#I’ve had a fever for like five days straight

[0m3n-0f-d3ath]

Hatsune miku //oo ee oo\\

With sockeye salmon

[insomniac-dot-ink]

It's Raining in Portland

PART I

It rained in Portland for 45 days straight. They say this might still be normal—even for the off-season. I’ve gone out wandering, as I have every day of summer since I was a kid. My house was empty and the days dragged. I insisted on my green rain boots with frogs on them, showing them off was as good as a downhill bike ride. My bike was broken by then. The other kids were sometimes around, but the days grew longer. They went off to summer camps and vacation and YMCA soccer programs and it was still raining.

I began to bring the lady things on the tenth day. The puddles were turning into little lakes and I needed to make sure to move the car every five days–so I counted. I found her the day Liz left for camp. She was lying face down in the old Target parking lot. Target was supposed to come back to the building but it never did and the place was good for wandering. She was filthy. Hair tangled, coat an unnamable color, gnarled long skirt, and skin rash-y and fever-bright. She was also beautiful, like a fairy tale princess. A storybook face.

The woman had to be middle-aged at least, a weather-beaten kind look about her and silver hair; her high cheekbones and vivid dark eyes captured the soul as my dad might say. She moaned the first time thunder cracked across the sky. She dragged herself across the parking lot and rolled over into a puddle. I circled the area, pointy stick in hand, peeking out behind trees and heel-toe-ing around the cement.

I kept my distance during the first few visits, pretending we were strangers on the bus or like my childhood cat when she followed you into the same room. The woman remained like a corpse on the ground.

The first present I gave her was a can of soup. Everyone needed soup when the weather was bad. I placed it above her head, inching as close as I dare and pushing the can the rest of the way with my stick. Her liquid dark eyes flickered up, searching and wide. She returned to lying face down on the pavement. I frowned. Sure, I didn’t expect a thank you, but still.

The second day I brought her one of my mom’s old raincoats. Everyone needed a raincoat in the freaking rain. I placed it on top of the untouched soup can and didn’t wait to let her groan or moan or look at me with her spooky eyes. I ran off.

When I returned, the campbells can was standing proud and untouched but the lady was covered in my mom’s bright orange raincoat. I bounced on my heels.

“Is it a good fit?”

She didn’t answer. 

I thought of telling someone about the lady in the parking lot. Afterall, she probably needed help and if she took the coat, she might need more. But I stopped in the same breath. Bethany and Liz were at summer camp, the sleep-away kind, and they are the only ones I would trust to not start tattling immediately. If anyone else came, an adult or anyone with a badge, they might start asking questions about my situation. Why am I out wandering? What am I doing all the way out there on my own? You have to cross the big highway to reach the abandoned Target and really it was such a headache to explain the drainage ditch-crossing.

The lady might get in trouble too. What’s with all the headless pigeons in the parking lot? They’d say. That didn’t have to be my lady, though. She just didn’t like soup.

We were on day 20 of the rain and day 10 of me bringing her things. I had to move the car that morning and Miss Maudlin was giving me the stink eye the whole time. I arrived early, bird-early since that’s when I’m supposed to move the car, and didn't even bother to pick up the sharp stick. The mud was thick as honey and the lady dragged herself to a different spot face-down next to the biggest puddle.

“Hey!” I called out like I always do. “Don’t get up or anything. I brought you some socks . . . sorry they’re not shoes or boots or whatever, but they’re dry. I bet you’d like something dry.”

I set the pair of my mom’s good woollen socks next to the soup and backed up, still feeling bad I didn’t have boots. Good boots made a world of difference—my frog ones were testament to that. The lady didn’t even look up this time. She just lay there. I rubbed the back of my neck.

“Are you asleep?” My heart squeezed in my chest. I was going to feel awful if I didn’t tell Miss Maudlin about the corpse-like lady and she became an actual corpse on my watch. Though, Miss Maudlin would be impossible about the pigeon-thing, I already knew.

I sat cross-legged under my umbrella and started munching on my oreos, waiting for her to moan or groan or twitch. “Do you want, uh, something other than soup? I realize I didn’t even leave you a can opener.” The corpse-lady made a valiant effort of acting like a real corpse.

I scooched closer. “I won’t be able to come around every day soon so you’ll have to speak up. Want some Oreos of your own? Blanket? I’ve got some bottled water too, so much bottled water,” I chuckled, “but you’re probably sick of water by now.” The hand at her side appeared to twitch and a part of me relaxed. That was a good thing. I could leave now. But the thing was, I didn’t really want to go. Miss Maudlin wouldn’t even be on her porch giving me the stink eye and I’d already been to the grocery store twice yesterday. I brought out my book.

“I have this summer reading—did you ever do summer reading?—I’m already finished,” I puffed out my chest just a little bit, not enough for the lady to notice, but enough, “but the IB teacher grades like a motherfucker, I hear,” I giggled. The lady’s hand twitched at her side but she didn’t say anything about the swear word which was good of her. “So, I’m, like, reading this one again before term starts.” Which was not entirely true, we wouldn’t be reading One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich until the second semester. She didn’t have to know that. The book was short and punchy and made me say things like, “well, at least I’m not eating rocks in a gulag this fine morning,” which was something. I situated my umbrella, opened the book on my lap, and began reading. At first, I read silently to myself, but the lady had stopped so much as twitching and it worried me all over again.

I flipped to the beginning and read out loud. 

Her big dark eyes dragged up from the pavement. They were red-rimmed and wide as coins. My skin crawled and I cleared my throat. “Did you like it? It’s my favorite of the books.” She, of course, did not answer.

I decided to finish reading the first couple pages to her because I started this whole thing and I didn’t want to bail just because her eyes were big and weird and staring. We got through the opening sections. I left, like I always did, when I got bored.

I avoided the parking lot for the next few days. I wasn’t really in a place to keep bringing her stuff she didn’t want, I told myself, and it had to stop raining eventually. After nearly a month of rain, I went to our basement and knocked hard on the door. I had another note in my hand, this one mostly about the lady and how super done with my summer homework I was, but I found the last three notes still jammed under the door. I glared at the folded pieces of paper until I gave myself a headache and shoved the fourth one in after it. 

When I went back to the lady, I brought the book and a cushion to sit on. Let her find the damn house empty. I sat on the kitchen chair cushion, letting it sink into the soggy ground and not really caring, and cracked open the book. The lady rolled over onto her back and her big dark eyes were focused on the clouds.

“PAGE FOUR,” I said loudly and began reading. Her eyes dragged over to me in a molosess-drip and I offered her a tin of oreos.

Over the last few days, I stuck to my summer reading list, but by the time the weekend arrived I decided there were only so many pages of eating rocks and being mad at guards you can stand. The lady was already out in the rain. I switched over to one of my favorite books. My friends would have made fun of me for a baby book, but I was sure the lady had never read The Tale of Despereaux, and everyone needed to read that once in their life.

She liked it, I thought. I was sitting, as usual, doing what I was going to be doing at home anyway, and introducing the mouse that got me through a lot of boring classes in elementary school. Her hand jerked out in a blur. I jolted and the woman had a bird by the throat. My mouth fell open. The pigeon.

Her teeth were sharp as fish hooks and gently curved. They dug into the neck of the bird in the same way I imagine sharks dug into seals. My mouth fell open. The woman gobbled down the head and belly of the creature and it didn’t have time to make a sound.

“Woah,” I said. In a flash, she tossed aside her meal. You have to admire anything with that kind of efficiency. She scrubbed her face down with the back of her hand, moaned, and rolled over a second time. I scooted to the edge of my cushion.

“Um.” I gripped the book in both hands, raising it like a shield. “Do, uh, you only do that to, uh, birds?”

I didn’t really give her a chance to answer to be fair. I ran off so quick I imagine a little puff of dust came out of my heels. I spent the rest of the day with the curtains down and the door locked like my mom wanted. 

And I would have stayed gone too. However, the next day I got up, got dressed, put on my rainboots, and went to the door. It was another grocery day. My umbrella was missing. My one good umbrella–that also had a frog on it–was gone, and it was still raining. Thirty days of rain and no umbrella!

At least I knew a little more about the parking-lot lady. This time, I brought her a good cloth napkin. Everyone needs a napkin no matter where they live. I should admit I arrived late, very late since I had to spend most of the day talking myself in and out of going. She ate a bird right in front of me! Raw! And probably wasn’t too fond of mice, I had to bet, so The Tale of Despereaux was really not going to be her thing.

Birds cawed and the setting sun broke through the haze. Bits of orange light turned the puddles into watercolor splashes and set the misty air all to golden dust. Some things can be too beautiful–abandoned Targets and grungy puddles cast in orange.

I darted between the pine trees, keeping my head down and eyes wide. Crows, not knowing to fear for their lives, pecked at the ground. The Target stood unlit and empty, surrounded by piles of trash like a noble dying king. There was no one else in sight. I crept toward the largest puddle, eyeing the ground and wishing my lost umbrella wasn’t green. It could have flown off anywhere by now and blended in with the trees.

The light drained out of the world and the first meager stars popped out. I recounted my steps, one, two, three, and swept the area. At least, on the other side of the lot my umbrella was resting at the base of the Target. The top was weighed down by water, and the handle sticking up like a new plant growth. I sped into a run. Without breaking pace, I grabbed the handle, flung the water out, and sprinted into the foliage. My chest heaved and I glanced around, maybe also to check if anyone had seen that.

A shriek split the air. I dug my heels in and teetered to a halt, animal fear shoving its way into my higher functions. Apparently, I was a freeze kind of girl between the fight-flight kinds. My heart pounded dangerously close to being a medical problem and my ears rang. The shriek had the quality of stone against stone, grating and sharp. Sweat dripped down my temple and a long, dark shape dragged itself across the ground in the corner of my eye.

I swallowed a painful lump. She heaved herself across the space and I wished for the life of me that she remembered those wool socks fondly. The lady moved more quickly than I imagined, belly scraping the concrete and face contorted. I took a step back, she really didn’t need socks, actually.

Out from under the long skirt and dirty coat and much cleaner and nicer orange raincoat, was a thick black tail the color of oil spills. Dark as night and shiny, little rainbows catching the last of the light, a muscled tail whipped back and forth. The mermaid dragged herself across the cement and my mouth gaped.

She moved in the way of dreams: unearthly and fast–much faster than expected. A puddle the size of a small minivan pooled near the base of the Target. The mermaid planted her hands on either side, let out a fantastic shriek, and stuck her head into the water. You’d think she’d give herself a concussion, bonking on the ground, but she plunged her princess-pretty face up to the shoulders. She was gone for only a second and then back yowling like a stray cat.

I didn’t run this time. I took one wobbling step back and then another, clutching the handle of my umbrella like a sword. A mermaid! The brightest part of my brain said. You’re about to be alone in the pitch black out here, said the other part of my head. 

The mermaid was crying, I think, crying very hard, when I left her.

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

[elliespassagerprincess]

could you please write like pfofessor ellie not going to class because aurora is sick? sorry for my bad english 🫶🫶

Headcannons: professor!ellie williams x reader

masterlist

professor ellie masterlist

TW: mentions of seizures

☆ Ellie was deep into a lecture on postmodern theory, gesturing at the board, when her phone buzzed. She ignored it—until she saw your name.

☆ You never called during her class. Texted sometimes, but never called. Her stomach dropped instantly.

☆ At first, she thought maybe you forgot what time it was—but the second time your name flashed again, she froze mid-sentence.

☆ Her TA offered to finish the lecture. Ellie didn’t even respond. She walked straight out with her phone pressed to her ear.

☆ “Baby?” she answered, voice low, urgent. Then she heard it: Aurora’s sobbing, Arnold screaming, and you—panicked.

☆ “Ellie—she’s burning up—she’s shaking—I don’t know what to do, I can’t get her to open her eyes—”

☆ Ellie’s face drained of color. “Where are you right now? I'm coming. Keep her awake. Don't hang up.”

☆ She ran across campus like she didn’t care who saw, pushing past confused students and nearly getting hit by a bike.

☆ Her whole body went cold hearing Arnold crying in the background, yelling “Mommy! Mommy, Ro-Ro won’t wake up!”

☆ She called your pediatrician while in the car, eyes blurry, barely stopping at red lights. Her voice cracked: “She’s six. She has a history of febrile seizures. This is an emergency.”

☆ Ellie burst through the front door still holding her phone, and immediately dropped to her knees at the sight of Aurora limp in your arms.

☆ Arnold clung to her leg, hiccupping and crying, terrified and confused. Ellie scooped him up with one arm while pressing her lips to Aurora’s forehead.

☆ She barked out instructions like a soldier—wet towel, ice pack, call the pediatrician again—until she caught the fear in your eyes and softened.

☆ “I’ve got her now,” she whispered to you, holding Aurora to her chest, rocking her gently. “You did good. You’re okay.”

☆ She checked her daughter’s breathing every five minutes, brushing sweat-soaked hair from her face, whispering, “Mommy’s here, baby girl.”

☆ Arnold sat beside her, clutching her shirt. “Ro-Ro’s broken?” Ellie held both children tight. “No, sweetheart. She’s just fighting really hard right now.”

☆ You stood behind her shaking. Ellie reached one arm back blindly, pulling you to the floor, to her chest, into the huddle of trembling limbs and panic.

☆ She called her department, voice thick: “I’m taking personal leave. My daughter’s sick. I don’t know how long. I’ll send materials.”

☆ She didn’t move from the living room floor that night. Laid there with Aurora in her lap, Arnold beside her, and you curled against her chest.

☆ Even asleep, she kept one hand on Aurora’s chest to feel it rise and fall, counting seconds between every breath.

☆ The next day, Ellie couldn’t stop blaming herself. “I should’ve known something was off. She was clingy yesterday. I brushed it off.”

☆ She sobbed silently in the shower so you and the kids wouldn’t hear, hands pressed against the tile, whispering “please don’t take her from me.”

☆ Aurora murmured “Mama El” in her fever dreams, and Ellie would cry every time, whispering “I'm right here, angel.”

☆ She refused to let anyone else hold Aurora—even you—for the first twelve hours.

☆ She fed Arnold while bouncing Aurora in her lap. She looked wrecked but still kissed his head and said, “Don’t be scared, buddy. Your sister’s strong.”

☆ Ellie didn’t sleep. Not once. She spent the whole night memorizing Aurora’s fever patterns, alternating ice and lukewarm baths, cradling her close.

☆ She kept whispering “I should’ve stayed home today. I should’ve known. I should’ve felt it.” You had to hold her and say, “She needs you strong now, not guilty.”

☆ Arnold kept waking up crying. Ellie climbed into his bed with him, holding his tiny hands, kissing his tears away while Aurora slept on your chest.

☆ She kept checking your pulse, your temperature too. You were emotionally fried, and Ellie could see you spiraling. “You’re not allowed to fall apart without me.”

☆ She emailed her students personally. “I’m sorry I had to leave. There was a family emergency. Please be kind to one another this week.”

☆ When Aurora finally opened her eyes, Ellie broke down and kissed every inch of her face. “There you are, baby girl. There you are.”

☆ Aurora whispered, “My belly hurts…” and Ellie responded, “We’re gonna make it feel all better, okay? Mommy and Mama El got you.”

☆ She made a pillow fort for Arnold just to distract him while still checking Aurora’s vitals every half hour.

☆ You caught her kissing Aurora’s hand like a prayer, over and over again.

☆ Arnold asked, “Is Ro gonna go to heaven?” Ellie pulled him into her lap immediately. “No, baby. Not for a long, long, long time.”

☆ When Aurora smiled weakly at her juice, Ellie sobbed against your neck like her world was restarting.

☆ She wrote all the symptoms and medication times in her journal in tiny, perfect handwriting—“because my daughter deserves accuracy.”

☆ You caught her thanking the universe out loud. “You scared the shit out of me, Ro, but thank you for coming back.”

☆ Aurora whispered “Mama El?” at 2 a.m. Ellie was by her side in seconds. “You okay?” “I missed you in my dream.” Ellie sobbed.

☆ She told you the next morning, “If we ever lose her, I’ll go with her. I swear to God.”

☆ You hadn’t let yourself cry fully until Ellie came home. When she held you in bed, everything spilled out.

☆ She kept whispering, “You did so good, baby. I’m so proud of you. You called me. That saved her.”

☆ You said, “I didn’t know what to do.” Ellie cupped your face, “You did everything right.”

☆ You fell asleep holding her hand, her arm over Aurora’s waist. Ellie whispered, “I could live here forever.”

☆ She made you tea and forced you to rest once Aurora stabilized, carrying you bridal style to the couch.

☆ She kept texting you every hour while you napped. “Aurora smiled. Arnold farted. We’re okay. I love you.”

☆ Ellie bought your favorite snacks and restocked the medicine cabinet with backup fever meds.

☆ You caught her sketching again—Aurora asleep, Arnold cuddled at her side. You, blurry in the background.

☆ “This house doesn’t breathe without you,” she told you. “I don’t breathe without you either.”

☆ You kissed her slowly, hands in her hair, and whispered, “Thank you for coming home.”

☆ Ellie declined two guest lectures and ignored all her committee meetings. Her only priority was home.

☆ When she finally checked her email, there were 300 unread messages. She read none.

☆ She rescheduled midterms. Students were confused. She didn’t care.

☆ When Arnold asked if she was going to work again, she answered, “Not until your sister’s bouncing again.”

☆ She cooked meals from scratch—soups, comfort food—and you caught her humming lullabies while stirring broth.

☆ Her academic journals sat untouched. Instead, she read The Gruffalo five times to Arnold and Aurora, even when they were too tired to listen.

☆ She stopped wearing her usual crisp outfits—just sweatpants, your old hoodie, and messy braids.

☆ When Aurora asked why she looked sad, Ellie smiled gently. “Because you scared me, lovebug. But Mama El’s okay now.”

☆ Ellie swore she’d never take another class lightly again. “Family first. Every time. Always.”

☆ When you teased her about it, she replied dead serious: “I’d burn every degree I have for you three.”

☆ When Aurora got her energy back, Ellie took the whole family on a “recovery picnic” to the backyard.

☆ She hung fairy lights in the living room and let Arnold and Aurora fall asleep watching cartoons in a blanket nest.

☆ She started writing a paper on maternal instinct. It included a paragraph about “the call that split time in two.”

☆ You both agreed to keep emergency protocols more visible—color-coded notes on the fridge, double-packed medicine kits.

☆ Ellie started sleeping with one arm over each child every night for weeks. It grounded her.

☆ She kissed your temple every morning and whispered “thank you for trusting me.”

☆ She bought a locket and put pictures of both kids in it. On the back, she engraved: “Call me. Always.”

☆ You woke up once to find her watching Aurora sleep. “Just making sure,” she whispered, teary.

☆ Ellie started including family anecdotes in her lectures, more open with students about what love really looks like.

☆ And every time you call her now—even for something small—she answers before the first ring finishes, heart open, ready to protect the world she built with you.

[daddyslilchickenfingers2]

Kinktober (reuploaded)

Breeding (Chris)

Request: Baby fever with Chris I BEG YOU/omg when you write breeding Chris can you add Y/N saying she wants to have a baby with such pretty blue eyes like Chris

Warnings: Talk of pregnancy, breeding obviously, soft/slow sex

Y/n’s pov

Chris and I have been dating since we were 17 but I’ve known him and his brothers since we were 4 years old. From the moment we started dating, our families always joked saying we’d get married one day. Well, that was a future reality, since Chris had proposed to me in May of this year. Even though we’ve only been engaged for a few months and we’re only 20, I would love to start a family with him. We had this conversation the other day with Nick and Matt, for some reason the topic was babies and Chris was ecstatic.

“I want like four or five babies! I can’t wait until Y/n gets pregnant, she’s gonna be so cute with our baby in her belly” he smiled, poking me in the stomach. “Ow Chris don’t do that. We do have baby fever though” I laughed as Nick grimaced. “I hate babies and I hate children” he said, Matt smacked him, “Oh shut up Nick you know when they have a baby you’re gonna be the cool gay uncle” he laughed. “I’m not changing diapers” Nick grimaced again, “I wanna make Y/n fat and pregnant” Chris beamed happily.

That was like five days ago, today we were having a lazy day, we lived in the guest house behind Matt and Nick’s. They got it built after hearing me and Chris fuck too many times, but still, it was a nice gesture and we get to still live with them basically. “Would you really have babies with me?” I asked Chris as I cuddled up to his side. “I’d love nothing more than to get you fat and pregnant. Our babies would look so cute” I could literally hear the smile in his voice. I pulled away and sat up against the headboard, Chris doing the same right after, looking at me with a big smile.

“Our kids can’t call me daddy though, that would be fucking weird” he laughed, causing me to smack his chest. “They could call my parents Mimi and Papa, and yours Grammy and Pop-Pop. Those sound so cute!” I gushed. “My dad would love Pop-Pop” Chris laughed again. “You know what I would love?” I asked, earning a small hum for me to continue, “I’d love for the baby to have your pretty blue eyes and gorgeous pink lips” I told him as my eyes shifted between the two, Chris doing the same to me. “Yeah?” he asked breathlessly against my lips, “Yeah” I said back in the same way.

Chris leaned in and softly pressed his lips against mine, moving us to lay back. “Let’s make that blue-eyed baby right now! You’re off birth control right?” he asked softly, stroking my cheek with his thumb. “Yes, now let’s make that baby” I smiled, placing a passionate kiss to his lips, after a few minutes, Chris pulled away. He took off his shirt and sweats before pushing my shirt up to see my stomach. “You’re gonna look so good pregnant. Can’t wait to put a baby in your belly” he said while kissing all over my stomach.

“Chris— babe please hurry!” “Sorry, I’m just so excited to have a kid with you” he blushed hard. Chris pulled my shirt over my head before taking off both our underwear, running two fingers through my folds. “So wet already- can we just go straight into softly fucking?” he asked breathlessly, “God, yes” I whined back. Chris slowly slid in and started thrusting fairly fast right away, not too fast though. I pulled him down for another kiss and we let breathless moans out into it, having both a passionate kiss and sex. I was running my fingers through his hair softly while the other held onto the side of his jaw.

One of Chris’ hands moved down to my clit, rubbing it quickly. Pulling away from the kiss, he started talking, “This is like the slowest sex we’ve ever had but— shit! This is gonna be the fastest I’ve ever cum, want you to cum for me princess” he said lowly. I let out a few loud moans before I started cumming, “Oh fuck Chris, so good babe. Want you to cum in me” I moaned. Chris hid his head in my neck, whining as he came in me, pumping into me a few more times before pulling out. He immediately moved down to finger his cum into me, not wanting any to spill out.

“Can’t believe we’re going to have a baby” he said excitedly, kissing all over my stomach. “They’re going to have the prettiest blue eyes, just like their dad” I smiled while playing with his hair. “God, I love you so much Y/n!” he said, looking at the pretty engagement ring on my finger. “I love you so much more” I replied as we both cuddled up with each other and drifted off to sleep, hoping we’d have a happy little family soon.

<<< 12 months later>>>

A few months ago I gave birth to a beautiful baby boy, Chris was ecstatic to find out he was going to have a son. He does, in fact, have Chris’ pretty blue eyes, he’s so tiny but you can already tell he has his dads nose as well. We named him Nolan Cole Sturniolo, Chris is literally the best dad ever, he helps me with everything. Matt and Nick are so excited that they’re uncles now, Matt always offers to babysit him so me and Chris can go on date nights. I wonder if he’ll be confused when he grows up, having a dad and two uncles who look exactly the same and all. Anyways I’m very happy with our little family.

[scramratz]

Rant abt your Cds I'm curious

OK HERE GOES SCRAMS 2024 CD COLLECTION TIER LIST

(Disclaimer: these are just my personal opinions and if yours differ from mine, fine. It’s not a sin to be wrong)

S TIER-

Goo-Sonic Youth: Straight bangers all the way through. Girls love it when you show them your Sonic Youth cd. Extra points cuz the pamphlet unfolds into a sick poster

Midnight Vultures-Beck: Good album to clean the house to. Every song a banger. Beck as a person sets off alarms, though 🤔

Vivadixiesubmarinetransmissionplot-Sparklehorse: Genuinely my favorite artist and album of all time. Fall asleep to Homecoming Queen often.

Siamese Dream-Smashing Pumpkins: Fire straight though. Good when you’re in a depressed 20-something mood. Better than Mellon Collie in my humble opinion.

Gorillaz-Gorillaz: The start of one of my favorite bands and objectively one of the best bands in the world don’t fight me on it I’ll kill you.

A TIER-

Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots-The Flaming Lips: Solid album. Iconic cover art. “Do You Realize??” always got me feeling feelings

Violent Femmes-Violent Femmes: Top 3 favorite band. Every song went platinum in my household. Would have been higher but reminds me of my mom too much.

Dig Me Out- Sleater-Kinney: Got it because the name sounded familiar. Ended up loving them! Doesn’t sound right if it’s not played loud, though, and considering I live in an apartment, I don’t play it often.

Fear Yourself-Daniel Johnston: Got it because I love “Hi, How Are You” but haven’t been able to find it anywhere. Was pleasantly surprised! Hits the same melancholy spot but slightly more upbeat.

Figure 8-Elliot Smith: My favorite sad boy that definitely DIDN’T kill himself. Not my favorite Elliot album but every one of his albums is A tier personally.

The Diary of Alicia Keys-Alicia Keys: WENT QUADRUPLE PLATINUM IN OUR HOUSEHOLD. Prime cleaning the house on Sunday music. Dragon Days is seriously underrated.

Garbage-Garbage: Don’t know how to say this without sounding insane but this album sounds like the color #DC007F and I like that color a lot

2-Mac Demarco: The CHOKEHOLD Mac Demarco had on us artschool bitches in 2016 OMG. Was gonna change my name to Viceroy

B TIER-

Money for Nothing- Dire Straits: Top tier dad music.

Lumine fever- The Adrenals: Got it cuz the cover looked cool. Was pleasantly surprised! They rock the adequate amount

Rocket to Russia- Ramones: They’re good but I don’t get the hype honestly. They’re the Flavor-Aid of Punk

Starfish- The Church: Only love one song on it, the only song anyone likes tbh. The rest are your standard 80s deal

Crooked Rain-Pavement: I really love Pavement but there is a thing as too much Pavement and I think I’ve reached it

Yankee Hotel Foxtrot-Wilco: Honestly should have been in A tier but all the pretentious music dudes I’ve met has soured this album for me so it goes in B outta spite. Jesus Etc my fave song tho

An Evening with Silk Sonic- Silk Sonic: Nice, short, gets me in a happy mood. Does what it needs to do!

Prolonging the Magic- Cake: John McCrea don’t really be singing, do he? He just fancy talkin

C TIER-

Gigantic, Fuel, and The Nixons: I got all 3 on sale and they all sound the same and that sound is…ok? Like it’s alright background music

Blind Melon-Blind Melon: What was with 90’s bands putting random kids as their album covers? Decent listen, though.

Summerteeth-Wilco: Good background music. I can’t remember any songs off it.

Los Angeles/Wild Gift-X: I like X but I hate that fucking album art omg it’s so hard to look at. I like their songs individually but as a cohesive album, eh.

D TIER-

Throwing Copper-Live: bought it on sale with the above 3 but liked this one substantially less. Only redeeming quality to me is the album art.

Ben Folds Five-Ben Folds Five: Misleading considering there’s only 3 of them. He sounds like my ex boyfriend from highschool before I realized I liked girls

F Tier-

The Ragetones/Fall Apart-The Ragetones: Saw them play at a shitting basement show. Everything sounds better when you can barely hear yourself think.

F Punk-Big Audio Dynamite: Found it at the thrift and rehomed it outta pity. Sounds like the 80s in a bad way.

[commanderyes]

The Commander Says Goodbye

I’m not going to lie, I’m extremely anxious as i’m writing this, out of what these news could mean to a lot of people, and my heart feels heavy enough it could drop down my ribcage any minute from now and squish all my other organs. But I’ve been dancing around this topic for a long time now, and I think i’ve finally reached a point where i can’t ignore it anymore, for my own sake.

I hereby announce Commander Yes has come to an end.

As I’ve mentioned plenty of times before, here and to many other people, when I began this comic all the way back in 2018 I was in a really bad, really low place in my life in every sense of the word, and it was a spur-of-the moment decision to cheer myself up, because Path of Fire had just released and my enjoyment of the game had reached fever pitch and I had been playing Guild Wars 2 alone since as far as launch, and none of my other friends had ever really gotten into it. I guess I just, dunno, cried out into the big maelstrom of the community, one voice amidst millions, because i wanted SOMEBODY to look at what i did and revel in the nerdery with me.

And somehow the snowball began to roll and people wanted more and more of what I could do, and I was being actively reached out to, and, well, some time after that I landed my first ever job, I discovered a lot of things about myself, and I found myself in communities that welcomed me with open arms, and many of the people in there have since become among the best friends I could’ve possibly encountered, kindred souls who i’ve shared joys and sorrows for many years and who I can’t imagine living without anymore.

And all the while I kept making the comics, and with every entry posted every week I’d keep having people stopping to comment on them, and whether they were dumb jokes or personal takes on the story, they’d all share how much what I do kept hitting them in the kokoro, and to this day whenever I play anywhere in the game I still get people who recognize me and thank me for doing what I do. It was wonderful, it IS wonderful, and seeing that response motivated me to keep going, because what did still mattered to people, out there.

But I did always say I planned to keep doing these comics until I ran out of energy for them, and I think i’ve finally reached that point.

Because ever since I actually landed that job I’m exhausted and sleep-deprived every other day, so much so that I only have time to work on the comic on saturdays and sundays, and it gets harder and harder to just sit and draw, and at that point it was just more work, and while I still enjoy and play Guild Wars 2 a lot, it no longer consumes my time and attention like I’ve used to and i’ve been having fun with more personal projects, and honestly the direction the story is taking these days does not sit right with me and it’s hard to find inspiration in that, and this might be borderline selfish but every year I find people care less and less about the comics and it really takes a hit to you motivation when hardly anybody responds after you’ve spent a whole weekend trying to squeeze a five-page comic out.

And, well, I have been doing these for six years straight, and I think that’s a good run. I’m tired, and ready to move on, at long last. Let it be someone else’s turn.

But that’s the beautiful thing about this community, isn’t it? Even if I’m hanging up the hat, there are a whole lot of fantastic artists out there, as we speak, still cranking out works of art, deserving of all the attention they can get. And think of all the artists yet to come! For every story that ends, another story is just about to begin!

The world keeps on spinning, one way or another.

I’ll be closing my patreon shortly after this, but the reddit archives and tumblr blog shall remain for people to browse whenever they feel like (or until they both go in flames, i guess, what social media isn’t about to these days)

I still don’t think I ever was that much of a big deal, but all the same, to everyone who’s ever supported me and helped me be the person I am right now, to everyone who’s been there from the beginning, to all the devs of this game that has captured us for nearly a decade now, to all my fellow players and artists out there

Thank you.

See you out there, fellow commanders. Still the stars find their way.

[nottellingofname]

Six feet tall and super strong - Yuji Itadori

The city knows SpiderPunk does NOT need a man.

SpiderPunk shreds her guitar mid-swing, kicks muggers into recycling bins, and broods on rooftops like she’s about to drop the hottest sad punk album of the year. She’s rage, eyeliner, and anti-capitalism all rolled into one.

But sometimes… SpiderPunk is just a girl. A girl with really questionable taste in men.

You lounged against the edge of the rooftop, hoodie up, one booted foot braced against the ledge as the sun dipped low, painting the skyline like a Bob Ross fever dream. Somewhere out there, your imaginary soulmate was probably rescuing orphans or making artisanal coffee with his bare hands.

He’d be tall, obviously. With that kind of “I own five motorcycles but emotionally process like a therapist” vibe. The kind of guy who could carry you bridal style and recite F. Scott Fitzgerald mid-air. You imagined he’d drive a sleek black car, talk like a K-drama lead, and never—ever—ghost you for three days straight to “find himself.”

You scoffed at your own thoughts. Ridiculous. Totally unrealistic.

...But still.

Your phone buzzed. You checked the screen.

Yuji: “On my way!! 5 mins max!! 🏎️💨💪✨”

Your eyebrow twitched. Why did that emoji combo look like it was hand-picked to bother you?

You stood, flipped off the building, and landed in a casual crouch in the alley below. A car—a shiny, very expensive-looking one—slid to a stop at the curb, like some rich guy’s Uber fantasy. Out stepped Yuji, hair slightly mussed, hoodie sleeves pushed up, wearing an expression that was 60% worry and 40% “I brought snacks.”

“Whoa, what’s going on?” he asked, eyes scanning you like you’d just crash-landed from space. “You okay?”

You shrugged. “Didn’t feel like taking the bus. Figured I’d summon a CEO.”

Yuji blinked. “A CEO?”

“You showed up in a car worth more than my tuition. Felt appropriate.”

He opened the door for you with a dramatic bow. “Your chariot awaits, madam.”

You snorted but slid in. The seats were warm. So was his cologne. Ugh. The car smelled like sandalwood, citrus, and financial responsibility. Disgusting. Of course he smelled exactly how your dream guy smelled in your head last week. Weird coincidence.

The ride was smooth. Yuji drove like a guy who read the manual and also watched Fast & Furious for fun. He talked a lot—stories about school, work, his brother eating expired yogurt, and how he cried watching a commercial for dog food once.

Music blasted through the speakers—some mix of punk rock and anime openings, your choice, of course. Yuji air-drummed on the steering wheel.

“Want me to turn it down?” he asked, glancing over.

You shrugged. “I’ve gone deaf emotionally. Might as well commit physically.”

He blinked. “That’s really sad.”

“Thanks.”

He turned it up louder. Of course he did.

You arrived at his mansion—because of course he lived in a mansion—and followed him into his room, trying not to be impressed. Too late. His room was cleaner than yours, smelled like lavender, and had a single teddy bear sitting on his neatly made bed like it paid rent.

You raised an eyebrow. “Is the bear yours, or does he manage your stock portfolio?”

Yuji laughed, ears going pink. “He’s... emotional support. Don’t judge.”

He threw himself dramatically onto his bed, arms splayed like a Victorian heroine. “I’m failing accounting. Again. If I die, delete my browser history.”

You kicked off your boots and flopped into his desk chair. “It’s just cat videos and protein shake reviews.”

“Yeah, but they’re weirdly emotional cat videos. Like this one where the kitten reunites with its dad after four years and—” He sniffed. “Anyway. I need snacks.”

He came back with chips, gummy worms, and a suspicious number of Capri Suns.

You stared at the pile. “Did you rob a third grader?”

Yuji looked genuinely confused. “You don’t like Capri Suns?”

You reached for one. “I’m not thanking you.”

“You just did,” he grinned, tearing one open with his teeth like a feral raccoon.

You watched him. Noted the way he always sat with his knee turned toward you. How he instinctively opened your bag of chips when your hands were full. How he handed you the red gummy worms first—your favorite. Even though you’d never said so out loud.

Your fingers brushed his when you took the bag.

He didn’t flinch. Just smiled.

You did not feel your heartbeat spike. That was definitely a side effect of sugar and repressed rage.

Two hours later, he was slumped in the chair, half-melted into a puddle of existential dread. “Pretty sure the muscle diagram guy in our anatomy book winked at me.”

You cracked a smile. “Flattered or threatened?”

“Both,” he muttered. “Let’s watch something. I need to reboot my brain.”

One movie became two. Then three. By the end of Human Earthworm 3: The Slimening, Yuji was fully sobbing into a throw pillow.

“I just didn’t think…” he hiccupped. “That love could transcend biology like that.”

You stared at him. “They were worms, Yuji.”

“They were soulmates.”

You watched him wipe his eyes with the sleeve of his hoodie, mumbling, “She loved him even though he was... mostly worm.”

Your lips twitched. “You’re so soft.”

He sniffled. “I have layers.”

You passed him the popcorn. “So does lasagna.”

And suddenly it hit you.

He cried at movies.

He was punctual.

He knew your favourite snacks.

He drove a hot car.

He was strong enough to carry you and your emotional baggage, but gentle enough to own a teddy bear named Mr. Honeybuns (unconfirmed but likely).

Oh no. Yuji Itadori was everything you’d said you wanted.

In a completely chaotic, dumbass, himbo-shaped package.

You stared at him as he dabbed his eyes and reached for another handful of popcorn with zero shame.

Your heart thumped annoyingly loud.

Maybe your perfect guy wasn’t some fantasy built from Pinterest boards and lonely Friday nights. Maybe he was the real, ridiculous boy in front of you—who laughed too loud, cried at worm movies, and somehow made your heart race when he held open car doors and asked, “You okay?” like it meant something.

Yuji looked over and caught you staring.

Yuji wiped his eyes and turned to you. “You ever think about your dream guy?”

You shrugged. “Not really.”

He looked surprised. “Why not?”

“Can’t miss what doesn’t exist.”

Yuji was quiet for a second. “Guess that makes me the dream guy by default, huh?”

You looked at him. Flat. Expressionless.

“You cried over a worm.”

He grinned, unbothered. “With dignity.”

You rolled your eyes and stood up, heading for the door. “I’m stealing one of your Capri Suns.”

“Take two,” he called after you. “You deserve it.”

You left without looking back.

You didn’t need a man.

But if Yuji kept acting like that… Well. You might make an exception.

Not that he’d ever know.

Listen to Yuji's Playlist? / Listen to everyone's playlist?

[princess-leaorgana]

What Tieflings Do Chptr 7

Summary: After the takedown of The Absolute, Zelphie finds her city in need of more help and her home destroyed. She won't stop helping, but who can help her?

Rolan x Tav (Zelphie; ~30y.o AFAB, Sorcerer, Tiefling, not really described physically on purpose <3)

M/F

Author's Note: I fucking love tielfings. Along with this being a budding romance/smut/fluff/word vomit fanfiction, it's also my case study in DnD 5e tieflings, how they act, what sets them apart from humans and devils and elves. That being said, I have a few artistic liberties in here as well where I couldn't find a straight answer, if you'll amuse me.

Warnings - Spoilers for Baldur's Gate 3, Smut in this chapter, tiefling racism, little bit of angst

Chapter One Two Three Four Five Six

 ‘Come in.’

Rolan’s study was his little hideaway. Although Zelphie loved being invited there, when she was not, she meant to keep her distance. She meant to give him his privacy, for his studies and experiments were very important to him. However, she had just received an urgent message from Duke Florrick, Zelphie was needed for an expedition to The Cloakwood. This wasn’t the first of these she had been on, Scouts from the Flaming Fist were given a task and Zelphie was given the role of protecting them. Not usually did they run into any issues, but once anyone knew the person escorting the Fist was the person who defeated an Elderbrain and The Dead Three’s Chosen, they never attempted to put up a fight. Zelphie was usually just a bluff. She would report by morning and as the day was already late, so she would have to interrupt him. She opened the door and found him standing, hunched over a desk, dissecting something. She didn’t want to know. He glanced up at her and smiled.

‘Hello you,’ he said and looked back down at his work. She smiled back to him and walked over to his desk to place the letter down, her eyes shifting away from his experiment.

‘Good evening, I miss you,’ she said and Rolan picked up the letter she had placed down and removed a pair of magnifying spectacles from his face. ‘Duke Florrick is sending me on a two day trip to Cloakwood tomorrow. Should be easy, I’ve been there with the Fist before, normal delivery. Mostly walking,’ she said and Rolan read the letter. He glanced up at her when he finished.

‘And you told her no?’ He asked, handing her the letter back. Zelphie frowned and shook her head.

‘Of course not, why would I pass this up?’ She asked him, as if it was an illogical question. It was, as Rolan would always be, perfectly logical. Zelphie wasn’t incredibly well. In fact, she had an appointment with a home visit nurse the next day, which would have to be canceled if she went on this trip. She was also ill, and had been for about a week. She was incredibly tired and would get sick twice a day. She had no fever and had a great appetite. Rolan knew exactly what was wrong with her, and truth be told he was having a hard time with it. Zelphie assumed what was going on but neither of them were talking about it. Any person could see, along with her physical symptoms and her trigger happy sensitivity, that Zelphie was pregnant. Lia and Cal were tip toeing around the subject as well. It would also explain her weight gain, everything fit perfectly into the puzzle. So, naturally, Rolan was not happy for her to go.

‘Because, as lovely as the Flaming Fist are, you are more important than them,’ he told her simply. ‘You are not strong enough right now, my darling,’ he told her and she scowled, pointing her finger at a battle dummy, striking it with a bolt of lightning. The dummy was left singed and toppled over. Rolan frowned, understanding her point instantly. ‘I didn’t mean like that. You know I didn’t. These last few weeks, your magic has been incredibly powerful-‘

‘Then what did you mean?’ She asked him quickly and he sighed.

‘Powerful magic, plus the inability to control it and a weakened body doesn’t make you strong,’ he told her quickly. ‘It makes you weak, you are weak right now, not only could you get hurt, you would do a disservice to the Fist.’ Zelphie crossed her arms, fuming. ‘There are plenty of mercenaries out there who can help while we find out how to make you better,’ he told her and placed his spectacles back on the bridge of his nose.

‘You cannot forbid me to go,’ she told him stubbornly and he nodded.

‘You are correct, but I can wish it. I will be incredibly unhappy if you go, and I may insist on coming with you,’ he told her. It was strange how they had flipped their conversation as of late. Zelphie was now the hot head and Rolan had learned to control his anger, he did it only for Zelphie. Everyone else bore the brunt of it. Poor Cal. ‘I will write to Florrick on your behalf, if you are feeling guilty, I know that’s why you are upset,’ he told her and she huffed. He was right, and that was annoying. This wasn’t an incredibly important journey, any ranger in the city could assist. Zelphie still felt like she owed her city something. He glanced up at her, waiting for her argument. She didn’t have one. She just didn’t like him telling her what to do. He was absolutely correct, but she was struggling to accept that. ‘I will write to Florrick,’ he settled and went back to his work. Zelphie stomped her foot and turned around to leave. ‘I love you,’ Rolan called and she grumbled back at him. She wanted to hit him. 

He was right, she had no right putting herself and others in danger. But what was the point of her anymore if she wasn’t to do anything? Besides a little check-up the next day, she had nothing. She could easily have stayed in Rolan’s office and either helped or learned something, but she was in a terrible mood. So, she would do what her body was telling her, go and eat.

Lia was in the kitchen, apparently having the same idea as Zelphie, she was picking at some sort of leg, probably a cow. Lia turned and looked at her, sucking something off of her thumb.

‘You look pissed,’ she said bluntly and Zelphie walked to the ice box and rummaged. She wanted something sour.

‘Because I am,’ she said back and Lia sighed.

‘When is your appointment again? Please tell me it’s in two minutes,’ she said and rolled her eyes and Zelphie shot a look at her. She slammed the ice box door and walked out of the kitchen and headed to the main living area. She should have gone to her room, since her mood was only getting worse, but that’s where she stomped off to. She sat on a large sofa and crossed her arms, angry as a toddler before their nap. Lajy wandered into the room, his tail up and curled over and he hustled to his mother. He always had impeccable timing. Zelphie broke down into tears and opened her arms for the cat, who purred in her lap and rubbed himself on her furiously. He was a lovely boy, terribly cuddly when he was needed.

‘You’re on my side, aren’t you Lajy?’ She asked the cat and she cried, rubbing his head. She laid on her side and cuddled him, crying and listening to him purr. ‘You don’t hate me, do you?’ She asked and the cat butted her head with his and she kissed his forehead. She just let herself cry and be comforted by the cat, looking down at her hand, rubbing her emerald for comfort. She knew deep down no one in the tower hated her. She was being very hard to live with. Still, for the past dozen days, Zelphie was no longer privy to the intelligent part of her brain. Only paranoid, raw emotions. She wasn’t alone for very long before Rolan appeared in the living room. She closed her eyes, refusing to look at him. She felt him walk over, his heavy robes making a low swishing sound with every footstep. He knelt down in front of her and placed a gentle hand on her head.

‘Would you enjoy a little fresh air with me?’ He asked her and she sniffed and opened her eyes. He looked so tired, but he was smiling at her.

‘Are you going for a walk?’ She asked him and he nodded.

‘I need to clear my head and air out my office. I hoped you would want to join me,’ he told her, knowing the exact right thing to say. She kissed Lajy’s head, still crying a little.

‘Come little one, walk with mummy and daddy,’ she said and Rolan’s smile grew. He stood up and helped her up. She hugged him tight as soon as she was up and she felt his arms around her. ‘I love you too, Rolan,’ she said and he laughed lightly and kissed her forehead.

The day went on like normal, Rolan did go back to his studies, but Zelphie felt better and had a cup of tea with Lia. The sisters teased each other and Lia got a little game going to try to see how many times she could make Zelphie laugh before Zelphie would either cry, lose control of her bladder, or at least fall over. Losing control of her bladder went first, and Zelphie excused herself for the night. 

In the morning, for her appointment Zelphie dressed in a light wrap dress for the cleric’s ease. Rolan brought the cleric up to their bedroom to inspect Zelphie. He genuinely hated bringing strangers up this far in the tower, but it was a medical necessity, he would allow it for Zelphie’s privacy. The cleric was an older woman, a human, which made Zelphie a little uncomfortable, but the woman was kind and soft.

‘Your husband told me all of your symptoms the other day, and normally I make my visits fast, but after we spoke, I really don’t think this is much of an emergency,’ she explained and placed her bag on the bed. ‘Go on and lay down for me,’ she said and Zelphie did as she was told. Rolan walked closer but attempted to stay out of the way. ‘Master Rolan says you are tired, emotional, you're up sick a lot?’ She asked and Zelphie nodded.

‘Yes,’ she said simply and the cleric laid both of her hands on Zelphie’s stomach and pressed gently. The woman smiled and closed her eyes. Zelphie instantly felt warm and a faint yellow glow appeared by the woman’s fingers and on Zelphie’s stomach. The glow and warmth went away after a moment and the woman laughed a little. ‘I don’t know you from the freckles on my elbow, but my guess is that this is your first, sweetie,’ she said softly. ‘You can get up now, we’re done here,’ she said and Zelphie frowned. She got up and looked at Rolan. ‘Actually, why don’t you two take a seat,’ she said and Rolan sat next to Zelphie and took her hand. Once all was settled, the woman clasped her hands together. ‘It’s my honor to tell you that you have a wee one on the way.’ Zelphie’s mind went blank. Rolan was looking down at her, the woman was still speaking, but she couldn’t get past that. A baby. A wee one. She was pregnant. How could that be? She couldn’t be a mother. No, not her. Lajy was her baby, not an actual baby. How could she have a baby?

The poor cleric was still speaking, but Zelphie wasn’t understanding anything. She placed a hand on her belly and looked over at Rolan, who was just staring at her. She couldn’t really read his face, his eye contact was intense and his jaw was a little tight. He looked as though he was going to pop. He looked back at the cleric and responded to a question she had asked, but Zelphie kept looking at him, at his profile. His strong brow, his sharp jaw, the way his fangs caught the light as he spoke. He was going to be a father, a father to her child. Not just any baby, hers. He had gotten her pregnant. She would make him a father. Rolan stood up and Zelphie blinked, taken out of her trance.

‘Well, this will be my most pleasant visit today, that is for certain,’ she said as Rolan walked her out.

‘I don’t think I could use those same words myself, your visit today was nothing short of a miracle. A visit for a lifetime, thank you,’ he said and the cleric left, quicker than she had come. With that little visit, Zelphie’s whole world had changed. The door to their bedroom shut and Rolan turned around. Zelphie stood off of the bed and walked over to him and he held up a hand to stop her. She stopped and was nervous. He walked over to her. ‘No more walking for you,’ he said and very quickly and with little effort, he scooped Zelphie up, cradling her and walking her right back to bed. She squeaked as she was lifted suddenly.

‘Rolan!’ She squealed and he placed her on the bed, but before anything else, he kissed her. He was happy. She was very happy but had almost forgotten about Rolan. She didn’t know if he wanted children, he had never seemed like a man who liked children. Though, that was a shallow thought. Rolan was a hero to all of the refuge tiefling children in Baldur’s Gate. It was he who saved all of them in the Shadowfell. He was obviously a family man, but a man who would coo over a little baby? She wasn’t so sure. A man who wanted a little one? She had no idea. Now she had some kind of feeling he might have wanted that. She wrapped her arms around his neck and laughed into their kiss.

‘Oh my darling, my love,’ he muttered, kissing her. ‘I can’t believe this, I knew it, but I still can’t believe it,’ he said, his voice shaking. She pulled away and placed her hands on his face. His face contorted and he sobbed. ‘I never ever thought this would be my life,’ he said through tears and hers followed immediately. ‘Thank you, thank you,’ he placed his forehead onto hers and she laughed as she cried.

‘Oh Rolan, I’m so happy. You really want a child? A little snotty baby that will grow into a grubby little toddler?’ She asked and his wavered smile just grew. He nodded.

‘If that child is my child with my Zelphie, by gods yes,’ he said and sniffed and she kissed him once more. Their lips crash together, all of their emotions coming out physically. As they kissed, Zelphie’s legs hooked around Rolan’s. Rolan sat up and with ease of his forefinger, unwrapped Zelphie’s dress. She bit her lip and looked up at him, but he was looking at her body. He placed his hand where the cleric had and Zelphie grinned. ‘Is she here?’ He asked softly, his voice shaking. She. Zelphie sniffed and took his hand and moved it down, under her navel. ‘Right, right, that makes sense,’ he said and leaned down. He kissed her skin and Zelphie could have melted. ‘Hello in there,’ he whispered and Zelphie was a puddle, crying again. This was a wonderful moment. She’d never been happier, not for a long, long time.

‘Oh Rolan,’ she said softly and ran her hand through his hair, but he wasn’t done talking to the hard little spot under her navel.

‘I hope you can hear me, you and I need to have a little chat. Listen, you’ve been making your mother an emotional wreck, and I won’t tolerate that kind of behavior in this home,’ he went off and Zelphie screamed a laugh. Rolan felt silly doing it, which was not something he ever liked doing, but it made her laugh. ‘You’ll behave or I promise I will come in there,’ he said and that sent Zelphie over the edge. She kicked, her tears now from the uncontrollable laughter.

‘Rolan! Stop!’ She begged through tears and laughter. He chuckled and crawled back up to her and kissed her neck, tickling her. ‘Rolan!’ She squealed and he lifted his head enough to speak into her ear.

‘I love you,’ he said and she wrapped her arms around him.

‘I love you more,’ she told him, and he nipped at her earlobe and she sighed happily. ‘Mmmm…when you bite me, it’s like a little brand, right?’ She asked and he hummed in response, nipping and kissing her skin. ‘And you always make sure it’s in an area I can hide, like my thigh or my back or my bum,’ she said and he hummed again. ‘Pretty soon, one of your little marks will be very hard to hide,’ she told him playfully and he lifted her head to look at her properly. ‘The baby,’ she explained and Rolan leaned down and kissed her lips. The baby would grow and it would become very obvious to everyone around. Zelphie was very happy about it, but Rolan would be warned that proof of their sex life was about to be public. Clearly, he didn’t care. She felt his finger loop around her underwear and pull on them gently. Zelphie lifted her hips so he could remove them. He kissed down her neck and she purred loudly for him. She was stupidly happy, delirious with joy. 

‘Oh,’ she cooed as she felt Rolan’s fingers in her middle. He was delicate with his fingers, careful of his claw as his forefinger stroked her. She was incredibly sensitive. That was just fine with Rolan. Her hips pushed against his fingers a little and she felt his fangs digging into her collarbone. She hissed and her hips bucked again. Her tail curled up between his legs and rubbed up against him. She cursed his robes, he always had to dress so well. He moaned softly but continued his work, stimulating her clit, and making a mess of her collarbone. She ground her hips and he chuckled.

‘Don’t you tell me you’re already so undone,’ he muttered and tutted playfully. She rubbed herself against him, begging for more. ‘My darling is soaking, is that what I do to you, hm?’

‘Yes Rolan, you ruin me,’ she whimpered. She was desperate. The phenomenal news was coursing through her and evolving into pure instinct. His dominance, taking complete control over her and the situation. She was turned on more than she could remember ever being. She was so in love with Rolan, but the added situation that he had impregnated her was scratching an itch she didn’t know she had. She always felt a flutter when Rolan showed off his power, magical and physical, but this? She’d never thought of him more powerful. It took two to make a baby, but in one action, Rolan changed her life for good. Forever.

‘Let us just see how sensitive my little wife is,’ he said and she whimpered. ‘Shhhh…no need to beg, I’m here,’ he said and kissed down her torso. She opened her eyes and looked down at him. He was so beautiful. She was hyper focused on his face as she breathed through the warm sensation she was feeling. His eyes flashed to hers as he lowered his face to her middle. She felt light headed. He ran his tongue firmly from her hole to her clitoris and her eyes rolled back into her heat. Just hearing him licking her, up and down, was sending her over the edge. Her tail was coiled tightly around his upper thigh. ‘So needy,’ he muttered, holding her thighs down and open for him. She sighed, as if gasped for air. She was terribly close.

‘Oh gods dammit,’ she muttered. That familiar tingle in her toes, a warmth rushed over her. He was barely doing a damn thing. His hands on her thigh refused to move as she attempted to writhe her hips and the legs. He did make sure now to just give her clot attention, his warm breath quick as his tongue. She wanted it but she was a little angry he had gotten her so quickly. ‘Rolan,’ she whimpered and grabbed one of his horns to brace herself, as he pinned her to the bed. Warm, wet ecstasy ran through her, gushing from her. Normally, Rolan would slow down, allowing her to ride out her orgasm, but his new ego wasn’t going to let her go. She kicked as he kept going. His one hand was holding down on her mound, making sure she didn’t slip from him, spreading her lips as he tormented her.

‘Relax,’ he whispered, not removing his mouth from her. Her hips bucked and she howled, her hips bucking, and he laughed.

‘Ro,’ she whimpered. He finally let her go and her body convulsed. Electricity shot out of her fingertips, little sparks and Rolan growled happily.

‘Beautiful, that’s my girl,’ he sat up and wiped his face. She caught her breath and he laughed again. ‘What a mess,’ he tutted and she felt the burn marks she had left on the sheets. She felt guilt, but her euphoria was so much higher. She caught her breath and he gently traced her thigh with his claw, making her shiver and twitch.

‘Rolan,’ she whimpered and he smiled. ‘Damn you,’ she said and he smirked. She placed her hand on her forehead. He just watched her, watched his work, reveling in what he had done to Zelphie. She looked up at him and tilted her head at him. ‘Are you going to make a mess with me?’ She asked. He was fully dressed, his hair was a little messier than before. He grinned and tilted his head back.

‘What do you mean by that?’ He asked her, his voice so soft and low. She pouted up at him. He laughed again. ‘Was that not enough?’ He asked her and got up on her elbows.

‘Are you going to make me beg? Me? Your pregnant wife?’ She asked and Rolan’s face fell. He cleared his throat and regained his composure. He knew she was guilting him, but the phrase his pregnant wife stopped his heart. He took her hand and leaned over to kiss it. Zelphie pulled his hand. She wanted to kiss him. She got what she wanted. His lips crashed to hers and she got her hand wedged between their bodies, finding his erection through his robes. He sighed softly into her mouth. He sat up a little, fussing with his robes, pushing them up enough so he could quickly enter her. Zelphie gasped, not thinking he wouldn’t even get undressed. He thrusted quickly, watching her bounce under him. ‘Fuck, fuck,’ she cried and Rolan placed his forehead on hers and she bit her bottom lip, keeping eye contact with him. ‘I love you, I love you,’ she whispered and he groaned, quickening his pace. This was perfect for her, Rolan selfishly rutting on her. He had the length, the girth and the texture of a teifling, so it felt incredible, but she liked it when he acted like this. Desperate, untamed. She couldn’t explain it, but him fucking her, desperate for an orgasm, for a release, it excited her to no end. The sounds he made, the way he held her, his claws in her hips. She could smell him. She closed her eyes and she felt his hand on her neck.

‘Look at me,’ he said, his voice gruff. Her orange eyes opened to see his yellow ones looking right back. His brows were knitted together in concentration. She kept eye contact until his eyes shut.

‘I love you,’ she told him, knowing he was close. ‘I love you, Rolan,’ she moaned and kissed his neck. His hand on her hip and his hand on her neck tightened. A guttural moan and shiver came from him and after two hard thrusts, he slowed dramatically. She leaned up to kiss him and he kissed her back, softly, he was spent. She giggled and rubbed her legs against his. He peppered her face with little kisses and she continued to giggle.

‘All mine, mine, mine,’ he whispered and she nuzzled her nose to his.

‘No, mine,’ she said and caught his lips once more. He sat up with a groan and gave her backside a little pat. 

‘Well, now that that is out of my system,’ he said and she laughed. He looked her over as he pulled his robes back down to cover himself again. ‘You and I have some planning and chatting to do,’ he said and she sat up with him, covering herself up.

‘Oh? Chatting about what?’ She asked him and reached over to fix a lock of his hair.

‘About you, and myself, we’re going to need to change how things are run here, certainly. I can have you in the shop still, but…’ he began and she frowned. Uhoh. ‘No more…excursions,’ he told her, it was a kind request, or demand, but Zelphie did frown. ‘I don’t want to argue about this, so please, let me explain myself. I’m not trying to control you, although, truly, sometimes I wish I could,’ he expressed and her brows furrowed. ‘But…you cannot be, you and I are very different people. You go and you have friends and you have your adventures, and I do love that about you. I love that we are different. You’ve shown me a different way of life. Since we met, you have shown me how to…’ he sighed and shook his head. ‘And I have tried to give you your life. I wish for you to do what you want, be independent, but now…’ Zelphie watched him carefully. Rolan was correct, as controlling and brooding as he was, the homebody, the sage, he did allow her whatever freedoms she wanted. She knew it killed him for her to be gone for days on end. Once or twice she had come back in worse shape than she had left and she knew he hated it. But he, as much as someone like Rolan could, bit his tongue. He had compromised with her every single time, with little arguments every once and a while. ‘I don’t-’ he cleared his throat and held her hands. ‘I don’t want to put you in a box, in a display case, don’t think that’s what I am asking. But…when I don’t know where you are, I can’t breathe,’ he said and rubbed her knuckles. Zelphie’s face softened a little.

‘I used to live worse than this,’ she assured him and he sighed.

‘I know, but that doesn’t mean you should go back. Would you be very happy if I returned to Avernus?’ He asked her quickly and she stared up at him. ‘I survived Avernus, so surely, I can survive everything, is that what you think?’ She shook her head. ‘I’m not saying you are not capable, but if capability meant one hundred percent success every single time…well, that can’t be. You will get hurt, you have gotten hurt. One day, that hurt might…’ he trailed off and chewed his lip. ‘Yesterday, losing you meant a lot of pain for me. And of course Lia and Cal and all of your friends, but I only cared about my pain. Now? Darling, I don’t want for our child what was given to us,’ he said and Zelphie just looked at him. She looked down for a moment. ‘When I picture myself as a parent, I picture myself giving every single thing on this planet I can to my child, would you promise the same?’

‘Of course I do,’ she said and her mind rattled. He was absolutely correct. She was preparing for a little fight, one where she would win, he couldn’t tell her what to do. She was not his caged pet, she was his partner. But his point, like usual, was logical. She was having a baby, making her a mother. Her priorities needed to shift. It wasn’t about her anymore, or even Rolan. She placed her hand on her lower belly. ‘I…you’re right,’ she said softly and she felt Rolan’s lips on her forehead.

‘And don’t think for a moment that I’m excluded in that. My work will take a step back. No longer will I be locked away in my study, all hours of the day, though, I will admit, I do need to take up reading on a subject I have yet to ever read on,’ he said with a chuckle. ‘I’ll be more present, I’ll make you sick of me,’ he told her and she smiled a little.

‘I suppose the man with every script written in Faerun needs to go book shopping,’ she said and he laughed.

‘Indeed,’ he said and rubbed her hand.

‘I promise to…act a bit more like a mother might,’ she said and Rolan shook his head.

‘You already have fantastic maternal instincts,’ he told her and she smiled a little. ‘You are the most loving person I have ever met, giving selfless. The reason you want for your adventures is to help others,’ he explained and she buried her face in his shoulder and he laughed again. ‘Don’t feel like you need to give me any credit either,’ he said as he wrapped his arms around her. Zelphie laughed and shook her head.

‘You know well enough you have much more parental instinct than I do,’ she said and looked up at him. ‘You at least know what family feels like, I’m very new to it, and I only have it because of you,’ she told him and he leaned down to kiss her. 

‘And before anything else, there is one more thing I would like to ask you,’ he said and Zelphie just looked up at him. ‘Before you become the only one in this whole tower entitled to ask for anything, of course,‘ he said and she couldn’t help but roll her eyes. ‘Could we tell Cal and Lia?’ He asked and she blinked a few times, waiting for the favor. It never came, that was it. She threw back her head and laughed.

‘Yes! You idiot!’ She laughed and he grinned. She stood up quickly, fixing herself, her linen dress completely ruined by their little romp. He got up with her and helped her and she fixed his cowl. ‘They probably already know,’ she said and the couple walked out hand in hand. Cal and Lia most certainly already knew. Everyone knew. Zelphie knew very well, as did Rolan. They knew about her appointment, and were waiting impatiently in the sitting room. Lia had her arms crossed and was pacing. Cal was staring out a window. They both swiveled to Rolan and Zelphie’s attention when they entered. Cal hurried right over, his eyes darting between his brother and sister-in-law.

‘Well?’ He asked and Zelphie’s heart beat quickly. Zelphie looked up at Rolan. She was going to burst, but they were his siblings. He would have the honors. Rolan smiled and looked down at Zelphie and then over to his brother and sister. He opened his mouth to speak, but Lia jumped in.

‘YOU’RE PREGNANT!’ She shouted and put her hands over her mouth. Usually Lia was boisterous, but that had clearly been an exciting accident. Thank goodness she had been correct.

‘Yes, thank you, Lia,’ Rolan said, his face falling into an annoyed frown. Lia enveloped her brother into a hug quickly and Rolan hugged her back. Zelphie watched the pair before she got her own hug, a big one from Cal. Zelphie hugged him back.

‘Thank you for making me an uncle,’ he said happily and Lia squealed, hugging Rolan tighter and he groaned.

‘Aunt Lia and Uncle Cal! Oh! And mommy and daddy, oh I can not believe it!’ She squealed and kissed Rolan’s cheeks. Rolan got out of her hug and pushed her away gently.

‘Would you give me a little room for air?’ He asked his sister, who just took to hugging Zelphie. Zelphie welcomed the hugs and kisses and Cal hugged Rolan. Zelphie just hugged Lia tight.

‘Good thing you two didn’t have a wedding, saves money for baby, oh I’m so excited! When? How far along are you? Oh! Are you feeling alright? You should sit,’ Lia rambled and Zelphie laughed.

‘I don’t know, I didn’t ask, it feels early though,’ she said as Lia pulled her to sit on the couch. ‘But I’m fine, a little tired, but fine. Not like I thought it would be,’ she said and looked up at Rolan, who was just beaming.

‘I’ll go get something bubbly from the kitchen,’ Cal said and then faltered a little. ‘Oh, uhm…can..c-can you have something bubbly?’ He asked and Zelphie grinned.

‘No, no she can’t,’ Rolan said and Zelphie huffed. Rolan looked down at her. ‘And I won’t either,’ he said before she could argue. Lia sat with Zelphie and put a hand in hers.

‘Then none of us will, it’s fine,’ she said and squeezed Zelphie’s hand.

‘You three are absolutely too much,’ Zelphie sighed. She was incredibly lucky.

For the next few days, Zelphie and Rolan could be called obsessed with their new journey. Rolan spent a lot of money on not only items for the baby, but many things for Zelphie as well, different potions and foods and drinks and oils for her to keep strong, happy and healthy. If Zelphie had thought he was overbearing before, she’d never thought about him like this. A lot of it was too much for her to deal with, hovering over her like a hawk, giving her unwanted advice over everything, like he usually was but harder. Though, it came with a lot of perks, like taking care of her and being around more often. Rolan’s sexual appetite was still alive and well, but he was so much softer and caring. He was very caring, nurturing to Zelphie, taking care of her in the bath, rubbing her back and staying by her side when she was sick, massaging her before bed, all of it. She certainly wouldn’t complain as she was pampered.

A hot afternoon hit Baldur’s Gate as Zelphie was obsessing over what was her previous room. She had used the room for about twenty days in total before sharing a bedroom with Rolan, now it was just a room for her privacy. It went unused mostly. Zelphie was now found here most of the time. Lajy was with her as she was tending to a little garden area on the balcony. Tiefling babies had a very careful diet, and Zelphie was very happy to grow herbs and vegetables to help with the little ones’ diet and health. Six months wasn’t the longest time to plan. In the corner of the bedroom, Zelphie’s mage hands were knitting a yellow blanket. She was also very happy to make things for the little one, where Rolan would purchase. Some things Zelphie couldn’t make, but a few pillows and blankets and nappies were doable. A knock on the door and Zelphie stood up to see Lia in the doorway.

‘Hey, I was hoping we could go for a walk?’ Lia suggested and Zelphie smiled and nodded.

‘I would love that, all done for today?’ She asked and wiped her hands of dirt and Lia nodded.

‘Yes, and the last couple that came in did me in, they were bitching about every single thing in the world, I need to cool off,’ she said and Zelphie grinned.

‘Did you bite their heads off?’ She asked, removing her apron and Lia laughed.

‘You know I’ll get in trouble, so I just gave them to Cal and walked away,’ she said and Zelphie snickered.

‘Oh, and I’m sure they’re in love with him now,’ she said and Lia nodded. The two left the tower and began their walk down the Upper City. 

‘I could have scratched their eyes out!’ Lia was still going on about the older couple who had come into the shop. Zelphie was just letting her rant, that was all that was needed. Zelphie worked with the public before and had her share of stories about problem customers. Though, some of her problem customers would have been abusers, so Zelphie would keep those stories to herself. She never told Cal and Lia about her previous work, before the kidnapping. She had barely mentioned it to Rolan once and he almost lost it.

‘Maybe one of these days you should, what did they even want?’ Zelphie asked, getting a little distracted with the smell of food in the marketplace. Her tail curled up a little.

‘I couldn’t tell you if I tried, it was as if every single time they asked a question and I answered them, they were looking for something completely new! It was awful, I’m working the counter tomorrow, fuck Rolan’s unperson,’ she said and Zelphie snorted.

‘Hellspawn!’

From the crowded rows of people, a few onlookers decided to take time out of their day to terrorize the tieflings. Rocks were thrown at their feet. Normally, Zelphie wouldn’t leave the Upper City for this reason, though racism was strong in all of Baldur’s Gate, the Upper City residents usually never shouted or got violent. They were not kind, but never violent. Today was different, for some reason. Lia wiped her head to find two men, calling at them, more putrid words of hate. Lia reached down for the thrown stones but Zelphie held her back.

‘Lia! No, no no, come on, leave it,’ she begged, pulling in Lia. Lia resisted, always in the mood for a fight, but after stress from work, she was like a time bomb.

‘I’ll show you Hellspawn!’ She shouted back at them.

‘Lia! Stop! Don’t fight back,’ Zelphie begged. Normally, Zelphie would live to fight back, but it was common knowledge that if either one of them got into a public fight, they would be arrested. Tieflings just weren’t welcome anywhere. ‘Think of your brother,’ she said and Lia put her hand down, dropping the rock. ‘Thank you, come on, come on, let’s find something to drink,’ she said and pulled Lia from the crowd. Lia grumbled and Zelphie held her close as they walked. ‘I know, trust me, I know,’ she said.

‘Fucking two tieflings saving the goddamned world wasn’t enough for those people?’ Lia went on, she sounded like she was going to cry. Zelphie laughed.

‘Unfortunately, one of those tieflings took her tiefling family and gave them the best real estate in the city. That on its own is a crime. They only mourn Karlach because she died. A dead tiefling is a behaved tiefling,’ Zelphie went on and Lia sighed. ‘For your brother’s sake, we really have to behave. His ownership of the tower can very well be easily contended, don’t give them any excuse, Lia,’ she said and walked Lia into a beautiful tavern, the Vicor, to try and steal her nerves. Zelphie wasn’t doing too well either, she was very easily rattled lately, so this little hide was for both her and Lia.

‘I’m doing it for your sake,’ Lia said as they sat down. ‘I don’t give a rat’s ass about the tower,’ she grumbled and Zelphie shook her head.

‘Liar,’ she said and Lia huffed. ‘I mean it, the tower means everything to all of us. It’s safety. It’s growth, literally. You’d be very upset if you couldn’t live there anymore, I know that,’ she said as a barmaid walked over. Zelphie ordered water and lemon and Lia ordered an ale.

‘I’d rather no one throw rocks at us in the street,’ she hissed and Zelphie nodded.

‘I like to think once my belly gets a little bigger they might stop…but I doubt it,’ Zelphie said and reached over for Lia’s hand. ‘Might get worse…I never used to get that around here though,’ she muttered and Lia nodded.

‘Maybe there really is no place for us,’ Lia grumbled.

The two settled over a drink. Lia went back to complaining about her work, and then the topic lightened to talk about the baby. Lia was very excited. She was convinced all of her normal anger would manifest into love for the new little one. Lia asked twice if it was already kicking, which sent Zelphie into a fit of giggles each time. Of course not, two months would not a kicking baby make. Zelphie paid and left extra, to Lia’s annoyance, but Zelphie would always do it. Maybe one day it would soften the hearts of Baldur’s Gate to tieflings. At least the privileged ones. They continued their walk, and were heading home when Zelphie noticed a little something odd. A newspaper hawker  was shouting out a headline, something about a new guest from Neverwinter. Zelphie walked over to the young boy, who immediately stopped his little performance.

‘Oh, ah…you want a paper, miss?’ He asked and Zelphie smiled.

‘Absolutely, I can’t believe I didn’t know about some dignitary visit,’ she said and handed the little one a gold piece.

‘Oh, well, I uhm…you aren’t one of those tiefling wizards, are you?’ The boy asked and Zelphie frowned. ‘From the tower?’ He asked and Zelphie nodded.

‘Yes I am,’ Zelphie said and the boy frowned.

‘You shouldn’t buy this paper, miss,’ he said softly. ‘They didn’t write anything good about you in it,’ he said and Lia laughed.

‘Oh! Finally, a paper that doesn’t mention Zelphie’s heroism, Baldur’s Gate is healing,’ she said and Zelphie looked at Lia.

‘I don’t think that’s what he meant,’ she said and looked back down, holding her hand out. ‘I’ll take my paper, please,’ she said and the boy gave her the paper.

‘Just don’t be angry with me, they just pay me to sell it,’ he said and Zelphie nodded and she and Lia walked a little. Zelphie began to read through the paper, skimming until the third page.

‘Oh for fucks sake,’ she muttered and pulled onto Lia’s hand so they could hustle back to the tower. ‘This is why those brutes felt so bold earlier,’ Zelphie muttered, handing Lia the paper. The two entered the tower quickly, brushing past the entrance and there he was. The paper had an article from a guest writer, a writer who wanted Rolan and his family removed from Ramazith’s Tower. The writer had a few opinions on Rolan, one being he was a brutal homicidal maniac who killed Lorroakan in cold blood, for no other reason than his infernal blood. Tieflings were never lucky, tieflings did not rise to the top, clearly, this was devil work.

Rolan didn’t look up at his sister or wife when they entered. He had read the paper, Zelphie could tell. He was staring at the floor, his hands behind his back. Zelphie walked over to him and reached out for him.

‘Ro,’ she whispered and he slowly looked her in the eye. ‘Ro, it doesn’t matter,’ she told him and he shook his head, looking back down at the ground.

‘When will we ever be safe?’ He asked her softly. ‘I’ve put a target on our backs,’ he continued and Zelphie shook her head.

‘It’s one person out of thousands, please, Rolan, don’t think like that. We are incredibly safe, because of you,’ she told him, placing a hand on his cheek. ‘No one can come here, no one, me and Lia and Cal are safe because of you. And we have the power of the Council on our side, Rolan. They can’t take this from us,’ she continued, but knew there would be nothing that could put him at ease. The truth was, Rolan, along with others including Zelphie, had murdered the rightful owner of the tower. Rolan did not have any right to claim this historical building, other than he defeated its master.

‘That won’t stop a revolution in the streets,’ Rolan said and Zelphie frowned.

‘It will, I will write to Duke Ravengard, he will fix this,’ she told him and that seemed to irritate him.

‘He can’t just keep being our hero, Zelphie,’ he snapped. ‘I broke it, I must fix it,’ he argued and she scowled.

‘No Rolan! You can’t keep thinking that this is Elturel or Avernus, we live in a community now. A thriving community,’ she argued back. ‘Sometimes you are entitled to being helped,’ she told him and he sighed.

‘Zelphie is right, Rolan. You can help this family by asking for help. This isn’t going to be solved with the four of us alone. When Zelphie and I were on our walk, these two men-‘ Zelphie whipped around and hushed Lia. Rolan looked up at Lia and his brows knitted together. 

‘What?’ He asked and Zelphie sighed.

‘Gods dammit, Lia,’ she scowled, but Lia continued.

‘They were shouting at us and were throwing rocks, I’m sure this article had something to do with it,’ Lia said and Zelphie glared at her. She didn’t enjoy keeping things from Rolan, but he was already in a state, she would eventually tell him. Eventually.

‘Who was this?’ He asked quickly and Lia shrugged.

‘Just two men, trust me, I tried to fight back, but Zelphie refused. Good thing too, as it might have proven this writer’s point,’ she sighed and Rolan looked down at Zelphie.

‘Are you hurt?’ He asked and she shook her head.

‘No, they had bad aim,’ she said and Lia laughed. ‘It’s not the worst thing someone has hurled at me,’ she reassured Rolan, who was not very reassured. He sighed, but he nodded and looked back down at the floor. Zelphie looked at the spot he was staring at. She knew that spot very well. It was the last place his old master had been, where his corpse had lain. Her hand left his cheek and she took his hand. She didn’t know what to say to him as he reached up and rubbed his temple.

‘I need…to think,’ he said and looked at Zelphie, who frowned but nodded.

‘Call for me if you need me,’ she told him, assuming he would want to be alone. He looked at her in silence for a moment and nodded. ‘I love you,’ she told him and he leaned down to kiss her forehead. He grasped the side of her head tightly as he did so, and it broke her heart when he walked away.

‘He’ll be fine,’ Lia told Zelphie, who just nodded and shook her head.

‘I know, I know, I just hate to see him so upset that he won’t even argue,’ she said and Lia smiled.

‘Sometimes I forget how well you fit into our family,’ she said and Zelphie smiled at her.

Zelphie continued to tend to her little garden after a ‘light’ snack, a whole six ounce slab of beef. Lajy brought her a dead mouse. At least one of them was productive that day. While Zelphie had her fingers in the soil, she felt a little buzzing on her finger. She lifted her hands and stared at her right hand. Her wedding ring was buzzing, humming. She looked at it curiously. Then she heard something. She held her hand close to her pointed ear and listened. The ring, while humming and buzzing, was crying. Crying? How could it be crying? Why was it crying? Why did it sound like Rolan? Zelphie looked at her ring again, just as she did at least once a day, but really inspected it. She waved her left hand over it, trying to see if she could feel whatever magic might be causing this. There was magic, but nothing that Zelphie could recognize. She walked out of her room and the crying got louder. She opened her bedroom door, it was empty. She walked upstairs and heard the crying get louder. It was certainly Rolan. She walked to his study, and the ring got louder. She knocked gently and then opened the door.

‘Rolan?’ She called and walked in. She looked at his desk and saw Rolan hunched over it, sobbing. A half drunk glass of wine beside him. She walked over to him quickly. ‘Oh Rolan, my love,’ she called and wrapped her arms around him. He heaved a loud sob. ‘Oh my darling,’ she muttered and knelt next to him. He had his head buried in his arms. He placed a hand on her shoulder. ‘Hey, hey look at me,’ she told him softly.

‘I-I c-can’t do a damn thing,’ he sobbed and lifted his head. Zelphie hugged him tight and kissed the side of his face. ‘I can’t save us,’ he sobbed into her neck, holding her a little too tightly.

‘Shhh….we are okay, we are okay. You know where I was just a moment ago?’ She asked as he just cried into her shoulder. She felt awful. She had seen him cry to himself twice before, but this was something different. He was devastated and stressed beyond measure. ‘I was tending the baby’s garden, out of the balcony. I couldn’t have been more safe, I was so happy, tending that garden, thinking about all we have, my family. You’ve already made me safe, Rolan. If you didn’t bring me here, if you didn’t love me so much, I’d be selling myself on the streets of the Lower City,’ she told him and he sobbed harder. That was the truth, but she probably should have kept it to herself. ‘My life is so, so much better and safer than it ever was, even before my kidnapping. Because of you and Cal and Lia. So when I see you so upset over my safety, it boggles my mind,’ she told him. She rubbed his back, her heart was truly breaking for him. ‘Oh Rolan, I’m sorry,’ she whispered. She wanted to make him feel happy once more, but whether this alone was truly killing him, or was the last straw in a list of stressors, she knew a few words weren’t going to make him feel better.

She stayed right there, kneeling in front of him, letting him just cry. It was awful, but he needed it, and she wouldn’t stop him. This was her job, to support and cherish him. She was very happy to do everything she could for him, so she would be his handkerchief and diary whenever he needed her. She just rubbed his back and kissed his forehead.

‘Come on, let me get you more comfortable, Rolan,’ she pleaded. This wasn’t comfortable for her, she couldn’t imagine how comfortable he was, hunched over. She got him to his feet and walked him to their bedroom. Their bedroom, amongst all of the chaos these last days have brought, stayed mainly the same with one small additional, a cradle. Well, some of a cradle. Rolan had been working on assembling one with a lot of help from Cal. Rolan wasn’t exactly good with laborious activity, but he was incredibly picky and Cal had to deal with Rolan’s vision while he did the actual labor. It was a little on the massive side, nothing that Zelphie would have chosen personally, but she never gave any negative input. She didn’t mind at all, as long as baby was safe. She loved that he was working so diligently on the cradle, she loved watching him fuss over it.

‘I’m so sorry, I don’t know why I can’t shake this, all of this,’ he said miserably, walking to his side table for a handkerchief and blew his nose loudly into it.

‘Rolan, please don’t apologize, after everything we all went through in this past year, I don’t blame you. When was the last time you cried?’ She asked him. ‘Really cried because of stress?’

‘When Cal and Lia were captured, and then again when I almost died in that godforsaken Shadow curse. Only to be saved by you,’ he told her. Zelphie walked over to him and helped him with his robe. She wanted him in bed, without a care in the outside world. He deserved a good cry, a glass of water and a cuddle.

‘Everyone deserves saving, Rolan, especially you,’ she told him softly.

‘But how am I to ever pay you back for what you have done? How many times did you save my ragged tail since we met?’ He asked, sounding so desperate, as if he wanted her to berate him.

‘As many times as you absolutely needed it. And it wasn’t just me, my love. When Cal and Lia were taken I had…six, SIX other people also helping! And I would have dragged you down into those dungeons with me if you were cursed with a tadpole, I promise,’ she told him and reached up to hold his face. ‘You’re damned powerful, especially when you are angry. But we couldn’t bring Halsin or Jaheira there for a reason.’

‘And Lorroakan…’ his voice cracked and Zelphie shouted a laugh.

‘Oh that mother fucker? I hit him maybe once before you and the angel got to him, I don’t want credit for that,’ she told him and laughed and there it was. He was still crying, face wet with dark red blotches, but he smiled a little. She leaned up and gave him a little kiss, tasting the salt of his tears on his lips. That would do for now.

‘You are my angel,’ he said softly and hugged her. She hugged him back quickly and she kissed his cheek.

‘And you are mine,’ she told him softly, her tail cooling around his ankle. ‘I don’t know what I would be without you, Rolan,’ she told him softly and his grip got a little tighter.

‘Do you really mean that?’ He whispered and she nodded.

‘Yes, yes with all my heart,’ she told him and the couple stood in a hug for a moment. Rolan had calmed down considerably, at least with his sobbing. He had little hiccups, she would fetch him some water. ‘Rolan?’ She asked softly and he hummed. ‘Are our wedding rings sending stones?’ She asked and his grip on her loosened. He pulled away enough to look at her.

‘Yes, yes they are…I…’ he began and she looked up at him. ‘They won’t work to track your general whereabouts, but…if you rub it, I will know where you are,’ he told her. She had only rubbed her ring when she was terribly upset and needed him. And each time he appeared to comfort her. ‘Stupidly, I got lucky today, you’re as smart as a whip, figuring that out yourself,’ he told her and she tilted her head.

‘Why didn’t you tell me?’ She asked him and he bit his lip and shrugged. ‘Rolan,’ she urged him and he shook his head.

‘I don’t know…when we exchanged them a lot was going on, I forgot and then when I wanted to tell you you weren’t around and…I don’t know. I did not mean to keep it from you,’ he said and sighed. ‘And…after you used it the first time, I sort of assumed you knew what it was, or I was happy to think that you might have thought-‘

‘That you could show up when I needed you?’ She asked and he winced.

‘Yes,’ he said and looked away. Zelphie frowned and looked at him. She didn’t know how she felt about that. A flash of her Dream Figure showed up in her mind, The Emperor. ‘It wasn’t the intention, I promise…I’m sorry,’ he said and looked back down at her. ‘If you want the stone removed, just tell me, I’ll understand,’ he said and she shook her head.

‘No, no, I genuinely don’t mind it, it is incredibly handy. I don’t mind you knowing where I am…it just,’ she said and shrugged. ‘Is there anything else you wish to tell me, Rolan?’ She asked him and he sighed through his nose.

‘I don’t think so,’ he told her softly and she nodded.

‘Can you teach me how to use it?’ She asked and he smiled and nodded.

‘Of course,’ he told her and leaned down to kiss her. She kissed him back. He held her close again and she wrapped her arms around his neck, her fingers playing with his hair. It was getting pretty long. She would never ever tell him that she preferred it this long, she would just compliment it. If he ever wanted to cut it, she wouldn’t fight, but she did secretly love it long and down. Her fingers played with the little knot keeping it half up and she felt him laughing against her lips. ‘Like a cat with a toy,’ he told her and nuzzled her face.

‘Sorry, I like playing with it,’ she told him and he smiled.

‘I have no complaints,’ he reassured her and she grinned.

‘Let’s get you into bed,’ she told him and as unusual as that would be for Rolan, he didn’t put up a fight. He had drunk three glasses of wine and cried for about an hour. He was ready for a lie down, for certain. He climbed in and she poured him a glass of water and handed it to him.

‘Thank you,’ he said and she smiled at him.

‘Do you need anything else? Lajy cuddles?’ She asked him and he raised his eyebrow at her as he drank his water. He finished his drink and shook his head.

‘Lajy would be fine, but I better be getting you in this bed,’ he said and her tail thumped happily. ‘Unless your little herb garden is more important.’

‘Little herb garden?’ She asked and placed her hands on her hips. ‘Don’t you patronize me,’ she said and he chuckled as she climbed in next to him. ‘Are you feeling a little better? I know I can’t fix it, and I hate that I can’t,’ she told him, getting under the covers. Rolan enveloped her into his arms quickly. He brought her to lay on his chest as he sat back on pillows. He kissed her forehead.

‘I do, thank you. And now, all I want is to hold what is precious to me. I don’t know what will happen in the future, and that is killing me. But for this moment, my pregnant wife is here, and she is safe, and that’s all that I want,’ he told her and placed his face in her hair, his jaw fitting very well in between her horns. She nuzzled into his neck, just relaxing. He was so warm, like a pile of burning charcoal. She loved it.

‘Lia asked me if I know if the baby is a boy or girl again today,’ she said and he laughed loudly.

‘I’ll make her do more homework tomorrow,’ he told her and she laughed, knowing that Rolan can assign Lia to read a million books about the biology of a tiefling pregnancy and she wouldn’t read a single sentence. She was just ready to hold the little bundle.

‘I might just lie to her next time she asks,’ Zelphie said and Rolan laughed again.

‘Don’t you dare, you’ll just create another headache if you are wrong,’ he told her and she smirked.

‘A headache for you, maybe,’ she said and she felt Rolan’s hand on her tail, and he pulled it playfully, making her laugh. ‘I want to know too, I’m so impatient, I cannot wait for our little one to be here,’ she told him and he gave her a little squeeze.

‘I would say I’m the same, but I’m not ready yet. There is still a lot to do,’ he said and sighed. ‘Still so much that I don’t know,’ he said and she laughed.

‘I don’t know if you’ll know everything before they come, darling. Babies are very fickle creatures,’ she said and he huffed.

‘Infuriating,’ he muttered. She lifted her head slowly and smiled at him.

‘Knowing you, I can assure you, any spawn of yours will be incredibly infuriating,’ she said and he scowled.

‘Oh, oh my darling, kettle, pot,’ he said bluntly. Zelphie laughed at his grumpy face. ‘I mean it, you are the most infuriating person I know,’ he said and she continued to laugh, wrinkling her nose. This was fun Rolan, sassy Rolan. He was feeling better. ‘I cannot wait for the headaches your child will give me,’ he said and she howled. ‘Getting into places and business they don’t belong, making a mess of every room in the tower,’ he said and she continued to cackle and he let up and laughed with her. He nuzzled her and sighed out. ‘And I will be so happy.’

[mossfilledskull]

Mildly embarrassed to admit that this edit is what sparked my fixation on classic rock

I see one tiktok and go “holy fucking shit! There’s no way THATS David Bowie?!” Only to find the concert clips and YES INDEED, it’s David Bowie (Tin Machine performing Heavens in Here at Fever Wolverhampton, February 11, 1991)

I’ve always listened to classic rock, I grew up hearing it, but up until I saw that tiktok I was straight up goth. The Sisters of Mercy on repeat and a full face of trad goth with v bangs and platform boots, the whole shebang. I was goth for years, and alternative for even longer.

I used to make fun of Beatles fans, now I wear bell bottoms and flowy shirts.

My top five streamed artists of all time are now The Rolling Stones, The Beatles, The Who, The Doors, and Pink Floyd.

The other day Spotify tried to make me listen to Lorna Shore again and I skipped it because I missed Paul McCartney’s voice.

Are you kidding me? Me three years ago was bordering on the line of a metal elitist, and here I am listening to Temporary Secretary on repeat nonstop for days on end.

I used to be cool!

I had a sick ass hair!!

That pic in the middle with the choker was me the night I went to see Nosferatu. That was only a few months ago!

I’m still cool as fuck but like…what the hell happened?

[princess-oakenshield]

Let Me Love You - Chapter 9 “So Let Me Get This Straight…”

FilixOC, with side KilixOC and ThorinxOC. SPOILERS FOR BOTFA! After the three die, they wake up and find themselves in modern day NYC. They are taken in by three sisters.

Mattea’s POV

“…So, let me get this straight,” I said slowly, staring at the three massive, battle-worn men in front of me. “You’re warriors. From another world. Who died. And then woke up in an alley in Manhattan.”

The blond one—Fili, he said his name was—nodded earnestly.

“We do not know how,” Thorin—the tall, scary, royal one—said gravely. “But we are not from your lands. We were in battle. I remember falling. Then… nothing. Until we woke here.”

“Uh-huh,” I repeated. “And you speak perfect English.”

Fili frowned. “We do not know what ‘English’ is. We speak the Common Tongue. This one.” He gestured to his mouth.

I tilted my head. “Right. So, not just delusional—magically bilingual, too.”

Kili, the youngest one, flashed a hopeful grin. “You’re not running. That’s good, right?”

“Oh, I want to,” I muttered, folding my arms, “but something tells me you three would probably just follow me and end up accidentally kidnapping someone again.”

“We deeply regret that,” Thorin said at once. “We would not have harmed you.”

“I mean, you did cover my mouth and shove me against a wall—”

“We thought you were a soldier!” Kili cried, horrified.

I sighed loudly. “Look. I don’t know what’s going on here. Maybe you’re three weirdly committed method actors. Maybe this is an elaborate prank, and there’s a camera crew around the corner. Or maybe I hit my head and this is all a fever dream.” I paused. “But I do know one thing.”

They leaned in.

“You clearly need help.”

They looked… surprised. Like that hadn’t occurred to them.

I exhaled. “Okay. Humor me. Say I believe you. Say you really are who you say you are. What can you do? Like—skills. Do you have any actual, you know… job potential?”

They exchanged glances. Then Fili cleared his throat and stepped forward.

“I can craft weapons, armor, tools—anything from metal or stone. I can hunt, track, fight, and I know how to handle horses.”

“I can shoot a squirrel from a hundred paces!” Kili added brightly. “With a bow. I’m fast, and I’m good at climbing. And I’ve got great reflexes. Oh—and I’m good with people! Usually.”

Thorin crossed his arms. “I can command troops, build fortifications, defend a stronghold, and lead in battle. I also speak five tongues of Middle-earth.”

“…None of that is helpful in New York,” I said blankly.

They looked like puppies who’d just been told no.

I ran a hand through my hair, sighing. “Okay. Okay. Look. I shouldn’t even be thinking about this, but… I just had my hours cut, my sisters and I are barely scraping by, and I’ve got bills and no backup plan. So here’s what we’re gonna do.”

They straightened like soldiers.

“You’re gonna follow me. Quietly. No stabbing anyone. And no alley tackling. Got it?”

All three nodded solemnly.

“I’m going to bring you home. My sisters are going to kill me,” I added under my breath. “Like, actual murder. But maybe—maybe—if you help us out around the house, and find some sort of work, we can figure something out.”

“You would take us in?” Fili asked, hopeful.

“Don’t make it sound wholesome,” I grumbled. “You still kidnapped me.”

“Fair,” Kili muttered.

I started walking out of the alley, the three of them following behind like confused bodyguards.

“This is a terrible idea,” I muttered to myself. “Like, next-level terrible. I’m bringing three armed lunatics home. And I thought my Tuesday was bad before.”

But I didn’t stop walking.

And neither did they.

[pbaz7]

Yayyy I’m so excited! I can’t wait to see what it is we have all been waiting for? I’m drunk so I can’t think what that is but excited anyways

heated

- bestie a typo in the first sentence?

Can I ask you something beautiful?"

- now what will this love drunk question be

Um when we were just…you know. You said..." Paige swallowed, her voice barely able to be heard. "You said you wanted to have my kids. You for real baby?"

- now I hope she said that outside of sex because what does hug anon say? SEX TALK DOESNT COUNT!!

Baby, you gotta ask me when I can think straight and we can talk about it...I can't even feel my legs right now and my entire body feels like static."

- exavtlyyyu

she wrapped her arms around Azzi's waist and picked her up effortlessly, spinning them both a few times

- this is so 1940s soldier’s wife coded

“I meant it," she said simply. "About wanting to have kids…Kids with you,” she clarifies. “It’s something I want. I’ve been thinking about it.”

- baby fever is back. You are lucky I’ve just returned from the bar so I can’t run back and get pregnant

Paige laughed softly, pressing a kiss to Azzi’s temple. “You thought I was gonna say no or sum?”

- she wants a whole starting five

You say the word, I’ll put a baby in you tonight mama

- Paige I know that uconn education did at least cover basic biology.

Azzi laughed, her head dropping against Paige’s shoulder as she playfully slapped her stomach.

- not her zendaya laughing at her girls stupidity

MA!” Lukas giggled as he barreled into them, his arms wrapping around Paige’s and Azzi’s sides.

- now are you SURE you want more kids?

But you’re not an auntie,” Lukas argued, frowning. “You love my ma. And she loves you. That means we all love each other, right?”

- kids are so smart

Azzi’s it for me. I want to build a life with her.”

- so cute

You’re gonna make it up to me,” Azzi whispered, a small smile forming on her face.

- happy wife happy life

He tilted his head, squinting. “Why you standing like that?”

- I wonder I wonder

Until a few days before the proposal.

- I fucking hate problems

Good morning, love. I had a few last-minute things to do this morning. I brought Lukas with me so you can rest. There’s breakfast downstairs waiting for you. I’ll love you forever and always, Azzi Fudd. -P

- so adorable

These are for every single day we've been together that I haven’t given you flowers. And probably a few extras for the days ahead, just to be safe. I hope you like forever, Azzi Fudd—because I’m planning on it with you. -Madison

- not the middle name, I actually love it it suits her so much

Azzi let out a quiet laugh, shaking her head. “Of course,” she murmured, her cheeks warming at the thought of Paige choosing it just so she could see her in it.

- Paige not special for that

It was plain, save for the engraving on it—the handwriting wobbly and earnest: “I love you, Mom.”

- oh my gosh I’m crying

Paige sat casually in one of the leather seats, legs crossed at the ankle.

- I know she’s not feeling casual

That thing you do with your tongue…makes me see stars every time,” she says smoothly, locking eyes with her.

- I mean maybe not what she meant but

That’s not me spoiling you,” she says, eyes darkening just enough. “That’s just me fucking you right.”

- amen

Spread out in front of her was the horizon, the sun kissing the edge of the mountains in a blaze of orange, gold, and soft pink and purple. A still lake shimmered beneath it all, catching every color like glass. The sky stretched endlessly, painted in strokes of color that seemed too perfect to be real.

- oh my god it’s happening

“I remember the first time I saw you,” she whispered. “At that coffee shop. You looked so fucking perfect holding my son. I swear, I saw you and the whole room just—blurred. I couldn’t take my eyes off of you.”

- the baby fever is struggling

another who’s so much like you that I won’t stand a chance

- she really won’t

The ink had faded slightly with time, but the outline of their orders, the timestamp, and the scribbled heart Paige had drawn on the back to prove she was romantic were all still visible.

- that is fucking adorable

Made that stupid-ass joke about being worth more than $6.32 worth of coffee when I made a joke about taking you to my car.”

- oh how they have changed

You would’ve cried if I said no,” making Paige grin and nudge her playfully.

- she’s laughing but she literally would have died

Paige’s voice was barely above a whisper. “I can feel your ring, that's all.”

- can’t decide whether this is hot or adorable or both

This was incredible oh my gosh. Can the wedding be super soon and then kids like the week after please. I’m usually a big marriage then no kids life and then kids advocate but NOT THIS TIME. I need it moving fast pleaseeeeee. This was beautiful and you know I love some good old baby fever. So thoughtful and I love all the little details you added. Beautiful. Hope you are well, update soon!

- 🫂🫂🫂

bestie a typo in the first sentence?

what was the sentence ??😭

exavtlyyyu

can tell you’re drunk from this alone

baby fever is back. You are lucky l've just returned from the bar so l can't run back and get pregnant

somebody needs to ban you from bars

not her zendaya laughing at her girls stupidity

the zendaya laugh is actually so real

oh how they have changed

they’ve done a complete 180

[cruel-intenti0ns]

Pic?

Maybe today 🤷🏻‍♀️ I’ve had a fever for like five days straight and look like hell

[quill-pen]

Just had a thought. What if, one day, Bess opens the door to her and Wolf’s flat to find Connie there. She was out in the rain, and was clearly crying.

“Bess, I … may I come in? I think … I’ve made a terrible mistake.”

She reveals that something happened with her and Adonis. Not a fight, per say, but a disagreement. Something trivial - probably around her getting herself way too stressed out over work. He hates to see her slip into the same workaholic tendencies he once did. He raised his voice out of passion, and she (switching into post-Orin survival mode) FREAKS OUT and storms out of the building immediately. She leaves her phone/keys behind, and just runs.

She’s out there for hours until she goes to Bess. Adonis has probably called Bess/Wolf and Magda frantically by this point, as she’s been gone for hours.

“I’ve ruined things,” she says to Bess. “I ran, like a child, and … oh, I’m sorry. I’m sorry. H-Has he called you? Is he mad? Oh, hell, of course he’s mad…I can’t believe I hurt him like that. After everything he’s done for me, how could I be so cruel?”

Ooooooh, this is good. So we did a thing.

CONNIE. Sweetheart.🥺😭💕

Warnings: Discussion of postpartum depression particularly concerning thoughts of harm, family drama and angst, mention of birth (nothing graphic), let me know what else I can add/change. I've never had any real experience with PPD before, only heard tales.

~🍓🌅🍓🌅🍓🌅🍓🌅🍓🌅🍓🌅🍓🌅🍓🌅~

All the Little Breaks

Bess was doing her best to keep calm as she paced the perimeter of her and her fiancé's flat. The London sky was dark and gloomy. Rain beat a steady rhythm against the large windowpanes of the high-rise luxury loft as the sky danced with lightning and thunder rolled. It wasn't a tumultuous downpour, but still, it was weather most people wouldn't desire to be out in. It was weather the dark-haired American usually enjoyed, but, at this moment, she found no comfort in it.

Bess' phone was pressed to her ear, an onslaught of distraught chatter from her soon-to-be brother-in-law, Ebenezer Scrooge (or, as she affectionately called him, "Adonis"), pouring into her consciousness. The more the deluge of worry and distress from the man continued on, the harder it was for Bess to try and keep her own head on straight about the situation. She was a natural worrier, especially when it came to her loved ones.

"Adonis... A-Adonis, slow down. Please. You're talking so fast I can hardly understand you. Stop talking and just breathe deep and slow for me, okay? Five seconds in, five seconds out. You're not helping anything by panicking." This was probably the thirtieth time the man had called in the last three and a half hours. (Perhaps that was a bit of an exaggeration. But not much.)

After she'd heard Adonis take a couple cycles of slow breaths on his own after some coaching, Bess went on. "Look, we've got just about the whole Pack out there looking for Connie right now, okay? You don't need to be out there too. What you need to do is stay with Starla right now, yeah? Just make sure she's okay. Try to stay calm for her. Babies pick up on energy like you wouldn't believe; your anxiousness will just make her more fussy and upset on top of her fever. You handle Starry, and the rest of us will find Connie and get her home, I promise." Bess sank wearily into her fiancé's easy chair, running a hand over her face as she silently cursed. Of course, this had to happen on a day when Magda was sick and couldn't watch the baby.

"Hmm? ... Oh, no I haven't seen or heard from her yet, but I'll let you know the second I do, I swear. ... Yeah, I'm staying here at the flat in case she shows up."

The flat's intercom suddenly buzzed.

Bess' head snapped up and she lurched to her feet. "Hold on!" she exclaimed into the phone. "Someone just buzzed!"

Rushing to the intercom, Bess pressed the call button. The video screen flashed on and the most immediate sense of relief nearly bowled the twenty-six-year-old over as the image of her best friend and soul-sister, Constance DoGoode-Scrooge, filled the screen. She looked horrible: drenched, makeup ruined, hair limp and clinging to her, but she was there and okay.

"She just showed up, Adonis! I'm looking at her in our intercom cam right now! I'm buzzing her up--I'll let you get a hold of everyone and let them know." With that, Bess hung up and hit the button to unlock the front door of the building. "I'm coming down to meet you!" she exclaimed into the intercom. And then she was throwing open the flat door and rushing down the hall to the lift.

The ride seemed to take an eternity, but just when Bess was really considering how she should have taken the stairs and used it as an opportunity to master her banister-sliding techniques, the lift pinged her arrival at the lobby. Through the glass doors on the other side of the gilded lift gates, she could see her worse-for-wear and shivering soul-sister. The doors hardly had enough time to open before Bess was launching herself out of the lift and tackling Connie into the tightest hug. She couldn't have cared less if she got soaked too.

"Where in all holy heaven have you been?!" Bess breathed as she squeezed the older woman with all her might. For a brief second, the thought she might be hurting her friend flitted through her mind; then Connie was embracing her back just as hard and the inkling dissipated.

"I'm sorry!" was Connie's sobbed answer. "I'm sorry! I-I think I made a mistake, Bess! I made a terrible mistake!" Her body wracked in Bess' arms as she cried.

Bess could only hold her tighter. "I think I know what you think you did," she murmured. "And I don't think it's as bad as you think it is, Con."

Connie sniffled into her shoulder. "“Bess, I … m-may I come in?" she asked, voice small and meek, hardly above a squeak of a sound.

Pulling back just enough to meet her friend face-to-face as she gripped her shoulders, Bess offered a comforting smile to the redhead (who currently looked more brunette, her hair was so sodden). "Come on, then. Let's get you warmed up and dried off. Then we'll talk, yeah?"

~🍓🌅🍓🌅🍓🌅🍓🌅🍓🌅🍓🌅🍓🌅🍓🌅~

"Have you talked to Adonis?" Connie croaked. Through a hot shower and out of her soaked clothes, the forty-year-old was now snuggled into a warm, plush, purple robe of Bess' and curled up on a settle in front of the electric fireplace. A steaming bowl of her bestie's famous "gourmet oatmeal" was in her hands. It felt so soothing on her yet-chilly fingers and smelled and looked scrumptious being chock-full of berries, fruit chunks, nuts, heavy cream, brown sugar, a little drizzle of honey, and cinnamon, yet Connie had yet to take half a bite of it.

Bess sat across from her on the settle, her own bowl of oatmeal in her hands. "I have," she said evenly around a mouthful of blueberry and peach chunks.

"... Wh-What did he say?"

"Well... the gist of it was that you two had a little bit of a disagreement and you left."

"Did he sound... angry?" The fear in the ginger's voice was undeniable.

Bess looked over at her friend, even though Connie's gaze remained frozen on her steaming bowl. "He sounded worried," Bess stated quietly. "Beside himself, actually."

Connie let out a shaky exhale and closed her eyes, as if trying to fight back more tears. Slowly she set her bowl down on the coffee table then buried her face in her hands.

Setting down her own bowl, Bess scooted closer and laid a soft hand on her soul-sister's shoulder. "Constance, why don't you tell me your version?" she gently suggested.

"You've talked to Adonis already," Connie replied, voice muffled behind her hands.

"Yes, and he was demonizing and blaming himself the entire time for what happened."

Connie lifted her head and met Bess' eyes with her own wide in shock. "Why was he blaming himself?" she quivered, sounding almost horrified. "He didn't do anything wrong--it was me! All me! Y-You said he didn't sound mad, but he has to be mad!"

"You really think so?"

"Of course, he's mad! I can’t believe I hurt him like that! We're married! We're husband and wife! We're supposed to love each other, and I screamed at and shoved him and ran out instead of talking to him! After everything he’s done for me--oh, how could I be so cruel?!” Connie seemed to be ranting to herself, trying to convince herself of these perceived facts.

Bess couldn't help the little smirk that quirked up her mouth, nor the raised brow that usually accompanied it. "You're saying practically everything Adonis said about himself, ya know," she remarked.

Connie looked even more appalled at that. "But it was my fault," she insisted emphatically, practically pounding her hands on her chest.

Bess reached out and took those hands into her own. Bringing them back into her lap, she squeezed them tight. "Why don't we decide on that for sure after you tell me what happened?"

Connie drew her lips into a thin line, her chin quivering as her bright blue eyes began to shine with tears. She looked down, rather ashamedly. "W-We... had a fight," she whispered. "Not just a disagreement--a fight."

Bess gently pressed: "About?"

"Work. My work. O-Or... more so how I'm handling it. He says I'm focusing too much on it; I'm getting too wrapped up and obsessed with it."

"Well, you have been kinda making it your main priority ever since you went back to the office."

"He says I've been losing track of time, putting other things off till later."

"Yeah, I gotta say, that sounds about right."

Connie just dared to peek up under her eyelashes at Bess. "You've noticed that too?" she whispered.

Bess gave her a sad smile. "All of the girls have, babes. You haven't been making lunches that you said you would. We figured it was because of the baby, but every time we decided to bring lunch to you, you haven't been with Starry, you've been at work."

A tear dripped from Connie's eyelashes. "Sorry."

Bess rubbed her bestie's knuckles with her thumbs soothingly. "What other things have you been putting off, Connie?"

Connie's freckled cheeks burned with shame. "... W-Well... the other evening, we were going to give Starla a bath together. At... At least that was the plan."

"What happened?"

"Well... Well, Adonis left the office on time. I-I was still finishing up some figures, and I told him to go ahead, that I'd be along in just a minute after him. He didn't want to, he wanted to wait for me or for me to put if off until tomorrow, but you know how I hate putting things like that off when they can be done now. So I told him to go. I'd be just a minute more. I-I don't think he really believed me; he seemed kind of... fed up when he left. But it was just going to be a minute more before I left, I swear.""

"And was it just a minute more?"

Tears started spilling over Connie's eyelids again. She bit her lip as she shook her head, eyes screwing shut. "No," she rasped past a broken sob. "It was almost two hours before I finally left."

Bess gave her a sorrowful look. "Oh, Connie...."

Connie was sobbing again. "I don't know where the time went! One second Adonis had just shut the door and the next I look at the clock and it's two hours since he left! I rushed home as fast as I could! When I got there, Adonis was waiting for me in the dining room and dinner was on the table, cold. He waited for me, Bess."

Bess didn't tell her friend that of course he would; that Adonis had confessed before that dinner with his beloved Connie at the end of the day was one of his favorite things about their life together. That information would only hurt Connie more in the current moment. And it really was something that needed to come from Adonis' lips. "Was he angry?"

"I think he was done being angry at that point," Connie sniffled. "A little cross still, maybe, but mostly he just seemed... indifferent then. Which felt worse. He told me Starry was bathed, changed, fed, and already asleep, then he asked if he should warm up dinner." Connie wrenched her hands from Bess' grip and buried her face in them again. "Oh, Bess, he sounded so cold! He didn't say anything to me during dinner unless I asked something first, and then the answers were so short and clipped. He didn't look at me at all. I felt so frozen out, it was awful! I wasn't sure if he would come to bed with me. He did and he did tell me "I love you," but I couldn't feel the love in his voice like I usually do. And he still didn't say anything or kiss me good night; he pulled away from my touch and wouldn't cuddle. We always used to cuddle!"

"Have you not been cuddling even before that night?"

"... N-Not for a while, no. Not even morning cuddles, really."

"Because you're up and at the office working at the crack of dawn?"

"You know about that?"

"Adonis has called a few times asking for some help with bottling Starry when you haven't been there to feed her if she wakes up early."

"You must think I'm a horrible mother."

"I'm not quite sure what to think yet, if I'm being honest; just that all of this doesn't really seem like you. When did all these changes start happening?"

"... I-I think after I started back working?"

"All of this has ramped up pretty quick then, hasn't it? You've only been back at work for, what, three weeks? Four at the most? Connie."

"I know! I know! I don't know why they happened, but they did!"

Quiet fell for a moment, broken only by the sound of the storm outside and the sobbing of the redhead. The tea kettle started whistling, and Bess got up to tend to it. She came back with a soothing cup of green tea--Connie's favorite. She watched her friend sip in silence for a bit longer before speaking again.

"Connie," she began carefully, "what happened today that caused everything to spill over?

A little more calmed again by her tea, Connie set the drink aside and managed to meet Bess' gaze full-on--a least for the moment. "There were a few meetings at the office today," she answered, voice quiet and croaky. "It was fairly late when they were finished. Adonis said we should go out for a late lunch. I was in the middle of inputting some new data into the system and had packed a bite of something to eat with me when I left this morning; I wanted to get the logs done, so I told him to go on without me."

"Again."

"... Y-Yeah. Again. Adonis insisted my work could wait, but I pointed out that it didn't have to if I kept at it and got it done. He said that we needed a break. Between work and settling in with Starry, we haven't really had a chance to be just us for a little while, you know? He wanted us to just spend some time together, even just for lunch. I... I told him... that we could do that later."

Bess couldn't help but facepalm at that. "Ooohhhh, no..." she lowly groaned. Both of their men had a thing about "laters"; if a Scrooge twin could ever have a trigger, that was it.

"Adonis snapped at that. He slammed my laptop shut and then he swiped all of the ledgers and papers and notes I was working with off my desk and onto the floor. Then he started yelling at me, screaming about how he couldn't take it anymore, how he couldn't stand aside and watch me turn into something that I'm not, how I needed to stop and look at myself, at what I was doing and what I was missing out on. Bess, he told me I haven't been pulling my weight at home with Starry, that I'm neglecting my friends, that I hardly interact with him at all, that I don't act like the woman he married anymore!" Connie couldn't hold Bess' gaze anymore and screwed her eyes tightly shut as she hugged herself and curled into a tighter ball.

"What happened after that?" Bess gently prodded.

"I-I don't really know," Connie stated with a shake of her head. "He was screaming and yelling and throwing things into the trash and something inside me just... snapped. I felt so scared out of nowhere! Like... Like I used to feel with Orin!"

"Oh, Con, I'm so sorry."

"Adonis grabbed my laptop and started to throw it away but I grabbed him to try to stop him and he threw me off. I didn't get hurt, but I was still so terrified. When he turned towards me, I screamed at him to leave me alone and shoved him away. I know he wasn't going to hurt me--he would never hurt me--but in the moment I panicked. I shoved him so hard he stumbled back into my bookcase and everything came down on top of him. After that I ran. I just... just ran! I didn't stop to think about what I did or to see if he was all right--I just left my husband and ran!" Again, the ginger American broke into a fit of wails, once more burying her face in her hands.

Bess scooted closer and wrapped an arm around her soul-sister's shoulders, pulling her close to her side. She didn't say anything, but just sat there and rubbed the distraught woman's arm in silent comfort.

It was a few moments before Connie pulled herself together. "It... It wasn't until after I'd been running for a while that it finally occurred to me what I did," she rasped, voice a raw whisper behind her hands. "I'd done something wrong--so many things wrong--and when I was told off for it like I deserved, I'd retaliated and run from it like a stupid, cowardly girl, instead of owning up to it, like I needed to. I've ruined things. Oh, Bess, I've ruined everything! I just found the greatest happiness of my life, and now I'm about to lose it! Adonis, Starla--everything! All because I've been behaving like a child!" She started on the sobs again.

"Shhhh," Bess quieted her, wrapping both arms around her friend this time as she tucked her in close to her heart. "Shhh. I don't think so. I don't think you have to worry about any of that, Connie. Remember what I said about Adonis blaming and demonizing himself for what happened this afternoon when he talked to me? Honey, that man isn't angry at you--not for this. He loves you--adores you to the very core of his soul. And he's been so worried about you; not just today but for a while, and that's why he went off like he did today. It wasn't the right thing for him to do any more than what you did was the right thing to do. But sometimes, when we love someone so much and we see that they're struggling and refusing to ask for help, we get so worried for so long that the only thing we can seem to do to get them to listen is to snap and make a scene. Does that make sense?"

Through her cries, Connie made an assenting noise. Still, she continued to sob into her best friend's chest for a few more long minutes.

When she eventually quieted down again, she slowly pulled from Bess' grip and picked her tea back up. Shakily, she raised the cup to her lips and sipped again, trying to calm herself back down.

Bess watched her carefully, turning something over in her mind that she'd been considering for a while now. "Connie... you said you don't know why you've shifted your work-life balance so much, but I really think you do," she finally stated. It was blunt and sounded rather accusatory, but Bess couldn't find a way to say it with more finesse.

Connie looked at her in bleary, red-eyed bewilderment. "What?"

"Look, you're an amazing and hard worker, but I wouldn't call you a workaholic. You are a master at healthy prioritizing; criminey, you're the main person who helped me figure out a healthy work-life balance when I was finally getting too strung out to function, yeah? So, what is it with you suddenly becoming Mrs. 5-to-9-plus-overtime?"

Connie stared at her friend, an ashamed shadow settling over her face before she looked down into her teacup. Her lips pulled into a thin line.

Bess continued to gently dig: "I mean, I know some women, when they get back to work after maternity leave, tend to go overboard to prove that they can still do their job so that, maybe, they won't get laid off. But, Honey, your job is set in stone for you for as long as you want it. And you know that. So that can't be what it is."

"That's not what it is," Connie agreed.

"Okay. So?"

"Maybe I went back to work too soon."

"Well, I'll admit, you did start back a little sooner than I would have liked for you, but you know yourself on a level I don't. So I don't think that's it either."

"... Bess, if I told you, you'd despise me."

"I think I might have said that very phrase to you a few times in our history. Was I ever right about it?"

"This is different."

"How so?"

Silence.

"Connie. Connie, does it have anything to do with Starry?"

Connie's gaze just barely flickered over to Bess before returning to her tea.

"Connie, you can tell me anything, remember? Anything at all about anything."

"But this... this is so... oh, Bess, it's just so horrible!"

"Are they thoughts? Dark thoughts? About Starry?"

"... Y-Yes."

"Thoughts like... maybe about hurting her?"

Another choked sob as Connie shut her eyes against yet another swell of tears.

Bess put her hand on Connie's knee. "Con, talk to me. Please."

Connie shook her head, as if trying to will the whole situation away. "I was fine," she trembled. "I was fine for the first week or so. Then when she had that little bout of colic and just couldn't sleep or quiet down things... changed. I changed. I was pacing the floor one night, trying to get her to sleep, and she was just screaming and crying and upset and nothing I did could help her and it crossed my mind: I could just throw her out our bedroom window and it would stop."

"Oh, Connie...."

"And I knew the second after it crossed my mind that it was a terrible, horrible, wicked thing to think and I was horrified with myself."

"But you didn't do it."

"No. I didn't even take a second beyond it crossing my mind to consider it."

"That's good."

"But, Bess it was still there in my head--it still went through my mind--it was an actual thought I had! And then Ethel gave us that stuff to help her colic and Starry was better and happy. And I was fine for a while, except now I felt horrible for that evil thought and I felt like I failed because I hadn't been the one to help my own baby, Ethel had. And then another day I was changing Starry and she had a huge blowout all over me and the bed and a pile of clothes I'd just cleaned, and I got so mad for a second I... oh, Bess, I felt like hitting her. And I knew it was another evil thing to think, but it was still there in my head again!"

"And you felt terrible again."

"Horrible! Like the worst mother that's ever lived! And I just kept having these thoughts with every little challenge with her. I never actually considered acting any of them out, but I was still thinking about them. I feel like such a danger to her, even just when I'm in the same room with her!"

"So that's why you started back to work so early," Bess surmised. "So you wouldn't be spending as much time around her."

"I thought maybe, if I wasn't with her all the time, I might just be happy to be with her when I was and those thoughts would stop. But they haven't. So I keep spending more and more time working to try and make them stop. But then I feel even more like a terrible mother because a mother should spend as much time with her baby as she can, shouldn't she? And it's not that I don't want to do that--I do want to spend as much time as I can with her, more than anything. But I just can't do that!"

"Because you're afraid you'll hurt Starry."

"Exactly!" The near-frantic woman looked her friend's way, eyes desperate and almost pleading. "Bess, I-I feel crazy! Insane! I don't want to hurt my baby; she is amazing and beautiful and everything I could have wanted and hoped and dreamed for. But now, instead of thinking of the miracle that she is, all I can think about when I see her is how I've had and keep having those terrible thoughts about her and I feel so... unworthy and disgusting. I-I can't even bring myself to be affectionate with Adonis anymore because I feel so monstrous for the things I've thought about Starry. I-If he knew about the harm I've thought about doing to our precious, innocent little girl... he'd hate me. And leave me. And I wouldn't even blame him for it, because I would too, if I had the choice. What man would want to be with a woman who thinks these things about their child? What mother would think those things to begin with?"

Bess was quiet a moment, processing. Part of her was vindicated for the suspicions she'd been having for a while now being proved correct; a bigger part of her was just so sad for her soul-sister. Not for the first time in her life, Connie had been struggling in virtual silence for far too long, and no one had taken the time to really notice and reach out to help. Until now.

Taking the older woman's tepid tea away from her and setting it aside, Bess got down on the floor in front of Connie and looked up into her face. "Connie, do you remember that book I gave to you right after you announced your pregnancy?"

Connie nodded with a sniff.

"How far into it did you read?"

"Everything up until you leave the hospital."

"You haven't read anything else after that?"

"No. I-I've been meaning to but... finding spare time hasn't been much of a thing, obviously."

"Well, Honey, if you did, I think you'd find out that lots of mothers have those kinds of thoughts about their babies for a while. Those thoughts and worse. Connie, what you're describing is a symptom postpartum depression--"the baby blues"--and it's actually very common, especially in first-time mothers, and especially for mothers who had rough labors, both boxes that you tick."

"Baby blues? I thought that was just when you get sad and gloomy after having the baby because of all the hormones still in your system?"

"That's one symptom that can manifest, but the scary thoughts and the fear of being alone with your baby because you think you might hurt her? That's, unfortunately, part of it too. It's not nice or fun, but it's absolutely a thing that happens to lots of women."

"Really? These sorts of thoughts and feelings are normal?"

"Unfortunately. They're just basically intrusive thoughts on steroids with a real morbid personality. My mother had them a couple times. Hela struggled with it for a while, too, after she had Jenny. Ethel's gone through it a few times. Honey, you're not the only mama in the Pack, let alone the world, that's gone through this."

It was amazing how fast a spark of relief lit up in Connie's puffy eyes. "S-So... I-I'm not a danger to my baby?"

"Not as long as you're not seriously considering acting out the thoughts that go through your head."

Connie hastily shook her head. "No! No, never! I-I never do! As soon as they finish passing through my thoughts, I dismiss them immediately. I don't want to do them and I know they're wrong; I just can't seem to stop them from being thought up."

"Then I'd say that doesn't make you a danger to Starry. Not in my eyes. But I think all of this does make you a candidate for some serious therapy for a little while. Because you haven't exactly been handling this whole situation very well, have you?"

Connie looked a bit shamefaced again. "No," she confessed softly. "No, I haven't. Not at all. Even if I'm not necessarily a bad Mama for having those thoughts, I still haven't been a very good one, I know that. And I haven't been a very good friend for a while either. And I've been a horrible wife." She fell quiet a moment and looked into the electric flames of the fireplace.

Finally, she turned Bess again. "You... you don't think it's too late to... fix things... do you? You don't think I've pushed people too far away? You don't think Starry won't be able to bond with me? You don't think I've... I've hurt Adonis too badly?"

Both women giggled a bit at that, Connie's laugh sounding very teary but still a little amused.

Bess let a small smile curl the corners of her mouth as a soft snort escaped her. She sat back beside Connie and pulled her into another hug. "If there's one thing I know about this big ol' extended family of ours," she commented, "it's that we're all about forgiveness and second chances. It would take a lot more than some frustrating, pregnancy-hormone-induced lunacy for us to quit one of our own."

The young woman pulled back to hold her friend by the shoulders and meet her eyes again with a softer smile. "And if there's one thing I'm sure of with Adonis, it's that he loves you unconditionally. I swear, you could attack that dude with a bag of bricks with as much malicious intent as there is in the world, and he'd still forgive you, he's that crazy in love."

The intercom suddenly buzzed for the second time that evening, drawing the women's attention.

Bess smirked back at Connie. "That'll be the boys."

The anxiety creeped back onto Connie's face and she gulped. Still, she nodded her head with some determination. "Okay," she sighed. "Let's do it."

Bess gave her shoulder a squeeze and winked at her before going to the intercom to press the button. "Come on up."

The minutes of waiting for the boys' arrival was never ending, it seemed. Bess returned to her seat beside Connie and held her hands as they sat in silence. Whenever they exchanged glances, Bess smiled reassuringly at her friend and squeezed her fingers in support. It was all going to be okay.

Finally the door of the apartment practically flew open and in rushed a frantic and mildly damp Ebenezer Scrooge. His wild eyes landed on his robed wife. "Constance!"

Connie practically jumped her to her feet, tears already shining her eyes again. "Ebenezer!" she cried. She'd hardly taken two steps before her husband was upon her, pulling her into a crushing embrace. He was kissing her before she had a chance to speak.

Quietly slipping out of the vicinity of the pair, Bess retreated across the flat to join her fiancé, Ebenezar "Wolf" Scrooge where he stood shaking out his raincoat and hanging it on a hook beside the door. She returned his smile when he saw her coming and slipped under his outstretched arm and into his side to hold him tight. Her eyes drifted shut and she hummed in satisfaction as he bowed his head to kiss her. Unbelievable warmth seeped throughout her body and into the woman's very soul: Considering the evening that had just commenced, it was very much welcomed.

"How is she?" Wolf whispered when they'd parted lips, both of their gazes drifting to the couple by the fire. They were no longer locked in a kiss but were still wrapped up tight and gazing deep into each other's eyes as they shared urgent whispers. Adonis was gently drying Connie's tears with his thumb.

Bess sighed as she leaned her head on her man's shoulder. "She'll be okay," she answered softly. "I'm sure of it."

"Did you get to the bottom of the situation?"

"Yes, I think we did. I'll explain it to you later. Starry?"

"Addie and Tom are with her while we're here. I think her fever's broke."

"Good. One less stressor out of the equation for Connie right now."

"I thought you said she'll be all right?"

"She will be. She could just... use all the little breaks she can get right now."

Wolf chuckled and nudged Bess' face back to his with a finger under her chin. "Well, considering one of the breaks she has is you for a best friend," he remarked, touching his brow to Bess' and giving her a besotted smile, "I'd say she's well off." And with that, the Englishman kissed his young, American love again.

[crinkled-emotions]

Day 9: "Just a little longer, okay? Hold on a little longer."

I am now three days behind but I can work with that. My mum was up for a couple of days so I really just wanted to spend some time with her :)

Original prompt here!

-

“It’s only a week, guys, what could possibly go wrong?”

The Daggers exchanged looks across the room; Hangman sighed, Phoenix groaned and Bob buried his head in his hands.

“Whoops,” Maverick grinned, “did I say something wrong?”

“Maverick,” the Daggers collectively complained. He covered his chuckle with a cough, reaching to start the presentation.

“Alright, now that I’ve jinxed you guys for the rest of your lives, let’s go over what’s going to be happening while I’m gone...”

“Sir; who’s going to be taking us?” Hangman asked. Maverick paused.

“I was hoping Hondo and Cyclone could handle things here; if things change I have no doubt Hondo will let you know. And no dumb antics this time, okay? Leave your whoopee cushions and salty coffee’s at home. You’re all over thirty now- happy birthday for last week by the way, Fanboy.”

“Thank you, sir.”

-

The team walked into the classroom the following morning and Hondo waved at them from his desk at the back of the room.

“Take a seat everyone, Cyclone and Warlock are in their morning meetings but should be here shortly.”

Hangman glanced over his shoulder at Rooster, an eyebrow raised.

“You good?”

“Just as good as you are, Bagman,” he commented nasally. Phoenix grimaced, nudging Bob to scoot over another seat so as to avoid sitting shoulder to shoulder with her friend. Payback offered a blister pack of Strepsils on his way to his seat, nudging Rooster’s shoulder too.

“Dude just go back to bed, it’s not like Maverick’s here to-“

“-attention!”

The team leapt up to stand to attention in front of their seats, staring straight ahead at Hondo’s call. The sound of boots against the hard concrete floors in the classroom echoed in the otherwise silent area; Rooster could feel the sweat dripping from his temples and knew it was going to be a long day. A very. Long. Day.

“I am Captain Jones and I’m going to be the one guiding you lot through the next couple days whilst Mitchell is gone. First things first; I do not tolerate the antics that he does and I do not want you to address me by my callsign, it will be Captain Jones and nothing else. The punishment for insubordination will not be pushups; it will be a march down to the Air Boss’ office and a written warning. Mitchell does not run a tight ship but I like order and I like it when my subordinates obey my directions. I understand one of you is a Lieutenant Commander now?”

“That would be me, sir,” Phoenix replied. The Captain pointed at her.

“You are only to speak when spoken to.”

“I thought it was phrased like a question,” Hangman murmured. This had the Captain’s attention, his eyes narrowing.

“Lieutenant Seresin; you’re next to be promoted if the rumours are to be believed. If you would like that promotion to be approved, I would keep your mouth shut.”

That did indeed make him quiet; mouth drawn into a thin line, Hangman chose to keep his eyes forward and his shoulders up. The others subtly looked between him and Phoenix for guidance, but it was Rooster who spoke.

“Sir, I don’t think Mav would appreciate-“

“-and you, Lieutenant Bradshaw. I am surprised you’re still here.”

That had Rooster’s eyebrows raising, and he cleared his throat.

“I’m not sure I understand, sir.”

“Well; your father was dead long before he was your age-“

“-sir, perhaps it would be beneficial to start the training for today?” Hondo gently suggested. The Captain hummed.

“Let’s get a move on. Today we’re going to be looking over some possible scenarios...”

-

The fever started during lunch; Phoenix was still fuming over being insulted within the first five minutes of class and Rooster couldn’t put up with her ranting when his head was pounding and it felt like there was a fire in his entire body. When he looked up from his disdain Hangman had Phoenix around the waist and was threatening to dunk her head in the trash can but she wasn’t pissed; instead she was howling with laughter, grasping on to his shirt so if he did actually do it he was going in too. Fanboy and Bob were either side of him, ready to help with said dunk.

“Do it Bagman and I swear to god I’ll show everyone your Tinder-“

“Dagger Squad!”

They all started frantically scrambling to stand to attention when Captain Jones approached them, confusion and irritation in his eyes. He blew out a breath, hands on his hips. Rooster could see Maverick doing the same thing, but with a more... fond exasperation rather than outright anger. As much as they were trained naval aviators, best of the best, they were also young adults and they were people that liked to have fun. Striding across the room, Captain Jones squared up to Bob and Fanboy first... Bob flinched ever so slightly but Fanboy stood his ground... ever so slightly behind Bob’s taller frame.

“Is this what Captain Mitchell has trained you to do? He’s turned some of the US Navy’s- if not the world’s- great aviators into children?”

“Sir,” Rooster started, but he got a hand waved in his face.

“I’ll deal with you later. Lieutenant Trace-“

“-Lieutenant Commander-“

“-Lieutenant Trace, report to the Air Boss’ office and explain to him why you are wasting his time.”

Phoenix gasped like the air had been shot out of her, while Rooster cleared his throat.

“Sir... I’m not sure what you have against me or ‘Nix, but-“

“-you let him address you like that?”

Captain Jones turned back to Phoenix, who shrugged.

“Rooster- sorry, Lieutenant Bradshaw- and I have been friends since our flight school days, he can call me just about anything he wants because he knows I’ll do the same.”

“I wouldn’t understate her rank though sir, she bites,” Payback said. The Captain threw his hands in the air.

“You know what? You can all go to Admiral Simpson’s office and explain yourselves. I’m surprised there weren’t more disciplinary records in your files!”

With that, Phoenix glanced around her.

“Let’s go, Daggers. Hopefully Cyclone’s eaten by now.”

-

Glancing up from his cup of coffee, Cyclone sighed when he realised who was standing in front of him.

“What have they done this time?”

“They’re all standing by my office door looking like kicked puppies.”

Cyclone checked his watch, gesturing toward the door.

“Let them in, Warlock. My meeting can wait a couple minutes.”

“If you say so,” Warlock mused. He stepped back, opening the door to Cyclone’s office. Sure enough the Daggers filed in, but they were silent as they all stood to attention, hands behind their back. Cyclone looked between them and Warlock helplessly, clearing his throat.

“What can I do for you, Daggers?”

“Sir, we have been instructed to report to you,” Phoenix started. Cyclone checked his schedule for the third time, frowning.

“This was not in my meeting plans for today.”

“It’s disciplinary action... sir,” Hangman filled in.

“You’re reporting to my office... on your own volition... for disciplinary action?”

Warlock choked on his coffee and Cyclone’s eyes narrowed.

“Is this a prank? Did Maverick put you up to this? He’s not even here, he’s not going to witness his own-“

“-insubordination, sir.”

Warlock sharply turned to Rooster.

“If this is a joke we need to know now. You know insubordination can get you-“

“-court martialled, we know sir.”

Phoenix stared straight ahead, but her fingers hooked into Rooster’s belt loops behind their back. Cyclone looked between the group, slowly turning back to his computer.

“I’ll let you off this time; who sent you?”

“Captain Jones, sir, he is apparently taking our classes whilst Maverick is gone.”

Cyclone’s brows furrowed further.

“Hondo and I agreed that I wouldn’t be able to lead the class but I was of the understanding that he would speak to Maverick and organise one of his Top Gun buddies to assist.”

“Maverick never got the call, sir,” Rooster filled in. The team slowly turned toward him, Phoenix’s hand going to his arm when he stifled a cough into the crook of his elbow.

“You alright, Rooster?” Warlock checked gently. He nodded, going quiet again.

“Alright, I’m gonna say it. Sir, it feels like Captain Jones has it out for us.”

Payback didn’t hold back, both Cyclone and Warlock groaned.

“Okay, okay. We all know you lot can be a handful; behave yourselves for the rest of this week and stay out of my office. If you come back in here for insubordination again I will write you up.”

“Yes sir,” they all muttered. As they filed out, Cyclone and Warlock shared a look of Admiral-style what the fuck?

-

The next morning Rooster forced himself down the hallway, cursing himself for sleeping in to the point that he was five minutes late to his first lecture of the morning. He slipped into the last row of seats in the classroom and was surprised to find Hangman there, arms crossed across his chest with an unimpressed look on his face. Rooster frowned at him but Hangman waved him off.

“Don’t fuckin’ ask, Bradshaw- ugh. What’s that smell?”

“Where’s your gum?”

Hangman frowned as he subtly passed it over.

“You been pukin’?”

“Only this morning.”

“Fuck him. Go home, you should be in bed.”

Rooster snorted.

“Like you would.”

“Do as I say, not as I do. Look; you’re in enough trouble as it is, why not take the opportunity and call out?”

Rooster sent him an incredulous look.

“Cyclone won’t accept that I’m sick after I got reprimanded for insubordination yesterday, no way.”

“I dunno; think he’s got a soft spot for your ass.”

Rooster rolled his eyes, elbowing Hangman in the ribs.

“What are you two doing back here?”

Both jumped when they realised Hondo had taken the third seat in the row, an eyebrow raised. He took in Rooster properly and hauled him up by his shirt, dragging him out of the classroom without pulling attention from the Captain droning on.

“Come with me,” Hondo hissed at him. As they walked down the hallway Hondo did a quick glance around and then pushed Rooster into the bathroom.

“We need to talk.”

“In here? It stinks.”

“Shut up and listen. You need to go to Cyclone and excuse yourself for the rest of this week; I’ll give you the learning material but you’re a) not well enough to be here and b) Captain Jones spent the five minutes you were late ranting about you, Maverick and your da-“

“-my dad?”

Hondo’s eyes softened and he gestured toward the door.

“Get the fuck out of here, man, save yourself.”

“Alright, alright I get it. What about the others?”

“You leave them to me.”

-

Cyclone glanced up when he heard the knock at his door, surprised to find Rooster standing there. He gestured to the seat in front of his desk.

“Come sit, I’ll sign you out for today-“

“-sir?”

“-you’d be surprised how damn sneaky Hangman can be. He already let me know via email that you shouldn’t be here.”

“Oh...”

Rooster carefully lowered himself into the seat, arms protecting his stomach. Cyclone typed away for a moment, then reached to grab the piece of paper from the printer.

“Before you go, Bradshaw... Hondo also mentioned that there was some tension between Captain Jones and Maverick. Do you know anything about this?”

“No sir,” Rooster replied automatically. Cyclone regarded him for a moment, then took a deep breath.

“You Daggers give me a migraine; at least when Maverick’s here you’re... tolerable.”

He signed the form, taking one final look at Rooster.

“One chance, Rooster. Tell me what’s going on.”

His stomach flipped and he grimaced at the impending nausea.

“Uh, sir, I’m sorry, I gotta...”

“Go,” Cyclone sighed. Rooster bolted at the first opportunity.

-

“Bradley, what the... fuck.”

Bob and Phoenix paused in the doorway to the living room of Rooster’s house, hands on their hips. He waved from the couch, bottle of water and bucket on the floor.

“How’s it going, Roos?” Phoenix asked. He shrugged.

“I’m fine now but I don’t think that’s goin’ to last long; how’s Jones doing?”

Bob grimaced.

“He’s a real... piece of work.”

Phoenix laughed, reaching for the water bottle.

“I’m gonna refill this and then you’re going to bed. Seriously, man, I don’t think you should be vertical.”

“It’s a one day thing at worst, I’ll be fine tomorrow.”

“Suuuuure,” Bob replied, “and Hangman wasn’t pouting all through class today.”

-

“Bradshaw; thank you for bothering to get out of bed. The good news is we’re doing hops all day, so gear up and I’ll meet everyone in the ready room.”

Captain Jones stopped everyone before they could even enter the classroom, gesturing for them to go back to the locker rooms and get changed. Payback opened his mouth to protest but Phoenix elbowed him in the ribs, sending him a firm don’t. Fanboy glared at her, then at Hangman when he also shook his head. Rooster was staring dead ahead, questioning if his sinuses would allow him to get into the jet with the congestion he was feeling. He’d tried the steam in the shower trick that morning but it hadn’t worked and the Strepsils weren’t doing their job to numb his throat.

“Roos; are you sure you want to go up?”

Thank god for Coyote; level-headed and never willing to start a fight. He’d been observing the last couple days; Jones had separated him and Hangman the previous morning but it had let him watch the others and listen to their reactions. He’d also seen the way Hangman had been giving Rooster pepto chews all morning like it was candy.

“I don’t think I have a choice, man-“

“-you’re right, you don’t. Bradshaw, you’re first with Trace and Floyd. Go.”

“Uh- sir... respectfully-“

“-we’re going to do this, Machado? Go and see Admiral Simpson; consider yourself excused.”

Captain Jones dismissed Coyote, gesturing for Rooster to head for the locker room. By the time he got there the nausea was worse and he was contemplating sitting in one of the stalls but Bob caught him by the shoulder, grimacing.

“Dude; you cannot fly today. Blowing chunks in your jet is not recommended and neither is having a literal sinus infection.”

“I know, man, but I can’t avoid it. I have to.”

“Why don’t you go back to Cyclone- or Warlock, I’m sure either of them can help you.”

Rooster shrugged, clearing his throat as his stomach flipped uncomfortably again.

“You good? You don’t look good.”

Payback nudged Rooster’s arm in passing, Fanboy nodding in agreement whilst he struggled into his flight suit. Hangman, in his flight suit sans boots, grimaced.

“I know that look. He’s gonna blow-“

Rooster whipped around to run for the stalls and Bob followed to make sure he was alright. The other guys exchanged looks.

“Text Phoenix; we need a plan.”

-

“Another insubordination complaint from Jones?”

“Sir, we don’t make a lot of requests because we know we’re on thin ice a majority of the time.”

Cyclone glanced up at the Daggers (minus Rooster) standing in his office, putting the piece of paper in his hand down and taking off his glasses.

“I’m listening.”

“Jones is sending Rooster up in the first hop today; he’s sick and there’s no way he should be in the air,” Bob said. His blue eyes were confident but calm, which settled the others who were admittedly full of nervous energy and coffee. Cyclone rubbed at his temples.

“Jones is sending him- wait, Bradshaw is here? I was expecting him to call out today considering how he was yesterday.”

“It’s worse,” Phoenix admitted, “Bob and I checked on him after work yesterday and he wasn’t great but he’s even more nauseous and dizzy because of his sinuses.”

“Are the rest of you in agreement about this?”

When Cyclone’s eyes shifted over the rest of the Dagger Squad, his eyebrows raised.

“Alright; I’ll talk to Jones. Get Bradshaw to the infirmary... and someone tell Maverick, I don’t get paid enough for that.”

-

“Seresin; you seen Bradshaw, Trace or Floyd? They’re supposed to be... hang up the phone.”

Hangman glanced up, grimacing.

“Mav; I’m gonna have to call you back-“

“-Jake? Jake don’t you dare- Bagman-“

Hangman promptly ended the call and shoved the phone into his pocket, leaning against his locker.

“Jones! Perfect timing. You know, it’s the funniest thing. Bradshaw was so sick, we had concerns that if he did go up, and he was going to, that-“

“-did you just call me Jones?”

“Uhhhhh... yeah.”

Hangman reached for his toothpick, chewing on it casually. Captain Jones put his hands on his hips, approaching Hangman and trying to intimidate him. Hangman looked down his nose at him, smirking at the man a good three feet smaller than him.

“How’s the air down there, sir? I’m so sorry, I totally ripped ass right before you came in-“

“-Jones! My office!”

Cyclone appeared in the doorway, yelling for the Captain. Jones whirled around, shoulders straightening.

“Cyclone, I want Seresin written up for-“

Cyclone hummed.

“Insubordination?”

He crossed his arms over his chest, and Hangman’s eyes widened. He knew exactly what was coming. He quietly backed away from Jones towards the bathroom stalls, tapping twice on one of the doors which yawned open.

“Up, Roos. Just a little longer, okay? Hold on a little longer.”

Hangman hoisted Rooster’s arm around his shoulder, borderline dragging him out of the locker room. Jones watched, face scrunched like he’d crossed a bad smell when Rooster and Hangman made their exit. Cyclone let them go, closing the door behind him.

“Jones, my understanding was that you and Maverick worked together briefly back in 84 and again in 2000. Am I correct in saying it was briefly?”

“Sir?”

“Am I?”

“I knew Maverick, yes... I’m not sure I understand where this is going?”

Cyclone smiled, leaning back on the wall.

“Take a seat, Jones.”

-

Taking a seat on the end of Rooster’s bed in the infirmary, Maverick gently nudged his leg.

“Anti-emetics working now?”

 Rooster stirred, glancing up with a lazy smile.

“Hey, Mav... what about your conference?”

“I was more concerned about what was going on back here. I’ve been gone 36 hours, Roos, what the hell happened? You had Jones as your instructor?”

Rooster sat upright, eyebrows raising.

“You knew Jones?”

“Ha, yeah, more like I... knew his girlfriend. To clarify; I asked if she was seeing anyone and she said she’d just dumped him. Turns out Jones didn’t accept the dumping and he said it was my fault for-“

“-You’ve Lost that Lovin’ Feeling?” Rooster filled in. Maverick rolled his eyes.

“That too. When your dad tried to help me out of the situation, Jones didn’t find it all that funny so Goose told him straight up that he’d been dumped and he had to get over it.”

“Let me guess; Jones didn’t appreciate it.”

“No he did not.”

Phoenix led the rest of the Daggers into the room, everyone perching in various locations and positions. Maverick patted Rooster’s shoulder, standing to give the others hugs and greet them.

“Big couple days, huh guys?” Maverick said when he returned to Rooster’s side.

“Sir; we did not salt his coffee nor did we whoopee cushion him.”

“I know. Cyclone told me what’s been going on as well as what Hangman has mentioned. I don’t have a problem with how you handled yourselves and neither does he. Right now we’re just making sure Rooster gets some sleep and we can return to training tomorrow.”

“What about Jones himself?” Payback asked. Maverick hummed.

“I understand his weekend is going to be occupied with a seminar on bullying in the workplace. Really, he’s just delaying the inevitable forced retirement.”

“Aren’t you delaying the inevitable forced retirement?” Rooster deadpanned. Maverick glanced over his shoulder and hushed him.

“That’s different, Bradley- and aren’t you supposed to be sick?”

-

[viatoradventure]

Passport to the Unexpected: How Viator Took Me Around the World and Back to Myself

There are breaks you take lying down—and there are trips that transform you. I didn't know until I stumbled upon Viator. It was a spontaneous search for something to do on a weekend getaway. What followed was a three-month, life-altering experience where I traveled through Morocco's deserts, Bali's rainforests, and Norway's fjords.

This isn't a travel tale. It's a metamorphosis. And if you've ever fantasized about turning your wanderlust into a living, breathing creature—Viator may be your ticket.

From Curiosity to Camel Tracks: My Moroccan Moment

I didn't have a plan—some Pinterest boards and a lot of jet lag. That evening, sitting in my hotel room, I opened the app for Viator and typed in: "Desert adventure near Marrakech."

I gravitated toward one offering:

"3-Day Merzouga Desert Tour with Camel Ride & Berber Campfire Night."

I booked it straight away.

The next day, we left the red city, bending around the Atlas Mountains and into the golden silence of the Sahara. My camel, Zizou, carried me into a world that existed. That night, under a universe of stars, I sipped mint tea with strangers-turned-friends around a fire as our guide described the life of nomads.

I wasn't tourism—I was living a page of history.

Waterfalls and Whispers: Finding Magic in Bali

A few weeks later, I was in Ubud, Bali, looking for something more relaxed. Something spiritual.

Viator did it again. I booked a Private North Bali Waterfall & Temple Tour with local guide Kadek. At 8 a.m., we were on motorbikes, roaring through rice paddies and jungle-covered hills.

We hiked up to Sekumpul Waterfall, which I had read about in guidebooks but never imagined actually seeing. It thundered with life. I swam beneath it, the icy water curling over my skin—and my fear. We paused at hidden temples where flower petals drifted like poetry.

Kadek didn't merely bring me to Bali. He introduced me to its beat.

Fjord Fever: In Search of Ice and Enchantment in Norway

By the time I got to Bergen, Norway, my heart was weeping for cold air and open space. I reserved on Viator a Full-Day Fjord Cruise with Scenic Train Ride—and it was literally one of the top five days of my life.

Imaging this: You're on a boat, plying the waters of the Nærøyfjord, with cliffs toppling in white clouds. Waterfalls cascade off to one side, and cute red houses cling to the crests of the green hills. Then, on the Flåm Railway—arguably the planet's most scenic train travel.

It felt as though I'd entered one of those fantasies—and Viator had written the surprise finale.

So, Exactly What Is Viator?

Travel new to you? Chances are you've been wondering, What is Viator?

Viator is a site (owned by TripAdvisor) where you can book tours, activities, and experiences throughout the world. Consider it: Tuscan cooking lessons, Maldives snorkeling, helicopter tours over the Grand Canyon, and ghost walks around Edinburgh.

The difference Viator makes is an obsession with genuine, handpicked experiences and often hosted by locals, who give a destination color in a manner guidebooks can only dream of.

Planning Your Viator Adventure: Step by Step

This is how I plan a trip these days—with Viator as my base:

Begin with Your Destination (or Dream)

Even if you have no idea what country you'd like to visit, you can search by theme—e.g., "wildlife," "food & drink," "photography," or "adrenaline sports."

Filter for What Matters to You

Whether a private group, budget vacations, or short excursions, Viator filters make it simple to hone in on your dream match.

Read Reviews (They're Honest)

One of the best features is the abundance of real, traveler-written reviews. I’ve often chosen one tour over another just because of a funny, detailed review.

Book with Confidence

Most Viator bookings come with free cancellation up to 24 hours in advance. Plans change? No stress.

Use the App on the Go

Need to reserve a spontaneous boat tour while you're in Greece? The mobile app is responsive and smooth—even on spotty Wi-Fi.

Why Travelers Like Me Trust Viator

Let me be honest: prior to Viator, I spent hours researching tour companies, reading Google reviews, comparing prices, and booking directly. It was exhausting.

Viator made it all easy. One site. Thousands of experiences. And an interface that's more like a tastefully curated art gallery of options.

Even better? Each time I've had a question—whether it was pickup times or dietary restrictions—Viator's customer service was prompt and friendly.

It's like having a travel-savvy BFF… who's already been everywhere.

Final Thoughts: Let Viator Be Your Gateway to the Unwritten

I had no clue what I was getting myself into when I started booking on Viator. I wasn't booking vacations so much as experiences. I was booking connections, discoveries, and surprises.

From tea in a desert tent to waterfalls hiking to leaping into icy fjords—Viator didn't just give me activities. It gave me moments that changed me.

If you've been waiting for a push to go more, travel braver, or finally conquer that bucket list roadblock—now's your chance.

Book something that makes you anxious. That excites you wildly. That fills passport pages with memories worth the price tag.

And have Viator be the key that unlocks it all.

Your next story is out there—where will Viator take you?- 

[brokenboobaby]

Life with Ollie & Evie

so my children Ollie, almost five, and Evie, almost two, are both sick with flu.

it started with Ollie first two days ago-headache, muscle pain, fever of 102, loss of appetite, nausea. Ollie is not a typical sick kid. He is very vibrant and honestly, he’s funny as fuck when he’s sick. Not in the way where he can tell a killer joke, because he tries that when he’s not sick and they never make any sense. But he’s funny just in his demeanor. He’s just so chill and laidback, which is VERY different from his normal behavior (he is his mother’s son and is very tense at times and extremely sensitive). So over the last few days, I’ve been met with responses like a sassy hand wave and a “yeah, I know, don’t worry your pretty head” when I’m giving medicine or pedialyte or telling him he needs to be steadily drinking fluids to stay hydrated. (And before you think ‘isn’t hydrated a pretty big word for a four year old?’ Yes, it is. But he tells ME to stay hydrated most of the time and his favorite word is “exasperated” so his comprehension of the word isn’t odd.)

my daughter, however, is a menace to society when she is sick. And I understand why, she’s so small and young and doesn’t understand why her body feels so uncomfortable. Like my son, she is very intelligent and observant. She’s clever. And to be completely honest, I think this child will be a Slytherin when she inevitably takes her House test later in life. She knows how to get what she wants.

So at 2:00 am, in between my every-two-hours alarms to check on my sweet ones, she started SCREAMING. I ran into the room at top speed, almost took out our dog on my way because she refuses to stop running in between feet, and quickly scooped my baby up. This child looked me dead in my face and said “hi, mommy. I want some milk. And a cookie.” THE AUDACITY. I wish I could say this isn’t the norm for her, but I did say she’s a menace to society.

As I was thinking of how I’m going to tell her no to the cookie in a way that won’t induce another blood curdling scream and wake up her peacefully sleeping brother, I noticed her body is on fire. I checked her temp (102.4) and immediately took her to my bedroom so I could care for her. After successfully administering motrin for her fever, cooling her down with a lukewarm rag, and getting her comfortable with me, she started falling asleep. Until she realized my husband was asleep next to us. She shot straight up and yelled “hi, daddy! Are you sleeping? Wake up wake up, you need to love me!” She is also just like her mother.

my husband, bless him, is a local firefighter and was getting his much needed sleep in preparation for his third 24 hour shift this week. But he sat up and started talking to her sweetly and asked if he could do anything for her or for me. I was about to tell him to go back to sleep when Evie started puking everywhere….

fast forward to 6:00 am, after hours of a very fussy girl, lots of snuggles, and another dose of fever reducer….she had finally fallen asleep. I thought “this is perfect, I can get two hours of sleep before Ollie wakes up.”….and I was wrong. Evie woke up 30 minutes later and demanded Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. It is now 2:30pm and both of my babes have required laser focused attention. Ollie is on the mend, but Evie is red eyed and exhausted, yet she is still going 100mph.

hopefully we will all get a nap soon.