Zuko presses him. Zuko realizes that Jia and Suyin don’t know how to fight either; Jia is an earthbender and can take care of herself, but Zuko insists that if he’s teaching Jinhai, he’s going to teach Suyin too. Suyin may not be a bender… but some of the most dangerous warriors in the world are nonbenders, like Master Piandao. Tingzhe reluctantly agrees and tells Zuko it was very interesting to meet him. But he thinks to himself, having put it together from their conversation – what is a great name’s son doing in Ba Sing Se?

The chapter ends with an author note. Waegu - Korean, "brigands from Wa", i.e. Japan. Came into Japanese as wako. Basically, pirates. About Huojin's reaction to figuring out two imperial firebenders are on his hands - put it in context. You're a regular U.S. cop on the beat. You're armed, and so, legally, are a fair amount of your fellow citizens. (Let's not worry about the differences between steel and bending, at the moment.) And then you find out two newcomers to the neighborhood have a Sherman tank parked in their backyard. Yeah. Of course, it's actually worse than Huojin thinks. Canon, we've seen Iroh and Zuko flatten about two dozen imperial firebenders… after drifting in the polar ocean for three weeks, injured, hungry, and fending off sea vultures. And who knows what else. Huojin's probably better off not knowing that…. MG’s Thoughts This chapter… is another mixed bag for me, tbh. I actually like most of the a-plot (though I can’t help but think that the Earth King would have physicians permanently on staff rather than relying on outside healers, and that would include a veterinarian for Bosco). Zuko as a fish out of water is always fun, and the opportunity is also used to introduce some important characters for later – the canon characters of the Earth King and Long Feng, of course, but also Shirong, who’s going to end up as one of the fic’s most prominent OCs. The bit with Amaya being called away to deal with the outbreak of pentapox is also a fun shout-out, though I can’t help but feel Vathara kind of kills the joke later by overexplaining it.

On the other hand, a lot of the groundwork for later problematic elements in the fic starts getting laid, or reinforced, in this chapter. For one, we have the repeated underlining of the awesomeness of Imperial firebenders (and their apparent superiority over even the best earthbenders) and Fire Nation great names, which I’ve mentioned before but gets more play here. This chapter also introduces one of Vathara’s pet issues. I’ve mentioned before how she seems to think Koizilla is the worst thing ever, but something else she really hates is Aang fleeing Zuko’s ship after promising to go with him in the second episode. The fic is literally going to treat this as a heinous (albeit unintentional) moral event horizon, effectively the equivalent of Aang not only spitting in Zuko’s face but dishonoring the entire Fire Nation in the process, and no, I’m not making that up. And sure, you could argue it’s just Zuko’s perspective (the chapter itself admits he’s still bitter over those events), but IMO the fic really does present it as a serious issue, and I admit, it kind of leaves me scratching my head (especially when canon Zuko didn’t seem either terribly surprised or offended that his prisoner was trying to escape). It’s also part of a related issue, where all of Zuko’s actions (and many of the Fire Nation’s actions overall) get treated with kid gloves and always given the benefit of the doubt or the most generous possible interpretation, while the Gaang (and other strongly anti-Fire Nation characters) get held to a much higher moral standard where everything they do gets dissected for even the slightest hint of wrongdoing. Related, while the Fire Nation is the only nation shown to regularly field female soldiers in canon (which I actually kind of like, as an unspoken acknowledgment that even the “bad” nation can have good qualities, in contrast to the Water Tribes and their sexism) but Vathara really does seem to want to go out of her way to present them as enlightened and socially progressive compared to the other nations in various ways, even though that doesn’t really jive with the sort of hierarchical, feudal, tradition-focused society she’s given them. I also think it’s a bit weird that Zuko seems to be so down on Sokka, considering that not only has he barely had any one-on-one interactions with him at this point and it was Aang and Katara who did most of the damage to his crew, but we’ll actually see that Vathara likes Sokka (or at least, likes him more than Aang and Katara, if not quite as much as Zuko or Toph). For my own amusement, I’m just going to headcanon that Zuko really is still sore over getting thwacked on the head with that boomerang.

#avatar: the last airbender #embers #embers critical #mg reads #mg reads embers #critical

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tameblog · 6 months ago

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Happy Friday GPODers! I hope the first couple days of 2025 have treated you well. To get the year started on the right foot, we’re back in Nancy Heckler’s garden to see more of the tour Cherry Ong was treated to last fall. Nancy’s garden in Indianola, Washington is a wonderful collection of colorful and lush plantings woven together with an artful eye. If you’ve missed the first two parts in this series, you should absolutely go back and check those out (Part 1 and Part 2). Today we will be entering a new garden room known as Nancy’s Hideaway @nancy.heckler. The paths are narrow but filled with all kinds of treasures so be sure to look left, right, above and below. One of these is a fern table. I’ve been inspired by them after watching Richie Steffen’s videos (Check out a full, in-depth video from the Hardy Fern Foundation, here) and plan to make one for my own garden someday. Again Brocc welcoming you to our virtual tour. From bright and light to dark and glossy, Nancy has an incredible mix of just about every kind of foliage you can imagine. She also doesn’t miss any opportunity to add additional interest and art. This little bed is confined by an amazing fence of woven branches. An another example of a great foliage vignette like the ones we saw last week. All of these plants have similar color and shininess, but the vastly different textures and forms make the combination still incredibly interesting. As Cherry so perfectly describes above, the paths that lead to Nancy’s Hideaway are teeming with fascinating details. You can tell everything is added to Nancy’s garden with attention and meaning, not just her plants. From the stack of drift wood on the left, to antique watering can and bright red water pump. Nancy confides that this is a very sentimental piece made by a dear friend who died of cancer. What a delightful fern table! Here’s how to build one: Building a Fern Table with Richie Steffen Another immersive path, this one stepping stones that are even more beautiful this time of year with the added sprinkling of fallen leaves. I love that Nancy’s garden is very reminiscent of hiking trails I saw when I visited the Pacific Northwest in 2023, dense with plant life and tree cover. Her landscape is a fabulous reflection of the landscape that surrounds, with the added beauty of a gardener’s touch. So much of the foliage in Nancy’s garden is gloriously glossy. Even when not flowering, this rhododendron is a stand out. While we’ve seen a lot of the amazing vignettes that Nancy is able to create from grouping container plants together, she is also able to craft incredible combinations in a stand-alone pot. Without a single flower, she is able to thrill, fill, and spill with all kinds of glorious colors and textures. I’m not sure what I’m more envious of, Nancy’s incredible plant collection or who amazing assortment of containers! Anything growing from this stunning planter would become a focal point. And more shiny and bright foliage really makes this area glow. Lastly, another example of Nancy’s interesting garden art. In the last part of this series, Cherry showed off an example of the bird sculptures and art that can be found near each of Nancy’s garden gates. But this adorable trio of moss-covered skunks shows that she represents other animals throughout her space. Thank you again for sharing more of your visit to Nancy’s garden with us, Cherry! It’s been such an exciting garden to explore, and I’m sad that we only have one more submission in this series. Have a garden you’d like to share? Have photos to share? We’d love to see your garden, a particular collection of plants you love, or a wonderful garden you had the chance to visit! To submit, send 5-10 photos to [email protected] along with some information about the plants in the pictures and where you took the photos. We’d love to hear where you are located, how long you’ve been gardening, successes you are proud of, failures you learned from, hopes for the future, favorite plants, or funny stories from your garden. Have a mobile phone? Tag your photos on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter with #FineGardening! Do you receive the GPOD by email yet? Sign up here. Fine Gardening Recommended Products Pruning Simplified: A Step-by-Step Guide to 50 Popular Trees and Shrubs Fine Gardening receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs. Pruning Simplified shows you exactly how to do it. This must-have guide offers expert advice on the best tools for the job, specific details on when to prune, and clear instructions on how to prune. Profiles of the 50 most popular trees and shrubs—including azaleas, camellias, clematis, hydrangeas, and more—include illustrated, easy-to-follow instructions that will ensure you make the right cut the first time. DeWalt Variable-Speed Cordless Reciprocating Saw Fine Gardening receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs. You can fit a variety of blades to this saw to cut fallen branches or prune larger limbs from trees in a pinch. It’s fast, tough, easy to use, and extremely versatile. - 18.31 x 6.13 x 4 inches - 1-1/8-inch stroke length - Variable speed trigger with 0-3000 spm isYoung Birdlook® Smart Bird Feeder with Camera Fine Gardening receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs. Upgraded Dual Granary Bird Feeder. G11 Smart Bird Feeder with Camera – The upgraded dual granary design allows for separate food dispensing, giving birds the freedom to choose while preserving the food’s original taste. With a 2L extra-large capacity, it reduces the need for frequent refills. The drainage design ensures the food stays dry and prevents spoilage from rain. Ideal as a camera bird feeder for birdwatching enthusiasts. 2K HD Camera & Close-Up Bird Watching. Experience clear bird watching with the G11 smart bird feeder. This bird feeder with camera features a 170-degree wide-angle lens and a 1296P HD camera, ensuring vibrant images and videos. With AI-powered recognition, it can identify over 16,000 bird species (subscription required, first month free) and provides extensive birding knowledge. Its unique design helps attract more birds to your backyard. App Alerts & Super Night Vision. The smart bird feeder camera detects motion within 0.5 seconds and sends instant notifications through the "VicoHome" app. With a 2.4G Wi-Fi connection, you can view real-time updates on bird activity right from your app. The video bird feeder also features night vision, ensuring vibrant images and videos even in low light conditions. Ideal for wild bird feeders, this advanced functionality enhances your bird-watching experience day and night. Source link

#WATERING_SYSTEMS #CHERRY #FINE #GARDEN #GARDENING #GPOD #HECKLERS #NANCY #PART #ROAD

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ramestoryworld · 6 months ago

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#WATERING_SYSTEMS #CHERRY #FINE #GARDEN #GARDENING #GPOD #HECKLERS #NANCY #PART #ROAD

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alexha2210 · 6 months ago

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#WATERING_SYSTEMS #CHERRY #FINE #GARDEN #GARDENING #GPOD #HECKLERS #NANCY #PART #ROAD

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angusstory · 6 months ago

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#WATERING_SYSTEMS #CHERRY #FINE #GARDEN #GARDENING #GPOD #HECKLERS #NANCY #PART #ROAD

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tumibaba · 6 months ago

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#WATERING_SYSTEMS #CHERRY #FINE #GARDEN #GARDENING #GPOD #HECKLERS #NANCY #PART #ROAD

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romaleen · 6 months ago

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#WATERING_SYSTEMS #CHERRY #FINE #GARDEN #GARDENING #GPOD #HECKLERS #NANCY #PART #ROAD

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monaleen101 · 6 months ago

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#WATERING_SYSTEMS #CHERRY #FINE #GARDEN #GARDENING #GPOD #HECKLERS #NANCY #PART #ROAD

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iamownerofme · 6 months ago

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#WATERING_SYSTEMS #CHERRY #FINE #GARDEN #GARDENING #GPOD #HECKLERS #NANCY #PART #ROAD

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shelyold · 6 months ago

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#WATERING_SYSTEMS #CHERRY #FINE #GARDEN #GARDENING #GPOD #HECKLERS #NANCY #PART #ROAD

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iammeandmy · 6 months ago

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#WATERING_SYSTEMS #CHERRY #FINE #GARDEN #GARDENING #GPOD #HECKLERS #NANCY #PART #ROAD

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januishstory · 6 months ago

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#WATERING_SYSTEMS #CHERRY #FINE #GARDEN #GARDENING #GPOD #HECKLERS #NANCY #PART #ROAD

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lcstmarbles · 7 months ago

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— PENTISS 'TOOTLES' LAURENT is a 24 year old HUMAN , based on TOOTLES from PETER PAN ; he is a SERVER at NEVERLAND with NO POWERS and he uses HE/HIM pronouns !

STATS.

FULL NAME : pentiss laurent.

DATE OF BIRTH : june 25th, 2000.

HOMETOWN : unknown.

ZODIAC : cancer sun, cancer moon, cancer rising.

SEXUALITY : bisexual.

EDUCATION : high school graduate.

OCCUPATION : server at neverland.

LANGUAGES : english, little spanish.

PHYSICAL.

HEIGHT : 6'1.

HAIR : short, black.

EYES : brown.

TATTOOS : n/a.

MARKINGS : mole on neck, mole on chin, various small scars on his legs and arms from clumsiness.

FAMILY.

MOTHER : unknown.

FATHER : unknown.

SIBLINGS : unknown.

PETS : tuxedo cat named moby.

PERSONALITY.

POSITIVE TRAITS : loyal, authentic, cautious, empathetic, romantic.

NEGATIVE TRAITS : clumsy, isolated, clingy, gullible, nervous.

FEARS : hook, not being enough, missing out.

LIKES : good stories, feather pens, vintage things, marbles, praise, black and white films.

DISLIKES : being left out, mean people.

HOBBIES : antique shopping, writing, collecting ( fountain pens, marbles, vintage plushies, old novels ), hanging out with the boys.

AESTHETICS : handwritten love letters, explaining how to shoot marbles, smiling at everyone, watching a party from the doorway, a lost skunk kit, drawing hearts on dusty shelves, a small pile of stuffed animals, being nose deep in a book six times as old as you, ink stained fingertips, dropping a server tray, daydreaming, always being the shoulder to cry on even when tears are springing into your own eyes, being afraid, doing it anyway.

ABOUT.

pentiss has a heart of gold. he is one of the kindest and most genuine people you could meet, even if that isn't something he considers brag-worthy. he's a bit more skittish than the others, having missed out on quite a few of their adventures, he often goes along with them with his head down hoping he doesn't get himself killed somehow. it's not that he doesn't want to do fun things. there's just so much that could go, well, wrong. he does not remember much pre-neverland. other than pieces of memories from dusty orphanages, it feels like his life began there and for the most part, that's okay with him. sometimes he does wonder though, what happened to his family . . . why he didn't have one. did they leave him on purpose? did they want him? was he loved? he supposes he'll never really know, but it's nice to think that he once had loving parents. out of the boys, he would also say he has the worst luck . . . which is probably what makes him so humble. he's the most likely to fall on his ass, mess something up or just miss out on everything. not that he's a complete klutz ; he can be graceful, confident, charming. just not particularly when he's stressed about not dying.

HEADCANONS.

tootles loves plushies. maybe it's a bit . . . childish . . . but he has quite the small collection of vintage ones. his favorite are (unsurprisingly) the skunks. they just feel comforting to him in a way he can't explain.

he also has a collection of marbles. he feels they are so underrated as you can play so many games with them, and even use them as a weapon if you must. unfortunately, he does have a bad habit of misplacing and, well, losing his marbles.

pentiss is an avid book reader. funny enough, he reads a lot of adventurous stories, making him think of all the ones wendy told him about, but he's also a big fan of romance novels. honestly, he isn't picky, any genre that can tell a story? he's all for it. he can hardly sleep without a chapter or two before bed to unwind and influence his dreams.

one thing that really annoys pentiss is . . . new pens. yes, you heard that right, pens. his main complaint about his serving job is not rude customers or aching feet or the stressful, busy nights . . . it's having to use the regular ink pens instead of one of his own from his selection of feather pens. he's a bit of a romanticist who likes writing letters the old-fashioned way so he feels a little bit of his soul die whenever he has to pull a writing utensil out of his apron to take an order.

he prefers old timey movies to the modern day cinema. there is something about them that feels more authentic, more original. the editing may not be as good, the scenes and the acting can be lacking . . . but there's a charm to them that he just can't ignore.

EXTRA.

biography.

pinterest.

playlist.

#evermorehqsintro

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thegirlwiththeninjaturtletattoos · 2 years ago

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Every Rose Has it's Thorn

-Part 6-

>Part 7

< Part 5

Universe: Teenage Mutant Teenage Turtles (Bayverse aged-up turtles)

Rating: R (swearing) MINORS DNI

Raphael x OC (female character)

Tags: trigger warning mentions bruises and injuries, Fluff, Donnie being adorable, original character, slow burn romance

-Rose and Donnie chat about the serum and life, and after she goes to her apartment she comes face to face with the pain she's been avoiding.

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

As she got dressed, she admitted to herself that she really needed a change of clothes, which meant going back to her apartment.

Great.

She looked in the large mirror on Raph’s dresser and almost yelped at the state her hair was in; curls sticking up everywhere, tangles galore- yikes. Her makeup had all worn off too, leaving a black smudge under her eyes.

Fuck, she was a sight.

Opening the door, she saw Donnie waiting for her on the couch- but she had to shower.

Like, had to. She was approaching skunk-smell zone.

She started towards the bathroom. “Donnie, I’ll be with ya in just a minute," she called to the lean turtle. “I really need to shower first, ok?”

Rose didn’t wait for his response as she closed the door to the shared bathroom behind her.

Their bathroom was large with two sinks and several tall mirrors and cabinets, and multiple large spa showers lined up on the opposite wall of the toilets. There was also an enormous in-ground spa tub in the center of the room that looked like it could fit at least two of the turtle men in there. As she undressed, she thought about how chaotic the lair must’ve been when the turtles were younger.

They were probably a bunch of shits, she thought to herself. I’m sure Splinter had his hands, or paws she guessed, full.

As she was lost in thought at images of young turtle mutants running rampant around the sewers, the sight of the bandages on her ribs in the mirror tore her from her inner monologue.

The bruises were bad. There were purple and red boot marks all over her torso, but her rib cage was the worst. She lifted the bandages off, confident the bleeding had stopped, and gasped at the sight of her injuries; the stitches on her lower left rib sticking out of her skin and very visible. Donnie had done a great job, but it still looked rough.

There would definitely be a scar, she thought.

She was still in pain, but years of practice of hiding injuries had taught her to ignore the sharp feeling in her side. Rose started the water in the nearest shower stall and continued to look at herself in the mirror.

Her mind wandered back to high school, when her classmates bullied her for her curves.

Looking at her reflection now, she wondered why she ever let them get to her. She knew she was downright sexy, her wide hips and full breasts creating a silhouette that people would kill for. She had started lifting weights seriously in the last two years, which had really toned up her body, in addition to the boost in strength and stamina. She looked like a Greek statue, both strength and beauty on full display, and she loved it.

She was finally getting strong enough to fight her own battles.

And win.

—-----------------------------------------------------

Once she was finished and dressed from the shower, and with the help of some body spray from someone's shelf in the bathroom to hide the funk of her clothes (she assumed it was Mikey's), she sat down next to Donnie on the couch to listen to what he had to say.

“So I think the serum is finished, but I'd like to run one more test. I'm slightly concerned about any side effects you might experience from our mutagen, but overall I think our odds are still about an 82% success rate.” He said, pushing up his glasses a little as they slid down his snout. “It should be ready by this evening.”

“Thank you so much, Donnie. You’ve been working so hard, and I really appreciate it.” Rose smiled at him, eyes sparkling in disbelief.

How the hell did he finish it so fast?

Has he been sleeping?

Donnie seemed to read her mind.

“Selfishly, I’ve enjoyed working on it as well. It gave me an excuse to run tests and explore data I’ve collected that I’ve not had a chance to use.” He fidgeted with the purple wrapping on his left arm. “If I’m right, and this serum helps your body heal faster, I could be on the brink of a scientific discovery that Sacks was bragging about when he attacked us- Except I'll actually be successful.”

She nodded her head. “That’s amazing Don. I'm happy to help out any way I can.”

Rose put a hand on Donatello’s shoulder and gave a light squeeze. His gaze flicked over her face, narrowing slightly as he watched her.

She removed her hand as she glanced up to Master Splinter’s room, noticing the door still shut. Raph was still up there, and she winced at the thought he was taking the punishment for something she did.

“Can I ask you something, Donnie?”

The terrapin turned to face her on the couch, and answered her question before she could even voice what had been bothering her.

“Sensei wasn’t upset with you or Raph about the whole bedroom thing, if that’s what you’re wondering.” He said blatantly. Donnie reminded Rose of her mom, speaking plain and stating facts over being tactful with feelings. A half-smile bloomed on her lips as he continued. “Raph disobeyed orders when he took you to the roof, and Leo was pretty upset. There’s always drama between them about leadership and following orders, but it usually blows over really quick. Raph and Leo are sparring privately in Sensei’s dojo right now. They just need to work it out alone.”

Donnie gestured over to the room across from the gym.

“That’s our dojo space that we use for everyday training. The one upstairs is more, um, ceremonial.”

“Thanks, Don. You’re the best.”

She gave the purple masked turtle a full smile and leaned in for a hug, grateful that he knew exactly what was troubling her, so she didn’t have to admit it out loud. She knew that her flirting with Raph was starting to be a little more than playful, and admitting her concern out loud was a little more than she could take right now. It was all moving so fast.

I mean, we almost fucking kissed this morning. I’ve known him for literally one day.

Donnie interrupted her thoughts with more cold, hard logic.

“So, I don’t know how to put this nicely but, you stink.”

“Thanks, Don. Real nice.” She laughed.

Yup, just like Mom.

“Yeah, you’re right. My clothes are super dirty." She agreed. “Is anyone around to help me to my apartment for a change of clothes and some other stuff? I know you’re busy and,” she gestured upstairs with her head. “Those two are occupied at the moment.”

“Yeah, Mike is around. He’s probably in the skate room.”

Donnie walked her over to where the sound of scraping wheels and rap music poured out into the hall. Hell, there were so many rooms in this place, she could definitely get lost easily on her own.

As Donnie walked back to his lab, Rose entered the skate room, which looked like Mikey’s personality threw up everywhere. There was no wall that wasn’t graffitied, covered in posters, or lined with speakers, and it was so bright and well, Mikey.

He was so much like her brother Dom it hurt.

Mikey quickly noticed her and despite being mid-air, he flipped off his board and leapt down in front of Rose.

“Sup girl?” He said, raising an arm over his head and flexing a little. “What can the Mikester do for ya?”

He had the biggest, goofiest grin on his face, and she was beside herself. Mikey was adorable.

Smiling, she rested her hand on a hip. “I need a favor Mike. You up for a road trip?”

“Um, hells yea Rosita. Do you even need to ask?” He grinned, shutting off his music with his phone and slipping his board back on his shell. “Where to?”

“Well, I need to head back to my apartment to get some things, but I have to be sneaky about it. It’s complicated, but I have to get in- get out, kay?” She hoped he wouldn’t ask too many more questions, she didn't really want to explain.

“Aight, lezz go!”

With that they headed back to the main room, grabbed her stuff, and headed out of the lair.

—----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dusk had started to fall outside.

She was beginning to lose track of time down in the sewers, as the turtles were on an awake-all-night schedule and there were no windows. She preferred the schedule actually, she had always been a night owl and she had gigs at night anyways.

They had made it to the rooftop across from her apartment, and she couldn’t see any lights on. Her ex’s schedule was always erratic, but she hoped that no one was home. She didn’t want to face him, especially not with a mutant turtle in tow.

“So what are we doin here, chica?

She sighed and explained the situation, realizing he probably wouldn't be okay with breaking-and entering.

“Well, my ex and I broke up yesterday right before the bar..incident..” She didn't want to call it what it was. "I need to get some clothes and stuff but I don’t want to see him. Cool?”

Mikey nodded, and gestured for Rose to grab onto him. She put her arm around his neck, a much easier task with the orange ninja than with his older brother. Mikey was the smallest of the four, but still was stronger than the average human. He lifted her up with one arm with ease, and took his board off of his back. Before she could protest, he yelled “Hold on babes!” and jumped off the roof.

The board flew them across the gap between buildings easily, and they landed on her fire escape quickly and semi-gracefully. Kneeling, but wincing from the pain in the movement, she shimmied her window up. She had never felt the need to lock it, being that they lived on the 10th floor and no one was determined enough to climb that far up a fire escape for a robbery.

Mikey and Rose stepped into the dark room quickly, listening for signs of movement. When they heard none, she turned the lights on and grabbed a bag out of the closet. She looked over to the bed and sighed. They had built a life together here, and it was all just being thrown away. All the memories, laughter, and experiences. Just garbage in the dumpster. She was lost in thought, until Mike’s movement caught her eye.

“Hey, there’s a letter here for ya.”

Mikey handed over a sheet of paper he found on her pillowcase.

Rose,

Take care of yourself.

With love always, Nick

She cried. She didn’t know what else to do.

Their whole relationship, cut down to a short note and moving boxes. It was all too much to deal with.

Mikey grabbed her hand and just stood there with her while she cried like a child, still hoping that this was just a dream. She knew it wasn’t, but she would give anything to not feel this pain.

After a few minutes, she squeezed the turtle’s hand back, and turned to face him.

“Thanks, Mikey. Really." He gave her a weak smile, worry still clear in his eyes. "Now, let’s hurry so we can get out of here, ok?”

He nodded and moved out of her way so she could do what she needed.

Rose grabbed a bag out of her closet and started packing for a week away; that would at least cover her if she wanted to stay a little longer. She packed her toiletries quickly, thankful to be able to brush her teeth finally. Then she turned to Mike.

“Hey, can you turn around? I need to change.” She laughed as he blushed, quickly turning to face the window.

As she dressed, Mikey started asking questions.

“So most people have jobs, right?”

“Yep.”

“So what’s your job? Like I know you said you were self-employed or whatever, but like what do you do?”

She chuckled. “I’m a singer, Mikey. I gig around town with a few different bands, and I do some studio work occasionally. We didn’t have any gigs scheduled until later this week, so my schedule is pretty open.” She responded, pulling her clean shirt over her torso gingerly. “You’re good to turn around now. All done.” Rose had chosen a pair of black biker shorts and an oversized graphic tee. The lair was way too warm for pants.

“Girl, that is so freakin’ cool!” He almost yelled with how excited he was. She could tell that he longed for a life like that, in the spotlight. It must be hard for him.

For all of them.

She shook her head chuckling, enjoying his enthusiasm.

“Thanks, Mike.” Turning the light off and moving towards the window, she punched his arm. “You ready, dude?”

“You know it!”

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