#*Swim float device* was what I thought

[tellme-o-muse]

I’ve had MANY dreams about being a cis guy but this one was by far my favourite

[oleander-nin]

Horrortober Day 11- Mind Games(Yandere Rise Leo x Reader)

A/N, not important: Any criticism is welcome, constructive or not. This is supposed to be a gender neutral reader, so if I screwed up somewhere, please tell me.

-Ollie

CW: mention of alcohol and drugs, manipulation, hinted emotional abuse, yandere themes, dark themes

Words: 1693

Summary: You broke up with Leo, but he's not ready to give you up.

Your eyes drift across the sea of bodies, stepping back and to the side to avoid touching any of them. Coming here was a mistake, you felt. Sure, you wanted to get your mind off your recent breakup, but this was not the way to go. It was too loud, too bright, and everyone was already high or drunk and the many masks and faces of monsters and witches wasn’t helping. You grimace at the strong smell of the fruit punch in your hand, knowing it had been spiked at some point. If you found a garbage can, you’d throw it away before mistakenly taking a sip. You didn’t want to risk anything. You still had to drive home after all.

You search through the costumed college students for the friends that had insisted you come, promising it would be worth it and you’d have fun. You snort at the thought. It had barely been twenty minutes, and you already had a headache.

You feel your phone buzz in your pocket, catching your attention. Slipping away from the mass of bodies and giving up on the search, you pull out the vibrating device. Text after text was rolling though, different numbers flashing on your screen. You frown as you read the name rolling though, Leo’s pleading and angry texts blowing up your phone.

You unlock it and go to the conversation between the two of you, blocking his number once more. You were getting your number changed tomorrow, so dealing with him would only be another day. You were free of him, free of the pain and stress he caused, the sense of paranoia and fear he brought on. No more fights, no more of his obsession, no more being a prisoner to your own boyfriend.

You turn off your phone and slip it back into your pocket, doubt and guilt bubbling in your stomach. Part of you felt like you were over reacting. You knew he loved you, it was clear. But that love had gotten too much and you were starting to feel the danger brewing under his skin. The way he looked at you was once filled with love, his dark eyes swimming in happiness and hope for the future, but now they only carried the cold touch of possession and want. He still made his jokes, still treated you like you were his favorite thing in the world, but now it was… Dangerous. Like if you said the wrong thing or did something he didn’t like he would explode. He was a ticking time bomb you forgot how to defuse, and you didn’t want to be there when it finally set off.

You still loved him, the pang in your heart reminding you with every thought that flooded your brain, but being with him has gotten to be too dangerous, your mental health draining. He had started to cost you your friends, started to make you paranoid. You didn’t know how long it would go on before either of you snapped.

You gaze back into the crowd, bright lights attacking your view and making your vision swim. A group of ghosts floated by, the sheets over their heads billowing as they walked. It entertained you to see such a thing, your own costume having about the same effort as theirs. With the party so last minute, you hadn’t had time for a complex costume. You simply woke up this morning and put on a black shirt and sweats, topping the look off with a cat eared headband and three lines on either cheek with a sharpie.

Green skin in the crowd catches your eyes, your heart rate jumping as you tense. You search through the mass of people until you find what you thought you had seen. The ogre’s costume was a duller green than the one that caught your eyes, but you assumed a yellow or green light had been shining rather than the red covering them now. You lean against the wall, swirling your spiked drink. You were really thinking about taking a sip now, at least to get your mind to ease up. This was a party, you were supposed to be having fun, not thinking of Leo.

Pushing off the wall, you merge into the crowd once more to continue looking for your friends. You turn your head as you walk, looking out for the Sesame Street characters your friends said they came as. While scanning faces and masks, your eyes meet familiar ones, the deep onyx oh his eyes shining against the light. Your breath leaves you as you take in the green skin and pink crescents, his mask a stark contrast on his face.

You blink and he’s gone, a costumed student in his wake. You stare at the spot where you saw Leo, your hands shaking slightly. Did you accidentally take a sip of your drink? Were you losing it? In your confused haze, you let the crowd slowly push you back to the edges, your mind still reeling with the sights of your now ex. He couldn’t be here, he wouldn’t even know of this party. You stare at the floor, finally putting your drink down on a small table without a care. It wasn’t like you were going to pick it back up.

The feeling of three-fingered hands drifting over your waist makes your blood run cold and your muscles tense, one settling and the other crossing over to hang onto your wrist. His mouth presses against your ear, his voice a soft whisper full of unsaid fury. “Never thought you’d be in a party like this.”

You stand dumbly in his arms, unable to speak nor move. You gape at the wall in front of you, his strong hands guiding you towards the corner of the room and away from prying eyes. He seemed content with your silence, a smug smile on his face when you glanced back at him. You couldn’t help but feel terrified. Why was he here?

“Dance with me,” He purrs, his eyes flashing dangerously everytime you try to pull away. He never turns you around, keeping your back pressed against his chest. It was surreal, and your brain was stuck in an infinite loop of panic. You couldn’t help but feel unsafe, even in the arms of someone you once, and still do, loved. “It’s the least you could do after the fit you’ve been throwing. I can’t believe you’ve been ignoring me.”

You let him sway you both back and forth with the music, your voice stuck in your throat as you try to not pull away from instinct. His nails dig into your skin, a deadly smile on his lips. He hums along with the music, keeping your body pulled flush with his while he moves. He seemed content despite the circumstances, his hands holding you steady and close.

“Why are you here?” You ask quietly, your heart beating faster than it ever has before. The music was too loud still, the bass drumming the tune in your skull. You felt tired all of a sudden, the safety your brain had found in Leo over the years overriding the clear danger he presented. You wanted to pull away, to run and never look back, but his grip is firm. You weren’t getting out of this one.

“Because I’m your boyfriend, and I got worried when you didn’t answer my texts and calls.” He exaggerates a pout, jutting out his bottom lip as he looks down at you. He had grown over the years you knew him, yet still managed to keep the same jokester personality he claimed was the face of his brothers team. You scowl at his words, finally being knocked out of whatever trance you were in. You try to pull away, thrashing slightly in his grip.

“We broke up.” You remind, glaring at the mutant blending in with the fellow partygoers. Leo drops his pout, rolling his eyes as he adjusts his grip and moves you both closer to the wall.

“No, we didn’t.” He says with the certainty of a monarch sending a traitor to death. “You got upset, and said something you shouldn’t have. But we’re not breaking up.”

"Leonardo Hamato, let me go this instant." You demand, pushing harshly against his chest with your one free hand. His words pushed your brain into overdrive, the fear hitting you like bricks. You needed to leave. Now.

Leo smiles deviously, his eyes flashing as he dares you to do more. "Pulling out my full name now, are we? Looks like someone's getting serious."

His tone is no more than a deep purr, smoothing over the anger and hatred held in his heart. He wanted to slam you against the wall and choke you until you passed out, his steady hands twitching with greed. You were small compared to him now, his size nearly doubling since he was a teen. Not to mention the muscle mass he gained and the reflexes and experience he now had. You were but a lamb to the slaughter, and it was Leo who was the deciding factor on whether you made it out alive. Leo's smile widens. You were so lucky he loved you.

He squeezes your wrist and you can feel the bones start to strain under the pressure, threatening to crack. Your knees buckle at the pain, a small cry leaving your lips. He had never really hurt you before, and especially not while he was grinning. A small kiss is pressed to the back of your head, a quick squeeze being given as a warning.

“Come home with me now, quietly and on your own, or I snap both your legs and kill everyone here.”

He says this lightly, as if it was a small joke between friends. You feel tears well in your eyes. There was no way he wasn’t serious, the glint in his eye showing just how badly he wanted to show you what he was willing to do. You let out a sob, and crumple in his arms. There was nothing you could do but comply.

[lovelyyandereaddictionpoint]

Hello, I noticed you did a yandere merman story before. Can I ask for a similar idea, but it's slightly different. Can I request a Yandere Merman x Female Pirate Captain Reader?

Female Pirate Captain reader finds a map in a bottle with a location for buried treasure. However, it says it’s supposed to be deep underwater, being impossible to reach. However, she comes upon a merman, and makes a deal with him; Use his powers to create a bubble for her to go underwater, and they’ll split the treasure.

So, the Merman agrees, and creates a large air bubble for the Female Pirate Captain reader to breathe in and pushes it deep underwater. Soon, they arrive at the supposed location: An empty underwater cave. The Female Pirate Reader questions her guide, who reveals the truth. HE was the one who made the map and has been secretly a Yandere for her, following her ship for years now. This was all a ploy to capture his darling in a bubble and bring his darling underwater for him to keep.

Yandere Merman x Female Pirate Captain Reader

“Wait, what do you mean? That was you? Did you seriously orchestrate this whole journey just so you could trap me, here?”

“Yup!” 

The merman giggles swimming in circles around your bubble, a psychotic grin on his scaly face. You glare at him as you piece it all together, cursing yourself as you fully feel the weight of the situation. 

Just hours before you had convinced your right-hand man that killing this merman was not the right call. Hours before you convinced your crew that this would have been the big haul…the last mission for many of them. That letter spoke of a treasure beyond measure with a diamond clinking within the dry confines of the floating wine bottle. You sat down with your aging and war-torn crewmates and brought them on this journey with promises of hope for their families, for their debts. All for it to be some elaborate scheme to capture you. Just you. Leaving your crew captainless and without a smidge of treasure.

“This is because you’re…in love with me..right?”

“That is what I said.” 

You ignored the tone in his voice as you made your plea. 

“Can you…tell them what happened?” 

The mermaid raised an eyebrow tilting his head to the side as he watched you fidget. Fighting tears and the crack in your voice you went further.  

“Like..can you tell them that there isn’t any treasure and that I’m not coming back.” 

The merman brought a hand to his chin, tail lightly swishing around your bubble. His eyes were closed as he looked to be in deep thought before blinking one yellow eye open. 

“Haha nope.” 

Crestfallen you swallowed your tears as the merman swam in circles rolling with delighted laughter. You waited until he was done to try pleading with him again. 

“You don’t have to say I survived I just want them to go home! Don’t you want that too!? For them to leave…us to our devices?”

“Hahaha, I do!” You lightened up. “But no.” Your frown returned.

He giggled twirling playfully as he spoke, “If I go back up there they’ll shoot me down without you. Plus if they despise you they’ll never come back! And that works so much better!” 

You rolled your eyes, crossing your arms as you glared harder. 

“So what?! Your plan is to keep me in this bubble until I starve to death!?”

The merman stopped taking note of your accusation, before putting his hands on his hips. 

“Do you think me so cruel, when I already told you I loved you?” He picked up a seashell harshly pulling out the creature living in it, before flinging it into your bubble. The shell rolls to touch your boot to which you sneer at the gooey residue of the poor animal, scooching away. 

“Don’t worry food can get in just fine. And eventually, when you’re ready we’re going to walk to an underwater cave, where we’ll live out the rest of our days.”

You let your mind wander turning away from the merman who was laughing to himself as he replayed the fantasy in his head. Smirking to yourself, you held a hand over your face as you made a decision. A decision to do what you do best as a pirate captain. 

“Well, merman you have me pegged…I guess I really don’t have a way to defy you.”

“That’s right! Might as well just accept your fate!”

“I mean maybe I should…but I have one more question if you would humor me.”

A look of interest appeared on his face as he swam closer, “I’m…listening.”

“Does the way things come in work on things coming out?”

Eyes dart to the right. 

“Yeah.”

“Oh?”

With no hesitation, you drew your sword aiming for the clear barrier. Stopping when the merman frantically waved his hands as he got as close as possible. 

“What are you doing?! That could kill you, by the pressure alone!” 

“I thought you said it would go out the same?”

The merman groaned, “Okay maybe not but are you really going to kill yourself just to spite me?!”

“Ha not without a price…” 

“...what do you want?”

“You’re going to go back up there, tell my crew what the deal is. You can stay out of range of the cannons and harpoons. Just tell them the truth. Can you do that?”

The merman pouted holding your gaze without blinking as if in hopes to deter you, only to fall short when you didn’t falter. Dragging his webbed hands across his face he groaned. 

“Fine. Wait here.”

You watched as he swam away pretending to sheath your sword. Pulling it out again when he was far out of sight. 

“Now the only decision left…is if I’m going to risk it.”

A captain always makes tough decisions ones that play with their life and others that prey on the enemy.

[jellifysh]

Fake Love (part 2)

Or, Your Boyfriends Are Always There for You, and Always Have Been. Right?

OT7 x reader (soft yandere! bts x reader, amnesia au, heavy manipulation, dark fluff, the boys love you they’re just insane about it, ur family sucks sorry, more mentions of injuries and hospitals, I don’t actually know how hospitals works so I’m making this all up <3)

A/N: dam I really went three months w/o updating that’s crazy omggg y’all I’m so sorry,, I had the planning for this just sitting here for months but I’m actually not sure where I’m going with this story imma be fr,, it’s gonna be a happy ending and morally grey (as all my stories tend to be for some reason) but for the most part it’s just gonna be fluff :) enjoy <333

You floated on the edge of consciousness, feeing hands stroking through your hair. Stretching out your body, slowly “So beautiful.” A voice said, hush as a strand of hair was brushed back from your face. You shifted a little, then blinked open your eyes, shutting them again as the sun hit them too soon.

“Aw, too bright? I’ll close them, darling, don’t worry.” Jin cooed, moving to close the curtains securely. You sat up slowly, their eyes on you as you got your bearings, slowly blinking and rubbing sleep off your face, then laughing to yourself in disbelief as you looked around. The members had gathered in various spots around your bed, Jungkook was playing with your hair, Jimin had been brushing a hand across your cheek, and the rest gazed at you, fondness in your eyes. You wondered how many time you had woken up like this in the past—well, minus the hospital bed.

“I almost thought you all were a dream.” You quietly admitted, awe creeping into your sleepy tone.

“Not a dream, nabi. This is real.” Taehyung said, a bit of awestruckness in his voice as well, leaning down to link pinkies with you. You giggled, wrapping your pinky around his tightly, marveling at the way your hands seemed to fit so well together.

“And we got you a present.” Namjoon smiled, holding a bag out to you. Your eyebrows raised in surprise as you took it with the hand not holding Taehyung’s, looking around at all of them for a clue to what was inside. “Just open it, love.” He chided, gently. You stuck your hand inside, reaching past tissue paper and pulling out a sleek, rectangular device.

“It’s a new phone!” Jin cheered from his spot on the right of your bedside. “And we set it up for you already, just to make sure you wouldn’t have any extra stress.” You examined the phone, holding the weight in your hand without turning it on yet, getting used to the new features.

“Wow, this is, I mean, this has to be the latest model, I can’t have this.” You shook your head, their generosity almost overwhelming. You knew from experience that phones like this were not cheap. Even if they were one of the most famous groups in the world, they didn’t need to spend their wealth on you. You placed it back in the bag, holding it back out to them, though none of them moved to take it from you.

It was Yoongi that spoke up then, warmth and intensity swimming in his deep eyes as he looked directly into yours. “You can have that and so much more.” He said, no sign of humor in his tone as he insisted. “We want to treat you, please, please let us.” You looked at him, half-surprised by the honesty and half-touched, your arm slowly pulling the bag back as you realized he really meant it, the rest of their faces reflecting the same seriousness.

“I don’t even know what to say. I— Thank you.” You finally said, looking down at the phone again to avoid their intense gazes.

“Don’t thank us yet. We are far from done.” Hoseok smiled brightly, and as you looked up, smiling back, the room felt lighter.

“We spoke to the doctors while you were asleep,” Namjoon started, “They want to keep you for a bit more monitoring for today, just to make sure everything’s in order before they release you, but you’ll be discharged by the end of the day. We can drive you back your apartment and you can settle back in at home. But…” his sentence drifted off as he cast a worried look towards the window.

“But what?” You asked, starting to get concerned yourself, siting up a bit straighter in your bed.

“Well,” Namjoon continued, tone full of weariness. “We can’t stay much longer, love. We have to be back in Korea soon, we dropped everything to come to you but, we have a lot planned that we have to start on real soon. If you stay here, we can’t stay and help you recover. Do you have anyone to stay with you?”

You probably didn’t, you realized slowly, almost deflating at the thought of it. In the few days you’ve been in the hospital only they came to visit you. And if you’re on the same terms with your family as you used to be, they likely won’t want to care for you. You could get some sort of stay at home nurse, or stay in the hospital to be taken care of, but that would be money. Money you didn’t have.

“I don’t… I don’t know. I’d need to make some calls.” You responded weakly, mindlessly moving your hand to fully hold Taehyung’s, not noticing the way his face brightened. “When do you leave?”

“At most, in four days.” Jimin replied despondently.

“Four?” You repeated in shock. “But that’s so soon.”

They nodded solemnly, letting you think it over in silence. You took a moment to think with the new information, trying to ignore the way your heart sank at the thought of them leaving. Did you want them to stay? It’d be weird wouldn’t it? Latching on so quickly to them when you don’t really know them? But you do, you reminded yourself. They wouldn’t be here if you didn’t mean something to them. Surely you can trust them?

Jin broke the silence, his hand gently caressing your leg that wasn’t in a cast. “Let’s not think about it now, hmm? No reason to stress.” He suggested with a warm smile. “You haven’t eaten yet, have you?”

You shook your head no, expression clearing up as you chose to forget for a moment.

“Then we’ll get you something to eat, and you can have the whole day to think. How about that?” Hoseok asked, and you nodded.

“I am kind of hungry.” You agreed, though that was an understatement. You were starving, you were thirsty, you were exhausted although all you did was lay down, and you just wanted to be out of the hospital already.

Jimin perked up, moving towards the door. “I’ll get you some food, pretty, don’t even worry about it.” He said, brimming with excitement as he exited.

Taehyung rushed after him, a competitive fire lit behind his eyes. “I’ll get you better food!”

Jungkook shot up from his seat, hastily putting on his jacket, rushing to the door as well. “I’ll get all your favorites, noona!”

And with that, they left in a whirlwind and Namjoon sighed, a tired smile on his face as he turned to you. “I should probably go with them.” You nodded, understanding, and he exited as well, waving at you as he left.

“Now,” Hoseok announced as the room quieted. “Let’s show our princess how to use her new phone!” He cheered, him and Jin excitedly raving about all the cool features of the phone and stuff you could do with it and Yoongi chided them to give you some space.

—

After the other boys returned with way more food than you could possibly eat in one day—Jungkook was right, he did get you all your favorites— and did a lot more laughing than was probably safe for you to do with bandages wrapped around your ribs, you felt the mood of the room slowly winding down, the boys exchanging glances as Namjoon kept texting someone frantically on his phone.

“Is everything alright?” You asked hesitantly, but by the look Namjoon gave you, you could already tell it wasn’t.

“I’m sorry, love, we have to go.” Namjoon replied. He had slipped into calling you love today and as you heard it more, you minded it less and less. Maybe it’s because it’s what he used to call you? A part of your mind must remember being with them, it was too easy with them, after all, they knew too much about you.

“Do we have to?” Jungkook whined and Namjoon frowned, nodding at him.

“The company wants to speak with us immediately over the phone about… our plans going forward.” He said, casting a glance to you out of the corner of his eye.

“We can’t leave her alone.” Yoongi argued.

“One of us should stay with her. I volunteer.” Taehyung stood up, only to get pushed back into his seat.

“You sit down.” Jin playfully scolded. “I’ll stay with her.”

“No fair!”

“Hush, I’m older than you.”

“You sure, hyung?” Namjoon asked, standing as everyone began to gather their things.

“I’m sure we’ll be alright. I’ll have her discharged and drive her to her apartment.” Jin turned to you. “If that’s alright with you?”

You twiddled your thumbs, a feeling of numbness coming over you at the thought of them leaving. “Um, sure. Can’t stay in the hospital forever, I guess.”

After that it was a blur of events, the boys all went to the front desk with you to check out and escorted you to the car in your brand new wheelchair. You tried to cheer yourself up mentally, but the heavy cast on your leg and the layers and layers of bandages on your arms and ribs made it hard to stay optimistic.

You were lifted into the car by Jungkook, the boys all fussing over you as they helped you with your seatbelt and getting comfortable in the chair. As you tuned out their squabbling, you found yourself shaking at the thought of being in a car again after your last accident. You blinked, then blinked again, the feeling of a car quickly accelerating, then even more quickly stopping as the feeling of slamming into something and flying through the air filled your body and you were breathing heavy, hard, and fast and—

“Y/N?”

You gasped, eyes fluttering open. You were still in the parking lot. The car hadn’t even started moving. You looked around at their concerned faces. You floundered for something to say, settling on, “Sorry, I’m just… a bit tired, I guess.”

They exchanged a long look with each other that you tried to ignore, not wanting to know if they pity you. “Of course, I’ll make sure you rest once you’re home.” Jin replied.

“Don’t worry, noona, we’ll be back with you soon. Just relax and enjoy being home again.” Jungkook said, trying to force a positive tone but you could hear the worry.

“Thanks, I’ll try.” You smiled, sure it looked stained, and they closed the door, Jin pulling out of the parking lot and driving to your apartment almost on autopilot, him not once asking you where you lived.

You looked out the window as he drove. You recognized certain parts of the city of course, places you’d been all your life, but when he turned down the street to your apartment building and parked in the lot, you had no recollection of ever being there.

“Is this… where I live?”

Jin smiled at you, brief and sad. “Yeah, we figured you may not remember it. You only moved here about a year ago.”

You sighed, frustrated with not knowing anything, staring up at the tall building through the windshield.“How are we supposed to get in if I don’t even remember living here?”

You heard a jingle to your left, looking over at Jin as he held up a key ring. “That’s what I’m here for, jagi. You gave us a spare key in case we were ever in town.” He chuckled, looking wistfully at the apartment as if gazing upon a memory. “I remember you were so excited to move in here. You danced around your room all night, it was adorable.”

You laughed, “Yup, that sounds like me alright.”

Jin looked over at you, and you looked back at him, stupid smiles on both your faces. You sat in the calm quiet moment, basking in the peace you felt with him as warmth filled your chest. Jin spoke quietly, gently breaking the moment. “I’ll help you into your chair.

Entering the actual apartment was strange. It was familiar and warm but at the same time, you remembered nothing about the actual layout. You remember your furniture—the couch you dragged from your mom’s house to every apartment you had ever lived in, the throw pillows you’d had since you were a teenager, the Polaroids you’ve taken of yourself in cool locations and posters of your favorite bands, BTS included— but memories of living there were gone.

“This poster’s always been my favorite.” Jin commented, and you turned your head to see him standing next a poster of himself, copying the pose he was making in the photo.

You chuckled, “I pulled that from an album, I forget which one.”

“Wings,” he replied automatically. You turned to look at him, suprised how quickly he answered, and he continued, “I remember my hairstyle.” He joked, making you giggle.

You continued looking around, noticing dishes in the sink, clothes on the floor, a laundry basket next to the machine overflowing with clothes. “I left this place such a mess.”

“Don’t you worry about that, I’ll clean up for you. Here lemme help you lie down and rest.”

Jin helped into your bed, the unfamiliar object conforming to your body perfectly, and you snuggled up against the blankets, almost comfortable enough to ignore the rigid cast on your leg. After that, he began fretting over the apartment, picking up and arranging things, folding clothes, and moving into the rest of the apartment to wash laundry, dishes and pick up the living room.

Brushing past the disbelief that international superstar Kim Seok Jin was cleaning up your living room, you used the free time to acclimate to your new phone.

Tapping the screen to turn it on, you were greeted with a wallpaper of Jimin, Tae and Jungkook making funny faces at the camera, as well as about 20 new messages from a group chat with the members that you had already been added to. You smiled to yourself, but skipped past talking to them just yet, familiarizing yourself with the functions and settings.

After a while, you started to set up your email, having to reset your password to get in, and find out what you missed in the short time you had been away and maybe get a hint of what you were doing before. Once you finally managed to get in, you were met with a bunch of emails from your landlord on being behind on your rent, and an email from your job to tell you that you had been terminated. Looking over the contact information in the email, you dialed the number to try and bargain for your job.

“I just don’t understand, if I worked for you I must have some paid time off, or maybe even some sort of medical exemption, I mean, I can give you hospital bill, I swear I was just incapacitated— I didn’t even know I had this job until today, this isn’t fair.” You pleaded.

The voice over the phone repeated the same thing they had been telling you for the last five minutes. “I’m sorry, Ms.L/n but we can’t make an exception, you didn’t show up for three days in a row and no one informed us of why and you being injured and having lost your memory makes us even less inclined to hire you back. Thank you for your work with us but we can’t hire you back.”

You stammered, “You can’t make a single exception? I can relearn—I can work for a couple weeks without pay, I just— as far as I know, this is my only job, this is what I depend on.”

The person over the phone seemed to hesitate for a moment before answering resolutely. “I’m sorry again, I— we can’t hire you again. Have a good day.”

And with that the line went dead. You huffed, getting the contact information for your landlord to see if there some way you could hold off on paying rent until you had a better financial standing, hoping for better luck.

“I’m so sorry to hear that you had been in the hospital, honey, but I still need my money and I really don’t think you’re in any place to give it to me.” The landlord stated, unyielding in her decision.

“I… could figure something out…” you protested weakly, unsure of how exactly you would do that.

“You’re a lovely person and you’ve been a great tenant, but you’ve been behind on your payments too many times and this is my last straw, I’m sorry. I’m evicting you if you can’t pay this months rent.”

“What? I— what if what to break the lease? Can I just move out?”

“You still have to pay this month’s rent, and the two months still left in your lease.”

You sighed, heavy and weary. “I… I understand, I’ll call you back when I figure something out.”

“Okay, have a good day.”

“As if anyone could ever have a good day after news like that.” You muttered to yourself. You sat there, thinking to yourself for a moment with your finger hovering over the contacts, before hesitantly clicking it. The boys hadn’t added your mothers number, and there was probably a good reason—last you remember you weren’t on good terms and you doubt that changed, but you figured you may as well check in. If the boys were leaving soon you needed to know if someone could take care of you, and your mom was your last hope. You knew her number by heart, not that she ever really picked up half the time.

After three rings, the line picked up. “Hello?” An annoyed voice asked.

“Hi, mom, I—“

“You again? Listen, whatever crazy story you have to tell me now, I’m sick of it. You’ve always been an attention seeker and I’m done with you. First, you tell me your angel of a sister is ‘horrible’ to you, then you say you’re ‘too stressed’ at school in the career you chose, then you make up some crazy story about people following you. What do you want me to do? I’m one person, not your therapist!”

“I— I just called to say I got into a car accident and I’m in a cast—“

“Oh really?” She replied skeptically.

You felt frustrated enough to cry. “Yes, why don’t you ever believe me? I need someone to take care of me and I cant—“

“You’ll be fine, stop whining to me you’re a grown woman, I finished raising after you turned 18, now for once in your life, act your age.” She spat out, hanging up before you could get another word in.

As you sat in the silence, the only sounds coming from the gentle clinking of dishes in the kitchen, you fought the urge to laugh. What were you thinking calling your mother? As if she’d ever care about you. As if she’d listened to a thing you ever said. She hates your guts and at this point you hated hers. Nothing in your life ever managed to go right. As you buried your face in your hands, images began to flash behind your eyes. A tall building, getting out the passenger seat of an unfamiliar car, bringing a tray of coffee to someone, smiling, laughing, sitting at a desk.

You gasped, opening your eyes, and frantically wiping the tears away. Work, you remembered, those were memories of work. You… were an assistant to… someone? You closed your eyes again trying to focus on the fleeting memories but to no avail, nothing but glimpses and fogginess filled your mind. You huffed, frustrated yet again. It seemed like you’d always been frustrated but now yet with all of it hitting you full force, you just wanted to curl up in your blankets and cry for hours.

A knock on your open door showed Jin pushing inside your room with a basket of freshly dried laundry. “Your clothes are so cute, I—“ he halted, noticing the distress in your body language. “Jagi, what happened?” He asked, moving to your side and placing the clothes basket down next to your dresser.

“I’m just stressed.” You sniffed pathetically, not knowing what else to say.

“What do you mean? Why are you stressed?” Jin asked, starting to fold up the clothes neatly and place them in the drawers.

“Well, I was on the phone with my job. I had a job before the accident, obviously, I had a whole apartment, but I got fired and was thinking about it and I… remembered.” Jin stopped in his movements, hands frozen in their motion of folding a shirt in half.

“I can’t remember anything else, but I remember I worked at an office as an assistant.” You continued, not noticing the way Jin had gone deathly still. You clasped your hands, staring out the window as you thought. Bits and pieces of carrying coffee, filing paperwork, boring monotonous office life came to your mind, but frustratingly nothing else. Not your boss’s name, not the company you worked at, not even the color of the desk you sat at. “I’m just stressed because there’s so much I don’t remember. The world didn’t stop just because I don’t remember how it used to spin. There’s people expecting me to come to work, to pay my bills, and I don’t even remember who they are! I didn’t even remember you—“ Jin cupped your face, wiping away tears you didn’t realize started falling again.

“Darling, don’t worry about that, none of that matters right now, okay? I want you to focus on recovering and making sure you’re eating and drinking enough.” He paused, hesitantly continuing on to say, “And, if you really want, we can get our people to try and recover any missing information— with your permission of course— just past texts, voicemails, maybe, stuff that might help you… remember.” Jin finished cautiously, looking in your eyes for a sign of approval.

“You would do that for me?” You asked hopefully. At this point, you would take whatever help you could get.

“If it would take a burden off your shoulders, I would do anything.” Jin murmured softly and reassuringly, the warmth in his gaze melting into your bones.

You sighed again, but this time with relief. “That’s be so great. I feel so horrible, I’m basically useless—“

“Don’t talk about yourself like that, darling, we’d be happy to take care of everything you need for the rest of your life if you wanted. If it were up to us, you’d never lift another finger.” He winked, booping your nose as he moved to folding clothes.

“You don’t really mean that. You’d get tired of me eventually.” You argued.

“You don’t know just how much you mean to us, sweetheart. You could stay here forever if you wanted to, or if you wanted we’d get you a nicer place, an island with a private beach even. Anything.” He turned to look at you again, nothing but fondness in his eyes. “You won’t ever stress again if we can help it, I promise. Relax, and we’ll take care of everything for you, okay?”

You sighed, too tired to object. “Okay.” You blinked heavily, a soft smile coming over Jin’s face.

“You tired, honey? Feel free to sleep, I’ll be right here.” He reached over, patting your hand.

You held it, eyes fluttering. “Okay.” You mumbled sleepily. “Don’t leave.”

“Never.” He whispered.

“Jin,” you started.

“Yes?”

“I’ll come with you guys. I’ll go to Korea.”

“Really?”

You nodded, eyes closing, unable to see the satisfied smile that had come over Jin’s face.

—

Taglist: @singukieee @yourleftsock @huni7875 @lovelgirl22 @mooniieix @sld88 @itzz-me-duh @serendididy @fclixbrwns @whipwhoops @ratherbefangirling @skyys-universe @hey-syia @bjoriis @dearly-somber @jcrml @chimmmonnie @tito-the-mermaid @kapten-xouk @totallynoanalien @elraeeee @uarmyhore @ughbandmembersx @forpunishers @azazel-nyx @juju-227592 @mageprincess7 @sweetcheeksdna

[jvngkook97]

Baby Shark

synopsis; in which there’s a shark in the water, just not the one taehyung is thinking of.

pairing; boyfriend!taehyung x girlfriend!reader

genre; fluff, humor, established relationship, drabble

warnings; if it’s not already by the title, the baby shark song will become stuck in your head and I am deeply sorry for that.

rating; 18+

w/c; 1,157

a/n; yeah, idk. just enjoy this fluffy crack.

When the shutter of the camera clicks, you can’t help but stare at the monitor to revel in the beauty of your boyfriend – Taehyung.

His hair is matted to his face from the water, droplets falling off his hair and onto his semi-tanned skin just from being outside alone, white suntan lotion still prominent on the bridge of his nose, dark blue swimming trunks hug his waist perfectly, black sunglasses on and wide smile on full display for you. The background of the surrounding happy people that are scattered along the stretch of pier you’re on, as well as the vast blue water and green mountains only serves as a means of enhancing his natural allure.

How did you get so lucky?

“I am not getting in that water.”

A deep frown is on his face, but still, it doesn’t marr his charm.

His arms are what’s keeping him from completely falling underneath the water, the veins in his arm prominent from the muscle being used in order to allow him to, once again, attempt to persuade you to join him in the crystal clear waves. You currently sit on the edge of the pier, on your shared blue and white striped towel, his glasses now off and next to you on said towel, perfectly and fully content with only having your feet touch the cool and dangerous body of ocean.

His next words get cut off by the faint sound that seems to be getting closer. Now within earshot, you hear it, for the upteenth time just this day alone.

‘Baby Shark, Do Do Do Do Do’

It causes you both to groan in unison.

The family of three walks by you, the father carries their little one whose face is fully glued to a blue tablet, eyes wide as they watch the colorful family of sharks. When the song fades enough, does your boyfriend finally speak again.

“I hate how catchy that song is.”

All you do is nod in agreement, eyes still honed in on the family, your mind going to a place where Taehyung is oblivious of. Your arms cross over your stomach reflexively, a small gasp of fear escaping your mouth, before your head goes under the water.

Taehyung used your moment of deep thought to his own advantage, grabbing you by the waist and pulling you into the water with him. When you both reemerge, your hair is like a thick curtain that’s glued to your face. For a moment, you freak out not being able to see, holding onto Taehyung for dear life. He just chuckles at you, one hand of his being enough to release you from your hair prison as he pushes it off your face.

The next time he sees your eyes, they’re piercing daggers into his very soul, and he shivers. Whether it be from your stare, or the small bit of wind that passes by, he’s not sure.

“I loathe you.”

“You love me, you mean.”

“No. Loathe is correct.”

He snorts in amusement, but doesn’t take your words to heart. He knows you’re only joking. Especially when you curl yourself into him even more, another bout of warm wind floating on by that causes goosebumps to arise all over your body.

When your heart returns to a normal pace, you allow yourself a moment to take in the scenery around you, and when you see the same child floating by that was once enamored with the song on the tablet, in a shark designed floating device, does it give you an idea. However, not wanting to falsely alarm those around you who are enjoying the rather shark free waters, you decide to whisper in Taehyung’s ear instead.

“There’s a shark in the water.”

You can feel him tense underneath you, your arms still firmly secured around his neck, and his around your waist. You have to bite your lip to keep from letting out the giggles that wanted to escape. You can see his eyes scanning the waters, before his body goes lax again upon realizing there is no actual threat, and instead zeroes in on the same kid you saw earlier. He lets out an exasperated sigh, shaking his head, but he still laughs.

“You almost got me there, y/n.”

“Sorry, I meant to say there’s a baby shark in the water.”

“Yeah, I know. There’s plenty of kids out here right now.”

You shake your head vehemently.

He wasn’t getting it.

“Taehyung, yes, there’s toddlers and teens, but there’s also a baby in the water.”

Your eyes connect, but his brain still doesn’t.

“Baby, there is no baby out here that I can see.”

His brows are furrowed in confusion.

You let your forehead fall against his now half dry shoulder in defeat, then you pick your head back up and grab his face with one of your hands to get him to really look at you when you say it again.

This time, slowly.

“There. Is. A. Baby. In. The. Water.”

He purses his lips, the gears turning in his head, your eyes still focused on one another.

Then, his eyes grow big.

“No.”

“No, what?”

“No.”

“Taehyung, what are you—,”

He whispers it underneath his breath, as if it’s a secret no one else can hear. Which, in a way, he doesn’t want anyone else to hear and have it get out into the world before he can personally tell those he loves.

“Is my baby….having a baby?”

Your lower lip starts to tremble, eyes brimming with nervous tears. All it takes is a subtle nod of your head to confirm that yes, in fact—

You are pregnant.

“Oh my–,” he stutters over his words. Then playfully glares at you. “Y/N, I’m sorry but that was making no sense whatsoever!”

You gasp, offended. Own eyes squinting at him, tears successfully dried up.

“That made perfectly good sense!”

He lets out a bellowing laugh, one that garnishes the attention of those near you, but only for a moment. He spins you two around in the water and you squeal, closing your eyes, and holding on tightly. When he stops, his forehead is against yours. He waits for you to reopen your eyes before he lets out a soft smile for you only.

“I love you, and I can’t wait to meet our—,”

BABY SHARK, DO DO DO DO DO DO~

Both your faces become flat, and you inwardly curse the adult who purposely blasts the awful, stupidly catchy song, on a personal Bluetooth speaker for all to hear. No doubt due to the excess whining of the toddler you heard prior demanding the song be played, but still.

He gives you a loving kiss on the lips.

“We are never showing that song to our kid.”

“Never.”

Of course, that doesn’t mean that someone else will. Or rather, one of your babies many uncles won’t do the deed for you.

[starshooter-1004]

Namor- The Ocean Calls 4

Masterlist

The next morning my mind was clouded; a mix between the wine and the music from last night. I sat up in the bed my eyes adjusting to my surroundings. I stood up my feet meeting the cold stone floor and walked over to the mirror. I examined myself and saw the light purple marks that trailed down my neck and chest. The memories began to flood back, the taste of him on my lips and his warmth and scent. I felt my senses being flooded by him all over again and I reminiscence. The feeling of his hands and heat permanently imprinted into my skin. A knock was heard on my door and I walked over to answer it. They're stood Atuma and Idris. She smiled and bowed as Atuma nodded his head.

“Good morning my lady, we were instructed to get you prepared for this morning with the Ajaw,” Idris beamed. 

“Please Idris, y/n is just fine,” I smiled and took the clothes from her arms.

“Change into this and meet at the ancestral hut in the center,” said Idris. I smiled and nodded closing the door. A day with Namor once again, was I excited? The anticipation to see him is what drew me to get ready with haste. I don’t know why but I was genuinely looking forward to his company this morning. After the whirl wind of events from yesterday; I am hoping today would be a different outcome. 

I exited the hut and made my way across the winding path and bridge to the center hut. Two guards standing at the entrance as I entered; Namor seemed to be deep in thought as he painted a new figure on his wall. I stood by the door for a few moments just observing him. He had a new outfit on of the thick cotton cloth. No jewels on him except the same nose and earrings as yesterday. I then reached up to the pendant suddenly aware of the jewel we both shared. He finally turned toward me and smiled.

“Please, don’t have be the reason you stop,” I walked toward him.

“No it’s quite alright, I was just finished and needed something other than this wall to look at,” he grinned. I blushed looking down at my hands, I heard the bowl and brush be placed on the table.

“I planned on taking you to the city again today. I wanted to show you around more and the day to day lives of the Talokanian people,” He wiped his hands with a rag. He looked up at me again placing the rag on the back of the chair and caressed my cheek.

“You look beautiful this morning,” Namor then leaned forward and placed a gentle kiss on my forehead. I closed my eyes taking in the proximity and his warmth as he lingered. He pulled away and placed the same device from yesterday to the middle of my back activating it. The same clear jelly surrounded me and he rid himself of his cloth. In this lighting I can better admire the man I had last night; he was truly a sight. 

“Careful now your drooling,” he joked. My eyes went wide and I looked away suddenly. 

“Well, can you blame me?” I teased. He smiled and walked over to me again.

“I hope to have you in my bed again soon,” he whispered. All I could do was look at him and nod.

“Not a woman of much words when flustered hm?” He teased. I rolled my eyes and pushed his shoulder; in which he sarcastically held it as if in pain. A laugh emitted from me then; the might king of Talokan bringing himself down to make me feel strong. 

“Come on let's get going,” I turned toward the door ahead of him heading to the pool. Namor grinned and trailed behind me and I stood at the edge looking into the dark abyss with the light green hue. He approached me on my right stretching his hand once again. I instead jumped in on my own, allowing the water to engulf me and gravity to sink me. I allowed my body to float in place until Namor jumped in causing a ripple of bubbles to flutter around me. 

He took the lead again directing me where to go, my swimming still faltering compared to his. Namor slowed his pace to keep up with me and glancing back to ensure I was close. We entered the city with the same current as yesterday; I had a better time today controlling my body as we went.

“Your learning quite quickly,” he said. Namor smiled and motioned me to swim up into the cavern. There he directed me to a long beam of plants and sea fish; women and men swam around picking up objects and placing new ones. The trade within the community was fluid and everything seemed so fresh compared to the markets on the surface. Namor approached the beam picking up a shell and handing it to me. 

“The sea shell, something very common and I’m sure you're accustomed too. Inside though we place pearls and quartz. This is very popular among couple gift one another in Talokan,” Namor said. I examined the shell as the jewels reflected onto my skin and looked at Namor. 

“It’s beautiful,” I smiled. I went to place it back onto the table beam until Namor’s hand grabbed mine.

“No, keep it as a token,” he didn’t look at me only staring at my hands and the shell. I looked up at him and he seemed upset, he quickly turned from me letting my hands go and swam forward. I caught up to him here we saw children playing and swimming excitedly amongst each other. The same child noticed us and quickly swam toward us bowing and gesturing to Namor and I. She quickly beckoned us to follow; in which I didn’t wait for Namor. 

The girl had the ball in her hand and motioned her hip and legs to me with it. She was trying to teach me the aspect of the game. She bumped it off her own toward the boy ahead he kicked it my way. I immediately put my arms up expecting to feel the force. Instead the water was the resistance and it instead floated forward. I looked as it was making its way and bumped it with my hip. It narrowly missed the hoop on the side; I beamed and turned towards the girl excitedly. 

The girl giggled and began repeating the moves and adding more advanced maneuvers to the game. I forgot Namor was watching as I played with the children for a while. When I looked over I saw him some distance away arms crossed and watching with a grin. He seemed to be in a different world as he looked on; like his thoughts were elsewhere. I took the girls hands and thanked her for the game instruction and hoped to see her soon. She bowed her head and gestured to me as she did Namor. 

I turned again to Namor swimming to him; I seemed to snap him back into reality as I floated before him. He again swam toward the sun of Talokan, there we watched the sun as it beamed brightly. Such a mystery how one man was able to provide such a thing to his people so below the depths. Namor approached a chair in the center; looking like a throne more so. He gazed at it and reached for my hand. He sat on the throne and pulled me to his lap; my arms wrapped around his neck as his secured my waist. 

“What do you think of the city now that you’ve seen more of it?” He asks. I looked down removing my arms and played with the shell. 

“It’s one of the most beautiful and magnificent things I’ve ever seen. The people here are so kind and it’s amazing what your people have been able to provide,” I looked out to the city again. 

“I wish that one day, you will want to stay here,” Namor exclaimed. I turned toward him.

“I am a surface dweller Namor, I am the very thing you despise; why keep me here of all people?” I didn’t mean for my tone to be harsh. He clenched his jaw and took a deep breathe before leaning close.

“Because I was there that night; the night you cursed to the stars and the ocean. The night you wished to be whisked away from your home of loneliness and torment. That night I made the decision to take you away from all of that; to give you a new meaning to your life,” I gaped at him. Namor… heard all of that? I put my hand on my head suddenly feeling a wave of anxiety and anger come over me.

“You’ve been watching me? For how long?” I looked at him slightly angry. 

“About three months before bringing you here. I was on a patrol of the coast after reports of a mechanism mining on of our resources. Upon my discovery I heard and found you; there I made sure to list twice a week. Each time seeing you reading or talking to your self like someone was listening. Each day I came to visit you made me even more sure you were the one,” he caressed my face.

“What do you mean?” I asked.

“I mean that you could be the missing piece to my people; to me,” he looked into my eyes. A wave of anxiety shot through me and I quickly got off his lap swimming to the edge of the throne scene. He stood then looking at me with concern; I looked at him then the shell.

“Why is this specific gift important to the Talokanian people?” I asked. Namor’s shoulder slouched slightly before swimming forward.

“Because…this is often used for proposals. Both marriage or courtship,” Namor avoided eye contact, just staring at the shell. I looked at him angry, I knew I was a fool to think this was nothing more than fleeting feelings. I shoved the shell into his chest and swam toward the exit. 

“Y/n!” Namor shouted. I swam with all my might trying to quickly get away from him. The surface the real surface I had to get there. There were two currents one on the right in which we entered; I knew there that led. I turned toward the left instead and quickly went toward that current. Namor’s voice appeared more urgent in his pleas and his speed increasing. Before he could grab me I dove into the current allowing it to whisk me away. 

The current was stronger and rough it jolted me around causing me to bump and flip in turn. I couldn’t get my bearings and this scared me; my anxiety flared up and as I tried to grab the walls it would rip me away. Suddenly I rounded a corner so hard I hit my back against the wall. The barrier around me flickered causing water to be trapped within. The water was freezing and my oxygen compromised. The pressure caused my ears to ring and everything sounded muffled. In a panic I curled into a ball covering my head as I hit another wall and everything went dark. 

[radioactivepeasant]

Fic Prompts: Snippet Monday

A short scene that doesn't have a story to go with, and is therefore free to incorporate into just about whatever.

Viper

"-look, all I'm saying is we need a break!"

Damas paused to listen to the voices floating up from the elevator shaft. Ah. He'd been beginning to wonder when, exactly, the boys had been planning to turn in their report on the sandstorm evacuation. He stifled a smile and went back to watering the date palms nearest the window as he listened to them arguing.

"A break? Dax, just being here is a break!"

"...you've been out in the sun too long, pal. You seem to have forgotten the life-threatening nonsense these people keep putting us through!"

Jak's laugh grew louder as the elevator rose higher. "So? We have entire days where we don't have to go anywhere or do anything! And we get to go wherever we want! C'mon, Dax, you can't possibly tell me this place isn't like a vacation compared to Haven."

The elevator locked into place and Jak ambled out, looking perfectly at home amid the artificial streams. He lifted a hand in irreverent greeting when he spotted Damas, and made his way across the stepping stones. And if he seemed to be making a game of skipping every other stone, well, Damas wouldn't tell anyone.

"All scouts accounted for!" Jak announced cheerfully as he landed on the last stone, right at the foot of the dais. "Oh hey, the Crawler's making some weird noises though. I think you should have Kleiver do some maintenance on it."

Damas raised a brow. "Hm. A mobile sandstorm shelter won't do us much good if it breaks down. I'll make a note of it."

He set down the pitcher he had been using to water the tree and made his way back to his throne, looking for one of the data recording devices he kept to hand.

"I don't have any other work for you at the moment. If you can find a way to amuse yourselves that doesn't involve violent destruction of private property, the rest of the afternoon is yours to spend as you wish."

Daxter snapped his fingers in a pretense of disappointment. "Darn, well, that rules out all your plans, doesn't it, Jak?"

"Swimming doesn't destroy private property," Jak suggested, bouncing his shoulder.

"Not during a storm," Damas cut in. "I don't want to hear that someone had to take a boat out there and haul you out of a rip current."

Jak was about to argue when he felt Daxter go rigid on his shoulder. Following Damas’s surprised gaze, he found his friend squinting around the room. His ears swiveled and rotated like satellites, as if trying to catch a specific sound.

"Dax? What's wrong?"

"Say, uh, Jak?" Daxter piped up nervously, "Anyone else hear hissing?"

Hissing? Jak frowned and scanned the room, wondering what his friend was hearing. As his eyes swept across the dais, something caught his attention. It wasn’t that noticeable, just the barest hint of motion. But when Jak reached for just a hint of dark eco, suffusing his sclera in darkness, it stood out as clear as lightning.

Instinct took over and Jak had a knife out of his boot before he could even process what he was seeing. In an instant he'd hurled the dagger at the throne, just missing Damas’s calf.

"Jak!" Damas snapped, "Watch it!"

With a pained squeal, something began to thrash beside his foot. Pinned to the leg of the throne by Jak's knife was a massive snake. A Dust Demon viper, slowly losing its camouflage as death throes sent it thrashing in pain.

Damas examined the creature impassively, then slammed down his boot, putting it out of its misery.

"I thought something felt different," he remarked, entirely too calmly. "Next time, aim for the head for a cleaner kill. There's no need to make it suffer."

Daxter’s fur stood on end like static electricity as he clung to Jak’s shoulder in an arch.

"How long was that there?!" he demanded, "Is this a regular problem for you?!"

Damas prodded the still twitching viper with the butt of his staff. "Hardly."

His eyes narrowed in thought, and lowered himself into a crouch to examine the animal. "This little one did not get here on its own power."

Jak was already thinking on the same track.

"Someone brought it here," he realized, and his face twisted into an angry, inhuman snarl.

He jumped up onto the dais to crouch beside Damas and glared at the offending creature.

"So...so what? This was an assassination attempt?"

"Hm. That is very likely," Damas agreed. He didn't seem particularly bothered.

Glancing up, he directed a smile at Jak and Daxter. "Very well done. I commend the both of you. This will not be forgotten."

Daxter perked up, glowing at the praise like he'd had a spotlight shone on him.

Jak missed the praise entirely. He was fully focused on the words assassination attempt. Who would try to kill Damas? And in such an underhanded way? If someone had a problem with the king, there was a perfectly good Arena to settle the dispute in!

Well. To be fair, Jak supposed that would be a fight the dissenter wouldn't walk away from. He wasn't even sure he could beat Damas in a fight. So what did that make this? Cowardice?

Jak hated it. It reminded him of the backstabbing he used to see among the prison guards under Praxis's reign.

Jak glowered at the dead snake, and jerked his knife out of it. He just missed Damas’s approving nod when he bent to clean the blade on his boot before sheathing it again. The snake lay sprawled in unnatural angles, no longer twitching. With dark eco rumbling in his chest like a warning growl, Jak reached down and picked the viper up by the tail.

"I'm gonna find out who did this," he vowed, looking Damas in the eye, "And they're gonna pay."

He started to stand, but a hand on his arm anchored him in place.

"Leave it," Damas commanded. He stood and jerked his chin towards the foot of the throne. "Let everyone who enters this chamber see it there."

"Why?" Jak furrowed his brow and stood to follow, viper dangling from his hand. "Won't that just show the assassin they should try something else?"

Damas settled into his throne with a scoff. "No no, think, Jak. What did I teach you about choosing battles?"

Jak blinked. Was this a test of some kind? He looked to Daxter, who only shrugged. Damas had that secretive glint in his eye, which meant it probably was a test. Jak closed his eyes and tried to think.

He's not facing this head-on, or at least not the way I would. Which means he's probably taking a more subtle approach. Jak, admittedly, was not very good at "subtle". He wracked his brains for an answer, looking between the snake, the throne, and the doors before realizing that Damas was watching his facial expressions intently.

Oh.

"You're...going to watch everyone's reactions? When people come in, right? If...if the assassin or an accomplice comes in, seeing the snake will send a message. Or...or it might spook them into giving something away?"

The answer lacked his usual brash confidence. Jak hoped the king wouldn't pick up on that, but at the same time he knew it was unlikely that he wouldn't. But he couldn't help a little trepidation! Damas clearly expected him to know the answer and he didn't want to get it wrong!

To his relief, Damas dipped his head and smiled proudly.

"Excellent! That is precisely what I intend to do -- so I can't have you running around the city to threaten people with a dead snake."

He gestured to his right meaningfully.

"And as you have no other tasks for the afternoon, I think this would be a good opportunity for you to hone your observation skills. After how quickly you two picked up on the viper's presence, I can think of no better choice to help me suss out our would-be killer."

This time Daxter wasn't the only one to light up and stand a little straighter in response to the commendation. Jak may not have been familiar with ranks and hierarchies, but he understood the gesture of trust Damas was extending to them. And he understood that being asked to stand by at the right hand of a warrior like Damas was no small thing. Damas was asking them to help him find an assassin in the ranks as though he hadn't the slightest doubt that they would be successful.

Jak squared his shoulders and nodded sharply. "We won't let you down," he said firmly.

Damas returned his nod with an almost fond smile. "I know."

Jak leaned on the pillar right of the throne and considered the viper thoughtfully before tossing it to land closer to Damas’s feet. Then, after perhaps a minute of silence, he asked,

"Can I have the fangs though?"

Damas let out a startled laugh. "The fangs?!"

"Yeah," Jak shrugged, suddenly sheepish. "It's- I have a- there's a thing. I need them."

Daxter translated with narrowed eyes. "He means his horrible, horrible, bone collection that he's been making jewelry out of."

Leaning back, Damas laughed again. "Then by all means." He smiled indulgently, gesturing, "Take the fangs! Just be careful of the venom."

"I will." Jak waved off the warning just a touch too nonchalantly. "How long do you think before people start showing up?"

Damas checked his data device. "Four meetings this afternoon, two more after evening meal. The next one is in approximately twenty minutes."

Daxter hopped down and settled into a more comfortable position on the dais steps. "Welp. Sounds like we're gonna be here a while. Jak, you brought snacks, right?"

"We could eat the snake if you're hungry enough," Jak teased.

Daxter made a disgusted sound and looked to Damas, pointing an accusing finger at Jak.

"Will you please do something about him?!"

"Don't eat the evidence, Jak," Damas snorted. "Go get some roasted crickets out of the kitchens if you're hungry. You have a few minutes."

"CRICKETS?!" Daxter shrieked. He clasped his paws to his head in horror. "You're an enabler! Jak! Don't listen to the man!"

Jak pushed off of the pillar and rolled his eyes at Daxter. "If you'll eat a decapod, you can eat a hexapod. Besides, they're good! Damas, you want me to bring you some?"

"Naturally."

Daxter groaned and pulled his ears down over his eyes. "Great. Lunatic and Lunatic Junior are sharing meal plans now. Goodbye, normal diet!"

Jak looked just a little too smug about being labeled "Lunatic Junior".

[starswimmingart]

"Can you talk?" - that sounds like it could lead to some fun/sad times

Oooh thanks for sending in a prompt!! this was my first time trying something like this, and I had a lot of fun with it! This story takes place probably around chapter 3, I hope you enjoy! "Can you talk?" 1500+ Words CW: drowning

It had been a long… long day of travel. Or, night, really. The sun seemed as exhausted as you were as it barely began to peek up over the horizon, any bit of wave covering it in an instant from your view. While being a creature of the sea, you’d been swimming for an extensive period and everything ached from your whiskers to your tail fins. 

Any moment now, that sun is going to be blocked out by a lovely silhouette of land.. Maybe some trees… we’re too far south for icebergs.. Shit, I’ll take anything at this point. 

According to the boys’ navigation systems (and thank the stars that there’d been clear weather recently or you’d never get to land at this rate), it was only a short trip remaining until your next encounter with shoreline.

However, your eyelids were getting heavier by the minute, and your body felt like an anchor as you swam behind the two animatronics. Sun liked to stay near the top of the water, Moon swimming far below scoping out the trenches. You, needing to breathe air, tended to stay with Sun, although occasionally you liked to pop down for a peek of what Moon was up to. You swam up to the top again and took another big puff in through your nostrils, the cold morning air filling your nose, making it burn a little.

You let out a pitiful little sneeze.

Water splashed against your head and in an instant a bright cheerful face was directly next to yours. 

“Oh dear selkie, that was adorable!”

“Hello, Sun.”

The tall yellow animatronic had not let you out of his sight since you’d begun your journey a few days ago, and you’re sure the other grumpy blue one hadn’t either.. Though unlike Sun, Moon's intentions seemed to be less fascination and more of keeping you on a leash. Sun had just NOT left you alone for one moment, though, in all fairness, he really did seem to try. He swam juuust far enough away to make it feel like you had room to yourself, but stars forbid you so much as thought out loud because he snapped to your side in moments asking if you needed something. 

It was… a little endearing. Borderline annoying, yes, but endearing nonetheless. 

Ignoring your short answer, he dove straight into conversation (as if the two of you hadn’t just been chatting previously about ten minutes beforehand.. And ten minutes before that..) “I’m so so glad we’re almost near some land, aren’t you? Just look at that sunrise! I’m soooo looking forward to being able to charge back up again. Aren’t you looking forward to some rest?” He blinked at you innocently.

It was an obvious trap.

“No actually, I think I could keep going all day! I’m doing just fine!”

Despite their intentions on the surface, you still weren’t sure you could let your guard down around these two. The simple facts were they were much bigger and seemed much stronger than you and while they seemed nice enough… 

You swallowed. 

“I might even be up for skipping the next island, you know! 

So says the idiot half asleep and swimming. You know you need that rest. Do you want to drown?

The voice in the back of your head scolded you but you beamed at Sun, swatting it away in your mind's eye. 

Sun's gaze on you remained steady, his smile never wavering. There was silence for a moment, as he studied your face. He only replied with a small "Hmmmmmm.." before doing a happy spin in the water, returning next to you to float on his back. 

"But of course selkie, you know best! I'm sure a strong, brave creature like you could make this journey with no trouble! Moony and I are only just holding you back!" 

He wasn't buying it. 

"I'll leave your capable selkie self to your own devices then, maybe we will even skip the next island, if you're so sure!"

Uh oh.

You puffed up for extra emphasis "Oh absolutely!! I bet we would save so much time, it only makes sense!"

Oh my stars shutupshutupshutup!

He purred. "Wonderful! I'll go let Moon know!" 

Before you could protest (if your stubbornness would even let you) he dove off with a flash of his brightly colored fins into the depths below. 

Well.. shit.

Your navigator had just disappeared. 

You stopped swimming abruptly. While it was a pretty straightforward path ahead, towards the rising sun, you still didn't trust yourself to navigate so very far away from your home waters. 

You stared out into the great fiery ball on the horizon, slowly hoisting itself into the sky. It slowly.. got.. fuzzier..

Oops

Your body buckled. 

When you stopped swimming, apparently that signaled to your brain that it was time to rest. This was very inconvenient seeing that you were in the middle of the ocean. 

You took a gasp of air as you slipped under the cold water, bubbles filtering out of your nose as your vision tunneled. The air went wrong down your throat and your body coughed instinctively, sending saltwater cascading down your airway. Your limbs felt like lead, dragging you down.

I can't move, fuck, FUCK I can't. I can't breathe

You began to tip down, flipping in the water and pointed towards the bottom. Was it the bottom? Everything was so dark, dark. 

I can't...

Muffled, below the ringing that began to fill your ears, you started to hear voices, soft.. familiar.. 

-----------

"Selkie? Selkie!" 

Loud. They're so loud. 

"They're responding, Moon, loo-"

"Yes yes I see, I see!"

He's cranky, as usual.

"Selkie, can you hear us? Open your eyes, we need to see if you're fully responsi- SUN stop pacing like that it's very unhelpful." 

You could hear the solar animatronic whimper, and the footsteps that you didn't recognize being there before stopped. 

You attempted to crack open your eyes.

Bright. Oh stars did that noise just come out of me? Ah shit, OW, ow..

The pain in your throat and chest hit you all at once and you started to cough again, heaving and trying to open your eyes all the way. 

Large hands rushed to you, two against you back, one on your shoulder and one on your knee. Two of the four gripping tightly enough to bring you back to reality with the sensation. 

You coughed again. 

"Easy easy now selkie, don't try to sit up too fast..!" worry pricked Sun's ordinarily cheerful voice and finally, you managed to pry your eyes open enough to weakly look out ahead of you. 

Sun and Moon were crowded around you, looking over with concern, smiles gone from their faces. Sun looked positively distraught, guilty even. Moon watched you with coolness but with an obvious worry written on his face. He cleared his throat, as best a robot could.

"Can you talk?"

Hm. You hadn't thought to try. 

You opened your mouth to speak and out came an uncomfortable wheeze, and you lurched as you burst into another fit of coughs. Sun whined and covered his face in his hands. 

"Oooh no no no this is my fault, I saw you were tired, I shouldn't have left you alone even for a moment, and now you're hurt. I was only meaning to tease, I should've known better.."

Moon began to scold Sun for his self depreciation but stopped as you reached out your hands to gently set one on each of their shoulders (funny, you didn't remember having transformed). 

"H-hey."

Your voice barely sounded like your own, it was raspy and it stung. 

The bots fell silent, eyes boring into you and seemed to watch every breath you took. 

"S.. stop that, I'm okay." 

You didn't FEEL okay but jeez, if it got these two blockheads to stop fussing then you'd dress things up a bit for the time being. 

Finally, you took the chance to look around, and saw that you were on a beach. The sun had risen a decent portion into the sky and the warmth felt.. comforting. Like the comfort of being back surrounded by your pod. You closed your eyes again and felt yourself naturally sinking backwards into laying down. 

The two animatronics stiffened, and followed your hands as you went back. 

"..s'fine.. m'fine.. tired…" 

The pair was quiet for a bit while you seemingly got comfortable on the sand, and you could hear them shift. 

"Get some rest, selkie, we'll get moving again later this evening." 

They seemed to settle in place on either side of you and went still. You knew that they could internally talk to each other using their .. blue.. mouth.. tongue.. tooth? Something fancy, human stuff, whatever. You sighed, and tiredly reached up your hands once more and gently knocked on both of their backs. 

"Mmthanks, both f'you, not drowning s'good.."

You heard a content whirr and a few low chuckles. "We'd be very poor at our job if we let you die before we even got back, you know." Moon joked. 

"Mmmmmhm! Imagine we come all this way and turn up with no selkie! How very disappointing!" Sun tsk'ed a few times disapprovingly for emphasis and the dramatics made you chuckle, trying not to start coughing again. 

The sound of the waves gently breaking on the shore, sea birds, and the soft humming of the internals of the animatronics were the last things you heard before you rocked into a much needed sleep.

[frozenjokes]

Signing Back In, Apparently - 20

Prev/Next

Scar woke as electricity spasmed through his nerves, lighting his entire body on fire. He felt himself slip and then he was falling, but it was only seconds before his back hit the water, the cold shocking him back to life. Heavily disoriented, all he had was a tight command at the back of his mind, to wake up, to move . Where was he going? What was he running from? His eyes stung as he opened them under the dark water, trying to figure it out. Ah, he needed to breathe, didn’t he. He should work on that. Which way was up? Scar kicked out through the dark water, hardly able to see his arms in front of his face. Just as panic was starting to overwhelm him, he felt something latch around his chest and heave him upwards, spinning him around so fast Scar thought he might pass out again. Again? He couldn’t remember.. he couldn’t.. something was missing.

Scar struggled to focus his vision as his head broke the surface, letting himself be dangled as whatever held him pulled him from the water. He felt his body begin to go limp before another jolt shot through all of his nerves, too painful to scream. It was over as fast as it began, a new warning at the back of his head. Danger! He needed to move, he needed to run- Scar flailed, unsettled as parts of his captor seemed intangible, unable to be clawed or pushed.

“Whoa, there he is!”

Recognition tightened Scar’s attention, his vision clearing as he struggled to look up and match a face to the voice. His eyes still stung from the water. Panic that felt unlike his own burst through his limbs as he recognized Cub, and he struggled with new vigor.

“Hey man, get a hold of yourself. Merlin wrecked your boat and we don’t need you drowning before we get to see them in action!”

Scar took in gasping breaths when words failed him, struggling to calm his racing heart. Why was he so afraid? Had he really lost his grip so completely? His hands finally found purchase on Cub’s form, a coat maybe, which he squeezed tightly. Where was his control? Why wouldn’t his head stop screaming?

“You did something to me,” Scar heaved, “You ruined me. This is your fault.”

“Cheers- oh, one minute,” Cub stopped at a buzz of static from something in his pocket, dropping Scar entirely to fish it out. Scar yelped as he fell, splashing below the water’s surface once more. He hit the seafloor butt first, taking a sputtering moment to realize he could stand. Scar pushed himself to the surface, suddenly grateful his hair was tied back. He was up to his neck, but he could move, he could swim. Cub was dressed in a physical lab coat over the one in his ghost’s form and those same long black gloves he had worn to cut open Scar’s back. Dressed for moving humans around, how lovely. A voice Scar didn’t recognize stopped him in his tracks, loud and slightly muffled by static.

“Cleo- come on- she’s not responding-” the walkie in Cub’s hand clicked off, Cub himself frowning deeply.

“Shit,” he muttered, before bringing the device to his face, “Joe, just get them to shore, you don’t have to worry about them dying, I’m sure they’ll come back. If not, I can take care of it.”

“ That’s not helpful, Cub!” Joe yelled back, Scar hearing the voice through the walkie as well as across the water. They must be close, but the thick fog made it difficult to see.

Cub shrugged, giving Scar an exasperated look, “I don’t get it.” The walkie continued to go off, but Cub put it away with a frown. Scar opened his mouth to respond as he waded backwards, but the words dried on his tongue. There was something bright like sparks going off behind Cub and Scar squinted, trying to see where it was coming from through the fog. Trying to remember where he recognized those lights. Cub followed his gaze with a casual confusion, only for his entire body to tense, floating in a staggered pose of fear before swooping down and dragging Scar across the water. “Time to go!”

Scar didn’t even have time to scream before a massive form, Merlin , bore down on them, the force of the following draft nearly sending Cub, and by extension Scar, flying. He heard Cub’s laughter as he was forced to hold on for dear life, dangling helplessly in the air.

“Look at that! You’re trying to fly! Those wings won’t hold you though,” Cub sounded delighted, forcing Scar to look back and see his ghostly wings flapping with a feverous panic.

“I’m not doing that!” Scar bit back, embarrassment rising on his face. He gasped as pain radiated through his entire head, causing a headache so fierce he thought he might let go and fall. Merlin. It must have hit its head in the shallow water. He sputtered curses and insults, his words moving so fast, he hardly even processed what he was saying, which Cub found pretty amusing. Cub only stopped his chuckling when a column of flame shot overhead, forcing him into a tight dive as the fire adjusted its course to follow their track. Scar recognized the sound of the fireworks the ghosts used to get around quicker, terror gripping fast as Cub moved a hand off his back to set them off.

“Your ghosts didn’t say Merlin could breathe fire!” Cub yelped, diving again as Merlin pursued them. Scar saw them more clearly now above the fog line. Merlin must have been double, maybe triple the size, and so much longer , body snaking in loops like a dragon. It’s face- both faces- were split down the middle, filled with sparkling cracks. From him. From Sausage’s gun.

“ It couldn’t! It- it’s bigger!” Scar found himself gasping for air, unable to catch his breath before Cub shot off again with the help of more firework rockets. Scar felt more pain in his head, in his arms, as Merlin crashed into the trees below. Cub’s walkie was rattling off constantly now, but Scar couldn’t hear the words. He couldn’t do anything.

Cub paused in the air, surprised, “Really? Now that’s interesting.. is the island having an effect on its form?” Merlin charged back through the air as Cub considered, Scar scratching frantically at his coat until he clumsily moved out of the way. Every careless movement made Scar more and more sure he was going to get dropped. Every helpless moment making him more and more angry. Cub paused again before speaking through his walkie, “Merlin is pursuing Scar, where should I take him?”

“-Perimeter. Take him to the Perimeter,” another voice, but one Scar didn’t recognize. At least now, some of the other ghosts had caught Merlin’s attention, leading her snaking above and below the fog. Scar recognized Grian’s yell.

“Cub!” Another ghost flew above the fog line dressed from head to toe in uniform complete with a helmet that obscured his face. He hardly looked like a ghost besides the fact that he was flying. “Cleo needs you. Joe is going to join you and the rest of us will keep Merlin away from your lab as long as possible.”

“She didn’t come back?” Cub sounded surprised, Scar mildly interested to hear the worry under his tone.

“No. Not yet at least, but we don’t have time to wait if season nine is ending. Do what you do. If you need extra help, just call.”

“Right. Well when this net plan doesn’t work, I bet bringing Scar to the brink would slow it down.”

“You- you mean close to death?”

"Do I get to be part of this conversation?” Scar cut in, but was promptly ignored. Cub gave his companion a dark look, answering that question.

“Let’s talk later,” the other ghost sounded unsure, but Scar didn’t have the chance to say anything else before Cub tossed him into the open air. The other ghost yelped, but hardly as loud as Scar screamed. He was caught with a grunt, the ghost taking a moment to collect himself. “Hello Scar, I’m Xisuma.”

Scar seethed, saying nothing. Cub flew off with his firework rockets, and Xisuma dragged him in the opposite direction. There was light beneath the fog, partially dispersing its thickness. Fire. Scar couldn’t bring himself to care. Right now, he’d be happy to see this whole place burn.

“Alright,” Xisuma continued unsteadily after the awkward pause, “I understand you’re upset..” he trailed off. Scar wished Xisuma was physical so he could bite him. Well technically, with the uniform… Scar didn’t get the chance to decide when Xisuma flew off, holding him far more gently than Cub had. Somehow, this was more infuriating. The light from the fires made it easier to see through the fog as Xisuma dipped below the fog line, and Scar could see a dozen or so ghosts weaving in and around Merlin. It was looking disoriented, moving its heads slowly as it tried to follow multiple ghosts at once, only to give up and spit flame at whoever happened to be closest.

“Hey!” Xisuma yelled, his voice holding almost zero authority, “Uh, Merlin! This is the guy you want dead right? I’ve got him! Come chase me!” Xisuma held Scar out like he was some sort of dog treat, Scar only able to dangle limply. His arms were going to fucking hurt tomorrow. The other ghosts seemed to understand, slowing their flashy assault, and Merlin’s focus locked upwards, right on Scar.

“I’m going to throw up,” Scar deadpanned, taking great joy in Xisuma’s panicked expression.

“Please don’t-” Xisuma cut himself off with a yell as Merlin launched upward, just barely dodging out of the way. He said no more before holding him closer, and Scar was pleased to see a strangled expression on the ghost’s face as he shot off with his firework rockets. The other ghosts followed suit, the sound of rocket blasts filling the air alongside Merlin’s roars. Scar heard another ghost yell something along the lines of ‘Oh, come on!’ as Merlin scorched the earth of the shopping district, seemingly just to destroy things for fun. Well, if Scar could breathe fire, that’s probably what he would do too. The fires from the forest marched forward behind Merlin, like soldiers into battle. It was terrifying how quickly it spread, like the force of Merlin’s anger couldn’t help but swallow the rest of the world in its path. Scar couldn’t tear his gaze away, even as the wind and smoke stung his eyes. His friends, his family, letting their fire loose. If only it hadn’t taken their deaths to reignite it. Scar resigned himself to the sky, only caring to watch the destruction of this strange world.

The Perimeter was an imposing sight, an industrial hole in the ground so massive, Scar couldn’t see the other side. The ghosts below caught his eye, maybe because of their somewhat unique looking appearances, but also because of the net they had hauled from the bottomless pit. It was big, but not nearly big enough. Probably also flammable. Scar hoped he wouldn’t spontaneously combust if Merlin set himself on fire. Out of all the ways he had imagined himself going, that was one of the least appealing, up there with the stupid shit, like disease or passing in his sleep.

Scar was a bit shocked when Xisuma set him on the grassy edge, nearly forgetting how to use his legs after being ragdolled around for so long. He considered running, but he only backed away a couple steps before the Perimeter ghosts started yelling orders and Xisuma put his hands on his shoulders. The order was clear. Stay. He promptly flew off to help with the net, leaving Scar alone. Well, if no one was here to stop him…

Scar looked to the Perimeter, wondering if he’d be able to get down there somehow and hide away; just escape from all the bullshit and take his life back into his own hands. The voice at the back of his mind seemed to like that idea. However, he hardly took two steps forward before someone slammed into him, knocking him clean on his back. The left side of his head screamed as Scar hit the ground, and he laid there for a moment to recover, drawing a hand over his face. Grian and Impulse were waiting at his feet when he finally looked up, each sporting the long gloves Cub had been wearing. Of course.

“Well hello there,” Scar mumbled, rubbing his face.

“Don’t even think about it,” Grian growled, threat evident in his stance. His anger was dropped immediately as he looked past Scar, replaced with a restless anxiety. Scar followed his gaze to see the ghosts lifting the net, trying now to tangle it around Merlin.

“Maybe you guys should go deal with that, make sure they don’t hurt him,” Scar muttered, turning his eye back to his ghosts. Neither looked remotely pleased at that, but Impulse put a hand on Grian’s shoulder, encouraging him to go. After a short hesitation, Grian nodded, hopping into the air and flying away. Impulse stayed, glaring.

“Where’d your trust issues come from, huh? Can’t let me off the leash for even a second?”

Impulse crossed his arms, looking silly as his face scrunched in annoyance, “You could say it started when you turned your sword on your crew. Got worse most recently when you turned it on yourself.”

Scar felt his mask of indifference slip, confusion furrowing his brow, “What are you talking about?” There it was, that gap, a block on his memory. Impulse only scowled, whatever he was going to say next interrupted by Merlin’s roar and the following impact of their crash into the Perimeter’s edge. Scar scrambled to his feet to see the net twisted over Merlin’s faces and forelegs, but not stretching much farther than her mid back. He felt the ache of her rough landing in his own arms. Merlin writhed in their trap, thrashing and wailing like a cat getting its head stuck in a bag. Quite adorable really, until they tore forward and freed themself in seconds. Well, that was expected. Scar laughed as he saw Grian, who was trying to help calm Merlin down, get positively launched as it reared upwards, but promptly stopped laughing when Merlin charged directly toward him. Scar saw fire in its open jaws as another force slammed into him, swinging him away.

“Hello, Scar!” Zedaph greeted him cheerily, letting out a small yelp as Merlin’s fire singed his short tail. Cub certainly wasn’t the only ghost here who had modified his appearance; Zedaph holding many sheep-esc traits. Perhaps some of these ghosts didn’t start human at all. At this point, Scar was finding it harder and harder to be a skeptic.

“You aren’t, by chance, planning on stabbing me within an inch of my life with those horns of yours, are you?” Scar asked, unable to quell the thought on his own.

“Uh, nope! Should I be?”

“Preferably not.”

Over Zedaph’s shoulder, Scar saw the fire spreading over the hills in the distance, almost jumping from tree to tree as it swallowed all life. Zedaph followed his gaze.

“Wild, isn’t it? I wonder what’s making it travel so quickly! It’s not like normal fire, no, it’s definitely not, I even saw it eating away at stone buildings in the shopping district! I’m surprised this Merlin fella isn’t all tuckered out already, I can’t imagine how much energy this is taking!”

“Energy? Ghosts don’t get tired, do they? Mine don’t sleep.”

Zedaph’s face lit up, Scar’s expression falling in turn, “They do, actually! Even here where we’re more powerful, if we work too hard or for too long, we need to take breaks and recharge! Eventually, if a ghost doesn’t stop, they’ll get all flickery! Not to mention they’ll be in quite the sour mood!” Zedaph snickered, as if remembering many encounters with tired ghosts. “Oh, I hope when Merlin calms down I’ll get to take a closer look,” Zedaph talked breezily as he zipped around with Scar, dodging through Merlin’s forelegs and fire with extra, extremely disorienting, flair, “The way they keep breaking apart is fascinating! I see them so far and I’m like ‘won’t be able to catch me here!’ and then they totally just launch the first half of their body forward to bite me in half! Crazy stuff! Hey, is that injury on your face related to the cracks on theirs?”

“No,” Scar grunted as Zedaph rocketed suddenly in a different direction, doing a little spin as he went, “Just coincidence.” With the way Zedaph was flying, he was pretty sure he might actually puke. Zedpah deflated with a frown, and Scar was amused with how Zedaph took him at his word. The ghost adjusted the way he held Scar as his walkie started buzzing, picking it out of his pocket.

“We’re going to need another plan,” a voice Scar didn’t recognize said, sounding anxious, “This fire isn’t letting up, even near the water. What if it never burns out, even after the whole island is covered? We won’t be able to touch the ground anymore.”

“Net didn’t work, huh?” Cub’s voice, sounding unconcerned. There was a lot of background noise; clicking glass, tools, and Joe’s voice, but the words weren’t too audible, “My suggestion is to mess with Scar’s body, get him close to death to slow it down.”

Zedaph gave Scar a knowing look, smiling. “Classic Cub.”

“Not helpful! Don’t do that!” Scar yelped, the panic that felt so unlike him sputtering out in a humiliating squeak. Fuck, he really needed to get it together.

“No! That’s too dangerous!” Grian’s voice was painfully loud through the walkie; he must’ve stolen it from another ghost, “If we start hurting Pearl and Mumbo, they might panic! It might get worse! What if you accidentally kill Scar?” There were some static and shuffling noises as the walkie was taken back.

“We can’t distract them forever,” another voice, strong and practical, “We might need to keep that in mind, just in case.”

Zedaph talked now, bringing the walkie to his face, “The fire looks like it’s spreading regardless of what Merlin does. Slowing it down might not stop the fire at all, especially if the fire spread is fueled by its magic, not its physical state. We might be able to exhaust it if we keep defending like we are now.”

“What if it can’t stop until the island is destroyed? What if it’s like destiny, the way the season is meant to end? Maybe we can help it wreck the place, and this will end sooner.” Scar recognized one of the Perimeter ghosts as he spoke, using big gestures.

“That is an awful idea. I’m getting my TNT now,” Scar didn’t recognize the voice, but he saw the ghost beside the prior put away his walkie and fly into the Perimeter, quickly joined by his friend. Scar was surprised to hear more assent from the other ghosts, many looking nervous, but at the same time, more animated. Scar guessed they didn’t blow up their own homes very often. Must be like the forbidden fruit for dead people or something.

“Stupid follow up idea!” Zedaph piped up, looking excited, “Maybe once Merlin sees us all destroying our stuff, they’ll understand we’re on their side and we can all be friends!"

The following ghosts who spoke agreed that was, in fact, a stupid idea. Zedaph seemed pleased. Cub suggested once more they just stab Scar a couple times and see what happened, but apparently the idea of destroying their own builds alongside a giant moth monster was too appealing to pass up. Scar huffed, reaching out for Zedaph’s walkie. The ghost understood, handing it over cheerily after another close dodge.

“Right. If this is happening, can I please get carried around by a less neurotic flier.”

[heroes-villains-side-blog]

Starting a fire

Part 1 | Part 2

Prompt by @fightprompts

A fight between a character who normally fights in the skies vs a character who normally fights on or under the ground.

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

“Come down here!” Hero blasted another fireball at their opponent.

They missed.

Villain was too far up, too far away. Their dumb telekinesis ability gave them the power of flight, go figure.

The duo had somehow come to have their brawl at a beach, and Hero seemed to be at an advantage.

Hero could use their fire powers much more conveniently without people or buildings around. Not only that, the beach also limited Villain's powers of size manipulation and telekinesis, since there was almost nothing of size that could be dropped on top of Hero.

“What? Can’t hear you from way up here!” That was a lie, they definitely could. They had who knows how many gadgets on them, which included some sort of hearing device they used to listen to conversations from the sky.

And they knew Hero knew.

“This makes you look like a coward, you know!” Hero shouted.

Villain rolled their eyes and steadily flew lower, getting nearer to the ground and Hero.

Their opponent watched them with an annoyed look, readying one fist for a fireball, and another for a good ol’ punch to the jaw.

When Villain was finally within range, Hero swung their fist backward. They had just let go of their fist when Villain suddenly moved out of the way, causing Hero to be blinded by the sun.

"Agh! Villain!" cried Hero and started rubbing their eyes, thankfully with their non-fired hand.

They eventually blinked back to normal. But something was different. Their legs… felt lighter? And the horizon seemed farther than before.

Wait.

Oh no.

They were in the sky, weren't they?

Villain had used their telekinesis powers on them!

Well… great.

Okay, relax, Hero told themselves. Don't look down. Don't look down. Ah! They looked down!

Look back up. Look back up. They didn't.

But they did manage to shut their eyes.

It's fine, they thought. Maybe Villain won't drop them. They might pretend to, but they won't for real, right?

…

But what's stopping them?

Hero dying is in Villain's favour, they were a villain after all. A criminal. A bad person.

Hero dared to look down again.

They were over the water now.

Okay, that's better than the ground.

Worst case they'll just drop them into the ocean.

Yeah, that's right.

They didn't know how to swim but how hard could it be, right?

Right?

And Villain wouldn't drop them, right? But they could. But they won't. But they could. They could. Into the ocean. Without batting an eye. They could. They would.

Back on land, Villain scrunched their forehead. What was wrong with Hero? Why hadn't they given any retort yet, or fired some, well, fire at them?

"Hey, Hero! Where are your fireworks, huh?"

No answer.

"Hero?"

Still no answer.

That was weird.

Villain flew closer to Hero, albeit hesitantly.

When they got closer they saw Hero was curled up in on themselves.

What? Why?

Were they scared of heights? Surely Villain had used their powers on them before? But not to this height maybe? But surely they didn't think Villain was actually going to drop them, right?

And besides, it was just water below them anyway.

They got closer.

And they could hear… sobs? Or hyperventilating? What the—

They rushed to Hero who didn't even notice them which only increased Villain's confusion. Something was very wrong here.

They gently floated the hero back onto the sand and crouched down to their level.

"Hey. Hey, Hero. You okay?" Boy, did this feel weird.

When Hero looked up, Villain noticed the tears on their face and mask.

"Are you crying? Why?"

Hero mumbled something.

"What?"

"I can't swim, okay!"

"Geez, fine. Excuse me for not knowing my nemesis can't swim. Don't have to be so rude about it." Hero didn't say anything, but the tears were still coming. Villain took a breath. "I wasn't going to drop you, you know that right?"

Hero sniffed. "You… weren't?"

"Geez! No! Of course not! I'm not a murderer!"

"I thought- I thought-"

"Well, you thought — God, why would you even think that?"

"Because… you're a… villain?"

"So?"

"Villains are… bad?" Hero squeaked.

"Oh. My. God. Not all villains are the same! I'm not the same as a serial killer! Honestly, Hero! How old are you, Hero — you're talking like a kid! That's like… wait." Villain narrowed their eyes. "How old are you, Hero?"

"I'm- I'm—"

Villain didn't wait for an answer and levitated Hero’s mask off. "Hey!"

Villain gasped.

"You're a kid!"

"Yeah?"

"Why- why?"

"What do you mean 'why'?"

"Why are you on the streets fighting? And it's like seven in the morning, your parents must be worried sick!"

Hero shook their head.

"Fine, no parents. Makes sense. But who let you be a hero? Don't the other heroes know how young you are?"

"They never asked."

"Oh, God! Seriously? Do the heroes think so less of me to assign a kid to be my nemesis?" They took out their phone and started typing something.

"What are you doing?"

"Writing to any hero whose civilian identity I've compromised. The nerve of them! A child? I am a professional and they give me a child?"

Villain continued ranting, not looking up from their phone even once.

Hero didn't know what to do. So they did the first thing that came to their mind.

The blasted some fire right near Villain's face, grabbed the phone and ran while blasting more fire behind them.

Now they had a phone, an angry villain, and didn't know what to do about either.

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

A/N:

When I was depressed, I was in a fluff mood. Now, I’m getting better, not that sad, but too much !!! in my brain. So, I want to read or write action!

I was just going to use the prompt to practice writing a stand-alone action scene, but I realized it fit this story idea I had so I combined them.

I really wanna write another action scene so posting this so I don't spend more time perfecting it lol.

Feedback is welcome on this or any other fics!

[chaoticgeminate]

Kinktober 2022 - Day Twelve

Pairing: Javi Gutierrez x f!Reader

Rating: Explicit (If that was not entirely clear)

Series Summary: You’re a fanfiction writer turned novelist, which was great since it was the path you wanted your writing to take you down in life. What you never thought would happen was meeting the Javier Gutierrez, who you actively write smutty fanfiction about from his film with Nic Cage, and you especially didn’t expect him to have a crush on you.

Fast forward several months of dating, with a good chunk of your relationship being distance due to his constant traveling and having to go home to Mallorca, when he surprises you with a prompt list and a vacation planned around exploring it.

You haven’t even worked up the nerve to tell him about what you write and post to Tumblr about him as a character yet.

Notes: Going to be using prompts from @ the-purity-pen for my meta as hell indulgence! There are feelings in this (I have no idea how they got there) and I may end up removing some possible chapters here and there depending on how I’m feeling, I apologize in advance if that happens because my brain is super mean sometimes.

Possible Warnings: More fanfic-ception and another Moreno cameo, and Javi being soft

Exhibitionism/Voyeurism (1.2k)

You were the one trapped in meetings today, your publishing house had called three times in a row so both of you opted to accept that it was likely an emergency, and he huffed softly as he got up to pace the length of the room. His eyes darted to where your laptop was sitting, you had given him permission to use the device while he waited since you had the Studio Ghibli films saved to the hard drive but he was worried that you would need to come back for it while on the phone with Maxie.

After a moment of debate he popped the lid open after bringing it back to the love seat, a wall of text from an open document the first thing he saw, and he felt his throat tighten a little as some of the words began to register.

‘Joaquin didn’t share, you didn’t mind since he was more than enough, but there were times you wondered what it might be like to have someone else in the room. You wouldn’t be averse to watching Joaquin with another man or woman, as long as it was consensual, but you were too nervous to even bother suggesting it.

You didn’t want him to think that you weren’t all in for him in any way, he had male partners in the past but you hadn’t asked exactly how long ago either, this thing between you felt far too new to press for information like that. The idea had been floating around in your mind after finishing the romance novel you’d brought for the trip, the fantasy historical setting created in a way that meant the lead female had to allow for someone to be in the room on her wedding night to ensure the wedding was consummated.

The idea of being watched, or watching, had stuck with you ever since.

“I apologize that I took so long, meetings are a nightmare.” His cheerful voice made you turn to look over as he stepped down into the hot tub, the expensive hotel you were in had a spa and hot tub that was strictly for big name and big money guests and he’d told you to take advantage. Seeing his broad chest exposed by the cut of his swim briefs made you almost wonder why you hadn’t been in the hotel room, wet and waiting for him instead, but he deserved a good long soak too.

“No need to apologize.” You made your way over and sank down in his lap, wet hands diving into his curls to hold his head where you wanted him as you stole into his mouth, his breathy croon into your moan echoed in the large and empty room. His hand had just slipped into your suit, fingers sliding up into your wet heat, when the door to the room opened; your head darted up to see a familiar face walking your way.

Everyone knew the superhero Marcus Moreno, your boyfriend had even met him several times, and you felt your boyfriend’s cock jump when the other man looked into the hot tub and saw just what he’d interrupted. You were ready to run, face hot with mild embarrassment, but Joaquin’s fingers curled and you couldn’t help the way you whimpered.

Your lashes fluttered shut at the sensation and your boyfriend let out a low hiss in your ear.

“Going to tattle on us, Moreno?”

“No.”

The other man’s voice was rasped and thick with tension, with desire, and you clenched around Joaquin’s fingers knowing that he was watching Marcus’ expression as the other man watched the two of you. It was honestly not what you’d expected, the coincidental situation, but complaining was the last thing on your mind as Joaquin scissored his fingers and circled your clit with his thumb.

“Called him down for you, saw what you were reading and decided to give you what you wanted, you want to put on a show? Make it a good one, cariño.”

“Joaquin-“

“Fuck you two are gorgeous.” Marcus’ interruption made you whimper, unable to comprehend that your boyfriend arranged this for you because he’d noticed your novel, and fuck if that wasn’t the biggest turn on.’

Javi couldn’t help but look up, expecting you to arrive any minute and catch him, and he knew he should minimize the document and go look for the movies but you were writing fanfiction.

About him.

All your reservations began to make sense, all the times you hesitated to tell him anything and how you’d been after his remark when he was costumed as Oberyn, and he felt that instant rush of guilt for stumbling on that knowledge like this. He minimized the document, fully intended to apologize, and was met with a far too familiar website opened and his icon in the bottom right.

Javi didn’t know what would be worse, the idea of asking for permission or forgiveness, and he decided that he’d violated your trust enough even if it was an accident. Closing the laptop lid and preparing to put it back, that way he could apologize before you found out any later than right away, and he chewed on his nail as he thought about the only DMs that he sent on the entire website.

He’d reached out to other authors, sure, but only one had responded to him recently and if he was right then it was entirely likely you’d both walked right into an idiots to lovers situation.

He might have laughed if he wasn’t the happiest fucking man on the planet right now buried under the layers of guilt and worry. But he couldn’t tell you, everything was making sense now why you avoided the topic about fanfiction with him, he knew that if he told you what he knew and how he learned it that you’d either get angry because you were upset he hadn’t closed the document out right away or you’d get angry because you were afraid of his reaction.

Javi felt like a bit of an asshole for this but he was going to have to leave a breadcrumb trail for you to figure out who he was first, that way the ball was in your court. He was more than aware of the financial imbalance between the two of you, even if he acted like it wasn’t there, it was why he had a tendency to tip-toe around things like taking you out or buying you gifts.

Fanfiction was still looked down on in most traditional media circles, hell there’d been an English television network that tried to convince writers to send in stories to have comedians reenact the fan writing with puppets,  and there was a massive domination of new books being made that were fanfiction converted to original works. The reception of Fifty Shades of Grey certainly hadn't done fan writing any kind of favors, given its origins, so he was more than understanding about why you’d be terrified given that he was the subject of a lot of your writing.

It was a messy, convoluted, web and it would be wiser to confront you now but Javi just couldn’t do that.

People in his life left or they disappeared and he didn’t want a life without you in it.

He was scared.

So he'd let you figure him out first.

You never commented on how much more affectionate he was when he returned, content to let him read his screenplay to you while the pair of you lounged in bed, with the hope that his willingness to share his project with you would maybe lead you to do the same with him.

All Fics Taglist: @hardc0rehaylz @wordsnwhiskey @pagannightwitch @radiowallet @musings-of-a-rose @amneris21 @trickstersp8 @practicalghost @rominaszh @alwaysdjarin @alexxavicry

Just Pedro Taglist: @maievdenoir @beecastle @littlemisspascal @writeforfandoms @AynsleyWalker @lovesbiggerthanpride @mswarriorbabe80

Alt Taglist: @imtryingmybeskar @fan-of-encouragement @grogusmum @sizzlingcloudmentality @deadhumourist @prostitute-robot-from-the-future

Kinktober Only: @nicolethered @katareyoudrilling

[cartoonbrat16]

My DNA

Gwen pov

"Cannonball!" I heard Jen yell followed by a big splash. I grabbed a flashlight and headed outside and onto the dock. "And the crowd loves her," Jen said and began to cheer for herself. "What are you doing Queen Geek-a-zoid?" I asked and Jen frowned at me.

"I'm enjoying the lake, how about you do the same," Jen suggested and pulled herself from the water. I frowned at my cousin "No way, who knows what other flimsy things are in the water." I said and smirked at Jen. Jen placed her hands on her hips and frowned at me "You are an unbearable, stuck-up, annoying, single-minded brat." she said.

My eyes widened, I didn't know what to say in response. "Yeah well, Your a....you can't...ugh, I hope the device short circuits and shocks you!" I yelled and pointed to Jen's chest. "Also, how did you get your swimsuit on when that thing is practically merged with your skin?" I asked and I knew I sounded crazy and annoyed.

Jen smiled "One, not gonna happen I waterproof everything, Second, that is for Me, Bleep, three broken sticks, massive amounts of force, and several bruises to know, and you to find out." Jen said, she then jumped back into the lake and splashed me. "Ugh, you are so annoying," I said and headed back to the RV.

Jen pov

I giggled as Gwen walked inside, I love when I leave her speechless. I let out a happy sigh and moved to float on my back. I used my arms to propel myself like a jellyfish and admired the night sky. "I want to go there one day," I said to no one and moved further into the lake.

"Huh?" I moved in the water and looked around me, I thought I felt something. "Hmm?" I dove under the water and looked around, but I saw nothing. I shrugged and was about to resurface, but something grabbed my leg. I struggled and tried not to scream as I was drug deeper into the water.

I monstrous screech filled my ears, but I heard something else in it. 'Eggs?' I thought but I didn't dwell long. I watched as a blue eye opened and stared at me, "Where are my eggs!?" it screeched. My eyes widened, not in fear, but in shock, 'ok, here goes nothing.' I thought and activated the device. I could only hope my memory served right and I pressed the device.

When the light faded I smiled at myself, my memory did serve, I was Ripjaws. This was my fish alien, I had legs, but I was also dressed in a long black and green loincloth that changed into my tail, and a matching top. I used my claws and scratched the creature and it released me with another loud screech.

I swam away and up toward the surface. As I did I looked back, but I just saw the creature swim away. I furrowed my brow and looked back toward the surface, I jumped from the water and landed on the dock. I fell to my knees and pressed the symbol of the device. I returned to my human form and stood to my feet, I turned my attention back to the lake. "What is going on?" I mumbled and I heard the screech in the distance.

~~~~~~~~~

"Not just that, I could understand it, it kept saying something about eggs," I said as we walked toward a boat. I had been telling Gwen and Grandpa all morning about last night's events. "I'm telling you, something was wrong," I said and stopped at the edge of the dock. Grandpa looked at me with a frown "Jen, the only thing that was wrong last night was you using that device." he said.

I slumped and let out an annoyed sigh, "Tell me what you aren't, and then we can talk about not using the device." I said crossing my arms. Grandpa frowned at me "I don't know why you assume I'm not telling you anything." "Because it's a fact that you're not." I walked away in a huff.

"Hey wait up!" I was almost off the dock when Gwen called me. I turned around and stuffed my hands into the pockets of my skirt, "Yeah?" I asked. Gwen stopped in front of me "Fishing isn't my thing, I'll stick to the mainland with you." Gwen said. I simply shrugged and started walking, we walked and found another dock to sit on.

I pulled up my screen and went to the creation folder. I scrolled for a few minutes the smiled when I saw the build I wanted. Within a few short seconds, I had materialized an underwater drone. "What is that thing?" Gwen asked looking at the device in my hands. "An underwater drone, I know what I saw last night Gwen, with this I can explore the entire lake, gather information, and it works as a marine life radar, nothing is gonna get past me." I smiled and dropped the drone into the water.

I brought my screen back and went to the drone controls. I started piloting the drone through the water and silence fell over me and Gwen. I carefully watched my screen, I took not to the lack of fish, I knew I should have seen some by now. "Does it ever dawn on you that you might be wrong?" Gwen suddenly asked. "What?" I replied not sure what she was talking about.

Gwen sighed "You know, the fact that Grandpa might be telling the truth, the fact that you might be wrong." Gwen said, I sighed and pulled up another screen. "Gwen, look at this," I said and moved closer, "I monitor you, me, and Grandpa's bodies to avoid any upcoming sickness or anything like that," I said pointing to the three silhouettes on the screen. "Twelve times, twelve times I've asked Grandpa what he isn't telling me, twelve times he says he isn't hiding anything, and every time, every time his heart rate picks up, his pupils dilate, and he begins to sweat," I said showing Gwen the history.

The expression on Gwen's face told me she was trying to find a reasonable answer, but couldn't. I sighed and was about to say something but a boat sounded its horn and the radar began to act up. My eyes widened and a moved the drone toward the source. "What is it?" Gwen asked leaning over my shoulder. I furrowed my brow and kept moving, I was on its trail, but then I realized where it was going.

"Get off the dock." I said I turned to Gwen "It's coming this way get off the dock." I ordered and grabbed Gwen's hand. I got rid of my screens and whistled at everyone "Get off the dock!" everyone looked a little confused, that is until the monster burst up from the water. Gwen and the surrounding people screamed and froze, luckily for me I had just enough strength, and we were close enough that I was able to throw Gwen onto the land.

"I want my eggs back!!" the monster smashed the dock sending me and countless others into the water. "Good thing I waterproofed everything," I said once I surfaced. "I will get my eggs back!" I turned and saw the monster chasing everyone. I frowned and dove under the water, I borough up my screen and went to the device, I pressed on XLR8 I had to make this one snappy.

I started running and before I knew it I was zipping around atop the water. I headed straight for the monster, she was about to munch a tourist, but I grabbed him first. I gather everyone in the water and brought them to shore and then went after the monster. I followed her, she was going after a boat with the letters F.O.F on it. "I feel like I can sense evil," I said and jumped onto the boat.

One of the guys was fighting with the monster over a crate, "Give me back my eggs!" she screeched. I growled and zipped over to the crate, I opened it and saw eggs. "You scumbag." I hissed, I put myself between the guy and the crate and started making a dust cloud. "NO!" he screamed and let go of the crate, I pushed it along with myself into the water. The monster took her legs and swam away, I then went back to shore and told Gwen and Grandpa everything.

~~~~~~~~~

Grandpa pov

I sat at the table watching out the window, I enjoyed the flashing blue and red lights of justice. "You have a tear in your bandana." I looked over to Gwen and Jen. My eyes widened, and there was a tear in Jen's bandana.

"I'll fix it for you," I said and quickly snatched the fabric from around Jen's neck. Both Jen and Gwen jumped back, it was clear I startled them. "While I do this you two go gather wood for a fire," I said and went to the back of the RV. Once I heard the girls leave I walked back to the front, I reached under my bed, and pulled out a box.

Inside the box, I had various items, I searched for a moment until I found what I was looking for. I pulled a pair of glasses from the box, the had yellow lenses with a black frame and a single button on the side. I put them on and pressed the button, everything began to grey, except for the microwires in Jen's bandana which glowed a bright green. "Phew, they are still intact and functioning," I whispered, I smiled and began to patch Jen's bandana.

~~~~~~~~~

??? Pov

"She has been located." an armored figure said looking at me. "Well then, get on your way, bring her back," I said not looking away from the ship window. "Yes, Azmuth," Albedo whispered and left.

[triciastep]

Since Droplet was second to win the OC info poll! Here’s a little bit of backstory and small facts! (Also there is an actual name, I just like using Droplet.)

Droplet, or otherwise known as Patricia/Tricia, was born in Earthrealm. She was raised with love and care from her parents, living a semi normal childhood except for one thing.

She had the ability to control water.

Ever since she was a small child, she could make water float into the air, though not very good at it at the time and sometimes even out of her control. This concerned her parents extremely, having no knowledge of magic or the other realms, their only hope was that as she grew older, she would forget about her powers and they would disappear, but it was the opposite.

As Droplet grew older, her powers became stronger, not only of her control over water, but other abilities manifested.

Whenever she was in the water, she would be under for long periods of time, people sometimes thought she was drowning but she was totally fine. She could also swim faster underwater, it both amazed and baffled other children and parents alike.

Her parents were all for keeping her far away from large bodies of water but Droplet protested, loving to swim and play, at the time innocently seeing no harm and not seeing how potentially dangerous her powers could be.

Then one day while swimming in her small backyard pool with her mother watching, Droplet was bored and wished she was at the water park instead of in the small pool her parents got her.

As if her wish was granted, Droplet was suddenly in a swirl of water in the small pool that suddenly felt bottomless. When she came up for air, she was surrounded by people in the water park she wished she was at.

Many people looked at her with shock and confusion, which only made the small and scared child more upset. She wanted her mother and wished she was back home, and in a similar swirl of water, she was back in the small pool in her backyard, where her mother was trying to pull her out. She was pulled into her mother’s embrace and was terrified by what just happened.

After that incident, Droplet’s parents finally stressed to her that if anyone found out about her powers, then someone would come and take her away, use her, hurt her family, and hurt her as well.

Hearing this and in the aftermath of the water park incident, Droplet’s love of the water turned into fear. Everyone, including Droplet, agreed to keep her out of the water from then on. She ignored her powers and tried her hardest to forget about them, but it was almost impossible with the cloud of fear hanging over her head.

As the years went by, Droplet’s childhood and teenage years were usually spent in isolation, even though she stayed far away from the water, the fear of her powers accidentally awakening and being found out caused her to develop terrible social anxiety and becoming very introverted.

Despite it all, she did miss the water, sometimes, she would have dreams about swimming again. Even though she didn’t use her powers, there was a part of her that could still feel them inside her, just waiting to be used again.

She would be lying if she said she didn’t often wonder why she had her abilities or where they came from but she ignored those questions like she ignored her powers.

She was successful for the most part in having as normal a life one could have with what she knew about the world. Though she didn’t have many close friends growing up, she luckily had interests in what people would often define as ‘nerdy’, such as video games and cheesy movies.

When she reached her twenties, Droplet got a job at an arcade in her local mall, to which she enjoyed. It was a mundane life for her but she preferred it that way.

One day, a mysterious light appeared that shot into the sky and caused power outages and other electronic devices to be temporarily unusable. It caused so much panic for everyone, but thankfully the light was gone as soon as it stared. Power and electronics started to work again and people thought that it was some light show gone wrong. After that, everyone went about their business again.

A few weeks later when Droplet was closing up the arcade for the night, there was an incident that involved a strange creature that attacked her.

The altercation not only caused her to use her powers, but also resulted in her meeting a woman named Tari, who has taken it as her responsibility to stop the creatures and the portals that have been popping up all over the world.

When Tari suggested the two work together, Droplet was hesitant, not knowing Tari and remembering the fear of being used for her powers, but also having no combat or proper control over her abilities.

Tari stated that if they didn’t work together, things would only get worse and also purposed the idea that perhaps this was the reason she had her powers to begin with. So, with that, Droplet agreed.

Soon after, the two met Jai Li, who introduced them to a whole new world of magic that neither thought to be possible.

A world that Droplet hoped to find the answers to the questions she’s asked for so long.

Here are some small facts about Droplet:

Likes to eat, doesn’t have a favorite food.

A crybaby and is not ashamed of bursting into tears.

She can turn herself into water! At first she couldn’t control it and it usually happened when she was scared, but it works great as a camouflage or to reach for something.

As a result of using her powers more, her eyes shift from brown to teal often.

Will spend a lot of time underwater and disassociate, often forgets she has to come up for air.

Surprisingly became the jokester of the team despite her introverted nature and she’s really kind and wants to get along with everyone, or at least try to.

Made a promise to herself to never use her powers to kill, afraid that she would be confirming a deep dark fear that she may be some kind of monster.

Has a necklace that was given to her by her mother, saying that it belonged to a distant relative and it was for good luck. Wears it when she feels like she needs luck.

Wears glasses but doesn’t wear them when out on missions, she’s scared they’ll get broken.

Has the ability to teleport, she calls it Water Warping, however she can only do it to bodies of water she’s been in previously.

[awellboiledicicle]

Stray/Raft au: Walled city 99 is on a high point of what’s left of land in that area of the world. The Outsiders, being the main force of exploring outside the city once it opens, eventually hit the sea and spend time on the beach. Eventually they see a weird speck on the horizon and then they’re met with a literal floating city anchored off shore. Soft ones-- those that weren’t able to get into cities-- managed outside while things went to hell. After a hurricane, one of said soft ones washes ashore with nothing but the clothes on their back and a book about being a forward scout. The island with the city isn’t enough to sustain a whole human population, and certainly not ALL the humans left, and the scout explains that their family had been searching for a place humans could live on dry land. Clementine, 100% down for adventure, offers to go with since the scout is literally totally alone and no one else has washed up alive. Momo wants to stay back, because he’s aware he doesn’t float. This is ruined by Doc pointing out they have time while the scout mourns to build flotation devices. Seamus goes where Doc goes, from this point on. Zbalthazar volunteers to be the first with floats on, because this means a new body with water proofing that he can move around with. He also likes the rhythmic sounds of the waves. Momo gets persuaded to go along partially because swimming is actually fun, but also because he realizes his friends are 100% going to help the human do the thing and he doesn’t want to be alone. Helping this is the little outsider following along with its family. The scout says its good to have them, because rats tend to find their way onto rafts. Exploring!

have i thought about this way too much? yes.

is there deffo a scene where the scout dives after one of the bots who’s having a floatation malfunction? also yes

Does grandma gift the scout a sail and some warm clothes? also yes.

Does B12 get uploaded into a companion body after Elliot pokes around the city’s systems and contacts him, followed by B12 frantically trying to catch up to the little outsider and co, beause 1: holy shit the outside isn’t a flaming wreck, 2: he misses the cat, 3: WHAT DO YOU MEAN THERE ARE OTHER HUMANS? Yes.

Is there deffo a scene where the scout overexerts themselves and gets scolded by the robots? yes Is there a scene where the group celebrates the scout hauling up a bunch of scrap to be used to patch up the bots as needed? and finding discarded oil that can be remixed to be useful? yes

Will the little outsider body a seagull and stand all triumphant for having defended the potatoes? Also yes.

No really, i have thought about this way too much. It also works because Raft humans are juuuust a little too off to be quite the same as the humans that went into the cities. They’re like mostly microplastics at this point, really only get lightly hurt by acid that GLOWS, don’t get heat stroke apparently--or it takes so long that its not a going concern--and are capable of tanking shark bites pretty well. They’re weird is my point. And while the 1.0 update altered the timeline a bit, i hold that it’s been several gens since the world flooded because like 20 years or whatever makes no goddamn sense. My canon now. And that means this au is a go.

[khaleesiofalicante]

i so badly wanted to ask you a snippet :(

Max wakes up the sounds of bird chirping as usual. 

In some ways, the Château reminds him of Albany. 

But it’s not the same. 

Because the loneliness and emptiness he used in the executive mansion are not here. Not at all. 

Because when he turns around, he is welcomed by the sight of David fast asleep next to him, his blonde hair beautifully disheveled and his soft face pressed into the fluffy pillow. 

Max presses a kiss to the man’s head and gets off the bed. 

He follows his morning routine. 

Putting on one of his random playlists. Swimming in the lake. Waiting for David to wake up. 

He swims closer to the marble walls and rests his head against the cold tiles, the water lapping around him. 

It’s so quiet. 

He is still isn’t used to it. 

Not really. 

He wonders what would make things a little louder around here. 

A thought occurs to him. 

A vision. 

Little feet. Loud laughter. Obnoxiously squeaky toys. 

He sees the platinum band on his finger. 

I love you. I love you. I love you.

Bapak and Dad have been asking him when the wedding is and Rafael has been annoying with Pinterest boards for the wedding aesthetic.

Max isn’t going to tell them anytime soon. 

He likes it better this way. 

There is a small worm floating on a leaf in the water. He gently helps the creature get to the shore.

It finds its way home. 

Slow and steady. 

Yeah. He likes it better this way. 

He dries himself with a towel and ties on a robe as he heads to the kitchen and grabs himself a glass of milk. 

When he heads back to the bedroom, David is sitting up, sheets pooling around his waist and typing into his laptop. 

“Hi,” Max whispers. 

“Good morning,” David rasps, a faint smile on his face, his eyes on the device. 

“Inspiration struck you early today, huh?” Max asks as he settles next to the man in bed. 

David hums. His fingers firing away at the keyboard. 

“I have a question for you,” Max says. 

“Just a moment, love,” David holds up a finger. 

Max kisses it. “Put that way.”

David chuckles, still typing. “One minute.”

“Fine,” Max pouts and falls back into bed. “But I’m counting.”

David puts his laptop away when Max is up to 52. He smiles at Max. “All yours.”

Max pulls him in for a kiss. 

David smiles into it. “What was your question?”

Max hums, pushing David’s hair away with both hands. “Would you still love me if I were a worm?”

David chuckles. “What?”

“It’s a serious question,” Max says - seriously. 

David chuckles and flops next to him in bed. “Okay. Then I need to clarify a couple of things.”

“Like what?”

“Do I know the worm is you or am I unaware? Do I meet you as a worm for the first time or is it a case where you have been turned into a worm by the curse of some evil witch? Can worm you speak? Would worm you love me back or is this more of a one-sided relationship?”

“Oh my god,” Magnus laughs and groans at the same time. “Never mind.”

David laughs too. “Those are all perfectly valid questions.”

“None of it matters. Would you love worm me or nah?” Max demands. 

David considers for a moment. “Worms are a little icky and slippery.”

Max gasps. “I should have asked this before I agreed to marry you!”

David laughs again. “Are you going to divorce me?”

“You wish,” Max rolls his eyes. “You’re stuck with me.”

“Good,” David grins and runs a hand over Max’s face. 

“Hey,” Max says. 

“Hello,” David smiles. 

“What if I was like a really cute worm?” Max amends. “Like the one in Minnie’s book? What’s his name? Lowly.”

“Well, then I suppose I can try,” David concedes. 

“Our love lives!” Max cheers. 

David laughs and presses a kiss to his neck. “I’ll love you in any shape or form or texture.”

Max wrinkles his nose and chuckles. “Even if I was a worm?”

“Even then,” David whispers. “I’ll feed you little leaves. Make tiny clothes for you.”

Max giggles. “And where will I live? Inside a tea cup?”

“I’ll keep you in my pocket,” David replies. “Next to my heart.”

Max sighs contently. “David Beauchamp.”

David who is kissing his chest faintly looks up at that. “Erm. I actually wanted to talk you about that.”

“About worms?”

“About my name,” David corrects. 

“What about it?” Max asks. 

“Well. It’s not about mine, I guess,” David says carefully. “It’s about yours.”

“What about it?” Max asks again. 

David blushes shyly. “Can I have it?”

Oh.

Max smiles. 

[ailelie]

When I began writing, I wrote poetry.

Or did I?

I have trouble remembering my own history sometimes.

I loved fairy tales first.

I once started a story about something I can no longer remember and showed it to my grandmother who said it was good for my age.

I immediately gave it up. I stopped writing stories for years.

I have a book I wrote in elementary school. It has a story and it has poems. So maybe I started with both.

When I got serious about writing, though, I started with poetry. Even my first fanfic was a poem.

But in high school I figured out that I wasn't very good at them. Or maybe they were just too exposing.

I wrote a poem in high school and showed a teacher and she asked if I was gay. I immediately re-wrote the poem and destroyed every copy of the original. I remember the lines I changed. I no longer remember what they replaced.

This is the same teacher who told me that Edna St. Vincent Millay didn't count as a female poet when I gave that name. This was after she asked for my favorite poets who were Keats and Yeats at the time and then asked if I read any women. I like Millay, I told her. She doesn't count, she told me.

Looking back, I don't think she was a very good teacher.

The point is, I figured out I wasn't very good at poetry. I don't hear rhythm and so can never figure out meter. I clung too hard to rhyme schemes or very obvious rhythms even I could hear.

Sweet cologne through twilight air / floats through my mind and anchors there

I wrote that in my early teens and I still can't dislodge it.

I didn't start lines powerfully enough or end them powerfully enough or use strong enough language or the right details.

I always said I wanted criticism. I wanted to be better. But sometimes you look at all the holes in your ship and a tiny tin of caulk and have to just give in. No matter how hard you try or fast you move, you're still going to drown. Better to get out now and swim to safety than to go down with the ship.

This isn't a poem, though it leans that way at times. I'm just recording my thoughts as I have them.

Tumblr now houses my only poetry and every single poem is a reminder why I should stop trying. That's even the tags I use.

reasons why ailelie shouldn't write poetry

But I can't stop myself from drowning.

Words and stories are my first loves. When I was a little kid, I'd throw a book down on the floor, step up onto it like a soapbox, and loudly call for attention.

I never shut up.

Sometimes I think people nowadays think I'm quiet or don't talk that much. And, often, I don't around them. I've learned to hold my words in to not monopolize the conversation to not make it weird.

My freshman English teacher in high school actually decreed that another classmate and I were not allowed to talk in class because we dominated every discussion.

I love words. I love to talk. I love to make up songs no one is ever going to hear. My phone is full of my recordings. They aren't good. They're just mine. I love to write.

"I think better with a pen in my hand," I tell people over and over again and none of them realize just how exposing that statement is.

I am most myself when I am writing. I am most anything when I am writing.

When I fell into a depression a few years ago, I stopped writing. I get worried when I realize I've not written anything in a day or two. I can't remember the last day I passed without writing something and that's good.

I am terrified of losing my sight primarily because of the new barrier that would exist between me creating and consuming words.

I miss being the kid who never shut up. I always talked too fast and slurred my words together until speech therapy had me overpronouncing them.

In school, I loved studying literary devices. Language lets us do so much and I wanted to learn all of it.

But I've never quite had the talent of making words bend the way I want in fiction. I'll never be a writer. Or a poet. I decided a very, very long time ago that my passion would never be my occupation. I never wanted to resent words or writing.

But part of me wishes I'd honed the skill. I'll never be able to abandon ship, but holes are numerous and my tin of caulk is near-empty.

I'm going to drown here. I'm going to be okay with that.