#Aries 3 crews

[delusionalgirlwritingfanfic]

Reading The Martian, of course I'm now in love with Mark watney, and there is nothing for this man, so I may be taking it into my own hands. I don't mind doing requests as well. I was also not a totally nerd and listened to Major Tom while reading this because it fit so perfectly, and if it's not in the movie, I'm out.

P.S. I'm sorry for editing this so much. I have short-term memory loss and just can't spell

[revrads]

Old man Archie's most trustworthy soldier- Red!

Malcolm Reed's main character traits are; Gay, kaboom, and pineapple

[writingoddess1125]

Anger Management

Buggy & Daughters!3yo 🍒

Support on Ko-Fi

Old Man Series

"FOR FUCK SAKES SHUT UP!" Buggy Yelled, his temper flaring as he screamed at his lackies and pointed a finger at them. He had lost a fair bit of money recently in his business and was hella pissed off- This had started out as a meeting but was more of Buggy losing his shit.

"Buggy there isn't anything to be do-" Cabaji started to explain but was cut off again by Buggy slamming his hands on his next.

"I SAID SHUT UP! I swear to fucking God I'm going to fucking kill the next person who talks in this God damn Room! How can you all-"

The door slammed open suddently and Buggy already had a special Muggy Ball ready to shove down the throat of the idiot who dared to storm into his office!

"Hi Daddy!" ...

Buggy had never felt his blood actually freeze as he saw his 3 year old daughter standing in the doorway. Wearing the pretty blue matching dresses he had just bought her and her sister that had little cherries on it, her hair in little pink tails and in shiny doll shoes.

"Ari?-"

He quietly slipped the Muggy Ball away as he felt his face warm in total embarrassment, not daring to glance at the group he was just yelling at.

...

There was Dead silence. Ari toddling over with a drawing in hand and a large smile. The group of pirates trying to hold back their laughs as they saw Buggy's face shift from 8 different emotions at once and give a forced smile.

"Sweetie what are you doing at Daddys office?" He questioned softly.

"Mommy bring food Daddy! We draw this!" Ari chimed happily as she rushed to Buggys desk and held up the drawing. The Yonko reaching down and picking up his daughter gently to place on his hip as he took the picture with a detached hand. It was a fairly abstract family portrait of sorts with all of them holding hands on what he thought was the ship.

"You two drew this? It's lovely Squeak, now where is Bubbles?" He questioned softly. Ari pointing to Ali who was peaking around the office door- She was much shyer then her sister so Bubby waved her in and she rushed to him clinting to his leg, Him scooping her up as well with his Chop Chop abilities.

"Alright. Gangs all here- Did you show Mommy the drawing yet?"

"No- This for you" Ali said softly, her voice barely above a whisper as she shyly glanced at the crew who were standing near by almost red in the face from holding back laughter.

"Oh this is for me? Thank you both. I'm going to keep this here and why don't you go find your Mommy for me? I'll be done with work soon" He said softly, Watching his toddlers nod in understanding. Giving them both quick kisses on the cheeks he set them down and kept the crayon picture on his desk.

The girls holding hands waved bye and went to find You.

"Bye Bye!" Ari waved at the lot who returned the nice goodbye as the toddlers left the room in a fit of giggles.

After they left it was silent again, Clearly the team truing to keep from bursting out in laughter at this point and Alvida straight up facing away from Buggy who was rubbing his eyes in both exhaustion and embrassment.

Cabaji was clearly feeling brave that day as he smiled softly and looked to the side.

"So what was that about Captian.. for the next wh-" He was cut off by a glare, far less intense as the one from before.

"Shut it-"

[astro-royale]

「Astrology: What Men find attractive」

A man with Moon in Aries likes brave, strong, capable women subconsciously seeking a leader in her; Venus in Aries provides preference for women with crew-cut who go in for sports, are slightly muscular, skinny and even bony. Such man also likes a woman to “ get “ him.

A man with Moon in Taurus likes affluent women, good cooks, women who are thrifty and who economise; with Venus in Taurus he likes plump women with pronounced feminine characteristics, courting takes place over a good meal without fail…

A man with the Moon in Gemini likes talkative, intelligent women, he goes for a “ good conversation”, likes women who look and act young and enjoy going for a spin and short trips. Venus in Gemini produces preferences for women of a very narrow waist, fine hands and shoulders …

A man with the Moon in Cancer likes women who cry easily, are stay-at-home types, good housewives and subconsciously, in a woman he seeks his mother. Venus in Cancer expresses preferences for nice breasts, provocative cleavage and likes to see his woman looking nice even at home.

A man with Moon in Leo likes successful women in high places from well-known and reputable families, he likes to be proud of his wife. Venus in Leo – a woman must be dressed exceptionally well as if she was about to take part in a beauty contest …

A man with the Moon in Virgo likes diligent women, pedantic and neat, the ones who take care of their husband’s health …Venus in Virgo provides special liking for sexy belly button, fine tummy and ordinary clothes…

A man with the Moon in Libra likes sweet and good-looking women, models, politicians, lawyers, women active in public life. With Venus in Libra he is very much receptive to women’s buttocks …

A man with the Moon in Scorpio likes women who came into a property of some kind, women with pronounced sex appeal who do not hide their charms, women whose looks and appearance imply “ a straightforward offer “…With Venus in Scorpio he likes see-through dressing style and goes for gipsy music …

The Moon in Sagittarius produces a man with a special liking for women who follow the fashion and in their appearance resemble the women from foreign countries; he likes educated women with university degree who go in for sports, especially tennis … Venus in Sagittarius makes him responsive to long legs, short skirts, shorts …

A man with the Moon in Capricorn goes for a darker complexion, dark-haired women of a serious and even melancholic expression; he also likes older women…Venus in Capricorn produces liking for conventional clothing style, women wearing leather and dressed in darker shades.

A man with the Moon in Aquarius likes outgoing women; his motto is “ friends first, relationship later “, he likes intelligent women …With Venus in Aquarius he likes eccentric-looking women of an eccentric style, is responsive to women’s legs, and especially calves.

A man with the Moon in Pisces likes mysterious, withrawn, shy women who always seem as if they are in need of protection…Venus in Pisces produces liking for fine stockings, shoes, lingerie …

What’s your opinion🤔✨?

If you want to support this blog as well as my research there’s a Tip option in the bio. Or CashApp me £astroroyale .This way I can keep posting high quality content for you as it encourages me in the process <3 :) Thank you & Much love

Original article link, by Nikola Stojanovic

[yumenoyousei]

I asked for a commission of my DC OC Shay from @jnephrite and look at my girl!! 😭 She so pretty I can't even😭😭😭 Always loved @jnephrite art so seeing Shay in hers is a blessing 🙏🏾

And since the fic is almost halfway through posting, I thought, might as well introduce Shay properly!

Full name: Shay Michelle Frank (♀) Occupation: Graphic Designer / YouTuber Height: 5'9"  Birthday: September 16th  ☀Virgo 🌙Aries ⬆Aquarius Proud African American/Haitian & Gothamite  Hobbies: Poetry, Arts, Rap/R&B music, help the Gotham North Community Center, Discover new artists (both musically and visual arts)

Shay was born and raised in Gotham, close to the infamous Crime Alley, by her maternal grandmother, Marie-Monique "Manmi Mo" Antoine, and with her 3 years older brother Zachary "Zee" Frank. Her mother died of childbirth (she had had complications with Zee which was why she was hospitalized when pregnant with Shay) so her whole family distrusted the American health system. This is why when her grandmother was diagnosed with cancer, they didn't go to the hospital and only went to the illegal clinic. (Also; money.) Her father is unknown. 

Ever since young, she went to the Gotham North Community Center, mostly run by the Black and Latinx communities of the Crime Alley neighbourhood. Her grandmother would teach the children about mostly Black literature but also all sorts of arts which is why Shay is such a creative person. That's also where she met Jason Todd for the first time when she was around 4-5.

Her brother very early on started to "run the streets" and started to hang out with bad crews, but always had his heart on his sleeves. He just couldn't find other ways to get money to make sure Shay had the right education/a chance away from crime.

Her grandma died when she was almost 17 and her brother died not even 4 weeks later (2 weeks after her 17th birthday) because of a dispute between gangs. (Allegedly) 

After her grandma and Zee died, she went to live in Metropolis with her second-degree cousin, Jennifer Antoine, until she graduated from university. Even when in Metropolis, she would go as much as she could back to Gotham to see her people/help the center.

She started a YouTube channel talking about Gotham's art and musical scene to change people's persepective of Gotham after too many people at Metropolis U "pitied" her for being a Gothamite. 

As soon as she was about to graduate, she applied to work at Wayne Entreprise back in Gotham. She got a job as a graphic designer and moved back to her city.

At the start of the fic, "Awakening in Gotham", she is 22 and has been working at WE for almost a year.

Read more about Shay (and her love story with Jason) on AO3! (Trying to update every week!)

Random notes about Shay:

As I wrote in the fic's notes, the first reason for creating Shay was: who the fuck would stay in Gotham that isn't a criminal and/or a vigilante??

So I created a black girl who loves her community and sees all it could be while being very conscious of what it is and its dangers. Then I went, hey! she'd be good with Jason while I was starting my Jason Todd Thirst so obv my fic turned into romance. lol

The name comes from Belgian rapper Shay, Montreal-based singer Shay Lia, and Haitian Montreal-based singer Shah Frank. As I was creating Shay I was obsessed with all three of them and the name Shay Frank wouldn't leave me.

Ngl, I gave a lot of me to Shay; like her Haitian roots and GAD but very quickly she went her own way and grew in this character I'm proud of. I'd like to say I also gave her my music taste but she is way more into hip-hop than me and she rejects most of my pop playlists (sadly).

Because Shay was based on me, all her entourage I created is based on people in my rl. lol

I also absolutely wanted her to be friends with Bernard because I absolutely love Bernard (and Bat SO who are civilians? Tim and Jason bonding over the fact their SO are the only civilians in the Batfam?! So many fun things to do!!)

Zee is also a character that I love, based on one of my favourite cousins, and I got lowkey mad at myself halfway through that he was dead. So I have an AU where he didn't die in my head lol 

I'd like to write a oneshot of it when I'm done with this fic.

Last fun fact about Shay that I wasn't able to put in fic yet: all the rogues annoy her (mostly because they cause mayhem that cancel events) but she madly respects Poison Ivy because of her convictions and: "is she wrong tho?" 

I have a lot of other small notes about Shay and the Shay-verse but I'll post the rest when the fic is completed!

[aestherin]

scaramouche as your bbf (spoiler: turned bf)

filo smau + hcs

note: the brainrots were too hard to resist, i'm sorry 💔 i felt so single putangina??

scara as your boy bestfriend hcs

nagpapalusot sa teacher for you 'pag late ka

lagi kang sinasayaw for parties like acquaintance parties, etc.

'pag sabay kayong mag-commute libre niya pamasahe mo lagi !!

he would willingly do late night study sessions with you 💓

laging may dalang hair tie even if he doesn't need it just so he can provide you one if ever kailanganin mo

if you play online games, you'd play games together!

he'd always protect you even if that meant losing the 'mvp' title

mamatay na lahat kahit siya, 'wag lang ikaw 💔

would take good pics of you (candid or not)

will always always always listen to your song recs (he even made a playlist of them)

sends you tiktoks or ig reels he knows you'd like

'yung matching keychains niyo na nakuha niyo from somewhere (arcade, shopee, idk, bahala ka) nakasabit sa bag niya; it doesn't matter if 'di match sa aesthetic or vibes niya.

there was this one time na naulan and naiwanan mo 'yung payong mo

so he shared his umbrella with you.

siya 'yung may-ari pero siya pa 'yung mas nabasa </3

nakain kayo and the crew messed your order up?

he'll tell them for you ❤️

will always be proud of your achievements as if they are his own.

will listen to your rants, it doesn't matter if it's long or mababaw or random or anything.

he'll always listen.

scara as your boyfriend hcs

same as what he does when he was just your bbf pero syempre may nadagdag !!

always the first to greet you 'good morning'

will send you playlists that he made

hour-long calls !!

will always request to video call with you kapag super miss ka na niya (kailan ba hindi)

always asks for your parents' permission din whenever you guys go on a date

botong-boto sa kaniya parents mo to the point na parang mas anak na trato sa kaniya kesa sa'yo </3

if you like flowers, almost every week ka niyang binibigyan

parang subscription lang gano'n haha

if you don't, edi wala.

his love language, first and foremost, is physical touch.

second ay acts of service ❤️

if he sees someone eyeing you or being interested in you, he would be clingy af.

he does this to show na taken ka na.

but mostly,

he does this because he likes to reassure himself that you're his.

and that's the universal truth, the unchangeable fact.

[averagetmntfan]

MASTERPOST!

(yeah I copy pasted it from the other acc, don’t sue me)

wassup! Finally, a master post! Am I right?

(TC*ST AND PROSH*PPERS DNI!!)

hi there! I’m Jayah! You can call me jj tho. I’m js here to post a bunch of fun art and maybe some animation stuff? And occasionally, fan fiction >:). I am GenderFluid, and I go by all pronouns. And my sexuality is lesbian!

and my lil gay ass miiiiiiight be possibly maybe simping for someone rn..?? (*cough* a literally drawing)

I also have 12 roleplay blogs! @leontheluxuriousone , @wrecking-it-raphie @gayass-blueberry-mugman, @bendy-the-dancing-doofus, @koi-the-cosplay-boy, @improv-master-mikey , @ask-miss-maple-leaf ,@blue-masked-simp , @mikey-the-magnificent , @no-ditches-no-bitches , @candy-for-the-win and @ask-olive-huchers

PLUS: @ask-adi-huchers @candy-for-the-win @neon-of-the-leon (new ROTTMNT leo acc) @ask-miss-maple-leaf @ask-christopher-harrison

my current hyper fixations are: rottmnt, tadc, TBT(trolls: band together/trolls 3), The great north, bobs burgers, the cuphead show, moon girl and devil dinosaur, amphibia, the owl house, tmnt 12, cuphead and mugman in General, KREW, poppy playtime, and a SHIT TON MORE-

btw I swear quite a lot on this, so if that isn’t ur thing, u should click off.

and here’s my sona ref!

DISCLAIMER: please don’t send me werid asks, or gross inappropriate content. I’m a minor.

100 DTIYS!

• FANART!!: •

Leo goober(@ghosty-0w0)

PRINCESS KOI FR (@mikey-rottmnt)

MY BABIES- (@allyheart707)

MY SONS<333 (@mikey-rottmnt)

YOU MADE ME LOOK SO PRETTY RAAHHH (@mikey-rottmnt)

• ROTTMNT FICS!!!: •

The sand.

shopping day! (discontinued)

1 2 3

The 4 servants Au:

Chapter 1 (ongoing)

pt.1 pt.2 pt.3 pt.4 pt.5 Pt.6 Pt.7 pt.8 pt.9 pt.10 pt.11 pt.12 (currently on hiatus)

The 4 turtles work peacefully at a competing hotel with the battle nexus, with their beloved father. But one day, everything spirals out of control! And their worlds get flipped upside down! Follow Leo, Donnie, Raph & Mikey on the journey of a life time! And who knows, they might meet some friends along the way, or maybe more…

• DOODLES: •

Pissed off peeps >:[

brace face!!

• FICS: •

Colour theory thingy sorta??

• RANDOM STUFF: •

Leo being a dumb-dumb

• ANSWERED ASKS: •

what do the bros do outside of the hotel??

Mikey needs a hug

does raph break stuff often?

Do the bros like Lou Jitsu movies?

How do they feel about working there?

Time beats a dead man

(Collab au w/ @mikey-rottmnt!!)

Pt.1

A silly cuphead and mugman au Abt uh..a lot of stuff. (Heavily inspired by babtqftim)

• FICS/ INCORRECT QUOTES: •

picky eater

get served! ..or, maybe later..

portals gone wrong!! 1 2 3

Secret admirer<3

…?

the struggles of school

Is it salad?

THATS NOT WHAT I MEANT!!!

• HC’S that are canon in this silly au: •

Mugs

Cups and mugs (cups are not Canon)

How to hug the gang!!

• DRAWINGS: •

Human mugs doodles

chip and Dale!!

Koi and mugs being gay

KOI CANON IN TCHS?!

Rock paper scissors

• some lore: •

mugs lore

Hs! Mugs and euro…

Mug and cup lore

Main crews fav ice cream!!

cup lore (belongs to Ari)

Favourite drinks!

Pipsqueak!

(Coming soon..?)

“Small turtle, and even bigger problems.”

[gentlebeardsbarngrill]

03/15/2024 Daily OFMD Recap

TLDR; Cast & Crew; Samba; Guz; Lube As A Crew; GLAAD Awards; Fan Spotlight; Ari Azure's Renew As A Crew (Act Of Grace); Big Gay Energy Podcast; Cast Cards; SchadenFreude; Watch Parties; In Soup Now; Love Notes; Daily Darby/Tonight's Taika;

== Cast & Crew Sightings ==

== Samba Schutte BTS ==

Samba was kind enough to grace us with more BTS today. Some pictures and a lot of videos!

CW: Fake Blood and Gore

Video 1: Vico Freaking out over the outfittings

Video 2: Cursed Ship On Deck

Video 3: Revenge Crew Jumping On Deck from Back

Video 4: Bloody

Video 5: Geo-met-ery

Video 6: More On Deck

== Guz Khan ==

Guz Khan's got some upcoming shows! If you're in NYC or LA, feel free to check him out this April! Tickets

== Final Lube As A Crew ==

It was a fun and sad day with our crewmates over at @astroglideofficial. The Social Media conductor was having a lovely time, but obviously was bittersweet with it ending. Here's some highlights from the watch party. To see more visit their twitter. If I get some time this weekend i'll try to put all the lube as a crew stuff together on the repo so you can see it all, just not gonna get to it tonight. I tried to get the timeline in order.. if not, apologies!

== GLAADforOFMD==

So in case it comes up.. there was some drama with some other fandoms regarding GLAAD today on Twitter. The TLDR; version is, some tweets went out regarding how disappointed we were about Ted Lasso winning out over Our Flag Means Death for Outstanding Comedy Series. Somehow, Yellowjackets fandom, who won a different category Outstanding Drama Series somehow got the idea that OFMD fans were complaining about Yellowjackets winning. It was corrected multiple times by multiple people but they kept coming. So yeah, twitter being twitter, not a great time. Sending love to @koneko_army and any other crewmates who had to deal with it.

If you wanna see the GlaadWinners visit The Hollywood Reporter

If you really wanna see the whole thread, you can visit Koneko's Twitter but honestly I don't recommend it, I wasn't even part of it and it stresses me out reading it.

== Fan Spotlight ==

= Ari Azure's Renew As A Crew =

Ari Azure's Renew As A Crew (Act of Grace) song came out today!

Tumblr Post

= Big Gay Energy Podcast =

New Big Gay Energy Podcast dropped!

= Cast Cards =

Our crewmate @melvisik has spotlighted one of our dearest friends Dominic Burgess this time! Starting to round out the collection! Thanks hon!

== Schaden Freude ==

Still trending downward! Great job fam!

== Watch Parties ==

Mar 17th: The Boat That Rocked AKA Pirate Radio Watch Party

7:30 pm GMT / 3:30 pm EST / 1:30 pm CST

Watch Party Hashtags:

PirateRadio 

AdoptOurCrew

SaveOFMD

OurFlagMeansWatchAlong

Mar 18 - Mar 22: Wrecked Season 3

Season 3 watch from March 18th to March 22nd. 

Times will be 10pm GMT / 5pm EST / 4pm CST / 2pm PST. Watch two episodes per day. Episodes are 21-22 minutes each. Use the following Saturday for the tags/watch if interested but not able to make this time.

Hashtags: 

#WreckedPirates

#SaveOFMD

#RhysDarbyFaction

== In Soup Now ==

In Soup Now is back! Post your soups/stews/recipes with!

#InSoupNow

#SaveOFMD

#LongLiveOFMD

== Love Notes ==

Hey there lovelies. Another week has passed. I really hope it wasn't too hard on you-- and if you're off to work tomorrow too, that you get some semblance of rest soon. Sometimes it feels like we're too small to make a difference, or we don't know enough, or we're not pretty enough, or we're not strong enough. Or we're not enough of something, whatever it happens to be. But you know what? You do plenty. You are plenty. You are plenty beautiful, and plenty strong, and plenty full of life, and plenty knowledgeable, and you make plenty of a difference. You make a difference every day, in our lives, and the lives around you. I hope you get some rest and tomorrow you get to see even a glimpse of awesome you truly are. Take care lovelies <3

== Daily Darby / Tonight's Taika ==

Tonight's theme is DRINKIES!

Darby Gif Courtesy of @fandomsmeantheworldtome

Taika Gif Courtesy of @caribbean1989

[blackdragoness]

PAC: WHAT MAKES YOU STAND OUT?

1) Pile 1 - 10 of Pentacles

2) Pile 2- Page of Wands

3) Pile 3- 5 of Pentacles

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

Pile 1 - 10 of Pentacles

💍WIFEY💍

What makes you standout:

- wifey material

- stable

- patient

- kind

- sustainable

- efficient

- workaholics

- might come from a great family or upbringing

- endurance

- "you better shape up, cuz I need a man but my heart is set on you" sandy from grease

- temptation

-personable

-charismatic

-public speaking

-might be great with animals

-high standards and high morals

Tarot Cards:

You are the TOTAL PACKAGE. Hot Mami Tamale 🔥This is why you are wifey material. You are the calm of any storm. You are a great problem solver. I'm channelling alot of masculine energy. A lot of men think about you. You may be surrounded by men a lot either in a work environment or friend environment, etc. Men know they can rely on you to complete tasks that may be too heavy for other women to carry. You may have many suitors. Early on you may doubt your self worth because many of your suitors may not take you seriously at first but then fall madly in love as time goes on. You may be extremely attractive whether you care to admit it or not. This is why men don't take you seriously at first. They think you are nothing but a trophy and a good time. That is until they open up Pandora's box and find out all there is to know about such a beautiful alien creature that you are lol. Men realize you are not one to play with because you aren't afraid to walk away from anything that doesn't serve you. You may be "the one that got away" for a lot of people. This is not a love reading but I am channelling alot of romantic feelings from the opposite sex (not gender specific). You may be perceived as someone who never struggles in romance as you have lots of romantic offers. You always seem to glow up and level up every time you close a chapter in your life. A lot of people from your past miss you and wish to reconnect. What makes you standout is how people react to you. People notice the various reactions you evoke in those you interact with. Even those who are widely known for being the Eeyore of the crew will crack a smile or laugh during an interaction with you. You make everything seem effortless. I'm hearing legacy. Those who chose this pile are destined to leave behind a legacy. It could be positive or negative, but it's your choice to write your own story. Whatever it be, it will be what your bloodline is known for for generations to come but also be what you guys are skilled at. People don't realize what you meant to them until you walked away but things seemed to be effortless for you once you walked away and chose yourself. You stand out for your self love and your love for others. You want everyone around you to succeed and thrive. Everyone feels more inspired and motivated when you are around. You are many peoples muse. Keep shining bright like a diamond hunty.

Channelled Movie: Land Before Time

Channelled Song: You're The One That I Want - Olivia Newton John & John Travolta

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

Pile 2: Page of Wands

⭐SUPERSTAR⭐

What makes you standout:

- limitless potential

-innovative

-breathe of fresh air

-unorthodox

-thinks outside the box

-talkative and communicative but in a way that grabs your attention for a long period of time

-leadership qualities

-initiative

-strong aries vibes

-lone wolf

-menace to society

-catalyst for change

Tarot cards:

If you chose this group, the thing that makes you stand out is that you have an undercover celebrity vibe about you. What makes you stand out is that you do not see just now truly magical you are to other people. Whimsical. You seem like a fairy when people first meet you and they wonder why you settle for the life you choose. You might live a very simple mundane and minimalistic lifestyle. Nothing wrong with that but you stand out to people because they think you should be living more lavishly. It's like if someone who looked like Jennifer Lopez decided to settle for a basic 9-5 career while rocking Shein's and being okay with that. Granted, she would still slay but do you see why you stand out? You look like something that waltzed right out of a Disney movie. "if there was anyone who would make it big from this small town, it would be that girl!" A lot of people see you as a celebrity in the making. Like you could be a model, an actress, a super star! But you are at peace with working a basic job making minimum wage. You make people want to invest in you. However, there's Something about a lack of motivation and being stuck in between two worlds. Indecisive energy. This may keep you awake at night. Wondering about your stability and your future. You are a rollercoaster! When people meet you, they aren't prepared for the rollercoaster of emotions you take them through. You are hard to comprehend and understand. Some of the things you do may at face value seem completely disrespectful and inhumane. But as time goes on and people pick apart the incident, they come to understand the innocence of your actions. As much as people hate it, they can't resist it. People can become very addicted to you and lose sleep over you. People can develop very jealous feelings towards you wondering if you are entertaining others or if their partners are secretly entertaining you. Lots and lots of birds in your life. Lots of talk. Lots of chita-chatta. You stand out because you are very humble. You are okay with the simple and mundane things in life. A lot of people think you could be famous or widely known for the ideas you come up with but you don't seem to care for the recognition. This is why you stand out. You are very talented and skilled in many things yet you do nothing with it. You are someone who shines bright without even trying. you may not like the spotlight or being the center of attention but when you do open up and share parts of your world with others, they feel so warm and gooey like warm honey lol. People don't understand why you aren't utilizing your talents. But it's only because they are addicted to your honey! They wish they could have it 24/7 but they disregard the fact that you are a human being as well. You may like a lot of time alone. Inner peace. Boundaries. You see the world differently. You choose to develop and master your talents in private and use them only when needed. Fame is not what you are after. It's skill. But not many people understand that or know. You may not even know that yourself. That is why you do not care to show off your talents.

Channelled Movie: Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile

Channelled Song: Anti-hero: Taylor Swift

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

Pile 3: 5 of Pentacles

🏍️RIDE OR DIE ALPHA🏍️

-charitable

-selfless , will take the shirt off your back to help someone in need

-Icy Queen vibes - you colddddddd AF bitch 🤣 I'd like to see a mf TRY!

-cut off game strong

-spiritual to the point where people think you are a little kookoo in the noggin

-out of touch, out of reach, out of sight

-known for overcoming deep struggles and being victorious

-Soldier energy

-experienced

-teacher, mentor energy

-moves in silence

-unexpected

-enigma

Tarot cards:

You stand out because of your resiliency and your indestructibility. Whoever chose this pile, you have been through the war field many times in your life. Wounded. Stranded. Deserted. Left out. Shamed. Abused. Manipulated. Betrayal. So much hate and malice thrown your way and still you rose. Gahhhh dayum Pile 3, y'all some muthafuckin' souljah's, lets just say that! Your world could have been flipped upside down And tossed around and yet you still rose from the destruction and created opportunities for yourself. Dayuuuummmmmm. This energy is huge and it's intense. Who tf are you? When people think of you they are AMAZED at your inner strength especially after they find out your history and all the battles you've fought. You are valiant. Chivalrous. Immovable. Courageous. Unstoppable. Warrior spirit. Phoenix rising. People may have seen you come out victorious from a very tumultuous time. It's shocking and astonishing. You see the silver lining in everything so even the sourest of life experiences, you are able to see the sweetness of it all. Real life influencer vibes. "N*gga, F*ck your twitter, bitches follow me in real life" -J Cole. In a league of your own. In your own world. Superhero vibes. Super Villain vibes. GOAT. Go getter. Midas touch. Alpha dawg. Regina George/Sharpay Evans vibes. Pristine. Prim & proper. Upperclass vibes. The popular girl in school. Girl next door vibes. Confidence on 30000x. Beyonce of your own world. Fierce. Magnetic. One in a million. Unique. Straight to the point. Cut-throat. No bullshit.

Channelled Movie: The Blind Side

Channelled Song: Scars to Your Beautiful - Alessia Cara

[monsterfloofs]

Ary (Female Reptilian Alien) x Anonymous Reader (Sfw)

(Writing some cuteness about two beings out in space >:3 Platonic luff or romantic luff, I am leaving it up to you, dear reader. )

Space is cold. That's the first thing that gets drilled into your skull once you become a spacefarer. The glittering sky may look beautiful from afar, but it is a vacuum after all. Unprotected, Your blood would boil, your lungs would collapse and ultimately, your body would freeze over from the cold.

With all the technology at the galaxy's disposal, none is more precious, more imperative than the suit you wear and the metal transport that keeps its crew cradled below its multitude of decks.

With heat being so important, some places within the ship needed it more than others. Vegetation that couldn't grow without expensive artificial sunbeams taking precedence over other areas of the ship. Food was a necessity, and some comfort had to be given up for that precious resource. The crew's cabins were, unfortunately, one of those places where a little heat had to be forfeit for the greater good. While these areas of the ship could be on the chillier side, intelligent ingenuity would find a way to make it work.

And make it work, we did.

Chilled fingers fumbled with the controls of heating blankets before you duck your head and sneak back under the covers.

"Whew, okay, done and done."

You catch the glint of the eerie shine of an eye under the blankets before toasty fingers wrap around your own. Ary was your cabin mate, and the two of you had bonded thick as thieves due to the cold climate onboard. They were a reptilian with cold green blood and a sensitive disposition to climate change. They were one of the agriculturists, working in the hot and humid biosphere on deck five. Quick on their feet and witty in the warm sunshine. Yet, outside of that environment the cold took a toll on her. She became sluggish and tired, never without a cup of something hot, with a special biosuit that helped regulate their temperature.

The two of you huddled closer together underneath the makeshift tent. Flexing your fingers as heat returned and a dull ache settled in the joints.

"Is it just me or are the sleep cycles the coldest?" Ary's voice whispers next to you.

You laugh, "I was thinking the same thing!" You shudder and the two of you huddle closer together. You tap your watch and hold it out, dim orange light filtering into the space.

"We left off on. . ."

"Episode 6," Ary supplied eagerly, learning their head against yours. "It's where Lord Zenra discovers a stowaway on his regency ship, who is in fact Princess Ezie, who went into hiding because her homeworld was under attack and now she attempts to plead with the Lord to help save her home."

You glanced up at Ary's wide eyes, "Did you skip ahead?"

"No!" Slitted pupils flared round, "But I am pretty sure I have rewatched each episode about five times! Hit the play button already, you're killing me!" You cackle, and the two of you relax back, watching the holographic screen flicker with action until sleep comes.

You wake up nose to nose with Ary, giving a small smile, before pulling back the covers. The reptilian hisses and grumbles, pulling the blanket nest tighter around them to keep away the sudden chill.

"Are you going to get up and have breakfast with me?"

You laugh as you see the tip of her snoot peek out of the blankets.

"Do I have to?"

"If you want breakfast!" You check your com, "It'll be over in an hour or so, so we got some time still but. . ."

You could already see the snoot slowly receding back into the blankets.

"Don't need it. Need bed more."

As much as you agreed with that sentiment, someone had to be the voice of reason, "The faster you get out of bed and get breakfast, that faster you can get into the biosphere~"

Ary grumbled again, "Five more minutes, save a tray for me."

Well, that was that. You give yourself a moment to reflect on how good of a friend you are, for coercing your roommate to leave a toasty bed for a nutritious meal of something that looked somewhat edible. “That’s a pat on the back for me,” you mumble before your body decides that this is the perfect moment to do a full out shudder. You shake your head, and pick up the pace to the mess hall. The faster you can grab a cuppa something warm, the sooner you can stop shivering. You grab two plates and build up two different diet routines. One more on the heavily protein side with different kinds of dried meat and some purplish nut that you have lovingly deemed “almost almonds,” the other plate is a more varied kind, with hot rod red leafy greens, and fruit that is so grey and wrinkled, it looks as if it can’t decide if it wants to break out in mold, or if it’s too shriveled to care. It tastes a lot better than it looks. Thank goodness.

You balance the trays to a table, before you scamper back to get two piping hot mugs of something the troop calls “Space Sludge,” some beings onboard think it tastes terrible, as for you yourself, you aren’t sure if your taste buds have adapted enough to pick up what some beings abhor about the drink. It tastes like a very nutty tasting tea, as if someone threw in a whole spoonful and a half of peanut butter into it. A little odd, but it’s warm, and that’s what matters. You heard from Ary that the drink is one of those close to universal beverages. She would know, she’s part of the team working towards life sustainability on the ship. You can’t imagine what that job would be like. Referencing and re-referencing the crew to make sure that one being on board wouldn’t get poisoned by what some folks could eat a truck load of without batting an eye. It sounded terrifying.

Thinking of Ary must have summoned Ary, for you feel hands hug you from behind.

”It’s too cold out here,” She pulls you closer, nose pressed against the back of your neck which makes you start. “Cosmic creepers, your nose is an ice cube!” You wriggle to try and get away. “Stop, stop, I was just warming up!” She giggles and feigns a wide eyed snuffle as you squint at her. You do another one of the blasted full body shudders and you wriggle uncomfortably. “Brrrrrrr! You’re terrible!”

Ary sticks her purple tongue out and slides across the table to sit across from you. “At least I don’t stick my cold feet on your legs in the middle of the night.”

You grin, one shoulder raising and tilt your head, having your own evil giggle. “Ehehehehe, that was so funny though-“

“Funny for you! I woke up thinking something was grabbing my legs!”

”I can’t help it, I was asleep!” You try to explain yourself while you laugh. It was an age old conversation that the two of you ran through. This shared memory was something you would never live down. It was one of the first times the two of you had pushed your bunks together and shared a bed to keep warm. You had fallen asleep and hadn’t realized you had moved. You had been so cold it apparently woke Ary up squealing, and you had woken up in a groggy stupor. It was absolute chaos, and yet, after that you had been inseparable.

You pick at the food on your plate, pressing your lips together tightly to stop from giggling. Ary drinking from their mug. It was times like these when you two were together that the whole place fell away. It was just you and her, existing together, and nothing else seemed to really matter. The cold wasn’t a problem anymore, together the both of you seemed to diminish the effect of things. Struggles became merely challenges, something to puzzle through as a team. You wondered if she knew that, how much her presence brightened up your whole existence.

Enjoy what I write? I have a tip jar! I also take writing and art commissions on kofi! ヽ(*ᵔ▿ᵔ)ﾉ

[a-d-nox]

Hello! I hope you're doing great ^_^ I read your post on asteroid circe. I was wondering what it means to have circe in 8th house and aspecting to sun and pluto in natal chart? Thank you in advance :))) <3

circe (asteroid 34), what’s her sign/degree, where she sits in a chart, and her aspects

thank you for your patience and for sending me your chart!!! but after receiving quite a few asks and comments about circe aspects and placements i decided to continue the series (reminders: @bitchimrawlikethat , @mishap-missy , @herwonderlandmentality , @oolabb )!

all of this is in my opinion. some of it you may be like how tf did she come up with this. my answer: intuition and experience with other people's charts that i have available to me. warning i can be harsh: please don't take everything i say as predestined, astrology is possible outcomes not guaranteed ones. plus let's not forget orbs matter, dominance matters, etc. it's never just circe (34). this is just a starting place for when examining a single asteroid in an entire galaxy. take what resonates and leave what doesn't!

*all of these observations are based on a natal chart - solar return and persona charts will change all these observations because the context is different*

!!! RETROGRADE (click here for circe rx) MAKES ALL OF THESE THINGS LISTED BELOW SUPER STRESSFUL OR SLOW TO APPEAR IN YOUR LIFE !!!

signs/degrees

aries (1°, 13°, 25°): you too may enjoy being the queen of the island. you love power, but circe felt threatened by odysseus and his crew's presence initially as she wanted to be rid of them. you could be opposed to adventurous-spirited people and/or those who are too curious about you. you may try to get rid of those who are too curious about you or that pose a threat to your power. you may find you are easily bored - you may find it hard to follow through with a ritual (like cord cutting - you may be the type to walk away because it's taking too long (please never walk away from cord cutting rituals)) or with finishing a portion of study, but if you really want something, you can have it.

taurus (2°, 14°, 26°): you totally would turn someone you view as a threat into a pig - you'd probably sell them too. you are likely a stubborn lover - you have an unshakeable love for people, which makes it difficult when they decide to break things off with you. you are the type to reject that it is happening. you may even turn it back on them that they take you and your presence in their life for granted - and they totally do. a love like yours is rare - you would do anything for the people you love. you may do magic and manipulate others to turn a profit though.

gemini (3°, 15°, 27°): you are probably the type of ex-lover / vengeful lover who ceases communication. i have seen people with this placement and even the degree completely withdraw from communication with the people they "love" when they do something "wrong". and it sucks because we really do take your communication/conversation for granted - we only know it after you are gone. but with great power comes great responsibility - you may tend to manipulate others because you know just how badly they want you in their life. on the other hand, though these placements tend to have extensive knowledge about the occult - they enjoy studying the world of magic and have a natural curiosity about it.

cancer (4°, 16°, 28°): you are probably a vengeful lover being ruled by the moon with this placement. your mood and feelings towards your lover change often - one day, you'll be devoted to them, and the next, you'll be almost (or totally) spiteful towards them. you are likely opposed to the newcomers in your life - you have a lovely home and garden; why do you need some strangers coming in and ruining that for you? you are likely an introvert who likes doing their own thing - people might take for granted that you "like being alone" or "being in your home" though and don't invite you places (odysseus didn't invite circe to go back to the mainland with him). you are the most likely of the signs to practice ritual magic.

leo (5°, 17°, 29°): your courtships might be complicated. you might be super loyal to a person who is not as committed as you are… you are likely to experience a courtship where you are deeply in love then the other person leaves. chances are you might have (will) felt (feel) secure in the connection, and thought that there was no way they would leave. they could be with you for a long time, you might have a home together, maybe even children… then they do leave. if children are involved, leo circe people do tend to manipulate their children into disliking their ex-partner.

virgo (6°, 18°): you are likely a critical romantic partner - if they wrong you, you will do whatever is in your power to ruin their day. you are the type of vengeful that will take the fridge lightbulb, the spinning table in the microwave, poke a hole in their tire so they have a slow leak, etc. you want them to feel the pain. you are also very convincing to listen to because you carefully tell the truth in such a way that it could even lies are true (fae complex is strong in this placement lol).

libra (7°, 19°): the people you think are your companions are often the ones you should trust the least - like circe you are experiencing the lovestruck nature she had toward odysseus. your partner may also be brave and adventurous, both of these traits pique your interest, but they also may leave you to continue their life's adventure. if you don't agree with them running off and they didn't tell you beforehand that that was always the intention - you are likely to search for justice. like circe your voice likely draws people in - it is magical and musical sounding. you could be a great enchantress and/or manifester with this placement.

scorpio (8°, 20°): this is circe. at least, this is what i feel is her truest placement. you are passionate and would do anything for the people you love. but also you can be cruel and resentful towards those who have wronged you. this is the ultimate vengeful lover placement. your passions are often taken for granted - in fact, people often use you when they learn that you care or when they know you like a specific thing they will manipulate you into doing it for them. you are prone to resentment because you often only recognize that you were used after the fact. you give off extremely witchy vibes and probably practice any magic that you learn about.

sagittarius (9°, 21°): traveler often visit these placements. you are not big on traveling; you do however find yourself in the company of adventurous and well-traveled individuals. you likely aren't a very vengeful or spiteful lover - you understand what it means to live momentarily and love temporarily but fully. you are likely a very devoted partner - you could even idolize them. you likely practice culturally based magic specific to your ancestry - you may even be able to contact your ancestors (you could be a medium)!

capricorn (10°, 22°): you may take your presence in the world a bit too seriously - not everyone is supposed to become a god, queen, or famous in a lifetime. you'd be best served taking some of the expectations and responsibilities off of yourself. you will find that life gets better when you aren't anxious to be perfect. you may even find that success comes more readily then. that being said, you are likely a great presence to behold. you may be pretty intimidating due to your power. you may be a professional astrologer or witch. you may know all too well what it is like to be abandoned by others - you may find yourself utterly alone / isolated at some point in life.

aquarius (11°, 23°): you probably get too close to people too soon - you might even be too trusting towards the wrong people in your life. you may not like explorers and adventurers in your proximity, but when they prove they are brave enough to confront your mystical energy or outsmart you, you likely drop your guard. be aware though: that is still a stranger - recognize that just because wish to explore curiosities doesn't mean that you should invite them into your private realm. there are nuances to knowing people: acquaintances, friends, and intimates. try not to go 0 to 100. you likely aren't that manipulative or vengeful, which is why i am laying it on thick in your description - this might just be the most vulnerable of the circe placements. especially since you are likely a very gifted spiritualist - people may use you for your abilities.

pisces (12°, 24°): you may find you are deeply connected to everything around you - to the point that people may say you are intuitive. circe knew that the men were no good at first sight. but you may also have your rose-colored glasses on; circe saw odysseus as a hero and someone to worship - sometimes you may take gut feelings too far. circe ended up being abandoned because she didn't stick with her initial intuitive feeling - you, too, may overlook possible negatives after the first observation. you may seek revenge because you put too much stock into situations and feelings. you may love too hard and feel betrayed too harshly. you are likely a schemer; you don't like when people betray you, and you often deal out a deserving punishment. you are likely very magically inclined.

houses

1h: people likely take your ability, attitude, and confidence for granted. you have a mystical energy around you - your aura is likely very strong and of a deeper color variety. you aren't the type to get revenge on just anyone in your life; you understand the karmic cycles and you understand that the universe has your back. your morality is of a higher variety - you wouldn't willfully harm someone that has done you wrong unless they have gone too unchecked in the world. and because your attitude and morality are superior to most a lot of the time you have the power to sway/manipulate others to see the way you philosophize the situation at hand. you are likely seen mystically.

2h: you know what you give and what you receive - you keep tally. so you seek revenge on your lovers in an equal measure. you won't allow others to use you and get away with it. you will not let someone be indebted to you or you to them. you might be someone who is particularly well versed in the world of debts; thus, you can easily convince/manipulate other views on what they are owed and how they should acquire what they are owed. you may be someone who frequently does exchange readings.

3h: you may have travelers/wanderers for partners - people who take for granted that you will always be around because you yourself are most likely not a traveler. sadly, it is likely that your lovers frequently leave you and that their presence in your life is merely temporary. while they tend to come from worlds away, they often discover that they prefer where they came from as opposed to where you are. you however can persuade/manipulate/convince your romantic partners to stay longer than they would have if you were not there. with this placement, you can inherit a grimoire and/or be very talented in the art of runes or manifestation. you might be someone who reads or writes about witches (serpent and dove, a discovery of witches, near witch, etc.).

4h: you are likely a domestic queen - you know how to survive on your own and take care of yourself as well as the land around you. you likely have an impressive herb collection and/or garden. herbs are probably very imperative to your spellwork. when someone messes with your little ecosystem (the homestead and your peace within it), you are very likely to attack theirs. people may always assume that you will remain peaceful, calm, and be a homebody - they do not believe that you would leave the comfort you find there to find them. you totally would, especially if they messed with you. you likely come from a line of witches or those with ancestral roots in the practice.

5h: your lover might leave you with a child and dip. this will likely infuriate you because they promised you to stay, and it was not the case… thus you might use your child to exact your revenge on your previous lover. you might even turn your child against them and build up your child's beliefs that your ex-lover is a bad person. you do tend to be taken advantage of for your ability to love people, so you do tend to make those who have wronged you feel truly hated. you might really enjoy plays and films about witches (macbeth, stardust, the craft, etc.).

6h: your constant, unwavering presence in a person's life can be taken for granted. people tend to always assume that you will be there for them and that is not the case. you will not be the person who stays if they betray you - in fact, you are the first to leave at any hint that they are hesitant towards you. you will seek your revenge by ruining their day-to-day life - suffering is not done in a vacuum when it comes to those who have done you dirty. they say that those with a routine are the most vulnerable of people - you don't mind exploiting their own routine to get back at them. these people often have a familiar in my experience - you might have a cat or some sort of creature that is always by your side. you likely practice ritual magic.

7h: you may assume that your partners are just as committed as you are, but that doesn't tend to be the case - and when that happens, you step into your villain era and become the ultra circe. your dislike for past partners is no secret. people take advantage of your love, and you never react well to that - you don't let them get away with it. you could be manipulative in the area of agreements and romances just like you could have a gift for love magic.

8h: your vengeance against a lover is complete when they are dead, or they find they can't live without you and you have moved on. nothing is sweeter to you than total revenge - they are dead and you aren't, they can't move on but you can, etc. you can be convincing with your displays of passion - people think that you care more than you do or you care a lot about something and now the other person also cares a lot about something. but people also tend to take advantage of your passion. when they see that you love something, they exploit it and use that thing against you. on a lighter note, chances are you are passionate about the occult - you can be a very talented magic user.

9h: your revenge is often extremely meditative; it is no secret to the people around you that you are after someone. you are devoted to getting even with those who have wronged you. people take advantage of your devotion to them. if they know that you love them, they know you will do nearly anything for them - learn new languages, bring their entire family into your home, etc. they simply take advantage of this knowledge. but you tend to be on top of your game in that you are extremely crafty with your knowledge and beliefs - you can convince people of a different reality than the one that they are living in. and this could go on for years - odysseus saw really no purpose in traveling home when circe kept telling him it wasn't safe and that he should stay. but more often than not your lovers do go where you can not follow them. you could be very good at deity work, ceremonial/ritual magic, and could even have your own grimoires.

10h: you likely target the ambitions, status, and career of your ex-lovers to take them down. you don't let them have their reputation intact when they leave you - you likely don't let morality or dignity get in your way. their downfall is all that matters; you don't care how bad you look when causing it. which is ironic because they likely took advantage of your morality (they knew you would take them in when they were down on their luck), popularity, or even your professional status to get ahead - they assumed you would not do anything to tarnish their reputation if it risks your own. they are dead wrong though. you likely can be seen as right even when you are wrong because you can twist the morality in the room to favor you. you could be a professional occultist.

11h: you, like the 10h circe, target social standings to get your revenge on an ex-lover. people tend to take advantage of your group mentality - they assume that you will always be their friend even if they abandon you. you might just be "friends" with your ex-lovers so they know that you will always be there to take them down if they try to hurt you more. you might even have a shared friend group with your ex-lover because oftentimes your lover's friends become your friends (you tend to welcome those from your lover's world into your own). you have the gift to socially manipulate/convince them that you are right and those that don't agree with you are wrong. you could be good at manifesting - a lot of your wishes come true.

12h: circe had a following of large animals, so you, too, may like or have exotic pets that others typically do not have (snakes, scorpions, etc.). your greatest weapon is likely your ability to manipulate others into doing your dirty work for you. you may prefer to live in isolation - circe lived on the island alone until odysseus and his crew showed up. you may have an interest in the unknown - in terms of magic, you may find yourself curious about meditation or astral projection. you get your revenge on your ex-lovers the most frequently of the placements - mainly because you keep a lot of blackmail. you don't let other's treachery ruin you; you spin it back on them. you also have a very intriguing presence that most people are incapable of ignoring.

aspects from circe to

sun: positive aspects: you are likely an accomplished occultist - you have a natural gift where magic is concerned. you know when to be humble in the presence of those who outsmart or outrank you. you are loyal to those who have gained your respect. you are self-sufficient and have many survival skills and talents. negative aspects: you target your ex-lovers by tearing down their achievements, dignity, and fame. you may even abuse this power by turning those that are loyal to them against them. you might have an herb allergy or sensitivity. you see outsiders as people who are trying to distract you and ruin your self-sufficient lifestyle. your ego may tell you that you are acting against others in retribution meanwhile it is petty revenge.

moon: positive aspects: you are likely someone who lives very peacefully and does a lot of things for yourself. you likely maintain your household and land all by yourself in the most impressive of ways. you likely have charms throughout your home to protect its energy: sigils, selenite above doors, bells, etc. you are likely a very good cook and some may even say a magical one - you likely can make many things from scratch: lip balm, sugar scrubs, cleaning supplies, etc. you are likely very good at potions and craft work in terms of magic. negative aspects: you are cautious when letting people into your home and tend to avoid it if you can. it's not that you are insecure about the looks of where you live, you just know that when people come over they tend to stay longer than you planned and you are someone who doesn't like a lot of socializing as it tends to be very emotionally draining. people tend to take your homemaking for granted - they might not respect your home (e.g., they likely wall on your new carpets with shoes on, then could break a decor piece, etc.). you could also struggle with motherhood - your child could look like your ex-lover.

mercury: positive aspects: you could have a strong connection with animals in which they are extremely protective of you because they love and respect you. you could be very dedicated to your magical studies and have the correct mindset when practicing which allows for favorable outcomes. you can be a very convincing communicator - people frequently believe the things you tell them. negative aspects: animals can be extremely scared of you because they see/sense your power as threatening. you aren't someone who trusts others easily. you definitely aren't a fan of close groups - you likely see them as cliques and dangerous. you likely aren't a big communicator - you tend to "shoot first, ask questions later." meaning you can be on the defense in a dialogue. though often it is because you feel threatened by the unknown of the situation - often your first encounters with people tend to be abrasive. you tend to use your knowledge of others to get revenge on them.

venus: positive aspects: you have a very witchy aesthetic that is dark and intriguing. you have a high aptitude for magic and occult practices - they tend to yield positive results. you are likely a very loyal companion when you trust the other person - it can be a very intense and intimate feeling to outsiders. a lot of your new contacts develop into romantic ones when you feel attracted to them. you could be a good singer, which intrigues others to want to know more about you. you could also have an expansive garden that has so many things in it that you hardly know what everything is. negative aspects: your diplomacy could use some work for sure - a lot of unnecessary drama unfolds because you tend to be overly aggressive when people are merely curious about you and what you are doing. believe it or not, not everyone means you harm. you don't need to default to shaming others or making a spectacle of them (circe turned the crew into pigs). you could be involved in a marital affair - often it is the case that a married individual is involved with you (you typically aren't the one who is married). people tend to invite themselves over to your space - without your own knowledge or okay. a warning to the gardeners - you are likely growing something that is poisonous to you or that you have an allergy to.

mars: positive aspects: you can be a very active individual in the realm of homesteading or magic. you might have a blog of some sort that is controversial though it likely has very honest and likely has accurate thoughts about the community and/or the topics at hand (some of the youtube homesteaders i see with this aspect say things like "i'm a real person with a real budget," "this is just how it [their home] looks on a normal day," "damn that plant died - whelp that happens, not everyone has all day to babysit one plant and drip can't save every plant," etc). you keep it real. you likely are someone that helps out other individuals - you help them to maintain their "main character" energy (typically it is a romantic partner). negative aspects: you are prone to attacking others - just like the mercury aspecting people, you "shoot first, ask questions later." you are typically on the physical defense - you likely make people feel small and insignificant (circe turned the crew into pigs). you likely don't care if what you do hurts others - you want them to feel pain in hopes that it causes negative feedback/reinforcement so they stop doing what they are doing (very pavlovian lol). you can be a very cruel individual - your temper is not something others should mess around with. you may be prone to lustful activities as well - let's not forget that circe and odysseus barely knew one another, then next thing you knew, she was having three of his children.

jupiter: positive aspects: you have an abundance of witchy power (could be a known witch to society) that should not be wasted. talent like yours is not frequently found. you exchange your energy with very powerful entities be it gods, spirits, demons, or the universe. you are nonetheless a very loyal individual and always show your gratitude and appreciation. you never let these entities do something for you without recognition and appreciation. you are also someone that does a lot of your own studying and research in the world of the occult and witchcraft - similar to 3h placements you likely read a lot about witches in your spare time even in the fictional sense. you are also a very self-sufficient individual - you can do it all on a homestead. negative aspects: you likely abuse the power you have and use it for "evil" and torment others (piss-jar with wasps and chili powder in it type of energy with these placements for real). you need to be very careful that you aren't crossing the lines of magic because the entities that gave you abilities will not be pleased if you aren't showing your appreciation to them - it is giving angry toxic parent vibes "i brought you into this world, i can take you out of it". they gave you your abilities, they can and will take them away. if you think that you owe no one your power, you are dead wrong. be a loyal servant to the world you live in and the energy in it. all magic has a cost association. on a lighter note, be careful who you do exchanges with; they are likely to use you and not repay the exchange (but that might just be because you aren't repaying your entities - so they are the pawns meant to collect debts).

saturn: positive aspects: you like living in solitude; there is something so peaceful about it. it might just be because it allows you to take your time - "slow-living" is a homestead quality; it takes time to make things of quality! you understand that. I feel like this placement makes poppets and guardians - there is a lot of waiting and patience involved in those magic processes. but you have what is required to collect what is necessary, wait for astrological events, make the figures, etc. you are a very attentive and studious individual, so you don't mind taking the time to have all the details correct in your practice. negative aspects: you may be constantly on guard about others taking you for granted or manipulating you into doing what they want. you are prone to animosity, contempt, and disdain towards others. but that does not mean closing yourself off to the world (which you are for sure guilty of doing); you should learn to stifle these fears without disciplining/withdrawing from others. simply be on guard. you have a natural mistrust toward others. you may have a cold disposition. you likely enjoy when justice is served (you probably watched the heard v. depp case closely and were excited that depp won).

uranus: positive aspects: you like circe love the freedom associated with being completely alone and away from your kind. you would likely enjoy trading humanity for cows on a farm or a home in louisiana where alligators are rather close (pearl, is that you?). you are all good to pull an H. D. Thoreau to be one with nature. others are very likely to view your life as unconventional for this reason. but you like weird and bizarre things and don't care what others think. you could probably shock someone with your skills of persuasion. this uranus aspect often reminds me that magic and occult are not always just about myth, astrology, spell jars, herbs, etc. but rather modern magic is science! you may find that you are rather gifted at inventing new technology or scientific techniques. negative aspects: you can ruin your ex-lovers, and you totally would/will. you can very suddenly upend their entire life without so much as a second thought. your romantic life seems to follow in the footsteps of circe's - very quickly falling in love and trying to make/plan a life together - but be aware: your partners aren't often able of adapting to your lifestyle and frequently leave.

neptune: positive aspects: witch aesthetics for days. everything in your realm has a little bit of magic in it. you might be someone who really enjoys witch stories and tales - you probably specifically look for myths, fiction, movies, and tv shows about witches like 3h/5h placements and mercury/jupiter aspects. you might just write your own tale about witches. you might be prone to falling in "love" quickly. these placements tend to be oracles in their own right. negative aspects: you are likely playing a dangerous game and practicing black magic - i implore you to read my warning to jupiter negative aspects. be careful with the entities in your realm; they do not tolerate people using them or abusing the power they gave them - they don't mind letting karma catch up with you. you likely blackmail others with the information they gave you - but not without being betrayed first ("release the receipts"). these aspects tend to experience a lot of betrayal in life, which leads them to the world of "dark" magic. you have the power to curse others but should be careful because there is always a price/debt that will be paid with or without your agreement on what that will be.

pluto: positive aspects: you are probably the strongest of the magic users on this aspect portion of the list - though it may be a toss-up between you and the jupiter aspecting people. you have the power to transform those around you and even yourself. you can even manifest others to appear in front of you. you could also control/guide how karma catches up with people - though it is a delicate art to conquer. negative aspects: you like the venus aspect people are likely to end up in adulterous relationships - you likely aren't the one in a committed relationship though, know that having this knowledge and continuing doesn't make you any less at fault. often if you do continue on these relationships tend to end with them leaving you. you then tend to resort to underhanded behavior that takes down your ex-lover in a very complete/final way. like mars aspecting people, you are prone to lust - love is different than lust, and a lot of your romantic struggle can be resolved by learning to differentiate the two.

asc: positive aspects: you likely have a very dark aura consisting of various shades purples, blacks, and whites. you have a witchy energy and aesthetic. you are seen by others as someone very strong and independent. you can show people what you want them to see. you have an intriguing/mysterious vibe that makes others curious about you. negative aspects: people can be very put off by your presence - they may even be intimidated by your power. people may feel as though you are constantly looking down upon them and making them feel less than you. you might throw off illusions/glamours different from who you truly are.

mc: positive aspects: people know of you as strong feminine energy with a lot of power. people also know you to be generous and willing to help those in need. negative aspects: you can have a reputation as a cutthroat who doesn't mess around. many may know you as someone who demands a lot of respect from others. you might tend to abuse the power you have and manipulate others.

hermes: positive aspects: you have respect for the higher powers and trust them to give others information about you who have good intentions towards you. you trust higher powers to bring you equals and those you need into your life. negative aspects: there are people around you who are willing to exploit your weaknesses and make you susceptible to those around you. people in power around you do not hesitate to exploit your vulnerabilities and make you powerless in your situation. 

odysseus/ulysses: positive aspects: you easily fall in love with those around you - you tend to be starstruck by brave and heroic individuals. you might have a thing for travelers and foreigners - they tend to intrigue you because you wish to know where they have been. negative aspects: you likely have bitterness toward your ex-lovers - there is very little chance that you stay friends with them after a breakup. you are someone who seeks revenge and will likely turn others against your ex-lover. you aren't someone who does your own dirty work - do with that what you will because it is both a smart yet troubling methodology that you don't get your hands dirty but do not care about involving innocent people. 

penelope: positive aspects: you might have a common taste in men as other women around you. you might see the same good qualities in the men around you as other women do. negative aspects: the other woman motif. you are easily jealous of other women who interact with a man you view as "yours". men tend to leave you for their past lover(s). 

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[authorxxxxxx]

Taste of you . | Gunner Jensen x fem!reader

Title : Taste of you

Pairing : Gunner Jensen x fem!short!shy!reader

Summary : This time you left him and his place for good . It was difficult to locate your older brother's location . As long as you can remember , Barney always had you in arms length . Always . But this time you needed someone who could protect you and save you . And that person was your older brother Barney . You wanted to feel free , but instead you found him . Cold , brutal but helpless . In desperate need for somebody to love him .

Tw : abusive ex partner , mentions of rape , substance abuse , psychological problems , drug use , Gunner is unstable , crying (a lot), big age gap , wet dreams , extreme sexual tension between Gunner and the reader , some touching , dry hamping , big size difference , manhandling , Gunner takes the reader for a ride on his motorcycle , love at first sight , fluff .

Note : I still haven't proofread this , so there are going to be some mistakes ( so sorry about that ) , also remember that English isn't my first language so just bare with me ( so sorry for that too ) . I'm going to write for the character of Ivan Drago from Rocky IV so don't worry about that , because new content is coming .

Songs : Ari Abdul - Taste & You

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" Fuck America . Fuck the American dream . Bunch a load of bullshit." You screamed while driving .

Tears stained your face .

Beaten up face .

You were trying to drive from Philadelphia to New Orleans. 18 hour drive .

You were exhausted .

" Damn you Barney Ross . " You said quietly thinking about your brother .

" Why New Orleans ? Why don't go and live someplace else ? " At this point you were going crazy . Talking to yourself . He made you crazy .

You were travelling for nearly 3 days now , making stops in Alabama , Nashville , Kentucky and Tennessee .

You were more than exhausted .

You haven't seen you brother in ages . Although he always kept you in arms length he was protective of you . But right know , you needed help and protection .

You had to be somewhere where he couldn't find you .

" Barney's gonna freak out when he sees me and the bruises . " You thought to yourself .

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" Another one huh ? Again ? You practically have no skin left there Barney . " Tool said to him with a smile .

' Get to work Toll . " Barney answered him laughing to his friend .

After a couple of hours the place was packed with the rest of the team .

Toll and Lee were arguing about knives again .

Caesar was watching Tv and Yin was watching Ross getting another tattoo .

Gunner was on the couch drinking a bear with no alcohol just watching them all .

He was nearly half a year sober . He hasn't touched drugs in over a year now . He was getting better everyday or so he thought .

Everything seemed normal . It was just a normal day for all of them . Just peace and quiet .

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You had difficulty parking your Land Cruiser . So many motorcycles .

" This is for sure Barney's place . " You said while exiting your car locking it and making your way over the open place . It looked like a huge garage that had floors . More like a hangar .

You didn't have enough time to cover your bruises after getting out of the bathroom .

Your sweatpants covered the ones you had on your legs , but your shirt wasn't so much of a help .

Barney had just finished with his tattoo and was putting on his shirt when a quiet voice called out for him .

" Barney ? "

The whole crew has gone quiet over your sudden appearance . A woman with dark brown hair and light blue eyes was calling over to their boss .

Barney turned around seeing his little sister's face .

Her neck and collarbone beaten up . Bruises could be seen in all over her face too .

Your hands shacking . And not from happiness for seeing your brother after so many years . Barney new that look .

Fear .

Fear for your life .

" Y/N ? "

You burst into tears while Barney made his way over to you embracing you in a big hug .

Barney's heart broke in a million little pieces from the way you grabbed him . Your now fresh tears staining his shirt .

" Your okay . Your safe now . Come on Y/N , come on honey , please . What happened ? Tell me honey . I'm here . " Barney said to you while gently holding your head .

He wiped your tears trying to sooth all your fears away .

He placed your face in his hands closely observing your bruises .

" Who ? Tell me who did this . Who did this to you honey ? Who was it hm ? "

" James . " You said in a whisper after you had finally calmed down .

James . Your ever first boyfriend and now apparently ex . Barney was furious . Scared that he may followed you all the way here he ordered the rest of the team .

" Search the area . " Barney said to the rest of them . " I want this place to be monitored and safe 24/7 from now on . Be back in 5' we have work to do . " And with that the 5 men stood up ready to follow Barney's order's .

" Gunner , grab your stuff . If anything happens ... I want him dead . "

And for only a moment you locked your eyes with him .

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You could feel his gaze watching you closely this whole time . After the team made sure that your ex isn't nowhere near you , they closed the hangar for the first time in broad daylight .

"Here you go sweetheart, hope you're doing a little bit better. " Toll the tattoo artist said to you while passing over to you a hot cup of tea.

" Thank you so much , I feel a lot better . " You answered to him .

You could see that he was a genuine man that loves you already as much as he loves your brother .

Barney had been asking you questions all this time about your ex .

Lee was searching him up and Yin was making small talk with you trying to get you to smile .

' So do you have a degree or anything like that ? " Yin asked you .

" I have a Bachelors in Psychology and a Masters in Criminal Psychology and now I want to get a PhD in Forensic . " You answered him and Barney chucked proudly .

" Oh . I thought that you worded as a model or something . " Caesar said to you with a chuckle .

Gunner was beyond mad .

" Oh shut up you big idiot . " Lee said to him obviously tensing your awkwardness and standing up for you .

" She has the beauty and the brains . " Barney said .

You smiled .

And Gunner fucking lost it .

He was head over heals for you already .

He would burn this world for you .

He would tear it apart just to get to you .

You caught him looking at you .

You were finally experiencing what love at first sight meant .

What true love is like .

" Christmas is there anything else that we need to know about ? Y/N?" Barney asked , but before you could even answer Lee said "No". And with that Barney stood up from the couch.

" I'm so sorry Y/N " . Lee Christmas said to you while closing his laptop .

He had read your police file report , all of it .

He said quietly for no one to here . Except he heard .

Gunner watched you as your eyes filled with tears .

Then he finally understood .

You were raped .

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Gunner was beyond mad with himself . He was furious . Everytime you were in the same room he you get hard as a rock . Every.Single.Time.

And it was fucking cruel .

Every day he found himself extremely eager to return back to his house .

Sitting on the couch , with his hand on his croch and then his dick fucking his fist .

On the bathroom, on his bedroom , hell even in the hangars bathroom .

He couldn't even get a good night's sleep in these paste few months. Every single night he would experience a couple of wet dreams were he would eat you out for hours . Orgasm upon orgasm . Images of your sweat moans when he licked at you puffy clit .

And everyday it was getting even worse .

He was cumming his pants everytime you would caught him looking at you . How easily you got flustered, your face becoming light pink .

But this time was the worst one .

You were all at the hangar . Toll was fixing Barney's tattoo , Caesar was cleaning some of his knives while watching TV and Lee and Ying were chatting about something .

Gunnar was sitting in his usual spot on the couch drinking his 0% bear , manspreading .

Looking at you .

You were trying to read your book , but you were stuck for what seemed like endless minutes on the same paragraph .

He could see your nipples getting as hard as his dick .

And then he did the impossible .

He placed on of his enormous palms on top of his crotch . Veins popping . Your clit was begging to be touched .

Unfortunately Lee and Yin had caught upon this and told Ceasar .

" Hey Y/N were done , want to see ? " Toll asked you .

" Thank God . " You said and got off the couch while the boys made their way over to Gunner .

" We knew that you were crazy , but are you out of your god damn mind ? " Lee said .

" Yes , he's right , she'e Barney's little sister and plus your way older than her." Caesar added .

" And Barney want's to make you her bodyguard . " Yin said and with that a smirk formed on Gunner's face .

" You are torturing the pure girl . " Lee said .

" Fuck tell that to my dick . Do you think that she wants me back ? " He asked them .

" Dude are you freaking serious right now ? Go for it . " Yin said to him.

" So who's coming to the bar ? " Barney asked the rest of the team .

" Why do I ever bother asking ? " He said to himself knowing fully well that since Y/N was coming they had to be there .

But as everyone was getting ready to leave " Y/N your gonna ride with Gunner . He's your bodyguard from now on . Keep you safe . You know what I mean ? Gunner take the safest road . " Barney said .

" Huh ? What bodyguard ? Barney ! "

This is bad . This is really bad .

Gunner stood up walking towards you . Your face on his chest .

Good Lord.

He was 6'5 nothing compared to your 5'2 frame . He was huge .

He is huge .

He is a large man .

" Come on sugar . " He said leaving you speechless .

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The one and only reason why you were coming with them at bar , was because you would finally meet Lee's girlfriend , Lacy . She was just a couple of years older than you and she had been into an abusive relationship in the past . But Lee was there for her .

" I'm so glad that you're here . I can finally come to the bar with the boys and chat with you and actually have fun . " Lacy said to you , passing you a cold bear . Upon the first sip you immediately realised that it had alcohol in it .

You had a wonderful night with all of them , but you got to say that you and Lacy were a little bit wasted . Laughing uncontrollably when she smacked Lee's bald head and when you made Barney think you were going to smoke pot .

Gunner's eyes haven't left your body in the entire night. He just couldn't stop thinking about your first ride on his motorcycle .

" If you don't wrap your arms around me , you'll fall. " Gunnar had explained to you , hoping to feel your arms around him . " Fine , we'll have it done your way." You spat back doing exactly what he said .

Good God .

You couldn't even reach your hands from how big Gunnar was . But you could feel his abs and his toned chest .

The ride was amazing , even though it was a slightly cold night , the lights of the city were perfect . You were cold and you hadn't realized that you were now glued to Gunner so you could get some of his warmth . Chin rested on top of his right shoulder , your hair dancing with the wind .

Gunner was in absolute bliss from your beauty . Your blue eyes changing colors with the lights of the city , your hair all messy from the wind , your face so close to his nech that he could feel yout wark breath , your hands darted across his torso .

He was glad that he took the bog road to the bar .

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The ride back at the hangar was nice for everyone except for Gunner .

You and Lacy were a little bit drunk , so when it was time to head back home Barney took you with him on his motorcycle , even though Gunner said to him that he would be more then happy to give you a ride back home .

While the boys hang out on the couch , you and Lacy where resting on your bet at the top floor.The place did not have the best soundproof. So when Lacy open up a special conversation with you , everything could be heard from the boys downstairs .

" You know I too had an abusive past relationship , so I know what you've been through . " Lacy said to you , " Yeah , but you had Lee with you . He helped you get out and away from it . You were not alone and afraid . " Lee and the rest of the time sighed happily but their smiled vanishe away right after .

" Y/N what happened ? What did he do to you ? " Lacy asked you with concern to her eyes .

You took a deep and loud breath and with that prepared for hearing the worst .

" He was my first boyfriend since the start of University . There was this fake love at first but then he made his true self known . That's when the abuse started . He yould come back to our shared studio apartment , drunk every single day , with syringe's on his hand , indicating that he had start using cocaine . The beatings came soon after that , he would hit me just because I would try to help him . But that is not even the worst part . " You said and with that you started crying . The whole team was listening carefully .

" That night he came back drunk and high on some drugs . He came in the kitchen with two syringes on his hand . I tried to fight back Lacy , I really did , but he was stronger than me . The next thing I know ? I wake up with the worst possible migraine , my eyes red and my nose bleeding uncontrollably . My lips basted , my whole entire body in pain , scratches on my arms and legs like someone tried holding them down , blood between my legs and two syringes in my left arm . " You told her while crying non stop .

" I am so so sorry honey , What happened next ? " Lacy said while giving you a hug .

" I called an ambulance and I went to the General . I was hospitalised for 3 whole weaks . That bastard had raped me and then tried to kill me . He injected me with both cocaine and meth . " You said and with that Gunner felt the ground shake . His eyes closed in fear , remembering of his dark past but ther her chuckle made him instantly forget about it . He got a couple worried glances from the rest of the team but said nothing . He was okay .

" But I'm trying to leave this in the past . I'm here with you and the guys and I fell more than just safe . I feel loved . I had missed my brother so much . " You said smiling , Lacy agreeing with you .

" So let's just change the subject . " You said in hope of letting go the other thing . " So how is everything with Lee ? You guys love each other so much , you make me happy . " You said to her smiling once again .

" Everything is great . I love him so much . But something is going on with you and someone huh ? " Lacy said to you and in an instant Barney and Gunner were all ears while the others waited for the bomb to drop .

" No , nothings going on with me . Everything is fine . " You said trying to get done with this conversation as well . " Oh come on now I've seen the way Gunner is looking at you . " Lacy said and Hell broke loose .

" What ? " Barney whispered at Gunner and instantly the whole team stood up ready for everything .

" I have feelings for him too , but I'm to afraid you know ? Besides Barney he's gonna have a heart attach at this age . " You said and both laughed not knowing the silent war downstairs .

" I am 100 % absolutely sure that Gunner has the same feelings that you have for him , just wait for the right moment . I'm gonna go now , we both need a bath and a good night's sleep . " And immediately the boys were down at their seats acting like they hadn't been listening their conversation .

" Hey Lacy - leaving so early - ? ? " Different voices could be heard trying to break the akward silence .

" Good night to you too boys , Lee we're leaving . " Lacy said . " See ' ya ! " Lee said leaving quickly .

And then all you could hear was instant shouting between the rest of the team . You grabbed your things and headed downstairs to take a shower and to see what was this all about . The moment you were into their sight , everything stoped .

" I'll just take a shower and then head to bed , so goodnight y'all . I'll see you tomorrow . Had fun today . " You said to them making your way into shower .

" I will give you my permission to date my sister , only because I know that she deserves the best treatment after everything she went through " Barney said to Gunner " But if anything happens to her , I will kill you in an instant . " This could be your last chance Gunner , don't let it leave . " Barney said to his old friend and then slowly rose up from the couch . " That doesn't mean that your free . You still are her bodyguard so from tomorrow on I want you in here 24/7 "

" Of course Boss . And Barney ? Thank you ! " Gunner said to his best friend , now both smiling .

After Barney left Gunner was left to face Ceasar and Ying .

" See that is why I told you to go for it . You are her boyfriend and her bodyguard . " Yin said happily .

" What the Hell was that ? " Ceasar asked confused from the whole thing making Gunner and Yin laugh while the left the hangar .

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To say that you were frustrated with Gunner was an understatement .

It had been a couple of months since you had this conversation with Lacy and nearly half a year with the team . You grew to love them all , but Gunner ...

The sexual tension was becoming increasingly difficult and on top of it ? He was your bodyguard . Meaning ? He was behind you , observing and closesly watching your every step . Your every move .

Plus you had this new problem . Wet dreams . You would see him in your sleep doing unspeakable things . " Taking a shower sugar ? " He asked you in a flirty tone while sitting in the couch drinking a bear and watching TV . " Do you have a problem Gunner , again ? " You spat back , his flirtatious tone driving you mad .

His chuckles made it even worse so you made your way upstairs , sat on your bed reading your new book , leaving him to his own little funny world , doing nothing about this thing ( if you could even call it a thing ) that obviously exists between you .

______________________________________________________________

" What are you doing ? " You asked Gunner while he started to make his way towards your brothers bed . " Barney is gonna be out of town for a couple of days , so we'll be stuck together for a while . " He answered you . Stuck together ? That did not sound so good . Did he not want to spend 2 days alone with you ?

You thought that you both knew that you had the same feelings for each other but you were waiting for one of you to make the first move?

You gathered all of your courage and asked him . " What do you mean by stuck together ? Have I said or did anything to make you uncomfortable ? I mean I know I can be a little harsh sometimes , but I - i ... really did not meant it that way . I'm so so sorry , I talk to much . I just wanted you to know that I really like you and that - " You rambled but he suddenly cut you off . " You really like me huh ? Do you ? In what way ? " He asked you cutting you off guard .

" Well if you like me in what way do you like me ? " You asked him , trying to sound of pretty cool about this whole interaction .

" In the same way that you do actually . " Gunner answers to you smiling . Oh he was enjoying this . You saw him quietly laughing to himself and a felling of rage washed upon you . You spread out of your bed making your way over his , without noticing that you were in just a shirt and your panties .

" How do you know in what way I like you ? You never even came to me so we could talk about it , only sitting in the couch looking at me with your hands on your pockets and drinking bears . How can you possibly know - " Gunner was so out of this , looking at your breasts and not listening to what you have to say .

Once you stopped talking and realized that he was more intrigued in your nipples , you hide them with your crossed arms . He then looked at you with dark eyes and his hands found their way on yout right hip and at the back of your head . Gunner have had enough . He slammed his lips on top of yours .

After a few seconds you kissed him back . Wanting to taste more of you his hands both slide and grabbed your ass making your mouth to open just a little bit so he could slide in his tongue . You grabbed the back of his neck jumping , him holding you up like you weighted nothing .

The size difference made it even more cruel .

He sat down with you on top of him , placed both of his palms on your hips and started to guiding you on how to move . You slowly started to move back and forth . The clothed riding . You could feel his dick being hard as a rock , and you were sure that you were so wet that you left a pach on top of his groin .

Still kissing you started to ride him a little more fast trying to reach your high. He grabbed your ass rutting against you , the need to cum was just so strong , trying to get more friction . He tried to get you as close as possible , grabbing you so hard , manhandling you , trying to make you reach your high .

Your sweet moans driving him crazy , how much he wanted to feel you , but he knew that was something that you should both talk over first .

Sliding your hands on his hair , his mouth sucked on your neck and collarbones leaving a trail of kisses .

Suddenly your breath hiched and without a second he kept grinding until he felt you cum . The feeling made him cum in his pants not long after , leaving both a mess .

" I want to experience more than just this with you . " You said to quietly to him between the after kisses .

" You're mine . I want you . No I need you . From the moment that I first saw you I knew that you were the one for me . " Gunner said to you looking deep into your eyes and then kissing you .

" I'm gonna be here next to you , waiting for you to get back from missions " - Gunner kissed you again .

But this time it felt caring , it was jentle , indicating love .

But then Gunner felt your body freeze .

" What happened baby ? " He asked you with a worry .

" I can't believe that I just humped my brother's oldest friend on top of his bed ! Oh my God Gunner we almost had sex on top of my brother's bed . " You said to him while laughing .

" That's nothing . We have to catch up for all these months . " Gunnar said as he flipped you over , in need for more .

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Tags : @unimportantbabymilksharkte

[blueparadis]

꒰ SOMETHING ABOUT U ꒱ ⋮ KAEYA ALBERICH → [ CONTENT & TAGS ]:fem!reader, references to canon divergent lores ( mixed with my ideas; nothing promising but i needed to get this months old idea out of brain so that i can focus on other activitis :">) , kaeya has obsessive behavior, angst, mention of prostituion, implicit smut. word count —2k // back to blog navigation. // beta read by my beloved ari @orchid3a . also tagging @kaelily <3.

synopsis:: “Beyond the sea, against the waves

where the sea and sky meet, where tides kiss the moon,

A protector shall be re-born, and Khaenri’ah will rise once again with retribution.”

Many grave and galant eclipses and solstices have been witnessed by the mortals, humans lived and died but the protector did not return. A prophecy that was made years ago has now made it to the front page of the newspaper with the headline, “DID THE GODS GRANT MERCY TO THE KHAENRI’AHNS ?”

A year ago Kaeya Alberich would neither have believed in this prophecy nor would have sworn to pursue the veiled truth and call it ‘fate’. But now, his ship sails across the oceans with him sitting in his personal chamber holding a brown paper, reading the same article that was published a year ago while a girl sleeps in his bed.

His million moras haul, alive and breathing.

Kaeya settles at the edge of his bed swirling the wine in his goblet. With your eyes closed, bosom rising and falling at a slow steady speed he thinks you look like one of those sleeping fairies inside those nyctinastic flowers that he once saw in picture-book when he was a toddler; he accidentally stumbled upon it and saw the wonders that belonged to the out of the word, this word— a child sitting at one of the corners of the library, hiding from the Archon’s wrath, hiding and protecting, hiding and fearing. He is not someone to put faith in the Archons. He does not feel anything about the mocking existence of the Archons, neither rebel nor rage; nothing. Therefore, must he be the one to go against the waves and wind, against the sun and moon, against the gods?

But if Archons were to really exist as people claim, then perhaps it was the Archons' will when his eyes fell on you for the very first time, on that cold night, on that dead island under an enormous tree as you were lying half-clad, breathing but barely alive. While his home was swallowed by the oceans five hundred years ago with no trace at the bottom of the sea, there was you, a fragile creature taking the last of its breaths. He found you in the exact same place where once he breathed and lived in the air of Khaenri’ah. Kaeya does not believe in the Gods, but he does believe in ‘miracles’, and ‘chance encounters’. Now he is ready to believe in some years-old prophecy.

A flame flickering to live on still delivers light.

The winds were treacherous that night, they were not howling like other stormy nights Kaeya had endured. There was an uncanny smell in the winds of the island, a smell that he can neither remember nor recognize, the mixed smell of something greater, something divine— like ichor, blood and bones. He could hear something eccentric too; He knew the winds of the sea like a caterpillar knows its fate to become a butterfly. But this was different, a foreign feeling. It felt like the wind was whispering right into his ears. He has never felt so hollow before. 

That was the first time he heard how hollow he was. It is like when someone was blows air through a hollow pipe so rapid, so full and so hollow that it is on the verge of breaking. Standing there in the dead of the night, with his crew busy at the shore decking the ship he could not separate between himself and those bullet shells that looted lives while his eyes glimmered at your corpse-like body in the pale moonlight, lips trembling and then curving into a crescent. 

The clanking sound of bullet shells hitting the floor, the sound of blazing homes which once were made with love and care, the screams of the dying, and the smell of the dead— he remembers it all. It might have been five hundred years ago for others, but it was still fresh as a morning dew in his mind. He can not forget. Every time he sleeps, he dreams of destruction and every time he is awake he vows on vengeance.

“Woah! Careful there,” Last time when Kaeya was here you had been sleeping. You have been in and out of slumber for a week now. He helped to restore your balance as you tried to wake up and stacked a few pillows behind your back so that you sit at ease. You do not resist, do not have enough power to do so. The marks on your skin are slowly fading, your eyes are now much more expressive, lips and ankles devoid of any fine lines. The only scratch on your body is on your forehead, a star, and a half circle at the lower end of the star. It is very faint now but its there. It was raw and fresh at the night when he first laid you on his bed. It seemed like someone carved it with a knife but there was no dried blood along the scar or anywhere on your body. 

Last month, precisely, a week ago, when Kaeya fetched a doctor for you from the port city of Mondstadt, Dorman, he did not mention anything about the scar. Even when he asked about it specifically, all he got was a laugh at its non-existence. But he can see it, clear as a day. 

“You are doing a lot better than when I first saw you.” He admits as you finally look at him. “Are you hungry? Last night you did not eat much.” It has become a part of his routine now. Being there when you wake up, helping you, telling you stories, taking you out on the deck, watching you from afar when you are awake, and watching you up close when you are asleep. He is trying his best to help you to feel comfortable as much as possible so that you remember your origin, so that you remember your fate, so that you remember what the Archons did. But so far you have only talked minutely about your home and he did not make much of it. 

“No. I do not feel hungry.” Your fidgeted with your fingers averting his gaze. Your attention falls on the dip created on the bed where he kept his hand to adjust the pillows. You gulp wetting your throat. “But I do feel thirsty.” You keep your hand beside his, an inch away. He looks at you, with sapphire-embedded eyes and then at the hands. His little finger shifts towards yours, slowly. You quickly pull your arm into your lap. “Do you think we can visit the port city today?” you ask hoping to divert his attention.

Last night he mentioned it and when you ask so eagerly so softly, his barren cold heart is set ablaze. You are now strong enough to pay attention to him. It makes him happy. Kaeya smiles looking at you before answering, “Of course we can. The others will take care of things at the ship and meanwhile we can visit the port.” He leaves the bed and walks towards the exit of his room. Before vanishing from your sight he states, “Get changed. I will be be the one to accompany you to the city today.” 

You have been living in his room, breathing his air, sleeping in his bed, and wearing his clothes for a month since the day he rescued you. Traveling amongst the winds and the waves with you has not been entirely in vain either. Truth be told, Kaeya likes your presence. Today he is finally taking you out amongst the people and needless to say he is not leaving you out of his sight. He is walking behind you while you are in awe, admiring the surroundings. 

You two stand at one of the shops as you ask about all the things and watch everything with such surprise in your eyes that it reminds him of himself when he was a child. He occasionally scans your surroundings, waves at the people he knows, and smiles at the girls he visited at the pleasure house. Those were some bright evenings he lived, enjoying the night at the pleasure house, fucking the girls till they fainted and disappearing into the sea at the break of dawn— the best he had of his life until . . . you walked into his peaceful luxurious life. He glances at you increasing the amount of distance between you two scooting to a side.

The crowd is slowly increasing and why would it not? Kaeya is here and word must have gotten around the town. He rarely visits port cities unless he has to collect hauls and buy some supplies in exchange for them. This was neither of them. This was a new thing. A news: ‘Lord Alberich is here with some maiden.’ It will draw attention more to him than to you. His smile fades away as he turns his head and does not see you. He asks the shopkeeper and he tells that you went towards the sea. shit.

The dusk is approaching and he should be in his room in his ship with you, not scouring the earth for you. Kaeya enters his room briskly with hundreds of thoughts running in his mind, wild and free. What if you are not here? What if someone recognized you? What if someone abducted you? What if . . .?

He sits on the chair with a thud seeing you on the bed with a new set of clothes, lying unconscious. He remembers buying you some clothes but not changing them. The clothes you had been wearing are neatly folded and kept on another bed. His eyes are still on you like a hawk watching its prey. “When did she get hear?” He asks as his breathing becomes even.

“About an hour ago, Lord Alberich.” one of the members of the crew answered. “She found her way back to here. We found her lying unconscious to the ground when we came to give the food.” Kaeya waves his hand at them asking them to leave. He pours some wine into his goblet and like always, sits at the edge of the bed but this time closer to your face.

He runs the back of his fingers along your cheeks murmuring to himself, “What am I gonna do with you… you are driving me insane, paranoid a bit.” He does not know your origin, your past nor your full name, nothing. Even though he is trying his best to give you the benefit of doubt, you keep thinning his faith on you every time.

He lifts up his head, his arm reflexively stretches towards the gun in the hostler. He presses and clicks open the safety lock and keeps the nozzle at your temple. Will you bleed blood or ichor if he hurt you? Will you lament or will you punish him if he hurt you? Are you here to kill him and his people? Or Are you here to help him and his people? 

His fingers move over your forehead, over the marks. He is sure he is the only one who can see your forehead scar. So he takes a risk that he did not think of doing it, ever. Keeping his goblet aside, his index finger slipped underneath his eye patch, pushing it aside for it to remove. There is it, his suspicion is confirmed.

As the scar on her forehead glows and his right eye does not sting or hurt like it should his limbs give up and he lands on his knees beside the bed. There he sat and wept like a boy while his ‘fate’ lay in front of him. How can he not believe what he sees with his own two eyes?

So many questions yet answers to none. But he is aware of only one thing— that you are everything that he does not believe. An Archon. A deity. A bane to his existence. But he refuses to hurt you. He refuses to become the very thing he despises. He refuses to let it go in with just one shot and therefore, he must keep you, tame you, and protect you. 

—

ik this has a lot of loopholes & might make this a multichaptered series but that depends on how well it will do :]

[theoperativeif]

Ari (The Operative short story)

Here is the finish short story! I actually wrote the whole thing with the pronouns switched between Ari and 002, I needed to go back and correct it to make it fit the poll results. But I am so happy to have it finished! Feel free to let me know your thoughts on it.

Enjoy! <3 you all!

(Content warning, all warnings in The Operative demo apply to this as well!)

The specks of far-off stars dotted the viewport, an ethereal canvas of black and purple that seemed to stretch into infinity. No artist, however skilled, could have crafted such a perfect tableau.

"Admiral, the Emperor’s Herald is calling,” First Officer Gallo announced, his large frame eclipsing a swath of console lights. “Should I put it through?”

A hesitant glance swept across Admiral Anderson's crew—faces caught in a blend of darkness and eerie console glow. Custom dictated that a Herald's message be broadcast to the entire ship. But not this time.

“No, this is a private assembly,” Elia instructed, straightening her uniform as a screen unfurled before her, obscuring the cosmic tapestry.

The Imperial Anthem, a bombastic melody woven into the very fiber of her being, filled the ship. As it faded, metal walls isolated Elia from her crew. For a moment, she stood in encompassing darkness before finding herself surrounded by a grand chamber of marble stairs. Virtual figures of obscured Admirals and Generals stood beside her in this ritualistic gathering known as the Emperor's embrace—an event Elia usually avoided.

Slowly, she looked up to the throne above her, where a shadowy figure reclined. A second figure descended the stairs, coming into full view.

“Generals, Admirals, Leaders of the Empire," a voice boomed, blending martial roughness with Capitol sophistication. "The Emperor’s chosen voice, his Herald of guidance, will now address you.”

The Herald appeared—a lithe silhouette veiled in holographic stars and galaxies. As Elia locked eyes with two bright stars, a shiver crawled up her spine. Her own reflection in those stars was a haunting revelation, one that weighed heavily on her conscience.

"Elia," the Herald whispered with unsettling familiarity, "child, what do you wish to ask of the Emperor?”

“Only to thank him for his leadership and blessings,” Elia replied in a rehearsed tone, hearing echoed affirmations from her obscured colleagues.

“The Emperor is displeased with Vanern. They dishonor the very souls they owe him. Examples must be made,” the Herald intoned.

“We need to withdraw from the planet,” General Parcer interjected, his voice breaking the uneasy silence.

Elia winced. The General's defiance made her uncomfortable, yet also resonated with her own suppressed reservations. The general was an imposing figure, with a thinly trimmed mustache and long blue cloak behind him. 

“The Emperor commands you to hold the planet,” the Herald cautioned.

Several other Admirals voiced their concerns, echoing that of Parcer.

 

“What of you, Admiral Anderson?” The Herald's virtual fingers grazed Elia's cheek, adding an unsettling intimacy to the long look they gave her, “Is there not one soul brave enough to stay?”

General Parcer stepped back, a look of hurt pride on his face as he shook his head. Elia sensed the moment's significance—a junction of personal ambition and collective destiny. Her eyes met the Herald’s stars again, but now they shimmered with resolve.

"The Chemical Core and my Operatives can hold the line. If we win the skies, they can win on the ground. General, do you have the stomach for it?" she challenged.

Parcer hesitated, his eyes darting between the Herald and Elia, before exhaling a defeated sigh. "I pray you're right," he said, his voice tinged with resignation.

“The only power that matters is the Emperor’s,” the Herald declared, turning back to Elia with a nod. “Proceed with your plans.”

Five Months Later

The evening winds screamed over the southern plains just outside the city of Mulhat, like vengeful spirits mourning their losses. Once a site for thousands to enjoy the celestial lights, the plains were now a desolate tableau, inhabited only by the dead—or those resigned to join them soon. Six medium Imperial tanks rumbled down the roads, weaving through abandoned vehicles, shallow graves, and the occasional forsaken pet. Flanking and leading them were the remnants of the 7th, their rifles swinging from point to point as if desperate to find a target.

More than a third of them had unmarked armor, but it was caked with the mud of a long march. They were green. Ari frowned at the sight, his eyes narrowing beneath his helmet.

Perched atop the second tank, Ari wiped the dried blood off his helmet with swift, forceful strokes. Around him, no one spoke. What could they say? By some fluke, another day had passed without casualties. Yet an uneasy air hung thick, as if death had merely postponed its visit.

The lead tank juddered to a stop, and the rest of the column followed in an ordered sequence. Ari rolled off the side of his tank and landed softly on the mud-caked earth, eyes scanning as platoons fanned out in every direction.

From an armored carrier at the rear, Captain Carrington surveyed a map. Tall and bespectacled, his impeccable uniform seemed out of place next to his subordinates, whose attire bore the scars of ongoing conflict. Ari had felt uneasy when he took over the 7th two weeks ago; he was too young, his uniform too clean. The original officers had fallen during the first week of operations, leaving NCOs to improvise.

Carrington finally closed his map and approached Ari, a polished smile contrasting sharply with his mud-splattered armor. "Ahead is a town suspected of harboring a small Commonwealth presence," he said, never quite meeting his eyes. "Command wants it cleared and any arms seized from its citizens."

Ari's eyes flicked to the map Carrington was still clutching. 

He continued, "I want you to clear it for us. You leave immediately."

Ari stared at him, his gut tightening before he consciously willed himself to relax. This is what he was engineered for.

"Lieutenant Hammond of the Third Platoon interjected, stepping forward. "Sir, Ari's already cleared four towns this week. Maybe we can—"

Carrington cut him off with a glare, his plastic smile returning. "Nonsense. I have the utmost faith in Operative 005."

Ari winced. Hammond had no reason to draw the ire of their greenhorn commander. He gave him a nod of appreciation. His thoughts retreated to his past, to his "mother's" incessant instruction and the tales from 002 about honorable warriors. Tales that now seemed like childish fantasies. He was a soldier. He would obey.

The town that awaited Ari was a mere ten miles up the road—a modest industrial outpost framed by skeletal factories on either side. Once bustling centers of production, they were now hollowed-out relics, victims of the relentless artillery that rained from above.

Ari peered through his rifle scope, his eyes hardened behind the dark visor. The forest that once provided cover had been reduced to smoldering embers and blackened stumps, leaving an unforgiving mile of barren terrain between the town's outskirts and the nearest semblance of shelter.

He had challenged Captain Carrington on his tactics. "How do you expect me to approach the town without cover?" The Captain's response had been a disconcerting smile and a vague assurance: "I'm confident you'll manage."

Suppressing a sigh, Ari activated his suit's cloaking device. A shimmering ripple enveloped his armor, harmonizing with the charred landscape behind him. As he advanced, his suit's sensors fed him real-time data: the air was thick with smoke, but mercifully free of chemical or biological threats. "Good," he thought, recalling a nightmarish scenario where an entire town's air filtration had failed, asphyxiating its inhabitants. He could have easily been one of those children, had fate dealt him a different hand.

His thoughts wandered, as they often did, to questions of origin. Had he come from a lush, verdant world? Or maybe a frozen wasteland? He smiled beneath his visor, imagining a little 002 thriving in a harsh, unforgiving environment. He had always ensured he would too. He was a warrior Ari could only dream of matching.

But not now. Not when 002 was at the frontlines, and he was stuck under the command of an inexperienced captain, showcased like a trophy weapon. He had obeyed his orders dutifully, wading through skirmishes while he observed from a safe distance, his eyes twinkling in unsettling fascination.

He was an instrument of war, and the Captain was merely using him as intended. Yet, a nagging sensation of being wasted gnawed at him. He imagined his "Mother" laughing at him inner turmoil—a cruel, mirthless laugh that echoed in his mind.

Just as he reached the fringes of the town, his steps faltered. A shallow ditch caught his eye. Inside lay five bodies—two women and three men, faces down, their skulls shattered by bullets.

Death had been quick at least.

Grimacing, Ari skirted past the ditch and crept along the side of a nearby building. Its facade bore signs of conflict, scarred by bullets that may have been fired from makeshift firearms.

Taking cover behind some empty supply crates near the corner of the building Ari turned off the cloaking field, letting it recharge for a few minutes in silence. 

The wind blew, howling for a moment before settling into silence without any response. 

Then Ari heard it. A boot stepping on metal with a fairly heavy thump. Too heavy, Ari thought, slowly raising his rifle and pointing it against the wall of the building. Turning his cloak back on he let his armor scan the building. Noting the fuzziness of the screen he waited. 

Some fireteams would carry a scrambler with them to black out a building from an outside fireteams sensors. It was effective except for one issue. A blacked out building also revealed their location.

Ari guessed there must be  at least five inside, if there was more then a fire team others would most likely join in after the fight had started.

 

Ari waited until he heard the last bootstep, then pulled the trigger. With a loud bang his rifle fired easily through the wall, a loud metal ping sounded as he discharged the large casing as she rolled to the side. 

A hail of bullets fired through the walls of the shelter. He could imagine each path as time slowed before he let off two more well placed shots.

In a matter of four seconds it was silent. 

Breathing heavily Ari waited. Satisfied at the lack of noise Ari moved around, peeking out towards the road running in front of the building. If there were more soldiers here they were doing a good job of not revealing themselves. If they were there Ari didn’t intend to give them the satisfaction of spotting him. 

Placing two breach charges on the wall Ari circled around towards the back door. Keying the keypad he opened it, carefully monitoring his sensors. 

Room by room he swept, noting the three bodies, large holes blown threw their personal armor, blood coating the metal fragments. Commonwealth Soldiers, he noted from the insignia’s on their shoulders. Bending down he lightly pushed one, noting the armor had been fused together in a custom repair job.

Interesting. he thought, wondering if the Commonwealth was as low on supplies as their Imperial foes were. 

He heard the faintest scuff of a boot on flooring. 

Diving to the side he barely missed the sword that embedded itself in the floor, it was large with an ornate looking handle. A tall soldier with a curved armored helmet pulled it out of the floor. Standing nearly as tall as him it looked almost like an Operative. A Commonwealth knight. He thought cautiously. Not enhanced. He noted the more clumsy movements.

It raised the sword, pointing it at him in a challenge as several Commonwealth soldiers filed in behind it. 

Not waiting, Ari opened fire, letting off two rounds. 

The first slammed into the large soldier's helmet, skimming off of it in a wave of sparks. The second blew through the next soldier before continuing on to blow the leg off of his comrade behind him. 

There were shouts as Ari rushed behind a wall, bullets striking the space she had just been in.

Calmly aiming at the front door he fired a single round through it, a cry of pain sounding from outside. 

Calmly picking the Commonwealth soldiers off with precise shots he, looked around as the wall behind him exploded. Light pops of gunfire outside sounding. 

He ducked under the sword of the imposing knight. The next swing he blocked with his rifle, the blade digging into it. The Knights free gloved hand shot out, gripping Ari’s throat in an iron embrace.

Drawing his knife he plunged it in the small gap in the suit by his abdomen, ripping upwards in an arc, warm blood coating his hand.

His armor growled, reinforcing his strength as he tossed Ari across the room. His Rifle clattered to the floor as he gasped for air. 

The Knight stumbled, holding the wound. 

Flipping the knife over in his hand Ari circled him, making a feint he got him to raise his sword with one hand. Dodging under it he stabbed two more times, once into his armpit and another into the gap on his other side. 

He cried out, his armor unable to make up for his failing limbs as he dropped to his knees. The sword clattering to the ground.

Ari walked over, picking his rifle up and quickly checking it over. 

Satisfied he stuck the barrel underneath his helmet and fired a single shot. 

Blood splattered his face as the helmet was thrown off the knights head. 

He sighed, turning and eventually finding the jamming device in the house. 

He would clear four more holdouts in the town. Around fifty soldiers in total when he was finished. He sat near the front of the town, cleaning his wounds as the tanks finally crested one of the hills, the marines slowly making their way over to him. 

Fireteams passed him silently, sweeping through the buildings long since cleared. 

Captain Carrington sat calmly on the last tank as it rolled into town, stepping off of it his boots sank awkwardly into the muddy ground. Ari gently grabbed his arm, keeping him upright, a thought crossing his mind to let the kid fall. 

He looked at Ari with a strange mix of embarrassment and anger before shaking his grip off. 

“I see you dealt with things adequately enough,” he said, looking back at the tank commander whose head was silently peering out front the top hatch, “get your tanks under some cover, camouflage the ones you can’t get under the overhangs, the Commonwealth might still be sweeping this area with some ground attack aircraft.”

 

The tank commander nodded, the tank's engine roaring as it was slowly guided by a marine between two buildings and a large camo net was thrown over it. 

“Confiscate any communications devices the locals might be in possession of, can’t have them specifying coordinates.”

Ari looked at some of the townspeople with a critical eye. They wore simple clothes, worn and obviously in need of replacement. He walked over to a graying man who had claimed the role as the town's representative. 

“There is a grave towards the front of town, who were they?” Ari asked, more out of curiosity than anything else. The man held his gaze, his eyes worn and haunted before shaking his head. 

“A family, they objected when a soldier took their daughter for an,” he hesitated, “interrogation.” 

They stood in silent understanding. Such things were common.

 

“We are here to help,” Ari said finally, looking at the man, “I’m Ari.” 

“Antonio,” the man said with a practiced smile, “you will forgive me if I don’t take your word for it. Those soldiers said the same thing when they came.”

“You are Imperial citizens,” Ari objected, “we would never hope to-”

A shot rang out from somewhere towards the edge of town, Ari looked out as birds scattered from where they had been peering atop buildings. When he turned back to Antonio he saw the man's expression had gone dark with a hint of disappointment before passing him and rushing off towards the gunshot. 

Captain Carrington meanwhile paid the gunshot no mind, instead choosing some lodging for the night from a selection of still intact shelters. Ari started to head towards the commotion but stopped as he was waived by the Captain to follow. 

Staring down the street as a young man was dragged by two soldiers out into the street Ari hesitated before slowly following after the young Captain. Two gunshots followed. Military caliber. Ari noted silently as a woman's screams of grief replaced the silence. 

The Captain arranged with an old woman to ‘rent’ one of her guest rooms, with arrangements for breakfast and coffee in the morning. The woman smiled a merchant's smile, practiced and precise, but Ari noticed the daggers glinting in the dim light as she watched the Captain’s men unload his personal effects into the room. 

Ari eventually was allowed to leave without so much as a word said between them. He would be told by a sergeant that a young man whose father was in the Commonwealth army had stowed away a small firearm and had shot one of the officers in the neck. The officer had lived, sporting a bandaged neck by the time Ari finally saw him. The boy on the other hand had been dealt with quickly, his mother given a small sum of money to compensate her. 

Ari found himself wondering if he should step in, this boy was obviously unfit to command this unit in pitched combat. Let alone his inability to keep control of the green recruits who looked like they had been plucked straight from the street corners of the red light district. 

Ari was shown to his own quarters, a tent hastily erected and guarded by two soldiers, each holding a rifle. It was as if he were both a valued asset and a potential threat.

After changing into a simple shirt and pants, Ari reached for his worn sketchbook and pencil. He took a moment to center himself. Closing his eyes, he thought back to a single, beautiful tree they had passed twenty miles back—a stark contrast to the desolation around his. With gentle strokes, he began sketching the tree's every leaf and branch. As he breathed in deeply, he could almost smell the earth and hear the rustle of leaves, a brief refuge from the harsh reality he faced.

He paused and flipped through the sketchbook's filled pages, each a snapshot of a lost moment or a lingering hope. His eyes stopped at one of his earliest drawings. It was a young woman, her face peaceful yet filled with determination. He felt a lump form in his throat and pressed the drawing against his chest as if trying to absorb its essence.

002, the second Operative created by Mother, had always been his sanctuary in the labyrinth of darkness they called home. He remembered their stolen moments, sitting side by side, staring up at the artificial stars above the lab. While 002 was a girl of few words, her smiles spoke volumes. They were like tiny rebellions, showing a sense of wonder and inner freedom. Ari dared to hope—still hoped—that he occupied some corner of her dreams as well.

She had always been in mine, he thought, his finger tracing the contours of the drawing. Last he heard, she had been deployed somewhere on this war-ravaged planet. A bittersweet hope clung to him; perhaps fate would cross their paths once more.

Just then, one of the guards interrupted his reverie. "Visitor for you, Lieutenant Hammond."

Snapping back to reality, Ari quickly hid the sketchbook under his pillow. "Come in," he called.

Lieutenant Hammond entered, his burly frame barely fitting through the tent flap. His face was etched with a mixture of concern and internal conflict. "What he's doing isn't fair to you," he blurted out, almost as if he couldn't hold it in any longer.

Ari's eyes shifted nervously to the tent flap. "Is this the time or place for this conversation?"

"They agree with me," Hammond reassured, his voice tinged with urgency. "Those of us who've seen enough know this is wrong. You're more than just a weapon—you're one of the Emperor's Chosen Children."

Ari's lips quivered for a moment before he steeled himself. "I am just a weapon," he replied, echoing the cold words that Mother had etched into his very soul. "I exist to die for the Empire, in any way my superiors see fit."

"That's no way to live," Hammond argued, his eyes softening, revealing a paternal concern.

"Operatives don't live; we merely exist between missions," Ari retorted, bitterness lacing his words.

"Don't say that," Hammond insisted, his eyes imploring. "You deserve more, so much more."

Tears welled up in Ari's eyes, but he blinked them back. I am the Emperor's weapon; that's all I will ever be, he reminded himself, fighting back his emotions.

"I'll report the Captain to high command," Hammond declared, getting up from his chair with a newfound resolve.

"No," Ari said softly but firmly, stopping him in his tracks.

Hammond turned, an incredulous look on his face. "No?"

"Do it if you must, but not for me," Ari clarified, his voice tinged with resignation. "If you believe he's a danger to you and your men, report him. But he's just using the resources given to him. I am that resource." As he spoke, he wished he could make himself believe his own words; perhaps then the weight he carried would be a little lighter.

Hammond stared at him, bewildered and heartbroken. He let out a heavy sigh, shaking his head, and exited the tent, leaving Ari alone with his thoughts.

Retreating to his cot, Ari took a deep, shuddering breath. He lay there in the suffocating silence until sleep finally claimed him, bringing with it the haunting dreams that were his constant companions.

Ari opened his eyes to find himself atop a haunting hill, overlooking a forest that seemed almost alive in its dark expanse. The twisted carcasses of tanks and spaceships lay strewn about the hillside like the skeletal remains of fallen giants. Piles of bodies marked the midpoint of the hill, their positions suggesting they'd collapsed against an invisible force field. Ancient ruins clawed their way up from the base of the hill, their tendrils of stone and metal as if reaching for something lost.

Further up the hill, a sparse selection of bodies lay in disarray. He didn't recognize any of them; they were all strangers, perhaps souls who'd been pulled into this morbid tableau against their will.

"Just us, it seems, hmm?" A voice whispered from behind him, chilling him to the bone.

He pivoted, his breath catching in his throat. An enormous, ethereal beam of light shot upwards, splattering the sky in a surreal blend of purple and green. Between him and this spectacle stood a lone figure.

001—the original Operative. It was a monstrous vision, devoid of any shred of humanity, encased in an unholy fusion of bone and silver-colored armor. Its helmet wrapped around his head, with two jagged armor plates that met in a mesh, pulsating like some insectoid maw. Two malevolent, glowing green eyes bored into his very soul.

"Disappointed?" 001 sneered, as if savoring his reaction. "You wouldn't think something like that of 002."

"She is nothing like you," Ari managed, his voice quivering as he took a step back.

"She is exactly like me," 001 cackled, a malevolent sound that made the hill beneath them tremble. "I paved the way for all that is to come. Don't delude yourself. She's walking the same path, right behind me. And so are you."

Ari's breath hitched. No, they were wrong; 002 was nothing like this abomination. She was kind, she was heroic, and above all, she cared about him.

"I cared about someone, too, once," 001 said, its voice suddenly hollow, almost wistful. In a blinding flash, it closed the gap between them, gripping him by the neck and hoisting him into the air like a ragdoll. "Want to know what became of that love? What he will one day do to you?"

Ari's eyes snapped open. He was back in his cot, drenched in cold sweat. His hands shot to his throat; it was untouched, yet the sensation of that iron grip remained. He sank back into his cot, his eyes clenched shut, his heart pounding in his chest. It had felt unbearably, terrifyingly real.

Then again, it always did.

Ari wiped away tears that he hadn't realized he'd shed, and reached for his sketchbook lying next to him. Could his longing for decency be just a child's fantasy? No, it couldn't be.

There was a commotion outside, shouts of anger and one of terror. Ari jumped from his cot, snatching his rifle easily off its rack and rushing outside. His two guards had their rifles at the ready and quickly fell into step with his. Captain Carrington exited his own quarters, a look of bewilderment on his face as he wrapped a brown cloak around his sleep attire. 

Several marines were aiming their weapons at a group of townspeople who held a marine with a knife to his throat. On the ground was a woman, her face bruised, crying and shaking, beside her was a marine, a gunshot wound through his chest.

“Lower your weapons god damn it!” Carrington ordered, his voice not carrying the order properly over the chaos.

“Lower your weapons now!” Ari ordered, his voice carrying easily as the marines obeyed, shouldering their firearms. 

Carrington cast an unreadable look towards him before focusing back on the marines and townspeople. 

“What's the meaning of this?” He asked, looking expectantly at his marines. 

“Your man drunkenly attacked one of our women,” Antonio said, a dark look on his face as he glared at the young Captain, “when his comrade intervened he shot him!”

Ari’s fingers tapped his combat knife, hoping he wouldn’t have to use it. 

“Is this true?” Carrington looked at the sergeant who looked down before nodding his head.

“Seems to be Captain, luckily people intervened,” the Sergeant looked down shamefully, two other veterans nodded their heads, though several objections were raised by several of the younger marines. 

Captain Carrington seemed lost for a moment, looking between the townspeople, their faces filled with a mixture of anger and expectation and his marines who seemed disappointed he would even consider taking the townsfolk side. 

“Take him in front of my quarters,” Carrington said quietly, waving for the marines to take him, “whats, whats his name?”

“Private Summers Sir,” the Sergeant replied simply.

The man holding the marine at knife point lowered the blade, allowing the two closest marines to grab both of his arms.

The two groups followed the Captain back to his quarters. Ari followed him inside quietly. He watched as he suddenly started shaking as he searched through his makeshift work desk, scattering papers and data pads across it. He seemed to be searching for something specific. 

He eventually found it, reading over something on his datapad. He read some parts out loud, but only in pieces.

“If a soldier in his service should…”

“Discretion of commanding officer…”

“Carried out by company…”

Afterwards he pulled up the accused man's military record, he tapped on several other incidents reported.

He shakily put the pad down, hanging his head with a loud sigh before straightening himself and walking back outside. 

He walked over to the Sergeant, speaking quietly so the townspeople could not hear him.

“Sergeant, tie him to that post over there,” Captain Carrington said, drawing his pistol and examining it carefully, he was pale now. His hand barely able to properly secure the weapon, he looked at his marines doing his best to make his voice strong, “we are the Emperor’s marines, we conduct ourselves according to the Imperial Codex of War, and any breaking of that should result in a tribunal of the accused. However when one commits such an act in a warzone and may endanger the lives of others the commanding officer may carry out an execution.”

The townspeople had gone silent, meanwhile whispers and grumbling broke out among the marines. Lieutenant Hammond and the Sergeant quickly quelled the murmurs, their own opinions hidden behind  serious faces. 

Private Summers struggled against the two marines dragging him, “fuck you Captain, you spineless piece of shit!” 

The Captain had gone silent, pistol gripped in his hand. Once the man was tied to the post the Captain raised his pistol, and nothing. The Captain’s hand was shaking as he gripped the pistol. Silence had fallen over the area. 

The private, perhaps sensing the Captain’s weakness, began to silently sneer in contempt.

Ari flexed his hands, looking at the Captain before slowly looking over the crowd. If he didn’t carry out his declared sentence now not only would the town scorn them but the marines under his command would be even more likely to commit acts against the populace. 

His mothers voice popped into his head. One of the instructions given to an Operative was to be the weapon at their betters disposal. Perhaps the Captain was overlooking him as an option.

He took several steps forward to be beside the Captain before leaning over, “I would be honored to carry out the sentence.” 

The Captain spun on him, eyes flashing anger before he noticed the doubting faces of the crowd around them. Something else flashed in his eyes as he looked between Ari and the private. Ari blinked in surprise, was that hatred he saw?

“Yes, I think that would be better,” the Captain said, raising his head in a failed attempt at maintaining dignity as he handed the pistol to Ari, “once in the head please.” 

Ari turned, squeezing the trigger and firing a single round straight through the mans skull. He slumped instantly, with Ari nodding in satisfaction at the shot. He handed the pistol back to the Captain who merely stared at him. 

“Everyone disperse!” Lieutenant Hammond bellowed as he turned to the crowd.

After that fateful evening, an eerie silence settled over the town for the next few days. However, on the fourth day, the tranquility was shattered when a sealed communique arrived for the Captain. Ari and Hammond received orders to report to the Captain's quarters immediately. As they approached the worn wooden door, Ari thanked the elderly homeowner who greeted them with a resigned smile before opening the door.

Stepping inside, they found themselves in a room heavy with the scent of tobacco and aged leather. The Captain sat at his worn desk, the dim glow from a desk lamp illuminating his pale face as he fixated on a datapad.

Ari felt a knot tighten in his stomach, and he exchanged a puzzled look with Hammond before the Captain looked up and acknowledged their presence.

"The 14th and 9th have been annihilated in a counteroffensive. We're being rotated to the front lines to support the 22nd," he disclosed, his voice tinged with an anguish that he couldn't hide. "New officers are coming in to take the 7th from me."

A mix of dread and anticipation filled the room. Hammond, trying to cut through the tension, chimed in. "Well, at least our boys will finally see some heavy combat. I'll get the officers assembled."

With a curt nod, Hammond exited, leaving Ari alone in the stifling atmosphere of the room. The Captain leaned back in his chair, exhaling a long, shaky breath before breaking into an unsettling laugh.

"You planned this somehow," he slurred, pulling out a bottle of clear liquid from under the table and taking a defiant swig. "Your kind always finds a way to win, don't they?"

"Sir, I don't understand," Ari said cautiously, flinching as the bottle flew past his face, shattering against the dark wooden wall and leaving a wet stain.

"Don't feign innocence. From day one, you've played the role of the shining warrior, haven't you?" His eyes narrowed, and he staggered to his feet, gripping the edge of the table for support. "All along, you've been subtly undermining me. Turning my men and this town against me. Your entire kind is just twisted, isn't it?"

Ari felt his pulse quicken, his mouth going dry. In a moment of candid emotion, he retorted, "You've done that yourself."

As the words escaped his lips, Ari froze. Why had he said that? What would happen now?

The Captain stared at him, and for a fleeting moment, Ari thought he saw a glimmer of realization cross his eyes—but then it was gone, replaced by an even deeper darkness.

“You,” he snarled uselessly as he sat back in his chair, “get out of my sight monster.” 

Several hours later they had set off, leaving the town behind them.

Ari reclined in his seat as the armored transport rumbled inexorably toward the frontline. Streams of civilians—the collateral damage of war—fled in the opposite direction. Their faces were etched with haunted expressions that Ari knew he'd remember for a lifetime. A few children, perhaps too young to grasp the gravity of their situation, waved at the passing soldiers. Ari mustered a smile and waved back, but his eyes couldn't help but shift to the metamorphosing landscape outside.

Once verdant fields and dense, peaceful forests were now marred by the scars of war. What had once resembled a pastoral painting was now more akin to a nightmarish hellscape. The earth was gouged open, as if it too had suffered wounds, with mud oozing out like brown, coagulated blood. Deep trenches dissected the land, and the carcasses of tanks and even entire aircraft lay sunken in the mire, forgotten monuments to failed human endeavor.

The landscape brought an unbidden thought to the forefront of his mind: What hell had 002 been enduring out here? A wave of guilt washed over him, complicating his earlier feelings of dissatisfaction with his assignment. He had been pouting about his orders, resenting his inexperienced Captain, and feeling underutilized. But was he not, at that very moment, headed toward the place he felt he should be? A place where he could be of real use? And yet, even that idea felt tinged with a selfish desire—to find 002, to ensure he was alright, to fight by his side just like they had in what felt like another lifetime.

Ari closed his eyes briefly, wrestling with the confusing medley of emotions that churned within him. He felt a strange amalgam of guilt for wanting more action, worry for the woman who had always stood by him, and a newfound, unsettling empathy for the people whose lives had been upturned by this war.

His eyes widened further as they drove past the artillery units. Mammoth cannons, engineering marvels that belied their grim purpose, launched rocket-assisted shells that could traverse several hundreds of miles. The ground itself seemed to tremble with the concussive force of each shot, sending a primal shiver down Ari's spine.

Adjacent to the artillery were the repair units, swarming with engineers and technicians. They buzzed around damaged fighter craft, each a casualty of the dangerous aerial ballet occurring far above them. Sparks flew, welding torches flared, and the scent of hot metal filled the air as these units labored to return their birds to the sky, and into the maw of the ongoing conflict.

Inside the transport, the atmosphere had become thick with tension. Ari looked around and noticed the stark transformation in his comrades. The new recruits, previously flushed with the naïve excitement of youth, had turned ashen. Their eyes darted nervously, and their faces held a greenish tint, as if the reality of war had settled in their stomachs and was threatening to come back up.

As if on cue, their own artillery began its relentless cacophony. The initial hiss of rockets and shells slicing through the air resonated in the confined space, cutting through the tension like a knife. Several marines flinched visibly, their eyes widening and jaws tightening.

For a split second, the sounds vanished, swallowed by the void before them, leaving an eerie silence. Then, the far-off booms reached their ears, each explosion a ghostly echo that seemed to reverberate in the very marrow of their bones.

Ari remained silent as the transport finally crossed the final miles to arrive at the front. 

Hopping out, Ari turned, pausing to look above. Hundreds of ships, small shapes far above were visible, dashes of light flashing as the two fleets far above battled. Hundreds of streaks of light were across the sky, rockets striking all parts of the battlefield around him. 

And what a horrible sight it was, miles of mud, pockets of water and black dirt kicked up at random without the faintest hint of green to be seen. In between the dark mud, smaller pockets of light lit up as gunfire and laserfire intermixed, smoke constantly rolling over the entire area as far as Ari’s eyes could see. 

Ari and the 7th crossed even more miles only just beginning to approach the front. A constant stream of dead or dying soldiers were carried past them on stretchers, the cries and explosions intermixing into a chorus rising up all around them. The sound felt suffocating, as if it was closing around Ari’s throat. Overhead fighters flew past, firing into positions they couldn’t see. Some were hit by flak, rolling over and hitting the ground in a faint explosion. 

Somewhere far off something exploded, shaking the very ground so much so that soldiers lost their footing, collapsing to the floor. 

Miles off to their right Ari could see the glowing green wave of chemical smoke crashed over a Commonwealth position. Ari fiddled with his mask, making sure its filtration was functioning correctly.  

  

Marines marched back past them with cracked armor, missing limbs and some missing most of their armor entirely. The looks on their faces were haunted, young men and women with lines now aging their faces beyond recognition. 

The Imperial defensive positions were layered in four overlapping lines. Two lines carefully positioned in the center had a shock group backed by two battalions of marines positioned seventy yards behind them. Behind that reserve was an enormous trench nearly fifty yards wide and several miles long. Smaller transports could reposition behind the lines without exposing themselves to fire. 

To the right and left were the other two lines of troops, these dug in defensive positions with multiple overlapping fields of fire nearly across the entire line. Some positions even had tanks sunk up to their turrets to provide a sort of pillbox support. Further past the lines were hundreds of scattered foxholes serving as forward posts to delay enemy advances.

In front of all of them was the target the generals coveted. The city of Proko. Its ruins were barely visible in the distance through the haze. 

Imperial bombardment had long since brought the once towering skyscrapers down. 

Ari ducked as a violent explosion shattered the air, hurling a forty-foot-wide wave of mud skyward before it came crashing down like a filthy rain. Amid the chaos, Ari could hear the grotesque sound of mud mixed with human remains slapping back onto the earth—punctuated by the grinding of armored vehicles repositioning. Shouts of agony and confusion erupted all around him.

Nearby, an officer stumbled through the mire, his eyes glazed over with shock, his arm missing from the elbow down. He frantically dug through the mud, sifting through an indistinguishable blend of earth and human remains.

"I lost my ring," he mumbled, his eyes unfocused as though seeing through time itself. "Can't lose that. Can't lose that."

The words struck Ari like a bullet.

With a wave of his hand, Ari signaled a corpsman. "Stay with me," he said softly, placing a gentle hand on the disoriented soldier's shoulder. "We'll take care of you first, then we'll find your ring."

A glimmer of relief passed through the soldier's eyes as the corpsman arrived, directing them toward the medical tent. Ari's armor made light work of the injured man's weight. As he carried him, his eyes remained peeled on the churned earth they traversed.

After laying him carefully on a cot in the medical tent, Ari turned away, his chest heavy with a sense of inadequacy. He was trained to be an Operative—to fight, to survive, but moments like these reminded him of the limitations of his role.

Unable to let go of the soldier's distress, Ari decided to make one more sweep of the battlefield, assisting medics in carrying another wounded soldier back to the tent. Each face he encountered was a blur, but his mission was clear. Amidst the rubble and remains, his eyes caught a glint of metal. Bending down, he unearthed a mud-caked ring.

Ari returned to the medical tent, hope welling up in him as he approached the soldier, who was now being attended to by medics. He placed the ring into his remaining hand, closing his fingers around it.

His eyes met Ari’s, filled with a complex mix of relief, sorrow, and something indescribable. For the first time that day, Ari felt a tiny fracture in the wall of helplessness that had encased him.

"Thank you," he whispered, clutching the ring as if it were his very soul.

Ari nodded, swallowing hard against the emotional lump in his throat. "Hang on to it.”

Eventually, Ari caught up with the 7th, a battalion now rotated up to occupy the first line of defense—or offense, depending on the ever-shifting tides of battle. The 7th was the vanguard, the first to either storm enemy lines or hold their ground against an incoming assault. Even in the cloak of night, squads from the 7th began to disperse, their forms almost spectral as they waded through the mud-cloaked nightmare, reinforcing the foxholes that served as crucial early-warning posts.

But the night was deceptive, never truly dark. It was a canvas incessantly invaded by artificial light, robbing soldiers of the cover darkness might have provided. Flares arced into the sky at irregular intervals, their fizzling ascents followed by an eruption of glaring light that rendered the landscape in sharp, ominous relief. Star shells burst overhead, showering the earth in iridescent hues of blue and white, turning mud puddles into tiny, reflective lakes and casting eerie, elongated shadows on the faces of the troops. Explosions from artillery and grenades added their own erratic lighting, a pyrotechnic display that would have been mesmerizing if not for its blinding effects. These detonations painted the scene in flashes of orange, imbuing everything and everyone with a surreal, otherworldly glow. The intermittent lighting made the mud seem like a flowing river of lava one moment and a desolate lunar landscape the next.

During one of those blinding bursts of light from overhead flares, a piercing alarm cut through the cacophony. Soldiers jolted from their positions, their faces twisted with a blend of readiness and terror. Ari snatched up his rifle, his senses sharpening as he took his position behind an armored shield that topped the trench.

Through the slotted visor, he saw it—something monstrous darting between the foxholes. It was immense, nearly as long as two tanks laid end-to-end, its long tail shimmering in silver and blue light. An advanced Commonwealth warbot, its body like that of a dragon. His gut clenched as bullets pinged off its metallic hide. In retaliation, the warbot whirled, letting loose a barrage of mini-rockets that silenced the foxholes in a spectacle of fire and gore. The screams that followed were guttural, filled with a primal fear that rattled even the most hardened soldiers around him.

But what sent shivers down Ari's spine was the figure mounted atop the warbot. Clad in shining armor of silver and blue that matched its monstrous steed, the knight-like figure sported a single twisted metal horn on his helmet. He brandished a spear, its shaft alive with undulating lights of green, blue, and red. It looked as though it were forged from nightmares and technology, giving it an ethereal yet sinister aura.

The 7th and 22nd opened fire alongside others, tracer rounds arcing through the night, illuminated by the perpetual light show. But they might as well have been firing pebbles. Ari watched as the bullets merely bounced off, as harmless as raindrops. He took aim at the rider, his sights focused on a vulnerable spot between the arm and breastplate. He pulled the trigger.

A brilliant flash erupted, and the rider was hurled from the warbot, tumbling through the air before landing in the mud with a sickening thud.

For a moment, Ari allowed himself a brief grin. But it was short-lived. With a mechanical roar that seemed to shake the very earth, the warbot surged forward, its limbs churning the mud as if it were water. Soldiers screamed, scrambling in a panic, some trapped in the slick mire as the monstrous machine lunged into the trench.

Ari threw himself back just in time, the beast landing where he had stood just moments before. Its mechanical eyes glowed a menacing red, scanning for its next target. Around him, soldiers from the 7th  froze, the horror of what they faced rendering them momentarily paralyzed.

A deafening burst of gunfire erupted from the 22nd Marines, snapping the immobilized soldiers out of their trance. The warbot spun on its axis, extending long blades from its chassis. In an instant, the trench transformed into a grisly blender, whirling metal through air and flesh.

Ari executed a rapid roll, squeezing the trigger to fire rounds into the beast's exposed joints. A nearby flak gun swiveled, its operator focusing on the warbot. With thunderous thunks, the gun spat flak rounds into the behemoth's side.

For a split second, the warbot wavered under the relentless barrage. But then the flak gun fell silent. Whirling around, Ari cursed—he saw the knight, now on foot, finishing off the last member of the flak crew. He vaulted into the trench beside him.

Darting backward, Ari dodged his whirling spear. Then he switched tactics, drawing a pistol and snapping off two shots. His armor absorbed the bullets, but he felt the impact like a sledgehammer to his chest.

Behind him, the warbot's roars resounded, mingling with the screams of dying soldiers. Firing his rifle, Ari targeted the knight's leg, bringing him to one knee. With a quick lunge, he overpowered him, forcing the spear against his throat. Metal shrieked against metal; his suit whined, struggling to compensate for his superior strength.

Suddenly, a searing pain erupted in his shoulder. Metallic jaws clamped down, wrenching him away. Ari unleashed a furious scream, his hands clawing at the warbot's maw.

The knight rose, his spear poised for the kill. But then he froze. Ari, too, heard it—the ground-shaking rumble, like a tank but deeper, angrier. The warbot released him, turning to face the new threat.

Ari scrambled aside just as a brilliant flash rocketed past him. It struck the knight, hurling him through the air before he crashed into the muck. His heart leapt—standing there was 002, encased in hulking battle armor, the gauntlets of her suit still smoking.

Cheers erupted from the soldiers. Their elation, however, was cut short. The warbot lunged at 002, its gaping maw aiming to devour her. But it was halted mid-air, its jaws pried open by 002's immense strength.

Marines of the 22nd wheeled the flak gun back into position, aiming directly into the warbot's vulnerable spots as 002 held it in place and firing at point-blank range. The knight had regained his footing and hurled his spear, skewering two marines. Unfazed by their losses, the crew kept firing. Seizing the moment, Ari lunged at the knight, tackling him into the slippery mud.

With a feral snarl, Ari unleashed a punch that shattered the knight's visor. Staggering, he tried to regain his stance. But before he could move, his own spear flew through the air, sticking him to the ground like a gruesome butterfly pinned to a board.

Silence fell over the trench, periodically interrupted by cries from the wounded. Soldiers from the reserve trench behind them quickly poured into the area, preparing for a possible follow up attack. 

Ari stood silently over the Knight body. He had been stronger than any knight he had fought before. He heard 002 approaching behind him and shivered, 001’s words echoing in his mind. 

She is exactly like me. They had said. 

No, Ari thought, feeling his heart tighten in both anticipation and fear as 002 stopped right behind him. 

For a few seconds, neither spoke.

"You did well," she finally said, her voice tinged with a metallic resonance from her helmet.

Ari almost laughed as he turned around. "Well? Two minutes later, and the whole trench would've been a graveyard."

002 removed her helmet, revealing a face that was as stoic as her armor. Her eyes met his. "But it isn't. That's what matters."

She reached out, her gauntleted hand heavy on his shoulder where the warbot had clamped its jaws. The touch was surprisingly gentle for such a massive suit of armor. "You're hurt."

Ari shrugged, trying to downplay the soreness that was now settling in. "We’ve been through worse."

For a brief moment, he thought he saw a flicker of something in her eyes—relief, maybe, or concern. But it was gone almost as soon as it appeared. Instead she gestured with her head for him to follow. 

The medic wrapped up Ari's wound and declared him fit to continue, 002 watched him, her face unreadable. The fluorescent lights in the medical tent seemed to bathe everything in a cold, sterile glow, but the atmosphere changed perceptibly when she led him outside.

The officers' quarters were a far cry from luxury, dug directly into the muddy earth and consisting of little more than a cot and a small desk. The walls were reinforced with corrugated metal, lending a harsh industrial feel to the space. Yet, when Ari turned around, he was surprised to find 002 still standing at the entrance.

She seemed to hesitate for a moment, an unusual display for someone who usually radiated certainty. Then she placed her helmet on a makeshift shelf by the door. For the first time that evening, her eyes met his and softened.

"Good to see you," she began, her voice catching just a little, "I was worried that..." She trailed off, shaking her head as if unable to find the words.

Ari felt a warmth bloom in his chest at his unspoken sentiment. "Yeah," he replied, his own voice softer than he'd intended, "me too."

For a long moment, they simply looked at each other. Then, as if guided by some mutual understanding, 002 stepped forward and pulled him gently into her arms. Even through the fabric of his uniform and his armor, he could feel the heat of her body.

Their foreheads touched, the simple point of contact sending a shiver down his spine. 

Ari closed his eyes, letting himself sink into the embrace. And for a moment, surrounded by mud, metal, and the remnants of war, he found a pocket of peace. 

And it was enough.

[elminx]

Energy Update: February 2024

February is a “1” Universal Month [2 (February) + 8 (2024) = 10 = 1+0 =1] in an “8” Universal Year. 1 is the number of new beginnings, and this is reflected somewhat in the astrology for the month. We are entering a new era (Pluto in Aquarius which will last for nineteen years). There may need to be some adjustments. It may seem as if everything in your life has shifted. If you feel this way, know that you are right on time.

The Setup

February begins with the Sun and Pluto in Aquarius, Mercury Venus and Mars in Capricorn, Jupiter and Uranus in Taurus, and Neptune in Pisces. By month’s end, the Sun and Mercury will have entered Pisces, and Venus and Mars will have entered Aquarius. It’s worth noting that all of our personal planets are still quite bunched up in the last quadrant of the horoscope wheel – this shows that even though February may be a “beginning” of sorts with its 1 energy, there are still things that need wrapping up before we can all fully move on. This is further indicated since Pluto, now in Aquarius, will briefly retrograde back into Capricorn later in 2024 before moving direct and into Aquarius again by year’s end.

The Nitty Gritty

The big astrology for the month is Pluto’s ingress into Aquarius which happened back on 1/20. As our farthest planet from the sun (at least most of the time), Pluto remains in a single sign for an exceptionally long time. In this way, we can view Pluto as our cosmic clean-up crew – it is constantly and very slowly working behind the scenes to dismantle what we all, as individual groups and as a greater society, have outgrown. Much like a vulture, Pluto picks apart what we have been to free us for what is yet to come.

We are most of the way there now. Pluto has been flirting with Aquarius since the beginning of 2023 as it moves forward and backward across the border between Capricorn and Aquarius as part of its retrograde cycle. This is ingress 2 of 3; Pluto will station retrograde on 5/2, reenter Capricorn on 9/1, station direct on 10/11, and enter Aquarius for the final time on 11/19. All of these dates will be pivotal moments in the story of 2024 and the change that this year will bring to all of our lives. But, for now, we are in a place of beginning. In February, all three of our personal planets will enter Aquarius and immediately form a conjunction with Pluto at 00° – in this way, we are given three days to release what is no longer serving us to better move forward and adapt to the changes that fall ahead.

These releases will work from thought (Mercury on 2/5), to action (Mars on 2/13), and finally into our emotional centers (Venus on 2/17). Each of these days will be highly supportive of personal work of all kinds – most especially personal work that falls within the purview of the planet in conjunction with Pluto. A great way to work with this energy would be to perform a simple banishment ritual each day – the first to banish unwanted thoughts, the second actions, and the third emotions. It’s worth keeping in mind here that although the immature presentation of Aquarian energy can be quite selfish, the mature form wants the best for the entire world. With our personal planets and Pluto in Aquarius, social justice magic of all kinds will be strongly supported.

When all of our personal planets are tightly packed together, astrological weather tends to pack a pretty big punch. This is because we will all experience four repeating aspects with the Sun, Mercury, Venus, and Mars (and the moon as well, though that works on its own schedule) to the other planets in our sky. We see this in the example above where all of our planets conjunct Pluto in sequence with one another but we will also see them each form squares with Jupiter and Uranus in Taurus, as well as sextiles to the North Node and Chiron in Aries, and trines with our South Node in Libra. 

Jupiter is the great expander, sometimes considered to be our “go” force in life. Uranus breaks things down to enact change beyond our control. Chiron is the cosmic wound that forces us to heal and grow. And the South Node (of focus here) is the axis of Past Fate: the things that have already happened to us that were unavoidable.

Read together, I see this overarching message stand out: Sometimes, this world can feel like an unavoidable hellscape. Bad things happen. BIG things happen that are far, far beyond our control. Through pandemics, inflation, climate instability, and financial crises, the world moves on. And we still need to live in it. That may sound harsh, but it’s not meant to be. You cannot change what you cannot change. That is one of the deepest lessons that Saturn, the planet of time, has to teach us: absolve yourself of your angst over the things that were never in your control to begin with.

Although in modern times we talk about the planet of Aquarius in reference to its true planetary ruler Uranus, Aquarius’ traditional planetary ruler is Saturn. The secret to Aquarius times is to dream about big change (Uranus), but to keep it grounded in reality (Saturn). You can enact change – change perhaps beyond your wildest expectations even – but that change needs to be possible. Everything in life has limitations, that’s another Saturn lesson.

The sky is the limit but you need to remember not to fly too close to the sun. Apply that metaphor where it fits in your life this month and into March as well because these arbitrary calendar demarcations have nothing to do with astrological transits.

Mars will sextile Chiron and the North Node (now in close conjunction with one another) and trine the South Node between 2/5-2/7, Mercury does so as well on 2/15 – these are not going to be easy days. Consequences of past actions are on the table here and its likely to hurt. We have three signs in play here – the dichotomy of our 7-7 Sun Sign pair (Aries and Libra) and oddball Aquarius. 

Since Aries is the sign of self and Libra is the sign of relationships AND this is happening around V-Day, one can assume relationship tensions will be high throughout the first half of the month. Especially in relationships where there is a big power imbalance or a lot of codependent tendencies. It’s worth keeping in mind here that our way forward is found in the North Node, now in Aries, so independence is likely to trump codependence during this time.

That is going to make a certain type of person very uncomfortable. I don’t always do “Valentine’s Day” transit reads because I find it to be a meh holiday at most, but this one is worth mentioning. Venus and Mars are in close but not quite conjunction the week of the 14th. Each is working their way through Capricorn towards that inevitable conjunction with Pluto. Mars enters Aqaruius on 1/13 and conjuncts Pluto on 1/14. That’s…a pretty big breakup signal.

Not saying that applies to you if you’re in a solid relationship. Just saying that transit, on Valentine’s Day, has red flags and long nights painted all over it. That toxic couple who only stays together for the makeup sex may be pretty into this transit.

If you’re in a loving relationship, try and cut your partner some slack around this time. They may be pretty deep in it and it may not have anything to do with you. Especially male-identifying partners or anybody who has a strong Mars influence in their charts (I’m looking at all of those Aries and Scorpios). There’s a huge amount of performative pressure put on Valentine’s Day and Pluto might just set about dismantling that right about now. That could even be a good thing.

Magic done SPECIFICALLY to dismantle the performative pressure of Valentine’s Day will be highly supported during this time. If that’s your thing and you want to write a group ritual, cue me in, I’m very interested in helping out with that.

It’s not likely to be the sexy times, though. Not unless you are really getting off on some toxic shit. (no shaming here, toxic shit with real boundaries can be super hot)

Venus enters Aquarius on 2/16 and conjuncts Pluto on 2/17 so this energy is going to stick around for a while. If you want to schedule something with your sweeties, do so after the Sun enters Pisces on 2/18, maybe when Venus and Mars conjunct on 2/22. But, even then, at 06° Aquarius, our two relationship planets are still in stellium with Pluto. It’s just not the best month for relationships. Tread lightly and practice all of your empathy skills if you want to get along with your Others this month.

Our new moon for the month is on 2/9 at 20° Aquarius. This is sitting in a tight square with Uranus in Taurus. This may feel a bit like that long-term Saturn square Uranus aspect we dealt with a couple of years back. Something has got to give or it’s going to break. Uranus is our planet of disasters, so it’s worth being careful of fire and explosives when it is activated by either the Sun or Mars. Where are you holding on too tightly in your own life? This is the cosmic right time to let that shit go. The lunar nodes are being activated here as well by a square with Venus in Capricorn so all bets are off.

This is a great day to do wild magic through aspects with both the lunar nodes and Uranus and that is further indicated as this Leo new moon is a “5” moon. This is a great day to shake things up or work to make a significant difference in your life or the world. But, a word to the wise: Leo full moons are naturally “4” moons, so they do require some structure and handling. Again, moving back to the above warning: don’t go overboard with dry botanicals and candle magic with this new moon.

Again: red flags. This time for fires rather than breakups.

Our full moon is on 2/24 at 05° Virgo. All of our personal planets are in play here, too. (theme of the month, after all) Mercury is in conjunction with the Sun while Venus and Mars are still conjunct with one another in Aquarius and square to Jupiter in Taurus (Venus exactly during our lunar event). Virgo can be an overly critical full moon to begin with and this seems turned up to 11. Mercury is in its detriment in Pisces so we may not be thinking straight. Neither Venus nor Mars is particularly at home in Aquarius (and Aquarius loves a good fight…I mean…discussion) so there isn’t a lot of peace to be found here.

Additionally, it’s a 9/1 full moon which carries quite a bit of finality to it. You can use this energy if you know what you are doing. Be critical of what you want to remove from your life during this time. That focuses the natural Virgo “9” full moon energy. But make it work for you, remove it for a new start. That brings it back around to 1 and a new beginning. That’s very in line with our “1” universal Month and it activates the sense of completion of coming full circle that our “8” year demands.

At the end of the month, the Sun, Mercury, and Saturn will meet up in a rare stellium at 09° Pisces on 2/28.  This has "consequences" written all over it.   Perhaps the kindest thing that you can do for yourself (Pisces vibes) when faced with what you have wrought (Saturn) is to admit to it.  Own up. Verbally say that you are sorry if you are actually sorry (Mercury).   If you can do THAT and tap into your heart after the long dry winds of February, you'll know that you've gotten somewhere.

In this way, I see the energy of February as harsh at times, but ultimately, working for us. It may be easy to get mired in the past or feel hopelessly turned to dust and emotionless. The anecdote to Aquarius energy is always found in Leo and the deep heart space. Working with warming herbs, fire (except where already forwarded against), and heart energies of all kinds may help to move stuck energy all month long. There’s a lot of room for change here (magical or otherwise) but you are going to have to work for it.

The Details

2/2 – Mercury in Capricorn sextile Neptune in Pisces 2/5 – Sun in Aquarius sextile Chiron in Aries, Mercury enters Aquarius, Mercury conjunct Pluto 00° Aquarius, Venus in Capricorn square Chiron in Aries 2/7 – Sun in Aquarius sextile North Node in Aries/trine South Node in Libra, Venus in Capricorn square lunar nodes, Venus in Capricorn trine Uranus in Taurus, Mars in Capricorn sextile Neptune in Pisces 2/8 – Sun in Aquarius square Uranus in Taurus, Moon conjunct Pluto 00° Aquarius 2/9 – New moon 20° Aquarius 2/10 – Mercury in Aquarius square Jupiter in Taurus 2/13 – Venus in Capricorn sextile Neptune in Pisces, Mars enters Aquarius 2/14 – Mars conjunct Pluto 00° Aquarius 2/15 – Mercury in Aquarius sextile Chiron in Aries, Mercury sextile North Node/trine South Node 2/16 – Mercury in Aquarius square Uranus in Taurus, Venus enters Aquarius 2/17 – Venus conjunct Pluto 00° Aquarius 2/18 – Sun enters Pisces 2/22 – Venus conjunct Mars 06° Pisces 2/23 – Mercury enters Pisces 2/24 – Full Moon 05° Virgo, Venus in Aquarius square Jupiter in Taurus 2/27 – Mars in Aquarius square Jupiter in Taurus 2/28 – Sun conjunct Mercury and Saturn (stellium) 09° Pisces 2/29 – Mercury in Pisces sextile Jupiter in Taurus Do you like my work? You can support me on Kofi.

[bonobochick]

Thoughts on #Elite7

I finished up Elite S7 and I have some thoughts with some gifs. 🥹

Positives:

Rocio got story and screentime. 🎉 I hated seeing her chase after Bilal's worthless ass in S6 cause he didn't even like her & constantly disrespected her yet as soon as he found out her fam is rich, he started singing a different tune. Rocio didn't get as much as I wanted in terms of screentime but enough that she got famliy drama with her mom's illicit activities + romantic drama with Eric. Nico's cousin Eric showed up this season and he's got issues. Rocio & Eric had good chem (much more chem IMO that he has with Chloe) in their attraction to each other.

Eric messes up more than a few times with her yet how he treats her shows care and actual feelings, not just sexual desire. What Elite was building up with Rocio & Eric was love as opposed to what he had with Chloe, which was vices + sex. Sadly, I think this romance with Eric & Rocio will only exist in S7, which is unfortunate with all that good chem and decent build up. 😮‍💨

2) The surprise appearance of Fiks from Blood and Water! I didn't know about the crossover so it was good to see her. I know Ivan will be in S4 of Blood and Water.

3) I like the crew of Nico, Eric, & Rocio. They have a nice vibe together, good times and bad times, I would say more of this in S8 but I've read that Rocio won't be in S8 so I'll have to enjoy the beginnings of a solid crew that I got in S7 since I'm about to get nothing in S8. I thought the scenes with Nico & his cousin re: Eric's mental health issues were absorbing too. Eric wanted to do better but hated how he felt being on meds. As his uncle said, it's about figuring out the right cocktail to help him with the highs and lows but Eric struggled with patience in that because of the side effects.

4) I adore Ivan so I was glad to see him on the mend from the accident. He's still heartbroken over Patrick's exit and the death of Cruz so much of S7 is him trying to move past his grief. He does that in the form of Joel which is in the next section.

Neutral / Indifferent:

1) Omar / Joel / Ivan... I've already admitted I adore Ivan but for full disclosure, I'm BIG on Patrivan so anything else for them with anyone else was always going to be an uphill battle. I also do not like Omar ever since he cheated with Malik and didn't even apologize to Nadia about it. All this said... I didn't hate this story. I thought it was interesting to show Omar's depression from what happened to Samu but the show spent a little bit too much time with all the back and forth in this story. Joel is alright and his chem with both guys is fine. I just wasn't invested in this triangle and all the angst but it's not a bad story. Dalmar is MVP in it.

2) Chloe and Carmen: I wanted Ivan's mother to show up and Carmen did. She also brought along Ivan's half-sister (to which I need to do some age checking cause pregnancies take time!) named Chloe. Carmen is a golddigger and it made sense why Cruz paid her to stay away from Ivan. That doesn't mean that Ivan didn't have a moment where he got to know his mother a little TOO well. ahem. The drama here with Ivan's new family had potential and was messy but I... didn't care for Chloe's everything is sbout sex story, especially with Eric but also with Raul. All it did was make me roll my eyes a lot in annoyance. The strong-arming that Chloe was irresistible / sexy got tired quickly, especially when she was walking around in her school uniform with her bra out as sign of that "sexiness." Come on!

3) All things Didac, Isadora, and their families: a lot going on and a lot of it didn't move me. Didac & Isadora are fine together so that wasn't the issue for me. The Romeo + Juliet story with the warring families didn't quite work for me. Took up lots of screentime too.

What did work? The hottie undercover cop. That was some nice eye candy.

4) Sonia & Nico... I wanted to see more of them after the S6 drama with Ari and they got shafted in terms of story + screentime toghether, particularly after Nico schtupped Chloe.

Negatives:

1) All things Sara and Raul.

I've hated these two characters since they both showed up in S6 but someone has a hard-on for them in the writers room, particularly Sara. I skipped over many of their scenes with each other and with others. Raul won't be in S8. I wish Sara wasn't as well but she'll be their stinking up things. 🗑️