#Can you show me the way into the master antenna?

[ask-team-misfit]

(@ask-the-shiny-pokemons) Rimi approaches Lief as she is a bit disgusted by his appearance, even if he wasn't look bad at the first sight.

"Don't tell me I'm gonna repeat the fate of Desty and that Hoopa I met earlier... Oh, hi! Nice t-to meetcha! If it's weird to ask ya somethin'? Why's so funny about the disasters? I mean they should be taken seriously..."

[ @ask-the-shiny-pokemons ]

Right on the money with more visitors showing up, he was. Now it was his turn to hear it.

Watching Rimi approach with a look on her face like it was him smelling funny instead of the other way around–all the while saying the above to him, no less–merely had the Simbobeon stare back like she was having a stroke.

Then his look towards the Lycanroc turned smug. A little too smug.

Lief: “What’s certainly funny is Pokemon like you and those townies making a fuss of it.”

[ ID: A grayscale drawing of Lief, a hybrid of Sylveon and Ribombee, and Rimi, an anthro shiny Lycanroc, with the former only coming up to the latter's waist. The two are facing each other, with Lief on the left, and Rimi on the right. Lief is looking up at Rimi with his hands on his hips, while Rimi is looking down at Lief with her arms crossed. End ID ]

Lief: “This forest? Perfectly safe. Been here for some time now, and I can confirm that this Dungeon Master means business. No shadow demons, no gian…”

He started to say that last part, but he caught a glimpse of Pikavee as he did. He’d forgotten for a moment this was no longer true as of a couple days ago.

He sighed, proceeding to backtrack with:

[ ID: A sequence of two grayscale drawings, each depicting Lief with a different expression while directly facing the viewer. The left image shows him looking at something off-screen and appearing surprised. The right image has him turn his head away with a light scowl, as his antennae and ears droop forward somewhat. Floating at his left is a wobbly speech bubble with a squiggly line in it, and there are a couple of sweat drops on his face. End ID ]

Lief: “Correction. No giants with freaky red aura.”

While sounding quite bummed in doing so. Not only that, but his expression showed it too, as he even glanced away from Pikavee.

Perhaps some part of him wished for that normality he once had.

Lief: “Whatever. You get what I mean, right?”

[ ID: A grayscale drawing of Lief similar to the previous images, but with a slightly different pose and expression. His head is turned away further and his eyes are closed, looking dismissive. His antennae are more upright again, as are his ears. Here, more of his wings are visible, and he's even raising his left paw in a shrug. End ID ]

Lief: “I mean, what do you expect me to do instead of staying where it’s safe? Go and figure out why this is happening?”

Pikavee: “W-well–”

Lief: “Missy, don’t answer that. You don’t get to answer that.”

Ask Hints have been updated.

[twilightmalachite]

2×2 - Children on the Streets 4

Author: Akira

Characters: Yuuta, Shinobu

Translator: Mika Enstars

" It's painfully apparent to me that you’re struggling desperately."

[Read on my blog for the best viewing experience with Oi~ssu ♪]

Season: Spring

Location: Starry Sky

Night that day, on the rooftop of the building beside the Chinese restaurant…

Yuuta: Good god.

Like Aniki, we the “Team Wise Younger Brother” ended up freeloading, or in other words, working at live-ins at Master’s restaurant, but…

There wasn’t any room left in the building, so instead we’re camping on the rooftop of one of Master’s acquaintances’ buildings with a tent, huh.

Well, the “Team Wise Younger Brother” arrived later, so I can’t complain.

Meals and baths are taken care of, so it’s better than living in a cardboard house on the street.

Shinobu: Our team name sounds like it’s way overcompensating for something compared to “Team Aniki”…

Yuuta: …Generally, Aniki’s more popular nowadays, so our team name’s all we’ve got going for us. I don’t want to become something like Aniki’s extra.

I want to be more assertive, even if it’s a bad look for me.

Shinobu: Right. Since we’re a large group of people, our fans are spread out among individuals nicely. I haven’t had to worry about that too much.

It sounds tough for only one of a unit of two members to be popular.

Yuuta: Sure is~… It’s really tough~, the people around me treat me like an unwanted child.

And they say things like, “the younger brother’s way too desperate to show off his individuality by growing his hair out lol”, even though that’s not why I changed my appearance.

It really pisses me off, but I doubt this’ll be an easy situation to reverse.

I’m suuuure you also just think I’m losing my way as of late, though, Shinobu-kun.

But now that we’re so different, we can’t go back to being the two in one twin idols that get along anymore.

If we do, probably only Aniki will stand out, and I’ll just be his extra.

I’ll be drowned out by the light that is Aniki, and pushed into the shadows, where nobody can recognize me.

And I sure as hell don’t want to spend my life like that, just sinking down like the setting sun.

Shinobu: Right… I am a ninja so it’s a given, but I too also tend to hide in the shadows, so I understand, de gozaru. Of course, while it’s impossible to understand someone else’s feelings 100%…

I can at least sympathize with you, Yuuta-kun.

Rather, that's why I’m enduring your ninja ban and other various tyrannies, Yuuta-kun. It's painfully apparent to me that you’re struggling desperately.

I’m sure you’re going through a really difficult time right now, so I’ll let you take it out on me to relieve stress, okay?

We’re friends.

Yuuta: Shall we get married, Shinobu-kun?

Shinobu: I don’t know how to respond to a bit like that de gozaru!?

Yuuta: Fufufu. Well, anyway, the whole premise of “Living on the Streets Experience” has completely fallen apart, and the program has gotten crazy messy, but…

Really, what should we do? If it’s too hard, we can just take it easy at Master’s place like this until the final day.

Though I guess that’d make for a rather exciting program, wouldn’t it.

Shinobu: I don’t think there’s anything wrong with a peaceful ending, but it’s not that type of program, is it…

And it might be disadvantageous against Anzu-dono in the producer showdown, who is in charge of this episode.

If there’s enough people who think that Anzu-dono’s episodes are boring and not worth watching, then it’s over, de gozaru.

The ratings may drop dramatically for Anzu-dono’s future episodes.

In this day and age, the fact that the producers change every episode will be easily noticed by those with sensitive antennae.

Yuuta: The episode producer names are usually credited. It’d be a big blow to Anzu-san’s reputation if she becomes known as a producer who makes uninteresting programs.

It’ll interfere with her future activities as a producer, even if she wins the producer showdown.

I owe a lot to YamadaP of course, but I’ve owed a lot to Anzu-san for a while now too—

If we can help it, I’d rather her reputation not suffer because she was in charge of our program. That’d be nothing but ungrateful.

And she’s a candidate for becoming Aniki’s wife, too, meaning there's a possibility she’ll become my sister-in-law some day.

So if possible, I’d like her to find success in her job and maintain financial stability.

Shinobu: Huh, wait what? What do you mean de gozaru? His wife?

Yuuta: Fufufu~, so actually, things have gotten a bit interesting, you see. ♪

Yuuta: …Wait, huh?

Shinobu: Wh-what’s wrong, Yuuta-kun? Has something gotten in your eye?

Yuuta: No, just… Speak of the devil, look, Anzu-san’s here.

Shinobu: Anzu-dono is? But aside from the camera crew, aren’t producers and the rest of the staff supposed to leave at night and go home like usual…?

Yuuta: Yeah. That’s supposed to be the case, but it looks like Anzu-san stayed behind today for some reason.

Wait, maybe its that? Something like… She’s meeting in secret with Aniki in some unfrequented back alleyway…?

Y-You know, I was just making a joke out of it, but could it really be…?

[ ☆ ]

← prev | story directory | next →

[squidwen]

Hi dear! It's me again ^^ I'm sorry but can I ask 14, 23, and 24 for Vane? Only if you want! Thank you so much for creating such a unique, sensitive and precious character. Vane deserves a lot of recognition and to be loved just the way he is, regardless of whether he's a caterpillar or if he wants to be a butterfly 💗💗💗

Thank you so much for all your support when it comes to my caterpillar boi. It's the highest honour a writer can be paid when you like their ocs and getting all this positive feedback makes me want to develop his character further!

Who knows? Maybe he will transform into a butterfly. He just needs the right moment - and people - around him.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“A-A-Agatha?” Vane scurried back into his giant rose and closed the petal. Suspended 20ft in the air, the caterpillar had assumed he was safe from being disturbed. He probably shouldn’t have grown the flower so close to a tree. Agatha was sat on a branch; curious dewy eyes staring sweetly at him. 

After what happened the last time he’d seen her, Vane was feeling so embarrassed he nearly threw up. He chanced a look back, hoping she had gone, but Agatha’s silhouette was still visible through the pink petals. She wasn’t going to leave, was she. 

Don’t mess up this time, he thought to himself. If she falls from this height she will get hurt.  

“You have some more qu-questions?” Vane opened the flower and started shimmying down the stem. “A-Alright, but can we take the interview in my room again? I’m-” Worried you’ll fall, “behind on some studying and all my books are there.”

14. What are your favourite music genres?

That was an easy question, and frankly one that got Vane inspired. “W-Well, having antennae makes me sensitive to sound waves, so I love any music that has a decent bass tra-track. But also...” 

His eyes wandered over to a basket chest at the foot of his bed. Should he show her? He’d never shown anyone at the school what was inside, let alone what he could do with it. 

Despite his brain screaming to stop, he opened it and took out a double bass and a viola. 

“Ha-having four arms means I can play these at the same-same time.” He held their fingerboards with white knuckles. Please don’t ask me to play you a song. “I’m not-not that good. Not as good as-as Malleus Draconia on the violin, at least.” But if you did ask, I wouldn’t mind. If you gave me a few days to learn the notes. “Don’t tell Riddle I have these. He’ll force me to join the Heartslabyul or-orchestra!”

(So...yeah...Vane can play string instruments haha).

23. Have you ever had a crush on someone?/Do you have a crush now?

Straight back into the awkward questions? Vane sighed. He was beginning to suspect that Agatha wasn’t conducting a school interview like he’d initially thought. If it was for personal reasons, it took everything he had not to blush. 

“A cru-crush? N-N-No. The only girl-girls I have in my life are my god sisters. We used to play weddings when I was little, but after my parents sent me to an all-boys boarding school it stopped me looking for love altogether...” And who could love a podgy recluse that can’t even string a coherent sentence together without stammering? 

“In all honesty, though, I can’t t-tell if I crush on people or I’m just embarrass-embarrassed all the time. I go red, my palms sweat, I stammer. Those are all the symptoms of having a crush, r-right? But that’s what I do whenever anyone looks at me. I get nervous...or are those just butterflies in my stomach-ahem. N-Next question, please.”

24. What would you consider your main love language?

“Lang-language? How can I have a love language when I have-haven’t even mastered the one I sp-speak with?”

Agatha said something in response, but Vane only pretended to listen. His mind was elsewhere trying to come up with an answer that didn’t sound pathetic. “Okay...the truth is...but you promise not to laugh?” He took a deep breath and pointed to his head. “My main love language is touching people with my antennae. It-it’s an insect thing. Our antennae are sensitive and the most vulnerable part of our bodies. If we scratch them, or touch something rough, we feel the pain all over. I-If I were to touch...you- Just as an example! If-if I were to touch you with my antennae, it means I trust you and...want to be as close as I can be.”

Vane waited for the jokes, for the ridicule. But it didn’t come. Agatha wrote the last of her notes and smiled at him kindly. 

Vane felt naked. He’d never been asked such intimate questions. But now that it was out in the open, he felt oddly relieved. Like the portcullis to his soul had been lifted. “I-I hope that answers your questions,” he said. “Y-Y’know, no one’s been as interested in me as you have. I’m le-leaving next year and I don’t have many memories of this place outside the classrooms an-and my bedroom.”  

Now that he thought about it, Vane was beginning to warm to Agatha. Her curiosity was jarring at the beginning, but also quite charming. “Would you li-like to...do something together? At...some point? Maybe...soon?”  

[htpowlaserenraver]

Powerful Ortur Laser Master 3 Detailed Review

The Ortur Laser Master 3 laser cutter and engraver features a 10W diode laser that can engrave at speeds up to 20,000mm/min and cut wood up to 19mm thick. It has built-in WiFi and a powerful smartphone app to create and wirelessly send custom projects directly to the engraver.

I'll go over all of its features and thoroughly test Orturs' claims to see if this is the right laser engraver for you. If you haven't learned about this technology, please take a look at my previous article introducing this technology to help you quickly understand.

My box arrived a bit worn out but everything inside was well protected. Basic assembly is required, but should take no more than 30 minutes to assemble. I don't recommend using the supplied user manual - the illustrations are too small - go to the Ortur website and find a link to a YouTube video of the assembly, or check out the manual online so you can at least zoom in to take a closer look at the more tedious steps.

You can see everything that comes in the box, which includes some safety specs and a handy little storage box with tools and parts. There are also some wood, acrylic and metal samples to test the engraver.

The easiest way is to start assembly from the top down. Thread the Y-axis motor cable through the left Y-axis, then connect the left and right Y-axis with one bolt. The frame of the router is not a standard aluminum extrusion - Ortur makes custom parts that are well machined and lock precisely into place, ensuring the frame is square.

Once the Y axis is in place, you can slide over the already assembled X axis. Then mount the straps on both sides, which you need to blindly hook onto the pulleys inside the back assembly. It's a bit of a hassle, but if you're really stuck, you can remove the end cap so you can see what you're doing.

Then you need to attach the idler. Fit them loosely and loop the straps around them. Set its position with the included set screw to set the belt tension. There is a marker showing their best position. You can then screw the pulleys into place. If the strap is too loose or too tight, you can loosen these bolts and adjust the set screws.

You can then use the single bolt again on both sides to attach the front assembly. Connect the motherboard connector on the connector and connect the Y-axis cable that was pulled earlier. This was the most troublesome bit for me - it was very difficult to plug in the little connector.

You can then connect the other end of the connector to the X-axis motor and use the provided zip ties to loosely hold this rather bulky cable in place. Then connect the laser's cable to the socket marked "L" and secure loosely in place with a zip tie.

The laser module is already equipped with an air-assisted nozzle and a laser shield. It slides onto the X-axis using a dovetail mechanism and can be locked into its vertical position with a thumbscrew.

Plug the laser cable into the laser module using the keyed 5-pin connector. It's all very neat, making the laser module very easy to remove to clean the lens, remove the air assist nozzle, or replace another laser module in the future.

You can then install two stop bolts to the front of the engraver to prevent the laser head from hitting the front assembly. Slide the X axis onto these stop bolts, then slide the belts on both sides into the toothed belt grooves so everything is square. Screw on the WiFi antenna to complete the assembly.

This is the smartest engraver I've ever seen, and it's well made and solid.

My only two real criticisms are the rotary scroll wheel switch, which, while useful, is rather exposed and looks a bit cheap. What's more, the bulky wiring machine lacks any cable management.

It's easy to get caught in things, so I 3D printed a small zip tie base and taped it to the side of the router with double sided tape, which helps keep things organized.

It's a very low-profile machine, for reasons I'll get to later, but you'll still need quite a bit of room. Above you can see the required working space for the machine. The dimensions listed on the Ortur website seem to be a bit off. But if you want to move it around, it's pretty light at 4.3kg.

The top of the front assembly has a power button that requires a long press to turn on and off, and a multi-color LED ring that glows to indicate its status. Then there is a barrel lock with key provided and emergency stop button. Keyed locks are a welcome feature if you have young children around or want to use them at a school or makerspace. You will need to make sure the lock is in the open position and reset the position by turning the emergency stop button clockwise to open the machine.

Behind the front assembly is a microSD card slot in a rather awkward position, with a reset and boot switch next to it.

On the left side of the front assembly are the USB port for connecting to a computer, the DC jack for connecting an AC adapter, and the WiFi antenna.

The Y-axis switch on the back needs to be in the Y-motor position, unless you're using the rotary wheel that connects to the port below the switch.

The OLM3 features a 10W laser module combined with two 5.5W laser diodes. It has a 0.05 x 0.1mm focal spot and an 8mm depth of field, providing a good combination of engraving and cutting performance. Its 400mm x 400mm capacity is average for an open diode laser machine of this type, but smaller than the TwoTrees TS2 I saw last month.

Its biggest selling point is speed. Ortur cites an engraving speed of 20,000 mm/min, twice the engraving speed of a typical 10W laser. It achieves this through its low profile design and relatively compact and light laser module. But this low-profile design does mean that you'll need to lift the router to machine thicker items, especially if you're using a honeycomb cutting table. Ortur does sell foldable feet to increase its height, but I haven't received any to try.

Before I go on to discuss testing, if you're new to all this, be sure to see my previous article covering laser safety. The article also covers the basics of laser engraving and cutting, and the basics of using software like Lightburn which I will be using with OLM3. At least from a safety standpoint, you must wear the included laser safety glasses.

The Ortur does have some extra security features along with the key lock and panic button I mentioned earlier. It has tilt protection, which turns off the laser if the machine falls off the table, and it has exposure duration detection in case the motor stops moving for any reason. If the laser is left on at the same location, it may cause a fire.

Before you can turn on the laser engraver, you will need to install a microSD card - the engraver will not work without it. Be careful not to miss the microSD slot and slide it into the front assembly frame. I then connected the Ortur to my computer with the provided USB cable. You will be able to view the contents of the microSD card through this USB connection.

Unusually, this is a USB-A to USB-A cable, rather than a typical printer cable that has a square USB-B connector on the other end. In Lightburn you can also use the free LaserGRBL, add the engraver manually and select the GRBL with USB connection and set the size to 400mm x 400mm. The home position is on the front left, and you can disable auto-homing, as it will do it anyway. The laser has a focal length of 50mm and the laser module has a convenient spread out arm to set the correct height above the workpiece.

I found the extension arm to be a little flimsy, and it didn't lock into place. The adjustment changes slightly as you tighten the thumbscrew, so it takes some practice to get this right. I prefer the motorized automatic height adjustment feature on the Two Trees TS2, which also lets you automatically lower the Z height when making multiple cuts.

I wanted to test the high-speed claim first, so I engraved a grayscale photo of this cork coaster. I'm using 20,000mm/min, 0.1mm line spacing, 100% power, it's too dark as you can see. In Lightburn you can adjust the speed and power during printing, I ended up with 50% power for the last third of the engraving and it looks about the same. Printing takes approximately 8 minutes.

Ortur provides helpful guidelines for engraving and cutting various materials on the included microSD card. This is a good starting point, but I recommend using the material testing functionality in Lightburn to fine-tune your setup for best results.

For Basswood plywood, Ortur recommends 15,000 mm/min at 100% power. Using the Lightburn material test, I engraved this test image, which I would say is about correct, but I darkened it a bit and engraved the same image again at 12,500 mm/s.

I also tried engraving these coated aluminum business cards and after a little rubbing with isopropyl alcohol it worked really well. I again used Ortur's recommended settings: 3000 mm/min at 25% power. Although these coatings do give off some nasty smoke, even when extracted.

The 10W laser is even powerful enough to engrave stainless steel. You don't need to apply any coatings, and the little name tag performed really well at Ortur's recommended 2000mm/min and 100% power - even though my text did get a bit off center.

I cut and engraved a small tag out of leather less than 2mm thick and it came out perfectly - even the small holes were precise and rounded, which is a challenge for these belt driven machines.

When cutting, you can use the built-in air-assisted nozzle, but you'll need to provide your own pump. I tried it with a cheap pump from Fox Alien, but it was actually worse than no pump at all, as you can see below.

With the fan turned on along with the laser, the laser module itself seems to generate enough air for lighter cuts.

For deeper cuts, I used the main compressor with its digital regulator set to 15 PSI, which did give sharper results.

Ortur does offer some additional fittings to work with the air supply hose, but I just used a 3D printed adapter to connect it directly to my compressor hose. The hose fits directly into the laser module. It's a bit of a hassle, but you need to push down on this black collar to retract the little barb that grabs the hose to insert and release the hose. I attached it loosely to the router to keep it tidy and keep it from getting tangled.

The air nozzle can be easily removed when engraving. Just squeeze the laser shield lightly and unscrew the nozzle. This is a very clever design.

Like all of these diode laser makers, Ortur has some bold claims to make when it comes to cutting. According to their website, this 10W module has a maximum cutting depth of 30mm. Although looking more closely at their materials chart, this is using black acrylic, 17 passes at 100mm/min and 100% power, so you don't want to do this too often, even if possible.

But the more typical, stronger birch plywood was more of a challenge. With the air assist from the compressor I can cut 100% at 200mm/min most of the time. But the 10W TwoTrees TS2 can cut the same sheet at 300mm/min.

Jog the laser into position using the app with WiFi The OLM3 also has built-in WiFi, and you can easily connect to the machine using the free Laser Explorer app. The app does far more than I expected. You can select an image or text to engrave, create barcodes and QR codes, but what I find most useful is using it to precisely nudge the position of the laser. The machine doesn't have a built-in LCD screen to control the engraver, but the app is a useful substitute. I would be a little wary of using it for sculpting, though. When I turn on the laser to line up jobs, it sets the power at 4%, which is way too high and starts burning a spot on the material if you're not careful. I can't get it lower than 1% - in Lightburn I use 0.25%, which is enough to see the laser dot.

Connect Wirelessly to Your Engraver Using Lightburn I still prefer to use Lightburn to send jobs, and I did find the app disconnect a few times while testing. You can also access Engraver's own server via the IP address visible in the app. I was able to connect to Lightburn's engraver from a computer connected via ethernet. I just added another device and selected ethernet. Using this machine wirelessly is convenient, but I haven't had 100% success with it, with a few prints randomly aborting during printing.

The laser engraver is completely silent when not engraving. The fan is only turned off when the laser is on, when the laser is off the fan turns itself off after a few seconds. The fan is loud when running, but the motor runs very quietly. You can hear it in action in the accompanying video. The overall feeling is that of a very refined carver.

The Ortur Laser Master 3 is a very well designed machine that delivers some really good results. Its engraving performance is particularly impressive, with its high speed and fine laser spot. Setup is super easy, and I especially like how the belt and pulleys hide dirt and grime.

The integrated WiFi is a great feature, not only for use with the smartphone app, but also for wireless printing from the Lightburn, even if I didn't get 100% reliable results in my testing.

[perilouswaif]

400 miles home. Maybe 350. Of course I don’t have an aux cable to plug my phone into the truck’s dubious stereo. I’ve been driving the last hour with headphones around my neck at full volume, just barley audible over the sound-prone cabin.

I’ve already made friends with the cab. I started to drift until I realized my parrot brain needed the light on. The cab light washes over me and I’m right as rain, I’ll be good until daylight.

But my addled mind needs some tunes, and my neck is sweaty from the band. Radio it is then, seeking through whatever I get.

The usual. A top 40 I can’t place. The new wave cowboy finding his place. The pastor telling me my place.

I’m an NPR lad, but it’s too late for games and too early for news. Back in Chicago I might get Le Show showing up like an unwanted guest. But outside WBEZ , this time of night you’ve usually got jazz or classical.

So when I hear the funk, I’m taken by surprise. It’s the tail end of a number but I can tell that it was good. You transition us right into accordion and brass, clarinets and klezmer. It’s not Kaiser’s Orchestra or Gogol Bordello, but they wouldn’t be out of place at the same party, albeit each in their own corner.

You finally introduce yourself Sanguine Fromage, and you tell me all about my new favorite band, the Slavic Soul Party. You fill the the next stretch of my journey with exactly what you advertise: UpFront Soul.

There’s no way this is live or even remotely local, but I still imagine your broadcasting straight to the rented truck, a web of FM stuck on the cans antenna.

Toward the end you start to fade, your silk string spread thin. I don’t remember if I hear your sign off or if the words were lost to the distance.

More miles, more minutes until I’m home. The final stretch will be lacking acoustically , but I’m just waiting to get there and fill up a new playlist. In a couple of weeks a switch of music services will leave my master playlist named “Opa Cupa” and I’m pretty happy with that. Thanks Sanguine.

[etckilop]

Google my ip

This is all part of what I think is a very interesting and important discussion about just how much of all of this data that large entities like Google, the government and others collect as simply as a byproduct of doing what we ask of them. I believe that most of this stuff you probably can sort of turn off – but not all of it. When I’m doing searches, I���m getting searches that are relevant to my location. When I’m using Google Maps, it’s relevant to where I’m at. I actually find it very useful in many cases to let Google know exactly where I’m at because what it gives me in return for that information is more accurate information that I request of it. While I’ve discussed some fairly obvious “leaks” in the form of WiFi and cell phone data above, there are probably many more signals and data sources that Google pays attention to.Īnd I know that in my case, I’m OK with that. Google has been shown to be a master of pulling together all sorts of disparate pieces of data to come up with a really good picture of exactly where you are. It’s very interesting the number of pieces of data that we leak out when we use various services. Google then has all of the pieces of the puzzle that says he’s probably at that IP address, and that IP address probably terminates at this GPS location, so that’s probably where he is. So all of a sudden, Google has this information from my phone that says this is where the phone is, this is the hotspot where it’s connected, this is the IP address, etc. Well, what do most mobile phones have? They have GPS. Rather than using up my data plan, it’s actually connected to the internet through my internet connection at home. I do, and my mobile phone is actually configured to use my wireless hotspot when it’s connected here at home. Google makes a relatively educated guess that “Gosh, if this machine is wireless, and we know that wireless is at this location, and that location is at this IP address, that could mean that any machine coming in from that IP address is probably at or around that location.” What your phone says about you – literallyĪnother way this can happen is if you happen to have a mobile phone. When people physically move, even if they’ve moved across country, their location is sometimes still shown as their old location because Google is still using the old location of that Wi-Fi hotspot. Google may think that router is in Washington when in fact it’s in Florida until they run another pass.Īnd that’s one piece of data, albeit a really good piece of data that Google has in front of it.Įven if you’re not using a hotspot, it’s possible that Google sees “machine A” coming through that hotspot and that hotspot then appears as “IP address X.” Well, if you’re wired to the same router that the hotspot is connected to then you also show up at that IP address. Now, it get’s a little bit more interesting. That must be where you are.” Where am I today, Google? Even without the SSID I believe they can capture some information that allows them to uniquely identify the hotspot.Ĭouple that with the mapping information that they are creating and they now know that, “If you’re connected through this Wi-Fi hotspot, I know where that Wi-Fi hotspot lives. As I broadcast my SSID, they would know the SSID of those hotspots. While they were doing that, they often actually had a Wi-Fi antenna hooked up so they could see and record at the different Wi-Fi hotspots available as they were driving around.įor example, when they drove by my house, they noticed that there are four Wi-Fi hotspots in this house. I’m actually somewhat surprised at how accurate Google can be at times, but you also have to realize that you give Google a lot more information than just your IP address.Įver seen StreetView on Google Maps? When they set out to create this view of their maps, they drove around all around these neighborhoods and took pictures of what the streets look like so you could see.

[bounce-a-coin-off-your-witcher]

Prompt idea: Geralt gets a contract for a monster that has been sighted nearby. When he tracks it down, he is surprised to find mothman!Jaskier who (much like actual mothman) has an ass that won’t quit.

?

I just want you to know that Mothskier now lives in my head rent free 24/7. I love him. I would die for him. This is my new favorite emotional support au.

2k-ish words - please feel free to shove comments through the bars of my enclosure, I would really like that

art by the ever-wonderful @mawbwehownets, whose drawing of Mothskier made me legit cry.

tw: mild injury, brief blood mention, strangers to lovers

---

“So what you’re saying,” Geralt raises an eyebrow slowly, curious, “Is that you need me to catch a monster that’s half man and half moth?”

“Yup.”

“Alright,” Geralt pinches the bridge of his nose with his thumb and pointer finger. The frustrated Witcher takes a slow breath to calm and center himself, before he ends up botching the entire contract-writing process. Humans tend to grow attached to the strangest monsters sometimes, and apparently this mysterious local being was no different. “Let me get this totally straight, so there are no mistakes or misunderstandings. You want me to capture this man-moth and get it out of your woods, but you don’t want me to kill it?”

“He’s called the Mothman, and he’s pretty damn stubborn about sticking around,” the aging farmer corrects Geralt with a little frown. Then his expression shifts and he smiles in a way that seems almost apologetic. “We were hoping you could find a way to relocate him without hurting or killing him, Master Witcher.”

“That’s completely possible, if he isn’t attached to this specific patch trees by any magical or biological means. You said his natural habitat is just… the forest?”

“As long as there's an abundance of pine around he seems pretty happy. Before he came to live with us, Mothman lived in a heavily forested area up the coast; or at least that’s what the historical records and local mythology seem to indicate.”

“That’s actually pretty helpful information to have on hand, I’m impressed,” Geralt nods. “Alright, Mr. Stevens. I promise to relocate the poor thing without killing or maiming him, and I’ll be sure to take him somewhere far enough away that your crops won’t be in danger. Thanks for calling me first instead of just going straight to an extermination service.”

“Honestly, Master Witcher,” the farmer sighs and readjusts his dirty baseball hat, “If it weren’t for the mischief he’s been getting into lately, we would have let him stick around until spring. I hate to admit it to a man as strong and stern-faced as yourself, but the poor creature is almost… adorable at times.”

“Well that’s a first,” Geralt chuckles, honestly amused by the situation he’s found himself in. “A monster being referred to as ‘adorable’ rather than ‘terrifying’. I’ve never heard such a thing in my many years of life.”

“Then you’d better prepare yourself, Sir Geralt. He’s got a pair of big blue puppy-dog eyes that’ll knock you on your ass if you aren’t careful. And that’s coming from a man who raised three daughters with dimples.”

“Hmm. Fuck.”

---

Geralt knows enough about moths to come up with a plan he thinks will work.

Before he heads into the woods to find and capture the poor wandering creature, the Witcher takes a detour through the lighting section of the nearest Lowe’s.

---

Unfortunately for Geralt, the farmer was right about the power of Mothman’s puppy dog eyes, which are big and blue and begin to water as soon as the Witcher’s net knocks him to the ground. The creature lies in a whimpering tangle of limbs beneath the heavy, magically enhanced restraints. Geralt takes an opportunity to look at what the locals called "a cryptid".

Mothman has a long, lithe body that's covered in a light layer of grey-brown fur, but his hair resembles that of a human’s, falling over those enormous blue eyes in a lovely chestnut fringe. When Mothman sees the swords on Geralt’s back he cries out in panicked recognition and tries to pull his arms up far enough to shield his face. The lamp Geralt used to lure him into the clearing is still bathing him in a pool of yellow light; it’s almost pretty for a monster, Geralt notes.

As the Witcher takes a step forward, the cryptid squeaks and buries his face against his own shoulder. His entire frame is trembling.

“Hey there, shhhhh,” the Witcher murmurs quietly. He drops into a squat and holds both hands up to show Mothman that they’re weapon free. Tears are now falling freely down the creature’s surprisingly human face; whoever or whatever this is, they are likely some kind of Fae. “I’m not here to hurt you, I just want to get you back through the veil.”

“Liar,” Mothman huffs. His voice has a surprisingly musical quality to it and Geralt is now sure of his Fae parentage (or grand-parentage).

“I promise I’m not lying,” Geralt reassures him, slowly crawling forward. When he reaches for the nearest corner of the net, he feels all of Mothman’s muscles go tense. “I’m going to lift this up and I am going to restrain you, but I swear that I’m not going to kill you. I wish to cause as little distress as possible. Is that alright, Mothman?”

The creature hisses and yanks his foot back away from where Geralt’s hand had nearly touched it. “Jaskier.”

“Hmm?” Geralt glances up, raising an eyebrow.

“My name is Jaskier,” the Fae repeats, glaring up from between the sections of woven rope that make up the heavy net. “Not Mothman.”

“My apologies, Jaskier,” Geralt bows his head. He words his introduction carefully, in case this thing can manipulate his name like others of his kind: “You may refer to me as Geralt.”

“That’s your real name,” Jaskier states. The Witcher’s head snaps up.

“How did you know?”

“Hmm,” Jaskier sticks his tongue out as he mimics the sound Geralt made earlier. “Not telli-AH! Stop! Oh go- gods, stop! Please!”

Geralt drops the short section of rope he’s trying untangle from around Jaskier’s ankle and snaps his eyes upwards, already searching for damage. “What’s wrong!?”

“My wing!” Jaskier bawls. His scent spikes out through the clearing, sharp with panic and pain. The creature’s chest begins to shake more violently than before, his shoulders shuddering with the rising force of his sobs, “It’s t-t-torn! Oh gods, my wing! Sir Witcher, p-please!”

Geralt freezes, his gaze settling on the torn section of Jaskier’s large, furry wing. It’s a nasty wound near one of the joints, a faint trickle of barely-luminescent blood has already dried around the edges. Jaskier tries to flutter it a little and screams in agony when the muscles shift too suddenly, shrilly enough that Geralt needs to cover his hypersensitive ears. The Witcher's heart crashes down into his boots; based on the way the shivering Fae has gone pale and silent, the pain is too much for him to process. He’s gone into shock.

A torn wing is exactly the kind of thing Geralt had promised the farmer (and the collective of townspeople he represented) wouldn’t happen to the peaceful moth creature if they hired a Witcher instead of an exterminator. He sighs and gives the strange being another once-over. “Everything's alright, Jaskier. You’re going to be alright. I’m so, so sorry that you've been wounded. We’ll get you out of this net and get you something for the pain, but it’s going to hurt a little to untangle you. Stay still, don’t struggle, and it’ll be over soon.”

“J-Just kill me,” Jaskier pants. He’s continuing to hyperventilate and Geralt needs him to calm down before he passes out. The Fae reaches a hand for the dagger at Geralt's waist and the Witcher twists out of reach with a frown. Jaskier sobs again, fingers still seeking, “I might n-n-never fly a-again so just k-kill me!”

“Breathe with me, Jaskier,” the Witcher instructs, forgoing patience and cutting through the net with that same dagger. He scoops Jaskier up into his arms, ignoring the keening sound at the back of Jaskier’s throat when his wing is jostled, and rushes the Fae to his truck, tucking him into the passenger’s seat and wrapping him in a large, fluffy blanket. “I’m taking you to my friend. She’s an expert at healing magical creatures and I'm certain that she'll get your wing fixed in no time.”

Jaskier doesn’t give an answer. When Geralt looks up into the creature’s face again, the injured Fae has already passed out.

---

Jaskier moves with all the grace of a newborn foal as he explores the room Geralt has provided for him. His wing has been inspected, treated, and bandaged by a rather scary sorceress named Yennefer, who glared at the Witcher the entire time she was caring for him. She had also taken one of Geralt’s old t-shirts and cut an enormous hole in the back for Jaskier’s wings to fit through. The shirt’s bottom hem falls to the middle of his thighs and the thick black material is softer than anything he’d ever felt before.

He hears a knock on the door and calls out, “It’s open!”

Geralt enters slowly, bearing a pair of pajama bottoms and a mug of tea. “I brought you some last minute supplies and - uh… I brought you some tea. Yen always likes some before she goes to sleep and I figured since this was a new place and new places can be scary that I should-”

“Thank you,” Jaskier interrupts, smiling shyly. His antennae twitch happily as he takes the offerings from Geralt's hands and the Witcher watches them with wide eyes. Jaskier carefully sets the pajamas and the tea on the nightstand before turning back to look at Geralt. “I will… see you tomorrow?”

Geralt gives one sharp nod. “Hmm.”

“Goodnight,” Jaskier sing-songs, taking a seat on the edge of the bed as Geralt exits.

From the other side of the closed door, Jaskier’s superior hearing picks up the Witcher’s final whisper: “Goodnight, Jaskier. I will always be sorry for causing you pain.”

The next morning he meets Geralt at the breakfast table, refreshed and ready to learn about the human world. He’s summoned a glamour in order to hide his more Moth-like traits, the only things that remain of his true nature are his wings and antennae; his fur is gone and he’s dressed in a pair of sweatpants and that same old shirt. The Witcher offers him a bowl of fruit and mug of something sweet-smelling. Jaskier glares into the mug with a slight pout to his lips before finally asking, “What is this?”

“Hot chocolate.”

Jaskier takes a sip and his antennae flutter, twitching happily as he swallows the best drink he’s ever had in his long life. He eats a strawberry from the bowl and slowly works his way through the hot chocolate, eyeing Geralt warily as the Witcher moves through the familiar kitchen to make his own breakfast.

“Where is Yennefer?”

“She went home,” Geralt shrugs.

“She isn’t your mate?”

“N-No,” Geralt sputters, turning to stare at the nervous young Fae. “Why would you think that?”

“You smell like each other.”

“We spend a lot of time together,” Geralt shrugs again. “Good friends, that’s all.”

“Hmm,” Jaskier mimics his host for a second time. Rather effectively by the annoyed twitch at the corner of Geralt’s mouth. “Just wondering.”

“Anything else you’re curious about?”

“Why don’t you have more lights?”

“Huh?”

“Lights,” Jaskier gestures around the minimalistic layout of Geralt’s open-concept kitchen/living room and its distinctive lack of lamps. He crosses his arms over his chest and leans forward against the dark marble countertop. The pout has gone from 'slight' to 'full-bore' and Geralt is clinging desperately to his braincell with how cute it looks. “It’s no fun.”

“You really like lamps, don’t you?” the Witcher replies, mouth dry. Jaskier huffs and takes another sip of his hot chocolate, antennae flickering back and forth in irritation. Geralt bites his lip to hide a smile; it’s too fucking cute, which is an odd thought for a Witcher to have.

“So what if I do enjoy a nice lamp or five in my living space?” Jaskier argues. "I'm a Moth of taste."

“No matter,” Geralt laughs quietly. “Finish your drink before it gets cold.”

---

Jaskier stays with Geralt for a few weeks while his wing heals, and for a creature whose sole interest seems to be fancy light fixtures, the Fae becomes a source of light in Geralt's own world. They go to a nonhuman friendly second-hand store to find Jaskier some more clothes and Geralt discovers the cryptid's love for oddly patterned shirts in bright colors. Jaskier chooses several to fill out his closet, as well as a sweater two-sizes too large in deep black (Geralt tries his best not to attach any meaning to this choice), a few pairs of pants, and a jean jacket that he declares, "Can be altered."

They watch movies together and make food together - Jaskier is always incredibly impressed by the way the automatic coffee maker works, and how easily Geralt can control the flames of the stove. Jaskier also follows the Witcher along on less dangerous hunts and helps bandage him up after worse ones, always there with a smile and a little kiss over the cleaned-up wound.

“It really is magic,” Jaskier always insists, lips pink and shining from licking them as he concentrates. "It makes you heal faster."

Geralt realizes one night - two weeks into Jaskier’s stay, as he leans against the doorframe and watches the strange creature’s even breathing - that he has gone and done the stupidest thing a Witcher can do: fall in love with a pretty, temperamental young Fae. Head over fuckin’ heels, actually.

So he makes a decision.

---

The next evening, after the dinner dishes have been cleaned and put away, Geralt herds Jaskier down the hall to the guest room. Those entrancing blue eyes blink up at him in obvious confusion. “Bedtime already?”

“No, not quite. I just- I made you… uh…”

“Do you have a surprise for me?” Jaskier asks, used to the Witcher's issues with verbalizing.

Geralt nods, relieved and thankful for the Fae’s steadfast understanding. “Do you want to cover your eyes or should I just open the door and show you?”

“I’ll close my eyes,” Jaskier smiles, covering his eyes with both hands. Geralt finds it adorable, as Jaskier always is, and allows himself a matching grin as he swings the door open. The ceiling light is off but Geralt has built a blanket fort at the center of the room and surrounded it with fairy lights of all colors and sizes. Inside the blanket fort is a mass of blankets and pillows; Jaskier has the odd habit of building nests - Geralt jokingly calls them cocoons - and sleeping in those on the floor instead of on the very comfortable mattress the Witcher has provided.

“Open them,” Geralt urges.

Jaskier pulls his hands away and Geralt watches as his pupils go huge and wide. Jaskier's face breaks out in the sunniest, most blindingly happy smile Geralt has ever seen. He turns and throws his arms around the Witcher, his wings fluttering behind him and his antennae twitching and flicking above his head. He tries desperately to speak but only manages a half-snuffled little “I’m-” before bursting into tears of joy.

Geralt just holds him, letting his arms fold carefully around Jaskier’s waist, just beneath his wings.

"I just wanted you to know that, if you wanted to stay, there would be room for you. Your room, if you want it."

"I do," Jaskier smiles, burying his face in the Witcher's neck. "I'd love to stay. I'd love nothing more than to spend my days going on adventures with you."

"Well then," Geralt gathers all of his courage and presses a soft kiss to the crown of Jaskier's head. He's met with happy spasms from the antennae so he does it again. And again. Moving from the top of the Fae's head to his cheeks and then his mouth - pretty and pink and pouting and so worth the trouble. "I suppose we can get started on our next adventure tomorrow."

[twin-books]

👀 plagg (or all kwami, if there's not a lot to say abt him)

Thanks for the ask, anon! And I'm glad you said all the other kwamis so I can knock those all out. But firstly let's just talk Plagg. I still love Plagg. He's my favorite kwami to draw and I very much love cats but I also have my own little black cat. Hilariously, she also tries to eat everything in sight and is obsessed with dairy products. Ironically not cheese. (I am also pretty sure she has a crush on Chat Noir. Shh... don't tell her he's just a human kid in a cat costume). Anyway, so yes, I'm a bit bias. But also he actually helps his kid and when he doesn't it isn't wildly out of character like it is with Tikki. He's also funny which is super great. Also, let's take a moment to appreciate his English VA specifically because that guy goes hard when he voices characters. Max Mittleton is a gift, a treasure. Anyway, he's fun. And his friendship with Adrien is to die for. He also tends to be the character that basically speaks for the audience and I love those characters. XD He's a stupidly adorable, irresponsible but loving, little kitty who I adore. I hated what they did to him in the NY Special because Plagg was pretty much the only character improving and they just went and threw that all away but now in s4 they love to act like that never happened but I remember... :' D So, since there's 19 kwamis (20 if you count Liiri 21 if you count that one kwami in Shanghai which I don't because I didn't get to know them), I'll be rating each kwami out of 20. So Plagg gets a 19/20. Not perfect but I still love the little man. Now let's talk about the other kwamis... You could probably hear me sighing from here. Tikki used to be my favorite kwami (next to Nooroo) but I don't care for her at all now. Especially after Dearest Family. She's now extremely unhelpful, encourages Marinette's bad choices, and apparently can't control herself at all when she gets hangry. Also, yet another adult figure in Marinette's life who has the downfall of hangry for some dumb reason. She's also no longer any fun to draw anymore because I cannot figure out how to properly draw her and make her look more like a ladybug while still keeping the show's style. Still, I hold season 1 Tikki very close to my heart and she's at least not stupidly annoying so... 10/20. Nooroo. I freaking hate his English voice. I don't remember his French one if I ever heard it but hopefully it's better? He also deserved antennas and prettier wings. Anyway, I know he technically hasn't gotten much focus but I do still really like him. Despite his kind of ugly design I still got a stuffed Nooroo and a Nooroo keychain as well as that huge Nooroo sticker. I really like Nooroo. He's kind of my favorite kwami and I feel very bad for him (especially since in the future he is still subjected to the same dumb, horrible fate because I guess the writers hate him :' D). But despite he's my favorite, Plagg is still obviously better so it wouldn't be fair to rate him above Plagg... 15/20. Wayzz was ruined just like Tikki. I miss season 1 Wayzz so much. He's honestly just a 9/20 because his supremely stupid decision to crawl on the ground to try and see Master Fu still makes me laugh at how dumb it was. He's annoying now like most of the kwamis. His dumb little antenna still annoys the heck out of me too because it in no way relates to a turtle and you can't even argue it's a kwami thing since some of the kwamis still don't have those things. Plus his is absurdly thick compared to the others... but he looks so dumb when you draw him without it and that drives me insane. Trixx is okay. 10/20 for them as well. They're freaking annoying but they look better than Wayzz and Nooroo and they're still kind of fun to watch. Plus, Trixx's relationship with Alya I hold very close to my heart. Pollen has no personality really and I actually preferred her concept where she didn't really have pupils or irises. I liked it so much I can only remember her like that even though she's not like that. She also got very annoying like the rest of the kwamis. 5/20 for probably being one of the

least annoying ones... Dusuu is super cute. Haven't seen much of him but he's super precious. (I call the kwamis by the gender I was kind of introduced to them as even if it wasn't the majority choice except Dusuu who I just think should be male because he's designed after a male peacock. Yes, the English dub made me very bitter. I really like animals. XD) I feel super bad for him too and I find him a bit more fun than Nooroo (sadly). I also like that he shifts emotions so drastically. Also his design is perfect and I love drawing him (though I do wish the bird kwamis got like real wings but I know that's hard in CGI so I won't blame them. I also tend to dial up his design a bit by giving him eyelash dots because I can). 17/20. Fluff was fun upon their first introduction. I was also partial to them because of the pastel blue and the time travel. And when I was a child bunnies used to be my favorite animal. I like drawing them with a Wonderlandiful kind of vibe (yes I stole that word from Ever After High and no I'm not sorry). As much as I'm not really a huge fan of the bunny being so heavily modeled after the white rabbit from Alice in Wonderland (especially since that was arguably the more down to earth character compared to the rest of them) I still can't say I hate it. They're super fun to draw. Stupidly annoying now though. 9/20. Xuppu is okay? I barely really got to know him. I really need to rewatch Party Crasher in English to truly get it. He's stupidly annoying now though and I really don't like monkeys and apes all that much... I actually have a fear of apes and so that has kind of turned me away from monkeys too, to the point I kind of got them mixed up because my fear made me not really educate myself on that whole animal family. But he's super cute at least and I think kind of funny? Still, s4 really ruined the kwamis for me so... 5/20. Kaalki is a cool idea but I'm afraid I'm just not a fan of the whole pompous thing. I also think it's supremely weird she didn't go to like Chloe or Lila or something? I give them props for trying. Too bad she was ruined in s4 too. 5/20. Mullo had no real personality, or nothing I can remember. They also just became annoying in season 4 but they're at least kind of cute. 1/20. Sass was kind of fun. I find him to be chaotic evil and hilarious. I also kind of like his design. S4 almost ruined him but then went back and made him a tad better again so he gets to sit in 10/20 with Tikki. Longg is pretty much the same as Mullo but I like his design a bit less. I also think something went wrong with his CGI model? Props for finally being a kwami that's actually opposite the gender of his holder in the English dub. 1/20. Liiri means nothing to me but I can at least appreciate she has a decent design where she actually looks like her animal and was kind of cute. 1/20. Alright, as for the rest of them... they supremely annoy me. I can't believe they ruined the kwamis for me. I used to adore those little guys. RIP my love for the kwamis. -20/20 for all of them. I wish Marinette kept them locked in the box since that makes infinitely more sense especially since they all love to be absolute toddlers who disobey her and screw her over constantly. Also, the rooster looks more like a goldfish. There, now you can't unsee it. Thanks for the ask, anon. Hopefully that was an okay answer. I hope you're having a wonderful day, afternoon, evening, night, or whatever time it is where you are. <3 Send Me a Miraculous Character

[krizaland]

Yandere Zim X Male Reader? There isn't many out there, and I sort of had a song in mind if you would like to listen: Rory by Foxing.

You got it, friend!

Be warned: There are themes of unrequited love, wasps and a graphic depiction of wasp stings ahead!

Here's the song that was used btw

From the moment he met you, Zim found himself captivated by you.

From your gentle eyes to your kind soul, Zim found you utterly fascinating.

You were nothing like any of the other humans! You weren’t ugly, and you didn’t even stink!

You may have been friends with Dib but that didn’t stop you from sticking up for him whenever Dib tried to expose him!

At first, Zim decided to use you as a good source of information as well as a way to keep up appearances without drawing too much attention to himself.

However, the more time he spent with you, Zim started to feel…strange to say the least.

His PAK would spark around you and his squeedilyspooch felt like it was tied up in knots!

“Computer! What are these HORRIBLE feelings inside of me?! What has that Y/N-human done to Zim?!” Zim demanded as he pointed to the ceiling.

“WELL….UM…”

“C’mon spit it out already!”

“WELL IT SEEMS THAT YOU HAVE FALLEN IN LOVE…”

Zim’s jaw hit the ground.

“WHAT?! ME?! IN LOVE?! WITH A HUMAN?! IMPOSSIBLE! Preform a full body bioscan!”

Zim’s computer sighed as a few mechanical tentacles wrapped around Zim.

“SCANNING…SCANNING….”

After a few minutes, the tentacles retracted,

“BIOSCAN COMPLETE. NO ILLNESSES DETECTED.”

“N-No! No! This can’t be! No invader can even experience love! Especially not for the enemy! What am I going to do?! ARGH! Computer! Create an antidote for my love illness!” Zim commanded as he tugged on his antennas.

“UM THERE REALLY ISN’T A CURE…”

“LIES!! Surely there has to be some way to get rid of these HORRIBLE FEELINGS!” Zim wailed dramatically.

“WELL…THERE IS ONE WAY TO GET RID OF THEM..”

“What are you waiting for! Tell me! Tell me the solution!!” Zim demanded as his voice quivered a bit.

“THE ONLY WAY YO GET RID OF YOUR FEELINGS IS TO ASK Y/N OUT..” The computer lied

“WHAT?! YOU WANT ZIM TO DATE THE ENEMY?! ARE YOU INSANE?!”

“Nyeh!”

Zim’s tirade was interrupted by Minimoose.

“Stay out of this, Minimoose! This doesn’t concern you!”

“Nyeh!”

“Aww! It’s sweet that you care about your master but don’t worry, Zim will be fine!”

“Nyeh!”

“Eh?! Ask Y/N out on a date to keep up appearances?! Never! didn’t I already make it clear that was a bad idea?! There’s no way I’d possibly show that kind of weakness to the enemy. But what if…”

Zim hummed for a moment as he stroked his chin.

“I’ve got it! I’ll ask Y/N out on a date to keep up appearances! Yes…I’ll simply use these feelings as a way to appear more normal so I can continue my mission!”

Minimoose was a bit annoyed but happily encouraged his master

“Nyeh!”

“I think you’re cool too, Minimoose! Now then, how to woo Y/N…Maybe one of those love note thingys.” Zim muttered to himself as he begin typing away at his keyboard.

After a few minutes of typing, Zim cracked a wicked smile.

“Excellent! With this loove note there’s no way Y/N could possibly resist my proposal!”

Zim burst into maniacal laughter as he printed the note.

“Now all thats left to do is deliver it!”

“OOOH!! OHHH!!! CAN I BRING THE NOTE TO RACECAR?!!” GIR squealed as he reached for the note.

“No GIR! I’m not going to risk this note getting damaged because of you!” Zim snapped as he snatched away the note.

GIR did like that answer.

He let out a loud shriek and threw himself to the ground.

He begun to kick and cry as loud as his voice chip would let him.

“ENOUGH! You may deliver the note to Y/N!” Zim grumbled as he held out the note.

“YAY!!!!!!!”

And with that, GIR grabbed the note with his mouth and flew off with it.

“Ugh, I better make sure GIR doesn’t ruin all of my hard work.” Zim huffed as he threw on his disguise and followed after GIR.

It wasn’t long before GIR managed to find you.

You were sitting on a bench in the park next to Dib, who seemed nervous about something.

“Dib? Are you ok? You’re acting kinda…twitchy”

“Twitchy? I’m not twitchy! Heh! It’s just um…the air! Yeah the air is really cold today!” Dib lied as he rubbed the back of his head.

“Dib it’s almost June. It’s like 88 degrees out here. What’s really going on?” You pressed as you gave Dib a sympathetic look.

Dib looked down at his feet and took in a deep breath.

“Ok, I’ll tell you but you have to promise you won’t be grossed out by me.”

“Dib, you’re my best friend! Not even hunting the most disgusting cryptid can make me grossed out by you!” You reassured with a chuckle.

Dib took in another deep breath as he turned to face you

“Y/N, I know we’ve been friends for like a really long time now and….well….”

“Well what?”

Dib swallowed thickly as he tugged at his shirt collar

“I think I might want to be more than friends!”

Dib’s words flew out a mile a minute before he clamped a hand over his mouth.

“Wait?! Are you serious?!” Your eyes lit up a bit.

“Gah! I knew this was a bad idea! Just forget I said anything!” Dib whimpered as he buried his face in his hands.

“No no! I’m actually really happy you told me that, Dib! Because…I want to be more than friends too!” You reassured as you put a hand on his shoulder.

Dib looked up at you and blinked in shock.

“Wait? Really?”

“Yes really! I’ve actually been wanting to ask you out for a while but I wasn’t sure if you felt the same.” You admitted sheepishly as you rubbed the back of your head.

“What?! You had feelings for me this whole time?! And you didn’t even- You know what? Who cares? All that matters is that we both feel the same about each other! Right?” Dib still seemed a bit skeptical.

“Exactly! That’s the spirit!” You cheered as you threw your arms in the air, smacking poor GIR out of the sky.

THUMP!

SPLOOSH!

GIR fell face first into a puddle, soaking Zim’s love note.

However it wouldn’t have mattered whether or not the love note was in tact. For Zim had witness the entire exchange between you and Dib and was devastated.

He let out a pained chuckle as he grabbed the soggy note from GIR’s mouth.

Zim was about to confront Dib when-

BONK!

THUMP!

Zim had walked right into s tree, causing a wasp nest to fall right on his head.

Zim let out a blood curdling scream as the wasps begun to attack him from all directions!

Soon he began to run amok, with more wasps trailing behind him!

It wasn’t long before Zim managed to make it back to his base.

Two robotic arms came down from the ceiling,

POP!

They pulled the wasp nest off of Zim’s head and chucked it out into the front yard.

Zim let out a pained groan as his grotesquely swollen face throbbed with wasp venom and glowing green pus.

The robotic arms carefully peeled off Zim’s disguise and another arm carried him down to his lab.

After a refreshing chemical shower, Zim’s face had returned to normal!

However, while his face had healed, his feelings were still in shambles.

He picked up the note and went back up to the kitchen.

Zim sunk to his knees as he shakily held the soggy note in his hands.

“I wrote you a letter, asked my robot to send it but it took to the sea before you could’ve read it…”

Zim’s grip tightened on the note as a few tears trickled down his cheeks.

“Retreated to snow capped waters of the unknown. Extracted my soul straight from my body! but glowing and red…And I swear that sweat would envelop your arms if you broke down and held it!”

“I swear I’m a good man-“ -Zim took in a heavy breath- “-I swear I’m a good man…”

Zim sniffled a bit,

“So why don’t you love me back?”

He looked down at the note in his hands.

“So why don’t you love me back?”

Zim let out a deep growl as he chucked the soggy note into the window.

“Instead of twisting up words you just say there in silence! In wind burnt homes sighing rays from a sunset!”

Zim rose to his feet and stormed towards the window.

As he peeled the soggy note off the window, he couldn’t help but notice that the wasp nest was still in the front yard.

“And all I could hear was the sound of the wasp nest, my head made a home for the hum of the insects!”

Zim took another glance down at the soggy note he had peeled off the window.

“But my hands shake and shudder at the mention of half written reasons we’ll only be friends!”

Zim’s fist curled around the note and punched the window.

“I swear I’m a good man…. I swear I’m a good man…”

Zim squeezed his eyes shut and let out a sob

“So why don’t you love me back?”

His hand slid down the window.

“So why don’t you love me back?!”

Zim threw the soggy note to the ground and stomped on it

“So why don’t you love me back?!”

He threw his head to the ceiling and shrieked

“So why don’t you love me back?!”

He clutched the sides of his head and wailed his plea once again,

“So why don’t you love me back?!”

Zim melted back down to his knees.

“So why don’t you love me back….”

A louder sob racked his body as Zim felt his world crash down around him.

How humiliating.

He was Irk’s finest invader! How could he be so wounded by one pitiful human?!

No, pitiful wasn’t the right word to describe you. In truth, Zim felt that handsome was a better fit.

Despite how devastated he was, Zim still couldn’t stop wanting you.

The need for your love sparked a fire deep within him.

The fire burned violently throughout Zim’s body! Pulling him out of his depression and making him more confident than ever!

Zim wanted you for some much more than appearances!

He wanted you to be his and his alone!

By taking you away from him, Dib had just made the biggest mistake of his life.

Zim let out a thunderous maniacal laugh as he raised his hands to the ceiling!

He put his disguise back on, grabbed a blaster, and hopped into his Voot.

“Prepare yourself, foolish Dib-monkey! I am coming to reclaim what’s rightfully mine! You shall rue the day you took Y/N away from Zim!”

[duhragonball]

Battle Tendency Liveblog: JJBA Ch. 105-108

“Master Kars has taken a fighting stance!   I... I wasn’t expecting tongue...”

Hey, remember Wammu?   Well, he’s dead now, so the only Pillar Man left to worry about is the leader, Kars.  His army of vampire slaves don’t like this, so they try to bumrush our heroes, but Lisa kills a few of them, then threatens to destroy the Red Stone of Aja unless Kars honors their agreement. 

And Kars is cool with that.   He only took off his headdress and exposed his antennae to prepare for the next one-on-one fight.   He then kills his unruly henchmen to prove that they don’t speak for him.  Moreover, Kars is now willing to fight Lisa Lisa.   Earlier, he said that he didn’t like fighting women, but now that he’s seen her in action, he’s on board with the idea.

But he doesn’t want to fight in Skeleton Heel Stone, where Joseph and Wammu squared off.   Instead, he chooses the Piza Berlina Temple, right next door to the S.H.S.  Apparently, after a hard day of chariot racing, the winners used to come here to worship their gods and drink the blood of the losers. 

It’s weird to me that Kars and Wammu should be so familiar with this place, and carry such an abiding respect for it.   I mean, they’ve viewed ordinary 20th Century humans with utter contempt, dismissing them as backwards primitives.   Santana disassembled a German rifle like it was easy, and he’s supposed to be the big dummy in the Pillar Men.   That’s how little they think of 1938 technology and civilization.   The Hamon users in this story only get a bit of respect because they‘ve become worthy adversaries. 

And yet, the Pillar Men seem to be a lot more respectful towards ancient humanity.   Esidisi knew the writings of Sun Tzu, if not the man himself.   You’d think he’d just ignore or devour Sun Tzu sooner than look at him.   And you’d think Wammu would have wanted to fight in the traditions of his own culture, but instead he’s all into this ancient human racetrack.    It can’t be because it’s old.   Compared to Wammu, it’s positively brand new.  

On the other hand, these guys are the last of their kind, as we’ll learn in a few chapters.   Human culture is the only kind the Pillar Men have gotten to see, and it’s been that way for about a hundred centuries now.   If Esidisi wants to read a book, he’s pretty much going to have to tolerate human authors, because that’s all that’s left.   And if Wammu wants to admire a sporting arena, he’s stuck with places like these, built by those pesky “primitives”.  

Joseph asks Lisa to let him fight Kars instead, since he’s still worried about her being a woman.   Also, he believes Kars is weaker than Wammu, so he should be able to defeat him.   But Lisa insists on handling this, and she strips down to this circus outfit.    That sounds like I’m making fun of it, but I’m not.   It looks pretty badass, but also period-appropriate. 

The fight is very short.  Kars pulls some sort of disappearing act, then emerges from one of the stone surfaces of the temple, trying to slash at Lisa from behind with his blades.    But Lisa has it scouted, and she wraps her silk scarf around Kars’ arm, charges it with Hamon, and kills him, wham, bam, thank you ma’am.  

And then the real Kars emerges from the same stone, and stabs Lisa in the back.   Somehow, Kars disguised one of his vampire minions to look just like him, right down to the blades in his arms, and sent that flunky out as a distraction.    It’s a cheap trick, and a complete 180 from the honor displayed by Wammu in the previous fight.  Kars doesn’t care.   He doesn’t care about dishonoring Wammu’s memory, nor does he care about breaking his word.   The only thing Kars cares about is getting the Red Stone of Aja, and now he has it. 

Unfortunately, this takes Lisa Lisa out of action for the rest of the story.  Kars hasn’t killed her, but she’s too badly hurt to do anything from here.   That kind of sucks, because Lisa’s such a cool character.   A friend of mine once complained that Lisa got a raw deal in Part 2, and we should have gotten to see her get a big fight, on par with Joseph vs. Esidisi, or Caesar vs. Wammu.   I can’t really disagree with the sentiment. 

However, I have a hard time figuring out how such a fight could have been worked into the story.   She couldn’t beat Kars, for Pete’s sake.   He’s the final boss of Part 2, so it sort of falls to Joseph to do the honors.  And she couldn’t beat Wammu or Esidisi, because Joseph was the one who needed the antidote to their poison rings.  Lisa could have lost to either of them--the way Caesar lost to Wammu-- except she’d have to die, which would spoil the big reveal of her origin story.

So maybe there needed to be an extra Pillar Man in the cast?   Not Santana, because he’s too weak, but maybe Kars’ group has a fourth guy named Talqingedz or whatever.  So Lisa Lisa could mop the floor with that dude... and then what?    Would it really carry any dramatic weight for her to defeat a guy like that?  A Pillar Man so ancillary to the story that the plot would flow just as well without him?    When you get down to it, Lisa Lisa’s dream opponent for Part 2 just ends up looking like Wired Beck, a random jobber presented solely to establish her credibility as a fighter.   And we already got Lisa vs. Wired Beck, and clearly that wasn’t satisfying enough.   So Lisa Lisa vs. a Pillar Man probably wouldn’t have been much of an improvement.  

Nonetheless, I think it’s a valid criticism of Battle Tendency.  You come out of this story wishing we could have seen more of Lisa Lisa in action, and we just aren’t going to get it.   But the root of the problem isn’t that she didn’t get to fight more, it’s that she was presented as a fighter when that really wasn’t her role in the story.   She’s a teacher, training Joseph and Caesar in the ways of the Ripple, but more importantly, she’s an enigma.  Who is she?   What’s her connection to the Joestars?  To Straizo?   To Caesar?   Where did she get the Red Stone of Aja?   And so on.  

Her Ripple mastery makes her one of the strongest fighters on the board, but that’s just another piece of the puzzle.   I think there was a profile of Lisa Lisa in the manga that said her Ripple was three times stronger than Joseph’s.   But we never get to see it demonstrated, because that’s not the point.  We’re just supposed to wonder who this lady is and how she got so powerful, and where has she been this whole time.    I think this is also why everyone keeps writing her off as a woman.   It’s not just chauvanism, it’s intended to keep the reader off-balance.  One minute Joseph and the Pillar Men are respecting her power, and the next minute they’re dismissing her.    It keeps you guessing. 

I suspect this is one reason why Araki dealt Lisa Lisa such an inglorious defeat here.   Could Lisa have defeated Kars in a fair fight?   Yeah, I think she could.   But if she cleaned his clock, it would defeat the mystique of the character.   The same is true if Lisa lost to Kars in a fair fight.  We’d say “Oh, okay, she wasn’t quite as strong as Joseph, so that’s that.” 

Now, the other major reason for Kars to defeat Lisa Lisa like this is to demonstrate Kars’ main character trait.   He only cares about achieving his objective.   Wammu had his warrior code, and Esidisi had his devotion to his comrades, but Kars has only himself and his goals.   He had Lisa and Joseph cornered in the abandoned hotel, but they didn’t have the Aja Stone on them.   Lisa made that bluff about a bomb, and then proposed this contest to settle things.   Kars agreed, but not because he had any intention of honoring the agreement.  He just let things play out because he knew Joseph would bring the Stone to the battlefield, and even if Wammu lost, he would still have all of these vampires to back him up.  

That’s how Kars was able to defeat Lisa.   He used Wammu’s own honor to lull Lisa into a false sense of security.   After seeing how noble Wammu was in defeat, and how gracious Kars was in disciplining his vampires, she began to believe that Kars would fight her fairly.     That was Kars’ plan all along.   Once he had her isolated on the temple, with the Red Stone of Aja on her person, he made his play.    It’s dirty pool, but it worked, and that’s all Kars cares about. 

This makes Joseph super-duper pissed, but what’s he gonna do about it?   He’s way down there on the ground, surrounded by vampires, and his Ripple is weak from the fight with Wammu.    So now Kars can just watch from a safe vantage while his henchmen tie up the last loose end.  

But then, the Nazis show up, led by Stroheim, complete with a repaired cyborg body.  And Speedwagon and Smokey are here too, along with a fighting contingent of the Speedwagon Foundation.   And they came prepared too!  Everybody’s armed with UV emitters.   To be sure, ultraviolet lamps haven’t worked so well against the Pillar Men, but against ordinary vampires, they seem to do the job quite nicely.   

So while they clean house, Joseph climbs up to where Kars and Lisa are, and he’s ready to throw down.   Joseph has plenty of harsh words for Kars’ dirty tactics, but Kars doesn’t care.   This has all been a chess game to him.   The Ripple Clan, the vampires, even Wammu and Esidisi, they were all just pieces on a board, maneuvered and arranged until he could secure a path to victory with minimal risk.  

See, that’s the other thing about Lisa Lisa.   It’s very subtly expressed here, but Kars was clearly very worried about her.   He knew Joseph was a threat because he killed Esidisi, but he knew he could use Wammu to wear Joseph down.   But Lisa Lisa is even more powerful and experienced than Joseph, and she’s shrewd enough to destroy the Stone if cornered.    He knew he couldn’t beat her at her own game, so he let her think she was playing her own game in order to set her up for that sneak attack.   If Kars hadn’t done that, he’d be dead by now, or the Stone would be lost or destroyed.  

Likewise, I’m not sure Kars is confident about a fair fight with Joseph, even though he’s tired from fighting Wammu.  I mean, you’d think he’d just charge Joseph and cut his head off if he could, but instead he lures him into another trap.    Before Joseph got up here, Kars tied Lisa’s feet to a rope.    He made sure not to kill her, but only so he could use her as a hostage.   Kars tosses Lisa down, and Joseph has to grab the rope to keep her from falling to her death.

And the whole point of that was to keep Joseph standing still.   He can’t let go of the rope, so he’s in no position to defend himself.   Now Kars can just walk right up to him and kill him at his leisure.   As far as Kars is concerned, this is what fighting is all about.   Not a test of strength and skill like Wammu’s ideal, but the achievement of victory at minimal risk.  

And this is where we see Joseph exceed Lisa Lisa.  They both got suckered into Kars’ traps, but Lisa doesn’t have Joseph’s penchant for trickery and quick thinking.    She’s got more Ripple power, sure, but that doesn’t matter against a guy like Kars.   I’m starting to get the impression that Kars is a lot weaker than Wammu, since he fights so conservatively in this story.   He may not be able to afford to fight Joseph in any other way.   

So how in the hell can Joseph get out of this one?   Well, first he tries to kick Kars to keep him away.   Kars just cuts his leg, along with a section of rope that was in the way.   Joseph’s Ripple is so weak that the kick did nothing. 

Then Joseph sets his own scarf on fire and talks about how he has a plan, and it’s so awesome that he can make this work before the flames reach his body.    Kars thinks this is just desperate posturing, and all Joseph seems to do is swing away.    Kars thinks he’s trying to get some distance so he can recover his Hamon energy.

Then Kars cuts the rope, since Joseph won’t stand still and get murdered.   

And it backfires, because Joseph did more tricky rope tricks!   Hermit Purple, bitch!

Basically, that very first bit, where Joseph tried to kick him, even then, Joseph had a plan.    He got Kars to cut a section of rope, which he then used to tie his own leg to the rope holding Lisa Lisa.   Then he goaded Kars into cutting the rope so Lisa would fall, not realizing that Joseph had her secured with his other rope.   Also, that other rope got caught on Kars’ own foot.   It’s complicated. 

Oh, wait, I forgot to talk about chess.   Okay, so earlier, Kars was gloating about using Lisa as a pawn to achieve checkmate.   It’s a good analogy, but I’m pretty sure chess was invented within the last 2000 years.   In other words, Kars literally slept through the entire history of the game.   So for him to be talking about it now, I have to assume he learned about chess during that month while Joseph was training.   That kind of sucks.   Esidisi and Wammu were running around trying to find the Red Stone of Aja, and Kars was probably chilling out in Switzerland playing chess and drinking hot cocoa all night.   Wotta heel.

Then Joseph pulls himself back up with his scarf and uses Overdrive against Kars’ blade.  Joseph’s Ripple is so strong that he just powers right through, destroying the blade on Kars’ arm like it’s no big deal.  That’s interesting, because when Joseph first saw Kars’ blades, he worried that he wouldn’t be able to block them, and now it’s Kars who wasn’t strong enough to block. 

Maybe “Light Mode” was more of an illusion than a genuine power?  I mean, the blades are super-sharp, but I never understood what difference it made for them to be all sparkly, unless it’s a psychological trick to demoralize the enemy.   It definitely worked on Stroheim, and it worked on Joseph for a while, but I don’t think Joseph’s gotten that much stronger since their last encounter.   

Anyway, the Ripple worked, and Kars’ entire arm explodes.   Yeah!  Then he falls off the temple, and Joseph loosens the rope to help him on his way down.    Cool!  Then Kars lands on a bunch of spiky rocks, the same gruesome fate he intended for Lisa Lisa.   Yeah, how’s that taste, Kars?   You loincloth-wearin’ piece of crap?  

So... yeah, we won!  Great job everyone!  Except for the Nazis, they can all go fuck off and die in a fire.   Smokey’s feeling a lot better about everything, so he asks Speedwagon about Lisa Lisa.   See, earlier, Lisa revealed to Joseph that she was the baby that Erina rescued at the end of Phantom Blood.   But Erina told Smokey about the same baby back in New York, and Smokey knows that Lisa Lisa is Joseph’s mother.  

Except, Erina told Joseph that his mother died of a disease when he was a baby, so how can Lisa be alive and a Ripple Master?   Speedwagon agrees to explain, since Smokey took care of Erina while he was away, but he insists that Smokey not reveal any of this to Joseph, because it’s Joestar family business.  

I hadn’t really considered it until now, but this is the first time we’ve seen Smokey and Speedwagon interact so far.   They’ve gotten to know each other off-panel, and they seem to have a bond over their shared respect for the Joestars, so it lulled me into thinking they’ve appeared together before this.    Anyway...

The origin of Lisa Lisa isn’t all that complicated, actually.   She was raised by Straizo and became a Ripple warrior, while Jonathan and Erina’s son, George Joestar II, joined the British Air Force in World War I.   George and Lisa fell in love, married, and had a baby, Joseph.  

The catch is that there was one last zombie from Phantom Blood.   Speedwagon and Straizo thought they got all of Dio’s zombies, but one of them was very clever and managed to stay hidden.    He just made sure to eat his victims’ entire body, so as not to leave any physical evidence.   Also, he faked a disability to excuse himself from any daylight activities.    By the 1910′s, he had successfully infiltrated the RAF as a Major.  

So George learned of this, because he knew all the Phantom Blood lore from his wife and mother.    But George never had any Ripple abilities himself.   He may have had the potential for it, but he was never trained, and I guess he didn’t develop it naturally, the way Joseph did.  

So he tried to gather evidence to expose the zombie Major, but his plan backfired and the zombie killed him instead, then covered up George’s death by reporting it as a plane crash.    Speedwagon and Straizo investigated this, but before they could act...

Lisa got wind of it and took matters into her own hands.  She killed the zombie major, but she did it in front of another officer.   The authorities knew nothing of zombies or Stone Masks, so they just thought she murdered an RAF officer in cold blood.    So she had to leave Britian as a fugitive, and she’s been living in exile in Italy ever since.    The Speedwagon Foundation has been trying to clear her name, but I doubt there’s whole lot they could do about a case like this.

And there you have it.   Erina was so heartbroken over the death of her son and the exile of her daughter-in-law that she asked Speedwagon to never tell Joseph what really happened to his parents, and to keep the Ripple a secret from him.   Of course, none of that really worked, because Joseph developed the Ripple on his own, and Straizo and Stroheim forced Joseph to develop those abilities even further, leading him directly to his long lost mother.   Erina wanted to protect Joseph, but she couldn’t save him from his own fate.    Smokey starts crying, and I’m like “same tbh.”  

This ties back to a point I made early on.   When I watched the anime, it seemed kind of random to introduce Smokey, then drop him for most of the story, then bring him back at the end.   But now, it makes a lot more sense.   He was a viewpoint character, but only so far as the stuff about the Joestar Family.   All the fighting and Ripple stuff could be done without Smokey, since Joseph could function as his own viewpoint character for that part.   And while it’s kind of weird for Smokey to be absent for so long, it helps that he seemed to feel the same way.    He clearly went out of his way to join Speedwagon on this mission to Switzerland.  He simply cares about the Joestar Family that much.    He couldn’t sit in New York and wait for an update.

Anyway, Lisa’s going to be okay, and the vampires are all dead, and Kars is slowly dying from the Ripple wound Joseph gave him, so it looks like we’re all finished here.   Stroheim decides to put Kars out of his misery by shooting him with high-intensity UV rays.   Maybe that’s overkill at this point, but we might as well let Stroheim have his fun.

Oh SHI--

So yeah, Kars had the Red Stone of Aja this whole time, but he only just now decided to use it.   That’s because the Stone will only amplify the power of his special Stone Mask if there’s a powerful light source.    This whole fight has been happening at night, so Kars had to wait until morning to try this little stunt.  But Stroheim has helpfully supplied a bunch of UV lamps, and those work just peachy, thanks.   Fuck Stroheim forever.

And just like Dio and Straizo before, the Stone Mask digs bony protrusions into Kars’ brain, but this time the mask has the Super Aja powering it, so Kars stands to gain even more power, turning him into... what exactly?  

[love-and-monsters]

Faerie Circle

M Fae X GN Reader, 3,819 words

You were running from problems of your own design when fate plunged you into the capture of a Fae. But, despite this, he’s not as bad as he seems. 

You fled, your feet pounding against the rocky, treacherous terrain. Behind you, you could hear angry voices. you were lucky the rocks provided a decent amount of cover. There was no way you could have kept ahead of them without their help. You scrambled over and through them like a mountain goat, huddling between them and behind them.

One of your feet landed on a particularly loose section of rocks and you skidded. Your leg twisted underneath you and you landed sideways in the dirt. Stinging scratches ran up your side. Blood leaked slowly from the scrapes.

“Fuck!” You stretched your limbs awkwardly. One of your ankles ached. Groaning, you struggled to push yourself back up. You’d definitely done something to it. The damn thing was refusing to completely support your weight. And you could hear the angry people approaching from behind you.

Frantic, you used your arms to heave yourself up and behind a large outcropping of stone. You huddled behind it. Blood still dripped from your side and you slapped your hand to it. You hoped you hadn’t smeared a trail of it along the ground.

The crowd moved closer and closer. You pressed your back to the stones, sucking in a sharp breath. Closer… closer… They were practically on top of you. There was a moment of hurried searching. You held as still as you could, trying to not breathe.

The noise of the crowd began to fade, heading away from you. You let out a slow breath of relief. They were gone. They hadn’t seen you. You were safe.

You stood up, stretching your legs out. Your ankle protested, both with a creak and with a sharp sting of pain. Stretching out your limbs, you glanced around, trying to get a picture of your surroundings.

There was moss on all sides of you, you realized. You could only just see it under the pale light of the moon. It was a circle of moss that you’d been sitting inside of. And, you realized with a slow, dawning horror, there was a smear of your blood in the middle of it.

Panic pierced through you like a spear. You scrambled free of your hiding place, ignoring the stinging pain of your ankle. Some distant part of your brain recognized that there was no way running would help. If you’d left your blood in a fairy circle, they would find you wherever you went. But it was the only thing you could think to do.

Your run was more of a desperate limp, but you started back down the way you’d come. If the villagers you’d stolen from caught you, it was better than getting taken by the Fae. Humans you could deal with. You didn’t know what you would do with a Fae.

“Goodness, in a bit of a hurry, aren’t we?” A light, amused voice carried from somewhere in front of you. You skidded to a stop, staring into darkness. You could just make out the figure of a person, standing on the trail, between the stones. “Running like the devil himself is after you! Or-” And you could hear the sharp-toothed smile in his voice, “-perhaps the Fae?”

Oh, no. Oh, no, no, no.

He stepped forward and a shaft of moonlight illuminated his body. He was humanoid in shape, with deep brown skin and dark hair tied into a long, thin ponytail. From his forehead sprouted two thin antennae that twitched constantly in the moonlight. He had four arms that ended in hands with long, spindly fingers like insect legs. He seemed to be wearing some kind of cloak that trailed on the ground behind him.

“Don’t run,” the Fae said. He was grinning, his sharp teeth gleaming in the moonlight. “You’ll only exhaust yourself. There’s no way you can run from me.”

It was a foolish thing to do, but as he spoke, the panic that had been pooling inside you overflowed. You turned on your heels and, ignoring the stitch in your side and the pain in your leg, you ran.

For about a foot. And then you slammed into something warm and solid.

Long, spindly fingers gripped your shoulders. You looked up into the sharp-featured face of the Fae. “Where are you going?” he said, voice light with amusement. “I did already tell you that you couldn’t run from me. His eyes were pitch black, no iris or sclera. The longer you looked up into them, the less tethered you felt to reality. Looking into them felt like falling into an endless night sky. “Leaving your blood in a Faerie circle? Why, that’s just an invitation! You were practically asking to be taken by one of us!”

You tried to pull away from him, but he kept his firm grip on your shoulders. “Now, now, none of that. I’m getting awfully tired of chasing you down.” The cloak he was wearing shifted and you realized that it wasn’t a cloak at all. It was an enormous set of butterfly wings, draped around his shoulders. They unfurled fully, a pale, lunar green with enormous purple eyespots.

“Hold on tight,” he said. “I’d hate to drop you.”

He didn’t exactly take off, because that would suggest he rose into the air. This was more like he abruptly jerked sideways and suddenly the ground underneath you was gone and you were falling through darkness. The Fae was holding onto you, all four arms holding you securely against him.

Like breaking through a cloud bank, the darkness faded, revealing a great meadow dotted with trees. Little, glimmering sprites danced around it, providing just enough light to make out the ground, even in the night.

Atop a hill was a large house, sort of like the manors you were used to stealing from. There was a great garden in front of it, illuminated by more of the little sprites.

The Fae came to a gentle landing. As soon as he touched the ground, a host of servants emerged from the house and the garden, looking at him curiously. Some of them were clearly Fae, but several others looked like completely normal humans, down to their worn faces and mussed hair.

The Fae dumped you on the ground. You rolled, stumbling awkwardly. “You,” he said, pointing to one of the servants. “Assist this one inside. You.” A sharp finger stabbed out at another servant. “Attend me.”

The servant he’d addressed first scrambled to you and helped you to your feet. The other servant nodded shakily and followed him inside.

You scrambled to your feet, pulling away from the other servant. “What the hell is going on?”

“Shh!” she said, pressing a finger to her lips. “Come on. Let’s go inside and I’ll fill you in.”

You didn’t end up going into the huge mansion. Instead, you went to a house off to one side. It was smaller, and significantly less ostentatious. While the mansion was illuminated grandly, this house was steeped in shadow.

It wasn’t as awful on the inside as you were expecting. It was small, but there was a cozy feel to it. Several servants slept together, in a large pile of cushions and blankets.

“Welcome to the servants of Luminar,” the person who’d led you in said. “I’m Cocoon.”

You stared at her. “That’s your name?”

“It’s a nickname.” She gave you a look as though you were a little slow. “Don’t give out your name to anyone. Even if you think you know them. Not a good idea. Never know what’s listening in.”

She gestured around the room at large. “You’ll be living here for a year and a day. Standard serving contract. How’d he get you?”

You blinked at her slowly, comprehension dawning. “I bled in a Faerie ring.”

She winced. “Oof. I made a really stupid contract. Anyway, your job now is to do whatever he wants. You’ll probably work in the house, cleaning. It’s what most of the human servants do. I’ll show you around tomorrow. For now, get some rest. We have to be up early in the morning.”

Obviously, you didn’t sleep well that night.

The next day was a blur of cleaning and learning the rules. Don’t tell anyone your name, don’t be insulting, don’t eat any Faerie fruits. You learned quickly to be as blank as possible, never giving any cause for insult to the Fae who showed up at the house.

Your master, Luminar, the one who had captured you, was rarely seen for the first month. You caught only glimpses of him while cleaning, or at the parties he threw every week. He was polite to all his servants, you noticed. He didn’t allow for any slacking off and he demanded good work, but he was always nicer than you were expecting. Scolding was always mild, and he never grew angry at any mistakes. He seemed fairly even-tempered, something you were rather grateful for.

The first two months went by quickly. You found yourself sinking into an easy routine. The rules had become almost engrained and you didn’t need to focus on following them as much anymore.

That was your first mistake.

It was at one of the revels that you made your second mistake. You, along with several other servants, were required to act as waiters and attendants throughout the night. It was always a difficulty to work with the Fae. They were mercurial and, if you weren’t unfailingly polite, they would take offense. The rules they used to determine courtesy were strange, and seemed to change on a whim. Mostly, you tried to remain neutral and didn’t interact with the guests unless you were requested to. Not talking seemed to help, and they mostly lost interest with someone who wouldn’t rise to their bait after a few minutes.

That didn’t mean that they ignored you entirely, though. One late night, as you were passing a group of Fae amidst a party, they drew their attention to you. “Mortal!” one of them jeered. “You poor thing! Wouldn’t you like to join the fun?”

They were holding a pale golden fruit in their hand. Faerie fruit. The sort that dulled mortal senses and increased suggestibility. Humans danced themselves to death under the effects of the fruit, or did terrible things to please their masters.

The Fae who had jeered at you abruptly pulled their hand back and threw. You lifted a hand, automatically trying to catch the fruit, but it was mushy and splattered apart the second it made contact with your hand.

The scent that came from its juice was syrup sweet and your mouth watered automatically. If you’d been even a little bit more on guard, you would have recognized the temptation and hurried away to wash it off. But you had grown complacent and, barely realizing what you were doing, you lifted a hand to your mouth and sucked some of the juice off.

You had about a second to realize your mistake before your mind fogged over. A lightness entered your head. You smiled, your eyes unfocusing until the scene in front of you was a blur of green and golden lights. Your thoughts drifted in and out, like you were dreaming.

“Come dance with us!” The sharp, grinning Fae extended a hand toward you with a laugh. You giggled back as you took their hand. You couldn’t remember the last time you’d felt like this. Happy, content with the world. Everyone around you was so nice, so kind. They smiled and laughed with you as you danced, hands joined.

The world whirled around you, making the blurring affect even stronger. You were starting to feel dizzy, and the laughs were hurting you chest. Yet it was like being tickled. You couldn’t seem to stop. You didn’t want to stop. There was so much cheer around you. How could you stop and disappoint all your new friends?

“Little human!” one of the Fae called, and you stopped dancing to look at them. A new game, maybe? “Little human, come dance here, with me!”

You stepped forward, eager to comply. The Fae were dancing together, feet whirling over a bed of large, thick thorns. Their feet barely seemed to graze the points. They looked so beautiful, whirling and spinning, light as feathers. You stepped forward, moving to join them.

“What is going on here?” The voice was loud and thunderous, booming over the Fae. The dancing came to a stumbling stop. The looked so silly, all shocked and almost frightened. You giggled, shoulders shaking with the force of it. Distantly, you were aware that your stomach was starting to hurt.

Abruptly, you were spun around. Above you was your master, Luminar. He looked so pretty, all wreathed in light. You reached up absently, trailing your fingers along his cheek. “What have I told you about giving the mortal servants golden apples?” he snapped. He seemed angry. Why? Everything was so nice. So dreamy. “Come on. Use your legs.”

He was pulling you away. You were vaguely disappointed to be taken from the party, but you didn’t have the will to resist. You staggered inside, mostly supported by him, and allowed him to lead you up into a private room.

“Lie down.” You collapsed on the bed. The ceiling was twinkling with little lights.

“Stars!” you said, pointing eagerly at them. Luminar ignored you. He was toying with some little glass bottles in a drawer.

“Here. Drink.” He pressed something to your mouth. You obediently took a sip and choked. It was as salty as seawater and you struggled to spit it out. Still, some of it trickled down the back of your throat and even up your nose. As you coughed and spat, the fog in your head started to clear.

Abruptly, you didn’t see anything funny about the situation. Luminar was looking at you with his bright, pale green eyes, holding an empty vial. Your stomach muscles ached from laughing. The mix of salt water and Faerie fruit in your stomach churned uncomfortably.

“Better?” Luminar asked. You began to nod, then stopped.

“I- I’m going to-” Luminar lifted a bucket underneath your mouth and you retched into it.

Finally, you sagged back, gasping and groaning. Luminar lowered the bucket and looked down at you. There was something oddly kind in his gaze. “Feeling better?”

“Yes,” you said quietly. “I… Thank you.”

“Of course.” He nodded. “I will leave you here to sleep it off.” With that, he stood and swept out of the room, long wings tailing behind him. You sagged back onto the bed. In your mind’s eye, you could still see the gentle expression Luminar had worn on his face.

You woke, muzzy and with a throbbing headache, to the sound of someone entering the room. Luminar was standing in the doorway, holding a tray of food.

“I imagined you were hungry,” he said. “How are you feeling this morning?”

You sat up slowly. “I have a headache,” you admitted quietly. “But other than that, I’m all right.”

Luminar nodded. “Good.” He set the tray on the bed next to you. “Eat. Drink. Restore yourself.”

You had expected him to leave the room, but he merely sat on the bed next to you and watched as you chewed on a chunk of bread. You kept glancing at him as you ate. He stared absently into the middle distance, apparently unperturbed.

“Thank you,” you finally said after you had finished the breakfast. “For everything.”

He nodded his head just a little. There was silence for a few moments. You sipped slowly at the sweet juice he’d brought you. It was some kind of refined nectar, one of the few Faerie foods that humans could safely consume.

“You think I am cruel, don’t you?” The question surprised you. You looked up at him. He wasn’t looking at you, and there was something sad in his eyes, like he was exhausted and worn down just by living.

“Er,” you said. The Fae could be easily offended, and being honest and saying yes could induce him to fly into a rage. But lying was a serious offense as well. Luminar caught sight of your expression and his lips twitched into a small smile.

“I know you do. I don’t blame you for it. Humans think poorly of Fae. But we are constrained by different rules than you. We must abide by certain terms, fulfill balances. Humans are far freer than we are.” He looked down at you, eyes glimmering. “I never wanted to hurt any of you.”

With that, he stood and left the room, leaving you more confused and uncertain than you had ever been.

Life went back to normal after that, or as normal as if could be in the service of Luminar. He seemed to keep you away from other Fae after that, getting you to work inside whenever he had large parties. And you saw him more often. He would enter rooms you were working in and occasionally spoke to you if he saw you attending your duties. The relationship became something almost like a friendship.

After about six months in his service, you had formed what seemed to be a tentative companionship. You would speak to each other casually when you came across him, and while he still gave you orders, they felt generally less pushy. It was easy, at times, to forget that you were technically his servant.

“I didn’t want to own servants,” he said eventually. You’d started having regular conversations every day or so.

“Then how come you do?” you asked, brushing dust off a lamp. Luminar fluttered his wings, eyes glittering from the light.

“Remember what I told you about the rules that constrain Fae?” he asked. You nodded. “There are laws of balance. Your blood in the circle obliged me to respond. Knowingly or not, you gave me a part of yourself. I need to strike a bargain with that. In some aspects, allowing humans to work for me is one of the better deals to be struck. There are far worse things Fae can do to humans.”

“Just because it’s not terrible doesn’t mean it’s good,” you said. Luminar smiled, chest lifting with gentle laughter.

“I know. And I am sorry. A year and a day. Half over now, and then you will be able to leave.” He swept out of the room. You stared after him, an odd longing tightening your stomach.

In some aspects, leaving wasn’t really what you wanted. You had been a thief, running form one place to another when you were found out, and you were always found out. Working with Luminar gave you a sense of purpose. And in six months, you would be forced out.

You started researching. Long nights were spent in the library of Luminar’s enormous manor, trying to see how humans lived in the realm of Faerie. Few books told you anything of value. Humans came to Faerie when brought by Fae and were removed again once their contracts were up. When unprotected by such a contract, Faerie was dangerous for humans.

“Researching the realm?” Luminar’s deep voice sounded behind you and you whipped around. Luminar was standing over you, expression soft with curiosity. “I expected you to be in the servant’s house.”

“I wanted to do some research,” you said. “Is that all right?”

Luminar nodded. “Certainly.” He sat down next to you, waving his hands toward the light so they brightened. “What are you looking for?”

Staring into his face made your stomach flutter. The sharp, attractive planes drew your eye. You found yourself staring at his full lips, wondering how they would feel against your own.

Luminar felt the same way, because suddenly he was leaning toward you and you were leaning toward him and his lips were against yours and you were kissing. It sent tingles of excitement through your body and you brought your hands up to press your faces closer together.

Abruptly, Luminar leaned back, breaking contact. He brought a hand up to his lips. “We can’t.” His voice was hushed and trembling. He jolted to his feet, sending the chair scraping backward. “You’ll be back in the human world soon. We can’t.” He turned and hurried from the room, wings fluttering with agitation.

You stared after him for a moment, then turned back to your book. Suddenly, there was a new motivation for your studying.

Every night for weeks, you spent time in the library, reading. Luminar never came in again, but when you did encounter him in the halls, you could see the longing expression on his face. You kept dreaming about him, his mouth on yours.

There was little in the way of solutions, though. All of the contracts seemed to be bargains or deals struck. You weren’t sure what kind of deal you could make with Luminar, and you had nothing to bargain with.

Months passed. You grew more and more frantic, trying to find something, anything you could use. And then, finally, one month before your contract was up, you found something.

A contract between a Fae and a human, one that would allow a human to stay in Faerie as long as they wanted. It was exactly what you needed. But Luminar would need to agree to it.

You found him in his room. He looked startled when you came in. “I did say it wouldn’t be good for us to see each other, didn’t I?” he said. “Coming to my room is bold, but I-”

“I found something,” you said. “A contract that we can have together. One that will let me stay here.”

Luminar blinked, then looked down at the page you were indicating. “A lifemate contract?” he said. A smile quirked his lips. “Are you proposing to me?”

“It’s not necessarily a marriage contract,” you said. “It’ll allow me to stay. And we’ll be connected. I don’t want to go back. You don’t want it either. So if we use this contract, we can stay together.”

Luminar extended a hand to you. “It will bind us together,” he said. “There will always be a connection after this, even if you decide not to physically be with me. Are you all right with that?”

You nodded. “You’re a good person. It’s easy to love you. I’d be glad to be connected with you.”

Luminar smiled. “Then I extend my own hand to you, my dear one, and I allow this contract to be formed. May our hearts be as one and may this vow bind us.”

You reached out, touching his hand with yours. “I take your hand and accept the contract. Our hearts will be one and we will be bound.”

You felt the magic pull, but it paled under the feeling of Luminar leaning into you and pressing a crushing kiss to your lips.

[itcamefromthetoybox]

Like Nic Cage’s “Ghost Rider,” But Good

Welcome to week 2 of SKELETOR MONTH! All this month, we’re looking at Skeletor toys from the 2021 Netflix “He-Man and the Masters of the Universe” cartoon, because nothing screams “2020-2022” like a skull-faced, evil sorcerer. For this week, we’re looking at a Skeletor who’s clearly realized he needs some way to get around Eternia other than making his minions carry him. Let’s dive into “Skeletor and Panthor!”

Back in the days of 80’s “He-Man,” Skeletor had his own large cat to fight He-Man’s buddy/ride Battle Cat, a black panther named… “Panthor.” Ok, well, were you expecting a creative name from the skull-faced guy who named himself “Skeletor?” In the new series, Battle Cat is around, but there’s no Panthor, sadly. However, the toyline had some thoughts on that.

For the toyline tie in to the show, there’s a line of figures that each come with a motorcycle. The figures themselves are straight repaints of the ones that are sold individually, but the vehicles are all new. For Skeletor’s motorcycle, the toy developers based the design off Panthor, and even named it “Panthor.” Not “Panthor Cycle,” not “Motor Panthor,” it’s just “Panthor.” So I guess in this version, Panthor’s a sentient panther/motorcycle, and that is such a cool concept that I am instantly enamored with it.

Before we get to that, though, we have to very briefly talk about Skeletor. He’s the exact same figure I reviewed last week, just in new colors. Honestly, I don’t like the new colors. I LOVE THEM! The new colors look really great, and give a huge “evil warlord” vibe. Skeletor’s cloak is a very nice royal purple, with his armor, skull, and bone hand being a nice shade of yellow that gives the impression Skeletor should be glowing. Most of his body is black, which makes it appear that he’s actually wearing clothing to fight He-Man in. I guess some things started to chafe last time. Skeletor’s staff is a very dark purple, which, again, works very well for the figure. The design honestly makes me think of a goth nightclub, and now I need “Anime Con Rave He-Man” to go with this figure, whom I have dubbed “Goth Party Skeletor.”

Skeletor’s “Player 2″ colors.

Panthor looks great. He looks like a sci-fi motorcycle, like something you’d see in a 90’s/80’s Cyberpunk movie in the bad part of town, being driven by the villain. So pretty much a throwback to that weird trend of giving characters custom motorcycles that was all the rage in toys for a bit. His green wheels look like they should glow, but sadly don’t, though they do look awesome, and so much of him has cat details sculpted in. The front of the bike has a snarling panther head, and there’s soft plastic claws on his sides. It really sells the idea that this bike is in fact a panther that has been transformed into a sick bike.

Honestly, this is the coolest damn motorcycle ever.

Panthor’s handle bars are adjustable, so you can make them easier for Skeletor to hold onto, or fold them out of the way for when you just want to play with him on his own. He also has one very nice detail that I just go nuts for: a storage spot for Skeletor’s staff! In my last review, not having a spot for the staff was one of my few complaints, and this toy solves it. There’s a hole in the back of the bike that Skeletor’s staff slides into, which also gives the bike an antenna with a ram’s head.

Everything about this excites my inner child and my inner goth.

Ok, I’m done gushing. I do actually have a big complaint about this toy: it doesn’t do anything. It looks like it should glow in the dark, or have a pull back motor, or something, but it doesn’t have anything. It looks cool and it’s fun to drive Skeletor around on it, but don’t expect more. On the other hand, it’s a panther motorcycle, and that is pretty damn great.

This is a pretty neat toy for kids, but if you have to choose between this Skeletor and last week’s, go with that one and save some money. As much as I love the bike, the lack of any features other than wheels that work and a sick design means I don’t feel great about the starting price of $20. Get the single Skeletor, and then you can use the savings to also grab He-Man for him to fight! This is JL signing off and wishing you Happy Toy Hunting!

[rainbow-beanie]

Fanart for @dana-chan-the-control-brain ‘s fanfic tech support: chapter 4 weasel words

 The Computer was broken from his thoughts at the sound of high pitched shrieking. His cameras and processors devoted his attention to the distressed little irken in the experiment room. Who was being attacked by the very same weasels he was experimenting with. Apparently, Weasels did not take kindly to having sleep hypnosis parasites planted in their brains.

Zim ran and shrieked and flailed his arms as the little furry creatures crawled all over him, slathering him with bites, claw marks and laser eyes. A quick scan confirmed that these weasels did not have rabies, they were just angry. VERY angry. And aside from Zim’s panicking and mild bleeding from the bites he appeared unharmed. He was just freaking himself out, making the weasels angrier. He was going to seriously hurt himself if this kept up. Even if it was, admittedly, hilarious to watch.

The Computer wordlessly opened up the weasel containment unit without a verbal command.

“Master, contain the weasels in here.”

Zim then slammed the glass door to the containment unit shut. Panting heavily.

Zim peeled one of the weasels off his face, and threw it in the containment unit. He did the same for the one biting underneath his leggings and two others that were chomping down on his antenna and leg respectively.

“Wheeeeeeeeew… ha… that was a close onnnnAUGHHHH!!!”

Zim reached a new octave as he realized he didn’t notice the weasel clinging to his PAK, that had begun clawing the shell, causing a port to open up and began nibbling on wires to it’s heart’s content.

“AHH! NO NONONONONONONONONO!!! GET OUT OF THEREEEE!”

Zim tried to reach behind his back but instead he squeaked and convulsed as his eyes rolled back and his antenna twitched. He spun around in a circle and fell to the floor, before leaning back upright with his bodyweight only. Jerking and moving in an unnatural way. As if he didn’t have control of his own limbs. His arms and legs behaved like noodles as if the weasel was hosting the world’s worst grotesque puppet show. Zim’s tongue rolled out his mouth as his PAK began flashing red as a warning.

Now this was something the Computer WOULD intervene with. A robotic arm descended from the ceiling and snatched the weasel off Zim’s back, and threw it in the containment unit unceremoniously, crashing it into all it’s other bite-happy brethren before sealing them up again.

Zim fell to the ground, moaning and twitching.

Was he alright?

The Computer ran a scan of Zim’s current state. Specifically his PAK. He cross-compared reference to the scan he took on the first day Zim arrived to Earth. He didn’t have time to go over Zim’s PAK data in depth yet. Between GIR’s food experiments and Zim’s animal experiments, he had a feeling he'd be in pretty high demand over the weekends.

“Master,” The Computer began, speaking in an authoritative neutral voice. “Some nerve ending wiring for your arm control nerve is frayed along with your limb systems and several other nerve wirings. I'll plug in and begin an automatic PAK repair as soo-”

“NO!” Zim shrieked, far more panicked then the Computer ever heard him, and that was saying a lot judging by how jumpy he was.

“N-No.” Zim stammered, shakily getting to his feet, swaying where he stood. “There’s no need for an automatic PAK repair… I can do it myself.”

“......I… what? Are you sure? You can barely stand right now.. And your arms are very limp and...shaking....” The Computer couldn’t help but say aloud.

“Ah, Don’t worry, it’s just a little scratch and some loose wires, it’s fine!” Zim extended his PAK legs to walk to the PAK repair work station, as opposed to walking on his little organic legs that were trembling like jelly. Thankfully, that part of his PAK was undamaged as he was able to extend and use his PAKlegs no problem.

“...With all due respect, Master…” the Computer began as Zim leaned his body against the console, trying to figure out how to word what he would say next. “I don’t believe in your current condition that you would be able to repair your PAK manually.”

For a moment, Zim said nothing. He didn’t snap at him immediately like he normally did. Which worried him. He just leaned his head against the console, closing his eyes for a few moments.

“....Master?”

“EH!?” Zim’s antenna shot upwards and he looked confused. As if he wasn’t talking to him a few seconds ago.

That was very worrisome.

“Let me repair your PAK.” The Computer said in the most soft and stern voice he could muster.

Zim’s antenna twitched, as he realized what the Computer was asking.

“Eh.. Ah, no, don’t worry about it! I’m FINE!”

Before the Computer could argue his reasoning some more, Zim turned around so he could face the workbench and detached his PAK onto the work station. The PAK extended a few extra port wires and crawled onto the bench obediently, apparently used to this type of repair from its host. The lifeclock in the Computer’s systems activated, displaying the ten minute time limit in the center screen of every single camera in the home. A normal precaution so Invader Computers were currently aware when the PAK was attached to their Master and if they were at any risk of dying.

Zim arched his back and gave a long stretch that cracked his spine. He took a deep breath as he flexed his arms and claws, and began blinking each eye separately at a time and flexing his antenna individually from each other. The Computer observed him for a few moments. He consulted his database to see if such behavior was common for irkens who performed manual PAK repair. Oddly, there weren’t many instances of manual PAK repair operated by the irken host itself. PAK maintenance drones would repair other irkens typically, but not themselves. Invaders were trained in basic first aid, due to the nature of their job. They had to spend long quantities of time alone, and basic wear and tear maintenance was expected in their line of work.

A few chewed off wires however, that’s a different story.

“...Are you sure you know what you’re doing?” The Computer began hesitantly, suspecting that Zim had no clue what he was tampering with. He can never know with him.

Zim flexed his claws a few more times before he seemed satisfied, and he grabbed the wielding tool from overhead.

“Huh-hmm.” Zim said plainly. “This kinda thing happens all the time.”

“...You…. your wires get chewed out by weasels all the time?” The Computer asked.

“Yes! Well, no. Well.. I just mean… ya know… trainee combat and all that.”

Invader training combat?.... Zim had his wires yanked out of him before? The Computer suspected that was highly unlikely. Due to the nature of an irken’s PAK, and how they held most of an irken’s consciousness and served as a secondary brain to work alongside their primary one, PAKs were strictly off limits from attacking. Especially during training and simulations. In fair duels one of the main rules is to not mess with a fellow irken’s PAK. Everything else is fair game. Punch them in the eye, yank their antenna or grind the heel of their boot into the spooch. Attacking or tampering with an Irken’s PAK is strictly forbidden and would cause low marks and demerits, and in extreme cases, re-encoding.

“...How does that happen?” The Computer couldn’t stop himself from asking.

“Ah, oh ya know how training is..” Zim said distractedly as he began welding and repairing the loose wires. “Stomping or yanking of the PAK to see how long I can last, throwing it back and forth amongst the Elites, hitting it a bit with the brunt of the electro spears a bit too hard…that’s just how it goes. All normal endurance training for only the most elite of the elite.”

…….He was kidding? Right?

"Like this one time during training, my PAK was yanked off and my fellow soilders wanted to see how long I could last, and that skilled Invaders are able to survive past the ten minute mark. Well, my record is about three minutes till. So we waited. They kept it away from me a little bit past my record, one minute was cutting it a little close, but we all had a good laugh about it."

He wasn’t kidding.

“They are just testing to make sure I have the right endurance! They obviously were testing my durability and enguitity! I had to learn a few things about PAK repair if I wanted to complete my Invader training! A few dents and dings like this is nothing.”

.....

The Computer immediately pulled up any information he had based on Zim’s training days as an Elite. He couldn’t find any documented evidence that his fellow elites had bullied him like this, but he did notice the peers he was typically stationed with at the time.

ELITE RED:

SKILLED TACTICIAN AND IMPRESSIVE COMBAT SKILLS

HIGHLY FAVORED BY FORMER ALL MIGHTY TALLEST MIYUKI

CURRENT STATUS: ALL MIGHTY TALLEST RED

ELITE PURPLE

RUTHLESS NO MERCY APPROACH TO COMBAT.

TOP SCORES IN STEALTH

CURRENT STATUS: ALL MIGHTY TALLEST PURPLE

That….

That can’t be right.

That would be impossible.

Logical evidence would suggest that these two were the ones that would purposely mess with Zim’s PAK to give him clear and unfair advantages. However, the Tallest are all powerful and all knowing in their judgements. They wouldn’t have become the Tallest if they were breaking the rules as elites. Even then, while Zim was the runt of his squad, he didn’t deserve such treatment. Either Zim did not know of the protocols or he thought that it was a standard part of training.

But… Zim had to be lying? Right? I mean he’s defective, who knows what crazy thinks?

That’s what the Computer wanted to think. But watching Zim calmly and accurately repair his PAK as if it was normal routine for him suggested otherwise. He’s been at it for about a minute now.

“...Master.” The Computer said lowly and softly, lowering the probability of startling him.

“Hmmm?” Zim responded, laser-focused on his task.

“How are your hands so steady…. You were flailing around with limp arms not to long ago… and your PAK is still damaged.”

Zim blinked up from his work, pausing for a moment before he gave a soft chuckle. It was unlike when Zim laughed loudly to assert his dominance. It was squeaky and soft.

“Silly Computer!” Zim chuckled and he got back to work.

“...Uhhhhh..”

Zim snickered to himself. “You’re a machine, so I don’t expect you to get it.”

What? What was so funny?

“My PAK has been damaged.” Zim then pointed towards his temple. “Not my ORGANIC brain.”

“....I …..”

“Once the PAK is detached, my biological shell draws resources from the organic brain. The nerve endings in those are FINE. It’s the PAK that’s the problem.”

The Computer considered this. While what Zim was saying was true, most irkens didn’t tend to view themselves as a disconnect to their PAK. It was a level of heightened awareness not many had achieved. If an iken’s PAK was damaged, it was common they would still experience pain once it was detached. There were many reports of a PAK being damaged, the PAK thinking that it’s host has broken a leg, and once the PAK was removed, the irken biological shell would still feel as if their leg is broken. Only PAK technicians had this level of understanding on how the PAK brain and organic brain co-exist together.

“You know, for an Irken super Computer, you’re not that smart if you forgot how PAKs work.” Zim snickered.

Oh that little…

“I have not!” The Computer huffed. “Just seeing this level of competence from you is shocking.”

“I know, I know. I am truly amazing!” Zim beamed. Apparently not absorbing the Computer’s insult. Probably for the best.

“Now silence! I need to concentrate.”

The Computer remained silent as he watched Zim work. Zim's hands worked efficiently at a pace that showed he was comfortable making these types of repairs.

Even so, an automatic repair would be faster and more efficient. The Computer took into consideration the stress patterns in his voice and heart rate when he thought he needed an automatic repair. In addition to his reluctance to being scanned or his PAK being scanned.

…...So, he knew he was defective then?

That had to be the logical conclusion. Only Defectives tended to get nervous about PAK fiddling or PAK repair. Although, observing his Master's hands, Zim had no qualms with repairing himself. Due to his intense focus and efficiency, it could almost be described as therapeutic for him.

Then was it the Computer himself he was afraid of?

There was still too much insufficient data for him to make a logical conclusion at the moment. But he will take Zim's comfort in mind when he eventually needs to consult him about PAK and biological repair in the future. Because let's face it, Zim will hurt himself again.

/////////////////////////////

this part made me very emotional, and also made me hate the tallest even more

[shadowofthelamp]

Partners

Swap Zim and Dib decide to work together. Technically a direct sequel to this thing that was posted a year and a half ago. Like, comments, and reblogs all super appreciated!

Wordcount: 1800

Warnings: Mentions of Dib experimenting on people, I guess?

Zim woke up strapped to a lab table that smelled so strongly of blood that he almost threw up. (Which was quite an accomplishment, considering it wasn’t like Zim was a stranger to animal test subjects, or even getting himself injured.) It took him a few seconds to remember why he was strapped to a bloody lab table, but hearing the familiar voice frantically muttering next to him helped.

“Come on, I need to kill him, but it’s Zim, I like Zim, I don’t want to kill him, but he’s a threat to the mission, I can’t upset my Tallest or the Professor, but maybe I could just wipe his memory...”

That voice was Dib. Dib, the stalker who had turned out to be a real live alien. Dib, the kid (was he a kid?) who must have strapped him to a table.

_____

It had started out pretty easy- he’d already known where Dib lived from the one time Dib had dragged him there when they’d both gotten caught in an explosion and he’d wanted to help patch Zim up. All Zim had to do was use a taser to short out the electric fence and some hacking to get in the front door once he found the security frequency they were using.

It was child’s play, although it wasn’t like it would be easy for anybody else. Zim was special. He was always special, always better than everyone else. Dib had seen that. As annoying as he got at times, Zim was glad that at least he was annoying because he liked Zim.

However, things had started to go south as soon as he got inside the front door. There was a chubby little pig perched right next to it, and it sniffed at him before its eyes lit up bright red.

“STATE YOUR BUSINESS.”

“You talk?” It looked like a regular pig to him, usually talking animals were a lot clunkier and more robotic-looking.

“IRRELEVANT. STATE YOUR BUSINESS, HUMAN.”

“Seeing Dib.”

“NONE MAY PASS.” The pig jolted up on two legs, and Zim noticed a small zipper on its belly only moments before the pig grasped at it, yanking it down and ripping off its- costume? It didn’t look like any fabric Zim had ever seen- to reveal a silvery robot with burning red eyes. A dozen weapons, mostly guns and knives, popped out from its head, and Zim couldn’t bite back a yelp as he fumbled in his backpack for his own laser gun.

“I know how to use this thing, you know!”

“ANY THREAT TO THE MISSION AND TO MASTER GAZ MUST BE ELIMINATED.” 

Zim squeezed the trigger, but the robot- okay, it moved way too fast for a robot that size, Zim’s tended to blow up if they tried any fancy acrobatics, but this one flipped out of the way, his laser blasting a hole in the wallpaper instead. 

He took half a second to breathe before squeezing the trigger again and swinging it around, burning a line through the wall and couch before hitting the robot and getting a metallic shriek out of it as it lunged for him, pinning him down by the shoulders and making him drop his laser.

“ELIMINATED. ELIMINATED. ELMINATED.”

“Release Zim!” Zim kicked up and heard a metallic crack before he rolled to the side, thankful for those self-defense classes he’d taken as the robot plunged about fifteen knives into the spot where his head had been half a second ago. The red eyes narrowed at him before activating rockets in its feet, and Zim ducked as it swung with a giant mallet from its head. He dropped to the floor, fumbling for the laser and swinging it around to take another shot at the thing. 

The gun managed to blast one of the arms off, but that sure as hell made it mad considering he didn’t have time to dodge the second swing of the mallet. He saw stars for half a second before there was nothing at all.

_____

“Dib,” Zim croaked, head feeling rather like it was full of rats that had thrown a dance party inside his skull and left a mess all over the cerebral cortex. 

“But this is a perfect opportunity for some experiments, you wanted that, didn’t you Dib- huh?” Dib looked up from muttering to himself.

Or rather, the alien did. It was still wearing Dib’s trademark goggles that looked heavy enough to weigh his head down with lenses too dark to see anything underneath, but its skin was an even darker shade of green, and it had a pair of twitchy antennae. No nose, no ears, and it had donned a full-on labcoat that was soaked in a whole lot of red and black stains. He’d always kind of figured aliens were real somewhere out there, but seeing it... it was like reality had tilted a little to the left. There were more pressing matters than a crisis about aliens existing anyhow, and Zim was pretty good at repressing things he didn’t like.

It sounded like Dib, though, and the way it fussed with its hands was the same with two fingers and one thumb on each, same as Dib. ‘Machine accident’, his ass. 

“You’re awake?”

“Y-yes, I’m awake. Could you let me go?” His voice came out sickly-sweet and polite, like he was talking to the counselor again to convince her that he was fine.

Dib-alien shook his head. “I’m afraid not. I really would like to, but you know too much. Protocol is pretty clear- dispose of or brainwash all witnesses when the planet is marked for conquest. But brainwashing knocks out a lot of the intelligence, and that would be such a waste, wouldn’t it?”

“Yes, yes it would,” Zim agreed. “So let me off with a warning?”

Dib folded his arms. “Nope. But the fact that you actually held your own against a SIR unit for a full minute as a smeet- and one that I modified to be extra aggressive- just tells me that you’re still useful as a specimen.”

“Hey, I’m not a- a- smeeb!”

“Smeet, child, baby, whatever term it is you humans use.” Dib waved a dismissive hand, stalking closer and looming over Zim. His eyes were a deep, electric blue like an unsucked sour candy, and Zim squirmed under the restraints. “That table is where most of my previous experiments died, and I don’t want you to just be number thirty-six, you know?”

“Thirty-six? Thirty-six what?”

“Oh, this and that. Humans are good for experiments, they’re very determined to survive so you don’t have to use as many.”

“Well, so is Zim.” Zim tried to twist away, but something metallic erupted from Dib’s backpack like a dozen sharp insectoid legs, propelling him up onto the lab table before he dropped directly on Zim’s chest, driving the wind out of him.

“I’m well aware. You’re already a survivor, aren’t you?” He ticked off on his fingers, alien butt shifting on top of Zim a bit to get comfortable. “Barely any parental supervision, yet you create machines and work on biological experiments that are beyond the capability of most humans three times your age. You almost get blown up often and yet walk away from it. You’re an anomaly.” Dib leaned closer, and Zim could taste the sugar on his breath. “I like anomalies.”

Zim attempted to buck Dib off to no avail as he continued. “Find the exception and you’ll have found the thing of most interest, the thing that makes or breaks a species. The outlier the proves the rule, and you’re a human that behaves like an irken, showing just how far ahead of the rest of your species you are. According to my research, they’re going to burn when Gaz decides what to do with this place if they don’t destroy each other before she gets around to it, but I just might keep you as a pet.”

“Zim is no pet!” Even with little oxygen left in his lungs, Zim shouted, snarling up at Dib with his lip curled. “Earth may be terrible, but it’s mine, so back off!”

“Oh? So you agree that Earth is terrible?” Dib tilted his head to the side, one of those long antennae twitching, and Zim narrowed his eyes.

“You’re not very good at research, are you? Of course it is! But it’s mine, and I don’t want any buggy alien getting his sticky hands all over it!”

“It’s not exactly up to me,” Dib replied, hearing the wheeze in Zim’s voice and sliding off his chest to the table itself, and Zim sucked in a deep breath, feeling the air reinflate his squashed lungs. “Gaz is the one who’s actually invading, I’m just here to study the planet in case there’s anything useful. You’re a pre-contact planet, or at least that’s what’s logged, so this place is a treasure trove of undiscovered species. I’m trying to convince Gaz to at least set up a preserve so I can study some of them once she’s done with the invasion.”

“Are you even listening to me? I told you to bug off! Leave me and Earth alone!”

“I’m listening, but I told you, it’s not my call. Even if it was... you said it yourself, Earth is terrible. It would be far more useful to the Empire as a sugar-harvesting operation, or a zoo, or something else. Humans don’t really deserve to be in charge, they’re just going to blow themselves up eventually.” Dib shrugged.

“If I was in charge, you wouldn’t say that,” Zim muttered, and Dib’s antenna twitched again.

“What did you say?”

“I said, if I was in charge, you wouldn’t say that. I bet if everybody listened to me, you’d take that back. I’m a human and I know I could fix everything.”

Dib stared at him for a solid ten seconds, and Zim wasn’t sure he hadn’t spontaneously kicked the bucket. Did aliens do that? “You’re a genius. You’re a genius!” 

“Of course I am, but why?”

Dib smacked his hands on Zim’s cheeks, squishing his mouth in like a goldfish. “Of course, how didn’t I see it before? Your potential is stifled by the fact that you only have access to tools that you create, but if we worked together, you could help us because you have intimate knowledge of humanity, and I could help you by giving you limited access to my technology! We could be lab partners- I wouldn’t have to kill you, and you can help reshape your species for a better future!”

Zim blinked. “Does this mean you aren’t going to do horrible experiments on me?”

“I can’t promise that, but I’m not going to kill you right now.”

“Good enough for me!” Zim tried to shake Dib’s hand, before realizing that he was still restrained to the table. Dib leaned over, hitting a button just next to Zim’s head, and the restraints popped off. Zim rubbed his wrists for a moment as he sat up, mind still whirling.

This was a chance to fix everything, to make things the way that they should be.

“So, you won’t kill all humans, and you’ll give me access to cool tech.”

“I’ll consider your input on that, and I’ll give you access to cool tech.” Dib nodded, taking Zim’s hand, and a slow grin spread across Zim’s face.

“Then lead the way, Dib-thing.”

[oh-sweet-mama]

𝐑𝐞𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐥𝐞

T.W: !!TROS spoilers!! !!long!!, Sex, swearing, slight angst, I created a new term to fit into the story.

Y/n 

"Help! Get medics!" Rey stumbled out of the falcon. People ran. They screamed. Voices collided together in the air. I needed a glimpse. Just a mere few seconds. His face- the memory was fuzzy.

My Ben was home. My heart throbbed. I remembered how he left me. He became Kylo Ren, the Jedi killer. Yet here he was, with a Jedi. Surrounded by Jedis. Rey, Finn, and Poe carried him out on a stretcher.

A tear slipped from my eye.

"Take care of my son." Admiral Leia begged.

"I will- I will I promise." I sob, holding her hand. Tears flowed down my face. It felt like my mother was dying before me. My body shook. Tremered with pain and loss.

There I saw him, clutching his side as he lay on the stretcher. His tunic was torn, and his was face beat up. Rey ran by his side, yelling incoherent things to him, holding his face.

I felt a twinge of jealousy. Storming off to my ship I board it. Punching a wall, leaving a dent, and knocking down several plants. Scattering dirt across the floor.

"You ok y/n?" Sallow asked. Swallowing a lump in my throat, I nodded silently. Plopping down on a couch to try to choke down my tears. "What's wrong Y/n/n?"

I shook my head. Smashing my fist down on the table. Accidentally breaking a chunk off.

"Now now! Watch the ship! I have to fly this thing!" Sallow tries to calm me down. I laugh.

"Thanks Sallow." I say wiping my tears.

Beep! Boop! Trill!

"Hey SB-3." I pat the small robots head. The droid climbs up my arm, gently nuzzling my head. (BD-1 anyone??).

"Master Y/l/n your presence is requested on the bridge."

"See you later Sallow" I say getting up. Fist bumping the captain.

——

"Come young Padawan, new experience to show you." The boy nodded.

Swiping on the small electronic pad, I read the letter Admiral Leia had left me. I kept my tears at bay the best I could.

Waking briskly down the halls, my Padawan at my side, I took long strides hoping to arrive quickly.

"Where are we going Master Y/l/n?" The teenage boy asked.

"Admiral Leia asked us to escort her son, Master Rey, admiral Poe, and General Finn around camp, ensuring their safety, as they settle into the base, before she-" I bit my lip at the end of my sentence (She sounds like a female Obi-Wan).

We turned a corner, walking into a smaller control room.

We both bowed, bending at the waist. Showing upmost respect for the 'upperclassmen'.

I looked up. Seeing Ben and Rey both sitting together on a couch. Finn and Poe were talking to each other around a map table.

"Good to see you master Y/l/n," Poe bowed, "now would you like to review the map of the new base?"

"Yes of course Admiral, please call me y/n, no need for such tittles." I chucked. We stood around a blue glowing hologram. Showing all of the terrain, structures, and mechanics.

I felt a lingering stare. Unsure of who it was.

Suddenly my padawan leaned into my ear. "Obi-Wan Kenobi is at fault for the rise of Darth Vader." He whispered.

I whirled around. Within seconds the padawans head hit the floor. Sparks popped. Wires and bolts hit the floor.

The force shriveled his lightsaber, biding to my anger. Crushing the Kyber crystal into dust.

I turned back around, putting my lightsaber back on to my belt. The blood stained the edges of my robes.

Silence echoed around the room.

"Another one." I state nonchalantly pain cracking in my voice. Poe looked disheartened. He had taken a liking to Padawan Joshuk.

"Why- why did you kill him?" Ben choked out.

"He was apart of a rising evil in the galaxy. They're robots- or part of one. The first order kidnaps a child, implant prosthetics into them, then sends them out to kill. They are next to try to wipe the galaxy of all force sensitive people, users, and- me." I say.

I was frustrated and annoyed. My heart was being crushed by every passing second.

Ben doesn't remember me, since he is blinded by his love for Rey.

"Listen to me," Ben tilted my chin up to look at him. "I'll love you forever, no matter who I meet, who I become, or what happens."

"I love you Ben, please- please don't leave!" I crash into his chest, sobbing.

"I'll never be truly gone my love, I'll always be by your side, I promise."

The academy burned down,

Luke was gone,

Ben was gone,

Kylo Ren rose,

Ben Solo fell.

I hit my fist on the side of the map table. The light flickered.

"Where do these kids keep coming from?" I think aloud.

"I don't know, but however their being turned, we need to find out a way to stop it." Finn said.

"I spoke to Master Qui-Gon today, he told me many stories of young padawans and force sensitive individuals. Though he's never seen anything of this before." I explain.

"Wait how could you talk to Qui-Gon?" Rey got up in my face. She smelled of sweat and blood.

"Master- Qui-Gon. I am a kosmker. Meaning 'world between worlds walker'," I scan the table looking at the map of camp. Studying infer structure and mechanics.

"I've never heard of that." Ben said behind me. His voice was muffled.

He thinks I'm a murder.

A tear falls from my face. A hand rests on my shoulder. Knowing who it was I didn't panic.

"He doesn't think you're a murder y/n, he's afraid of who he was. My Ben,0  thinks he's a monster. He still loves you Y/n/n."

I shake my head. Letting the tears flow freely. I couldn't hold it back any longer. Poe rubbed my shoulder. Me and him had gotten close.

"I'm sorry," I breathed trying to stop myself from crying. "She's-"

"I know- I know." Poe tried to comfort me. I could hear the pain in his voice.

I took a breath and cleared my throat.

"My apologizes." The room was quiet. "It would be my honor to show you around camp, however Master Ben and Master Rey have had a cruel day, I can show them to their personal quarters, whilst showing admiral Poe and General Finn around camp in depth."

"That would be great y/n." Poe smiled at me. I nodded.

I held the doors open for them.

Boop! Beep! Trill!

"Aw your antenna is bent." I bent the droids antenna back. Earning a happy trill in response. "This is SB-3 everyone, everyone SB-3."

————

"Here is your quarters, Master Ben." I escorted Ben to his room. I had already dropped Poe, Finn, and Rey off.

"Wait, Y/n/n-" Ben grabbed my arm.

"How-" I stumbled on my words.

"I'm sorry- I'm sorry for leaving you- I-" Bens voice cracked, his brown eyes became glassy. I opened the door to his personal quarters. Taking him gently by the hand, I lead him in.

"It's ok Master Ben, you'll be fine, with time, rest, and care." I said to him, leading him over to his bed.

"Please- don't call me Master- I don't even deserve that tittle." He cries.

"Sorry- well I think you deserve the world- Ben." I tell him, trying to be transparent.

"I remember you Y/n/n- I never- ever forgot you- even for a second. I never ever-" he sobbed.

"I saw you and Rey- I felt a connection-" I croaked.

"I know- I know- you- I've realized why the force brought me and Rey together! It wanted- it needed me to find you!" Ben said, he was almost desperate to get his point across. "I love you Y/n/n- I've never stopped loving you ever- I need you! You've held me together all of these years."

Tears were pouring down his face. Pieces of his hair was sticking to his face where he wiped his tears.

I got closer to him. Taking his face into my hands. I wiped my thumb pads over his face wiping the warm tears off his face.

"you love me Ben Solo?" I asked, anxiety rising in my chest. It was almost suffocating me.

"Yes, I'll never stop loving you- ever." He cried.

He hooked an arm around my waist. Pulling me into him. I was thrown back to that night.

"I love you Ben please- please don't leave."

"I love you Ben please- please don't leave." I sobbed.

He held me tighter.

"I never left, I was always by your side, but I'll never leave now." He sobbed into my stomach. I pulled back letting my hair out of the buns on my head.

I tried to get out of his grip. I needed to leave, he was destined to be with Master Rey- not me.

"Don't leave- please don't leave-." He cried.

"Let's get you some new clothes and cleaned up ok Ben." I tried to soothe him.

He nodded still holding onto me like a toddler. I pulled away grabbing his hand. I started the shower. Finding soft scented soaps, and fluffy towels. A fresh set of clothes, just laundered and still warm sat folded on the counter for him.

"Ben," I cooed out to him. "Ben, the water is warm."

I ducked my head out of the bathroom to find the man. I scanned the room.

"Ben?" I was starting to get worried. I heard the door click and he walked in. "Oh there you are. The water is ready for you Ben."

He nodded silently. He wouldn't face me.

"Y/n”

"Please Ben just-" I sighed that was his nick name for me, "just call me y/n- please."

He was ripping my heart out and stomping on it every time he called me 'Y/n/n”

"y/n- where's my mom? I heard her call out to me on exogol. Where. Is. She?" He begged. Distressed.

"Ben- shes- gone, one with the force. She asked me to take care of you. I held her hand-" I choked. "I uh- I have to go-"

I pushed passed him. The hurt. the pain. It was to much. I sped off to my ship. Boarding it. Slamming the door to the private quarters. SB-3 jumped off my shoulder to his work area.

He had found a droid similar to his model on a recent planet we had visited. The still room often was filled with sounds of sparks and metal clanking softly.

I kicked my boots off my feet and tore my robes off my shoulders. Pulling my comforter over my body I tried to hide from the reality of my life.

I let silent tears flow down my face. Curling the knees closer to my chest I tried to drown my breaking heart.

Be-beep-

I looked up. The other droid SB-3 had been working on slowly started to power up.

"SB! You did it!" I whispered out to him.

Soft trills and beeps bounced off the walls from the communicating droids.

I dozed off. Hurt, pain, and loss consuming me.

———

Knock Knock!

"Kid! Come out here please- I know you're not doin' to good- but just please come join us-" sallows muffled voice called from the other side of my door.

I sat up. My head spinning and white stars danced in my vision.

Slumping on the couch, I scan the room for Sallow.

"Ben?" I ask.

"Yes- I- I cant be without you! Please-" he begs me.

I rub my eyes.

"Let's go back to your quarters it's- quieter."

"Ok- here take my hand I don't want to lose you." Ben cooed at me.

I felt my heart flutter. Ben played with the ring on my finger.

I swam through the crowd of the celebrating resistance. Ben had laced his fingers into mine. I could feel the force oddly connecting us. Past Jedi's were murmuring incoherent words and phrases into my ears.

We slipped into the private quarters section of the inside base. Ben punched in his room pin. The door unlocked with a click.

I took a seat on the desk chair across from his bed.

Ben sat on his bed. Looking up at him, my vision cleared and, fully awake, i take in details of his appearance.

He was built like a warrior- a weapon. His tall frame was with padded with muscle. His hair was longer than I had remembered. Still it beautifully framed his face. Which had a few cuts and bruises. Though i noticed his tear stained face, rosy cheeks, and red nose.

"So how are you feeling?" I asked trying to break the silence floating around in the room.

"Better? It's different here, I guess. Loud- yet quiet?" He tried to explain his new surrounding. I chuckled lowly. "That ring- I gave it to you didn't I?"

"Yes, right before you left- you got down on one knee- and proposed your love for me." I sniffled "I've never taken it off- all these years."

Ben stood walking over to me and wrapping his arms around me. I snaked my arms around his neck, holding on with the desire to never let go. Suddenly my back hit his mattress.

Confusion stormed my emotions. He left my lips. Hungrily kissing down my jaw and onto my neck. Leaving hickeys. I realized I had forgotten my robes. Leaving me in my under shirt and jeans.

"Ben?"

"Yes?"

"What- what are you doing?"

"I'm going to rekindle the love we never was lost." He said and continued down my body. Ben unbuttoned my top. "Do you want me- this?"

"Yes?" I whispered out to the air, unsure, of this fate I was approaching. I was never one to have sexual desires. I guess I had always subconsciously saved myself for Ben.

"Why so unsure princess?" He asked.

"Well- I've- I've never uh done anything like this before." I said, almost whispering. He brought it head up with surprise.

"Ever? Have you ever had sex?" He asked. I dropped my eyes, my face heating.

"No-" I mumble

"Have you ever- touched yourself?" Ben seemed surprised.

"No- no not ever- I mean- I wash-" I brought my hands over my chest. He laughed lowly.

"No I meant like pleasure?" I could hear the cocky side of him start to show.

"No-"

"Ok well- I guess I get to enjoy pleasuring you." He hesitates "do you want this?"

I felt a knot in my stomach . I was too afraid I didn't want to admit it, I did want him. I wanted this.

"I- I do- am I- are we supposed to do this?" I asked.

"Yes, I want this- you want this- the force wants this." He says coming back up to my face. I look up at him.

"Rey is in love with you- this might have have to a one-"

"No- it will never be a one time thing, this will be forever." Ben states. I felt his fingers graze the hem of my shirt. I threw my arms up allowing The shirt to be removed from my body.

Ben slipped one hand behind my back unhooking my bra. I felt the chilly air nip at my heated skin. Insecurity crept into the back of my mind causing me to fold my arms over my chest.

"What's wrong?" He asked.

"I've never had anyone seen me this bare." I said. He gently took my wrists and pinned them above my head. Ben kisses down my jaw leaving hickeys. As he was working down my neck. He lips hit a sensitive spot on my neck I never knew I had.

A moan slips passed my lips. A warm feeling washed over me as Ben sucked on the spot on my neck. The feeling was foreign but good. He worked down my body onto my chest. His left had gently massaged my breast.

"Shit-" I clasped my hand over my mouth not knowing where the profanity had come from.

"It's alright princess- it feels good, don't me ashamed about it."

My face heated up even warmer. He swirled his tongue around my right nipple. Pleasure exploded over my chest causing me to arch my back off his bed.

He kissed down my stomach leaving a darker trail of hickeys. Ben pulled down my pants leaving me nearly naked. My breathing quickened and my heart beat against my sternum.

"Ben, I'm scared." I whispered. Ben crawled up to my face. "I've never done this before."

"It's fine, I won't go down there if you don't want me to this time." Ben whispered.

"Ok, next time?" I said.

"Oh, for sure, and every other time after that." He whispered down my jaw. "Do you still want to?"

"Yea, I love you Ben."

"I know-" he pulled my panties down. Ben pulled his shirt over his head leaving his toned chest bare. He guided my hands on to his chest. I glided my hands over all of his muscles. His skin was soft and twitched every now and then, not used to touch.

He pulled his pants off. I started to feel wet?

"Ben,"

"Yes princess?"

"I'm wet? Down there?" I was embarrassed needless to say. I had never experienced this before.

"That's good, that means you want this." Ben said seductively.

He pulled my panties off, leaving me completely vulnerable under him. I felt an ache? Or a need, a longing. I needed him between my thighs.

Ben grinds his clothed lower half into mind. Earring a desperate whimper from me.

"Ben- Ben, I need you- please!" I moaned.

"Ok well- we might have a slight delay- um since you've never done anything like this before- I might have to prep you- are you ready?" Ben sounded flustered. I looked up at him- his face was red.

"Ok- please- I need- something-" I moaned, getting even more desperate by the second.

Ben lowered down- collecting some of arousal onto his fingers- he stilled right before my entrance.

"Tell me if it ever hurts or feels uncomfortable ok?" Ben instructed me. I nodded.

He inserted one finger- it felt weird- yet it calmed some of the aching fires. Ben added another digit, he slowly pumped. I bit my it stung. He started to scissor inside of me with his fingers- stretching me?

"Ben why do you need to do this?" I asked.

"So I don't hurt you with- with me-." Ben said. He suddenly started to rub a sensitive spot on the outside.

"Shit-" I moaned. Suddenly he stopped. I scrunched my eyebrows in confusion.

"Ok you should be good- plus if i go any longer-." He growled lowly.

He came back up to my face, briefly connecting our lips in a passionate kiss. Ben laced our fingers together. "Tell me to stop at any point ok?"

I nodded once again. My legs instinctively wrapped around Bens narrow waist. I could feel him at my entrance once again. I unlaced my fingers from his and wrapped my arms around his neck.

Ben slowly pushes in. He finally stilled. His hips flush against mine. I felt my eye water a bit.

"Ok- move?" I said barley above a whisper. He started a slow pace. It was a mere few seconds before my body exploded with pleasure. I felt the heat creep up through my body. It went to my fingertips. Through my veins. "Shit- Ben-"

I let go of his neck. Gripping the sheets.

He sped up just enough to hit my sweet spot with every thrust. I choked on air.

"Fuck Y/n" Ben moaned in my neck. He started on his trail of hickeys and love bites on my neck again.

There was a tightening in my stomach. I clenched around him. The feeling of having Ben inside was foreign- he was warm- but he was bringing me unbelievable pleasure that I never knew existed.

"I feel it too Y/n- let it go." Ben told me. I didn't know exactly what he was taking about. Suddenly a wave of pleasure knocked my vision into white light.

I was moaning Bens name repeatedly as waves of pleasure ran through me. Ben bucked his hips into mine chasing his white vision.

He suddenly stilled.

"Fuck y/n- shit- that was good-" he moaned. Ben left my heat and grabbed a cloth off of his bed side stand.

"Oh so you were expecting this." I laughed.

"Almost used it for something else." Ben mumbled.

"What was the 'white vision'?" I asked.

"White vision? You mean an orgasm? You don't know what an orgasm is?" Ben look up at me as he was cleaning me up.

"Well I'm sorry I chose the path of the Jedi- I was taught ancient ways."

"Sure like no-sex-no-pleasure kinda way!" He laughed.

"Sure yea! Make fun of me all you want!" I laughed, "Ben?"

"Yes?"

"Will you come cuddle with me?"

"Of course princess."

He dropped the rag on the floor, and we snuggled up together. Ben pulled his comforter up over us.

I love you Ben Solo

I love you too, never won't, now stay with me.

Of course.

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