#''never seen the bus use the wheelchair lift before'': fuck you. i am not your spectacle. you all should've called the mta and complained

[crengarrion]

the ramp for the lift was shrimply stuck this way <3 this was the bus the first bus driver had to call for me because the first bus's door wouldn't disengage the locks; i had to board a third bus instead. but we just love the MTA (:

all three bus drivers have been nothing but lovely. as usual this is a corporate problem, not a blue collar worker problem. ensuring the wheelchair lifts are fully operational should be a mandatory part of the daily examination each bus undergoes prior to departing the terminal to begin its routes.

even if you and none of your loved ones use mobility aids: call your local transit company, especially if they are the MTA, and find out if they test wheelchair lifts on every single vehicle every single day. if they don't, lodge a complaint.

[pendragonfics]

Early Mornin’

Paring: Markus/Reader

Tags: gender neutral reader, no pronouns used for reader, meet-cute, domestic fluff, like the fluffiest fluff you've ever seen fluffed, post-pacifist best ending, Markus (Detroit: Become Human) needs a hug, blood and injury, blue blood, angst with a happy ending.

Summary: After the war, the both of you deserve to sleep in, and snuggle.

Word Count: 1,570

Current Date: 2019-01-04

If you were to be completely frank on the subject, you loved early mornings. You had always loved them, and now, after the riots in Detroit led by the people of Jericho, it felt good to relax in the morning. When you spoke about your love of them, though, people would be confused, confounded, unsure by your words. Early mornings suck! you heard often enough, why wouldn’t you just prefer to stay in bed?

But that was the things - you loved early mornings…in bed.

Especially in the wintertime, when the frost bit at the window frames beyond the confines of the flannelette sheet-strewn bed, where the house was warmed by electricity and comfort. The skies would be dark in the morning, just like they were the night before, and you loved looking into the darkness at just after five thirty in the morning, seeing shapes that could barely be deciphered by the naked human eye.

Despite your love for early mornings, the man who you loved, well, the android-man who you loved, did not have a fondness for them. Markus was a busy man, always working on something more than another. It led to lots of things - sadly, the death of Mr. Carl Manfred, the uprising that he had managed to make into the hallmarks of history…and, the marginalisation of your love of early morning snuggles.

But it wasn’t ever said that he didn’t love time with you.

You had met Markus in the town square, where you had witnessed an anti-android protest gone wrong. The android with the close-cropped hair wandered too close to the demonstration of the angry masses, and you watched, aghast. The threw him around, kicked him, called him names that made your blood boil. You’re not sure what made you do it, but you sprung to action, and toward the android.

“Markus,” you cried out the name that was printed on the back of his jacket, moving to help him up, “Come now, I’ll be late for the appointment.”

��Is this your plastic fuck?” a protester sneered.

“Well, I don’t care.” Another chimed in. “We’re going to teach it a lesson.”

Luckily then, a police officer stepped in, and diffused the situation. Before too long, you were walking off with the RK200 model, unscathed. You stopped at the bus stop, and the android turned to you, looking you in the eyes with its green ones.

“Why did you do that?” He asked you.

You frowned, considering your hands. “I’m not quite sure.” You reply honestly. “Perhaps, because it’s wrong for those people to act like that toward you?” You take a deep breath, and add, softly, you add, “Or because it’s wrong to stand by and watch bad things as it happens?”

The android nodded. “Either way, thank you for your actions…”

“_________.” You reply quickly. “I’m sorry if calling you by your name earlier was wrong. I’ve never had an android, I really don’t understand the etiquette -,”

“It was fine, _________.” The bus pulled up, and Markus moved toward the end, where the Android’s Only compartment was located. It was then when you realised that you couldn’t follow him any longer, and you gave him a small wave. “Good bye, _________.”

“Goodbye, Markus.” You bid, feeling like you’d never see him again…he had such a distinct face, too…

In the dimness that seeped through the window of your shared apartment, you saw the hints of the beginnings of sunrise. It was too early to be fully awake, but by the time it was eight o’clock, when the sun sat comfortably in the sky, you’d be ready.

Too bad today, you stirred a little too much to your boyfriend’s liking.

“Remember how we met?” you asked him, your voice crackling a little from disuse in the night.

“Go back to sleep, _________.” Markus grumbled.

It took weeks after the death of your favourite artist Carl Manfred to lift the burden of sadness that made you feel so gloomy. You spent most of it locked in your apartment, neglecting your canvases and commissions. He had been a mentor to you when you had been younger, and he hadn’t been in the wheelchair - he had inspired you to become who you were. In the time after hearing about his death, you barely spoke to anyone for days, but when you found the strength to leave the apartment, you did. From being at home for so long, you’d exhausted all your resources - food, essential supplies…

So, you went to the town square to stock up. You had just begun to place fresh foods in your basket at the supermarket when you saw a familiar face outside, through the shop window. The android of which you had met earlier in the year, Markus. In a dream-like daze, you returned the items to the shelf, and exited the shop empty-handed, gravitating toward him. If he were the sun, you were Icarus, willing to be burnt.

There were other androids with him, many more than you had ever seen congregated together in the same area, ever. There was a model that you remember from university, a woman with golden honey-red hair, and so many more flanking his sides. As you neared, you realised that his face was devoid of the LED that had been there before. No flashing blue-to-yellow, no light.

He looked so very human.

“_________?” he spoke your name with a conviction that you hadn’t heard in his tone in the last time that you had spoken. You’d heard of deviant androids, and you suspected that he had broken free as well. His eyes lit up at the sight of you, “What are you doing here?”

“Are you marching?” you asked him.

He nodded, looking toward the massive billboard to the right of the gathering. In seconds, it flickered from its advertising picture of the football team to a picture, a logo. You smiled at the sight of it.

“This is dangerous,” he told you, voice low.

“What else is new?” you replied, and turning to the android beside you, a blonde man, you linked arms with him, and the university lecturer. “Hey,” you told them, “I’m _________.”

“Simon,” the blonde replied.

“Josh,” the other said.

“It’s wonderful to meet you all,” you told them, and you meant it.

Even though you loved him with all your heart, trusted him as your leader as a part of the uprising, and admired him equally, you didn’t listen. Instead, you shuffled, so very quietly, toward his side of the bed. He looked so human, in these moments - no LED, the slight warmth within the sheets, and his breathing, so soft.

You slot yourself into his arms, and place your head on his shoulder, you let out a small breath.

“Are you comfortable?” he asks you, voice low. It’s a different voice to what he usually uses, when speaking to the people of Jericho - it’s calm, kind. There’s the authority to it, yes, but with you, it isn’t trying to rally the people. Just show you how much he cares. “_________?”

You chuckle, nudging his face with your own. Your cheeks brush his own, the hint of a smile on your face. “Oh, you know I am,” you reply, your voice cheekily soft.

“I mean, if you weren’t, I’d -,” you cut Markus’ words off with a kiss, deftly placed just beside his mouth, beside his lips. “Is that how we’re playing this now?” he asks you, a small smile upon his face. His words are daring, but the way he spoke them, you know he’s messing with you.

When you found him in the stronghold outside the camp, you pressed yourself into the wall, where all the journalists stood. There were guns trained on the people on the other side, but that didn’t stop you. Nothing could stop you from being there for Markus. You hadn’t had the chance to tell him of your feelings, but by the look of things, it would be now or never. None of the people with their cameras paid you any mind as you straddled the fence, and once on the other side, you mentally thanked the bullet-proof vest you’d managed to buy from the internet. They fired at the people in the barricade, like fish in a barrel, but once you were over the next wall, you didn’t care if you’d be shot. You had to be there.

For Markus.

“_________! Get out of here!” Markus called to you, his tone aghast.

A bullet whizzed by your arm, grazing where the vest didn’t protect your shoulder. You wince, feeling the sting of pain. The soldiers pause, halting their fire. You’re not sure if it’s because of their orders, or because they see you, and are seeing the blood drip down your arm, a colour that they weren’t expecting.

You walk toward Markus, but it’s him who cradles you, his blue-blood stained hands clutching you close. Close enough to hear his breathing, feel it on your face, his lips -

His lips on yours.

“If you don’t want early morning kisses, be my guest,” you grin into his synthetic skin, feeling it graze on your own.

He laughs into your hair, holding you closer. “I’d have them forever, with you.” He states and asks, “if that works for you?”

You nod, feeling almost giddy with your happiness, “Yeah, that works for me, Mr. Rebellion.”

[remeny-writes]

Roses are red, Violets are Adored (Viadore/Katlaska/Group fic)

I’d like to say I’m not 100% happy with this chapter at all but I can’t spend any more time on it or I’ll go bonkers. It just isn’t flowing how I want it to. feedback welcome.

Chapter 171

Michelle’s POV

The bus was 2 hours late, I hate when it’s late, even though we had plenty of time. We had to run through the opening and closing numbers with Dela, who would be joining us for the next 2 nights.

“I’m sure they are fine Michelle,” Dela said soothingly as she patted my arm. We were sitting on the couches in the lobby of the Seattle Four Seasons, I stood back up to pace around.

“I don’t understand why no one has texted me, not even Roy! He always responds! What if they got in an accident and no one can reach their phone!”

“No they didn’t get in an accident Michelle. I’m sure of it.” Dela said calmly.

“How do you know?” I interrupted my pacing to look at Dela, who had a giant smile on her face. “What are you smiling at?”

“They’re here!!” Dela pointed behind me as an exhausted looking B, Willam, Sharon, Jinkxy, Katya and Alaska tramped in with their bags. Where were the other 3? It wasn’t like Fame and Phi Phi to dawdle but it was exactly like Pearl to.

“Hey Michelle.” B said, pulling me into a quick hug while the others all went about greeting Dela with hugs, Jinkx holding onto their Seattle sister the longest. I couldn’t help but notice that they looked upset.

“Where are the others?” I asked B.

“Wellll...you need to come with me for a minute.” He said seriously, he turned around and started leaving the hotel, I had to jog to catch up with him.

“Is someone sick? What is going on? Tell me.”

“No one's sick, well not in a manner of speaking, just go on the bus, Alex and I will wait out here.”

What the hell was that supposed to mean? I hated that I had no idea what I was going to walk into, I waited for a second for B to say more but he just moved his head as if to say go see.

I took a breath and started up the stairs.

Phi Phi was sitting on the couch alone, staring at her knees and  looking like a kid that got caught peeking at her neighbour’s test.

“What’s going on Phi Phi?” I asked, making her jump. “Sorry I didn’t mean to startle you!”

Phi Phi smiled weakly and patted the spot on the couch. “S’ok come sit down, they’ll be out in a moment.”

I looked around, trying to pinpoint why Pheef would be looking so downtrodden, she was staring at the bathroom door now.

“Pearl and Fame, out from where? Are they in the bathroom together? Is one of them sick?”

“Fuck! B didn’t tell you, did he? What an asshole!” She blurted angrily.

“Tell me…” I didn’t get a chance to finish and at that point, all words had evaporated and the ability to speak left me.

Pearl was walking backwards, holding onto Fame’s hands to help her walk. Fame was pale and her nose and eye was bruised. She had a grimace on her face.

“Ok, we’re gonna put you back in the chair for a minute until Michelle comes out love. Or would you like to lay down, I have fresh ice too. How’s that sound?” Pearl soothed, sounding like she was talking to either a child or someone very old.

“She’s here.” Phi Phi said before I could form words, “and B didn’t tell her.”

“WHAT THE HELL?” Pearl put a hand on Fame’s back and eased her back into the lounge chair, placing a sloshing bag of ice onto Fame’s side.

Fame’s hand closed on Pearl’s wrist as the queen looked like she was about to go off and find Roy to kick the crap out of him. “It’s ok Matt, easy! It’s probably better this way, it was my fault so I should tell her.”

Pearl opened her mouth to say something back but Fame shot her a look and she wilted. She sat down on the floor beside the chair, Fame kept a hold of her hand as if she didn’t trust Pearl not to bolt. A very good idea.

“What happened to your face Fame?” I said with a sigh, she was in no condition to perform with the swelling in her face alone.

“Ok so I left the restaurant we stopped at last night because...well let’s just say I was having a moment. I went outside and…”

She paused for a minute to catch her breath and shared a look with Phi Phi and Pearl before continuing, Pearl nodded at her as if to say keep going.

“And I heard a noise, like an animal was hurt so I followed the sound and must have fallen.”

Pearl let out a scoff of disbelief and I couldn’t help with agree with her that it was such a stupid idea to just go after an animal when Fame didn’t even know what it was.

“Fame. Of all the foolish things to do!” I started disapprovingly.

“Stop it Michelle, it’s not her fault!” Pearl barked from behind a clenched jaw.

Fame tightened her grip on Pearl’s hand, “no it’s ok Pearly, it WAS my fault. It was a stupid thing to do.” Fame said, looking contrite.

“So what did you hurt? Did the hospital say when you could perform again?”

“I hurt my nose obviously and my ribs from falling so hard on my side. I didn’t go to the hospital but I’m sure…”

“WHAT?! Fame! That’s not ok, you are obviously hurt!” I interrupted angrily.

“What’s done is done Michelle, I can’t go back and believe me if I could, I totally would.” Fame said calmly, sharing another look with Phi Phi and Pearl. What the hell was going on?

“But we need to get you looked after Fame, you lot’s safety is kinda unofficially a part of my job and I can’t let you perform like this. No, I don’t feel good about this Fame.” My stomach clenched painfully and I put my hand over it. “You are obviously injured and should be under a doctor’s care, we don’t even know how long you shouldn’t perform for!”

“3 to 6 weeks.” Phi Phi and Pearl said in stereo. I looked from one to the other.

“But Fame should be able to lipsync fine in a few days as long she doesn’t do any crazy dance moves or lift her arms up. Singing live will take a bit longer because she won’t be able to take deep enough breaths as quick as she needs to in order to sing.” Pearl informed us in a tired monotone voice.

“Maybe we should send you home for a few weeks Kurtis.”

“No!” They all exclaimed at once.

“Ok ENOUGH!” I said sharply, I knew there was more going on than they were telling me. My patience was beyond thin. “I want you,” I pointed first to Pearl and then to Phi Phi, “and you to let Fame and I talk alone. Go on! Give us 5 minutes. Please.”

They both looked at Fame as if for permission to leave, she nodded once and they stood up and left very reluctantly. I waited a few beats before I turned back to her, moving so I was sitting right beside her so I could rest my hand gently on her knee. She flinched.

I sighed and pinched my nose with my free hand, feeling the start of a headache coming on. “Ok Fame, you NEED to tell me what’s going on. Did you not want to tell me what happened in front of them? Did Pearl or Phi Phi hurt you?”

“WHAT?! NO! NO MICHELLE! No! They didn’t hurt me, I swear to God Michelle!”

“So who did?”

She glared at me, I’d never seen the kind queen look so incensed. She spoke through gritted teeth, “Michelle, drop it! I’ll be fine! I DON’T want to go home, I just want to lay down. I am happy to pay for my own hotel. I want to room with Pearl and Phi Phi though.”

“Don’t be silly! You don’t have to pay Fame. I had Phi Phi in with Sharon again but I guess she can sleep wherever she wants. Wait. Are you...uh...do you…” I didn’t know how to even finish the thought that just went through my head.

“Do I what?” I paused for a minute because I didn’t even know how to word it. “Do I WHAT?” Fame questioned impatiently. I shook my head, feeling colour creep into my cheeks. “DO I WHAT MICHELLE?” She insisted.

“Are you into three into rough sex or something?” I blurted and blathered on, “no judgement here but I really can’t have you hurting each other.”

Fame burst out laughing, hugging a pillow to her chest and wincing. She quickly became winded so she tried to stifle her giggles. After catching her breath she choked out, “Oh my God Michelle! I would be offended that you think I could have an affair on Patrick but that’s just way too funny to be mad! Why would such a thought even go through your head...wait don’t answer that!” She was set off on another fit of the giggles.

“Oh stop!!” I flapped my hands at her. I got somber while she caught her breath, “are you safe Fame? Answer me honestly.” I asked in barely above a whisper.

She looked me straight in the eye, “I swear to God Michelle! I am perfectly safe, I promise you! I just want to stay with those two because...well...because they have both had hurt ribs and they know what to do. They know what to look for if it gets bad enough that I HAVE to go to the doctor, they’ll make me go. If they tell me I have to, I will go, I promise.” She swore earnestly.

I sighed, “I just wish you’d go Fame. Please? Are you sure you won’t go?”

“No, I won’t. I’m not going to change my mind. Please stop asking me to. STOP IT MICHELLE!” Her voice raising to a barked shout and then she started coughing, clutching the pillow to her chest.

Pearl must have heard her because she jumped back on the bus immediately, she straightened Fame’s hunched in frame and put her face into Fame’s red panicked one, Pearl’s hands steadying Fame’s heaving shoulders. “Fame? You’re ok!” She reassured, “you’re ok! I know it hurts but try to take some deep breaths with me. I got you. I got you Kurtis.” Fame quickly went from gasping frantically for air to taking deep breaths that still looked painful.

“I’m ok. I’m ok. Thanks Pearly.” Fame said after a few minutes of deep breathing, putting her left hand on top of Pearl’s hand still resting on her shoulder.

B poked his head in the door, “we have a wheelchair here for you Famey. They asked Alex to move the bus. We already got your drag bags in the hotel.”

“Ok, Pearl and B, you help Fame get down the stairs and into the hotel. Phi Phi and I will grab the bags from the bunks.” I said, quickly taking charge. I really wanted to get Phi Phi alone because I knew there was more to this story or she wouldn’t be looking so pale and she wouldn’t be sitting there chewing on her bottom lip with her eyes bouncing between the other two.

“Ok up ya get gurly, B you get on Fame’s good side. I’m gonna grab your elbow, I want you to keep the top of your arm right by your side and across your ribs. Ok?”

“Yep.” Fame said, scooting her butt towards the edge of the chair. She was already letting out groans and gasps. I couldn’t sit there and watch her suffer.

“C’mon Pheefs.” I said, pulling her to her feet and walking back to the bunks where we both started grabbing the remaining bags. I puttered around while I pulled Fame’s stuff together so when I was done, the other queens were almost out the door. Phi Phi grabbed up Pearl’s bag and turned to leave when I pulled her back by the strap on her duffle.

“Ok Jeremi, spill it. What REALLY happened?”

“What do you mean?” Phi Phi said, an feigned look of confusion on her face. I just glared at her for a minute or two, she looked uncomfortable but kept eye contact with me. “Are we done here?” She asked in a clipped voice, it was evident she knew what I was doing and adamant she was not going to crack.

I walked behind Phi Phi to the front of the bus, feeling the weight of my anxiety reside in my stomach like I had swallowed hot embers. Somehow, some way, I resolved to find out the truth.