#IC || I am the Wasp that stings

[waspandr]

BATMAN V SUPERMAN: DAWN OF JUSTICE (x)

@burdenedreverance said:

I'm older now than my father ever was. This may be the only thing I do that matters.

There was a moment, a brief reflection, where Soifon found herself thinking back to her own family. It never occurred to her before, but now she had to wonder, how old was her mother when they passed? Has she long-since passed them in years or, had she more to go still? A low murring emitted from her throat as that thought lingered another few seconds before she shook her heard, dispersing it for the time. Finally, she looked in Hayden's direction, properly acknowledging him before speaking:

"You don't have a very high standard for doing things then, do you?"

[puzzled-pegasus]

WoF tribe specific curses/exclaimations (some used in a sentence so you get a better sense of the impact lol)

*some of these are morbid so be warned*

SkyWings

"Flaming feathers, you scared the smoke out of me!"

"Holy fireballs, that's a lot of treasure!"

"Leaping sheep, how long have you been standing there?"

"Smoke and fire, what happened to all my deer jerky?"

"Moons on fire, what in Pyrrhia's peaks were you thinking?"

"Corpses in a canyon, what happened to your arm?"

"SeaWing's salty scales, what did you put in this drink?"

SandWings

"Snakes on a rock, why do we still have that horrible thing?"

"Ravens and crows, what am I going to do with you?"

"Son of a one legged camel! Argh, I thought I told you to close the window screen!!"

"Oh, sweet prickly pears."

"King Cobra's teeth."

"Blister's burning tail, it's hot out here even for me!"

"Blue desert sky, I hate when he does that."

"Queen's cloaca, next you're going to tell me it's wrong to steal other dragons' purses if they leave them unattended."

SeaWings

"Jellyfish sting, have some tact for reef's sake!"

"Oysters on the half shell, you need a breath mint."

"Woo, slippery sardines, you make a good margarita!"

"Cuttlefish guts, what a thing to say to someone!"

"Mullet down my gullet, why is it always me that has to take care of things?"

"Sweet Prince Albatross, what the herring is going on here?"

"What in the Mariana Trench?"

NightWings

"By all the stars!"

"Darkstalker's teeth, don't sneak up on me like that!"

"Falling stars, that's a big fruit!"

"Moons curse it!"

"Venomous vultures...what happened here?"

"Queen's fire, be careful with that!"

"Burning IceWings, I thought I told you not to touch my notes!"

MudWings

"Well, cut off my wings and call me a crocodile, I never thought I'd see you again!"

"Oh, catfish whiskers, I can't believe I let it burn!"

"Now, where in Pyrrhia's green swamps did I put those onions?"

"Peas and carrots, darlin', what happened to you?"

"Cattails in the clay, what are you doing aggravating my poor bees?"

"Oh, for goose's sake!"

RainWings

"Ow, green and orange, that hurt!"

"Vipers and anacondas!"

"Sky full of spiders, you NightWings are bummers."

"Howling monkeys, stop that horrible noise!"

"Great green sloths, what could you possibly need so badly that I have to stop my sun time?"

"Sweet tangerine."

IceWings

"What in the name of the Great Ice Dragon?"

"Freezing moons."

"Frosted flames, is that a firescales?"

"Blue ice."

"Beluga's blubber, you dragonets ask too many questions."

"Silver horns, that's a big polar bear."

"Darkstalker's dagger!"

HiveWings

"Son of a bee!"

"If I see one more STINGING pen where it's not supposed to be, I swear to STINGING CLEARSIGHT---!"

"Bloodsucking flies, this place looks awful!"

"Oh, for Wasp's sake!"

"Royal jelly on bee bread toast, I can't believe you."

"Clearsight's book!"

LeafWings

"Coca leaf salad, you've all gone nuts."

"Holy tomato!"

"Dragon blood sap..."

"Jolly jaguars, that can't be good."

"Murderous mushrooms, where did she go?"

SilkWings

SilkWings don't curse, silly! :)

[mysticstarlightduck]

Incorrect Quotes Tag Game!

Thank you for tagging me @rickie-the-storyteller (here)! I really like tags like this and haven't done one in quite a while! So let's go! (I'll go with the cast of Supernova Initiative for this one)

Rules: use this incorrect quotes generator to come up with incorrect quotes for your OCs!

(It is scary how accurate these got OMG lmao)

Gabi: Hey, aren’t you Jack Tithus? The most famous thief in the galaxy? Jack (narrows his eyes suspiciously): You a cop? Gabi: No. Jack (smirks proudly): Then yes, I am.

Deimos: I’m a multitasker! Also Deimos: I can disappoint fifteen people at once.

Artemis, acting tough: You guys don't want to mess with me. Cassiopeia: Yeah, Artemis will straight-up cry in public. Don't try him. Artemis: Exactly, I will straight-up - (Realizes) Cassiopeia (smug as all heck): Artemis, already tearing up: Cassie, why would you say that?!

Pax: Anybody got any crayons so I can color in my Ph. D.?

Deimos (ten years ago, babysitting Cassie for Jack): OKAY, YOU KNOW WHAT?! TIME OUT! GET ON TOP OF THE FRIDGE! GET UP THERE! (Kid) Cassiopeia: *Climbing* THIS HOUSE IS A FUCKING NIGHTMARE!!!

Meridian: I'm hot, I’m tall, I'm gay, and I'm on my theatre kid arc.

Vesper: Hey, Aleks, where are you going? Aleks: Well, it depends. When I die, probably hell. Aleks: But right now I’m going to get some fries.

Lyorna, looking at Jack: Okay, so I need to become a therapist faster.

Cassiopeia: Hey, are you okay? Jack: Yeah. Cassiopeia: 'Yeah.' You don't look okay... Jack (jokingly, about to change the subject so fast): Well, then stop looking.

Pax: I just got the best idea I've ever had in my entire life! *Later* Ethean, to Pax, disappointed and a bit impressed: That was the worst idea you’ve ever had in your entire life.

Jack: So, company is coming, I want this place looking like Disney On Ice in one minute! (frantically organizing the chaos) Cassie, if you haven't made your bed already, throw it away - it's too late to make it now! Get rid of the couches, guys, we can't let people know we sit!! The chairs need to be pushed in, there can't be any sign of living in this house - (On the verge of a mental breakdown, continues rambling)

The entire crew: (done with life)

Deimos: Vesper, is that... my mug you’re drinking out of? Vesper: No, it’s mine. Deimos: It... looks just like the one I have... Vesper (holding the mug like a gremlin): You don’t have one like this anymore.

The Director: I’ve been described as a ‘heartless villain’ and a 'sadistic bastard’, but I prefer… 'has alternative ways of having fun’.

Deimos, playing a video game: This game is so frustrating! I hate it, I hate it, I hate it! Jack: OK... then I think it’s time to turn off the game for a little while. Deimos (with the manic energy of someone who chugged three bottles of energetics at once, utterly disheveled): BUT I'M HAVING FUN!

Aleks: You... you saved me. You're not a bad guy at all. YOU'RE A HERO, AN UGLY UGLY UGLY HERO! Noctus: Call me ugly again, and maybe I will eat you.

Jack: Just wondering, did you get any sleep? Artemis: Did I get any... leap? Jack (hella confused): A what now...?

Ethean: I'm trying to juggle family life and work life but I can't seem to find a balance. What do you suggest I do to keep everyone happy? Noctus (deadpan): Quit your job, kill your family. Seriously, I can't stand Pax any moment longer-

Vesper: Your problem is that you’ve got no common sense. Aleks: No, I’ve got plenty of common sense! Aleks: I just choose to ignore it.

Deimos: Did you miss me while I was gone? Cassiopeia (being a little shit with a grudge): Oh, you were gone? Wow. Didn't even notice.

Cassiopeia (at 2AM in the morning): I wish I could control wasps and bees to sting my enemies. Jack (who just wants to sleep): You’re too young to have enemies. Cassiopeia: You don’t even know.

Deimos: Hi- Vesper: Leave before there's a terrible misunderstanding between my foot and your ass.

Aleks: Do I sound smart, or am I smart? Noctus: You sound unbearable, to be perfectly honest.

Deimos: Fine! I don't give a shit! Jack: You seem to give a lot of shit for someone who claims not to give a shit.

Noctus: Pick a card, any card. Jack (smirks): Fine. Noctus: Wait, that's my credit card! Jack, already running away, looking over his shoulder: You said any card.

Deimos: And I’d love to be sorry for that, but we all know I’ve done much, much worse.

Pax: O darling brother, you love me, right? Ethean (suspicious): Normally I’d say yes without hesitation, but I feel like this is going somewhere I won’t like.

Noctus (panicked): This should be illegal! Pax (having the time of his life): It is!!!!!!

Cassiopeia: But that’s censorship. Noctus: Well done. You are correct. You’re being censored. Now go away.

Jack, to Cassiopeia: I'm leaving for the weekend, so I hid 100 units in your room for food. Clean your room, and you will find it.

Meridian, putting their hands over Vesper's eyes: Guess who! Vesper: It's either Meridian or the cold, clammy hands of death. Meridian, putting their hands away: It's me! Vesper: Dammit.

Jack: Deimos likes to say ‘you can be part of the problem or part of the solution,’ but I happen to believe you can be both.

Jack: *dangling from a rope over a pit of fire* Remember when I said I’d tell you when we’re in too deep? Cassiopeia: *also dangling from a rope over a pit of fire* Yes? Jack: ...We’re in too deep.

Artemis, sniffling: Calm down, I’m probably not sick. It might just be allergies. Meridian: Okay, tell me this: are you like, really tired? Artemis: I have depression, robot-man, what do you think?

Aleks: I don’t care what anyone thinks about me. Vesper: Ok. Aleks: Wait, why such a muted reaction? Did that not sound cool?

Noctus (lying through his teeth, cause he actually does care): I just wanted to say that over the years, I have come to regard you as… people I met.

Aleks, throwing a pokeball at Deimos: Deimos, I choose you! Deimos, not looking up from his book and catching it: You need an Ultra ball to catch this Legendary Pokémon.

Meridian: Are you tall enough to play basketball though? Gabi: Are you calling me short? Meridian: No, I'm calling you vertically challenged.

Pax: You need to be more careful! Ethean who was dragged into Pax's issue (and lost his entire career because of it): Careful? CAREFUL?! I'LL CAREFULLY WRAP MY HANDS AROUND YOUR THROAT-

Deimos: You know, I used to play back in my gory days. Artemis: ... You mean glory days? Deimos: Ah, that too.

Artemis: SSSHIT- I BURNT MY LIP- Cassiopeia: ...Why the fuck would you even drink coffee with a METAL STRAW in the FIRST PLACE?? Artemis: BECAUSE WE WERE OUT OF THE PLASTIC ONES!

The Director: I was born for politics. I have great hair and I love lying.

Jack: And what did we learn, Vesper? Vesper, begrudgingly: Tackling someone isn’t the correct response to being asked a simple question.

Ethean: What happened?! Pax: Do you want the long version or the short version? Ethean: Sh-short?? Pax: Shit's fucked. Ethean, facepalming:: Okay, long. Pax: Shit's very fucked.

Jack, opening a bottle of Hot Chocolate: Guess I'll drink my sorrows away.

Cassiopeia: *aggressively throws a pencil at Deimos* Deimos, deadpan: Oh no. I’ve been stabbed. I’ve been impaled.

Kaelus (Lyorna's Dad): Don’t worry, I have a permit. The Junction: ...This just says “I can do what I want”.

Kaelus: Exactly. NOW GET OUT OF MY FUCKING PLANET -

Tagging (gently): @sleepy-night-child, @kaylinalexanderbooks, @smol-feralgremlin, @oh-no-another-idea, @littleladymab,

@winterandwords, @cowboybrunch, @eccaiia, @sarahlizziewrites, @illarian-rambling

@agirlandherquill, @anoelleart

@leave-her-a-tome, @writernopal, @anyablackwood, @unstablewifiaccess, @forthesanityofstorytellers

@i-can-even-burn-salad, @cakeinthevoid

@lassiesandiego, @thepeculiarbird, @clairelsonao3, @memento-morri-writes, @starlit-hopes-and-dreams and OPEN TAG

[uneasy-itto]

"Decided to write about my moring cause I'm bored :)"

"Woke up at 3 am again last night, unfortunately.Wasnt able to fall back to sleep as usual,so I'm exhausted.Layed in bed for I think 2 hours,was basically trying to convince myself to get out a bed,got out of bed at like 5 in morning.It was still dark out so I decided to go outside,brought George with me,I didn't want wake or let my dad know i was gone,so I just snuck out the window,made sure to close I for the most part so I could get back in.I walked around for a while,went to the outskirts of town.Went to my favorite tree. :) I keep stuff in that tree sometimes.I let Georgge run around for a while since he needs to run around sometimes,he has a light strapped on a hat I have him where so I can find him.He seems to like hats.Then again he seems to like everything.He seemed to have alot of fun when he was running around.I climbed up in the tree while I let him do that, I fell a few a few times while trying to climb up the tree,I'm fine,just my neck and back hurt a little.When I finally managed to climbed the tree I caught my nightgown I was wearing at the time om a branch,it ripped a little because of it :[ I'll have to fix it later.I decided to read when I got up in the tree,I always have a book in that tree along with a clip on reading light.I also decided to have some sipping whisky while reading, and a good cigar I had stored there.It was nice,helped me calm down a bit.After a while ,around 10?,15? minutes before the sun were to rise.I hoped down from the tree,but not before angering some wasps to sting me,I'm fine though.I also scratched my leg on the back of the tree,I'm fine,i cleaned it when I got back.Before I headed home I went to convenience store to some ice for my leg.I snuck back into the house from the window.I hope dad Marco didn't noticed I was gone."

"I hope he doesn't notice I smell like whisky snd cigars."

"And I really hope my dad Marco doesn't see this post."

Tagging @secretmailservice because I can :) and Ittoku brings Marco up a few times :]

[kittybug99]

Dog eat bees

Rat terrier likes to try to eat bugs. Bumblers will sacrifice themselves for her entertainment without stinging. Earwigs are tough but they go down easy enough. 12:20 - huh, I think the dog maybe just got stung by a wasp or something. She flinched weird and I saw something fly away.

12:35 - oh, haha, her lip is a little swollen. poor puppy, we’ll give her some ice cubes

12:46 - oh, that’s getting really swollen… maybe time to make an applesauce slushy for her to soothe her lip

12:55 - ok her eyes are swollen up now, time to call the vet

12:56 - vet is at lunch, they say call vet 2

12:57 - vet 2 is at lunch, they say call vet 3

12:58 - vet 3 says bring her in, we’ll monitor her and give her some treatments

1:17 - arrive at vet, dog is V puffy on one lip and both eyes, they take her back immediately. We are in the waiting room. This will cost us at minimum $165.

2:00 - they come out and do intake forms with us in the lobby, tell us that they will give her a steroid and benadryl.

2:10 - another dog in the lobby vomits and poops blood. I do not look over.

2:20 - vomit dog’s owner is understandably upset at the ill health of her best friend

3:00 - vet comes out to talk to us about what to do with her, how to prevent this in future, etc

3:15 - I am finally brave enough to ask if I can use the complimentary Keurig station (I made some hot cocoa)

3:30 - babydog is finally released because the swelling hasn’t gotten worse, and her eyes are back to normal size, but her lip is still super puffed

4:00 - get some benadryl to take home

[michael-massa-micon]

Interesting Sky - March 2023 This is actually an image from my Bike Cam. I have it set to take an image every fifteen seconds. I didn’t think I had captured anything interesting and probably would have just deleted the several hundred images which it had taken except I got a bee in my bonnet. Actually, I got a bunch of German Wasps in my bike helmet and was looking to see if I captured any images of them. This image with the interesting sky is fifteen seconds before I hit the swarm of wasps. The second image is as I am passing through the swarm. Those black dots at various points in the image are the wasps. The main swarm was just beneath the Palo Verde Tree and I didn’t see them. The third image I took the next day. It shows the actual nest in an electrical box underneath the tree German Wasps are an invasive species in the United States and were first recorded in Ohio in 1975. What makes them especially nasty is that they “mark” you with a scent identifying you as an enemy and the rest of the swarm comes after you. Had I been on foot, I might have been in real trouble. As it was, I had to ride very fast for about a half-mile to escape the main swarm. Then I could stop and take off my helmet and start swatting. Brushing them off doesn’t help. They come back again and again to attack you until you kill them. I received several stings on my scalp under my hair, a couple on the back of my neck, and some really nasty ones on my right ear. I called my wife and told her I might be in trouble and then called her every fifteen minutes to let her know where I was. Luckily I didn’t have an adverse reaction to the stings. It took about twenty-five minutes to arrive home. Then it was ice, Zyrtec, Tramadol, and a little rest to be back to normal. MWM

[crymeariveronceagain]

Stina Heks Aesthetic Because She Deserves Kindness

Oh, the loneliest girl in town is bought for pennies of prize We dress her up in lovely gowns, she's easy on the eyes Her soul is black and it's a fact that a sneer will eat you alive And the buyer always brings her back because all she does is cry

Petruchio: Come, come, you wasp; i' faith, you are too angry.

Katherine: If I be waspish, best beware my sting.

She says, "`Men are monopolists of stars, garters, buttons and other shining baubles' -- unfit to be the guardians of another person's happiness."

All you’ll ever be is a fading memory of a bully Make another joke while they hang another rope so lonely Push them to the dirt till the words don’t hurt can you hear me No one’s gonna cry on the very day you die you’re a bully

Can see it from the way you looking at me You don't think I'm worth your time Don't care about the person that I might be Offended that I walk the line

Stop, what the hell are you talking about? Ha Get my pretty name outta your mouth We are not the same with or without Don't talk 'bout me like how you might know how I feel Top of the world, but your world isn't real Your world's an ideal

“She would've been a good woman," said The Misfit, "if it had been somebody there to shoot her every minute of her life.”

'Cause it's got my head running 24/7 I don't know if can figure it out It's all messed up, only one thing I know for sure We're so full of

Sugar, honey, ice, and tea

Si vis pacem, para bellum.

“It's easier to bleed than sweat, Mr. Motes.”

The Tradition, by Halsey // The Taming Of The Shrew, by William Shakespeare // Marriage, by Marianne Moore // Bully, by Shinedown // Like That, by Bea Miller // Therefore I Am, by Billie Eilish // A Good Man Is Hard To Find, by Flannery O'Connor // sugar honey ice & tea, by Bring Me The Horizon // Wise Blood, by Flannery O'Connor //

[incorrectmyhero]

MHA characters as things my dumbass friends have said! [1-A Edition!]

Aoyama: You smell like a french whore

Mina: Oh… is this completely different from the Oompaloompa thing?

Tsu: if you nap you can dream of frogs having a nice cup of tea with you

Iida: That’s not affection. That’s just a safety procedure

Uraraka: U float like a butterfly and sting like a motherfucker wasp

Ojiro: meet me at my house and then drive me in front of the school so we can fight

Kaminari: Just go with it. My brain is as fried as everybody else’s

Kirishima: I don’t know what I’m doing, or who I am. Or how to do taxes, but that’s a separate issue

Koda: I heard like, these geese honking… like… talking to each other?

Sato: Ima bake cookies and tell stories of the horrors of the old days

Shoji: i can spoon feed you with my ver very long arm. my arm will recoil and hit me like a rubber band.

Jirou: i will tie you down and force you to watch the guy who doesnt like musicals

Sero: Hella wack, home skillet

Tokoyami: Just wear an aggressive amount of black and 2000s emo band shirts

Todoroki: You’re just making fun of me because I’m mentally ill

Hagakure: shirt n pants with invisible socks. comfy, but you'll never know

Bakugou: The universe should be grateful to have me and the gods should weep upon my death

Deku: You need help. Either Jesus or a Medical provider. Please.

Mineta: Nasty goblin, I’ll bake you with potatoes and carrots.

Yaoyorozu: I got ice cream because im a lesbian and i deserve it

[tedturneriscrazy]

Another Saturday, another episode! Let's take a look at Keeping Up A-fear-ances!

(Good lord I'm starting to make myself sound like some sort of content creator)

Oh, okay, we're just starting at that level of intensity, huh?

Chest gem origins

Gwendolyn not being satisfied with managing the curse and determined to cure it? I'm sure this won't be a real world allegory in the slightest.

Oh, so Eda literally just stumbles upon the portal? I could call that contrived, but honestly it's not dissimilar to how Dipper found Journal 3. For that matter, the entirety of Lord of the Rings is predicated on an accidental discovery like this and nobody gave Tolkien shit about it.

Was the eye on the portal cracked in previous episodes? I don't remember.

Seems like Gwen is the "well-meaning but ultimately misguided" flavor of mom.

As an aside, I am now quite curious about how Eda's first trip to the human realm went. Maybe a future episode will cover it? At any rate, I smell a new favorite fic prompt.

The screaming alarms in the Demon Realm will never not be funny to me.

Also, that is a worrying number of hearts. Eda is straight up murdering these poor creatures.

For some reason the gold fang being removable never occurred to me as a possibility, and now I feel like a kid who's discovered that Santa isn't real.

Oh hey, the new outfit! I'm also impressed how close to symmetrical that tearing was.

I need to get a screencap of Luz sleeping on that stack of books because she is adorable.

Also, staying up all night researching? This season seems determined to completely eradicate the notion of Luz being dumb, and I am here for it.

I have a feeling the Hexside mug will be making its way to The Mystery Shack in the near future.

Lilith's first experience with transformation and she seems understandably horrified.

The curse acting stronger when stressed? That seems...important.

Ah, so the dismemberment is from the curse! A surprisingly useful side effect from what we've seen so far.

Can I just say that I appreciate how Eda's reaction to Lilith's first taste of transformation is immediate remedy, explanation, and reassurance? And doesn't make any snarky comments along the lines of "now you know what it's like?" Whatever happened in that week and a half must have been cathartic as hell.

"Always. Always curious." Luz is the TOH fandom.

(Also, Eda, you know she is, considering how much she went on about your "mysterious past" at the Covention)

"Magic bird tornado?!" Luz has a way with words that's just *chef's kiss*.

"Gwendolyn." Eda is already just fucking done.

"MOM?!?!" Jeez, Lilith, you're just now hearing all this?

I was charmed by how motherly Gwen was acting toward Eda, but then she kinda just...dismissed Lilith, and now I'm somehwat less charmed.

(Sweet flea as a term of endearment is kinda cute, though might have some unfortunate implications depending on how you want to interpret it)

"Who knows what they put in those nasty concoctions?" OH WE GOING FOR THE ANTI-VAXXERS NOW YESSSS

Luz and Lilith's reaction to that whole exchange is priceless.

Everyone's perspective here makes perfect sense for who they are and what they've been through.

Poor Lilith. Her cursing Eda is beginning to make more sense.

Ah, thus begins the collaboration.

"We'll be consulting someone very special." Why does that seem so...ominous?

Is there anyone who watched this episode for the first time whose bullshit detector didn't go off immediately when Gwen mentioned finding someone who promised a cure?

Heh, Palm Stings.

Nonbelievers will be blinded by the power of the tome? I'm sure they will be, Wartlop.

I must say, as something of a scientist myself (okay that's not true, I'm a QA tech for a food manufacturer, but I do have a chemistry degree), I am 100% here for the swings being taken at faith healing/"miracle" cures/anti-vaxxers in this episode

Oh, we Wile E. Coyote now, huh?

Also, interesting how much apple blood is being played up in this episode.

Lilith please you're projecting your mommy issues on a literal child

OH WE REALLY JUST WILE E. COYOTE HUH?

You're right, Luz, Gwen's bicep game is goals.

(Somewhat disappointed the scars are from questing and not beastkeeping, but eh)

Why do I get the feeling there's gonna be a future episode where everybody stages an intervention for Eda's apple blood problem?

"Those feathers mean we're driving the beast out" Gwen no

Hooty is holding the brain cell? Oh no...

If that ice cream came from the Night Market it would explain why Lilith sounds drunk.

(Side note: I can't be the only one getting flashbacks to Mermista's ice cream binge, right? Different context, but still)

"Abomi-berry" "Franken fruit" "Key slime pie" These are A+ flavor names.

Oh, there's the transformation...

I must say that whole segment kinda rubbed me the wrong way. The way King's opinion on his dad was changed seemed...I don't know how to describe it. I get that they needed a trigger for Lilith's transformation, but honestly if any part of the episode is contrived it's this.

"¡It really is that good!" So that's what an accent slip in written form looks like. (The upside down exclamation point is used in Spanish, in case anyone didn't know)

I keep half expecting Eda to say "Beep! Beep!" at this point.

Luz is finally asking questions. Took long enough.

Ah, the classic "moving the goal posts to extract more money from a desparate family member" technique.

Luz channeling Scorpion, we love to see it.

There is an exquisite irony in Eda's mom being scammed, I must say.

Ah, so that's where the elixirs went. Dammit, Gwen.

Luz is definitely thinking "Are you fucking kidding me right now?!"

Beast!Lilith is massive.

"Sweet flea?" Gwen just realized she done goofed.

"I can see you still need a little time." God Luz is so fucking smart.

The con revealed.

OH DAMN SCARY MAMA

(Also I am terrified of bees/wasps, so extra scary mama in my book)

The scam is revealed, goblins, getting back into the Wartlop disguise is kinda pointless.

She joined the Beast Keeping coven entirely to cure the curse? That's dedication. A shame you couldn't have spared some of that for Lilith.

Still, I do like badass scary mama Gwen. I'd be down to see more of that.

Owl Beast fight!

I am slayed by the fact that the portraits are now officially a recurring gag 😂

Aw, here's The Moment™️

"My turn to drive" Does this imply cars are a thing on the Boiling Isles after all?

Lilith crying almost immediately💔 She was holding onto a lot of pain.

Yes, King, she was trying to do her best. I mean, road to hell or whatever, but at least Gwen got there in the end.

WHAT?! YOU'RE BREAKING UP LULU AND HOOTCIFER?!?!?!?

Terrace, that's just cruel. (Worthless brownie points for whoever understands that reference)

No, seriously, you can't just give me my favorite inter-character relationship in the series after Lumity and just...take it away like that, come on! 😭😭😭😭😭😭

I know I should remark on how Lilith told Gwen about the circumstances of the curse, how Gwen rightfully accepted responsibility for the whole situation, and how Luz finds the big hair aspirational, but...NOOOO DON'T END THE ADVENTURES OF LULU AND HOOTCIFER WHYYYYYYYYY💔😭💔😭💔😭

"BUT I CAN'T HOLD A PEN!"

I will never emotionally recover from this.

Okay, I think I got that out of my system. Anyway...

Not the only human, huh? Cue the "Belos is a human" theorists going into maximum overdrive.

That said, a tantalizing lore dump.

We certainly do have a lot of garbage. Some of it even holds office. HEY-O!

Setting up the next episode, too. Continuity!

Camp's over, huh? That means it's been three months.

Way to misdirect with Camila, guys. That said, we have now seen Camila cry and I HATE it. (In the right way, I think)

WHAT THE FUCK

HOLY SHIT

CREEPY LUZ IS REAL WHAT

OWJEIWHQGIWWOPQ

(It's hard to keysmash on a phone, even with autocorrect off)

That wraps it up! The flaws in this episode seem more pronounced than any others in the season so far, but the good stuff was really good! Overall a solid episode! I know everybody's looking forward to library Lumity in the next one (so am I), but I'm personally eager to see what they do with Gus. His part is the A plot, after all.

Anyway, I'll be back at this next week! Still hard to believe this is a thing, but that's life, I guess.

[waspandr]

@baiika​ said:

Momo strikes a match and lights her pipe. "You're exhausted. Sit," she says.

Soifon blinked, her brows angled down in a most flummoxed positioning as she looked at the Lieutenant and then their pipe. 

“I...never took you to be the smoking type,” Ignoring the charge they’d made to her prior.    

[buga-lugs]

llewellyn, a poem.

he walked down Queen’s Street,

one foot in front of the other.

he counted the steps he made down every road

every path

and every street.

and the people, the lovely people

women with vibrant coloured bags

and hats made of bird feathers and decorated with flowers,

men with the best made suits in all the city

pride in their step like they owned the world,

would not know

as they glanced up from their newspapers

while the street boys polished their shoes to a glimmer

until they could see their faces in them

as they saw his reflection in the shop windows

when they bought their meats and fruits.

they would not know,

not one of them,

they were looking at a man who had suffered

because death hung onto him like the clothes he wore

green plaid suit

the pain clung onto his skin

like the nasty smell of woods when you went camping.

the life had been drained

and refilled

and then drained again

because this man, the one who felt the need to

touch every flower and leaf he came across

who twirled around posts and

played hopscotch with himself in his mind

lost his parents when he was twelve years old

they died

and an orphan was birthed.

he was twelve, only twelve

when his sister left him

and it had not been for fifteen years later

when he found her again

sitting in a garden with her hair tied back and peace engraved

on her beautiful face

that resembled much of his own

fair and sweet.

nothing could compare to the hurt that stung his heart

like a bee

or a wasp

pricking into his skin with sharp points that drew blood

when his sister told him she did not want him

she did not want him

she did not want a man to be in her life

she did not want a brother to look after her

to cherish her and love her

to tell her no other man deserved her praise because she was too

good for them

pain never simmered in his stomach so long

his feet felt cold and blood boiled

breathing in hurt instead of air

and even though he had tried to love

again and again

pain crashed down

like an avalanche in the north of Canada

snow and ice falling down the cliff

it failed

he failed at love

little Hubert and Danny

the twins

he loved so hard and so passionate he fell for the traps of

a killer’s father

to shoot your own son, to take his life

and he fell, he framed

and prison didn’t look so far away

and then the detective laid out the photos

bloody and gore

little hubert laying there dead, blood soaked face and skin and

he knew it would never wash out

like the stinging sensation that overwhelmed his body

he cried

he cried for the brothers he lost

justice had been served, had it not?

so why didn’t he feel better?

he thought he may never feel love again

but just like the crimes

the murders

the gruesome tasks that came with his job

it never ended

he loved again,

but society torn it up for him

because loving a man was different than loving a woman

when you yourself was a man

living in a world where the law was built

to reward those who followed

what society wanted

the rules were constructed around the preference of those

who were too narrow minded to think love goes all ways

they kissed in the shadows

and passed along as friends

hidden in the footsteps of those who have hidden before them

and those before them

and those after would do the same

back alleyways were their safe space

dare charge jack walker, inspector? charge me!

indecency means many things,

but a crime as well

so charge me! i am as indecent as jack walker!

the man i had fell in love with,

the man who made me feel whole

the man who made me smile when no one else did

but oh, of course

there was a pattern here

a rule

a criteria

the way it always went,

because now jack walker was married

to a lovely lady

and he had a son,

named samuel, and he is the gosh darn cutest thing in the world

and the cycle continues, and nobody can know of the pain

because nobody needed to know

why share your broken heart when it’ll only be judged

rather than pieced back together by the kindness of words.

he is being owned by the law and yet

he enforces it.

sure

george crabtree may

keep his money troubles secret,

an unspoken metaphor

for his own identity,

but that does not mean everyone else will.

so don’t you dare tell him he doesn’t understand

when you tell him of your troubles

of your grief

of your hurting heart,

of the way you don’t know how you’ll ever get back together

like a broken puzzle,

maybe the ones Murdoch keeps in his office

the building blocks a child uses

an unsolved chess game.

because he does know

he’s felt it

he’s felt it more than anyone.

yes your sorrow is valid but this man’s is too

rejected by society without saying a word

heartbroken because a man is not allowed to love him

a man who neglects him for the child he promised to raise

after vowing to be a caring and loyal husband,

jack walker is living a lie and he is watching from the sidelines

like his life is a sports game

perhaps basketballs

or hockey

but llewellyn,

he isn’t a part of that game anymore.

he is not playing hockey,

he is not shooting the winning basket.

life is but a cruel sport for those who suffer it

those who do not accept the laws that have been put in place

he is watching

longingly

from across the street

but he’s gotten better

because he’s now smiling

he’s laughing

he is giving love another try

when milo strange walked into his game

they quoted Whitman and watched symphonies

made plans for New York and had pretzel dates

and life was good again

or at least

he hoped so

because love had a pattern

a rule

a criteria

the way it always went

he walked through the station house doors,

one foot in front of the other

a soft baked pretzel in his hand,

and prayed it would not end that way again.

[writemekpop]

Cloud 9 | Lee Taeyong

Pairing: Lee Taeyong x Reader

Summary: You and Taeyong are lying together in your secret meadow, cloud-watching. Only, you’ve barely noticed the clouds – you can’t keep your eyes off your gorgeous boyfriend.

Genre: Fluff, Suggestive

Word count: 0.6k 

You watched clouds glide over Taeyong’s glistening black eyes.

A coy breeze rustled the grass in your hidden meadow. You and your boyfriend’s secret slice of peace.

The wind ruffled Taeyong’s corngold hair, dipped into the hollows of his confident collarbones, and frolicked under his loose T-shirt, pulling it up greedily.

Beneath, goose bumps spread over sun-baked planes of muscle. Your magpie fingers longed to stroke that hard gold, to feel it ripple under your touch.

“Look up, Y/n! There’s cloud shaped like an elephant!” Taeyong’s voice rumbled upwards. You melted at the sight of his pouty peach lips.

Reluctantly, you gave the sky a quick glance. Bloated blue fed with sun rays. White tufts of fur drifted around, as if shed from some heavenly house pet.

Boring. It was nothing compared to the view you had beside you.  

You turned your eyes back to Taeyong. Thick veins ran down his strong arms – the arms of a man whose body was his instrument, whose dance could bring gasps of delight and which had hidden magic in every sinew.

“Woah! That cloud looks like a kitten!”

Taeyong’s words dripped straight out of your ears like melted ice cream. You didn’t catch a word. It wasn’t your fault; you were helplessly preoccupied by the man himself.

You imagined a journey under his soft cotton T-shirt, fingers tracing down his sandstone chest, and planting a tender kiss on his cross necklace. Your dream-mouth circled his navel like you needed it to breathe. The dipping trail of secret black hair that slipped into his trousers tickled your chin. No blonde hair dye to chameleon this part of him.

“Well, Y/n? Can you see it or not?”

Your daydream scattered like a blown dandelion.

“Are you even listening to me?” Taeyong’s liquid eyes flooded yours.

“Uh…..” You scrambled for an excuse. “No?”

Oops. Probably shouldn’t’ve said that.

Darkness flickered over Taeyong’s face like leaf-shadows rippling in the breeze. You quaked in your Converses.

Suddenly, he grinned. “Of course, I knew you weren’t listening, babe… Am I really that irresistible?”

A sigh fluttered from your lips. Your racing heart slowed. A bit. “Yes. You are.”

Grinning, Taeyong rolled over the grass so his body pressed against yours. Despite the effort, Taeyong’s muscles did not tremble.

A breathless, bronze-cheeked girl was reflected in Taeyong’s pupils. You stole a kiss, a quick burning stamp to Taeyong’s silken cheek.

He laughed. “Have you still not had your fill of me?”

“Never,” you insisted.

Taeyong chuckled once more, then kissed your mouth. It was a lazy, lolling, sundrunk kiss. When you kissed him back, your lips were not lazy. They were feverish butterfly lips. Wasps buzzed in your ear and ants scurried to the beat of your drumming pulse.

Taeyong’s weight squeezed you down into stinging thistles, but you barely noticed. Your hands were sliding urgently over Taeyong’s back, pushing under white cotton. His sweat-stuck skin flexed under your fingers. Knotted coils of muscle. You felt a familiar mole, greeted it, moved dizzyingly on.

Taeyong’s body was so firm and real you could almost taste it. You did taste it. You sucked the salty, summer taste from the base of his neck, from his ear lobe. You felt him shuddering against you. His panting breaths charged yours into a desperate spiral.

You loved the shape of Taeyong. The lean, broad strength of him. The harder you clung to him, the firmer he felt. You gulped up his amber heat with every morsel of strength in your body. Eventually, oxygen deprived, you were forced to pull back.  

Taeyong gently rolled off you, both your bodies dripping with sweat.

“Had… your fill …now?” Taeyong murmured between gasping breaths.

“Like I said…” you began. Sunrays formed bright white fingers in the sky.

“Never.”

[sunkissed-mogai]

I like baking anything, but especially cookies bc you can make them cool shapes and put icing and sprinkles and stuff on them!!!! I'm sure the cupcakes were really good!!!! I want to make an apple cake that I have a recipe for at some point. | I'm a little bit tired, but I always am so that's not really anything different. I'm kind of bored bc I don't have anything I need to do rn, bc I finished all my assignments so I'm just kind of vibing. But, it's nice out so is it even possible for today to be bad? And it's not warm enough for bees today!!!!!! I understand that bees are important and stuff, but also I'm vv scared of them and don't like them at all. I freeze up whenever a bumble bee gets w/in like 6 feet of my bc they're scary and pointy and go BZZZ. Bees and wasps<<< anything else. | Have you read any cool books recently? -⭐

cookies are awesome!! there are so many ways to do cookies, you can do virtually anything with them in terms of shape and flavour and they're so forgiving :] i love cookies

ooh, it's good that you've finished your assignments!!

bees are kinda scary yeah :0 as much as i love bees and think they're really cute i don't think i'd get within a few inches of them. pls don't sting me yellow boy.

ooh! giving book recommendations is my favorite thing. you don't know what you've gotten yourself into >:]

forever or a long long time by caela carter

the candymakers by wendy mass

the thing about jellyfish by ali benjamin

counting by 7s and to night owl from dogfish by holly goldberg sloan

a good girl's guide to murder + the two other books in the trilogy by holly jackson

the remarkable journey of coyote sunrise by dan gemeinhart

akata witch, akata warrior, and akata woman by nnedi okorafor

the sal and gabi duology by carlos hernandez

[randomly-talented]

Okay, okay, I'm not really good at making sentences work the way I want them but I'll try to convey my thoughts and emotions over the characters from Bug Fables after completing the game last night at 2:00 ish in the morning (I was weak and there no way I was gonna stop with all the stuff that was going on at the end. I'm the type of player that plays till a good stopping point) that being said there will be spoilers from here on down so you've been warned!

But really it's such a beautiful experience and i highly recommend going in blind to any new player.

Okay, on to the point. I know many people have decided on their favorite of the team and I'm not here to say "oh they're the best and you're wrong!" NOPE I'm not doing that I am trying to say is "they're all the best and you're so right to care for one but let's love them all". Each character has their own ideals and their own goals when we first meet them.

Vi (Violet) a bee who has essentially runaway from home after burning the bridges between her family and her "mother" the queen to become an explorer. An occupation that (based off context clues) is the last thing a bee does for a living. And this is emphasized with all other bugs that explore being not only bigger than her but NOT bees. And biologically...it makes sense! A bee, is to collect pollen and nectar for the hive and produce honey (which Vi use to do with her job at the factory) and biologically bees do avoid fighting since their only way of attacking is with their stinger. But unlike the other black and yellow bugs, a bee's stinger is a one use thing. After it's used, it remains in the creature the bee attacked and from the bee's body it takes their organs with it. (If I remember that correctly. It's been a while since I looked up why bee's die after stinging someone). But you understand the concern that other bees in Vi's life have for her becoming an explorer. But that isn't the only thing the Vi dealt with before becoming and explorer, she had to deal with many of her friends and family badmouth her dreams and guilt her from trying to accomplish them. As Vi said to her sister when they were trying to resolve their fight, "But if I can say something, you were mean to me too! I had dreams and you stomped over them! I'm doing great! I've gone to many places and beat up huge monsters! If...if you had any faith in me I could've done it sooner!" Even her desire of money is so that she can live how she wants without anyone telling her how to live. And it's a strong desire due to the fact that Vi is always trying to strike a deal or not spend their savings on expensive wants, shown through her reluctance to buy the green ranger toy, or her utter shock to the 400 berries flower toy she forked the money for. (Something that shocked Leif and Kabbu due to the fact that Vi just spent 400 berries on a toy for someone else)

Kabbu a beetle (who specific species I don't know) who is the definition of an honorable bug. Going out of his way to help others and if it weren't for Vi he'd do it for free. Which would essentially leave him homeless once that is said and done. Who through the majority of the game he's the voice of reason, passion, and inspiration. (With a skill "Pep Talk" he's able to revive a fainted teammate). And who wishes to create a team of explorers to call his own. I will say that Kabbu was precious. I loved how the only reason Vi and Leif got anything done or didn't do a crime, the chaotic duo that they are, was because of Kabbu and how his hesitance was enough to keep Vi and Leif from upsetting him further. But I do want to say that I found it odd how willing he was to behave that way. When I was playing through the festival I found it so weird how Kabbu was okay with not participating at all. Until I realized that I personally do that too. Kabbu was happy as long as his teammates were having fun. (Until you learn of his old teammates, who were trying to go to bugaria by going through the swamplands and perished to the Beast by holding it off while Kabbu ran away) Kabbu who after surviving the Beast alone had to make more than half of the journey to the Ant Kingdom alone, through a desert filled with monsters, some which he couldn't attack by himself due to their burrow ability, and bandits, with some bandits flying to high for him to do anything but run from. The entire time being alone to fester in the guilt that he essentially "abandoned" his teammates to die at the hands of the beast and how easy the desert would be if his teammates were there to help him. (Not only that but if I remember correctly Kabbu's old teammates were more experienced than Kabbu himself, which added to the guilt "if I was stronger they would still be around") And now the festival wasn't as happy as it was led to appear. Kabbu is okay with letting his teammates have fun because he doesn't "need" to have fun. Vi and Leif are placeholders for his old teammates during this event. If they can have fun one more time, I can truly be happy. I will keep them safe and happy unlike my old teammates. I will do all within my power to make sure my teammates are happy and safe. Because I didn't the first time and I won't make that same mistake. That is why when we collectively reach the grasslands Kabbu comes to the decision that he's strong enough to avenge his fallen teammates by defeating the Beast. Alone if he must.

Leif a moth (with the ability to control ice that they generate within their body) who is found after Kabbu and Vi stumble into the deeps of Snake mouth cave. And when they're awakened from their "nap" Leif has no idea that time has essentially changed. Now the Ant Kingdom has grown, their queen is no longer in charge but their daughter. And things aren't as peaceful as they use to be, the wasps and termites have cut ties with the ant kingdom, there are bandits left and right, and now there is need for a prison when in the past there was no such need. All of the bugs that Leif once knew are no more except Rebecca who is too aged to fully remember them. (If that's her name, I honestly was never too sure...) And it wasn't till later in the story that Leif is shocked to realize that one of the family's in the residential areas looks just like they're wife Muse. And that is when you realize that Leif was stripped from they're family. And thus leads to Leif working harder in finding out what exactly happened in that cave and when we do it's heartbreaking. Apparently Snake mouth cave was home to a civilization of roach scientists who were trying to recreate an equivalent to the eternal sapling by experimenting with cordyceps and bugs that the roaches lured to the cave with the promise of an artifact that would lead to the everlasting sapling. That is why there was a trap door as you open the door to the "treasure" of Snake mouth cave and further beyond that "treasure" was another door were bugs were inhumanely experimented on in some sick experiment as the roaches looked for purpose. (It's only super concerning that the majority of zombified bugs happen to be small ants, bees of the "smaller" variety, and green beetles of the "larger" variety. (Creepily enough they looked like Vi and Kabbu and I really hope that Leif's old teammates weren't some variety of those bugs cuz that would be super upsetting.) There, Leif learns that they were once dead, and that they're not even them, they were a sentient cordyceps that "failed" the roaches test and possessed a dead bug, Leif, who was most likely ambushed with his team and left behind by said team least they all lose their lives. Only for Leif to be subjected to experiments in order to become the next immortal, a purpose for the roaches to live for. And unluckily (luckily??) survived the experiments once a cordyceps housed itself within them in a symbiotic relationship. And with Kabbu and Vi's help, comes to accept that they have always been the same bug from the beginning till now and onwards. Now that they realize that even though they are part cordyceps part moth it doesn't mean they have really changed from the bug they use to be when it came to they're family. Which gave them the courage to meet the present version of their family and be accepted with open arms (it was touching and I cried).

But that's just it. Vi, Kabbu, and Leif; Team Snakemouth are the best team, because they had each other. And even though they each had their own personalities and their pasts that laid heavy within each of their minds. Team Snakemouth supported itself, and was open to itself (some a bit more than others). They keep their secrets within the team, they backed each other up, they tease each other, they beat anyone fight anyone that insults one of them (How dare you insult us! Insult one you insult all!). Because they aren't just one, they are a team, a family, friends. A success, is all their success. A failure, is all their failure. One's happiness, is all their happiness. And ones sadness, is all their sadness. And it was their team that saved Bugaria from the wasp King. And we loved them all.

[pagingevilspawn]

Can u write a one shot where jolex's toddler gets bitten by a poisonous spider and they react quickly to help her and has alex calming jo down as she starts freaking out

WARNING: THIS IS SO BAD! Okay, you asked for spiders. That meant doing research. So I looked up poisonous spiders and I saw pictures of spiders. So dear anon, you get a sting instead, because spiders are terrifying to look at and I couldn't glance at it without feeling like they were crawling all over me ;) enjoy! this is the shortest thing i’ve ever written, yikes. 

(another installment of the “payton loves evan peters too much series”)

float like a butterfly, sting like a bee

Jo Karev rested in the chair that sat on the back porch of her house, overlooking the backyard where she watched her three year old son run around with the family dog Muffin. The now full grown Golden Retriever chased after the slobbery green tennis ball the little boy had thrown into the bushes with a great deal of clumsiness, nearly tripping over his own four paws on the way. Jo lets a small laugh escape her lips, picking her glass of lemonade up from the table beside her and taking a leisurely sip, savoring the cool taste it still held since the ice cubes had yet to melt completely.

It was an unusually warm day in Seattle, temperatures reaching eighty-eight degrees despite the fact that it was only spring break, not even summer yet. The sky was clear of any clouds and the light blue proved to be comforting while she sat outside. School had been out for a few days now, so she had heard the neighborhood kids playing around in their yards, a large difference from the usually close to silent street. Only her and one other family on the block had a child that wasn’t in school yet, so the outside noise levels had steadily increased since the rest of the kids joined in on the early morning activities. More than once she had heard a couple of pre-teens race down the streets on their skateboards. Not that she minded, she loved seeing all the kids enjoy themselves, and she loved it even more for her son. Growing up she never had a life like this. It was refreshing to know that her baby boy wouldn’t grow up the same ways she and Alex had.  

A large grin paints her lips as she watches her son try to hug Muffin, since he had quickly gotten bored with playing fetch. Not to mention, the little boy always hated how wet the ball got after it had been in the dog’s mouth. Jo couldn’t blame him, she felt the same way. Alex teased them both relentlessly for it, frequently making sure to toss the slobbery ball in their direction, just so that they would need to be the ones to tear it out of the golden’s mouth.

A small kiss on the top of her head tears her gaze away from the scene in front of her, looking up to meet her husband’s eyes. He, like her, was still dressed in pajamas, despite it already almost being eleven am. They both had gotten the day off and were relishing in the free time they got to spend by themselves and with their son. 

“Kyle, careful.” Jo chastises the boy as the little Karev almost falls face first into a patch of flowers. She sees Alex sit beside her on another chair out of the corner of her eye, his brown hair messy and out of place falling into his eyes, a cup of coffee clutched in his right hand. He had gotten up the same time she did that day, eight thirty on the dot, also known as the time their son came bouncing into their room, jumping up and down on them until they finally gave in and didn't try to go back to sleep. Alex had a long night, not getting home until close to three am, only to wake up a few hours later with a bunch of paperwork he needed to do. She had a feeling he had fallen asleep halfway through, since he looked like he had just gotten out of bed. 

“Morning” he greets her, taking a sip of his drink, watching her from the side as he does so. His wife was beautiful every single time he looked at her, but something about seeing her make-up free, hair pulled up into a messy bun, and oversized clothes was when he always thought she looked her best. Then, he could see the light freckles she had sprinkled on her nose, something he had found annoyingly cute the first time he first saw them (he teased her about them way too often for her own liking). 

Jo hums in response, reaching for his hand and quickly entangling their fingers. A quiet peace settled around them, the only sounds in the air were Kyle’s laughter and faint voices of kids down the street. She closes her eyes and leans back into her seat, feeling the warm sun hit her face, causing a small smile to appear from the heat. Moments like these were rare, no matter how much they both tried to make them happen. They were both constantly getting called into cases, Jo even more so since she had switched to OB and now not only delivered babies, but preformed fetal surgery on them as well. Spending time with their son together was tough, since they worked late nights and had complete opposite schedules some days, so they grasped onto days like these and held them close. 

Ask either one of them, the scene in front of them was almost comical. If someone were to tell Alex Karev ten years ago that he would be married to the love of his life and have a three year old son he would’ve thought they were crazy. The same goes for Jo. When she was just an intern she was fearful for her life, her identity, knowing that at any second Paul could find her. The wide-eyed twenty-six year old would’ve never expected she would’ve gotten to such a happy place in her life. 

It was essentially a perfect day. The sun was out and Kyle was enjoying himself with Muffin, both Jo and Alex had time to relax and not stress about upcoming surgeries or patients back at the hospital. But of course, their perfect bubble popped when they heard a wail come from the corner of the yard, where their son was clutching his upper arm, face red and puffy as tears streamed down it. 

The two sprang into action immediately not only their parent side, but the doctor side coming out in a split second, jumping out of their chairs and dashing across the lawn, a hundred of different scenarios running through their heads by the second. 

Did he break his arm?

Trip and fall?

Get a deep scratch from a bush?

Hit his head?

Twist his ankle?

Run into something?

Jo gets to him first, pulling the little shaggy brown haired boy into her arms and wiping away his tears, his pink lips trembling as he tries to put on a brave face. He was always a show off around his mom, ever since he was born, constantly trying to earn her praise and make her laugh until she had tears coming out of her eyes. (It surprisingly wasn’t that hard of a task, Kyle was quite the comedian, as it turns out.) 

“What happened baby?” Jo coos, sad hazel eyes looking to Alex, who was trying to peel the boy’s tiny hand away from his arm. 

“A w-wasp.” Kyle buries his head into the crook of Jo’s neck, a few stray tears making its way down his face and onto the collar of her ratty old t-shirt that was actually her husband’s. She sees Alex let out an audible sigh of relief alongside a small chuckle, but Jo just sends him a glare. Harsh? Yes. But her baby boy was hurting, which was no laughing matter in her book. She didn’t care if Kyle had a papercut or had broken his leg, she would react the same way. 

Alex uses the end of his shirt to remove the stinger from Kyle’s arm, making sure to pick it up and toss it to where the three year old wouldn’t be able to step in it. “I’ll go get some ice.” he murmurs, ruffling the little brunette’s hair before jogging back to the house, returning a few minutes later with a bag of ice wrapped in a layer of a thin paper towel.

“Here you go buddy,” he places the ice pack on the slightly swollen red area, seeing his son wince slightly at the cold. 

Jo rocks him back and forth in her lap, placing tiny kisses on the top of his head, listening to his quiet sniffles. Her strong boy, never wanting anybody to know that he was hurting. Granted, it was just a wasp sting, but Kyle had gotten barely any injuries except for a scrape on the knee here and there from running around. For only three years old, he was surprisingly agile, differing greatly from his parents, since Alex practically tripped on anything in his path and Jo was prone to stubbing her toe at least once a day. (Her record was five just at the hospital; one gurney, a nurse’s counter, a doorway, a couch, and a table in the attendings lounge. She had lost count once she got home.)

Jo feels uneasy, protective mommy instincts kicking in and flow through her like a rapid river. “Should we take him to the hospital?” she runs a hand through the boy’s hair, untying any little knots that had formed from his mini adventures. 

Alex snorts, chuckling to himself. Real funny Jo. 

He feels a pair of eyes on him, looking up tentatively to meet his wife’s narrowed slits, glaring at him harshly. He raises his eyebrows, “You’re joking right?”

That only seems to set Jo off, as she opens her mouth in offense. He knows he’s about to get a lecture.  

“Are you joking?” She questions, her tone borderline terrifying as she sends daggers to her husband. 

Alex sighs, running a hand down his face. “Jo, it’s a bee sting.” he puts his hands behind him, leaning back onto his palms, ignoring the grass was still partially wet, despite the fact that the sprinklers hadn’t been on for over an hour and a half now. (Their grass seemed to not have the ability to absorb water, which might actually be because of the soil and not the actual grass itself, but who knows.)  

“And how do we know he’s not allergic!” the brunette argues back, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear, gaze never wavering from his. 

“Jo, he’s not allergic.” he says exasperatedly. He knew for a fact that he and Jo could go at this for hours. More than once they’d been able to turn a thirty second argument into a two hour back and forth, switching the subjects more times than they could count, but somehow it always still came back to their original topic of discussion. He loved those fights, and he knew she did too. They thoroughly enjoyed getting to pick apart the other’s brain in something other than a new surgical procedure, suture technique, or way to get Kyle’s clothes to not look like they had been thrown in a pile of mud by the end of the day. All couple’s had their thing, and theirs was bickering like they had been married for sixty years. 

But as much as he loved those fights, he didn’t want another one of those right now. All he wanted to do that day was spend his free day off with the two most important people in his life without a care in the world. Of course, part of that had already gone down the drain, since his son had a swelling red spot on his arm and his wife was pissed at him. 

The woman glares at him, “You don’t know that”.

Alex sighs, “Jo.” he deadpans. “Is he wheezing or having trouble swallowing?”

Jo looks away, avoiding eye contact as she purses her lips. “No.” 

“Is there swelling on his face, throat, or tongue?” He hears Jo’s voice get quieter, still making sure not to look at him. 

“No.” 

“Is he experiencing dizziness, hives, a rapid p-” 

She cuts him off, throwing her hands up and sighing in defeat, “Fine! He’s not allergic.” she mumbles, causing Kyle to look up at his mom, nerves etched onto his face. 

“Mommy why are you yelling?” he questions, placing his small palm on her cheek. Jo takes his hand and pretends to eat it, making the little boy shriek with glee as he squirms in her lap like a wiggly worm. 

“Daddy was just being a big butthead because Mommy was worried about you. Weren’t you being a big butthead Daddy?” Jo smirks at him, more than glad to have her son on her side. Kyle was a momma’s boy since birth, and it didn’t seem like he had plans on changing anytime soon. Thank god, because she didn’t know what she would do when Kyle stopped coming to her for nightly cuddles. She supposed she had a few more years until that happened though, much to her relief.

Alex playfully narrows his eyes at her, taking Kyle from her hold and standing up with him latched onto his hip. “Yep, I was a big butthead. Don’t say that word though bud, it’s not nice.” 

The boy grins, his smile toothy and crooked. “Then don’t be a butthead.” he says matter-of-factly, wrapping his arms around his dad’s neck as the three make their way inside the house, Muffin trailing not far behind, wet paws making small spots on the wood. 

Alex laughs, giving Kyle a pat on the back. “I won’t be a butthead buddy. I won’t be a butthead.” He gives Jo a smile, taking in the way her eyes light up at the sight of her two favorite boys joking and playing around with each other. 

Alex leans closer to Jo, whispering so Kyle couldn’t hear them. “I’m the peds surgeon Jo, which means I'm always right.” he smirks triumphantly. 

The brunette’s mouth opens wide, partially scandalized. She slaps him on the arm, the grin never leaving her face as they enter the kitchen through the backdoor. “Asshole!”

[anonniemousefics]

My Dearest Inej | Chapter Three

Chapter Masterlist

Originally posted on AO3

Rating: Teen And Up

Synopsis: A series of letters kept among the personal belongings of Captain Inej Ghafa.

Chapter Three: The Wasp’s Nest

My dearest Inej,

Good morning. It’s morning here as I write this, anyway. I’m sitting in Wylan and Jesper’s parlor, and I’ve haven’t slept a bit. Strap in as I tell you why. You’ve asked for longer letters, and now that day has come.  

There’s been a fire at the Slat, damage to The Crow Club. Don’t worry, everyone’s fine. Mostly. More on that later. Minor structural damage, mostly to the roof. A fair amount of smoke damage. It can all be fixed. I wish I could say it was intentional and that someone was going to pay. Someone might still pay; I haven’t made up my mind. I thought I’d write you until I could think clearly again.  

It began last week when Anika noticed an unusually large nest building up in the eaves in the Slat. Wasps or bees – we couldn’t tell at first. Neither of us was particularly excited about the idea of sticking our faces in to find out. Whatever particular brand of invasive, stinging insect resided there, the general consensus was the nest had to go.  

Who was going to do the dirty deed, you ask? Who among us was brave enough to risk the multiple stings and the resulting swelling for the common good of all? The answer is none of us. I know, you would have been so proud. We determined the only way to select the person to sacrifice was to play a few rounds of cards for it. Loser would smoke out the wasps or bees or whatever demons were buzzing in the Slat.  

In hindsight, I realize now this method would essentially determine the stupidest person in the Dregs, and that we would then be putting that person in charge of fire and smoke and stinging insects, and this was perhaps was not my brightest idea. But this was no Ice Court – I didn’t think I needed to craft an airtight plan. All that mattered to me was avoiding being the one to be mercilessly stung.

I know, I know. Every last one of us has been shot or stabbed or cut or punched at some point, sometimes all in the same night. Do I need to explain to you how much worse wasp stings are? And you can’t get revenge on a wasp. They’re just mindless, stabbing menaces filled with nothing but hate and malice for mankind. We’re agreed on this, right? I’m almost certain we are. You would have tried to avoid it, too.  

In the end, it was Seeger who lost. Probably saw that coming. He stalled on his duty for days, and the nest kept getting bigger. We learned they were, in fact, wasps – enormous ones with bodies like black armor, and they’d begun infiltrating the club and stinging our patrons. It was getting out of hand. Last night, Roeder handed him a torch and a match and barred him from leaving the Slat until he accomplished the task. (So, wait, maybe this is Roeder’s fault? He’s sleeping on the sofa across from me right now. It would be very easy to smother him. He’s lucky I’m writing you instead. For now.)

I spent my first several years of life on a farm where unwelcome insects invaded regularly, so let me tell you how this was supposed to go: you’re supposed to create enough smoke so that the wasps become drowsy and uninterested in you, and then you can remove the nest without being swarmed. But Seeger’s never set foot outside Ketterdam. You can guess where this is going.

Rather than wait and let the smoke build, Seeger took the damn torch and set the nest on fire.

So then Roeder lets him out because he's screaming like someone's pulling out his innards. The next thing you know, the roof’s on fire and Seeger is covered in angry wasps, running for the nearest canal in the hope that leaping into the water will stop the stinging. He’s trailing wasps all through a completely full club. Patrons are being stung. The entire room is filling up with smoke, and everyone is choking and swelling and screaming. Sheer pandemonium.

Anika, Pim, Rotty, Roeder, and I were at least able to keep the flames from taking out the whole neighborhood before the fire brigade showed up – which, as you might expect, took ages. They were probably thrilled to hear East Stave was burning.

Oh, and there were still wasps. I’m no expert, but they seem to be impervious to fire.

You know what’s not impervious to fire? Ravkan toffees.

Anyway, Wylan’s letting us squat with him and Jesper while we figure this thing out. We’ve all been stung; we’ve all inhaled smoke. We’re all planning a million ways to skin Seeger alive when he leaves the hospital.  

Send mail to the Van Eck mansion for at least the foreseeable future. I think I might try to sleep now. It’s all sounding a little more funny and a little less apocalyptic now that I’ve written you about it. Maybe I’ll let Seeger live.

I am definitely going to let him sweat about it for a while, though.

Sooty and swollen,

Yours,

K. Brekker

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

Sweetest Inej,

Don’t you dare change your plans. You do not have to come back for this. I meant only to regale you with the drama and the intrigue, not call in the cavalry. The stings are healing, and we all sound a little smoky when we talk, but no one’s worse for the wear. (Jesper’s enjoying pointing out that I don’t sound a whole lot different, apparently. I guess my voice normally sounds like someone who’s inhaled smoke and wasps. I’ll let you confirm.) Wylan and Jesper are impeccable hosts. I’ve met with a foreman and crew, and repairs are underway. There’s plenty of funds to pay for it. We’ll be reopening again in a month, give or take. There’s really nothing for you to come back for.

Unless you’d personally like to do something about Seeger. I would watch that. I would pay good kruge to watch that.  

Yours,

K. Brekker

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

(in an unaddressed envelope, marked with Inej’s handwriting: DO NOT Let Jesper or Wylan Read)

My most treasured, most stubborn Inej,

I’m just going to give this to you before you leave because I don’t think I’ll be able to say this to your face.

Thank you for ignoring me. Thank you for coming back anyway. It has meant the world to me to have you at my side this past week. I don’t think I realized how cavalier I was being about all of this until you showed up. While many of the events of this situation have been amusing, you were right: the after-effects have been all-consuming and exhausting. But having you here, I feel like I’m finally awakening from this on-going nightmare. You can make me forget about even the swelling of wasp stings or the piles of ruined suits. You have this uncanny ability to make me hope for things, no matter how dire the circumstance. You make even the drudgery of replacing damaged furniture and clothing not just tolerable – maybe even a little bit enjoyable. If this entire experience has taught me anything, it’s that the only irreplaceable thing in my life is you, Inej.  

I am sorry if I’ve seemed short with you the times you have asked about my life on the farm. I hadn’t realized I’d never told you until that letter. I know it’s a strange image to think of me ever being rural and thus an interesting topic of discussion for you. But for me, it’s not so much strange as it is depressing. And there’s enough of that happening right now. Someday, I’ll tell you more. You’ve earned that much. No, that’s not quite true. You’ve earned so much more, honestly – I’m just miserly and miserable, and for some reason, you tolerate that. You are far better than anything I deserve.

I think you already know this, but I would like to remind you anyway. No matter where you are in this world, if you find yourself in similar trouble, I hope you will call on me. I would come for you. I can’t guarantee my company will ever be as lovely as yours, but I will always come for you.

With deep gratitude from the bottom of my smoke-filled heart,

Kaz

(Inej’s handwriting in the margins, translated from Suli)

Note to self:

This is Kaz Rietveld.

You like Kaz Brekker.

You are in love with Kaz Rietveld.

Does he even exist outside of letters? Can he?

Shit.