#-and then tumbling to the floor because rip XD ))

[not-bcring]

✩   「   @from-across-the-stars   」   ✩   -   Continued from ★

「 ☆ 」   Were Kokichi not feeling sick as a dog— in the most literal sense —he’d find the sight of the large man futilely shoving himself partway under the bed hilarious. But right now, he hardly feels like laughing. Hardly feels like doing ANYTHING… and if it didn’t seem like a far-worse fate to get professional help, he wouldn’t be moving around nearly as much as he is. When a human, it’s hardly enjoyable to be sick. But as a canine, it feels as if it somehow grew tenfold. Transforming usually takes some energy out of him but never to this extent, and his instincts never scream THIS loudly for him to obey. Not anymore, at least.

Yet all he wants is to find a dark, isolated corner to crawl into and lie down until he either dies or feels better… Whichever comes first.

Logically, he knows this isn’t an option. And if it were, it’d be a pretty stupid one. But even if the solution isn’t viable, the aches accosting his body are still very much real. An exhaustion tugging at his very bones, growing worse with each swift evasion of Gundham’s grasp. Still, dodge he does. And is determined to do until he physically CAN’T anymore. Fueled by stubbornness and desperation at this point, Kokichi only growls in response to Gundham’s warnings about Charlotte, as if to say—  ❛  I’d like to see her try.  ❜  

Actually, he wouldn’t. He’d prefer if she stay far away.

The thought of being in a vulnerable state is enough to make Kokichi’s stomach twist. Let alone being rendered practically helpless around others… Aside from Gundham and Kazuichi. Doctors and even Veterinarians simply aren’t an option for him. Lying there, strange hands touching him, prodding at him, knowing how weakened he is, how scared… Never. He’s been sick this long without needing outside help. He can keep it that way. Or, worst-case scenario, this is a perfectly good bed to die under.

Snarling at his boyfriend, sound abruptly stops before Kaz even enters the room, ears perked and eyes darting to the still-closed door. Yet small body is tensed, gaze FOCUSED... He hears him. He smells him. Still as death, accepting the split-second risk of Gundham potentially grabbing him, the breeder’s claims of what Charlotte will do falls on deaf ears. Almost. Nose twitches as the knob turns, Kaz’s scent washing over as the door creaks on its hinges. 

Now’s his chance.

Before Gundham can even get his warning out, a black and white blur darts from underneath the bed. Zipping past Gundham and Kazuichi in the time it would take to blink, Kokichi races down the hallway. Nearly making it to the end, panting from the strain on his already-fatigued body, normally-nimble paws suddenly start to scramble. Losing his footing, he lets out a startled yelp before tumbling into a heap on the floor. Lying there, breathing heavily, body trembles as he attempts to stand before falling flat once more. Whimpering with a pitiful sneeze, sullen gaze is focused on the end of the hall... He’s so close. He just needs to get up and he can find a hiding place. There isn’t a single one he hasn’t discovered in his mischief. Gundham would never be able to find him. Or at the very least, it would take a while.

But he’s just so tired... and his body refuses to move.   「 ☆ 」 

[whatifyoulivelikethat]

pause, m | myg | 4

pairing(s): yoongi x reader

summary: Some things that are normal for most aren’t normal for you and Yoongi. He moved in and sleeps in the same bed with you, but still all you do is hold hands and kiss gently. Everyone has their own pace. Not everyone lives in the fast lane. There’s just... this nagging feeling. You have to be honest. 

warnings: rated M (18+) - mentions of a previous physically and verbally abusive relationship; language; smut (penetrative sex); there’s so much fluff you might die; also RIP to their heads XD; non-idol!AU; music producer!Yoongi x dancing fanatic!reader

rated M because I know how sensitive a topic domestic abuse is.

--

3.

-

"Sorry."

"What?"

You retreated your hand from the tuft of hair sticking out of Yoongi's black cap. He turned around and raised his eyebrows at you. You ended up apologizing before actually doing anything or even touching the little black tail in the opening of his hat. He adjusted the brim and gave you a weird look. 

"Something wrong?" he asked, tilting his head. 

"No, uh... I..." You struggled to find the words. "I almost touched you. I wasn't sure if you were okay with that."

Yoongi smiled a little. "It's okay. I know you're there. And I know it's you."

He was sitting right next to you at your computer in your bedroom. You had set up a station for him, the two of you in the corner, occupying two computers ninety degrees from each other. All you had to do was turn to the right and he was there. He turned to the left and you were there. It was kind of cramped and not ideal, but it had to do for now. Yoongi worked on music at home. Some things Yoongi could only do at the studio, but some things he could do at home. You found him a decent computer and some hand-me-down equipment and it was good enough. 

Actually...

It was miles better than it was before. He was surprised when you asked him if he wanted to work on his music at home. It wasn't permitted in Yoongi's previous relationship. But you saw he lamented sometimes, recording demos on his phone and wishing he had some sort of setup to do some things. You didn't understand the technical aspects, but it couldn't hurt to ask, right? It had become a fun project and now Yoongi was sitting beside you.

Yoongi spied the images on your monitor. "What are you looking at?"

You turned back. "Apartments. I'm just trying to see if there's something bigger, so you can have your own music studio at home."

He bit his lip. "I can't afford that right now."

You understood that Yoongi often mentioned money because it was a topic of arguments with his ex-girlfriend. You hadn't gone into this expecting Yoongi to be rich. In any case, it was better for him to invest in his music. You had already told him this, but habits take time to be broken. Thankfully, your work paid well even though it was mostly clerical duties. There were perks to having worked at the same company for a long time.

"It's okay. I want a bigger space too." 

"You mean you want your dance studio back?" he teased. 

You felt your ears heat. "I can use the living room... anyway, I want you to be able to work in peace. I haven't seen anything good though."

"Mmm, well, this kind of thing takes time and luck."

You turned your head to look at him and found his face next to your shoulder. A handsome profile. His eyes shifted to look at you. Something flitted in those dark brown eyes. The nagging feeling came back, tapping inside your ribcage, rattling impatiently. You looked away, back at your computer screen. 

Yoongi said your name softly. 

"Is something wrong?" His voice wavered. "Did I do something?"

"No, Yoongi," you replied, still not looking at him. The frustration inside expanded. You knew you had to communicate. You couldn't not. If you avoided it any longer, you would be growing the seeds of doubt and you wanted Yoongi to trust you. To do that, you needed to be honest. 

"I'm horny."

Silence. 

"What?"

You jerked a little in your seat, moving away from Yoongi before raising your head to make eye contact. Your chest felt tight, ashamed, even though it wasn't supposed to be embarrassing. 

"I'm horny," you repeated, rubbing your fist on your thigh. "I don't want to pressure you because I know that topic might be delicate. I just..." You kept looking at those wide cat-like eyes and then looking away, heart beating fast and heat building faster. "I find that I can't really look at you that long without thinking about it. I don't want to make you uncomfortable."

Silence. You felt your stomach knot.

“I don’t remember the last time I had sex,” Yoongi murmured. “I don’t remember the last time I wanted it.”

Ah. Right. That would make sense. Of course, that’s how he felt. Also, you weren’t exactly sexy. The octopus dancing didn’t really get the guys, so to speak. You could handle yourself. It was fine. He was just so… You wanted Yoongi to feel good with your touch, wanted his heart to flutter the way yours fluttered, wanted to see him breathless with want.

There was a weight on your thigh.

You started, looking down, breath at your throat. You were wearing loose gray shorts and the matching sweatshirt. Not a sexy outfit to get your freak on. But you were staring at Yoongi’s hand, kneading the fabric and your leg underneath and the heat was rising, heart racing.

“I think I need a reminder…” he murmured. “A reminder on how good it feels to be loved like that.”

Yoongi lifted his head and you stared into his eyes.

He leaned forward and closed the distance, kissing you softly, and you breathed him in, fitting your hand over his, guiding it up, gentle touches, turning in your chair to face him, and he was turning to you, holding you close, your hands skimming over his t-shirt, not trying to get more, just wanting to show your want, just demonstrating how you would run your hands over his skin if there was no barrier, and he stood up, making you stand up.

And then your heads banged together.

“Ow!”

“Motherfuc–”

You swore and Yoongi clamped a hand over your mouth, rubbing his forehead and shaking his head.

“Don’t ruin this,” he winced, removing his hand.

“My brain feels rearranged,” was your woozy response, cursing the narrow space.

Yoongi took your hand and pulled you away from the computers, towards to the bed, the same bed you two slept on, but didn’t touch, not like this. You only held hands or kissed gently. Late at night, when Yoongi was fast asleep, you would stare at his profile and wonder if he felt the same passion you felt, but it was weird to watch him sleeping, so you looked away and stared at the ceiling instead, thinking about him and his body against yours.

And now it was, his arms around you, pressing you to his chest, kissing your lips, cheeks, closed eyelids, making you laugh a little. Your fingertips on his back, tracing patterns, his gasp against your skin, cap falling off and tumbling to the floor, his black hair brushing your forehead.

“T-Touch me more…” he murmured.

He took your forearms and pushed them down, sliding your hands under his white shirt and then it was skin on skin, a needy noise between you two. With burning ears, you realized that was you, Yoongi’s hands on your shoulders as you explored his back, fingertips dancing up his spine, his pants in your ear, and then his fingers in your hair, messing it all up, rolling his body into yours.

Hardness.

You gasped, raising your thigh to press against it, and his hands slid down, and you looked up to see his half-lidded eyes hazy with desire.

“I want to follow your lead, Yoongi,” you breathed. “Any time you want to stop, we can stop.”

He nodded, leaning down to kiss you, deeper this time, tongue sliding in and playing with yours, your hands exploring the contours of his back. His skin, so soft, so lovely, smelling the vanilla and patchouli body wash you used because you shared the same shower and he used all your products. You shared so much with him, but there were some things you couldn’t share. Not yet. Not until he gave you his sign that he was ready.

You never told Yoongi, I love you.

The most precious words used in this world, turned to a poison dagger to hurt him, so you never said it, not until he was ready to hear it, not until he wanted to hear it. You knew Yoongi knew. You would hold his hand, draw a heart in his palm, small things like that, and he knew. He’d squeeze your fingers and smile a little smile and that was enough.

Maybe you were tiptoeing too much, but it was impossible to tell, because everyone is different and not even Yoongi himself knew what trivial actions or words would bring back unpleasant memories. He had spent so long repressing them that it was hard to tell reality from fantasy. He didn’t know what to be afraid of because he tried so hard to make them disappear.

You drew a small heart on Yoongi’s shoulder blade and he gasped, pulling you closer.

“I… like when you do that…” he mumbled, sounding a little embarrassed.

“Draw hearts?” you questioned, tilting your head.

“Yeah… on my skin…”

And then Yoongi surprised you.

He backed up a little and pulled his shirt over his head, taking your hands and placing them on his chest, not saying anything, but you could see it in his eyes, I don’t look very good, and you pressed your fingertips to his chest, over his beating heart, looking up at him.

“You will always be perfect to me, Yoongi.”

He gave you a wistful smile, believing you and not at the same time. “You have weird taste.”

You drew a small heart over his, feeling him shiver at your touch. You grinned brightly. “That’s how you know I’m devoted.”

He chuckled, closing one eye, looking sheepish. You waited, letting him work through the emotion, trying not to put himself down, taking it for what it was. It was not an easy thing to do. You had to be patient. Yoongi took your hand and pulled you to the bed, a familiar environment.

“I want to make you feel good,” he said.

“You don’t–”

“I want to,” Yoongi reaffirmed, looking you in the eye, determination in his tone. “I want my hard work to be the reason you feel good.”

You shouldn’t say it. Well, maybe it will lighten the mood. You struggled internally and then leaned forward, placing the back of your hand near your mouth.

“Hard work is a weird way to refer to your dick,” you whispered closely.

Yoongi burst out laughing, gums flashing, raspy and full, shoving you onto the bed. You bounced, hands flapping about, grinning at you own joke as Yoongi grabbed the bottom of your sweatshirt, yanking it up and over your head.

“This and your bad habit of moving your head at the same time as me–”

“It means we’re in sync!”

“I don’t want a concussion every time we make out,” Yoongi shot back, pinning your arms down and hovering over you, exasperated smile on his face.

He was so close.

Your grin slowly deflated, realizing that he was shirtless and you were shirtless, and Yoongi had you pinned down, gazing down at you with dark eyes and that open-mouthed smirk that was also disappearing, realizing he was on top of you, realizing this wasn’t innocent, realizing he was about to do something that should be normal but was made abnormal to him.

“You don’t have to do it,” you said gently.

“I know.” He looked at you under his black hair, messy and flat from being under the hat, brown eyes and pink lips standing out on his fair-skinned face. “But I want to.”

You always thought that parts of life were boring. It would be easier to fast forward and skip it.

But not with Yoongi.

He leaned down and kissed you, a kiss that you wanted to pause and live in forever, him inhaling you, pressing deeply, hands releasing your arms and cradling your head, his kisses like stars, precious light that brightened your whole world. But you also wanted to press play, kissing him back, your hands caressing his sides, drawing small hearts on his skin, your own heart swelling with the electricity of touching the one you loved, not knowing until now how nice it was, the simple sensation of dancing your fingers up his back and back down, his gasps on your skin, kissing down, down the curve of your neck and the swell of your breasts, so focused that his eyes were screwed shut and his brows were furrowed.

“Yoongi…”

His eyes opened slowly and Yoongi looked up at you with shaking pupils. Scared he was going to fuck up.

“It’s just me. You know, the one who dances like an octopus.”

His expression seemed to relax, turning into ruefulness. “How could I forget?”

“Should I wiggle a bit to jog your memory?” you teased.

“Please don’t.”

Your remark seemed to have calmed him, returning to your breasts, slipping the straps down, kissing along the curve of the cup, slipping his tongue under experimentally to make you jump, heart racing once more, a small smirk on his lips as he reached behind you and unhooked it, releasing them from their prison.

“O-oh!”

You yelped when Yoongi pulled your bra down, kissing your nipple directly, tingles flaring from the kiss, leaving you breathless as his tongue danced out, licking gracefully, slow circles that made you clench your jaw and tighten your core to avoid arching your back to get more. Yoongi seemed to sense your urgency and added more pressure, closing his lips around it, and your hands flew up, holding his head as carefully as possible but holy shit, holy shit, Yoongi’s tongue on you was pure ecstasy and he was doing it for you, showing his love for you and that’s why it felt so good, that’s why it was so fucking nice.

“Ah, fuck, Yoongi…”

He kissed to the other side, murmuring your name against your skin, seeped with desire and affection, pushing your wet nipple with one finger as he kissed the other, two points of pleasure that flowed through you, your gasps turning to moans, his hands coming up and encircling yours, lacing your fingers with his and holding them, whispering, faint, nearly silent, vibrating your sensitive skin with his lips and breath.

And then you heard it.

His whisper right above your heart and you looked down, Yoongi’s eyes looking up at you.

Apologetic for taking so long.

“I love you.”

If someone paused the tape right now, took it out, and your life ended right there, you would be okay with that. If that was the last moment in this world, if that was all that was and time stopped, you would be content.

But it wasn’t.

Play.

You smiled down at him, trying to prevent your voice from shaking.

“I love you too, Yoongi.”

The most precious words in the whole world.

“Should I stop?”

Your eyes widened. “N-no! I mean… if you’re…” You stopped speaking, seeing the playfulness sparkling in those dark eyes, pleased to have tricked you, even if only for a second.

“I’m kidding,” he chuckled, lifting himself up to kiss you lightly. “I only wanted to see if you would be bothered.”

“I am very bothered,” you responded, peeved. “Hot and bothered, even.”

Yoongi lifted a brow, small amused smirk on his lips. “Come to think of it, me too.” He backed up and you lifted your chest, only to have Yoongi press down on your collarbones, worry flitting his face.

“What?”

“Don’t bonk my head.”

You grimaced. “I’m not a serial head bonker.” You lifted yourself up and Yoongi swung his head back, eyes flashing with mock fear. You pointed to the nightstand, rolling your eyes, and rummaged around in the drawer, feeling to the back and pulling out the small box.

“How old are those?”

Your cheeks flushed. “L-Last month!”

“You wanted to fuck me since last month?”

“N-No, obviously earlier, but I didn’t k-know if you ever wanted…” you trailed off, flapping your jaw, holding up said box, the condoms tumbling out. You panicked a little, not wanting him to think you were expecting too much, dropping the box and scrambling to collect the pile, the tip of your finger hitting the box at the exact spot that would cause it to fly off the bed and hit the wall.

You stared at it, betrayed.

Yoongi burst out laughing. “I can hear you talking to it,” he chuckled.

“I’m not saying anything!”

“You wanna fuck me?”

Your head snapped back, eyes widening. Yoongi tilted his head.

“Yes,” you blurted. “Well, yes, I mean, you’re so…” This was awkward. It didn’t used to be awkward but, also, you had never been this invested. Your eyes widened. You were invested in a person. Actually invested, invested in Min Yoongi. You looked up at him and he looked back curiously like a cat, not realizing your epiphany. Oh shit. Now this was even more weird.

Do something. Do something. Not that. Oh no, you’re doing it.

You held up the plethora of condoms. “Pick a card?”

Living alone made you too fucking weird.

“Aren’t they all the same?” Yoongi snickered.

You shifted, putting them back down on the bed. “Ahaha… right…” Your leg pressed against his and you jumped, startled. “You’re hard.”

Yoongi raised his eyebrows. “When gorgeous tits are out, the human body reacts when there is attraction, even if you’re speaking nonsense.”

You blinked at him. “G-Gorgeous?”

Yoongi’s ears flushed pink and he reached over, ripping a condom off the others. “Y-Yeah…” He straightened, scooting back to between your legs, placing his hands on your shorts. “Ah… unless the mood is killed…”

“No,” you exclaimed, hands flying down to the waistband. “It is not. It is alive and well. Very well.”

Yoongi opened his mouth and shut it. Then he opened it again, smiling a little. “I’m beginning to think we are a bit strange.”

“it’s just because it’s the first time,” you rambled. “All first times are a bit strange.”

This wasn’t getting anywhere, so you yanked down your shorts and underwear at once, Yoongi gasping and snapping his head down as you kicked off your clothes, the sharp scent of your arousal suddenly very apparent. You felt your cheeks heat, unaware that you had such a strong reaction to Yoongi being above you, observing your wetness with round eyes, as if to say, I did that?

“Wow.” Yoongi raised his head, black bangs framing his beautiful eyes. “You’re stunning.”

Was it ever like this? Like every word was precious, every lyric in this song meaning more than the words themselves, like every single piece of the composition was perfect, special, everything pause-worthy, even the odd bits, you reaching up to cup his head, pulling Yoongi down for a kiss, him pushing his own pants down, sucking in a breath as your hand wrapped around him, moaning in his mouth, deepening the kiss, more erotic, more intense, his cock throbbing in your palm, getting harder by your touch, Yoongi whimpering in your mouth, backing off slowly, ripping the condom open, sliding it on, and you watching, oh, he’s beautiful there too.

“Thanks…?”

“… Uh, you’re welcome.”

You spoke out loud. Great.

“Do you need some prep?”

“Yoongi, please put it in before I say something stupid again–”

You cut yourself off as Yoongi pushed in slowly, both of you suddenly gasping at the sensation, you already wet enough because you had been thinking about this for so long, morning, night, morning, night, thinking about Yoongi, and if you could, if he was ready to have him inside you, filling you up, and it was happening, happening right now, sinking into you, looking into his eyes. And you could see the amazement, the wave of satisfaction that shimmered through his dark orbs, and the way Yoongi looked at you.

Like he was complete.

“I… oh, fuck…” His eyelids fluttered. “I might not be that good…”

“Are you kidding me, holy fuck, you feel fucking incredible,” you breathed, clenching around him, moaning softly at the perfection that was him, heart racing with every second. Your hands came up and held his cheeks, your breath hot and fluttering upwards. “You already feel so good, Yoongi. You can see it in my face, can’t you?”

His eyes searched yours, looking for the lie, the performance, but there was none, no need to lie when your hips were already slowly rocking into his, creating movement and pleasure, and he fell into the rhythm, complementing you. Your hands dropped and you put them over your head, grasping the pillows, letting out every cry and soft sound so Yoongi could hear and know this was the truth, your legs circling his slim waist. Yoongi bit his lip, breathing hard, whimpering a little.

“I mean… it’s been a while… and you feel too f-fucking good, oh fuck…”

You realized what he meant and you reached down with one hand, jolting as your fingertip touched your clit, rubbing it forcefully, shudders flying through you, gasping at your own stimulation, breasts pressing together, and Yoongi moaned, feeling you constrict and pulse around him, wetter, thrusting into you harder until there was a symphony of sound, heavy wanton breathing, slapping of skin on skin, chasing your climax as Yoongi chased his, eyes locked, almost there, almost there…

At the bridge.

Somehow you both knew the final chorus was coming.

“Yoongi…”

He breathed your name, drawing it out like the most precious word in this world.

You moaned deeply and it rushed through you, shooting up your torso and into your chest, an overwhelming pressure that took you under, making you throw your head back and gasp his name, pressing down on your clit to amplify every bolt of pleasure that made your muscles shake. Yoongi groaned, thrusting into you hard with his own gasp, cock jerking and shooting into the condom, surrounded by your suffocating embrace and you saw his eyes roll back a little, muscles in his arms tense, fingers bunching into the sheets, black hair sweaty and sticking to his face.

Hot breath mixing with yours, heavy pants of shared ecstasy.

“Whoa…”

His dark eyes flickered to yours, pupils blown out, blinking slowly as he exhaled. “W-What...?”

You felt your ears heat. “Oh… uh… it’s never been like that before. I’ve never felt… so much.”

A red flush bloomed over Yoongi’s cheeks. “Me neither…”

“Maybe we’re in love?” you offered lightheartedly.

A small smile grew on his lips. “Yeah, maybe.”

You began to raise yourself off the bed, but Yoongi put his hand on your collarbones quickly.

“Hold on. Let me get off first.”

“I’m not going to hit yo–“

“Ow!”

“Motherfuc–”

Press play.

-

fin.

--

masterpost

[pressedinthepages]

Resfeber (Chapter 2)

Swedish. noun. The restless race of the traveler’s heart before the journey begins, when anxiety and anticipation are tangled together.

Fandom: The Witcher

Pairing: Lambert x Reader

Word Count: 2643

Rating: E

Masterlist

a/n: i had a couple of people ask for a continuation/part two to this, and because of who i am as a person, i made it h*rny.

Tags: @whitewolfandthefox​ @havenoffandoms​ @MishaFaye @criminaly-supernatural​ @weathervanes-my-oneandlonely​ @magpie343​ @queenxxxsupreme​ @belalugosisdead​ @persephonehemingway​ @hina-chans-stuff​ @theawkwardpedestrian @a-stumpsexuals-world​

(There is a link on my page where you can be added to my taglist :D)

Warnings: smut, touch sensitivity, touch starvedness, but using it to our advantage ;), come marking, little bit of dirty talk, but im not very good at that so not much XD

You awaken in Lambert’s arms, and you find each other’s touch to be so much more than just comforting.

    Dim light peeks through the windows, little birds chirping the call of a new morning. It’s just enough to rouse you, letting you slowly become aware of the body that you’re wrapped around. You welcome the warmth, a sweet noise falling from deep in your lungs as you shift against your companion. The memories of yesterday come back like honey, lazily filling in the blanks as you wake.

    You shift a bit, dragging your leg along his as you lean to look up at him. Lambert is already awake, peering at you through half-lidded eyes as he smiles.

    “Morning, gorgeous,” he mumbles, his voice rough and tumbled with sleep. You blush, reaching up to brush some hair from where it falls in his eyes. It sticks out wildly, mussed from where he had rested on the pillow. 

    “I’m glad you’re still here,” you whisper, not wanting to bend the comfortable quiet that a lazy morning brings. 

    “Hmm, me too…” he hums, his eyes falling shut as you feel his hand on your back tracing light patterns through your shirt. It’s soothing, you find, the gentleness he gives with just the lightest touch. “Is this alright? I didn’t want to move you and wake you up…”

    You hum, running your own hand down his cheek and following the line of his jaw. “It’s nice, I like feeling your hands on me.”

    You see Lambert’s eyes widen a bit before he tilts his head to the side, not unlike the wolf from his medallion. He lifts the hand that isn’t around your back to your cheek, stopping just short of touching you. 

    “May I?” he asks and you nod, leaning into his touch and letting the sparks fly under the surface of your skin. You shiver a bit from the sensation before you scooch yourself up, nosing into the hollow of his neck as his hand drifts down your arm. Lambert’s fingers intertwine with yours where they rest on his stomach. 

You gently place your lips against the skin of his neck, feeling his breath hitch under your lips when you do.

“I thought you didn’t like to be touched,” he breathes, raspy and gritty with want. 

“Hmm, never said I didn’t like touch,” you whisper, your lips just barely brushing against his ear with every word. “Only that I was sensitive to touch. I’m sure that there are spots that are sensitive on you that are quite pleasurable…”

Your hand slides down the plane of his stomach, finding him hard and straining against his undershorts. You hear Lambert hiss at the faintest glance of your fingers along his length. On your next pass though, you grow bolder, pressing your palm against the thin fabric that just barely conceals his cock.

“Oh, fuck,” Lambert bucks into your hand, clenching his jaw with a grunt. You smile against his skin, lightly kissing down his neck before his shirt gets in the way. Suddenly, you’re struck with an idea, and you are weak just thinking about it. 

In the space of a heartbeat you lift off of Lambert, flinging the blanket from the bed and letting the chill of the morning air run across your skin. Lambert lets out an annoyed groan that quickly turns into a choked-off moan when you move to straddle his hips. You let your weight rest on him as he sets his hands on your waist. Lambert is a vision like this, bathed in gentle sunlight and desperate under your fingers. 

He sits himself up, pulling your chest against him as he catches your lips in a bruising kiss. It’s full of teeth and need and hunger, and you wouldn’t have it any other way. You feel Lambert’s hands bunch the fabric of your nightgown in their grasp. You can imagine him ripping through the soft material as if it were merely made of thin parchment, and that sends a dizzying wave of arousal straight to your core. 

“Ah, wait,” you murmur into his mouth, pulling back as you catch your breath. You slide your hands under the hem of his undershirt, feeling the taught muscles of his stomach jump and twitch under your fingers. Just before you can lift the shirt over his head he lunges forward, catching your bottom lip between his teeth before he nips and bites along the slope of your neck. 

“Gods, I want you,” Lambert’s stubble scratches along the delicate flesh with his words, leaving a trail of goosebumps in his wake. 

“So do I, dear-” your words cut off with a low moan as you feel him sink his teeth into your pulse point, licking and sucking to soothe the forming mark. “I’d much rather have you naked, though.”

You feel his cock throb against your core, clearly agreeing with you. You move backward, lifting yourself from the bed just out of Lambert’s reach. The wooden floors of your cabin are cool under your bare feet, grounding you as you reach for the hem of your nightgown. You swiftly pull it over your head, letting it float to the floor behind you as your fingers drift lazily over your bare chest.

Lambert’s eyes burn with their intensity, chasing the path of your hands as you openly tease him with your newly exposed skin. The peaks of your breasts are stiff, rolling between your fingers and drawing a breathy gasp from your lungs. You let your eyes rove over Lambert, really wishing that his clothes were literally anywhere else instead of on his body.

“You seem terribly overdressed, darling,” you smirk, lightly thumbing the waist of your underthings. He’s blatantly palming himself through his shorts, a truly delicious grin dancing over the glint of his teeth when he catches your eye. Lambert reaches up, taking the neck of his shirt and lifting it, shucking it from is arms onto the floor. You bite your lip as you take in the new sight, the muscles of his arms swelling as he twists his broad shoulders, the brutal strength of his torso dusted with dark hair and more scars than you can count. 

You hook your fingers into your underthings and slide them down, leaving them where they fall as you step back towards the bed. Lambert moves to touch you but you hold out a hand, stopping him before he can. 

“Can I try something?” you ask, and you see a brief flicker of worry through the lust in Lambert’s eyes. He is at his most vulnerable, and this would be the perfect time for someone to get the upper hand on him and betray his trust. You have no intention of doing that though, pouring as much kindness and comfort into your gaze. You watch as the lump in his throat bobs as he swallows nervously, leaning back to lay on the bed.

“I trust you,” he whispers, barely loud enough for you to hear. Your heart swells with the knowledge of his trust, knowing that it is not something given easily.

“Do me a favor, love,” you walk to the foot of the bed, peering down at him with a lazy smile, “take those off for me, nice and slow.”

Lambert looks up at you then and inhales deeply, a pretty flush decorating his chest and traveling up his neck. You see his eyes darken, leaving only a whisper of gold around a void of black. A naughty smirk dances over his features as he lifts his hips, leisurely sliding the undershorts down his legs. You watch unashamedly, biting your lip as, inch by inch, Lambert becomes bare before you. 

“You’re beautiful,” you sigh, your eyes trailing over the swells of his thighs and up to the length of his cock, aching and weeping with arousal. 

“May I touch you?” You reach out carefully, stopping just shy of his leg.

“Oh gods, please,” the Witcher lying on your bed whines, pulling a giggle from your lips at the frankly ridiculous noise. You let your fingers just barely fall onto his calf, tracing a swirl of lines back and forth up past his knee. Lambert arches into the touch, desperate for more, harder, impatient as you predicted he’d be. 

You tut, pulling your hand away as he tries to increase your pace. “Please? Humor me?” You put your hands on your hips and give him your best chiding look. He stares back at you for a moment, testing you, but when you only raise your eyebrows a little higher he relents, relaxing back onto the pillow. 

“Thank you, just be patient dear,” you murmur, your fingers drifting back to their place at his knee. Lambert hums in acknowledgment, not terribly happy about having to exercise his almost nonexistent patience, but he thinks that he would endure waiting until the day that pigs sprouted wings and flew across the sky if you would just keep touching him. 

You bring your other hand to rest along his other leg, moving your hands in time with one another up towards his hips. You can feel Lambert tremble beneath you, gnawing the inside of his cheek to keep from rushing your exploration. When you continue moving up, avoiding his leaking cock in favor of running your hands through the hair on his chest he huffs, clenching his eyes closed and fisting his hands in the blanket below him. You climb back over him, hovering your hips over his and leaning down, sliding your hands up to the nape of his neck. 

When you let your lips brush against his, Lambert’s resolve finally breaks, his hands flying to your hips and pulling you close. You moan into his mouth, letting him deepen the kiss as you feel his hips rock frantically against you. His hips stutter and a sudden warmness spills over your stomach, slick and heady on your skin. 

“Oh, oh fuck,” Lambert sighs back into the pillow, throwing an arm over his eyes. “Gods, I’m so sorry, I tried to wait, let you lead, but then it was just too much and I couldn’t-”

You silence him with a kiss, knocking his arm away as you cup the sides of his face. His hands find your hips once more, but they are gentle, reverent in their touch as they sweep up and down your sides. 

“I know, I know,” you murmur, smiling down at him as you pull back. You push yourself up to rest on his thighs just below his hips. You can see where Lambert’s seed spilled on the both of your stomachs, a wave of arousal coursing through you at the sight. His cock is still hard where it lays against his hip. You reach down, taking him in your hand and squeezing lightly at the base. 

You run your hand up and down a few times, his fingers tightening on your hips as he grunts. 

“Please, can I-oh fuck, can I just-” Lambert writhes in your grasp, his pupils blown out and a vein in his neck straining against his skin with how tightly he is clenching his jaw.

“Go ahead,” you smile, gasping when he shifts beneath you and flips you both, switching your positions so that he hovers over you. He leans down to kiss you as he slowly pushes himself inside of you, swallowing your moans as you lightly scratch along his back. You can feel him shudder under your nails, hiding into the crook of your neck as he seats himself fully. 

You can feel Lambert everywhere, his teeth glancing along your neck, down your chest to suckle and prod at your breasts. His hands, kneading the plush of your ass where he holds you down to the bed. His chest, pressing against you, and the heat of his breath that drifts lazily over your skin. And the length of his cock, filling you so completely that you’re worried you’ll spill over with want. The burning stretch of your cunt, fading into an ache that can only be quelled by the man above you.

“C’mon, love,” you murmur, threading your fingers through his hair, adorably mussed by sleep and your other activities. Lambert perks up at the nickname, a flash of confusion and denial shrouding his features. You cup his face again and bring him down to you, pulling him out of his spiraling thoughts as you clench your walls around him.

“Fucking shit, holy hell,” the curses continue as he begins to move, slowly thrusting his hips into yours. Soon though, his words become a little softer, resting his forehead on yours as his thrusts quicken. 

“Ah, gods, you’re so tight, it’s like you were made just for my cock, I’m not sure I’ll ever be satisfied with anything else, not after you,” his words punctuated by gasps and groans, pulling you oh so close to the edge of your climax. His hips snap relentlessly into you, each time sending a cascade of warmth through your cunt. 

You cant your hips in time with his, chasing your high, and Lambert gives an impish grin before capturing your lips once more and bringing one hand to your heat. He rubs quick, tight little circles around the peak of your core, his hips moving wildly and faster than humanly possible. You can feel his chest rumbling against yours, almost as if he were purring as he fucked you into oblivion. 

“C’mon, c’mon, let go for me, my dove, let go, yessss…” his words carry you over the edge, your hips jerking wildly in his grasp as you lose yourself in the all-encompassing climax. You cry out, low and lusty as your walls clench Lambert’s cock like a vice, squeezing and pulling him to his own release. He pulls out at the last second with a drawn-out groan, rapidly fucking into his own hand as he spends thick ropes of his release above you. He paints you with it, some of it coming as far up as your lips, letting you eagerly dart your tongue to taste him. 

You fall back into the pillows, releasing a breath you hadn’t realized you were holding. Lambert sinks back onto his heels, his cock still spilling over his fingers. 

“My gods,” you whisper in awe, “is it like that every time?” 

Lambert laughs, finally relenting as his cock starts to finally fall limp in his grasp. “Well, it’s always a lot, but not usually this much. I may need a minute…”

“Oh, fuck, I may need a bit longer than a minute, dear,” you chuckle, reaching out to pull him next to you. Lambert only takes your hand in his and places a light kiss to the tips of your fingers before dropping them, climbing off of the bed on only slightly wobbly legs. He grabs his undershirt that he had been wearing and lightly dampens it, bringing it back to you and wiping away the evidence of your joined releases before they can get sticky on your skin. 

He lets the now soiled cloth fall to the floor before climbing back into the bed, falling next to you with a dramatic ‘oomf’ when he hits the pillow.

You turn over so that you’re on your side, facing Lambert where he mirrors you. He’s wearing a goofy smile that only acts to make him that much more adorable, especially considering how rare that grin probably is.

“Will you stay? At least for a little bit?” you whisper, gently running your hand along the edge of his jaw. He hums noncommittally in response, relaxing into your touch and letting his eyes fall closed. Lambert is suddenly exhausted, and he’s glad for the comfortable space that he feels safe enough to be so exposed in. You let him sleep, content to hold him close for as long as you can until he leaves, taking your heart with him.

[due4amiracle]

Day 117

Phew, Breakfast was normal today. Thankfully. Hopefully from now on it will be normal. Phew.

Whew catching UP!

The Twin Siblings’ New Life - ch 40 41 42!  YEA FUCK YOU ROSEA! AHHHHH!!! Also Rilou is precious and must be protected at ALL costs!

Who Made Me a Princess - ch 82 83 84 85! i hate this guy with Jeanette SO MUCH fuuuuuuck! Ahhh, so THAT is who he is. Hm. Interesting. Still - fuck him.

The Reason Why Raeliana Ended Up at the Duke's Mansion - ch 136 137 138! And it all - came - tumbling - downnnn...or at least, it's very much starting to. Fuck you Beatrice. You bitch. You're gonna get what you paid for you dirty bitch. MUAHAHAHAHAHA!

Solo Leveling - Oh Chae - you in REAL trouble now....oh what are you doing you big ass idiot... .....Wingdings.......yep.....

Beware of the Villainess! - How DARE with that cliffhanger! xD Dwdw Melissa, you and BestBoi Nine have got this, Nine awaken and mop the floor with your asshole twin!

Seduce the Villain's Father - *breathes in* BOI PLEASE YOU CAN HAVE HERRRRRR AHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!

Shadow Queen - Up to ch 11 now and i’m still lovin’ it. :)))))

Definitely Waifu’d it up today. Got all my dailies done, did some grinding, happy happy. Did some rolls - got excited over a purple...it was a bow. Rip.

Played Cadria.

Tomorrow is VtM-mania Day 1 2-10 pm we’ve got The Man The Myth The Legend Himself B. Dave Walters in not one but TWO sessions! Hype. So hype. One of which that includes The Man The Myth The Legend Himself Patrick Rothfuss. So that’s gonna be lovely.

i am now down to one day a week D&D. Sadness. However, it is what it is. Unfortunately, my body just...can’t keep up with it anymore. Shrug. And Sir’s not doing well either. Sooo ya know. Bleh.

Lots of stress today, because it’s what i do, i stress. That’s my life. The stress life. i didn’t choose this life, the life chose me. And such.

Food, Liquid, decent enough, Pain meh. Headache, earache, overall ache. 

[draqcnheartstrinq]

Hate That I Want You (Part 1)

Sirius Black x Pure-blood!Slytherin!Reader

Summary: At first it’s hate, then it’s confusion. It grows into a healthy amount of curiosity until it turns into hate once more. But not towards each other, more towards the idea of wanting what you’ve tried to avoid all your life.

Words: 2k

Note: This series is a little experiment, let me know if you like it because I’ve got no clue if this is anything good or not XD

HTIWY Masterpost | Part 2

Seeing you walk into the Great Hall talking to Frank Longbottom every so often was a sight Sirius was never able to understand or get used to. He tried to many times but he always had the feeling something was completely going over his head. Sometimes he thought he had it all figured out, but only seconds later nothing would make sense anymore.

You, a Slytherin pure-blood with family known for their love towards the Dark Arts, talking to a guy like Frank, a Gryffindor known for his hate towards that same branch of magic.

The two of you weren’t supposed to be friends, but yet you were. And it bothered Sirius to no end.

He watched you leave each other’s sides, both with a smile and a wave, towards your own table every single time.

That’s when Sirius just had to ask the question on that one Tuesday morning. Frank hadn’t even had the time to properly settle himself on a seat before the words were leaving Sirius’ mouth.

“How do you know her and why are you friends?”

The way he had said it wasn’t very tactical either. It sounded more like an insult than a question.

A few heads turned towards the Gryffindor table, some of the Gryffindors themselves looked up and raised their eyebrows in shock. Never had Sirius ever before raised his voice towards one of his friends in public, let alone sweet Frank who nobody seemed to have a grudge with.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t know you had a problem with that”, Frank answered just as shocked as everyone else was. An annoyed look started to grow on the boy’s features as well though.

“I wouldn’t say we’re friends but I definitely haven’t got anything against her if that’s what you mean.”

James and Remus shared a confused look before the latter decided to speak up, still with a piece of scrambled egg stuffed between his lips.

“What’s wrong Padfoot? Woke up on the wrong side of the bed?”

Peter chuckled at that and decided the boys would handle it themselves, no need to get caught up in this rather unusual conversation. Normally Sirius didn’t make a fuss about things like that, people others hung out with, who you knew or why you knew them. Maybe it just wasn’t his best day, one of those days where everything just gets on your nerves.

It wasn’t that kind of day though. Sirius had woken up from an amazing night’s sleep, he had a nice shower, hummed a song on his way over to the Great Hall and sat down with a big grin on his face. The food smelled and was delicious like always, but for some reason seeing Longbottom walk in here with you right next to him left a weird taste in his mouth.

He shook his head, realising how aggressively he had just asked what was meant to be a simple question.

“Sorry Longbottom, it wasn’t meant like that. I was just curious and… kind of confused. Just… Never mind.”

Sirius’ gaze traveled to the other side of the hall, landing on your figure peacefully chatting away with some of your housemates. How much he disliked you wasn’t a secret to anyone, probably everyone in Hogwarts had to know by now and it wouldn’t surprise him if the teachers felt something was up too.

Your last name was like a threat to him, it didn’t promise any good and it left people terrified. Just your surname was enough of a reason for him to loathe you.

But the feelings were mutual. You didn’t want anything to do with him either, you never have ever since you knew about each other’s backgrounds. Both your families would get along so well, and that’s exactly why you avoided the crap out of each other.

No, you didn’t like the way your family handled things, you didn’t share their hate towards “Mudbloods”, you didn’t want to be married off against your own will to a guy you barely knew as soon as you turned 18. You hated the way others looked at you funny when you passed through the halls just because of the name you inherited.

And most of all you hated to be a pure-blood Slytherin, because “oh Merlin we’ve got another Dark Lord worshipper on our hands!”

That’s what the average person thought of you. And you hated every single bit about it.

You were proud to be a Slytherin, it defined you, it made you realise who you actually were meant to be. But being a pure-blood on top of that? That was too much.

Sirius’ stare hadn’t left you for a solid twenty seconds. That’s when the others started to take notice and follow his eyes towards your direction. They looked at Sirius in confusion once again.

“You having a hard time there, mate?”, James called out, “You’re almost burning a hole through her head.”

“Good”, Sirius simply answered breaking his line of sight to concentrate on his food again.

A few minutes went by. James, Remus and Peter got into a conversation with Marleen and Alice who came in a bit later. Lily wasn’t feeling well that day, which made James pout a little before he regained his usual smile and energy.

Sirius though, he sat in silence as did Frank, for the same reason at that.

You were still on their minds. Sirius was still silently hating you, while Frank was trying to come up with words to defend you. He felt like he had to, because never had you wronged him in any shape or form. You were just another student he got along with.

“She’s not like her family”, Frank eventually whispered to no one in particular. Of course Sirius was the only one to hear. They looked up at each other, holding the silence for a moment.

“I’m sure she isn’t to you, Frank, you’re just another pure-blood she can befriend.”

“Then why would she dislike you?”

“Because I disliked her first.”

Frank sighed in frustration, soft but still very much irritated by Sirius’ stubbornness.

“She doesn’t fall into that stigma at all!” he whisper-yelled. “She was just unfortunate to be born into a family that close-minded.”

“Then I guess it’s a total coincidence that she’s a Slytherin as well as a pure-blood? I’m sorry, Longbottom, but I don’t believe in that much coincidence but if you want to be that naive than I’m not stopping you.”

The conversation was getting heated by now, everyone could feel it. Marleen elbowed Remus and nodded towards the pair’s direction, taking everyone’s attention away from their small talk towards the two boys.

Maybe Frank should’ve shut up by then, maybe anything he said would drive Sirius even more towards pure anger but he didn’t want to keep his mouth shut. This had to be said.

“May I remind you that your brother, Regulus, is in the exact same situation as (Y/N) is?”

Sirius’ face went red, his mouth opening and closing a few times. Thoughts ran through his head, images of his brother with green robes and snake badges running around the Hogwarts Grounds.

My brother is nothing like her. He would never lower to her level.

“Don’t you dare compare my brother to her”, he finally growled towards Frank in a rather loud tone, a finger pointing towards the boy’s chest.

With those words Sirius stood up in a fury, walking towards the large heavy doors at the end of the hall. The whole room went quiet, the occasional whisper from a gossiping student ripping through the tense air.

When he disappeared out of sight his friends all shook their heads and rolled their eyes, because when would Sirius ever understand?

And when more than half of the students in the Great Hall all turned their heads your way, you couldn’t help but think that whole argument started because of you.

*~*~*~*~*~*

Leaving your usual study place in the library, clutching many books to your chest, you were on your way back towards the Slyhterin common room. Your friends were probably already waiting for you to leave for a nice day at Hogsmeade. The thought of wasting their time made you walk a little faster than you normally would, which was a big mistake on your part.

Turning the next corner you felt yourself collide with another body. Your books tumbled to the floor and the other person let a big huff of air escape from their lungs.

You didn’t need this right now.

As you found your footing and steadied your body the other student groaned in frustration.

“Watch where you’re going, (Y/L/N).”

You recognised the voice and kept staring at the floor for another second or two. All the different curse words ran through your head as you finally looked up at who you just bumped into.

Sirius Black. You really didn’t need this right now.

“I could say the same to you, Black. I guess I’m just the more polite one out of the two of us.”

You bend down, placing your knees on the floor to gather your books and get on your way, but Sirius wouldn’t have any of it.

His nose flared and his eyes narrowed in on you, like nothing could be more repulsive than having to talk to you right now. But you didn’t let it get to you, if he wanted to he could just leave right now, he wouldn’t have to look your way a second longer. He didn’t though and that was enough reason to believe he was just trying to get on your nerves.

He did that a lot and he succeeded every single time.

“I’m not the one having to pick up my books right now, am I?”

“Doesn’t that just prove my point even more? You’re not being the gentleman everyone is making you out to be”, you countered as you stood up and smoothed one hand over your skirt.

The frustration on his face was priceless, a right amount of wanting to say something and not being able to say anything.

You smiled his way making sure you looked as innocent as a newborn puppy, or at least trying to, because a cheeky grin was threatening to part your lips.

As you wanted to pass him he tightly took your free wrist and held it in front of both your faces. Of course, you should have known he wouldn’t let this slip.

To be honest, his hold on your arm hurt as his fingers tightened every few seconds but giving in wasn’t an option, it was never an option when talking to Sirius.

“Let me go, Black.” The words sounded threatening in both your ears and even you were momentarily shocked at the tone they held.

“Don’t get into my way ever again”, he whispered, trying not to attract any attention. “Or I’ll make sure you won’t ever even look my way.”

“Are you threatening me? Has Sirius Black really stooped that low?”

“It’s a warning not a threat and I hope you have understood because next time I won’t be so nice about it.”

He threw your arm against your chest, leaving you dumbfounded in the middle of the hallway as he went on to wherever he wanted to go, as if nothing had even happened. You even heard him greeting someone else with his stupidly charming voice like he always did, not a second glance was given your way.

Slowly you started to get back to what you were supposed to do, but much more distressed than before. Your small steps echoed through the building every so often and a stinging pain in your wrist captured your attention.

Turning the inside of your arm towards your face you saw tiny, crescent shaped, red scratches scattered across the skin. Sirius’ nails had left their mark on your body just like his words had left the umpteenth mark in your heart.

You really hated your last name. It was like a threat, it didn’t promise any good and it left people terrified.

You being the most terrified of them all.

Taglist:

@iamthepenguinwhosearseisonfire @wangmangagavroche @songforhema

[winchester-ofthe-lord]

What Doesn’t Kill You

Pairing: Castiel x Dean Winchester

Warnings: severely injured Dean, almost character death, mild gore, angst

Word Count: 1.666 (yes, I’m proud of that hellish number xD)

Challenge: Destiel Fresh Hits

Topic: Monster

Summary:  Cas was on his knees, cradling Dean’s head in both hands, forcefully shaking it. “Dean, you have to stay with me! You hear me? Stay with me!”

This couldn’t be happening. Dean couldn’t be dying.

Not now. Not today. Not like this.

read on ao3

“Dean! Dean!” Cas was on his knees, cradling Dean’s head in both hands, forcefully shaking it. “Dean, you have to stay with me! You hear me? Stay with me!” He was begging, his jaw clenched so hard it hurt, desperately trying to keep the barely conscious man in front of him awake. Blood oozed through his fingers holding tightly onto the limp head. Red fatality trickled across the back of his trembling hands, dripped onto the cold stone floor. “Please- Dean.” It was in vain. A futile attempt.

Cas’ head nodded forward, his chin met his own chest. His eyes pressed shut. Fought against the tears seething behind his eyelids.

This couldn’t be happening.

Not now. Not today. Not like this.

“What did you do to him?” he growled through gritted teeth, pulling Dean up, pressing him tightly against his chest. Cas soothingly rocked him in his arms.

Cas snapped his head towards the dark figure leaning languidly against the railing above them, the flashing of gloating, sharp white teeth being the only thing he could make out in the blackness.

“Oh Castiel,” the dark figure started and tsked disparagingly. “The question isn’t what I did to him, but rather why I did it.” The figure pushed itself back from the railing, spread its long arms and shrugged nonchalantly. “And the answer to that, before you ask, is very simple. Because I fucking can!” The laugh that followed was nothing but ugly.

Dean’s body went slack in Cas’ arms. “No! Please, no. Dean!” Trembling fingers searched for a pulse. It was low, barely there, shallow and erratic, but he was still alive...barely.

Cas carefully lowered the unconscious body back on the floor, tenderly stroking Dean’s scruffy cheek for a brief moment before he stood up again, drawing himself to his full height. Gazing blue eyes glared upwards to the still broadly smiling creature, as Castiel took a step forward.

“I don’t care about your unreasonable motives, you son of a bitch,” -an inevitable side-effect of living and spending a huge amount of time with Dean- “What did you do to him?” Cas repeated, bristling with rage. His angel blade materialized in his right hand, the pointy tip, gleaming silver, mirroring the flashing of the monster’s teeth.

“Oh c’mon, Castiel. What are you gonna do now, huh-” a malicious smirk- “Angel?”

Cas flinched painfully at the word. Fingers gripping tighter around the cold metal of his blade, knuckles turning white. This... thing couldn’t possibly know about his current state. It just couldn’t.

“What, no snarky response?” the dark figure sneered and disappeared from where it stood on the gallery on the mezzanine level.

Cas froze on the spot. Throwing frenzied looks in every direction, his panic mounted up sky-high, made every nerve ending in his body buzz with adrenaline. Where did that bastard go? He’s gotta be somewh-

“Lookin’ for me?”

Castiel wheeled around. Nothing. The little hairs in the back of his neck were still tingling from the hot breath the monster whispered against the shell of his ear.

Without his angel powers he had to rely solely on his very limited human senses.

His eyes were useless, however, as the large room was only dimly lit by the moonlight shining through a thin crack in one of the boarded up windows. A metallic tinge of Dean’s blood hung in the air, nothing else.

The man held his breath to focus on his hearing. But apart from his own pulse pounding in his ears and the ragged, agonized, raspy gasps of the love of his life on the floor he couldn’t hear a damn thing.

“What’s wrong, Angel?”

There was that word again. This time though, it resounded from above Cas’ head and his eyes roamed over the gallery once more. And again, he couldn’t see a thing. No figure. No teeth. Nothing.

It had been his own choice after all. He had decided to extract his grace. He had chosen to become human. He had wanted this. For himself. For Dean. For them. But if that meant that Dean was dying now, just because Castiel had been selfish and had wanted his happily ever after with his righteous man, he could never forgive himself.

“C’mon Castiel,” the voice hissed from the other side of the room, “This is getting boring.”

Anger was boiling in his stomach and spilled into a furious snarl as soon as Cas opened his mouth, “Oh yeah? How about you show yourself, you pathetic coward!” He quickly glanced at Dean who was still lying unconscious on the floor, blood trickling from his ears in a sluggish, nevertheless constant flow. The sight made Castiel’s heart wrench painfully.

Hang in there, Dean, he thought, sending silent prayers to a father who never listened, to brothers and sisters who abandoned him, I’m getting us out of here. Just hold on. Please, Dean. Just hold on.

“What is it, loverboy, you gonna try and kill me now?”

This time Castiel turned around, facing the direction the voice came from, he could make out a vague shape against the silvery moonlight. The figure was baring its pointy teeth again, girdled by leathery lips that merged into the scaly black skin of the monster’s face. A dark purple tongue, forked in the front, peeked through the white teeth, leaving a glistening shimmer on the lips.

“What are you?” Cas growled, angel blade still in his hand, as he glared into dark eyes.

The monster dissolved into thin air once again, but immediately reappeared right next to Dean’s limp body on the floor, his own angel blade still loosely held in his slack hand.

“Get away from him!” the former angel barked and dashed towards their direction, causing the creature to disappear again.

It materialized back on the mezzanine level, “Easy there, Castiel, he’ll be dead soon anyway...two minutes tops. I don’t need to hurt him any more. He’s already suffering more than you could ever imagine.” The monster’s chuckle sent shivers down Cas’ spine. Or maybe it were its words. At this point it didn’t matter anymore.

“I’m asking you again,” he started, voice indefinitely deep and menacing, nostrils quivering with pure rage, “What are you?”

“Why does that matter, Angel? You can’t kill me. You fool, you can’t even see me if I don’t let you.” The creature dissipated again.

Castiel was exasperated, desperate, exhausted. He had no idea what he was dealing with. No idea how to kill it. Or how he could save Dean. How to get out of this goddamn warehouse. He swallowed thickly. Scrubbed his left hand over his face. Took a deep breath.

“Let us go,” he demanded. It was worth a try.

“Oh, where’d be the fun in that, huh?” the monster cackled. “Nuh-uh, loverboy, I’m afraid I can’t do that. As soon as my venom has spread enough, your boyfriend here-” it teleported back next to Dean- “will finally die and then,” it crouched down, stepping into a pool of blood next to Dean’s less and less heaving chest in the process. “I will eat him. And there’s nothing you can do about it.”

Tears of anger and grief threatened to well up in Cas’ eyes as he watched the creature reach out a clawed hand towards Dean’s head.

I’m sorry, Dean, Castiel dropped down on his knees, only a few steps separating him from the love of his life. It could’ve been miles just as well. He wouldn’t have been able to reach him in time. Couldn’t have done anything to save him anyway. I’m so sorry, Dean. I’m sorry...I came too late... I love you, Dean... I’m sorry.

He watched the monster drag a long black finger across Dean’s neck, smearing through the trace of blood that was still seeping from his ear.

Cas couldn’t stop staring. I'm so sorry, Dean... I love you...

The creature brought its finger, now covered in Dean’s blood, up to its lips and sucked the syrupy liquid into its mouth, moaning abominably around it before it closed its eyes.

Cas stared at the monster. Then at Dean. Stared at Dean’s chest. It had stopped moving. Why wasn’t it moving? That would mean- No... No! He can’t be-

Cas’ lips mouthed a silent, defeated ‘Dean’.

I'm so sorry...

I came too late...

I love you...

Dean...

The bloodcurdling death cry of the black scaled thing ripped Castiel from his state of shock. He was still just staring, petrified, unable to move more than his eyelids. He blinked the blurriness from his eyes.

The first thing that came back to his focus was Dean’s back draped over the black monster. Dean’s slightly moving back. It was moving. He was breathing.

Dean was alive.

The monster, on the other hand, was not. Dean’s angel blade was buried to the hilt in the creature’s chest, purple blood trickling over the scale covered skin, mixing with Dean’s blood on the floor. The pool of mixed blood was glowing purple, smokey light slowly dissolved into thin air around the two bodies in front of Castiel’s eyes.

“Dean?” Cas whispered around the lump in his throat. He finally managed to regain control over his body and stumbled three staggering steps forward before he tumbled over again. He reached a shaking hand out and grabbed Dean by his shoulder, turning him over and off of the monster.

Glistening green eyes blinked tiredly at Castiel. “Dean,” he repeated, this time in relief, silent tears falling from his eyes onto Dean’s blood-soaked flannel. He took Dean’s face in both hands again, brought their lips together forcefully.

When their mouths parted after a kiss that said more than words ever could, Cas let his forehead rest against Dean’s and they just breathed in synch for a few minutes.

Dean stirred beneath him and the former angel lifted his head to look at the other man’s face.

A barely there smile greeted him, voice weak and grating. “Hiya Cas.”

[damijon-supersons]

Here's a prompt! TimKon babysitting DamiJon.

Gonna try something new here. It’s more of a TimKon fic than a Damijon fic lol. Also, I really need to learn how to make my written stuff shorter.  Practicing brevity is the whole point of me taking fic prompts XD

“You know, I only accepted this babysitting job from Mr. Wayne because I thought we’d get some alone time,” Kon said. His arms were crossed as he leaned against the sofa, resolutely ignoring the burst of red laser beams that zoomed above his head. He subtly heard something burst into flame a second later.

“Okay, I know. But hear me out, Kon,” Tim pleaded. He spread his arms out in a placating gesture as a couple of shurikens flew five inches past his ear and impaled themselves on the wall opposite him. “Number one: I didn’t know that the manor would be on lockdown today because of an emergency league meeting in the cave.”

Suddenly, Damian, in full Robin gear, somersaulted over the sofa, using Tim’s head as a pivot point. He ran out of view when Jon appeared and followed shortly after, his face livid.

Tim paused as if trying to regain his composure. He felt like he nearly depleted his patience in trying to ignore the chaos that the two boys were causing around him.

“Number two,” he continued, “I couldn’t really say no to Bruce when he asked me to babysit the boys in my apartment.”

“Fine,” Kon sighed. He gave Tim a resigned look. “I should probably take care of that fire, huh?”

“Yeah,” Tim nodded. “You probably should.”

Kon stood up and walked out of Tim’s view. Just then, Damian came flying back to the living room, apparently having been flung across the room by Jon. He crashed into the coffee table, flipping it over. He tumbled in a heap on the floor with his butt in the air.

Tim cleared his throat and asked, “By any chance, can you tell me why you boys are tearing each other’s heads off again?”

Damian dusted himself off and then faced Tim. “We’re in the middle of training! It’s just that I accidentally mishandled—” he was cut off by a throw pillow that smacked him in the face with such extreme speed that it made a very loud thwack. Damian fell flat on his back. Somewhere in the distance, Tim heard Kon using the fire extinguisher.

“You ripped off my Pikachu plushie’s tail on purpose you jerk!” Jon shouted.

Kon walked back in looking extremely bored just as a batarang flew toward his left where Jon was. With barely a glance, he caught it and crushed it in his hand, and then plopped back down on the sofa.

“Tim, you’re my boyfriend,” Kon began, “but I’m going to go insane if I have to spend the whole night with these two.” He crinkled his nose in annoyance as Jon ran past the sofa so fast that his cape accidentally slapped Kon in the face.

“Heh, try living with three other Robins,” Tim smiled wryly. “Okay, I thought of something.”

He rummaged in his pockets for a few seconds, ignoring the sound of a couple of glasses breaking in the background. He finally fished out a small round blue object that was flattened at the edges. After that, he swiped through his phone for a couple of minutes and then gestured for Kon to wait when the latter gave him a questioning look.

Just then, Damian vaulted over the sofa from behind them. With a deftness only his training could provide, Tim smoothly attached the round object to Damian’s cape. Instantly, Damian fell to the floor, apparently missing his landing. His visor and gauntlet puffed tiny plumes of smoke and spewed out a couple of sparks.

“Gah! Drake, what have you done?” he howled. “I can’t see!”

“Miniature EMP,” Tim nonchalantly explained to Kon. “All of his suit’s electrical systems and any gadget he has on him is dead for at least five hours—even his visor and gauntlet console.”

“Nice!” Kon beamed at him.

At that moment, Jon came in and stared at Damian who was clutching at his green visor. Before he could ask what was happening, his phone started ringing.

“Better pick that up, Jon,” Tim said with a mischievous smile. “Might be your dad.”

Jon nodded then held his phone up to his face. A loud screech blasted from his phone, and Jon screamed in horror. He dropped his phone like it was made of spiders.

“W—what was…what did you…” Jon whimpered, looking at Tim fearfully.

“I sent a virus to your phone,” Tim replied with a serene smile. “Now, whenever you use it, a nightmare murder clown will pop out when you least expect it.”

Jon squeaked.

“Clowns…yikes,” Kon remarked with a relieved smile. He was glad Tim was on his side.

Tim stood up and addressed the two younger heroes. “Listen up boys,” he said in a genuinely threatening tone. “Kon and I want some peace and quiet. You’re going to go in your room, and stay quiet. Otherwise, I will get annoyed. And when I get annoyed, I can do really messed up things to you, just like that.”

Damian clutched at his visor protectively, while Jon gingerly held his phone with two fingers. They both nodded, and then scampered out of the living area.

“That was amazing, Tim!” Kon said. He clapped Tim’s back and wrapped his arm around him. “But really, clowns? Of all the things to give Jon?”

Tim shrugged. “That was the only virus like that in my phone right now. I actually save it for when Jason annoys me. He hates it with a vengeance,” he grinned.

“You devious bastard,” Kon chuckled.

Tim bowed appreciatively. “Now, you were saying something about some alone time?”

“Remind me to never annoy you,” Kon purred as he leaned in and pushed Tim down on the seat.

[toyboy-molloy]

If the prompt list is for promoting then: Are you fucking insane?! (Sherlolly please!) If not just ignore me XD nevertheless thank you! :)

thanks for the prompt, I hope you like it ♥♥

Molly fiddled with the hem of her ‘businessskirt’, glancing up at the door in front of her leading to Mike’s office. She’dbeen invited to attend a meeting regarding the opportunity to study and teachpathology to eager students, which meant transferring to another location forthe better part of half a year, somewhere up in Scotland, she’d heard. Mollyhad accepted immediately, deciding to worry about telling her friends later.Mrs. Hudson, John, Mary and Greg would be accepting and supportive, of that shewas certain. She’d Skype Rosie and send her gifts and her mother could takeToby. That just left Sherlock…

The thought alone of telling himgave her a headache; she could already hear his excuses, how he needed her atBart’s because none of the other pathologists were as lenient with body parts.Tough. He’d just have to cope. Molly quickly glanced at her watch, nervousexcitement beginning to ripple through her stomach. That was when her phonebuzzed.

URGENT. BAKER STREET. NOW

Molly blinked at her phone, wonderingfor the briefest moment if she should just drop everything and run to221B.After all, the last time this happened, several police helicopters hadfollowed Greg only to find out the consulting dick was stuck with his best manspeech. Just as she’d decided to ignore it, another message came through.

PLEASE. I NEED YOU MOLLY

“Ah, Doctor Hooper,” Mike appearedat his door, then, flanked by a member of the Hospital board. He looked asnervous as she felt as he adjusted his tie and smiled forcefully, “we’re readywhen you are.”

Molly swallowed – she hated lettingMike down but if anyone could understand her situation it would be herkind-hearted boss. “Err, thank you, but there’s been a change of plan. I’mterribly sorry to put you out, sir,” she addressed the chairman and smiledapologetically, “something has come up and I must leave. Thank you for theopportunity-“

“I’m sure we can reschedule,” Mikecut in, waving off her concerns with a light-hearted chuckle; the chairman didn’tlook at all happy at this but didn’t say anything more. From the way he keptchecking his watch, Molly could tell he didn’t want to be there anymore thanMike did, “I hope it’s not too serious. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

Molly didn’t stick around for anearful from the chairman and instead set off for a cab, shrugging on her jacketas she walked. She managed to hail a cab on her second attempt and gave the directionsfor Baker Street; she tapped her fingers against the window frame impatiently,repeatedly checking her phone for new messages, causing several concerned looksfrom the driver. By the time they’d pulled up outside 221 Baker Street, Mollyhad driven herself almost mad with thoughts of what could be going on inside.She handed over the money and hurtled out of the cab without waiting for herchange; she found the door open and her heart leapt to her mouth as she steppedthrough. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary so she hurried upstairs,consequences be damned, and threw open the door.

He wasn’t injured.

Or dying.

Or high off his tits.

Oh, no. The great consultingdetective and certified git, Sherlock Holmes, was sitting in front of his TVdramatically wielding a toy steering wheel (from the Wii console, sherecognised) and throwing his body left and right every now and then; it lookedas though he hadn’t moved for hours, maybe even days. Cups of coffee litteredthe coffee table and plates of half-eaten sandwiches covered the floor. He was wearinghis traditional -day off- clothes: dressing gown, old t-shirt and pyjamabottoms. He didn’t seem to notice her at first, instead swearing franticallywhen a blue shell struck his vehicle.

Of all the possibilities and hellishscenarios Molly considered on the way over, finding the Sherlock Holmesengrossed in an energetic game of Mario Kart was not one of them. Suddenly,Molly felt furious.

“ARE YOU FUCKING INSANE?”

“Molly,” he said without looking ather, too busy focusing on his game, “glad you made it. There’s a sparecontroller-“

With her hands on her hips, Mollydeliberately stepped in his way, “please tell me you did not summon me here toplay a stupid game, Sherlock Holmes!”

“Of course not,” he replieddistractedly, craning his neck to see past her, “you weren’t busy, were you?”

Molly hesitated, “no, of course not.”

She could tell he was looking overher appearance out of the corner of her eye, lingering on her pencil skirt and loose-fittingtop. She felt a smug satisfaction when she heard him swear under his breath ashis racer struck the wall as a result of his staring. Moments later, the raceended with the detective placing third much to his annoyance. Peering at thescreen, Molly could see why and she couldn’t help but smile; Rosie’s initialsdominated the leader board until the very bottom where WSH was visible.

“Something funny, Molly?”

“No,” she said, hiding her smirkbehind her hand; it never took very long for him to somehow make her forget shewas pissed at him. Didn’t help that she was still stupidly in love with him,really. Still, his eagerness to best his six-year-old niece was rather amusing.She cleared her throat in an attempt to stop her laughter, “just…something Iheard at work, that’s all.”

He narrowed his eyes, scrutinizingher, “you think you’re better than me.”

“Well, come on, it’s not hard. If asix-year-old can do it…” she said, a hint of a challenge in her tone; theireyes met and lingered. After what felt like hours, Sherlock nodded.

“Fancy a game?”

“No, I…just came to check on you,”Molly shook her head quickly, reality catching up to her. She was mad at him,wasn’t she? She set about gathering the coffee cups and plates, “I mean, Ithought you were dying you sod!”

“It was the most effective way ofgetting you here,” Sherlock stated matter-of-factly, shrugging casually as heset up a new two-player game, “just one game. Mary and Rosie are coming tocollect it later,” he glanced at her, watching her place the dirty items in thesink, “unless that was all talk.”

“Oh, no. I’ll happily kick your arseany day of the week,” Molly declared, returning to his side and whipping offher jacket. She sat herself beside him and took up the spare controller,nudging him playfully, “I have to warn you, though. I’m the reigning championin my family. My niece got me into it, too.”

He smiled, “we’ll see about that,Molly.”

An hour and six games later, Sherlockrendered completely speechless by the six times over champion Molly Hooper. Toher credit, she’d kept her gloating to a minimum, although she’d made a show ofadding her name to the leader board, just above his pitiful effort, the lettersMEH mocking him. He blamed her for his lack of concentration, her armconstantly brushing his, her hand landing on his knee whenever either of themused a power-up, and generally being around her. Sherlock ruffled his hair,beyond annoyed at the ridiculous game, figuratively and literally. Mollyreturned from the kitchen with two coffees, placing one in front of him on thecoffee table.

“Feeling better?”

“I still think you cheated!” Hemurmured, sipping his coffee. Molly rolled her eyes.

“How did I cheat?”

“I never got that star thing once.”

“I’m not having this argument again,”Molly protested, remembering the time she’d received a string of invinciblestars, on Rainbow Road no less, whilst he’d been reduced to repeatedly tumblingover the side, cursing as he did. That had been quite amusing. Molly replacedher cup on the table, “this is why no one wants to play games with you.”

He said nothing, preferring to hughis knees as he sulked. After only a few minutes, Molly couldn’t take itanymore and shoved the steering wheel at him, “come on. One more game.”

“No.” Dear Lord, he was actuallypouting. Molly gritted her teeth.

“Choose your bloody character.”

Sighing, he settled for Toad, asusual – ‘…small stature is ideal, makes him light and agile, more aerodynamic,statistically speaking…’ – whilst she picked Yoshi simply because he was herfavourite. Halfway through the race, a race Molly was determined to lose, shepeered out of the corner of her eye at Sherlock; he was really cute when he wasconcentrating, his tongue peeking out from between his lips and his handsrunning through his hair in frustration.

“I was going for a meeting…for achance to leave for six months.”

He shook his head, “nope, it’s notgoing to work. I’m in the zone.”

“I’m not trying to put you off,”Molly giggled, her race abandoned as she wrung her hands, “I was offered a placein a teaching hospital over in Scotland. They said it could be anything betweensix months and a year.”

It took a while for Molly to noticehis character had also stopped moving, “when do you leave?”

“I don’t. I got your texts before I wentin.”

“I’ll fix it…whatever it takes, I’lldo something.”

Molly turned to stare at him inshock, “you’d…do that for me?”

“Of course, it was my fault it wasruined in the first place. As long as you promise to come back, I’ll-“

She grabbed his face and kissed himhard, silencing any further thought from his sweet lips. Sherlock cupped theback of neck tenderly, holding her in their embrace as Molly’s hands landed onhis chest. They only broke away when an excited scream ripped through 221B.

“Mummy! They’re kissing! I told you,I told you!”

Sherlock and Molly exchanged shysmiles as Rosie clamoured between them, eager to get her own hugs in. Meanwhile,Mary stood in the doorway frantically texting her husband; hopefully, she’d be planninga wedding within the next year.

[broke-bitch-mountain]

Surprise

@quichekolgate​ I did manage to write Keith’s birthday fic XD I’m surprised, this is the most I’ve written in a month or so and most of those are due to you! I’m working on Total Eclipse tonight and can hopefully have another chapter up tomorrow (I will also try to get to Red Scales, Blue Eyes for @littleduckbigquack​ cause I need to stay up until 8 am tomorrow morning to prep for a graveyard which means shit is gonna get done!)

The room was dark with small purple lights to see with. Keith would never understand the Galra’s obsession with purple but it seemed to be a genetic thing. He was on a twin bed with gray sheets with the bottom half tucked uniform tight under the mattress. He gets why there’s not a window, but he wishes he had one. He would be able to distract himself with made up constellations like when Shiro had left for kerberos. Instead, Keith gazed up at the ceiling with empty eyes. Kolivan had insisted on him returning for some basic training and had sent him ahead. The whole trip, Keith had been running the last few missions through his head wondering what he might have done wrong.

“Keith! What are you doing?!”

The mission before the soldier...that couldn’t possibly be it...

“Keith” Kolivan’s voice came from the intercom in the room. “Please join me in the training area.”

With a sigh, Keith jumped up and slipped into his blade suit.

His heart rate picked up slightly as he remembered the last time he wore this suit. He had never considered death to heavily before. He had never really considered an end in general before. Even when it looked like they would met their demise at the hand of Zarkon almost a year ago, a small voice in Keith whispered comfort and defiance at the cards fate dealt. It scared him that, in the moment, every fiber of his being believed in Kolivan’s, the Blades, mantra. Victory, or death.

What would the team say? Did they know? Did they care?

Victory...or death…

The halls of the base where lowly light, the galra eyes being sensitive to bright lights. While Keith was better adjusted now, when he first came to the base a few months ago he stumbled around the halls and his room. Kolivan offered a small flashlight that Keith kept in his suit in case of emergencies. His mask has had special adjustments for night vision for missions since though. So the light situation wasn't a large problem anymore.

Keith noticed the lack of Blades that he passed. None, to be exact. While it wasn't an uncommon occurrence to be alone in the halls, something about today left a charge in the air. His ears picked up on the small hum of the ship and the breath of life support. But not one blade. Keith subconsciously reached for his blade, he made his footsteps light and evened out his breath. His ears strained to hear any kind of life, enemy or not, as his mask covered his face.

He approached the training room door, debating the likelihood of ambush, and reached for the door panel.

The door swished open and Keith tumbled into the room with his blade ready for the fight. The supposedly missing blade members were waiting for him in a semicircle, fully decked out in their battle suits. Red paper mache streamers were awkwardly hung on the ceiling in weird crisscrosses and tangles. There was a banner that had his name in a rigid print and a misspelled “happy birthday” to match. The mock mines that they used for training simulations were up at the ceiling with cords attached in a manner that looked akin to balloons. Kolivan stood in the middle with his scowl on his face and a block in his hands. Keith straightened up and took in the whole scene. “Um...weren’t we training?”

“Surprise.” Kolivan said, an echo from the blade behind him. “We have been informed that this is a special earth holiday and have been asked to deliver ‘gifts’ to you.”

Keith looked again at the block in Kolivan’s hands. It was red with a white letter on top and was about the size of one of Kolivan’s hands. “Um...thanks…” he reached for the block, but Kolivan pulled it back.

“We were informed that there are ‘party games’ that you must play in order to get them.” Kolivan said, passing the block to a fellow blade who placed it on a pedestal at the end of the room.

“...What kind of games?”

The first game was called “yup yup yuppers” which Keith guessed was a space duck duck goose. And while it was weird to see the members of the blade with hands the size of Keith's forearm or larger sitting criss-cross-applesauce, the weirdest and most terrifying part came with when someone was dubbed “yupper”. They insisted on Keith going first, deciding to be quick about sitting down again, he picked a blade with larger feet and bolted. Now, he may have been a bit rusty on the rules of duck duck goose, but he was pretty sure that you weren't supposed to cut through the circle with a weapon fully extended and tackle the other player to the floor and pinning them.

Anytime Keith did manage to avoid being pinned, he was almost immediately chosen as Yupper again.

The second game was musical chairs. It didn't seem like there was a huge miscommunication on this one, however, the blades weren’t swimming in music so they marched to some distorted version of pre-schoolers singing ring around the rosie. It was as  creepy as it sounds...Another major difference was that in order to get the chair, the blades were a little rough. Keith watched as one blade air kicked another from the side and out of the chair. Keith and Kolivan where the last two standing. It turned more into a stern staring contest for the duration of the chorus. When the music stopped, Kolivan sat down and Keith accepted his defeat. No matter how determined he was, there were was no way he would ever get a man twice his size to budge.

The last game was hide and seek. Which, in general, was very hard with an espionage group. The entire base was a hunting ground for Keith to look through. Many hiding in the pipe work and nooks and crannies of the base. Keith took nearly the whole day to literally comb every inch of the secret base. And while some wouldn’t admit it, Keith was sure that they used some of their space pocket tech to hide themselves. Like the other games, the Blades were horribly aggressive in their capture and made Keith work for every single member.He found Kolivan last, he knows he did because Kolivan did a headcount of the other blade members and even sent Keith out looking for more that didn’t exist while he did it.

Once Keith had come back, one hundred percent sure that he had, in fact, found every single Blade on the ship, Kolivan handed over the box and sent him back to his quarters for the rest of the evening. He collapsed on the bed when he got there. Setting the box on the floor before face planting into the pillow. In the silent hum of the ship, Keith began wondering how exactly the Blade had found out about earth games, albeit wrong though they were.

He reached for the box on the floor, and peeled off the letter on top. He sat up and readjusted the light from the panel in reach of his bed. Carelessly, he ripped open the envelop and watched a small handful of coins fall out. Confused, he pulled the paper out and watched a few more stray coins fall out before unfolding it.

It was a letter:

Dear Keith,

       Mullet

       Number Three

       Keith

Shiro said it was your birthday (or as close as I can figure out in space…) and while it's unacceptable to be so far away from home on such a special day    we understand why, and hope that you’ll come visit soon for a proper party. I personally am excited to play this twister with you that the other paladins have explained to me.  It has been quiet here without you, Lance hasn’t argued with anyone for over a week and I think he’s a bit pent up. Reasons aside, we miss you dearly, even Kaltenecker seems to have lost a little kick.

When you come back, I’ll have to introduce you to my brother! I think you’ll really like Matt, he’s living with us at the castle of lions for now and he’s been looking for someone to challenge him at the simulator and who better than our red paladin himself? So you better come home eventually.

Until then, we’ve left the Blades with some instructions on party games for you guys to play and a cake that I made! (We spent weeks working on it so I hope the flavors right!:D) which is another reason we’ll add to the list we’re apparently making to why you should come home beyond the obvious “we miss you and want to see you again”.

Come home soon, Mullet. I know we’ve all been stressed with missions and saving the universe, but that doesn’t mean you’re less of a star in our eyes.

Happy Birthday! We’ll see you soon!

Lance

Pidge/Matt

Hunk

Allura

Coran

P.S. When you get back. I really do want to talk to you about that last mission...Matt told me what you were going to do and I plan to hug the shit out of you when you get back. I fought too hard to see you again for you to just leave like that. I know their motto is victory or death, but what good is a dead soldier in the long run? Especially when he knows he can do more.

Please come home on two feet, hell they don’t even have to be yours, just make sure your heart’s still beating.

Love, Shiro

Keith would eat the cake tomorrow as he considered when he could go back to the team, or at least let them know their gifts had been received. Until then, he had a night to finally break down and process how unprepared he was to simply leave.

Maybe he could call the team tonight.

[verdigrisprowl]

Dec 11 Dancitron Movie Night - Phantom of the Opera

A live show, not the movie. Prowl is convinced that in another life, Soundwave could have been the Phantom.

Today Specs 8:10 pm ((oshit am I early)) ItsyBitsySpyers 8:11 pm ((very XD that's okay, stay)) Specs 8:11 pm ((okay if it's cool with you. I was lurking on rabbit while doing my homework and I got the little "noodlesatnightisactive" ding so I just. showed up.)) ItsyBitsySpyers 8:12 pm ((there wassss something else going on until like five minutes ago. now it is stream time)) Specs 8:12 pm ((:O)) ItsyBitsySpyers 8:13 pm ((NOBODY TYPE FOR A MINUTE THO)) Me 8:15 pm ((there are Hijinks to be had before guests are "officially" allowed in)) Swoop 8:17 pm ((That's fine. More time to bransform what Swoop can do tonight.)) Me 8:18 pm ((i hear tara is in a mood to get in a dumb fight with someone~)) Swoop 8:18 pm ((but soundwave doesn't allow swoop to bring a mace in : < )) Magnum Ace 8:19 pm ((swoop doesn't need mace Bevel 8:19 pm *Bevel peers around the empty room for a moment, noting the lack of Soundwave and decides maybe some shenanigans are in order. Where there was once a train, is now Soundwave. Totally Soundwave. She's even going to take his usual place on the couch like y'do* ((hacker voice: I'm in. Me 8:21 pm *Prowl arrives earlier than usual, hoping to catch Soundwave before the other guests start to arrive. And indeed—there he is.* Evening. *Prowl walks up to him, pauses; and then decides to plop right down on his lap. Soundwave's done it to Prowl, it's fair game.* *And immediately turns sideways to slide an arm over Soundwave's shoulder.* Magnum Ace 8:22 pm ((poor bevel Bevel 8:23 pm *immediately all the tension, these are not the shenanigans she was aiming for at all* Twincast 8:23 pm *slides in* *to 'soundwave'* Y'know for a sec there I thought ya weren't gonna let me in. I was waitin' for an awful while Me 8:24 pm *oh shit other guests* *hhhhhe's going to slide off and pretend he was never there.* Twincast 8:24 pm *it's cool. you're cool. Do whatcha gotta do~* Me 8:25 pm ((... well. as long as someone walked in, no reason everyone else can't i guess.)) Twincast 8:26 pm (( oh, was I not supposed to? (( bc if I wasn't then I didn't get the memo ItsyBitsySpyers 8:26 pm ((it's okay, it's okay, the notif got swallowed with replies)) Me 8:26 pm ((it was said before you came in, s'allright.)) Swoop 8:27 pm *scampers in with ALL THE GODDAMN STICKERS* BIRD BIRD Me 8:27 pm *Well. No more lapsitting. He's still going to lean on Soundwave, though. That's totally lowkey.* Bevel 8:27 pm *Twincast will get a grateful look, which mostly just looks like nothing honestly. Soundwave's helm turning to "stare"* *awkwardest fidget* *trying to work up the words because these are not the shenanigans she was expecting* Me 8:29 pm *lowers his voice enough that only Soundwave can hear.* I apologize for, er. Fffalling asleep after one round. However— *oh so very subtly subtly runs a finger along the edge of his back armor.* I have no plans before work tonight. Magnum Ace 8:31 pm -pings Soundwave for a bridge. Movie night is tonight, right?- ItsyBitsySpyers 8:31 pm *Bird isn't there yet, but it's damned hard not to hear a Dinobot yelling her name, so she floats downstairs, chirping hello to her minion, and just... stops. Stops flying, stops talking, stops doing anything but hovering and staring at the Boss' couch.* Bevel 8:31 pm *oh sweet amalgomous prime what a tmi lesson learned* Twincast 8:31 pm ((RIP Bevel Swoop 8:31 pm *scampers over to Bird, jumping up and down and holding up the stickers* Bird Bird look STICKERS! ..... ??? *why is bird paused?* ItsyBitsySpyers 8:31 pm {{...Boss?}} Swoop 8:32 pm *we just don't know* Twincast 8:32 pm *Finds a seat, yes* Swoop 8:32 pm *looks over at Soundwave, looks at Bird, looks at Soundwave.... nope, he got nothing* ItsyBitsySpyers 8:32 pm *Soundwave opens a bridge outside for the Leaguers, and finishes making his way down the stairs.*

[[Yes, yes. He knows he's l...]] Bevel 8:32 pm *stares at Laserbeak, if you can't tell she's doomed to shove Prowl onto the floor in a moment* Me 8:32 pm *Oh, Laserbeak wants his attention. Will very politely keep his hands to himself. Don't need an outraged bird.* ItsyBitsySpyers 8:32 pm [[...Is there something he should know.]] Me 8:33 pm ... *stares at the new Soundwave in the door. And then at the one he's been leaning on.* Twincast 8:33 pm Ya got a twin. Bevel 8:33 pm *Ah there we go, enjoy the floor Prowl as Bevel leaps up and shoves him away* Sorry! Swoop 8:33 pm ((happy birthday to the GROUND)) Magnum Ace 8:33 pm -trots through, and...- What just...? ItsyBitsySpyers 8:33 pm ((JFC HAHAHA)) Me 8:33 pm *For the briefest second, Prowl had hoped against hope that the one by the stairs had been Bevel.* Bevel 8:33 pm *totally her usual voice not Soundwave's* Bull 8:34 pm *follows after Magnum* Me 8:34 pm *He's going to. Just. Lay on the floor.* Magnum Ace 8:34 pm -please don't walk into his back, because he stalled- Swoop 8:34 pm *doesn't know what's happening, is unclear if it is funny therefore it is not funny, chirps to himself because biiiiirrrddd come oooonnnn* Twincast 8:34 pm *thinks it's a little funny* Bull 8:35 pm *stopped noticing Magnum's pause and looks to see what caused the other Leaguer to stop* ItsyBitsySpyers 8:35 pm *Soundwave points at Bevel like the Grim Reaper calling on a dead mech. They're having words tomorrow about this.*

*He then heads over to the couch and calmly sits on the floor next to his poor mortified amica. Like you do.*

[[Greetings, everyone. From your actual host, this time. If we're ready?]] Me 8:35 pm *Right. Okay. He's gonna, twist his head a bit until he can see Bevel. And then points sternly at her.* You. Forget EVERYTHING you heard. Bevel 8:35 pm OK Twincast 8:35 pm Ready--how 'bout you? Didja do the homework first? Swoop 8:35 pm !!! ItsyBitsySpyers 8:36 pm *Bird heads over to Swoop and settles herself by him with grumbles.*

{{You show Bird them stickers.}} Magnum Ace 8:36 pm -grabs Bull and tugs him AWAY from the mess- Bevel 8:36 pm Sorry! ItsyBitsySpyers 8:36 pm [[What homework?]] Swoop 8:36 pm *flips through the shitton of stickers he has with him..... he has a thing* Bird, kehhehhe! *holds up the one sheet of pokemon stickers, tapping a claw over Ditto and jerking his head at Bevel* Us stickers? Kehehh. For people. ON. Keheh. ON people. Twincast 8:37 pm Reading the book first, of course. Don't tell me I'm the only one. Specs 8:37 pm ((are we allowed to speak, oh mighty soundmun)) ((...heck u rabbit)) *the dragon tumbles in, managing to somehow fall tail-over-snout without dropping a single cookie. these have fancy shapes today! plain energon pangolins, mercury-infused elephants, silver bears, molybdenum and copper kingfishers, and tigers with tinsel stripes. there’s also what might be crocodiles, but crocodiles lack curved horns and such impressive wings, not to mention the elegantly spiked tail.* ItsyBitsySpyers 8:37 pm ((oh gosh yes i thought that was evident with everyone speaking lmao)) Bull 8:37 pm *is more than glad that Magnum did not tug on his sore side; he still had one of their pain patches over the injury* Specs 8:37 pm ((rabbit didn't show ANYONE speaking for me ;-; )) ItsyBitsySpyers 8:38 pm ((ALRIGHT WARNINGS SO WE CAN GET THIS DELAYED-ASS SHOW ON THE ROA😧 it's the phantom of the opera if you don't know the story i don't know what i can do for you here. horrible man in mask does horrible things, murder, blackmail, etc.)) Magnum Ace 8:38 pm -he's not in that much of a rush that he'd forget Bull got attacked last week- ItsyBitsySpyers 8:38 pm ((...rabbit, can you not smileyface my words.)) Swoop 8:38 pm ((show on the roa 😀 )) Bevel 8:38 pm *so flustered she mucks up shifting into one of her own usual shapes that she winds up looking a little like Soundwave and Optimus had a kid before cursing and shifting correctly* Swoop 8:39 pm Stickers, Bird : > Bevel 8:39 pm *will quietly slunk over to a table* ItsyBitsySpyers 8:39 pm *Bird drags Swoop and all his stickers over to the dragon while listening; Soundwave shakes his helm.*

[[He was busy. He will find the time to do so soon.]] Swoop 8:40 pm *is helplessly dragged* <3 Twincast 8:40 pm I'll hold you to that. *probably won't. In a good mood, so he's teasing* Specs 8:40 pm *the dragon WAS going to put these with the rest of the snacks, but okay bird* Do you just want the entire tray? Swoop 8:40 pm *although not so helplessly manages to peel off the Ditto sticker and smack it onto Bevel in passing* Her Bird ALWAYS want entire tray Kehhehh ItsyBitsySpyers 8:40 pm [[He'd prefer you didn't hold him at all.]] Glowers at Twincast for a moment before motioning to the screen. [[He has heard there is a proper movie as well, but he thought it would be interesting to choose this version. Do all settle down. We begin.]] Swoop 8:41 pm Her eat like Dinobots do Magnum Ace 8:41 pm -up the table he goes, helping Bull up as well- Bevel 8:41 pm Thanks, Swoop. Swoop 8:41 pm *finger guns @Bevel* Specs 8:41 pm *the dragon just hands over the tray. resistance is futile. she's going to join Soundwave's couch tonight, though. there's space on the back, right?* Twincast 8:41 pm *mumbles something along the lines of 'y'know I didn't mean it like that', but quiets down* ItsyBitsySpyers 8:41 pm ((i suggest turning on the HD in rabbit)) Bevel 8:41 pm *will try to enjoy that sticker until her untimely doom at Soundwave's hands tomorrow* Bull 8:42 pm Thanks *he smiles to Magnum before settling in* ItsyBitsySpyers 8:42 pm *There is space all over that couch. Soundwave and Prowl are on the floor.*

{{It baseball bots! Hiiiii. You got stickers too?}} Swoop 8:43 pm Me Swoop have LOTS of stickers. Me TAKE them. All stickers. *fans them out to show the unreal number of stickers in his possession* Bull 8:43 pm Stickers? Twincast 8:43 pm ((brb Magnum Ace 8:43 pm Uh...? No? Specs 8:43 pm *the dragon sprawls ALL ACROSS the entire couch. her couch now* Me 8:44 pm *Prowl appreciates the solidarity. He finally sits up.* Swoop 8:44 pm *flips through to find stickers for Bird.... what does Bird like........* ItsyBitsySpyers 8:44 pm *Bird likes birds. Duh.* *Soundwave loops a feeler on the ground around Prowl once he sits up. Greetings.* Swoop 8:45 pm *peels off a mustache sticker and holds it out for Bird* : > ItsyBitsySpyers 8:45 pm {{Why you not got stickers? Them not go on helmet?}} She's seen pictures of human players like that. {{Ooooh, face fur. Neheh.}}

Boop. On goes the stache. Me 8:45 pm *gives the feeler, and then Soundwave a suspicious look* Swoop 8:45 pm *how? is? bird? so?? cute???????* *he doESn'T UNderSTanD????* <3 <3 <3 <3 Magnum Ace 8:46 pm ...oh, you mean the decals? ItsyBitsySpyers 8:46 pm {{Yes!}} Swoop 8:46 pm Them for decorate, Christmas! Presents. And stuff. Me Swoop take. Specs 8:46 pm Now that's a fancy bed. Me 8:46 pm ... Confirm your identity. Bull 8:47 pm Well yeah, we have decals. Magnum Ace 8:47 pm -taps the Silver Castle decal on his cap- This, right? Swoop 8:48 pm ((A+ costumes already)) Specs 8:48 pm ...Is she going to eat it, or just sing at it? ItsyBitsySpyers 8:49 pm @Prowl: [[He is an ex-Senator, ex-prisoner, ex-gladiator, and ex-Decepticon. You are his One. And he is regrowing a fang he broke in your avatar.]] Me 8:49 pm ((how do you think andrew lloyd webber feels, having to live with the knowledge that nothing he ever does will be as great as the overture to POTO)) @Soundwave «... Can I have it?» Swoop 8:49 pm *finds a spot to settle with Bird and spreads all the stickers out in front of himself* Bevel 8:49 pm ((bad i hope ItsyBitsySpyers 8:50 pm @Prowl: [[He will leave it at the site tonight.]] Twincast 8:51 pm ((I return. with ice cream & such Me 8:51 pm @Soundwave «You know my seat in the break trailer.» Bull 8:51 pm ((mmm, ice cream *is now tempted to retrieve some mint chocolate icecream *)) Specs 8:51 pm *if you look at the couch, the dragon might be attempting to mimic the dancers. if you look too closely, she's going to stop, though.* ItsyBitsySpyers 8:51 pm *Soundwave's may be speaking to Prowl, but his attention is firmly fixed on the production in front of him. Look at these costumes. Look at the way they move together. If organics have one thing going for them, it's their grace.* *Soundwave glances over at the couch with a feeler, hearing movement behind him.* Swoop 8:52 pm *offers Bird a "I kept a secret" sticker and a holo star with "GOOD WORK!" written on it* Magnum Ace 8:52 pm It's no wonder they continue this, they're good at it Specs 8:53 pm *the feeler doesn't count as too close, but the dragon whacks her nose on the couch trying to mimic the final drop* ItsyBitsySpyers 8:53 pm {{What them decal mean?}} She tucks the other stickers into her subspace. These will be fun to put on later. Magnum Ace 8:53 pm I think...well maybe Windy could pull some of this off, but I know I' break something trying. Swoop 8:53 pm Meeeeeeeeaaan good work kehheheh ((who is in sticker smacking distance of swoop)) Bull 8:54 pm This one *pointing at the Silver Castle's logo* is our team symbol Swoop 8:54 pm *notices the pointing and peels the sticker off for Bull, he has no idea what it is so he is down to give it away* Bevel 8:54 pm I like her dress. Bull 8:55 pm *this show is reminding him of a show Rumi mentioned having seen before* ItsyBitsySpyers 8:55 pm {{Oooh. It faction.}} Magnum Ace 8:55 pm Faction? Not...really? Swoop 8:55 pm Bot, con, fighting, faction! ItsyBitsySpyers 8:55 pm [[It is definitely colorf-- oh?]] Magnum Ace 8:55 pm No Not at all Bull 8:56 pm *looks to Swoop and the offered sticker trying to see what it is* Swoop 8:56 pm *BOOP now you have a sticker* Bull 8:56 pm *is surprised at the boop of the sticker* Thanks? Swoop 8:57 pm ((man i must be a proper southern gal cause, when we saw the back of her head and how tall her hair is, all I could think is "oh she's close to god") Magnum Ace 8:57 pm -covers mouth at the sticker boop- Swoop 8:57 pm Welcome : > Bull 8:57 pm *looks to see what the sticker is* ItsyBitsySpyers 8:57 pm {{What ghost want with box?}} Magnum Ace 8:58 pm -may be snickering a bit- Twincast 8:58 pm ((I love how in the 2000's movie he says Australia instead of Frankfurt & I'm like 'isn't australia basically a jail at this point?' Swoop 8:58 pm Sit Kehhhehh *sticks a bunch of stickers to the interior of his wing, no real plan here, just going after all the ones that are gold or sparkly* ItsyBitsySpyers 8:58 pm *Soundwave nods to the two new guests. Or sort of... at them. Without looking. The film holds his attention.* Specs 8:59 pm ((probably better jail than a ghost)) Twincast 8:59 pm ((fair Specs 8:59 pm ((or maybe he had to sell the opera house for being in trouble?)) ItsyBitsySpyers 8:59 pm @Prowl: [[Now he knows, yes.]] Had to ask Frenzy. Whirl 8:59 pm *trots in, fashionably late. But this night he comes bearing gifts. There is a hilariously human-sized shopping bag dangling off one claw* Swoop 8:59 pm *waves at whirl* Stickers! Me 9:00 pm *Okay. Prowl trusts him again. He leans on Soundwave.* Specs 9:00 pm *the dragon clambers up onto the back of the couch to look at whirl* What's that? Knock Out 9:00 pm *Knock Out will offer a polite little wave, but really, his attention's equally drawn towards the movie. This one's a favorite of his*. Swoop 9:00 pm *holds up a bomb sticker, waves it at Whirl* Whirl 9:00 pm *bobs his head at Swoop, and then the dragon, and then just generally, for everyone else* This... is payment. One sec, you guys. Bevel 9:01 pm *waves to Whirl* Magnum Ace 9:01 pm -inches away from sticker happy dino- ItsyBitsySpyers 9:01 pm *Soundwave returns the lean and tightens the feeler a bit, budging it up against the avatar's legs.*

=Payment?= Whirl 9:01 pm *he's gonna drop the bag of at the bar. It's a red-and-green shopping bag, and within it is, indeed, the illicit tinsel-ey goods* Yep. ItsyBitsySpyers 9:02 pm *Ravage pokes his helm in from outside. He's pretty sure he can smell - ohhhh yes.* Me 9:02 pm @Soundwave «... I apologize for falling asleep after one round.» *it's easier the second time.* Whirl 9:03 pm Raided a department store in my holoform. I cleaned 'em out. ItsyBitsySpyers 9:03 pm @Prowl: [[It is--]] Listen to the human go. The sound makes his armor buzz. [[It is fine. Limits are limits. We will continue another time.]]

=They did not chase?= Swoop 9:04 pm Her mean, kehheh, like Ironhide when us goof off kehhehh. Whirl 9:04 pm Nah. I just pretended to be following someone else's mom out. ...either that or the Uzis deterred them from asking questions. Swoop 9:04 pm *absolutely definately for sure has spiderman stickers in the massive mess of stickers spread out on the ground in front of him JUST IN CASE SOMEONE WAS INTO THAT* Whirl 9:04 pm I choose to believe *drapes a claw over his chest* That it was an act of masterful deception. The benefits of having a very young holoform. Specs 9:05 pm *plops back on the couch and mimics the ballet girls' arms with her wings* ItsyBitsySpyers 9:05 pm *Ravage's mouth pulls back into a horrible toothy smile. A human child with massive weapons strolling into one of their vending centers... ah, he would have liked to see the confusion and terror himself.*

*For now, he just tries to get a paw into the bag.* Whirl 9:06 pm *there's a good dozen or so packages in there* Swoop 9:06 pm *sticks a baby on board sticker on the dragon* Specs 9:06 pm *jumps three feet in the air and yelps* Hey! ItsyBitsySpyers 9:06 pm [[You amuse him, dragon. Dance more, if you wish. Here and elsewhere. Do not let others convince you to stop.]] Swoop 9:07 pm kehehHHEHHEH ItsyBitsySpyers 9:07 pm *INTO THE BAG goes Ravage. Which basically means he gets it on his helm and shakes it, breathing in the scent of the tinsel packs falling out around him.* Whirl 9:08 pm *snickers* There ya go, bartender. Oughta settle my tab. *salutes* Bull 9:08 pm *he can imagine Ruri liking this musical* Me 9:08 pm ((i like how raoul's just as extra as the phantom)) Specs 9:08 pm *forgive her for not appreciating the compliment, Soundwave. she's got a STICKER on her* ItsyBitsySpyers 9:08 pm *Muffled.* =For weeks, yes.= Me 9:09 pm ((he doesn't introduce himself in the letter he sends christine, he just enigmatically describes some things they did together)) Whirl 9:09 pm I can go looking for more, if you want. Easy to find that stuff this time of year. Swoop 9:09 pm ((calm the fuck down phantom)) Whirl 9:09 pm ((HE REALLY IS)) Bull 9:09 pm *Bull already doesn't like how the Phantom is talking* ItsyBitsySpyers 9:10 pm *Flopped and kicking the bag. Shred shred. He'll regret this later, he will.* =All you can carry. You will be pouring drinks yourself, mm?= Swoop 9:10 pm *has no idea what is going on in the movie but he does know that this happy taco sticker is pretty sweet and starts looking around for someone to slap it on* ItsyBitsySpyers 9:11 pm [[A secret passage?]] Magnum Ace 9:11 pm -oh, don't look at him you silly dino- Bevel 9:11 pm Cool. Swoop 9:11 pm *is looking* : > Twincast 9:11 pm *is happy to be stickered. plenty'a surface space* ItsyBitsySpyers 9:11 pm *Bird pretends to play along with the music on Swoop's shin. Such dramatics. It must be the mustache.8 Whirl 9:11 pm I'll grab some later. Have fun. *he actually means it, because seeing Ravage so absolutely blissful is actually pretty nice. A good favor for a good bartender. And now, he will at last go to the Whirl table to join his regulars* Specs 9:11 pm *nope nope nope* *hides from the dinobab and starts biting at the sticker already on her* Magnum Ace 9:11 pm -stares back- Tarantulas 9:12 pm *tarantulas couldn't care less what movie is on, he's just going to stalk in and poke around* Whirl 9:12 pm ...want me to get that, dragon? Specs 9:12 pm *flies so fast to whirl that she all but teleports* Yes. Please. Swoop 9:12 pm *normally would DIE before giving up on a staring contest but Bird is tapping on his shin a lot, that merits a confused chirp and turnign his head to investigate* Me 9:12 pm ((damn i haven't heard this phantom before. i like him, his voice is powerful.)) Swoop 9:12 pm !!! SPIDER! ItsyBitsySpyers 9:12 pm ((he is A Favorite)) Magnum Ace 9:13 pm -oh good, he was getting worried there- Swoop 9:13 pm *paws through the many stickers he brought today and finds the Spiderman ones* : > Tarantulas 9:13 pm *frick. swoop. this wasn't really the person tarantulas was looking to take his irritation out on* Bevel 9:13 pm ((I love this performance so much Swoop 9:13 pm *waves the sheet of stickers at Tarantulas* Whirl 9:13 pm *he raises his claw, and the tip splits open to reveal two very delicate fine manipulators. They're horrid, but he expertly plucks the sticker up with no incident* ((IT'S REAL GOOD)) Swoop 9:13 pm Look! Whirl 9:13 pm ((I've never seen a stage show of Phantom!)) Magnum Ace 9:13 pm ((it's awesome Swoop 9:13 pm ((I've seen it before. It's so incredible in person. SO much energy.)) Me 9:13 pm ((I'm liking the Christine, too. most Christines I've heard are TOO good at hitting those high notes and hurt my ears.)) Tarantulas 9:14 pm What is that? Decals? *heavy squinting, he's keeping away* Specs 9:14 pm *some fur comes away with that as a matter of course. it's enough to hurt and make the dragon hiss, but at least it's not causing a bald spot* Thank you, Whirl. *grooms the spot to get rid of any sticker residue* Swoop 9:14 pm Stiiiiickers : > *continues waving them at Tara* ItsyBitsySpyers 9:14 pm *Soundwave leans forward. And forward. And forward.* Me 9:14 pm *Hey, it's a spider voice. Looks over at him and pings hello.* Me 9:15 pm *... a guy in a mask singing about people paying homage to music. sideways glance at Soundwave.* Whirl 9:16 pm No prob. *he's been listening to the very very good singing this whole time, but is only now getting caught up... and has no idea what's going on. But that seems to be all right* Tarantulas 9:16 pm *glances over at prowl with a return ping, but is mostly fixed on suspicious swoop* Swoop 9:16 pm ((OKAY SO I've never got a clear answer on this. Do Christine and the Phantom bang? Whenever I ask, I get these long answers about sequels and debatable canon and whatnot. Has it ever been confirmed one way or the other?)) ItsyBitsySpyers 9:16 pm *And slumps slightly. He must find more versions of this. Must hear all the actors.*

*...Glance over?* Swoop 9:16 pm *chirps at Tara* Me 9:16 pm ((I don't know about the sequels. In both musical and book canon, there's no evidence they bang.)) Swoop 9:16 pm *he's got a bunch of completely random stickers all over him and so do a lot of otehr people* *Bird has a mustache* Twincast 9:17 pm ((we don't talk about the sequel Bevel 9:17 pm ((Never confirmed far as I know. Specs 9:17 pm *the dragon shakes, and flops onto the Whirl Table* *she'd go back to the couch, but the threat of stickers is Bad* Swoop 9:17 pm You Spiderbot have sticker! Tarantulas 9:17 pm Nnnnno, no thank you. Swoop 9:17 pm No? Me 9:17 pm ((There are certainly opportunities during the musical where they might have banged off-screen if you choose to read it that way—but no evidence; and improbable considering the phantom's later behavior.)) Swoop 9:17 pm *BAFFLED* Whirl 9:17 pm *lowers his head towards the dragon* ...what's with the stickers, anyway? Swoop 9:17 pm *who DOESN'T want stickers?* Specs 9:18 pm *aside to Whirl* Swoop has stickers. Swoop is sharing stickers. I am considering making a tray of goodies just for Laserbeak if she keeps him away from my fur. Whirl 9:18 pm Pfft. Got it. Tarantulas 9:18 pm Definitely not, Swoop. Don't test me. Swoop 9:19 pm ((There are def opportunities for them to bang. I haven't read the sequel but I think there's something in there that makes it sound like they did? But you're right that it doesn't seem like the phantom would want to.)) Whirl 9:19 pm Also, whoever this fella is, he's killing it. Swoop 9:19 pm Why??? Me 9:19 pm ... This is a musical about music. Whirl 9:19 pm ((ye i never thought of the phantom as being interested in that sort of thing)) Specs 9:19 pm He is! *goes back to watching raptly* I've never seen a human musical before. I feel like I stuck my face into a swarmfish nest. Swoop 9:20 pm *peels off a spiderman logo sticker and waves it at Tara from his seated postition on the floor, for the moment he is pinned by a borb* ItsyBitsySpyers 9:20 pm [[There is no more appropriate format for it.]] Me 9:20 pm ((I don't NECESSARILY think he wouldn't want to? I just figure that given he completely emotionally flips out over a cheek-touch, they probably weren't doing something earlier that required MORE physical contact, yknow?)) Swoop 9:21 pm ((totally)) Bevel 9:21 pm ((I swear it's in the books that he's a eunuch or otherwise deformed in such a way that he couldn't even if he wanted to but it's been two decades since I've read it so don't quote me on that Me 9:21 pm I suppose not, no. Specs 9:21 pm ((well, isn't his cheek burned? pain spots tend to be super twitchy when you touch them. but, then again, he's entirely a pain spot, isn't he.)) Swoop 9:21 pm ((you know what? that sounds familiar. Maybe you're right and he can't.)) ItsyBitsySpyers 9:22 pm *It finally registers that there is another new mech in here. Soundwave glances behind himself just long enough to nod to Tarantulas before whipping back to the screen.* Whirl 9:22 pm Whoa. Fool canNOT play an organ, though. ItsyBitsySpyers 9:22 pm {{Peh. Dramatic.}} {{BRRM BRRM BRRRRRRM.}} Bevel 9:23 pm *grumbles about the loud bad organ playing* Specs 9:23 pm Was he playing it, or just smacking it? Swoop 9:23 pm *jumps when Bird makes a loud BRRRRMMM* Twincast 9:23 pm ((..you made me look up what a eunuch was. I learned something today.) Swoop 9:23 pm *immediately CACKLES at his own reaction* Whirl 9:23 pm *raises his head and instantly imitates the BRRM BRRM BRRRRRM* Tarantulas 9:23 pm ...I couldn't care less what sort of stickers they are, I'm not having it. If you want me to ever consider making you a web sling again, you're going to keep them to yourself for the rest of the night. Bull 9:23 pm Seemed like just banging on it. Me 9:23 pm ((I'm pppretty sure that eunuchs can have sex; they just can't produce babies from it and therefore If It Doesn't Make Babies Doesn't Count. But tbh who knows if leroux knew that or not.)) Bull 9:24 pm *yet he doesn't know music* ItsyBitsySpyers 9:24 pm *Soundwave flickers his feelers at Whirl and Laserbeak. Shh.* Swoop 9:24 pm You grumpy spider Magnum Ace 9:24 pm .... Bull 9:24 pm *little surprised* over reaction.... Specs 9:24 pm *eyes widen* Hm. Tarantulas 9:25 pm @SW: ::Can you let Laserbeak know that I'll owe her immensely if she agrees to continue keeping Swoop occupied for the rest of the evening.:: Magnum Ace 9:25 pm That was over doing it Whirl 9:25 pm *Whirl subsides, and pays a bit closer attention* Bevel 9:25 pm She should have asked. Swoop 9:25 pm Grumpy, grouchy! *blows raspberries then laughs* ItsyBitsySpyers 9:25 pm @Tarantulas: [[She has been told.]] More because they'll want the favor than because he's interested in what's going on behind him right now. Specs 9:25 pm *tilts head* It's not THAT bad. Humans have naked faces anyways. Whirl 9:25 pm *he can... empathize with being very protective of your face. And with the baggage that comes with mutilation* Me 9:26 pm *... a conventionally-considered ugly face under the mask of the person who's extremely into music. Another sideways glance at Soundwave.* ItsyBitsySpyers 9:26 pm {{Swoop. Swoop, you find Rumble sticker. Frenzy sticker.}} Swoop 9:26 pm *perks up at the request* KAY! Tarantulas 9:26 pm *waves a paw at swoop's alliteration. meh* Specs 9:26 pm *Whirl's face isn't that bad either, but the dragon is not a telepath and cannot say such things* ItsyBitsySpyers 9:26 pm *Soundwave looks back at Prowl again.*

[[...Is he doing something?]] *Head tilt.* Me 9:27 pm No. Just observing parallels. Tarantulas 9:27 pm *plops down somewhere near but not too close to sw and prowl, his own chair or smth* Swoop 9:27 pm *slides his hand over all the stickers to spread them out more, in part to help and in part because he is a messy boy* Whirl 9:27 pm *the dragon is kind; Among his own kind, Whirl is Not A Looker. Doesn't bother him, though* Me 9:27 pm *nods to Tarantulas* ItsyBitsySpyers 9:27 pm [[Ah.]] *Consider consider.* [[He has been informed of them many times before. They will not all be matched.]] [[Greetings, Tarantulas.]] Me 9:28 pm ... I question his wisdom with the whole "fear turn to love" thing. ItsyBitsySpyers 9:28 pm [[And yes, gossip is worth that.]] Tarantulas 9:28 pm *huffs at the hellos and sinks in the chair. he doesn't want niceness right now, geez* Whirl 9:28 pm Yeah, seems... like a bad plan. Me 9:28 pm She snatched his mask off his face without warning or asking, and he considers her a keeper? Whirl 9:29 pm Sounds like SOMEONE can't deal with being ugly, pfft. ItsyBitsySpyers 9:29 pm [[One who cannot respect boundaries does not deserve what is behind them.]]

Pfffft. [[Ha.]] Specs 9:29 pm You don't touch people without asking. Tarantulas 9:29 pm (( "wrote.... written." my fave line Bevel 9:30 pm ((I love that line so much Whirl 9:30 pm Yeah, that whole deal, too. Me 9:30 pm ((same)) Whirl 9:30 pm Something tells me that our Phantom--*stage whisper* Might be a few instruments short of an orchestra. ItsyBitsySpyers 9:30 pm *Ravage snickers hoarsely through a tangle of tinsel.* Bevel 9:30 pm *giggles* Specs 9:30 pm *smiles toothily* Whirl 9:32 pm ((Madam Giry is also en pointe, that snatch was a+)) Magnum Ace 9:32 pm What... ItsyBitsySpyers 9:32 pm [[The Phantom pretends to be a ghost. He suspects they have not interacted with others much.]] [[Regarding his acceptance of one who steals his mask.]] Specs 9:33 pm It's hard to have a ghost that bother people. Bull 9:33 pm Sounds arrogant like Segal... Bevel 9:33 pm Obedient servant gives a lot of orders. Magnum Ace 9:33 pm With the mood swings to suit Whirl 9:34 pm *he will now take a moment to scoot over to the bar to mix himself something paint-meltingly spicy* Specs 9:34 pm *the dragon looks askance at all those fox tails, and back at her own tail* Humans and their furs. ItsyBitsySpyers 9:35 pm *...Laserbeak likes this red-furred human.* *Look how smoothly she has everyone bending to her whim and giving her what she wants.* Bevel 9:35 pm *likes her clothes* Swoop 9:35 pm ((gdi why do I always have internet problesm monday night??)) Whirl 9:35 pm *a true role model for u* Swoop 9:36 pm *picks a wonderwoman "fight like a girl" sticker and offers it to Bird* MMmmm.... *finally picks a sticker of a fist in the air, no clue what it means but Rumble and Frenzy like fighting* Ka! *looks expectantly at Bird* ((she SO close to god now)) Me 9:37 pm ((i like how they get all meta about their own musical for a second)) ItsyBitsySpyers 9:37 pm *Bird lifts the sticker close to her optics and chatters in approval, pocketing that one too. She then taps the fist sticker.*

{{How them share one?}} Me 9:37 pm (("lmao you'd never get away with this story in a play BUT IN AN OPERA IT'S ALL GOOD")) Whirl 9:37 pm Her giant hair will surely protect her. Magnum Ace 9:38 pm -nudges Bull- Specs 9:38 pm *that gets a snicker from the dragon* I'm almost jealous of its volume. Bull 9:38 pm *looks to Magnum* Magnum Ace 9:38 pm Glad we didn't have to try and sing like that Swoop 9:38 pm *snickers* rock paper scissors Whirl 9:38 pm *leans over the bar to peer at the dragon* You know, we could get you a wig. I think you could make it work. ItsyBitsySpyers 9:38 pm *Soundwave shakes his helm. It is unwise to irritate someone with the reputation of strangling others.* Bull 9:38 pm *Bull shudders at the memory* Thankfully; it was embarrassing enough. Specs 9:39 pm *the dragon grins* Of course I could. I have the fur everywhere else, too. Swoop 9:39 pm *sticks a few small, sparkly star stickers to his own cheek* Whirl 9:40 pm *returns to his table and begins the Hunkering Process. anyone with a functioning nose might wanna give him and his drink a bit of space* Magnum Ace 9:40 pm -soft snicker- It was. It was a bit fun though. Bull 9:40 pm I think the only reason why we didn't have to was cause Edmond got dragged in with us. *chuckles* Whirl 9:41 pm *solemnly* Praise. Magnum Ace 9:41 pm It would have been interesting to hear him try to sing like that, though ItsyBitsySpyers 9:41 pm *HUFF* Swoop 9:41 pm *perks up and finally looks at the screen* *this is his level of comedy, cracks up immediately* Bull 9:42 pm That would have been funny. Specs 9:42 pm *blinks* The phantom is rather unpleasant. *ooh, she can do that! curves her wings up and balances on her toes* Whirl 9:43 pm Okay, so... does he actually have magic powers? Swoop 9:43 pm Her funny noises Whirl 9:43 pm Did he make that lady croak? Or are we gonna get an explanation? Specs 9:43 pm *sorry, too busy trying to mimic ballerinas* Whirl 9:43 pm ...*and distracted by ballet dragon* Nice. *he will scoot his drink away to give her room* Magnum Ace 9:44 pm It would have been, but he /really/ would have looked for a way to duck out then Whirl 9:44 pm They're all pretty good. Times like these, it's a damn shame I never learned to dance. *shakes head slowly* ItsyBitsySpyers 9:44 pm *Wonders what Prowl's math makes of the ballerina movements. He starts composing the question when--* Bull 9:44 pm ..... *was not expecting that* Swoop 9:44 pm Dead Bevel 9:44 pm ((the best part of seeing this for the first time in a theatre is that you legit are watching the ballet and don't actually realized anything is happening until the body falls down Specs 9:44 pm *aaaaand there she goes on her snout again* Oof. Tarantulas 9:44 pm *quiet snort* Magnum Ace 9:45 pm ..... -well, there goes that mood- Me 9:46 pm "A world where daylight dissolves into darkness"? Just say the basement. ItsyBitsySpyers 9:46 pm *EVEN LOUDER HUFF* Bevel 9:46 pm *laughs* Whirl 9:46 pm *snorts* Twincast 9:46 pm *Raoul's pretty good at NOT listening to Christine, honestly* Swoop 9:46 pm .... *peels off a web sticker, Birb should know where this is going* ItsyBitsySpyers 9:46 pm [[She is an actress. They are dramatic.]] *Bird knows. Bird grabs the web sticker and EATS IT.* Me 9:46 pm *shrug. fair enough.* Specs 9:46 pm *ex-ballet dragon just watches while mimicking a placemat. it's too interesting to risk unflattening herself and missing something.* Swoop 9:47 pm !!!! Tarantulas 9:47 pm *good laserbeak* Swoop 9:47 pm *SQUEAK-laughs* Magnum Ace 9:47 pm Anyway. Definitely like Segal. Windchill 9:47 pm *Is here.* Swoop 9:47 pm *what was that?? he doesn't know but he's going to actually flop over laughing* Bull 9:47 pm yeah.... murderous intent and all Whirl 9:47 pm *bobs his head at Windchill over his drink* Windchill 9:47 pm *He knows this one.* Swoop 9:47 pm Hungry bird? ItsyBitsySpyers 9:48 pm [[Murderous intent? Who is Segal?]] Windchill 9:48 pm *Waves at Whirl. Hello.* Magnum Ace 9:48 pm Yeah. Attempted murder and all. What? ItsyBitsySpyers 9:48 pm {{Yes. You get snacks. Then Bird not eating stickers.}} Windchill 9:48 pm *He's gonna sit down.* Magnum Ace 9:48 pm -forgot Soundwave could hear them- Swoop 9:48 pm Now Bird tank happy stickers kehhehhh Specs 9:48 pm *okay, the humans are hugging. NOW she can unflatten herself* Windchill 9:49 pm I can't believe you guys tried to watch this without me. Swoop 9:49 pm *looks around for where the treats went and then gets to work stealing that too* ItsyBitsySpyers 9:49 pm @Prowl: [[He has never interrupted an opera with a carcass. If you were wondering about other parallels.]] Whirl 9:49 pm You a fan of this one? Bull 9:49 pm *Bull looks to Soundwave but then looks to Magnum to see if they should explain anything to the mech* Tarantulas 9:49 pm *would definitely interrupt an opera with a carcass, ftr* Windchill 9:49 pm Unfortunately. Me 9:49 pm @Soundwave «I get the impression that, if it were bad enough, you might.» Specs 9:49 pm ((god forbid soundwave interrupt a music)) Windchill 9:49 pm Don't worry, I won't ruin it by singing along. Whirl 9:49 pm *snickers* Magnum Ace 9:49 pm -if Soundwave's distracted then NOPE- Specs 9:49 pm *peeks over at Windchill* Are they all like this? Windchill 9:50 pm All of what like what? ItsyBitsySpyers 9:50 pm *Perhaps Tarantulas should take up mask-wearing. They're terribly comfortable. He's sure everyone will be wearing them in the future.* Specs 9:50 pm Singing, dancing, random corpses? Windchill 9:50 pm Hell yeah. And drama, don't forget that. Bevel 9:50 pm *didn't interrupt an opera but a body was involved* Specs 9:50 pm Nice. Tarantulas 9:50 pm *tarantulas ditched his mask a long time ago, masks are so pre-war* Windchill 9:50 pm This one has—well, I won't spoil anything. Whirl 9:51 pm *snickers again, and magnanimously gestures for Windchill to join the Whirl Table* ItsyBitsySpyers 9:51 pm *Soundwave is distracted, but he won't forget that question. It'll come back some day to bite the Leaguers.* Swoop 9:51 pm *comes back with the proportionally largest treats available and gets back on the sticker-covered floor with Bird* Windchill 9:51 pm *He will gladly move to the Whirl Table.* Me 9:51 pm @Soundwave «... And would I be wrong to say that there were points in your life where, if you had taken an interest in an opera house, you'd be willing to use blackmail and threats to ensure it was run up to your standards?» Swoop 9:51 pm *doesn't have any problem putting goodies on top of stickers, quality control is not a very dinobot thing* Magnum Ace 9:51 pm -well crap- ItsyBitsySpyers 9:52 pm *...He can't look at Prowl now. To be honest, he owns a club and he uses blackmail and threats to keep it running. An opera is just a change of style.* Bull 9:52 pm *If Magnum says nothing, neither is Bull* Specs 9:52 pm ((does that make karaoke nights opera?)) ItsyBitsySpyers 9:52 pm *LASERBEAK will eat the goodies, stickers and all.* Swoop 9:53 pm ((oh will he?)) Specs 9:53 pm ((SOUNDWAVE NO)) Swoop 9:53 pm ((LOL)) Tarantulas 9:53 pm (( sldghdf ItsyBitsySpyers 9:53 pm *AHEM* Windchill 9:53 pm I oughta make the boyfriend watch this one. He'd judge me and it would be lots of fun. Me 9:53 pm ((that's one way to avoid answering prowl)) Swoop 9:53 pm ((that'd be QUITE a sight)) Bevel 9:53 pm ((A+ error Tarantulas 9:53 pm (( shred the stickers with your fangs Swoop 9:53 pm ((if anyone ever M!A bodyswaps the Soundwave fam, I want to believe that's what Bird would do with Soundwave's body)) Magnum Ace 9:53 pm -good. Until Soundwave remembers- Specs 9:53 pm ((soundwave tip #137: eat food off the floor to avoid awkward conversations)) ItsyBitsySpyers 9:53 pm ((prowl is not food shh)) Bevel 9:53 pm ((lol Tarantulas 9:54 pm (( om nom Whirl 9:54 pm He seems like he judges everyone and everything. So, what would even be new? Swoop 9:54 pm *puts a happy donut sticker on a round goodie* *offers to Bird* Windchill 9:54 pm Yeah, that's the idea. Swoop 9:54 pm <3 Me 9:54 pm ((really? because i remember soundwave very recently eating his chest sticker and all)) Specs 9:54 pm *the dragon thought that Whirl was Windchill's boyfriend, but will avoid commenting* Whirl 9:54 pm *EVERYONE DOES* Windchill 9:54 pm I enjoy a certain amount of predictability. ItsyBitsySpyers 9:54 pm *Is trying not to be sympathetic to the Phantom's pain. Is anyway. Doesn't know what this says about him.* Whirl 9:54 pm *IT'S AMAZING* Twincast 9:54 pm ((...well, soundwave duped me, bc I looked away & was very confused why people were chiding him. bc I clearly saw LASERBEAK)) Windchill 9:54 pm *Even Windchill's actual boyfriend is suspicious.* Me 9:54 pm @Soundwave «... I can't tell if that's a reluctant yes, or a "that's so off base I'm too insulted to reply."» Magnum Ace 9:54 pm ....definitely dramatic enough to be him Swoop 9:55 pm *if windchill gets close to swoop, he will get sticker'd* ItsyBitsySpyers 9:55 pm ((you shh about that sticker))

@Prowl: [[Reluctant yes.]] Bull 9:55 pm *Bull snorts at that* No, this guy is a far better actor. Windchill 9:55 pm *He's sitting down, but Swoop is more than welcome to sticker him.* Magnum Ace 9:55 pm He had the mask part down, though Whirl 9:55 pm *Whirl actually DOES have a significant other, presently, but everyone always assumes it's Windchill* Me 9:55 pm ((his angry little RRGH at the end)) Whirl 9:56 pm Hot damn! Bull 9:56 pm *Bull tried not to laugh* either of which are convincing 'disguises' Whirl 9:56 pm Exploding chandelier. Bull 9:56 pm *neither Windchill 9:56 pm Cool. Specs 9:56 pm Why is the bed on fire? Magnum Ace 9:56 pm I don't know. The humans fell for it... Whirl 9:56 pm *intermission means, TIME TO DRINK, and Whirl gets chuggin* Swoop 9:56 pm *has to reach but he manages to slap a hot dog sticker on Windchill, not for a reason, he was just in the food sticker book cause of Bird* Tarantulas 9:56 pm This message has been removed. Windchill 9:56 pm *Side eyes Whirl's grotesque display.* Tarantulas 9:57 pm This message has been removed. Windchill 9:57 pm *Gasps when someone TOUCHES him.* Specs 9:57 pm ((tara you okay)) Tarantulas 9:57 pm (( DAMNIT Swoop 9:57 pm ((lolol it's okay swoop can be v overwhelming)) Tarantulas 9:57 pm (( enter key sneakin under my fingers Me 9:57 pm @Soundwave «Ah, good. I mean—not good, but. Good that I didn't insult you.» Twincast 9:57 pm ((Tara has been silenced by rabbit)) Whirl 9:57 pm ((Tarantulas has been REDACTED)) Specs 9:57 pm ((pat spide)) Bull 9:57 pm *Bull shakes his head* Really... Owner should have saw through it sooner. Atleast Coach did. Whirl 9:57 pm *it's weird, but hardly grotesque, you philistine; like watching a bird drink* Swoop 9:57 pm *slaps a hamburger on Windchill's shin for good measure* Windchill 9:58 pm *Looks down, knowing that knowing was a bad idea and doing it anyway.* Swoop 9:58 pm *HAS WATCHED BIRD DRINK BEFORE 😮 * Whirl 9:58 pm *That's how Whirl do. He has to toss his head back to swallow* Windchill 9:58 pm What the hullabaloo are you slapping me for? Specs 9:58 pm (( http://www.learner.org/jnorth/images/graphics/humm/RThompson_forktongue.gif )) Swoop 9:58 pm For stickers Specs 9:58 pm ((whirl sip)) Magnum Ace 9:58 pm Owner was also head over heels for Segal Tarantulas 9:58 pm *throws silk at one of swoop's non-stickered snacks. he's feeling petty. zoop, the snack is his* Windchill 9:58 pm *Squints, has to lift his leg to see.* What is it? Swoop 9:58 pm *joke's on tara, those were for laserbeak* Tarantulas 9:59 pm *self-sabotage* ItsyBitsySpyers 9:59 pm @Prowl: [[He cannot blame you for knowing the truth.]] Bull 9:59 pm I think Top Joy explained it as 'star struck' Specs 9:59 pm *looks at the skull faced humans* *kinda looks at Soundwave* *Suspicious.* ItsyBitsySpyers 9:59 pm {{Hey! Them mine!}} Bull 9:59 pm *attention goes back to the screen* Swoop 10:00 pm *snaps his head around to figure out what is up with Bird* ?? Magnum Ace 10:00 pm Yeah. She was star-struck and not paying attention Whirl 10:00 pm ((JDKR HAHAHA)) Magnum Ace 10:00 pm -and now his attention is back on the screen too- Tarantulas 10:00 pm *pauses. that was an Error. but don't admit it* *....sneaks his tongue out and licks the snack* Windchill 10:00 pm *Puts his foot down.* ItsyBitsySpyers 10:00 pm *SHRILL SCREECH* Swoop 10:00 pm *JUMPS* ???? Twincast 10:00 pm *uh* Swoop 10:00 pm !!! 😮 Whirl 10:00 pm *chugging is done* Well, this is a little--oh, good, they're singing again. Magnum Ace 10:00 pm !!!! Bevel 10:00 pm *ooooo so many costumes* Me 10:01 pm *What's going on?* Bull 10:01 pm *looks to the screech alarmed* ! Twincast 10:01 pm ..everything alright? Specs 10:01 pm *the dragon suddenly LEAPS into the air* *flying dragon ballet* *well, it's not ballet anymore, it's just twirling around in the air* Whirl 10:01 pm *serenely ignores the screech* Swoop 10:01 pm *is still unclear on what happened to Bird and therefore hasn't figure out how fire can solve this yet* Magnum Ace 10:01 pm -alarmed straightening of posture - Windchill 10:01 pm Creepy. ItsyBitsySpyers 10:02 pm [[...He wonders if it is still possible to find the Cybertron that hosted the masquerade some years ago.]] Tarantulas 10:02 pm *chomp. snack gone* ItsyBitsySpyers 10:02 pm [[Perhaps not. It may have descended into the war by now.]] Whirl 10:02 pm Were these every a thing on our world? *looks to Prowl questioningly* Bevel 10:03 pm They should have one here. Whirl 10:03 pm Or, well. Your world. I mean, y'know. The analogue, seeing as we're not from the actual same Cybertron. Swoop 10:03 pm *glances up at Tarantulas then to Bird, he suspects* Spiderbot ... take You Bird goodie? Windchill 10:03 pm *Points down his throat in a gagging motion.* Me 10:03 pm ... Were what? *he's still trying to figure out what happened with Laserb— oh no, Tarantulas didn't.* Whirl 10:03 pm Masquerade-type things. Tarantulas 10:03 pm I would /never/. Specs 10:03 pm *dives back down to the table, spins on her toes, and leaps back into the air for more twirling* ItsyBitsySpyers 10:04 pm {{Him done! Squish, gross web steal. Then him lick! Bird seen!}} Magnum Ace 10:04 pm -oh. That's it. Back to watching the screen- Me 10:04 pm *Well, whether or not it's true, Swoop's going to believe it. Gets to his feet and heads over. There's a song going, Soundwave isn't going to intervene.* Bevel 10:05 pm *entranced with this song* Swoop 10:05 pm *puffs up and looks from Bird to Tarantulas* Specs 10:05 pm *and, for ONCE this entire movie, lands gracefully on the tips of her toes. tries to bow, but dragons aren't made for that* Bull 10:05 pm and he's back... Windchill 10:05 pm *It about to get spoopy, so he's gonna dig into his subspace.* Whirl 10:05 pm *clicks his claws on the table by way of applause for the dragon* *SNRK* Magnum Ace 10:06 pm ....Dramatic much? Whirl 10:06 pm Okay the moving jaw kind of ruins it. Specs 10:06 pm *the dragon bows her head happily* *but look at that hella skeleton!* ItsyBitsySpyers 10:06 pm [[He likes the jaw.]] *Wait. Where did Prowl go?* Tarantulas 10:06 pm *tarantulas is strangely delighted prowl's in on this now* Whirl 10:06 pm It's goofy, so if that's what you're going for. Bevel 10:06 pm *loves the costume* ItsyBitsySpyers 10:06 pm *...Oh, yes, the licking. Well, if Prowl thinks he can stop those two from fighting, so be it. Might be good for encouraging... things.* Me 10:06 pm *cautiously stands near Tarantulas.* *PROWL THINKS NO SUCH THING, COME HELP* Windchill 10:07 pm *Is pulling a swathe of fabric out of his boob like a magician.* Swoop 10:07 pm *crouches and grins while he stares Tara down* Bull 10:07 pm I'm almost waiting for one of 13's golf balls to come whizzing by again. ItsyBitsySpyers 10:07 pm *TELL HIM YOU DON'T, HE'S NOT A... I mean, yes, he IS a mind reader, but he's not - look, just say a damn thing.* Tarantulas 10:07 pm *looks up at prowl innocently* Hello, dear. Windchill 10:07 pm She was easy to convince. Swoop 10:07 pm *LAUNCHES HIMSELF AT TARANTULAS* Tarantulas 10:07 pm *oh fuk* Bull 10:07 pm *He had enough of movies for awhile after that incident* Me 10:08 pm *shoves Tarantulas aside, braces himself for dinobot* Magnum Ace 10:08 pm Can we not. He was aiming for my head. ItsyBitsySpyers 10:08 pm *FWOOSH BRIDGE* Swoop 10:08 pm *fwoosh :<* *the goodie goes unavenged* ItsyBitsySpyers 10:08 pm *Laserbeak blows a raspberry at Soundwave and follows Swoop through.* Me 10:09 pm ... *looks back at Soundwave* Thanks. Bull 10:09 pm Thankfully the most we need to worry of him now is if he challenges Windy to another round of 'foot golf'. Windchill 10:09 pm *Produces a blanket to wrap himself in. Might as well get comfy and ignore the idiots fighting.* Bevel 10:09 pm *disappointed at the lack of fight but it's probably for the best* Swoop 10:09 pm *.... maybe this is a win, if he gets to spend time with Bird and she knows he'd at least ATTEMPT to maim someone for her snacks <3 * Tarantulas 10:09 pm *is even MORE delighted, much snickering at swoop's fate* Whirl 10:09 pm *didn't even so much as bat his eye at the fight. Just watchin and occasionally taking a pull from his drink* ItsyBitsySpyers 10:10 pm [[Mm.]] *Nobody tackles his amica.*

*...That said, as soon as the one that caught Swoop closes, one pops up under Tarantulas as well.* Magnum Ace 10:10 pm He challenged us /all/ to that game Tarantulas 10:10 pm *double fuk* Magnum Ace 10:10 pm ...and I think I remember it was the Lavenders that did best Windchill 10:10 pm *Sniffs.* Bevel 10:10 pm *oh snap, stifles her giggles behind her hand* Windchill 10:10 pm Why does this smell like— Bull 10:10 pm yeah; but Windy too it personally *remembers how mad the soccer leaguer got* Windchill 10:10 pm *Sniffs the blanket.* Oh. Bull 10:11 pm *took Swoop 10:11 pm *LEFT HIS STICKERS 😔 * Bevel 10:11 pm ((everyone groaning at another note i love it Me 10:11 pm *turns toward where Tarantulas was* Tarantulas 10:11 pm *guess who's reflexively throwing silk at the ceiling before he can fall, does it work* Me 10:11 pm *and toward Soundwave* Whirl 10:11 pm ...what smell? *looks to Windchill, and takes a good whiff* Bevel 10:11 pm *roll a d20* Me 10:11 pm *why tho* Tarantulas 10:11 pm (( lmao cro roll for me Windchill 10:11 pm It's a smell. ItsyBitsySpyers 10:12 pm (( random.org gives u a 4)) Specs 10:12 pm ((I rolled u a five)) Bevel 10:12 pm ((welp Windchill 10:12 pm *A stinky smell.* Tarantulas 10:12 pm (( DANGIT Twincast 10:12 pm ((RIP Bevel 10:12 pm *nice knowing you tara* Twincast 10:12 pm ((you tried)) Tarantulas 10:12 pm *a little snippet of web got chopped off as the bridge closed, it's just sitting there on the floor now* Swoop 10:12 pm ((u grab a lightbulb and pop it straight out)) Magnum Ace 10:12 pm -snorting at that memory- Bull... ItsyBitsySpyers 10:13 pm [[Someone please clean that up. He is busy enjoying the musical.]] Whirl 10:13 pm *recoils* What the h--put that away. Windchill 10:13 pm Hmm. Tarantulas 10:13 pm *so, pray tell, where the frick is tarantulas now* Windchill 10:13 pm *Snuggles in it.* Okay. Whirl 10:14 pm Why does that thing reek? Windchill 10:14 pm That's classified. Me 10:14 pm ... *glumly picks up web.* Windchill 10:14 pm *Is shoving it back into subspace at least.* Specs 10:14 pm *squints at Windchill* Where was that before you stored it inside you? Me 10:14 pm *goes to sit by Soundwave again* Whirl 10:15 pm *lowers his head to inhale the caustic drink-fumes to clear the smell* ItsyBitsySpyers 10:15 pm *He's not completely heartless. Tarantulas is inside the Louisville Zoo spider house.* Bull 10:15 pm *'risking life for a chance to live'... Bull knows that line well* Specs 10:15 pm ((/WHEEZE)) Windchill 10:15 pm It's from my HOUSE. Specs 10:15 pm What ELSE is in your house? Magnum Ace 10:15 pm -and please don't do it again- Me 10:15 pm *tries to shake the web off his hand* Windchill 10:16 pm *SHOVES like he's stuffing his bra.* Tarantulas 10:16 pm *lmao nope prowl it's stuck* Windchill 10:16 pm My boyfriend is in my house. ItsyBitsySpyers 10:16 pm *Tugs a scrap of tarp out of subspace and offers it to Prowl.*

[[Cameras. Laserbeak wasn't lying.]] Windchill 10:16 pm And me! Whirl 10:16 pm Isn't he your conjunx? Me 10:16 pm *... tries to shake the web off his hand* Tarantulas 10:16 pm *and tarantulas is seething as he bridges himself back home out of the damn zoo* Windchill 10:16 pm And our spawn. And the occasional dead animal. Specs 10:16 pm Does he-. *bites her tongue* Windchill 10:17 pm *His brows furrow as he delicately tucks the last of the offensive sheet away.* I've learned to live with it. Bull 10:17 pm I wonder if this is the torture the poor actors who worked with Segal had to endure. Windchill 10:17 pm No, Whirl. We don't have that where I'm from. Whirl 10:17 pm ...oh. Me 10:17 pm *......... tries to shake the web off his hand* Magnum Ace 10:18 pm ...considering how easily he left them to die? Whirl 10:18 pm Huh, it hadn't occurred to me that you didn't. ...you know I've been calling him that this whole time and you never corrected me. Magnum Ace 10:18 pm I think this would be tame Windchill 10:18 pm I knew what you meant. ItsyBitsySpyers 10:18 pm [[It does not come off so easily.]] Windchill 10:18 pm We have something else, but we're not that either. Me 10:18 pm *... wipes it on tarp* Whirl 10:18 pm *looks to the dragon* It was probably his horrible worm child. She can make a mess like nobody's business. It's great. Tarantulas 10:18 pm (( roll a d20 prowl pffft ItsyBitsySpyers 10:19 pm ((lmfao)) Whirl 10:19 pm I *straightens proudly* Taught her to curse. Windchill 10:19 pm *Puffs up proudly, as well.* Me 10:19 pm ((10)) Windchill 10:19 pm She's the worst. Bull 10:19 pm I think even the other humans he was making those movies with weren't much luckier... *though the Leaguers had it worse by far* Twincast 10:19 pm ((so partly, then?)) Tarantulas 10:20 pm (( dang i really wanted a crit fail so prowl was stuck to the tarp Specs 10:20 pm Worm child? Magnum Ace 10:20 pm He did come off as someone who would do this Windchill 10:20 pm Yeah! It's a child that's a worm. Me 10:20 pm *it only halfway comes off* Bevel 10:20 pm Sparkling? Whirl 10:20 pm They propagate in his dimension. Specs 10:20 pm Fair enough. Me 10:20 pm *... keeps wiping* Windchill 10:20 pm *Thanks for clarifying Windchill.* Sparkling, sure. *At least one stream of consciousness is sorely tempted to get in on this song. But he won't.* *The others are busy talking about worms anyway.* Whirl 10:22 pm ((SHE'S KILLING IT I S2G)) Me 10:22 pm *mrph. screw it. goes incorporeal long enough for the web to fall off.* Whirl 10:23 pm ((EXCELLENT )) Bevel 10:23 pm *really into this song. and that dress dang* ItsyBitsySpyers 10:23 pm *Soundwave carefully picks up the tarp in feeler claws, squishes up the rest of the web, and slithers it aaaaaall the way over to the bar to dispose of it.* Specs 10:23 pm *even the dragon thinks the dress is hella. it's a very nice shade of blue.* Windchill 10:23 pm Nice. Whirl 10:23 pm *it is the best color, which is blue* Bevel 10:24 pm *blue is a pretty nice color* Twincast 10:24 pm *agreed* Windchill 10:24 pm *Listen here you devil, PINK is obviously the best colour.* Me 10:24 pm ((... oh! it's her red scarf. i never realized)) Magnum Ace 10:24 pm -prefers green, but blue's nice too- Bull 10:24 pm *wonders if Owner had a moment like that when accepting her father's 'death'* ItsyBitsySpyers 10:24 pm *Thinks blue is a beautiful color.* Tarantulas 10:24 pm @SW: ::...If I bridge you a treat, will you give it to Laserbeak for me?:: ItsyBitsySpyers 10:25 pm @Tarantulas: [[Yes.]] After scanning it for poison and such. Bevel 10:25 pm Is he pretending to be her father now? Windchill 10:25 pm It's creepy. Whirl 10:25 pm Yeah. Specs 10:26 pm She looks brainwashed. Magnum Ace 10:26 pm ....... Windchill 10:26 pm (( Thank goodness for the subtitles my brain doesn't process speech well enough for that level of overlapping lol.)) Bevel 10:26 pm *scowls* Windchill 10:26 pm A wizard! Swoop 10:26 pm ((swup missed the fire : < )) Bull 10:27 pm Maniacal madman... Windchill 10:27 pm *Crosses his legs.* Tarantulas 10:27 pm *more bad choices, but no one has to know but tarantulas. three gold-hued treats pop through a bridge. there's nothing suspicious about them under scan, they're definitely energon but from a different verse* Magnum Ace 10:27 pm Definitely him. Bull 10:27 pm At least they have police to help them. Windchill 10:28 pm *Snickers.* Magnum Ace 10:29 pm ...true Specs 10:29 pm *blinks* Why so eager to die? Bull 10:29 pm Even if it might not help, it is better than nothing. Whirl 10:29 pm Sometimes, that's just the way it is, dragon. ItsyBitsySpyers 10:30 pm *Soundwave catches them on his forearm and look at them curiously, prodding with a finger. Not corrupted, or they would have exploded. He doesn't recognize this color. What is it?*

*Sets them over on the bar and places an empty cube over them. He'll check them later to make sure they're safe, never knowing the joke behind them.* Magnum Ace 10:30 pm True... Me 10:30 pm @Soundwave «Perhaps they shouldn't have plotted his capture INSIDE the opera house where he listens to everything?» Windchill 10:30 pm Man. Whirl 10:31 pm Pfft. A disguise. I bet you can't guess who's gonna end up on stage in that disguise. Windchill 10:31 pm Shhh. ItsyBitsySpyers 10:31 pm @Prowl: [[It is possible they want him to hear. To outsmart him.]] Pause. [[They may also be foolish. He does not know.]] [[Is it a disguise if all know who it is?]] Specs 10:32 pm I'd say not. Me 10:32 pm @Soundwave «If they think they can outsmart him by letting him know all their preparations to catch him, they ARE foolish.» Windchill 10:32 pm *Rolls his optics.* ItsyBitsySpyers 10:32 pm @Prowl: [[No, no. To give him one idea and play another.]] Whirl 10:32 pm Guess not. Nobody else could be as insufferable as he is, anyway. Me 10:33 pm @Soundwave «None of them have demonstrated that much guile.» Bull 10:33 pm Almost no one... *Bull mutters* ItsyBitsySpyers 10:33 pm @Prowl: [[Then they are idiots, and we must depend on the Christine human.]] Magnum Ace 10:33 pm -ATTEMPTS to muffle his snickering- Me 10:33 pm *HUFF.* @Soundwave «Good luck to her.» Specs 10:34 pm *the dragon snickers* Insufferability is surprisingly consistent in all universes. Maybe it's a constant, like the speed of light? Magnum Ace 10:34 pm -doesn't work- ItsyBitsySpyers 10:34 pm *Light fidgets. Thanks to all that parallel talk, he's thinking things.* *Oh, good. That part's done with.* Bull 10:34 pm *imagines how pissed Ryuken would be if Segal was that 'handsy'* Magnum Ace 10:35 pm -Ryuken would have decked a human- Windchill 10:35 pm *Chin hands.* Whirl 10:35 pm ((wow, i don't remember this being so overtly sensual, wtf)) Me 10:35 pm ((i'm PRETTY SURE that's the body language of a guy who has not had sex with her but really really wants to)) Whirl 10:35 pm ((that's what happens when you haven't listened to a musical since iddle school i guess 8);; )) Swoop 10:35 pm ((I'll second that body language assessment lol)) Whirl 10:35 pm ((YEAH EVEN I GOTTA ADMIT IT)) Swoop 10:35 pm ((oh myg od he JUMPED)) ItsyBitsySpyers 10:35 pm ((i'm told this scene is invariably roasty hot in every movie and play)) Me 10:35 pm ((omfg his finger curl)) (("there are BOOBS on my back")) Whirl 10:36 pm ((i mean me2 phantom, she's awesome)) Me 10:36 pm ((okay christine good on you for continuing to sing but this might go better if you stop singing and scream "HELP IT'S THE PHANTOM")) ItsyBitsySpyers 10:36 pm [[Clever human.]] Specs 10:37 pm ((oh no. what a surprise.)) Bevel 10:37 pm ((this scene is intensely sexual every time I see it like damn Swoop 10:37 pm ((the one time I saw it in person, they had christine actually lay all the way back on the table at one point, like we were one awkward mistep away from accidental on stage dry humping)) Magnum Ace 10:37 pm ((well shit Me 10:37 pm (("""accidental""")) Swoop 10:37 pm ((LOL)) Bevel 10:38 pm ((ok no the high school production was awkward af trying to be not too sexy because parents are watching ItsyBitsySpyers 10:38 pm [[What is the significance of the ring?]] Me 10:38 pm ... What IS it with her and jerking his mask off? Whirl 10:38 pm If she was REALLY smart, she'd have smuggled a knife in her bodice and stabbed him. Specs 10:38 pm Why not in her wig? Swoop 10:38 pm ((how do you do that scene NOT about sex?)) Specs 10:38 pm No one checks the fur. Whirl 10:38 pm She had plenty of time while he was distracted with that song. Windchill 10:38 pm *Mildly explosive choking sounds in the Windchill corner.* ItsyBitsySpyers 10:38 pm [[A good point. He allowed her behind him at one point. She could have terminated him then.]] Bevel 10:38 pm ((you make it sexy but like... 8th grade dance sexy Windchill 10:38 pm Ring? ItsyBitsySpyers 10:38 pm *Still doesn't like her pulling the Phantom's mask off.* Bevel 10:39 pm ((hands on hips, three feet apart, y'know Me 10:39 pm Oh—it's a human ritual, I expect. They put rings on each other to announce an intent to become conjugated. Swoop 10:39 pm ((leavin room for the HOLY SPIRIT?)) Bevel 10:39 pm ((lol Twincast 10:39 pm ((pfffft ItsyBitsySpyers 10:39 pm ((The Holy Spirit of the Opera.)) Whirl 10:39 pm I mean, he's been tormenting her, and she's trying to rid herself of him, so... I'd rip his mask off too, at that point. But honestly I'd have stabbed him first. Swoop 10:39 pm ((omfg)) Bevel 10:39 pm ((wink wonk Magnum Ace 10:39 pm .... Specs 10:39 pm His face is still not that ugly. Whirl 10:39 pm And THEN dragged his mask off, and paraded his dead body around as a warning to the next person who wanted to try it. Bull 10:39 pm If he keeps going this Phantom might reach Segal's kill count.... *has no sympathy for the Phantom* ItsyBitsySpyers 10:39 pm [[His appearance is more unusual than it was the first time. He wonders why.]] Windchill 10:40 pm That;s because it's makeup over a normal face. Me 10:40 pm ((i'm so glad that this version actually explained why to keep your hand at the level of your eyes. most versions leave out the line about the lasso)) Specs 10:40 pm I mean, humans have ugly, naked faces, but still. It's not that much worse than a normal human face. Twincast 10:40 pm ((ikr. I was so confused about that for so long)) Whirl 10:40 pm Yeah, he's barely even mutilated at all. It's wimp stuff. Magnum Ace 10:40 pm He may Bevel 10:40 pm ((did the movie fail to explain it? Me 10:40 pm ((yeah, it did)) Specs 10:41 pm *looks over at Whirl* *should she say thing. should she.* *just pats Whirl instead* Windchill 10:41 pm Humans are...homogeneous and so any variation upsets them. Magnum Ace 10:41 pm And that's not exactly a good feat Whirl 10:41 pm *he looks down, a bit surprised, but accepts the pat* Swoop 10:41 pm ((yeah they def haven't banged, at least in this production)) Bevel 10:41 pm ((*adds that to the list of reasons why the movie is not very good that has nothing to do with anyone's singing abilities* Twincast 10:41 pm ((I feel like buqet might have said something abt it at the start of the movie when he was scaring the ballerinas, bu otherwise no)) Me 10:41 pm *mumbles* I'm pretty sure it's the murder, blackmail, property damage, threats, and mind control that's poisoning their love. Whirl 10:41 pm *snickers* ...*assuming that was a mumble loud enough for Whirl to hear* Me 10:42 pm ((he talks about the lasso, but don't mention the "hand at the level of your eyes" advice)) Twincast 10:42 pm ((ah, true Windchill 10:42 pm *Shrugs.* ItsyBitsySpyers 10:42 pm *Tiny nod. If he had done all that...*

*Things would be very different.* Magnum Ace 10:44 pm ....dramatic enough there? Bevel 10:44 pm Never. Specs 10:44 pm Needs more drama. Whirl 10:44 pm Ohh, does she get to kill him? Bevel 10:44 pm Maybe he can explode the organ. Specs 10:45 pm I hope so! Magnum Ace 10:45 pm -snorts- Whirl 10:45 pm *normally Whirl would be complaining that this guy isn't going to listen, and it's time to stab, but this musical medley is really good* Windchill 10:46 pm That tends to happen. Me 10:47 pm *... hold on, what* Magnum Ace 10:47 pm ........ Whirl 10:47 pm *peers* ItsyBitsySpyers 10:47 pm *He sees where this is going.* Bull 10:47 pm ((yeah, that's the reaction of a guy who's never even gotten that far)) Me 10:47 pm ((YEP)) Windchill 10:47 pm I like the exposed skull bit. Magnum Ace 10:47 pm ((yeeeeep Swoop 10:48 pm ((agreed)) Me 10:49 pm *... she either has an astounding capacity for compassion, or she is a far better manipulator than even the phantom* Magnum Ace 10:49 pm ...hey, Bull? Bull 10:49 pm yeah? Magnum Ace 10:50 pm Think they're the same now? Bull 10:50 pm .... No... Windchill 10:51 pm I wonder if real snot is running down her nose. Whirl 10:51 pm Uggh. Oh, okay, she wasn't singing to him. Because honestly, I can't see how she hasn't caused him grievous bodily harm yet. Specs 10:52 pm I'd have bitten his head off and eaten it, myself. Me 10:53 pm *mumbles* Trap door. ItsyBitsySpyers 10:53 pm *Light pap against knee with the feeler claws. He heard that.* Whirl 10:53 pm How funny would it have been if her friend had caught up with them while the Phantom was trying to hold Raoul hostage and just... beaned him with a candelabra. Just beat the stew out of him, grabbed her pals, and run. Magnum Ace 10:54 pm At least he left them alone afterwards Specs 10:54 pm *the dragon sniggers* Absolutely hilarious. *soft and fluffy applause for the ballet girls* Bull 10:54 pm *nods in agreement* ItsyBitsySpyers 10:55 pm *Clicks the feeler claws all quietlike with the audience.* Windchill 10:55 pm *Doesn't care about this part, picks up his foot to examine the stickers.* Whirl 10:55 pm *well. If everyone else is applauding. He'll tap his claws on the table* ItsyBitsySpyers 10:55 pm *He hasn't seen something like this since before the war. It was... nice. Even if he wasn't in the building himself.* Bevel 10:56 pm I liked the costumes. Whirl 10:56 pm The singing was amazing. And the dancing. Windchill 10:56 pm I like the songs. Me 10:56 pm *curiously watches the feeler clicks* Bevel 10:56 pm Yeah, that too. *but mostly the costumes* Specs 10:57 pm *stands on the tips of her toes for a moment* I liked the dancing too. ItsyBitsySpyers 10:57 pm *They're still going. They will go as long as the applause is going.* Twincast 10:57 pm kPPp[kjmug/. Magnum Ace 10:57 pm That was nice Me 10:57 pm *... taps his forefinger against his thumb for a moment. hmm.* Twincast 10:57 pm (CAT) ItsyBitsySpyers 10:57 pm ((....u ok there)) Bull 10:57 pm It was. Me 10:57 pm ((HI KEET)) Windchill 10:57 pm *Picks at a sticker.* *GASPS.* *Leans closer and gasps again.* Twincast 10:58 pm ((there's een a catin my lap for the whole movie. she jsut decided to move)) Windchill 10:58 pm Did Swoop stick a dong on me?! ItsyBitsySpyers 10:58 pm *Why are they applauding this human? He wasn't in it.* *And now the claws slowly wind down.* Windchill 10:58 pm *When ur eyeshit is trash a hotdog might look like a dong.* Bevel 10:59 pm ((eyeshit ItsyBitsySpyers 10:59 pm ((what a typo)) Swoop 10:59 pm *is a good boy, not really but he is a baby boy emphasis on baby* Windchill 10:59 pm (( : ) )) Swoop 10:59 pm *no dong stickers for you buddy* Windchill 10:59 pm (( I'm leaving it for posterity. )) Swoop 10:59 pm ((good plan)) Windchill 11:00 pm *It's for the best.* Whirl 11:00 pm Must be pretty impressive in person, too. Specs 11:00 pm *big dragon yawn* Will there be more dancing? ItsyBitsySpyers 11:00 pm *He must have been involved with putting it on somehow. A producer? Hmm.*

*He looks over at Prowl's hands. Is he still pinching the air?* Me 11:01 pm *no, no, he stopped that before the applause ended* ItsyBitsySpyers 11:01 pm [[He is told there are two special performances when the speaking is over.]] *Then Soundwave's taking one.* Specs 11:01 pm *that gets the dragon's attention* 😮 Windchill 11:01 pm *Looks up.* Whirl 11:01 pm ((oh, I thought Phantom had just left our theater, but it's still here actually0) Windchill 11:02 pm Look at all of those old people! ItsyBitsySpyers 11:02 pm (( 😮 GO)) Whirl 11:02 pm ((..WAIT NO THAT WAS THE WRONG ORPHEUM)) Swoop 11:02 pm ((you absolutely should see it if you can)) ItsyBitsySpyers 11:03 pm *Still hasn't been told who this is. Hits up the human datanet to find out. Searching, searching... AND SOUNDWAVE'S SITTING UP STRAIGHT* Whirl 11:03 pm ((it did just leave)) Bevel 11:03 pm ((thirding the see it if you can Twincast 11:03 pm ((aww Me 11:03 pm *?* Bevel 11:03 pm *blinks at Soundwave* Is something wrong? Swoop 11:03 pm ((I mean, I'd say that about most theater productions because seeing a show in person is fun even if it is a meh show. The atmosphere is just fun. But the Phantom of the Opera really takes advantage of the space and plays with audience reactions.)) ItsyBitsySpyers 11:03 pm *Points at the human in blue.* [[That is the fleshling who created the music for this.]] Me 11:03 pm Oh. Bevel 11:04 pm Oh! That is why everyone was so happy to see him. Specs 11:04 pm That explains all the applause. Whirl 11:04 pm ((if i ever can catch it, I shall)) ItsyBitsySpyers 11:04 pm [[His work is delightful. He should be proud.]] Windchill 11:04 pm Here she is, I was wondering. Bevel 11:04 pm Who is she? Twincast 11:04 pm ((dat hair)) Windchill 11:04 pm (( Dat hair indeed goddamn. )) She's the original Christine. Swoop 11:05 pm ((how cool!)) Windchill 11:05 pm *Is much more invested atm.* Bevel 11:05 pm *and she's going to sing cool* ItsyBitsySpyers 11:05 pm *Leans into Prowl. This is even better than expected.* Me 11:05 pm *leans back against* Specs 11:06 pm 😮 *attentive* Windchill 11:06 pm Too many Phantoms, guys. We're surrounded. Whirl 11:06 pm We' re gonna need a lot of knives. ItsyBitsySpyers 11:07 pm *Soft huff* Bevel 11:07 pm *giggles* Specs 11:07 pm I have knives in my feet. Windchill 11:07 pm Or guns, Whirl. I vote guns. ItsyBitsySpyers 11:07 pm [[And more Christines to deliver them.]] Whirl 11:07 pm Well, dragon, you're our first Christine. Specs 11:07 pm *extends all eight foreclaws* I've got this. Bevel 11:07 pm I have swords. Whirl 11:07 pm Bevel, you're our second Christine. We need three more. ...two. I... can count. Sometimes. Windchill 11:08 pm *He's not gonna show off his claws.* ItsyBitsySpyers 11:08 pm *Soundwave places one of those slashed circle NO symbols over his designation on his screen. No singing here.* Whirl 11:08 pm *looks back to ravage. Ravage is probably mentally bye-bye right now* Magnum Ace 11:08 pm What? Whirl 11:08 pm Well, *I* have claws, but I think I'm disqualified. ItsyBitsySpyers 11:08 pm *Ravage is a pile of snooze.* Specs 11:08 pm Why? Bevel 11:08 pm *transforms some of her paneling to look more like the gemstone patterns you'd see on one of Christine's dresses* Whirl 11:09 pm *SNICKERS* There ya go, Shovel! Lots of reasons, dragon. Me 11:09 pm ((it sounds like they're fighting over which one of them she's going to sing for)) Magnum Ace 11:09 pm -he missed the conversation, he's listening to the music- Windchill 11:09 pm (( PFFt. )) Bevel 11:09 pm ((it kinda does lol Whirl 11:09 pm Laserbeak, how are you with stabbing? ((HJDKRFKJE)) Specs 11:09 pm I think you'd be great at the stabbing part. ItsyBitsySpyers 11:09 pm *Laserbeak's out the door with Swoop, remember?* Magnum Ace 11:09 pm ((it does! Whirl 11:09 pm oh, wait. She's gone. Swoop 11:09 pm *the stickers remain, unstuck* ItsyBitsySpyers 11:09 pm [[She's more of a shooting bird.]] Bull 11:10 pm ((Throw all the Phantoms in a room and have them fight for supremacy)) Whirl 11:10 pm Well, dire circumstances call for drastic measures. I'm Christine number three. ItsyBitsySpyers 11:10 pm ((hey at least they wouldn't be lonely anymore)) Bevel 11:10 pm ((There can be only one Whirl 11:10 pm Now we need one more. Magnum Ace 11:10 pm ((the room would explode from the drama Twincast 11:10 pm ((tbh that sounds like fun)) Specs 11:10 pm *hm* What about Windchill? Windchill 11:10 pm Can I be the chandelier? I wanna explode. Me 11:11 pm ((they sing Music Of The Night as their mating call. whoever can sing it with the most drama wins christine.)) Whirl 11:11 pm ...damn, I should have called the Chandelier. I, too, want to explode. Bull 11:11 pm ((This opera house isn't big enough for all of us!!)) ItsyBitsySpyers 11:11 pm ((you put a bunch of phantoms in the room singing that and they're gonna win a damn soundwave)) Windchill 11:11 pm We can combine into the chandelier. I'll share with you. Me 11:11 pm ((here we see them yielding to the alpha phantom)) Magnum Ace 11:11 pm ((HAH! Windchill 11:11 pm It will be a glorious demise. Whirl 11:11 pm Too late. I'm already Christine the Third. Bevel 11:11 pm ((bwahaha Windchill 11:11 pm ... Fine... I'll blow up all on my lonesome... Wait. Whirl 11:11 pm Ravage can't contradict me so he's Christine the fourth. Bevel 11:12 pm You are blue. You just need a cool cape. Windchill 11:12 pm I don't even get any singing parts! ... It's for the best. Whirl 11:12 pm No, no capes. I'm firmly anti-cape. Bevel 11:12 pm *giggles* Whirl 11:12 pm But I have been told I've got a half-decent voice, so I can do the singing. Someone else'll have to wear the cape. Magnum Ace 11:12 pm Think we should see about showing this to Owner? Specs 11:12 pm I call cape. Tarantulas 11:12 pm (( 💔 that note kills me Windchill 11:12 pm Man, we need to see Sara cover this song. It was written for her anyway. Bull 11:13 pm I think she would like it alot. Magnum Ace 11:14 pm Yeah. The singing is nice Whirl 11:14 pm Oh NO. Now we need a fifth. Me 11:14 pm ((i think there's a flaw with this all-sing-together concept)) Whirl 11:14 pm Looks like I was right all along, and I was psychically counting. ItsyBitsySpyers 11:15 pm ((what's the flaw)) Whirl 11:15 pm ((the Phantoms are forming a combiner)) Me 11:15 pm ((they all learned how to sing as solo phantoms, so they're all trying to be the standout voice.)) ((they didn't spend years practicing to sing it as a harmonious quartet/quintet)) Bull 11:15 pm ((They are merging their powers together!)) ItsyBitsySpyers 11:15 pm ((ahhhh yes)) Specs 11:15 pm ((they're not combiners until someone's standing on someone else's shoulders)) Whirl 11:16 pm Prowl, how good are you at stabbing? On a scale of one to ten. Me 11:16 pm About as good as I am at singing. Whirl 11:16 pm I've never heard you sing. Me 11:16 pm Well, there you go. Windchill 11:16 pm I'm sure it's fantastic. Whirl 11:16 pm ...well, we'll have to make due. You're number five. Congratulations, you're an angel of music now. Me 11:16 pm I decline. Specs 11:16 pm Soundwave could probably answer that, Whirl. 😛 ItsyBitsySpyers 11:17 pm *Wants SO MUCH to ask him to do so but has had plenty of comparisons tonight as it is.* Whirl 11:17 pm Damn. Well, we'll just have to do double-stabbing duty. Windchill 11:17 pm (( the streamers look like yaoi cum sorry guys. )) Twincast 11:17 pm ((rip the person who has to clean up the confetti)) Specs 11:17 pm ((WINDCHILL NO)) Bevel 11:17 pm *can sing by virtue of being able to sound however she wants* Magnum Ace 11:17 pm ((WOW Twincast 11:17 pm ((RIP x2)) Windchill 11:17 pm (( Ur welcome. )) Whirl 11:18 pm *streetches* Windchill 11:18 pm *Chants "chandelier" now.* Me 11:18 pm *He prefers the real Christine's solution, anyway. Unexpected. ... Kind of touching.* Specs 11:18 pm *stretches* I should head out. Next week? Whirl 11:18 pm All right. That was... hoenstly I liked it more'n I thought I would. So, good on you, Soundwave. Windchill 11:19 pm *Frowns.* *Well, he was having fun.* Twincast 11:19 pm ((good ol' Tom Lehrer)) ItsyBitsySpyers 11:19 pm *Soundwave bobs his helm.*

[[He does have passable tastes, you know.]] Windchill 11:19 pm Is this...more math jokes? Whirl 11:19 pm Yeah, looks like it. Windchill 11:19 pm Gross! Whirl 11:20 pm *you get a sympathy pat* Me 11:20 pm *oh, math humor! he's ready* Windchill 11:20 pm *Back to chanting, it's the only way he's gonna survive.* Bevel 11:20 pm ....... Whirl 11:20 pm See you guys. *stands and bobs his head* ItsyBitsySpyers 11:20 pm [[Goodnight, Whirl. He hopes you'll enjoy others.]] Windchill 11:20 pm Bye, Christine number whatever you are. Bevel 11:21 pm Bye, Whirl! Whirl 11:21 pm We'll SEE about all THAT. *points at Soundwave* ItsyBitsySpyers 11:21 pm *Quietly nudges Prowl and holds up his hands. Missing two fingers.* Specs 11:21 pm *the dragon makes an offended huff at the screen* Whirl 11:21 pm *and then waves again and begins to leave, but stops* Oh, Shovel--I'll get back to you about that thing. Probably soon. Me 11:21 pm *watching in baffled wonder* Bevel 11:22 pm Ok. I can wait. Whirl 11:22 pm *haha, got you beat, missing EIGHT fingers* *finger-missing amateur* Bevel 11:22 pm *trying to follow this math video* ItsyBitsySpyers 11:22 pm *He bows before ... wait. Wouldn't that have been Whirl with 12 fingers?* Windchill 11:23 pm *Rests his massive chin in his hand.* Whirl 11:23 pm *wait. okay never mind. Whirl's player can't count, esp not under the weight of so much cold medicine* Me 11:23 pm *okay Prowl's getting the right answers in both base 10 and base 8 and he's getting it a lot faster than the singer but why are they moving digits around* Bevel 11:23 pm *didn't follow it at all and is lost because the answer was different at the end from what it was earlier* ItsyBitsySpyers 11:23 pm *It must be all the deedlies confusing Whirl.* Magnum Ace 11:23 pm -what just happened there?- Specs 11:23 pm ((in all fairness to prowl, I feel that problem)) Whirl 11:23 pm *the deedly boppers ARE confusing. And horrifying* Me 11:24 pm *... sudden dawning horrified realization* Bull 11:24 pm Not sure. Me 11:24 pm ... Bevel. Bevel 11:24 pm What? Magnum Ace 11:24 pm Anyway. I think it's time to go home Me 11:24 pm I think—I think this is pre-algebra. Bevel 11:24 pm .... Oh! Magnum Ace 11:24 pm Soundwave? Can we get a bridge home? Windchill 11:24 pm I can get away from them. That's my superpower. Bull 11:25 pm Yeah; I should really head down to the repair bay and get another sensor blocking patch. Me 11:25 pm *Oh, Prowl likes this song though. Most people don't admit those things are math.* ItsyBitsySpyers 11:25 pm *Soundwave nods.*

[[You may. Next time, though, he would like to hear about Segal.]] Magnum Ace 11:25 pm And you should. I saw you limping this morning. ItsyBitsySpyers 11:25 pm [[It is in the usual place. Be safe. He has a reputation to keep.]] Bull 11:26 pm *chuckles nervously* That'll be a story for another time. Windchill 11:26 pm *Debates internally whether it's safe to pull out the blankie now that Whirl's not here to smell it.* Specs 11:26 pm *the dragon nods to Soundwave* Thank you for the movie! 😄 Magnum Ace 11:26 pm -strained grin- R-right...later. ItsyBitsySpyers 11:26 pm [[You are welcome, dragon.]] Bull 11:26 pm Night everyone. Magnum Ace 11:27 pm Good night! Windchill 11:27 pm *Waves.* *An ear flicks.* Oh. Bevel 11:27 pm *this better not be interface math* Magnum Ace 11:27 pm ((g'night! and thanks for the stream! ItsyBitsySpyers 11:28 pm *No, no. Prowl and Soundwave got that out the way already.* Me 11:28 pm *... for now* Windchill 11:28 pm *Snickers.* Bevel 11:28 pm *she has enough information about y'all* Me 11:28 pm *.... props his elbows on his knees and laces his hands in front of his mouth* @Soundwave «Are you trying to say something, by chance?» ItsyBitsySpyers 11:29 pm @Prowl: [[Not yet. Simply amusing himself.]] Bevel 11:29 pm *trying hard not to giggle* Me 11:30 pm @Soundwave «I see.» Windchill 11:30 pm *Just kind of nods in agreement with the topic.* *Stops.* ItsyBitsySpyers 11:31 pm *You know what the best thing about having a visor is? The very best thing?*

*The best goddamn poker face.* Me 11:31 pm @Soundwave «............ Are you SURE?» Windchill 11:31 pm Blech. Me 11:31 pm *his shoulders are trembling* Bevel 11:31 pm *yep she's gone* Windchill 11:31 pm *Stands.* Bevel 11:32 pm *is this punishment for earlier?* Me 11:32 pm @Soundwave «Well, if you WANT me to whip, dismember, and stomp on you...» ItsyBitsySpyers 11:32 pm *He's not the slightest bit sorry. She can stand a little mortification for impersonating him.* ItsyBitsySpyers 11:33 pm ((ARE YOU KIDDING ME)) Me 11:33 pm ((holy shit)) Bevel 11:33 pm ((ahaha ItsyBitsySpyers 11:34 pm ((it is a SIGN)) Windchill 11:34 pm You guys have fun. Me 11:34 pm *his shoulders are still shaking* ItsyBitsySpyers 11:34 pm *Soundwave nods to Windchill. That should be everyone then.* Bevel 11:35 pm *laughs* ItsyBitsySpyers 11:35 pm @Prowl: [[Not the latter two. But he's quite sure he didn't mean anything by it. Merely... encouraging some privacy.]] Bevel 11:36 pm I liked that one. Me 11:36 pm @Soundwave «I see. If you're certain.» ItsyBitsySpyers 11:37 pm @Prowl: [[Perhaps afterward.]] Windchill 11:37 pm *Leaves before he's exposed to anything else so blatantly INSENSITIVE.* Bevel 11:39 pm *...is alone with Prowl and Soundwave.* *gets up to leave before anyone else notices* ItsyBitsySpyers 11:39 pm *Success. It only took five songs.* ItsyBitsySpyers 11:41 pm *Well. Everything else being what it is, Soundwave's going to stretch his arm in front of Prowl and slowly nudges it back. Flop, you.* Me 11:42 pm *... Prowl doesn't understand the purpose of the extremely slow backhand* ItsyBitsySpyers 11:42 pm *Tilts his head a couple of times toward the floor.* Me 11:42 pm *What? ... OH. Okay. Lays back.* ItsyBitsySpyers 11:43 pm *Good. Prowl now has a Soundwave blanket. And the doors are locked.*

[[Now he means it.]] Me 11:44 pm *optics light up.* Ah. Well, if you say so. *wraps his arms over Soundwave's shoulders—and feels to see if there are any scratches left in the paint.* ItsyBitsySpyers 11:48 pm *Not there. He needs to keep his armor in decent condition when flying.*

*Soundwave will form a little silhouette of himself on his visor and mark where to find one of the ones he left on his protometal, though. That gets covered. It's okay to leave them there.* Me 11:51 pm *studies it, and goes searching for the scratches* ItsyBitsySpyers 11:55 pm *Rumbles and stretches to make it easier.*

[[He enjoys having them. And more permanent marks.]] *Visor off. His optics are shut. This is a puddle of music-dazed spy.* [[Perhaps he will let you be creative some day.]] *Light tremble.* [[Not the castanets. He already lacks a nose.]] Me 11:57 pm Heh. Maracas, maybe? *Leans up to kiss his lacking nose.* ItsyBitsySpyers 11:58 pm *Twitches slightly, not expecting that. Seems to be pleased though.*

[[He is fond of a good rhythm.]] Yesterday Me 11:59 pm I think I can handle that. ItsyBitsySpyers 12:00 am [[And a bridge?]] Me 12:02 am *wraps arms securely around Soundwave* I'll let you handle that. ItsyBitsySpyers 12:09 am [[So be it.]]

*Slides both arms under Prowl to further help keep him from falling, opens one beneath them, and drops them in the apartment for Things.* Me 12:10 am *Let the Things commence*

[dreamyarcana]

Arcana Tag ^-^

Muse Preferences & Nature Aesthethic tag!!

tagged by @nadias-bitch im so sorry it took me this long to do this lmao and thank you so much for tagging me i love these things ngl they make me feel loved

tagging: @kittykatkatfish @mosaic-marquise @hexqueen84 @bloodbluebat @murielswife @gonna-punch-a-ghost @jovonovo @rowdyravens @mushroom-boy-oz @thefoxylexyblog @logicalapprentice @thesilverarmada  @es--arcana @christmasace @line-artsy @danifandxm @sheepycasual  @thearcanafox @forestscyther

@christmasace @rowdyravens @rosethearcanist @doodlebugsapprentice @goodguymercy  @kissingagrumpygiant @drdevorakwrites​

anyone else who wants to lol haha

lol i tried to hit a mix of my followers i see repeatedly in my notes <3 bless them and follow??? im so grateful for this kind of stuff bc i love getting to know people’s mc’s its so much fun

and a bunch of a blogs thelastparagraph i generally look up to because they exult that cool air like wtf i wish i was that cool??? so sorry if you’ve been tagged im horrible at keeping track at who has and who hasnt

thanks so much XD 

tags under the cut!!

Basic Info About My MC

Name: Isla

Zodiac: Pisces

Favorite Food: Blueberry Parfait

Favorite Drink: Sparkling Cider

Favorite Flower: Rose

Muse Preferences

Open curtains | Closed blinds ~ Stray dog | House cat ~ People | Pets ~

Outside | Inside ~ Half-empty | Half-full ~ TV | Radio ~ Sing | Dance ~

Shoes | Sandals ~ Cash | Credit ~ Hike | Drive ~ Casual | Elegant ~ 

Center | Corner ~ Sword | Shield ~ Airplane | Boat ~ Fizzy | Flat ~ 

Garnished | Plain ~ Extra salt | Extra pepper ~ Spicy | Mild ~ 

Record player | Digital media ~ Opaque | Transparent ~ 

White lies | Complete truth ~ Blunt | Subtle ~ Noisy | Silent ~ 

Books | Music ~ Familiar | New ~ Youth | Experience ~ 

Spoon | Fork and knife ~ Knife | Baseball bat ~ Space | Ocean ~ 

Bow and arrow | Blow dart ~ Love at first sight | Slow burn ~ 

Freckles | Dimples ~ Long eyelashes | Long fingers ~ 

Soft lips | Sensitive neck ~ Stubble | Thick hair ~ 

Slow dance | Intimate conversation ~ Candlelight dinner | Stargazing ~

Natural Aesthetics

BOLD the natural aesthetics that appeal to or apply to your muse! 

fluffy white nimbus clouds. dark grey cumulonimbus clouds. rain clouds. a hurricane. light spring breeze. a sherbet-colored sky at sunrise. hazy yellow skies. deep blue ponds of fresh water. blankets of sparkling snow. tornado winds. monsoon flooding. rich, orange sunsets. soft, purple clouds at dusk. heavy hail. the rumbling of thunder.

icy sleet. gentle snowfall. moss - dusted tree bark. pink sunset clouds. grey winter skies.navy blue skies in the daytime. cool mist in the morning. leaf - bare trees. giant ocean waves. the full moon. a cracked, dry desert. rolling hills of prairie grass. sweeping waves of briny seawater. rocky, steep ravines. rippling canyon walls. spindly, cave stalactites .creeping, green ivy. lush canopies of leafy trees. dense, white fog. a peaceful creek of clear water.

flowering cacti dusted with dew, catching light in the morning sun. a bubbling, hot pool of volcanic sulfur. sharp, grey mountainsides. fossils nestled in chunks of rock. a white sand beach. deep imprints of animal tracks in the dirt. soft, squishy moss. uniform rows of birch trees in winter.delicate mushrooms popping up in spring from beneath the decay on the forest floor. tumbleweeds jerking in the faintest wind across the desert landscape. light rain.

summer wildfires. a mixing of hot and cool air before a storm. silent lightning in the static of summer heat. a windy blizzard. thick flakes of snow tumbling down from the sky. a tree standing alone in a barren yellow field. a desert of loose sand and tall, orange dunes. a pure blue sky. a river of molten rock. a grove of flowering trees. twisting, mangled roots sticking up from the muddy ground.

bitter, cold winds. tumultuous skies of stormy clouds. branches of lightning ripping across the sky. a foggy swamp. the tree - bare foothills of a mountain range. sandy brown cliff sides. rocky coastlines. the violent shaking of an earthquake. the lights of the auroras borealis and australis.

a black sand beach. a lone tropical island in the reef of shallow, aqua waters. underwater volcanic vents. a herd of migrating mammals. tree branches growing heavy with ripe fruit. light streaming down through the clouds. a field of lush grain wading peacefully in the summer breeze. the sound of insects and frogs teeming in the night. natural diamonds nestled in coarse desert sands. a frozen lake.

[cathcacen]

Dr. Starke takes a new patient, but is tough and pretty cool XD

How inconsiderate.

She glances at her watch, then sighs and crosses out the name from her carefully-constructed schedule. It’s her practice to refuse patients who are late – it’s bad enough they’re wasting her time, but they’re also wasting the time of others who might have better use of her services.

It’s unacceptable.

Her window faces the back driveway of the hospital, so she’s able to see the ambulances as they roll in. From her seventh floor office, she can’t see much detail, but the chaos is always evident in the way the paramedics move. Doctors run to receive the gurneys, and sometimes, there is a sobbing friend or family member, the blood and gore on their clothes stark against the ground as they disembark.

Sometimes, hours later, they show up in her office. She hates those meetings most.

The knock on her door pulls her from the window. She’s just getting ready to tell the patient off when she realises it’s not the young man on her schedule at all.

Still, it’s not a face she’s glad to see.

“You need an appointment,” She purses her lips. She’s so damn tall. “I’m all booked up until next Thursday.”

“You’re not seeing anyone right now,” Anarei Naveau says, her voice tight. “Please, Doctor Starke. My brother told me to come to you.”

“As a matter of fact, I have an appointment and I’m just waiting on him.”

“No, you don’t. I asked Rhodri for his spot hours ago. He must have forgotten to let you know.” She takes a step forward, clearly desperate. “Call him, you’ll see.”

“Doctor Naveau, this is highly irregular. I haven’t prepared with your notes, so I’m not sure how much assistance I can be to you right now.” She grits her teeth. “And besides, you’ve cancelled at least three appointments over the past month. I could’ve reported you to the hospital board. You know a full assessment following your incident was part of your employment deal.”

“So I’m here for it now.” Naveau’s fists are clenched, and there’s a slight tremor that runs along the length of her arms. “Please.”

She lets out a sigh. “I’ll only see you on one condition. You have to come back until I’m sure you can do your job.” She blocks the doorway intentionally. “Say it, Naveau. Don’t make me rip you a new one.” Not to mention the new one Ethan would rip her if he knew she’s been blowing me off.

Naveau nods, and she steps aside graciously to let her in. “I screwed up.”

“You didn’t screw up - you’re screwed up.” She gestures towards the couch and pours two cups of tea. “Did you kill a patient?”

Naveau fidgets. They’d only met once before, in a conference some years back when things had been easier and the world had been kinder. Then, the youngest Doctor Naveau had been bright-eyed, ready to take on the world, eager to compete alongside her already-established brothers.

She’s not the same person.

“So.” She hands the girl a cup of tea. “What triggered you?”

Naveau’s hands shake, causing the cup of tea to rattle as she holds on to the saucer with both hands. She opens her mouth, then shuts it again, clearly finding it difficult to gather her thoughts and words.

“We don’t have all day,” She supplies. And they don’t. Her next appointment is scheduled to arrive in fifty minutes.

“Aren’t psychiatrists supposed to be nice? Patient?” Naveau tries to mask her obvious unease with incredulity.

She can see right through it.

“My job isn’t to be nice to you.” She sips her tea. “It’s to make sure you’re of sound mental health to do your job as a trauma surgeon. The hospital’s not going to keep around a traumatised trauma surgeon. And since you’ve been avoiding me, I’ve had to dodge the chief of surgery for three weeks. So you tell me now; why shouldn’t I just march to his office and tell him you can’t do this? Tell me why you’re still viable as a doctor. Tell me why you shouldn’t just wrap up your practice and go do something else.”

“I don’t know,” Naveau snarls. “Look, I don’t know why I’m still trying. I just know I’m not ready to quit, but everything terrifies me. I walk into the OR and my hands shake because I’m afraid the patient will die no matter how hard I try. I can’t cut. I had to insert an arterial line the other day. It was hell.”

She’d heard about that. Naveau had done flawless work, but after, she’d disappeared into the locker room, and hadn’t emerged until much later. “Tell me about what happened today.” She tries for patience. Her voice comes out a bit clipped. It’ll have to do.

Naveau grips her cup tighter, eyes fixed on her lap. Her jaw is tense. “GSW to the chest, clean exit wound. Punctured the lung. Hemopneumothorax. The other attending’s on leave. I had to open him up. Removed the left upper lobe of the lung.” The words tumble out, as if rehearsed.

“So he didn’t even die, and you’re having a panic attack?”

Naveau glares at her. “I think it’s more that I had a sustained panic attack while making sure he didn’t die.”

“Was it the GSW?” She leans forward, setting down her own cup. “Full disclosure – I’ve read your report. I know about your first patient, back in that base.”

“God damnit, has everybody in this hospital read it?!”

“Just me, now put down the cup. I don’t want you smashing it.”

To her credit, Naveau does as she’s told. “I need this to stop.”

She chuckles dryly. “Doctor Naveau, you’re a trauma surgeon. You know about PTSD management.” She straightens in her seat. “Tell me about what happened, back there.”

“There were at least thirty others.” Naveau clasps her hands over her knees. Her knuckles turn pale. “At the base, where we were held. Some of them were from my unit. I’m not sure where the others were from.” She looks up briefly. “Apparently only fourteen of us made it out.”

Survivor’s guilt. Add that to the cocktail of things wrong with this one’s head. She nods, reaching for her notebook. “It’s not unheard of for prisoners of war to die in captivity. Especially in those conditions.”

“A few days after they took us.” Naveau grips the fabric of her scrubs, scrunching them up over her lap. “Presumably after they’d figured out who we were. They brought me to one of the caverns. It’s just an endless rathole of networked tunnels. Usually dark. Damp. Mouldy. No fit place to do open-heart surgery. Sergeant said they could use my help. I asked what would happen if I refused to comply.” She swallows, her voice and face going numb. “He had his soldiers bring one of the others. Shot him right in the chest. I couldn’t save him. They stripped me and put me in the standard issue. Said I wouldn’t be needing my uniform again, since it was covered in blood. Said welcome to the rest of your life.”

“Doesn’t sound like you could’ve stopped it.” She wonders if Naveau’s told all this to her brothers, but something tells her it’s the first anyone’s hearing of it.

“I can’t remember how many men and women I killed in that room.” Naveau looks up again. “Most of them died. They made me call time of death.” Her voice quavers. “Statistically speaking, my survival rate is shot.”

“I looked through their charts too, you know. Your patients in that hellhole.” She thinks back to the thick pile Captain Cethlion had handed her, the dreaded report at the top. “Your brother had another one of my patients deliver them when he sent over your report. Maybe your mind was addled from being so far removed and all, but most of them were beyond saving by the time you got to them.”

Naveau’s eyes glass over. She slumps forward, lowering her head onto her hands. “Still. It’s a testament to my skill, isn’t it? Another surgeon might have done better.”

“You were in terrible conditions, with barely enough tools to perform an appendectomy, let alone brain surgery. You were frightened, hurt, and emotionally compromised. Are you seriously going to tell me you blame yourself?”

“I shouldn’t.” Naveau grunts.

“Right. But you do. And I can tell you not to until my face turns blue, but the only person who can make that decision is you.”

“What if the rest of my life is killing patients in a dark room?”

She sighs. “You don’t really believe that, and our ORs are brightly lit.”

Naveau doesn’t reply.

“Look. Anarei.” She uses the name deliberately. “I want to help you. And if you’ll let me, if you do what I ask, you can come back from this. I don’t know you that well, but I’ve known your brothers for years. You’re made of the same stuff Ethan is, and you’ve got Strahan’s annoying stubbornness. I’m not going to pretend this is something you can gloss over. You can’t. It’s a shit world, and you got dealt a shit hand. You can still try your damned hardest to win the game.”

“I just want to not lose miserably.”

“We can do that too,” She says.

The minutes pass in silence. She pulls up the necessary charts. Naveau drinks her tea. She’s sure it’s tepid by now, but refills the cup anyway.

“Tell the Chief to bench me.” She says, after what seems forever. “I’m clearly not ready. I’ll watch from the sidelines for now. And in the meantime, we can fix this. Fix me.”

“If that’s what you want.”

Naveau nods. “It is.”

She smiles. “The fact that you’re rational enough to make this decision actually gives me hope, if that makes you feel better.”

“It does.”

She hands over the stack of previously-retrieved charts. There are thirty seven in total. She recalls nine survivors. “I want you to read these. The trainees there filled them in, but the information is accurate. See if you can do better than what you did then. Factor in the circumstances and conditions. And tell me about it, next week.”

Naveau gets to her feet. “Thursday?”

Ha, she was listening after all. She flips to the schedule page of her book. “Thursday, 2PM. Don’t be late.”