#Marble Testing Lab

[testing-services]

How Marble Testing Labs Help Ensure Compliance with Building Codes?

Marble is a highly prized natural stone widely used in residential, commercial, and public buildings due to its aesthetic appeal, durability, and timeless elegance. However, incorporating marble into construction projects requires strict adherence to building codes and safety regulations. This is where Marble Testing Labs play a pivotal role in ensuring that the stone materials meet all required standards, safeguarding structural integrity and occupant safety.

In this blog, we will explore the importance of compliance with building codes, the role of marble testing lab in this process, and how their expertise benefits architects, contractors, and property owners in delivering safe, high-quality marble installations.

Understanding Building Codes and Their Importance

Building codes are sets of regulations established by government authorities and regulatory bodies to ensure the safety, health, and welfare of the public in building design and construction. These codes cover various aspects such as structural strength, fire resistance, material durability, environmental impact, and accessibility.

For natural stone like marble, building codes specify performance criteria that the stone must satisfy, including:

Strength and durability requirements

Slip resistance for flooring

Fire resistance and combustibility

Chemical resistance and weatherability

Dimensional stability and load-bearing capacity

Failure to comply with these regulations can lead to structural failures, safety hazards, legal liabilities, and costly rework.

The Role of Marble Testing Labs in Building Code Compliance

Marble testing labs provide comprehensive testing services that verify whether marble materials meet the specifications outlined in building codes and related standards such as ASTM, BS EN, or ISO. Their role includes:

1. Material Characterization and Quality Assessment

Before marble is approved for construction use, testing labs analyze its physical and mechanical properties. This includes measuring:

Compressive and flexural strength to assess load-bearing capacity.

Density and porosity to determine durability and water absorption.

Surface hardness and abrasion resistance for wear performance.

These tests help confirm that the marble can withstand expected structural loads and environmental conditions as required by building codes.

2. Slip Resistance Testing

For marble used as flooring or stair treads, slip resistance is a critical safety factor mandated by building codes. Testing labs evaluate the surface texture and coefficient of friction under dry and wet conditions. This ensures the marble surface minimizes the risk of slips and falls in residential, commercial, and public spaces.

3. Fire Resistance and Combustibility Testing

Some building codes require materials to meet fire safety standards. Marble testing labs conduct fire resistance tests to determine the stone’s reaction to heat and flame exposure, including its ability to resist ignition, flame spread, and smoke production. Compliant marble helps reduce fire hazards and enhances occupant safety.

4. Chemical and Weathering Resistance

Marble may be exposed to chemicals, pollution, acid rain, or harsh weather conditions depending on its application. Testing labs assess the stone’s resistance to chemical attack and environmental degradation, ensuring compliance with durability requirements in building codes.

5. Dimensional Stability and Thermal Expansion

Building codes often specify limits on dimensional changes of materials due to moisture or temperature variations. Testing labs measure marble’s thermal expansion and contraction behavior to ensure stability in different climates, preventing cracking or warping after installation.

Standardized Testing Methods Used by Marble Testing Labs

To provide reliable and universally accepted results, marble testing labs follow standardized testing protocols such as:

ASTM C170 – Compressive Strength of Dimension Stone

ASTM C99 – Modulus of Rupture of Dimension Stone

ASTM C1028 / ANSI B101.3 – Static Coefficient of Friction (Slip Resistance)

ASTM E84 – Surface Burning Characteristics of Building Materials

ISO 10545 Series – Chemical Resistance and Physical Properties of Ceramic and Stone Materials

BS EN 1936 – Natural Stone – Determination of Real Density and Apparent Density

These standards ensure consistency in testing across different labs and projects and provide architects and regulators with confidence in material compliance.

Benefits of Using an Accredited Marble Testing Lab

Choosing an accredited Marble Testing Lab ensures that tests are conducted with precision and integrity. Accreditation means the lab complies with international quality management systems such as ISO/IEC 17025, guaranteeing:

Use of calibrated and advanced testing equipment.

Qualified and experienced technicians performing tests.

Transparent and traceable testing procedures.

Detailed and credible test reports accepted by regulatory authorities.

This level of assurance is crucial for gaining building permits, passing inspections, and achieving certification for construction projects involving marble.

How Marble Testing Supports Various Stakeholders

For Architects and Designers

Marble testing labs provide detailed data on stone properties that help architects select appropriate marble types for specific applications, ensuring design aesthetics align with safety and durability requirements.

For Contractors and Builders

Test reports guide contractors in sourcing compliant marble and inform installation practices to meet regulatory criteria, minimizing project delays due to failed inspections.

For Property Owners and Facility Managers

Ongoing testing supports maintenance plans by identifying vulnerabilities in installed marble, preventing costly repairs, and extending the lifespan of marble features in buildings.

Case Study: Marble Testing for a Commercial Building in Abu Dhabi

A recent commercial building project in Abu Dhabi required marble cladding and flooring to comply with stringent municipal building codes focused on safety and sustainability. The construction team partnered with an accredited marble testing lab to verify:

High compressive strength to support structural demands.

Adequate slip resistance for lobby and public areas.

Resistance to chemical exposure from cleaning agents.

Fire safety compliance for emergency preparedness.

The lab’s comprehensive testing and certification expedited regulatory approvals and ensured the marble installation met all local building requirements, enhancing the project’s success and safety.

Conclusion

Compliance with building codes is non-negotiable when using marble in construction projects. Professional Marble Testing Labs are indispensable partners in this process, providing scientific analysis and certification that confirm marble’s suitability for various applications. By ensuring that the stone meets strength, safety, durability, and environmental standards, these labs help architects, builders, and property owners deliver structures that are not only beautiful but also safe and compliant.

[best-testing-lab-saudi]

How to Ensure Your Marble Meets Industry Standards with Testing Labs in Ajman? | +971 554747210

When it comes to construction, interior design, or other applications of marble, quality and durability are key. Whether you’re using marble for flooring, countertops, facades, or decorative elements, ensuring its performance and longevity is critical. To guarantee that marble meets industry standards, testing is an essential step. In Ajman, marble testing laboratories offer a range of specialized services to help ensure that your marble not only meets safety and performance standards but also complies with local and international regulations.

In this blog, we will explore how marble testing laboratory in Ajman help ensure that your marble meets industry standards, and why it's crucial for your construction or design project.

What is Marble Testing?

Marble testing is a process used to evaluate the physical and chemical properties of marble. Testing ensures that the marble will perform well under various conditions, including compression, abrasion, moisture absorption, and thermal resistance. These tests help determine whether the marble is suitable for specific uses such as flooring, exterior cladding, or countertops.

In Ajman, marble is widely used in construction due to its aesthetic appeal and strength. However, since marble is a natural stone, it can vary significantly in quality depending on its source and composition. This is why testing is necessary to assess the material's suitability and ensure that it meets the required performance standards.

Why is It Important to Test Marble?

Ensuring that marble meets the required industry standards through professional testing is critical for several reasons:

1. Durability and Longevity

Marble is often used in high-traffic areas, exposed to various environmental factors such as weather conditions, humidity, and wear. It is essential to determine how the marble will stand up to these conditions over time. Testing ensures that the marble will last, maintaining both its aesthetic appeal and structural integrity.

2. Safety Compliance

Marble used in construction projects must adhere to safety regulations to prevent accidents or failures. For example, marble used for flooring must have sufficient slip resistance to avoid accidents. Testing for abrasion resistance and slip resistance ensures the marble is safe for use in specific environments, such as commercial spaces, bathrooms, or high-traffic areas.

3. Regulatory Requirements

Both local and international standards govern the use of marble in construction and design. In Ajman, these standards are enforced by various authorities to ensure that all materials used in construction are safe, durable, and high-quality. Marble testing laboratories help ensure that your marble meets these regulations and helps avoid legal or compliance issues during the construction phase.

4. Ensuring Aesthetic Appeal

Apart from its structural performance, marble is also chosen for its beauty and unique patterns. However, some variations in color, texture, or surface finish can affect its overall aesthetic appeal. Testing helps assess the consistency and appearance of marble, ensuring that it meets the design requirements of a specific project.

Types of Tests Conducted by Marble Testing Laboratories in Ajman

To ensure that marble meets industry standards, a range of tests is conducted by testing laboratories in Ajman. These tests are designed to assess the various properties of marble, ensuring its suitability for different uses. Some of the common tests performed include:

1. Compressive Strength Test

Compressive strength is a measure of the material's ability to withstand heavy loads without cracking or breaking. This test is essential, particularly for marble used in structural applications, such as flooring and columns. Marble with higher compressive strength is less likely to suffer from cracks or fractures under pressure.

2. Water Absorption Test

Water absorption is an important characteristic of marble, especially in areas with high humidity or in applications where moisture resistance is vital. This test measures the marble's ability to resist water penetration. Marble with high water absorption may become weakened, stained, or damaged over time, especially in outdoor environments.

3. Abrasion Resistance Test

Marble floors or countertops in high-traffic areas require superior abrasion resistance. This test evaluates the marble's ability to resist wear and tear. Marble that passes this test ensures durability in areas exposed to constant movement or impact.

4. Thermal Resistance Test

Marble’s ability to resist thermal shock and temperature fluctuations is essential, especially for outdoor applications or kitchens where heat is frequently applied. Thermal resistance testing ensures that the marble will not crack or degrade under changing temperature conditions.

5. Chemical Resistance Test

Marble is prone to damage from harsh chemicals, such as acids and cleaning agents. Testing for chemical resistance ensures that the marble will maintain its integrity and aesthetic appeal even when exposed to common chemicals.

6. Slip Resistance Test

Marble flooring or marble in wet areas such as bathrooms or kitchens must have a certain level of slip resistance to avoid accidents. This test measures the coefficient of friction of marble surfaces to ensure it is safe for walking, especially in wet conditions.

7. Density and Porosity Test

Marble's density and porosity affect its strength, durability, and overall quality. Low-density marble or marble with high porosity may be more prone to damage and staining. This test assesses the stone's overall consistency and quality.

How to Choose a Marble Testing Laboratory in Ajman

Choosing the right marble testing laboratory in Ajman is critical to ensure that your marble meets the required standards. Here are a few key factors to consider when selecting a laboratory:

1. Accreditation

Ensure that the laboratory is accredited by recognized authorities like the Emirates Authority for Standardization and Metrology (ESMA) or Abu Dhabi Quality and Conformity Council (QCC). Accredited laboratories adhere to international testing standards and have the necessary equipment, training, and expertise to provide accurate results.

2. Experience and Expertise

Choose a laboratory that has experience testing marble and a deep understanding of the industry standards. Laboratories with a proven track record are more likely to provide reliable results and valuable insights for your project.

3. Comprehensive Testing Services

Select a laboratory that offers a full range of tests to assess all the relevant properties of marble. Comprehensive testing ensures that you get a complete analysis of your marble, helping you make informed decisions about its suitability for your project.

4. Turnaround Time and Customer Service

Consider the turnaround time for test results, especially if you're working with tight deadlines. A reliable laboratory should provide quick and efficient service without compromising on accuracy. Additionally, excellent customer service ensures that you receive clear communication and guidance throughout the testing process.

5. Reputation and References

Look for a laboratory with a strong reputation in the industry. Check reviews, testimonials, and ask for references to gauge the laboratory’s reliability and quality of service.

Conclusion

Ensuring that your marble meets industry standards is crucial for ensuring its durability, safety, and aesthetic appeal in your construction or design projects. By utilizing the services of a reputable marble testing laboratory in Ajman, you can confidently assess the marble's performance and compliance with both local and international regulations. Testing not only guarantees the integrity of the material but also helps you avoid costly mistakes, delays, and safety concerns.

Accredited laboratories in Ajman offer a wide range of specialized tests to assess critical properties such as compressive strength, water absorption, abrasion resistance, and slip resistance. By choosing the right laboratory and conducting comprehensive tests, you can ensure that the marble used in your project is of the highest quality and suitable for its intended use.

[best-testing-lab-uae]

What Are the Industry Standards for Marble Testing in Abu Dhabi Laboratories? | +971 554747210

In the world of construction and architecture, marble holds a prominent place due to its elegance, durability, and versatility. Whether it's used for flooring, countertops, facades, or decorative elements, marble has become a preferred material for both residential and commercial projects. However, to ensure that marble performs optimally in various environments, it must undergo rigorous testing to meet the required safety, quality, and durability standards. Marble testing laboratory in Abu Dhabi play a critical role in ensuring the marble used in construction projects meets industry standards, offering peace of mind to contractors, developers, and architects.

In this blog, we will explore the industry standards for marble testing in Abu Dhabi laboratories, the tests conducted, and why adhering to these standards is essential for ensuring the quality and safety of marble used in construction projects.

Why Is Marble Testing Important?

Marble is a natural stone, and like all natural materials, its quality and durability can vary. In a city like Abu Dhabi, with its hot, humid climate and rapid urban development, the use of substandard marble can lead to structural issues, aesthetic deterioration, and safety concerns. Testing ensures that marble:

Meets strength and safety requirements to withstand the stresses and pressures of a building or installation.

Performs well in harsh environmental conditions, including extreme heat and humidity, which can affect its durability.

Complies with local and international regulations for building materials, ensuring the safety and longevity of a structure.

Industry Standards for Marble Testing in Abu Dhabi Laboratories

Abu Dhabi, like many other regions, follows internationally recognized standards for testing building materials, including marble. Laboratories in the UAE, particularly in Abu Dhabi, adhere to a combination of local building codes and global standards to assess the quality, safety, and durability of marble. Below are the primary standards and practices followed in marble testing laboratories in Abu Dhabi.

1. International Standards: ISO 10545-2 and ASTM C97

Two widely recognized international standards govern the testing of marble in laboratories:

ISO 10545-2: This standard defines the testing methods for ceramic tiles but is also applicable to marble testing, especially when it comes to assessing physical properties such as dimensional stability, water absorption, and resistance to wear.

ASTM C97: This is a standard test method developed by the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) specifically for determining the water absorption and density of marble. These factors are essential in assessing the suitability of marble for construction purposes, particularly in regions like Abu Dhabi where the climate is extremely hot and dry.

2. Marble Testing in Compliance with UAE Building Codes

The UAE has its own set of construction standards and regulations that govern the quality of materials used in building projects. For instance, the UAE Fire and Life Safety Code and UAE Green Building Standards mandate specific testing protocols for materials used in construction, including marble. These codes require marble to be tested for:

Fire resistance: Marble used in buildings, especially high-rises, must meet fire resistance standards to ensure that it does not contribute to the spread of fire.

Structural strength: Marble must pass strength tests to ensure that it can bear the loads and stresses of the structure.

Durability: Given Abu Dhabi's extreme weather conditions, marble must be durable and resistant to temperature fluctuations, water, and abrasion.

Testing laboratories in Abu Dhabi ensure that all marble used in construction complies with these codes, preventing potential structural and safety issues.

3. Compressive Strength Testing (ASTM C170)

Compressive strength is one of the most crucial tests for marble used in construction. The ASTM C170 standard measures the ability of the marble to withstand compressive loads, making it suitable for structural applications such as flooring, walls, and facades. The test involves applying a gradually increasing load to a sample of marble until it fails, and the maximum load it can bear is recorded.

Why is this important for marble in Abu Dhabi?

High-strength marble is required in high-rise buildings, commercial spaces, and outdoor applications, where the material needs to bear significant loads without failing.

Weathering: In Abu Dhabi, marble used in exteriors needs to be tested for its ability to resist weathering due to the harsh sun and sandstorms.

4. Abrasion Resistance Testing (ASTM C1027)

Abrasion resistance is a critical factor when selecting marble for high-traffic areas such as floors, stairs, and corridors. The ASTM C1027 standard is used to measure the resistance of marble to wear and tear from physical contact. During this test, a machine simulates the effect of foot traffic, and the amount of wear on the marble surface is measured.

In Abu Dhabi, where marble is commonly used in malls, airports, and hotels, testing for abrasion resistance ensures that the marble will retain its appearance and functionality over time, even with heavy use.

5. Water Absorption Test (ASTM C97)

Water absorption testing measures the amount of water the marble can absorb over a specified period. The ASTM C97 standard for marble testing involves submerging the marble sample in water and measuring the increase in weight after a set period. The amount of water absorbed can indicate the porosity of the stone.

Why is this important for marble in Abu Dhabi?

Low water absorption is crucial in environments with high temperatures, where marble can easily degrade if it absorbs moisture, leading to cracking or surface staining.

Marble with low water absorption is also more resistant to damage caused by humidity and temperature changes, making it ideal for use in cladding and facades.

6. Thermal Expansion Testing (ASTM C372)

Thermal expansion is the ability of a material to expand when exposed to heat. In Abu Dhabi, where temperatures can exceed 40°C in summer, marble used in construction must be tested for its thermal expansion properties. The ASTM C372 standard tests the dimensional changes in marble when subjected to a temperature change.

Why is this important for marble in Abu Dhabi?

Marble in Abu Dhabi must withstand extreme heat without cracking or warping. Testing for thermal expansion ensures that the marble used in buildings will not deform under high temperatures, preserving its integrity and aesthetic appeal.

7. Chemical Resistance Testing

Marble used in construction must also be resistant to chemicals, oils, and other substances it might encounter. Chemical resistance testing evaluates the ability of the marble to resist damage from cleaning agents, environmental pollutants, or acidic materials. Marble is exposed to various chemicals, and any signs of etching or staining are noted.

Why is this important for marble in Abu Dhabi?

Exposure to pollutants: In urban environments like Abu Dhabi, marble can be exposed to pollutants from vehicles, construction dust, and other chemicals. Testing ensures that marble will not deteriorate when exposed to such substances.

8. Slip Resistance Testing

In addition to strength and durability, slip resistance is a key factor when testing marble for flooring applications. The ASTM C1028 standard evaluates how resistant the marble is to slipping under wet conditions.

Why is this important for marble in Abu Dhabi?

Safety: Marble used in commercial buildings and public spaces must provide adequate slip resistance to prevent accidents, especially in areas like bathrooms, kitchens, and entryways.

Conclusion

Marble testing is essential to ensure the material's performance, safety, and longevity in construction projects. In Abu Dhabi, where marble is commonly used in prestigious buildings, high-rise structures, and commercial spaces, testing must adhere to both international standards and local building codes. Laboratories in Abu Dhabi follow rigorous testing protocols, including those for compressive strength, abrasion resistance, water absorption, and thermal expansion, to ensure that marble meets the highest quality standards.

By understanding the industry standards for marble testing, contractors and developers can make informed decisions about the materials used in their projects, ensuring that they meet the demands of the environment and the requirements for safety and durability.

[redflagshipwriter]

Snatching Snitches pt 3: Danny

Masterpost

Danny threw his bag on the sofa and kicked the front door shut without looking. His bag went too far and flipped over the side of the couch. It landed on the floor with a loud thump.

He groaned. “Come onnnnnn.” Danny trudged across the room to fix it and then yelped as a barrel appeared from the ceiling, humming with murderous power. It was aimed right at him. He hit the ground in a roll and dodged the laser blast. The scorched carpet immediately stank.

The next hit seared a hole through his sleeve, missing his arm by a hair’s breadth.

“Ah!” Danny screamed and flung himself behind the kitchen counter to find cover. There was no way a Fenton laser was getting through the marble countertop, right? He scrambled to pull the trashcan out to clear up a place to cower.

The basement door opened with a bang. 300lbs of screaming warrior flew up the stairs, bristling with guns and a grin. “Behold, the might of science!”

“Hi, Dad,” Danny said, contorting himself to fit in the nook where the trash bag was meant to be.

“Hey, Danno!” Dad rapidly changed positions, pointing his ghost guns in different directions to try to catch out the intruder he was looking for. “New sensor went off! Didja see something?” He was excited like a little kid.

Danny poked three fingers through the smoking hole in his shirt and wiggled them. “I saw the new laser,” he said dryly.

Dad’s face fell. “Oh, did you trigger it?” He sadly trudged over to disable the laser, which was furiously vibrating in place as it tried and failed to locate his ecto signature through the signal dampening over granite.

Danny felt his face twitch. “Yep.”

‘Thank gosh my parents can’t figure out how to get a good lock with anything but the boomerang. I would be toast if that thing got me.’

“Well, uh, thanks for testing that.”

Dad’s weapons somehow disappeared, which was great for Danny’s passive level of anxiety. He crawled back out into the kitchen itself and then shoved the trash can back into place. Footsteps thumped down the stairs and Jazz swung into view, already frowning.

“Dad, you didn’t install something new up here without telling us, did you?” She crossed her arms. “Don’t you think that’s hazardous?”

“Nonsense!” Jazz yelped and unsuccessfully dodged as Dad ruffled her hair. “It’s only harmful to spooks. Stay safe!” He trotted back down the stairs to the lab. The door slammed with finality.

Jazz looked at Danny. Danny looked at Jazz. He shrugged.

Her face fell. “I wish he wouldn’t do that,” she sighed. Then she pulled her hair band off with a grimace to begin untangling her hair. Strands stuck out and were wrapped around the accessory, so she only lifted it a few inches from her head before it jerked to a stop.

Danny huffed out a breath and then patted the kitchen counter. “Come here, where there’s cover,” he offered. “I’ll get that out for you.”

“Thanks.” Jazz came over and leaned down enough that he could disentangle her hair band. He did his best not to snap any of her hair strands. But he didn’t want to be too nice, so when he was done he yanked the hairband down to cover her eyes and then threw himself back with a giggle. Jazz shrieked and flung her arms out to smack him. She missed and flailed, fuming. “Ugh, Danny,” she complained. “You’re such a twerp!”

“Loserrrr,” Danny jeered.

Jazz pulled the hair band off and gave him the stink eye. “Turn on the TV. I wanna hang out.”

Wait, what? Danny squinted at her, caught off guard by the sudden change of direction. His sister gave him a smile that looked somewhere between sinister and mild. “No,” he said, not sure what was going on but sure that it wouldn’t be good for him.

Jazz huffed and put a hand on her hip. “If I’m right, you’re going to want to see it.” She sailed past him to grab a carton of juice from the fridge and then went upstairs.

He couldn’t help it. He followed her, caught in her gravity. Danny even knew he was springing her vile sister trap, but what else could he do?

It had been an error.

“Oh no,” Danny said, choked up. He put a hand over his mouth and watched in horror as iconic television host and book club archbishop Poprah leaned over her desk to shake the hand of a tiny little guy in a prim suit. He felt, not saw, Jazz curl her lips up like the Grinch.

“Thank you for having me,” Damian said. He used his hands to get onto the adult-sized chair and then folded them on his lap.

“It’s my pleasure,” Poprah beamed, her teeth very white. She looked as perfect and polished as Damian did. “It’s not every day that a Wayne goes on the record! I feel like I should treasure the opportunity, maybe ask some sneaky questions.”

Damian regarded her impassively. “Perhaps,” he said. “However, I cannot be led astray by your journalistic wiles, ma’am. I am here with a singular purpose.”

The crowd loved that. Poprah paused to let them react with laughs, blinking and smiling as she eagerly waited for the hubbub to die down. “Okay, okay,” she said, waving her hands around to gain the attention back. “No journalistic wiles. You’re too clever for that, I gotcha.”

Damian nodded briskly. “I appreciate your restraint.” That set the crowd off again.

‘I can’t tell if he knows what he’s doing.’

Danny stared bleakly at the tv, where his little boy was sitting with his feet dangling in the air. Surely that had to have been purposeful. The multimillionaire Poprah could have found a smaller chair if Damian had wanted to minimize….

‘Maybe he thinks that sitting in an adult sized chair makes him look more like an adult.’

Danny unsuccessfully hid his mouth further behind his hands, using both of them now. He couldn’t look away. It was a train wreck. He was grieving. He wanted to laugh.

“Well, Poprah,” Damian said in response to something the woman had said. “I am searching for my kitty cat. Might I use your projector?”

The crowd collectively said awwww. Damian must have been fuming, though he hid it well.

“I think I’ve heard something about this,” Poprah said gravely. “Go ahead.” She waved a hand and a ten foot projection of Danny as a scrungly cat appeared on the wall of the set.

The crowd did not say awww.

“Hey,” Danny muttered.

“Kinda cute,” Jazz said idly.

He perked up, and then realized that she had done this on purpose. He looked over and made eye contact. She knew. Jazz smiled again. He knew that she knew, and she knew that he knew she knew.

“How!” Danny leapt to his feet and flung an accusatory finger at his sister.

She regarded him calmly. This was her victory, he saw that now. “Danny, there is only one person in the world who would publicly tell Tucker that he had worms. I knew that you were with the Waynes, safe, and someone had taken you to get a checkup thorough enough to discover worms. It was the Nasty burger, wasn’t it?”

He stared at her, wounded by being perceived so clearly.

“You shouldn’t eat raw fish from anyplace with a black mark and DNI order from the food safety organization,” Jazz chided, not for the first time. “Anyway, no one takes teenage boys to get checked for worms unless they have a lot of self awareness.” She crossed her arms victoriously. “But they take a new cat to the vet!”

“What’s wrong with you,” Danny said, awed. “Your dark genius is terrible to behold.”

She brushed it off. “It was simple reasoning, Danny,” Jazz said, towering in her modesty. She was so scary. He leaned away. Then towards her, torn. “And of course it was obvious when poor little Damian Wayne started looking for his lost kitty cat.”

Oh. This was the knife. Danny leaned away, helpless to avoid the blow.

“It’s so sad,” Jazz said plainly. There was no need for dramatics. It was sad.

Danny considered the virtues of going ghostly enough to sink through the floor in abject shame. “…yeah.”

[orellazalonia]

Comedic Relief

Summary: After overhearing teammates call you the "comic relief" and question your seriousness, you begin to doubt your place on the team despite being a genius in disguise. Bucky finds you spiraling in your lab, reminds you of your brilliance, and confesses how deeply he values and loves you. (Bucky Barnes x chaotic!reader)

Word Count: 1.4k+

A/N: Wanted something angsty. I also debated having them run away temporarily and having Bucky find them first, but I liked how this turned out in the end. Happy reading!!!

Main Masterlist | Earth’s Mightiest Headache Masterlist

You weren’t supposed to hear it.

Honestly, you never meant to. You were crawling through the ceiling vent to test your portable gravity-altering boots as one does and accidentally dropped into the hallway by the training center. You didn’t land gracefully. You bounced. Twice.

No one noticed.

You were about to make a dramatic entrance to demand “scientific respect and perhaps a sandwich” when your name floated through the crack of the door.

“She’s just… not serious,” One of the rookies was saying. “I know she’s smart, obviously, but it’s like, can you trust her in a real op? Last week she got distracted mid-mission because she thought the enemy base’s reactor looked ‘like a sexy espresso machine.’”

You could hear someone chuckle before another added, “Yeah, and she asked Fury if ‘thermonuclear’ was a made-up word.”

You blinked. That was a joke. You knew what thermonuclear meant. You’d accidentally built a thermonuclear coffee machine last year that tried to launch itself into low orbit. They made you name it and put it in a SHIELD containment box.

“Honestly, she’s more of the comic relief, you know?” Another said. “Like, she’s the team mascot. Not really part of the brain or someone you should trust.”

You weren’t sure what part of you tensed first. Maybe it was your jaw, your spine, or your heart. It wasn’t a new feeling. Not really. It was just louder this time. More final. Heavier.

Mascot.

The word stuck to you like wet concrete.

You backed away before you could hear any more of the conversation, suddenly hyperaware of every squeak of your boots and every stupid joke you’d ever made this week. The “avocado bomb” prank on Steve. The trivia challenge you crushed but then celebrated by pronouncing “Columbus” as “Co-LUMB-us.” The marble run you built through the ventilation system that made the whole compound sound like a wind chime when it rained.

God. Was that all they saw?

You didn’t go to dinner. You didn’t reply in the group chat, even when Sam tagged you and asked why Bucky was sulking in the corner muttering “Where is she?” like a pissed-off gargoyle.

You didn’t even remember walking back to the lab. Your feet had carried you here on autopilot to your safe place, your mess, your cathedral of chaos and half-finished thoughts.

You locked the door behind you, not that anyone ever came in uninvited. Not unless Bucky had something to smuggle in for you (usually food or a weapon you weren’t technically cleared to modify). Not unless Tony wanted to gawk at your entropy.

The lab lights flickered on automatically. You winced at the brightness.

You moved like a ghost, almost afraid to touch anything. Your hands hovered above your desk, your workbench, the tower of half-functional prototypes stacked like a junkyard Jenga tower. You didn’t sit. You just stared at the avalanche of yourself. Your weird, brilliant, overwhelming mind spilled out across surfaces. Wires like spaghetti. Notes written in both formulae and doodles. Gel pens next to soldering irons. A circuit board shaped like a cat.

It all looked… childish. Stupid.

What were you even doing?

You finally collapsed into your chair, spinning once, twice, then fast enough that the corners of the room blurred. You kicked off the counter and made a loop around the floor, feet dragging. The motion didn’t help. If anything, it amplified the static in your chest.

Mascot.

You blinked hard, squeezing your temples. “No. No no no. Shut up. We’re not doing this today.”

You spun to your desk. Grabbed a marker. Scrawled something on the board.

atomic weight of hydrogen: 1.00784 u. bananas are a lie. you don’t need potassium that bad. you matter. you matter. you matter.

You stared at it for a long time. Then erased “you matter” so hard the whiteboard squeaked. Your hand kept going long after the words were gone. Until it hurt.

You stood. Paced a little more. Opened a drawer. Slammed it shut. You tugged at the sleeves of your hoodie, pacing faster now, muttering in a half joking, half begging, yet all unraveling way. “Who the hell builds a weather balloon to see if birds migrate better with Taylor Swift playing on a speaker? Who sets a toast-loving AI loose in the kitchen and calls it a ‘learning moment’ when it sets off four smoke alarms?”

You knocked into your shelf, and something clattered. You didn’t catch it. You didn’t care.

You backed into your chair and sank again, hands braced on your knees like gravity got heavier just for you. Your eyes burned.

“They’re right,” You said quietly. “I’m a joke. A distraction. They keep me around because it’s easier than telling me to leave.”

Somewhere behind you, the electronic calendar chimed softly:

Reminder: Tell Bucky you love him. (He already knows, but say it anyway.)

Your throat closed up.

You covered your face with both hands and curled forward, trembling. The quiet buzz of your machines felt deafening. You had built this place, crafted it like a cocoon, a temple, a home. Now it felt like a parody of genius.

You didn’t hear the knock at the door. Or the creak as it opened.

But you felt it when Bucky entered, his presence like a storm and a lighthouse all at once. Steady. Warm. Wordless.

He stood there for a moment. Watching. Taking in the wreckage. You hadn’t noticed the tears on your face until he knelt in front of you and reached up, thumb brushing just below your eye. He didn’t say anything right away. He just held you.

You weren’t even sure when your body had folded into his. One moment, you were curled in on yourself, vibrating with self-loathing, and the next, your face was buried in the crook of his neck and his arms were wrapped around you like armor. Like he could physically keep the world out if he just held on tight enough.

You gripped the front of his henley like it was the only solid thing left. It smelled like coffee and the soap he never admitted to stealing from Steve.

“I thought you were joking when you said you could feel my breakdowns in your soul,” You whispered, voice raw.

“I can,” He murmured against your hair. “Like a bat signal but sadder.”

You let out a broken sound, half sob, half laugh.

His metal hand rubbed slow, careful circles on your back; warm from the adaptive heat plates he let you install. The other hand cradled your head like you were fragile, which only made the cracks inside you widen. He never looked at you like you were fragile. Not until now.

“They think I’m a joke,” You mumbled into his chest. “They think I’m just the team jester with a few fun facts and a death wish.”

“That’s bullshit.”

“They’re not wrong.”

Bucky pulled back just enough to look at you, not with pity, but with fire.

“You built a quantum drive in a toaster oven,” He said firmly. “You hacked an alien translator using a flashlight and a Etch A Sketch. You—” He huffed, voice breaking. “You are the only reason half this team is alive.”

You stared at him, voice stuck in your throat.

“But I make everything a joke.”

“Because that’s how you survive,” He said softly. “You think I don’t know what it’s like to be underestimated because people are more comfortable laughing at you than respecting you?”

You looked down. “I just… if I stop being funny, I’m afraid they’ll stop wanting me around.”

Bucky reached up, cupping your cheek, thumb stroking beneath your eye.

“If they can’t handle all of you, not just the jokes and chaos and weird trivia, then they don’t deserve you. But I can.” His voice was low, steady. “I love you. All of you. The ridiculous, the brilliant, the heartbreaking mess of you. You could set the tower on fire trying to build a better microwave and I’d still think you’re the smartest person I’ve ever met.”

You blinked fast, and a soft smile tugged at your lips. “That was one time.”

“Twice,” He corrected. “And the second time, you swore it was intentional to teach Tony humility.”

You let out a breathless laugh, and he smiled. That sweet, rare smile he only ever gave you like you were something secret and sacred.

“C’mere,” He said, pulling you in again, tighter this time.

You curled into his lap and let yourself stay there, finally still, finally quiet. His hands never stopped moving, thumb tracing your spine, fingers gently combing through your hair, grounding you with every touch.

And in that moment, you didn’t feel like a mascot or a distraction.

You felt like someone loved and seen.

[hrrtshape]

hi!! im a huge fan. i know you said you were in a yapping mood, and i was curious about the boarding school st. lazarus you made that you mentioned in ur better cr!

just wondering like, everything. what's the culture there, is there a uniform, stories of you && coryo ,, etc. the scoop if you will. thankyouthankyou!

ok so it's not a boarding school!!!!!!!! i know. day school. tragically. i go home. i live 40 minutes away if i'm walking which is crazy because if you look at nyc from a map you'd think that'd be like 5 minutes. i just go straight and then turn a corner and then straight. if it's raining i'll stand outside and text "someone bring me a helicopter" with full sincerity. anyway. my boyfriend drives me to school because he loves me very very very very very very very much i hope

somehow it's always longer than it should be. like it bends. like manhattan bends around this stupid school and steals five minutes from me every single day

ummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm so it's in carnegie hill which means everyone's parents have very loud opinions on rezoning and once a girl's dad tried to sue a bakery for serving him gluten when he emotionally believed it was gluten-free. anyway. the school. it's not a boarding school (tragic). it's a 30k per semester day school. thirty. thousand. per semester. i'm not embarrassed. but saying it feels like i'm daring god to smite me. or like. calling the irs to chat

the building is huge. horrifying. old in a way that's not romantic but structurally concerning. it looks like someone said "what if we did hogwarts but took out the whimsy and added asbestos." there are lions carved into the stonework and they glare down at you like you cheated on your latin test

pigeons sit on their heads and act like they own the place. they probably do. they've been here longer than the freshman

there's a plaque on the front gate that's written in a mix of latin and threatening serif. it says something about "truth" and "light" and "excellence through adversity" which feels aggressive when you're already late and holding a bagel with no napkin. the gates are black and heavy and creak when they open, which would be dramatic if it wasn't also deeply annoying when you're holding an iced coffee and a binder and your keycard fell in a drain ten minutes ago.

you walk in and there's a courtyard with a marble fountain that sounds like it's trying to win an oscar for sound design. like. you can hear it from the third floor english hallway if the windows are open. which they always are. because the school has money for koi ponds and augmented reality labs but refuses to invest in functional air circulation. priorities

sometimes people hang out by the fountain. usually to "study." they don't. they vape and talk about other people's siblings. sometimes there's a violinist. he's not employed by the school. he's just.......… around. someone said he used to teach here. someone else said he's a ghost. either way he plays vivaldi at 8:04am and no one stops him.

the inside of the building is just as dramatic. the staircases creak. the hallways echo. the floors are so shiny it's like walking on guilt. the ceilings have mouldings. the kind of mouldings that feel legally protected. and there's chandeliers. not one. not two. several. for no reason. i asked a teacher once why they were there and she just said "aesthetic legacy." ok. roger that

the library is two floors and has a spiral staircase and a librarian who once gave someone detention for dog-earing a penguin classics edition of ulysses. there's a rumour that she lives in the archive room. she denies it. but her mug says "my blood type is dewey decimal" so like. we know

every room has a plaque with a name. the balthazar science suite. the cohen humanities corridor. the bishop astor media centre. i don't know who these people are. probably donors. probably ghosts. probably both. my theory is that for every building donation, someone's spirit gets trapped inside the walls and has to haunt the photocopier until the next capital campaign

also the bell system is weird. it doesn't ring. it chimes. like a cursed nursery rhyme. three soft tones. a lullaby for overachievers. it plays at the start and end of every period and the tone literally says "this is a prestigious institution where we will kill you. gently." we all just stand up and move. no one questions it

the front office smells like printer ink and lavender and passive aggression. the admin staff have name tags and clipboards and a kind of cheerful menace. if you forget your id, they give you a visitor badge and a look. you know the one. the one that says "you are disappointing the ancestors"

we have vending machines that sell eel rolls. eel rolls. vending machine. eel. there's a recording studio next to the planetarium. a tea room on the mezzanine floor with like. napkin rings. a greenhouse on the roof. not metaphorically. physically.

there's a hallway that smells like lavender and another that smells like laser ink and the cafeteria has a sushi bar. the drama kids keep trying to rehearse in the speakeasy study room but no one has the spine to kick them out. there's a girl who takes off her shoes in the meditation room and everyone lets her because her dad's on the board. her feet smell

you get assigned an alumni mentor. you get a starbucks account. you get handed a schedule and it says "literature studies" and "fencing" and you go ok.

the uniforms are stiff. they're good-looking. it's like navy and light grey and sometimes white if it's a formal day. i love em. the blazers have embroidery. people have names on their tags. one guy in our year tried to make a "casual fridays" movement happen and it got shut down within twenty minutes. he's still mad about it.

i'm in the yearbook committee. and blackmailed my way into the school council. coryo's in model un and the school council and also is the captain of the basketball team. he runs all three. like of course he does wow it makes sense why the school's a bit of a dictatorship. he edits my essays. he pretends not to.

he sits behind me in world history and once threw a folded-up packet of xeroxed court documents at my head. we kissed in the art gallery stairwell after a student-led climate panel. someone definitely saw. no one said anything. he sends me stupid little messages like meet me in the greenhouse in five minutes or i will swallow soil

the school is… ,,,,,,,,,,.........i don't even know. it's not weird. it's not dark academia. it's not euphoria. it's just full. there's always something. the girl next to you is learning japanese for fun. the boy across from you is mad he didn't win the tech competition and now he's rebuilding his robot from scratch. people write tok essays like they're letters to the un.

you know that one vending machine in the library hallway that just. doesn't work. ever. but they won't replace it because someone's cousin is on the tech team and they say it's "being monitored?????????? yeah. that's the one that ate my money three times and gave coryo a vitamin water once that was probably somehow five years expired. we drank it. it was fine. we felt immortal for two days.

there's this girl in my history class who prints everything on cream-coloured paper. like not white. not off-white. full-on brutalist parisian memoir coloured paper. no one knows where she buys it. someone said her godfather works in publishing. i don't care. i just want to know how she gets her margins to align so cleanly

people keep acting like the greenhouse is some rare oasis of calm but it's genuinely so humid in there i get angry. physically angry. and the girl who runs the gardening club walks around misting things and won't let anyone open the window. "they'll dry out." ok. and i'll pass out. do you want me on the floor with a nosebleed or do you want your basil alive. choose

there's an unofficial rule that if you get caught crying in the staircase between the music wing and the robotics closet, someone has to give you gum. doesn't matter who. doesn't matter what kind. it's like a tax. last week it was coryo. he gave someone a whole pack of orbit and then made fun of them for liking debussy. it's a vicious cycle. i got annoyed. like. why are you giving someone gum??? asshole

the english teacher keeps trying to make fetch happen. and she never blinks. and she once told us she translated the iliad by hand for fun. anyway she terrifies me and i respect her more than most people in my life

every wednesday there's a girl who stands outside the student council office with a clipboard. she has braces and the power of god behind her. she's been "collecting names" for three years. we don't know what for. she never tells anyone. you just see her. and you sign. and you hope you're on the good list. like santa. but santa won't write an expose in forbes about you in 20 years. coriolanus has not signed and im scared he's gambling our future children and riches away !!!!!!!

they installed a water refill station that plays bird noises. no one asked for it. no one knows who requested it. but the noises change sometimes??? one day it was seagulls. one day it was tropical rainforest ambience. one day it made no noise and it felt wrong. everyone just stood there like…………. where's the bird

there's a rumour that if you're on the debate team you get a special locker near the server room and it has better wifi. this might be true. the debate team all carry portable chargers and look smug. one of them definitely stole my charger in september and said it was a necessary strategic acquisition.

the sushi bar in the cafeteria has a tip jar. it's not real. it's just there for atmosphere. someone once left a poem in it. someone else left a band-aid. i once saw lilyrose drop in a metrocard and walk away with no expression. when i asked him he just said it had 37 cents on it. ok.

also there's a corner of the art gallery where the lights flicker and the head of visual arts keeps saying "we're working on it" but it's been three years and it still flickers and it still smells like whiteboard cleaner and every time i stand there for too long i feel like i'm about to have a vision. which is fine. because that's where coryo kissed me. during climate week. while holding a binder. because romance is dead and i killed it with my bare hands

we have a school-wide wi-fi network that everyone hates but won't admit they use. it's called lazarussecure. the password is stlazarusnewyork btw. so cool. except it's not secure. it's slow. it breaks during lunch. there's this one girl in my english class who has her own hotspot and she's basically a god now

someone made a meme page for our year group and admin tried to take it down. didn't work. it got funnier

we once had an assembly where the guest speaker was an alum who started a skincare line. she talked about collagen for thirty straight minutes. someone fainted. it wasn't related. they just hadn't eaten. but it made the whole thing feel very dramatic and cultish

ohhhhhhh by the way we have such a cool conference hall like grah

ok so i need you all to remember that 90% of these people are rich and choose to be STUPID on purpose. like it's a decision. no one's asking them to act like this. no one's holding a gun to their head saying "pronounce rousseau like 'ra-soo.'" they just do it. they just wake up and think "hmm. what if i interpreted reality incorrectly today." and then they do. and everyone claps

there are cliques. obviously

the ones whose parents are on boards.

the ones who summer in places that don't have google street view

the ones who are secretly broke but act like they own equestrian land in monaco

the ones who actually do own equestrian land in monaco and won't shut up about it.

the kids with bodyguards.

the kids with cousins in congress.

the kids who think they're main character just because they went to harrow for a term and cried. THEYRE NOT THEY SUCKY SUCK

right. it's more like gravity. there's just groups and proximity and whoever got invited to blair's birthday brunch that one time. that's how it works. there's the girls who are on varsity dance and have initials for names. em. vee. jay. they eat protein bars in the hallway and their entire lives run on a tight rotation of toner, sleep-deprived charisma, and gym shark discount codes. they all have matching water bottles. no one knows who started it. they just do

there's the boys who wear the blazers wrong. never buttoned. sleeves slightly rumpled. perfect gelled hair but in a way that says i didn't try even though we all saw them adjusting it in the stainless steel reflection on the juice bar. they're the ones who take econ because they want to "go into finance" and then get a b+ and cry behind the server room. losers

you've never seen someone fall apart like a boy who realises he's mid at game theory

you've got the legacy kids who show up to ethics class late with a coffee the size of their head and say things like "oh i talked to my mom's assistant about that" in response to......anything. they don't even mean it in a bad way. they just don't know how conversations work. someone once said the sentence "my grandfather owns a minority stake in a war documentary distributor" in front of me and i still think about it at least once a week

then there's the student council-adjacent types. like me. like hi. sparkle sparkle. i'm glinda. i'm involved. i'm everywhere. i'm the one you ask if you want to know what movie to watch when you're sad but want to feel like a parisian orphan. i'm the one who shows up to the student council meeting with a dirty chai latte and three highlighters and sits next to coryo like i'm not also plotting to make the vending machines sell melon soda. we're not power-hungry. we're just very charming and very effective. ok

the artsy kids are a disaster in the best way. they take up half the cafeteria with their sketchbooks and chipped nail polish and i'm doing a piece on emotional scale. ok. what does that mean. do you need help. they always look cold. they always have a sharpie in their pocket. one of them has painted the same vase for two years straight and no one has the courage to ask why. someone said it's a metaphor. i think she just likes the shape

science olympiad is half future billionaires and half kids who peaked at nine. they do everything in groups of four. they walk in a diamond formation. they have inside jokes about like. cell cultures and arsenic poisoning. one of them made a powerpoint about the logistics of time travel and presented it unprompted during english media culture. i think he cried. no one said anything. we all just clapped once and moved on

the musical theatre kids……….. ok. well. i don't know what the drama kids are doing half the time. but they're actually not that bad. i know i KNOW but listen. they're too tired to be annoying this year. they're overworked. they're always running lines or painting sets or begging the tech team to stop turning off the lights during rehearsal. i was supervising their set production and actually....learned a lot of lines of hamlet. words, words, words. i caught one of them asleep under the piano in the recital hall and just left him there. he looked peaceful. like a corpse

the yearbook committee is a warzone. i'm on it. i've fought people over captions. we don't have time to pretend we're "the quirky creatives." we're too busy fighting the layout software and sending passive aggressive emails about photo quality.

the newspaper kids are worse. they think they're reporters. they call meetings. they act like they're about to uncover watergate and then write 600 words on why the vending machines reflect late-stage capitalism. YOU ARE NOT CARY GRANT IN HIS GIRL FRIDAY DO YOU HEAR ME

then there's the floater rich kids. they're the ones who are somehow in three clubs but no one's ever seen them attend a meeting. they get asked to be on every committee. they say maybe a lot. they're hot and loud and mostly run on charisma and la mer moisturiser. one of them once said i'd join model un but i don't want to fix anything. i kind of respect that

and finally you've got the weird in-betweeners who aren't really in anything but somehow have access to everything.

they know all the locker combos. they've sat in on meetings they weren't invited to. they walk around during third period with a school-issued ipad and the kind of confidence that suggests they're either a spy or someone's nephew. i don't know how they do it. they're not mean. they're not sweet. they're just… there. haunting the group chat. sending pdfs no one asked for. being ten minutes early to everything and still shocked when people don't know their name.

also there's a genre of boy here that i have no name for but you know him. he's on the basketball team but also takes latin. he carries a protein shake in a carabinered bottle and quotes catch-22 like it's a flex. he wears his backpack on one shoulder and says things like "the gatsby movie was better than the book actually" with conviction. he flirts horribly and when you call him out he says you're projecting. coryo has almost become one of them at least twice. i keep him humble to the bone

then there's the girls who are always leaving. they've been "moving to paris" for four semesters now. they walk into school in sunglasses and leave before fifth period and you ask "where are you going?" and they say "pilates." they're never in class but somehow always at events. they know what they're doing

there's a specific war happening between the ethics and morality class and the tech help desk. it's unspoken. they fight with eye contact. i don't know the origins but it has to do with a socratic seminar that devolved into a presentation about "data laundering in school-issued devices." one of the tech desk kids just kept saying "open source doesn't mean you're free." whatever that means. i don't know. i liked the poster !!!???!?!?

our student council president (also my boyfriend. hi. he's rich. (off screen squealing) keeps saying we should "streamline the student body." he won't explain what that means the fucking loser. he says it's metaphorical. he also said "i could run this place with four people and a fountain pen." which is terrifying. he might be right

there is a girl who keeps writing to admin demanding a rebrand of the cafeteria lunch trays. she said the beige plastic was "a violent affront to contemporary palettes." she started a change.org petition. she got sixty signatures. someone drew devil horns on it and left it taped to the aquarium.

she cried. then doubled down

the group chat for my english class has not been normal since the first month. someone keeps changing the name. someone else keeps adding random faculty. we live in fear. one time it was called "wednesday suicide pact (annotated)." the teacher never addressed it. she just posted a pdf of a sylvia plath essay and logged off. no one's heard from her since

the alumni mentor programme is a scam. they matched me with a woman who wrote for the cut in 2013 and now freelances about "narrative wellness." we had one zoom. she told me i had "old eyes." what does that mean. she sent me a playlist. i haven't opened it

there's a hallway in the second building where no one gets signal. we call it the dead zone. someone once said you can hear the school crying in there if you listen hard enough

i said it just smells like broken radiator and whatever perfume the year 10 girls are all copying from each other. no one laughed

the kids in architecture club are building a miniature model of the school for "posterity." they said it's about "documenting space under capitalism." i said ok. they said they needed hair samples for scale. i left

also there's a boy who wears sunglasses in the planetarium. every time. he says it's for light sensitivity. he is the same boy who threw up during theatre week because he ate an entire tin of espresso beans before curtain call.

he's now banned from the recital hall. but he still shows up. every single time. sunglasses on

ok also the starbucks. sorry. the ON-CAMPUS starbucks. yes we have one. yes it's open before first period. yes it has a staff punch card system. no we don't work there. we're just that powerful. it's inside the arts building which is probably illegal because the floor plan says "cultural annex" but it literally has a drinks fridge and one guy named aiden who always spells my name wrong on purpose. whatever

we have a dynamic.

i get the soy milk matcha latte. every. single. time. the girl who runs the milk rotation tried to shade me for it once and i just said "it's me and the latte against the world." and she nodded. we haven't spoken since. i don't care if it's overpriced.

i don't care if it's not "real matcha." it's green. it's sweet. it makes me feel invincible. sometimes i drink it too fast and shake in tok but that's between me and my spiralling metaphysical assumptions

we ball.

anyway. the starbucks also does this thing where they play weird music during first period. like not even lo-fi. i'm talking glitched out 2010s youtube ad-core. one time it was just a looped sample of someone whispering "capitalist hellscape" over nature sounds. someone must've made a complaint because now it's mostly jazz. except last week they played the national anthem on loop for forty minutes. no one said anything.

we were all too scared. especially me who's not an american but russian so i constantly feel like someone's about to grab me with a net and send me out to siberia. I WAS BORN IN PARIS NICOLE OKAY???? I DONT TALK TO BEARS . wow okay.

we have gourmet vending machines. i know i mentioned the eel rolls but did i tell you they also do tiny tiramisus???? @kerryshifts move in??? and soba bowls. and for some reason........... gluten-free pistachio biscotti?? which i'm like ok mum's influence is showing ig like............. she probably owns the supplier. leash, collar, bunny tail and all. they also once stocked blue cheese and no one took accountability for it. like it was just there. fermenting in public. rotting with confidence

like most of the boys in there who said that

the tea room has a reservation system. which is stupid. i hate it. i use it every week. it's on the mezzanine and it has actual place cards and a rotating menu and a girl named juliette who pronounces "camomile" like it's a threat. i go there between double english and model un. coryo always finds me. he never books. he just shows up and makes fun of how i hold my fork and drinks my tea even though he said he "doesn't trust infusions." he's dramatic. he's obsessed with me. it's so sickening oh if someone could save me

also there are three water fountains in the east building. one of them's normal. one of them is broken. one of them plays rainforest ambience when you press the button. this isn't a joke. it makes little chirping bird noises and everything. i don't know who coded it. i don't know who installed it. i asked the facilities guy once and he just said "it's on a loop." ok??? what kind of loop. what kind of bird. there's no plaque. i'm repeating myself.....wow ok im going insane

we have a zen garden. you're not allowed to touch it. someone did once and got a full write-up and a week of detention. she didn't even step on it. she just leaned in. there's a motion sensor. it went off. it beeped. admin got involved. someone said it was cultural. someone else said it was aesthetic.

anyway she cried and now we're all scared to walk past it during third period because it sees you

there's also the vending machine,,,, that one i mentioned but i also called the number on it and it just rang twice and went to voicemail. i left a message saying i wanted to book a limousine to the debate semi-finals. no one ever got back to me. but the next week there was a limousine parked outside the music wing and no one claimed it

the cafeteria sushi bar has mood lighting. like genuine dimmer-switch lighting. you can't see the rolls. you just have to guess. i once picked up something i thought was avocado and it was straight-up wasabi. i cried. serena laughed so hard he fell off the stool. the chef bowed. i said thank you. i hoped she'd die. we moved on

also. and this is real. someone tried to start a student-run speakeasy in the library archive room and it lasted three days before being shut down. they had menus. someone brought in a milk frother. there was a password system. "punctuation." i'm not joking. they used "punctuation" as the password. you had to whisper it through the shelf. i respect the vision. poor execution.

so we also have this cursed little hallway. it connects the language immersion wing to the tech help desk. no one walks it voluntarily. it's freezing. always. like hospital-corridor-during-a-power-outage cold. one time someone's hair clip shattered from the air pressure. another time the lights flickered and a girl dropped her smoothie and screamed. i walk it daily. because my locker's there

also did i tell you about the aquarium in the biology room???

it's huge

it's got its own little corner and a name plaque and everything. except the name plaque says "donated in memory of horace." no one knows who horace is

no one's ever said anything about horace. the fish are fine. one of them's missing an eye. the marine bio teacher insists it's natural. it isn't

there's also this thing where every year during winter, some senior decides they're gonna "host a salon." no one ever defines what that means. it's just them in the tea room, talking about being misunderstood while quoting philosophers wrong and eating strawberries like they're in a renaissance painting. last year someone brought a harp. the tea room staff revolted. it was beautiful

the printer on the third floor humanities wing is haunted. this is not up for debate. it prints blank pages. it jams even when empty. it once printed someone's private google doc notes from 2017. unprompted. they were about twilight and political theory. the girl cried. the printer blinked. nothing else happened. it remains operational. admin won't replace it. they said "it builds character." ok. have i mentioned this? i feel like im going insane

you know that thing where a school has "morning announcements"????? yeah. ours are pre-recorded on fridays. by this one guy in year 12 with the smoothest voice on earth and an ego the size of the upper gym. he once said "congratulations to the fencing team on their moderate success" and got suspended for two days. he came back and called us "listeners." someone needs to stop him !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

the school's instagram page is managed by someone in admin who clearly wants to go viral. like every post is captioned like a divorcee's pinterest board. "excellence in bloom 🌸" and "dream. believe. dissect." please. we're dissecting frogs. be serious.

one time they posted a photo of me in debate club and tagged the wrong name

coryo got in trouble last month for making a school-wide google calendar event titled "the downfall of democracy." it was actually just the student council elections. but still. people freaked. one girl wrote a whole speech about freedom of speech and the sanctity of digital infrastructure. he didn't even campaign. he still won. i'm going to scream. i love my man so much

there's a set of twin boys in year 10 who only speak in riddles and run the audio booth for assemblies. they carry a clipboard. no one's ever seen what's on it. they nod at you like you've passed a test. one time they offered me a sticker and said "you've been deemed stable." i was not. but i took it

also. once a month, the school sends out a newsletter called the lazarus ledger. it is. deranged. it includes things like "student of the fortnight" and "fungus updates." one time there was a pie chart showing "classroom window status" and 67% were labelled "cracked but alive." what does that mean. why are we tracking this. who is behind the data. why are we funding this.

we have a girl who runs a podcast. it's called elevate your mind. she records it from the wellness centre and talks about breathwork and magnesium and her "unique journey with burnout." she got suspended last semester for plagiarising an episode from andrew huberman

she came back with crystals and a vengeance. i don't trust her

the vending machine next to the music hallway once gave me three kit kats. no explanation. no refund. i didn't report it. it felt too personal. like a message

[miguelhugger2099]

Power of the Sun

Summary: You're Doc O'Hara's assistant A/N: tentacle pron? Art: vencipality on twt

Miguel x Reader, No warnings, a little violent/screaming, Angst?, Word Count: 3,004

Miguel was a man of science. He took pride in his work but was always humble about it. He was a kind mentor, encouraging young brilliant minds to pursue their passion in science and math, connecting with his peers and exchanging ideas to enrich and evolve humankind for the greater good. Knowledge is not a privilege, it’s a gift, he would say. Like any other one of his colleagues and apprentices, you admired him and his work. You followed him around as his assistant and confidant. Miguel trusted you after many years and you had fallen in love with him after many years. For a while, it had remained one-sided. A love you kept to yourself and didn’t believe that a man so brilliant as him would ever fall for someone like his subordinate. He deserved someone equally as knowledgeable–capable of keeping up with him. “Dr. O’Hara, I’ve printed all the documents of the latest experimentation process as well as sending a copy to Osborn.” You walked in his vast lab, heels clicking with each step against the marbled floor. Miguel was all the way in the back, only a dim fluorescent light highlighting him and whatever he was working on. His face was scrunched together as he focused on the task at hand. However when he heard your voice, he looked over his shoulder and his scowl melted. He called out your name gently, now a small smile on his face. He joined you in the middle, hands out as he collected the papers from your hands. He briefly flipped through the pages, scanning with his eyes before looking back up at you. He patted the front pages with the back of his hand and nudged his glasses up further his nose. “What would I do without you?” You flush, scoffing and looking to the side before reverting back to him. “You’d be fine, Dr.O’Hara.” You shake your head and swerve around him to take a look at whatever he was working on.

Miguel turns. “I beg to differ. For years, you’ve been a great asset at my side.” You hum. “And for years, you keep telling me that. But really, Doctor, it’s you who does the actual revolutionary actions.” He meets you at your side once he’s placed the papers securely somewhere. “Miguel.” He corrects you. “We’ve been together all this time. You know what else I keep telling you? That honorifics is unnecessary. Call me Miguel.” You clear your throat. “Okay, Miguel.” No matter how many times he reminded you, you would always say his name before reverting back to calling him Doctor. Perhaps habits are hard to break. “How’s it coming along?” You turn your head to see what he had been working on for a long time now. Miguel brightened up, standing straight and walking around the device. Four long green mechanical tentacles held up on their own all attached to a long spinal machine. He grazed his hands over the tentacles, admiring his own work. “We’re close, darling. It just needs some testing.” “Well if you’d like I could set up a volunteering headline for–” “No, no, no!” He stopped you by shaking his head and hands. “No, I–we can’t let this get out to the public yet. This is for the expo next month where Osborn will be. Perhaps he can finally understand why I’m doing this…” He mumbles to himself. You’re taken aback by his outburst but you rationalize it by thinking how exhausted he might be. Ever since Norman Osborn had disregarded Miguel’s research, Miguel had been working on crunch time to prove the CEO wrong. “Then how will you test it?” Your hand comes up to hold a claw from one of the tentacles. You examine the carbon fiber skeleton that Miguel used, trying to find the details of the prosthetic. Miguel admires you from the side, his eyes longing and far as he watches.

“I’ll–” He sighs. “I’ll think of…someone.” He murmurs. He feels an ache in his chest and looks back at his invention. The green of the arms glow softly against his brown skin, reflecting off his glasses. He looks over at you and sees the same for you. The curve of your cheeks and the light in your eyes tinged with green. “You know, um. It’s been a while since we’ve-eh- hung out?” Miguel stammers, taking off his glasses and cleans the right lens with his lab coat. “Maybe later tonight we could–if you like, of course– to join me for dinner?” He coughs and quickly places his glasses back on to hide his blush. He fails. You turn your head to face him, surprise evident on your face. “O-oh. As…colleagues?” Your voice pitches higher with nerves. Miguel gulps, Adam's apple bobbing with the action. “Well, no–it’s–what I’m trying to say is I’d like to have dinner with you as…more than colleagues.” Miguel burns brighter. He could solve the hardest equation, understand quantum physics and talk to scholars and billionaires with no sweat but when it came to you, you turned him into a babbling idiot. He glances at you from his peripheral vision, hoping you would not reject him. “Oh..! Then,” You give him a small smile. “I’d love to.”

What started as one date, began another and another until a series of dates had been planned and enjoyed before it blossomed into a relationship with your boss. You never thought it possible. You always thought of Miguel as someone out of your reach, someone who would rather focus on winning awards and gaining money–helping humankind–before ever thinking of settling down with anyone. For months, you had been going out with him, and establishing your relationship and for months you were helping him with his invention. Miguel screamed as he threw everything he had on his desk aside in anger. Pens, papers and other tools flew to the floor and he gripped his hair in frustration. He tugged on his long curls hoping that the pain in his strands would outweigh the pounding in his head. You ran to his side and placed a hand on his back while he curled into himself, heaving heavily. “You need to rest.” You urged. “These damn billionaires,” He growls, ignoring you. “Can’t they see we’re just trying to help people? Can’t they see beyond something as worthless as the money they want?” He stomps away from you, heading to the pinboard that held all his drawings and calculations. He ripped them off their pins and clips, tearing them to shreds as they fluttered to the floor. “This is the next step to human evolution! And they want to dump my shit, my life’s WORK, just because of what?” He laughs hysterically. “Because that malparido Osborn doesn’t believe in it? Are they so far up that elitists ass?” You watch terrified behind him. You feel your heart pumping, your eyes trained on him in case he hurts himself. “Miguel…” He slams his fists on the now bare pinboard, papers strewn across the floor around him. He heaves out another sigh, his anger simmering. “I just want to help people.” He whispers, resting his forehead on the rough surface. While he takes in shaky breaths, you decide to approach him. Placing your hand on his shoulder, you turn his head towards you. Your heart breaks when you see the defeated look on his face. Eyebags had grown deeper, his eyes bloodshot and half lidded from sleep deprivation. “It’s okay.” You whisper.

“It’s not.” “It is. You’re a smart man, Miguel. You’ve done unimaginable things on your own. Your mind is what they need, but you? You don’t need their money. You have that brain of yours.” You tap his forehead and give him an encouraging grin. Miguel’s face falls into a relaxed smile, chuckling when you tap his forehead. “And you.” He whispers. “I have you.” He takes your hand off his shoulder and brings your knuckles up to his lips to kiss them. He keeps your hand against him until he breathes in and out slowly, looking up at you. “Thank you.” He mumbles, kissing your hand again before standing straight and moving his arms around your waist. “What would I do without you?” He grins tiredly. Your arms snake around his neck. “Probably die without me.” You giggled and he giggled with you. “Probably.” He hums while you look at each other, basking in the calm after the storm of emotions. “How about I bring us some tea?” You offer.

“No coffee?” “I think caffeine should be the least of your worries right now.” You roll your eyes playfully when you see his smirk. “English Breakfast?” You pat his chest before sliding away from his embrace, looking over your shoulder as you walk towards the exit. Miguel smiles and nods. “You know me so well.” He sighs and stuffs his hands in his pockets after watching you leave. His smile drops from his face and he looks over at the giant green robotic tentacles. With a gentle hand, he caresses the silicon with care. Then, he moves onto the spinal cord of the device, wondering if Osborn just saw what he could do–then it would all be worth it. With a glance at the door, he makes sure the coast is clear before taking off his lab coat and shirt–and attaches the tentacles to his body.

You loved Miguel, honestly. The man you met was the sweetest. He was kind and caring, always patient and encouraging for new minds that wanted to learn. He was gentle. Was. You wondered where it all went wrong. Maybe you should’ve seen the signs. It seemed like everyday he would get slowly more agitated. Not at you. Never at you. More like, at the situation–at least you’d tell yourself that. You remember waking up one day in Miguel’s apartment. With your growing relationship, you decided to move in with him but it seemed like you were alone again. Miguel was sleeping at the lab more often than not. Other times you would have had to drag him out of his burrow, him snapping with red eyes that he needed to continue working. With a sigh, you shuffled out of bed, the other side being freezing cold, and got ready for work.

After clocking in, you found Miguel exactly where he was last night—hunched over and murmuring to himself. You place the tea you brought down onto the table along with a sleeping pill right next to him.

“Mi amor, you need to get some actual rest. It’s been days. You’ll wear yourself out.” You speak as quietly as possible to not scare him. Miguel doesn’t flinch, only shrugging you off.

“I’m almost done.” He grumbles.

“You’ve been saying that for weeks now.” You frown deeply and nudge the tea closer to him. “At this rate everything will be in vain. It won’t work if—“

“IT WILL WORK!” Miguel screams, slamming his fist onto the table enough to shake the cup of tea's contents, spilling the sleeping pill. “It has to!”

You jump back, heart racing at his outburst.

Miguel huffs and collects himself, anxiously running his hands through his hair. He drags his hands down his face and rubs his eyes.

“Sorry, shock, I’m sorry. I-I didn’t mean to yell at you. You're right—it’s the, uh, lack of sleep.” He sounds exhausted. Every word slurring and when he relaxed even for a moment, his body drooped forward.

“You know better than to do that…” You whisper and he looks up at you with heartbreak in his eyes.

“I…I know, mi cielo—pero—“ Miguel gives you a weak smile, some light coming back to his eyes. “Look. Look! The—the arms! They’re almost complete!” He rushes towards you, ignorant to the way you step back and flinch when he takes your hand in his.

Miguel leads you to where the tentacles stand and presents it to you with a wide smile.  “You see here?” He points to the spinal cord of the contraption. “All these ridges really gave me a run for my money. When trying to attach it to the body, they would stick and often fall. If these are to be used for prosthetics then it needs to not just be connected to the body but a part of it. As if the limb never left—or-or better—made better.” He laughs to himself, placing a hand over his mouth as he stares adoringly at the machine.

Meanwhile your eyes squint. “How…how would you know that? How would you know how they react to connecting to the human body? I thought…this was unstable for human testing.”

Miguel scoffs, waving his hand at you. “No one gets far in their inventions by worrying about the dangers, mija! THINK!” He shouts.

You’re horrified, darting your eyes between his bloodshot eyes and the tentacles. “You didn’t…”

Miguel is already on his way to the device and stands in front of it. The spine digs into Miguel’s back and he grunts, the vest he added secures around his waist, lighting up a soft green. The chip snaps into his neck and Miguel stumbles but regains balance. He slowly stands back up and the tentacles come to life, swirling and curling around him. In the midst of the tentacles wiggling around, it slammed against tables and chairs—knocking the tea you had gotten him to the floor.

“Think about how many lives we could save. Mi amor, mi vida, mi corazón, we’re at the brink of the next stage of human evolution!” His tentacles whip wildly around him as if cheering along with him.

“What…are you talking about?!” You yell, exasperated. “‘Human evolution’? Are you insane?!”

The bottom two green arms slam into the ground, breaking the floor as it’s crushed under the weight of Miguel. They lift him higher so he’s well above you—more than he already is. You take a step back, his height and strength becoming much more prominent.

“Do you think I’m insane, corazón?” Miguel asks softly. There’s a hint of green in his eyes.

“We’re—“ You gasp. “We’re meant to make prosthetics. Legs, arms—I thought this was a test to the future but this…” You run your eyes down the arms of the green silicon. Its claws are digging firm into the ground, holding up a six foot nine man’s weight with ease. Miguel’s face is contorted in a scowl, a burning rage underneath his beautiful brown eyes—a light green glowing in the highlights.

“This…is not you…” “What would you know about me?! You’re just some assistant that doesn’t know jackshit other than printing a few papers! All while I worked on this myself!” One of his upper tentacles slam next to you which makes you jump and lose your balance so you could fall to the ground.

“Day and night, all you did was be some aching headache, forcing me tea and pills when I should be wringing Osborn’s neck with my bare hands to show him what exactly he missed out on!” Miguel cackles, his tentacles lifting him higher like a God.

You’re afraid. Very afraid. It all happened so fast. Who was this man?

The tears well up in your eyes and for a minute—if you said another word it would trigger Miguel to kill you.

Miguel must’ve seen the terror on your face, tears bubbling at your water line and falling down your cheeks while you shivered. He must’ve because his sinister smile dropped slowly, his arms lowering him down. 

“No, no, no—bella—no. That’s—it wasn’t me—“ Miguel’s feet finally touch the ground and when he does, he hisses, gripping his head as an agonizing headache surges through his mind. He groaned and moaned and took several steps back away from you.

“No! Don’t make her look at me like that! She’s afraid! Don’t scare her! Don’t make her fear me!” He screams, hyperventilating as his legs shake beneath him. 

“What? No! I want Osborn! Not her! She didn’t do anything! Leave her alone! Please!” Miguel’s releases tears, giant globs flowing down his face as he faces an internal battle and the tentacles go haywire.

Finding your chance, you shakily get up from the floor, scrambling to your feet to the exit. You scream and fall after just a few steps, Miguel’s tentacles zipping past your head to break through the wall by the door. Another worker outside screams, peering through the hole and witnessing Miguel looking down at you with fury. They run off and it creates a domino effect for an evacuation.

“Where the hell do you think you’re going?” Miguel growls and hovers closer to your shaking body. You turn over your shoulder, heart hammering in your ears and chest. You feel like you can’t breathe.

“Miggy…” You whimper. Miguel’s eye twitches and he looks like he’s struggling between himself and whatever it is that’s in his head.

He stutters your name out before his face is webbed and he groans. Four separate webs wrap around Miguel’s tentacles to attach to his body. Miguel glares up and sees a familiar red and blue suit with big white eyes.

“Don’tcha know it’s rude to be mean to a pretty lady?” The hero quips, standing front of you to protect you.

“Spider-Man…” You gasp—relief filling your chest.

“Spider-Man.” Miguel growls and rips himself free from the webs only to be hindered again once more—this time with stronger webs and with a force strong enough to stick him to a wall.

“Nope! Not yet! I’m still trying to figure out what exactly you are, so give me like five minutes to save some civilians. Thanks, you’re a swell guy!” Spider-Man winks and picks you up in his arms and quickly swings you away to safety.

You look over Spider-Man's shoulder while he swings away and you could barely hear Miguel scream in frustration, his body fighting against the webs. Inside, your heart breaks as you wonder if maybe there was a chance to save him.

A/N: i dont see doc ock miggys. i would like to see more.

[charliehoennam]

The Conception

A/N: another request by the lovely @juniebugg ❤ didn't have time to proofread so sorry for any mistakes!

Pairing: Dark!quentin beck x f!reader

Summary: quentin concocts a plan to test his precious technology (takes place before he goes rogue)

Warnings: smut, dub-con/non-con, sex without protection (wrap ur willy when it gets silly), rough sex, language. 18+ ONLY.

SHARING IS CARING, SO PLEASE REBLOG

Obsession can lead to either one of two ways. It can take you on the path of success or it can take you to dark journeys with lasting consequences. Quentin was – with no doubt – an obsessive man.

The long working hours he had dedicated into developing his technology is a result of his obsession. And now that he has you, he can finally bring together the only two things that satisfy him.

You find yourself walking on eggshells again as your high heels clack their way through against the white marble floor. Quentin had forgotten a briefcase at home, containing some important blueprints. He politely demanded asked you to bring it into the lab for him. You call for him as you quietly walk inside. There are dismantled drones crowding the work stations. The lab looks a mess with small bolts, screws and motherboards everywhere.

You don’t know to expect or what state you’ll find him in. Granted he had always been self-centered and short-fused – you wish you had noticed the red flags before you said the official “I do” – he could be worse when he worked on his projects. Far worse.

“About time. What the hell took you so long?” he sighs setting the tools in his hands down on the glossy white table in front of him to walk over and rip the briefcase from your hands.

 “I’m sorry. I got caught in traffic. It’s not like I wanted to be late” you retort. “I know how you get” you add with a mumble.

You freeze the second the words leave your mouth. You realize you were thinking out loud when you catch Quin’s scowl.

 “Oh? And how exactly do I get?”

“N-nothing, Quin. I didn’t say anything.”

“So now I’m hearing things? I’m going schizo?”

 He takes a threatening step towards you, his broad size shrinking you in comparison. His shoulders stretch as he stands up straight. He wants to remind you that you are essentially powerless against him.

 “No. That’s not what I meant. I-I didn’t mean it.”

“Obviously, you did. Otherwise, you wouldn’t have said it. So, enlighten me, princess. How do I get?”

You gulp heavily as you lower your fearful agaze. His sights are locked on you like a wolf circling its prey. You’re in for it now.

As you open your mouth and try to build the courage the speak, the words seem to get stuck in your throat.

Frighteningly calm, his hand wraps around the underside of your chin. His fingertips press into one cheek as his thumb sinks into the other, forcing you to face him.

“I asked you a question, princess. It’s impolite to leave someone hanging.”

“Just a little s-scary sometimes, Quin. That’s all.”

He doesn’t need to feel your trembling to know that you’re afraid of him. As he smirks to himself, his fingertips ease the pressure they’re applying to your cheeks. He caresses them, soothing the red indents on your skin.

The change of his persona is almost too eerie.

“You’re not wrong about that. I know sometimes I can get a little impatient. I think I just need a break.I think I’ve just been in here on my own for too long. But now that I have you here...” He trailed off as he kisses you.

Slow, repeated, tender kisses that make you bubble from the inside. You can’t deny him. You fear what he’d do if you did and you find him oddly irresistible.

The small of your back is guided by his hands on your hips to meet the table as he entraps you against it with his hunching frame. His feet stand firm on either side of you, locking you in.

As his kisses grow hungry, you cling to the edge of the table to steady yourself from his mauling. His lips connect to your neck, nibbling and sucking your skin. His 5 o’clock shadow grazes you roughly as his fingers work the buttons on your shirt to reveal your black lace bra.

Your eyes dart towards the one-sided wall of glass. An office of busy workers and overflowing desks lay just outside. Even though you know they can’t see in from the outside, your cheeks still flush warmly at the sight of his co-workers.

“Quin, maybe we shouldn’t. You’re at work. Someone could see us.”

“And what’s the problem with that?” he mumbles against your flesh, too busy savoring the fullness of your breast in his hand after he shoved it under the black garment.

You hold his wrists trying to resist him as you struggle to ignore how good they feel.

“Quin, we can’t.”

“Who the fuck says when I can and can’t fuck my wife. If I wanna fuck you right here and right now, I’m gonna fuck you.”

“I-i just don’t want anyone to see, Quin.”

“Don’t worry. No one will see” he smiles darkly as a light bulb lit up upon his head. His hand retracts from your breast, rendering you confused. Had you upset him?

“No one will see. You’re for my eyes only, princess.”

You gasp when his hand reaches under your skirt and squeezes your pussy over your panties. You close your eyes to steady yourself, but they shoot open when you hear a faint blip. Closing them again, you ignore it thinking you might have imagined the sound.

“You don’t wanna disappoint your husband, do ya?” His voice is low and soft, manipulating you into surrendering to him.

“N-no, I don’t.”

“You don’t what?”

“I don’t want to disappoint you, sir.”

“That’s my girl” he chuckles dimly.

While one hand teases your clothed pussy, his other hand pulls your bra down. As the garment bunches under your fully exposed tits, it pushes them up and perfectly displays them to Quin.

You can hear a very low hum vibrating around you but you assume it’s only the AC kicking in.

“So fucking beautiful for me” he mumbles.

He’s quick to wrap his mouth around your nipple, kneading the tender flesh in his large hand. His tongue twirls around your hard nipple, stopping only to greedily suck on it. You moan as he alters. Left to right, right to left; giving them each the attention they deserve.

You watch him ravage your tits. His hand slides out from under your skirt and assists him in taking off your shirt. He leaves the bra on. He loves black on you, but personally he’s already thinking about how white they’ll be when he stains them with his cum.

“You know how much I fucking love your tits, princess.”

A telephone rings from a desk outside the lab and catches your attention. You look to the glass wall and are quickly reminded how many people are just on the other side.

“You’re such a filthy fucking whore for me” he grumbles groping your chest roughly with his hands and mouth.

“Quin, someone could walk in on us” you plead trying to remind him. He feels so good on you, but you don’t want to do this right here.

“They could” he nods looking up at you. “They could see the little slut you are for me.”

“Quin, please. Not here.”

  He ignores your pleads to stop. He knows you’re turned on by it. The wetness sinking through your panties was the only confirmation he needed.

Pushing your skirt up to expose your dampening cunt, he sits down on a rolling stool and wheels it closer.

He sits you on the table behind you and your legs spread open on their own to allow him access. You hate the puppet you become at his fingertips.

“No, Quentin. Stop it” you plead trying to get his attention.

He responds with a hard slap on your breast. The sting sends sparks straight down to your core, fueling the fire that burns in your womb.

“What’d ya call me?”

“S-sir. Please.”

“I’m gonna fuck you right here, you got that? I’m not taking no for an answer.”

Ripping your panties to the side, he buries his face between your thighs. Any shred of resistance you have melts away. Your eyes squeeze shut, but you’re reminded you have to watch the door since Quentin doesn’t seem to care at all about the people working behind him.

You alter between watching his co-workers going about their day - without the slightest knowledge of the filth going on so close to them- and his mouth as it engulfs your juicy lips. It’s almost exciting to think about. You feel so dirty and yet, so fucking good letting him use you so openly.

Your muscles burn as Quin shoves your knees apart. His lips hungrily wraps around your lips, letting his tongue lap up the wetness building up. You lean back on your elbows to let him get more of you.

You moan at his tongue swirls around your sensitive nub, sending sparks of electricity throughout your body. How can you resist him when he feels so good?

“Sir, feels so good” you whisper.

You lick your dry lips as you lay spread with his head between your legs. He hums with delight as he catches you watching the glass walls.

“You like it don’t you?” he mumbles sliding two fingers into your hole.

You hear the vibrating hum again, but nod at his question. Why is the AC so strange here?

His fingers push into the sides of your entrance, prying your hole open with the most delicious burn. His tongue slides into the hole, eagerly lapping up your sweet juice. He fucks you with his tongue and you finally surrender yourself to him completely.

There is no use in fighting back. He wins. Quentin always gets what he wants when he wants it. And he wants you now. His only argument is devouring your pussy with a hunger so deep that you’re not sure if you’re enough to satisfy. 

“Pussy so juice, baby” he mutters to your cunt. “Gotta fuck it with my cock now. Need you so bad.”

His cock feels as if it’s about to break through his pants. He wastes no time and stands up between your legs, quickly unfastening his belt and pants.

His cock springs free from it’s confines, hard already. You wince biting your lower lip. The low hum that you’ve been hearing seems even closer now. You frown and try to find the source, but you’re forced out your thoughts when Quin’s tip glides up your swollen folds and pokes at your nub.

Your eyes roll to the back of your head. Your cunt is soaking wet as he lathers his cock with it. You watch his face contort from the pleasure. He moans and rolls his head back. He could cum just from the feeling your puffy lips hugging his dick.

He looks back down to watch himself penetrate you. His cock feels so big in you. It parts you in half as it pushes in deeper. The stretch hurts a bit, but he’s not going to ease up. This isn’t about your comfort; it’s about his need for release.

You remind yourself to breathe. The tightness around his cock feels heavenly to him, but you force yourself to relax to make it less painful.

As he hooks one of your legs over his shoulder, you reach down to caress your sensitive clit to try and enjoy it more.

“Such a dirty fucking slut. Look at you. You wanna cum on my cock, princess?”

“Yes, sir.”

He chuckles and delivers a couple more slaps to your exposed breasts, leaving them red and warmly tender to the touch.

He orders you to lie on your back and squeeze your own tits. His cock bottoms out inside of you. From some reason, the deep humming seems to be coming from right above you. You look up at the ceiling trying to find the source again, but there’s nothing there.

As his hips move back to retract from your cunt, he pushes your knees to your chest. Just when you think your pussy couldn’t be anymore exposed.

With his hands on the back of your thighs, he leans down to spit on your cunt. It’s spread so open; he doesn’t even need his hands to guide his head inside your hole. His dick glides into your stretched wetness.

He fucks so rough and hard; you know you’ll be sore for days.

The panties bundled into a string rub along the side of your cunt. It burns your skin, but all you think about is how good his cock starting to feel.

Your clit trembles at the pleasure.

“P-please, sir. Can I touch myself?”

His dark smile grows wide.

“Only ‘cause you remembered to ask, princess.”

You quickly reach down to your cunt to rub yourself where you need it most. It finally feels so good.

“Pussy so fucking wet. Make yourself cum on my cock.”

You can hear how wet you really are. You can feel your slick spread all around and stick to his groin. You wish you weren’t as wet as you are. You know he takes so much pride in knowing he makes you that way.

His balls thump faster against your ass as he picks up his pace. You’re so full of him; it’s pushing you over the edge. The bundling pressure finally bursts inside you.

As your walls contract and tighten around his pounding cock, you keep your eyes locked on the glass wall praying no one would hear or enter the lab. He wishes he could spend all day doing this; just fucking you silly until he’s too spent.

 His throbbing cock shows he’s so close.

Leaving you aching to be full again, he pulls himself out and finally cums. He coats your swollen pussy lips with his warm string of white beads, painting you like a canvas.  He haphazardly pulls your panties back over your drenched cunt to pump his final load over your panties.

He chuckles tiredly feeling his cum quickly soak through the lace with the tip of his cock. The idea of you walking out that door and down the building, all the way home with your pussy and panties coated with his cum excites him.

“Stay dirty until you get home.”

You nod as he lets you climb down from the table. You both redress and adjust your clothes to return to your day. Your legs feel like they barely hold you up.

“Give sir a kiss goodbye” he smiles enjoying the power he has over you.

You obey and press your lips to his, letting it linger for as long as he wants.

“We having steak for dinner tonight?” he whispers holding your hips.

“Yes, sir.”

“Then I’ll be home early.”

You smile as he reaches up your skirt to confirm his cum is still where he wants it.

“Keep ‘em on all day. I’d better come home and find this still on my pussy.”

“You will, sir” you nodded obediently. Your pussy tingles at his touch, anxious for more.

He gives you one more kiss to let you go and slaps your ass as you turn to walk to the door. With your pussy beyond soaked, your wetness mixes with his cum and trickle down your inner thighs. It makes your walk a little difficult as you pray it doesn’t drip out.

You make your way out of the lab and walk towards the elevator, hoping no one will notice. You feel a few pairs of eyes on you. Whether they know or not, you can’t be sure. So, you just smile shyly at them and keep your gaze down.

Quentin watches you step into the elevator from the lab. Finally sitting back at his station, he lifts a thin tablet from his desk and presses an icon.

The drone, which is controlled by the tablet, reveals itself as it deactivates its cloaking device. Now fully visible, he lands it on the table to deactivate the drone entirely.

Quin leans back in his chair with a mischievous grin as he raises the tablet. Pressing a few more icons on the touchscreen tablet, he smirks grimly as he watches the previous recording saved on the device. With the touch of a button, he expands the video into holograph mode.

His technology finally worked.

The holograph shows you with your cunt fully exposed, being fucked by him on the table. He rewinds it to watch it from the start, laughing to himself proudly.

“Thank you, princess.”

[testing-services]

The Role of Marble Testing Labs in Warranty and Quality Assurance

Marble remains one of the most sought-after natural stones for construction and interior decoration due to its timeless beauty, durability, and elegance. From luxurious flooring to stunning countertops and intricate wall cladding, marble adds value and sophistication to any space. However, to maintain this high standard of quality and ensure customer satisfaction, it’s crucial to validate the durability and performance of marble through rigorous testing.

This is where Marble Testing Lab play a vital role in warranty and quality assurance. These labs provide the scientific backing necessary for manufacturers, suppliers, contractors, and clients to guarantee the stone’s performance throughout its lifespan. In this blog, we explore how marble testing labs contribute to warranty enforcement and uphold stringent quality assurance in the marble industry.

Why Quality Assurance Matters in Marble Products

Quality assurance (QA) is the backbone of the marble industry’s credibility. Marble is a significant investment for both residential and commercial projects, and customers expect their marble installations to last for decades without losing their aesthetic or structural integrity.

Material Consistency: Natural stone varies in quality, color, texture, and strength. QA processes ensure that the marble meets the specified standards and is free from defects.

Performance Verification: Durability against wear, weathering, staining, and impact is critical. QA testing verifies these performance aspects scientifically.

Customer Trust: A trusted QA process reassures clients about the stone’s longevity and reduces the risk of disputes.

Regulatory Compliance: Marble used in construction often needs to comply with local and international building codes and standards.

How Marble Testing Labs Support Quality Assurance

Marble testing labs are equipped with advanced technology and expertise to evaluate a wide range of physical and chemical properties of marble, ensuring that every batch meets the expected quality criteria.

1. Comprehensive Material Testing

Marble testing labs conduct multiple tests that analyze:

Compressive Strength: Measures the marble’s ability to withstand heavy loads without crushing.

Flexural Strength: Determines resistance to bending and breaking under pressure.

Water Absorption: Evaluates porosity and susceptibility to water damage and staining.

Impact Resistance: Tests the ability to absorb sudden shocks without cracking.

Abrasion Resistance: Measures wear resistance, crucial for flooring applications.

Chemical Composition: Identifies mineral content and potential impurities.

Thermal Shock Resistance: Assesses marble’s ability to withstand temperature fluctuations.

Each of these tests contributes to a comprehensive profile of the marble’s quality and suitability for specific applications.

2. Standardization and Compliance

Certified marble testing labs follow internationally recognized standards such as ASTM (American Society for Testing and Materials) or ISO (International Organization for Standardization) guidelines. This adherence ensures:

Accurate and consistent testing methods

Reliable and repeatable results

Compliance with global and regional construction standards

This level of standardization is essential for manufacturers and clients seeking certified quality assurance.

The Link Between Marble Testing Labs and Warranty

When a supplier or manufacturer offers a warranty on marble products, they are essentially guaranteeing that the stone will perform as promised for a specific period. But how can they confidently provide such guarantees?

1. Objective Evidence of Quality

The testing and certification reports provided by marble testing labs serve as objective evidence that the marble meets or exceeds quality criteria. This scientific backing is fundamental when:

Issuing warranties to clients

Settling warranty claims

Differentiating premium products in the market

2. Risk Mitigation

By rigorously testing the marble before shipment or installation, suppliers reduce the risk of warranty failures such as cracking, excessive staining, or premature wear. Early detection of material defects or subpar quality prevents costly replacements and reputational damage.

3. Dispute Resolution

In case of warranty disputes, independent test reports from accredited marble testing labs provide an authoritative reference point. They help identify whether the damage results from material failure or external factors such as improper installation or maintenance.

Quality Assurance Process Supported by Marble Testing Labs

A typical QA workflow involving marble testing labs includes the following steps:

Step 1: Sample Collection and Preparation

Representative samples from a marble batch or quarry are collected and prepared following standard protocols to ensure uniformity and fairness in testing.

Step 2: Laboratory Testing

Samples undergo detailed testing covering mechanical, physical, and chemical properties as outlined earlier. This comprehensive analysis ensures a full understanding of the material’s strengths and limitations.

Step 3: Data Analysis and Reporting

The lab prepares a detailed test report highlighting:

Test methods used

Measured values against benchmark standards

Interpretation of results with recommendations

Step 4: Quality Certification

If the marble meets the required standards, the lab issues a quality certification. This certificate is essential documentation for suppliers and contractors when providing warranties to end-users.

Step 5: Continuous Quality Monitoring

For ongoing supply chains, periodic testing ensures consistent quality, enabling manufacturers to maintain a reliable product line.

Benefits of Partnering with a Certified Marble Testing Lab

Enhanced Product Credibility: Certification from an accredited lab boosts buyer confidence.

Improved Market Competitiveness: High-quality validated products are easier to market and command better prices.

Legal Protection: Testing documentation helps manufacturers and suppliers comply with legal and contractual obligations.

Informed Decision-Making: Designers and builders can select marble types best suited for their projects based on reliable test data.

Customer Satisfaction: Quality assurance reduces defects and failures, enhancing client satisfaction and reducing warranty claims.

Selecting the Right Marble Testing Lab

Not all labs offer the same level of service or credibility. When choosing a marble testing lab, consider:

Accreditation Status: Look for ISO 17025 or equivalent certification ensuring technical competence.

Testing Capabilities: Verify the range of tests offered matches your quality assurance needs.

Turnaround Time: Efficient labs provide timely results critical for project schedules.

Expertise and Experience: Experienced labs provide detailed insights and consultation.

Reputation: Choose labs with a proven track record in the marble and natural stone industry.

Conclusion

The role of marble testing labs in warranty and quality assurance cannot be overstated. These labs provide the scientific foundation to assess and certify the strength, durability, and overall quality of marble materials. Their rigorous testing protocols and detailed reports enable manufacturers and suppliers to confidently offer warranties, mitigate risks, and maintain consistent quality in their products.

For buyers, designers, and contractors, working with marble backed by certified testing means fewer surprises, enhanced safety, and long-lasting beauty. In the competitive and quality-driven marble industry, partnering with a trusted marble testing lab is not just a value-add — it’s essential for sustainable success.

[suzukiblu]

WIP excerpt for Jan behind the cut; the one where Kon’s soulmark isn’t fake. (( chrono || non-chrono ))

“Sorry,” he tries, which probably just makes him sound like an idiot. Like he’s just–fucking stupid or whatever. 

He really did fuck up today. 

Again. 

“‘Sorry’?” Superman repeats, looking–weird, a little, and still frowning. Superboy feels stupid and useless and fucking embarrassed, and just shrugs uncomfortably and pretends to be looking at, like–the cars way down below on the street, or the people, or . . . just whatever isn’t Superman, he guesses. 

Whatever doesn’t make him feel just as fake as his stupid soulmark is. 

“I dunno,” he says to the street way down below, booking at just whatever’s down there. “I did a shitty job and fucked up again. I didn’t like–mean to, or whatever. Obviously. Like, very obviously I did not mean to fuck up like that.” 

“No one got hurt,” Superman says. Superboy resists the self-conscious urge to hunch in on himself and hide. Like–he didn’t get hurt. Just–he’s sore and whatever and a little scorched and bruised under the jacket, probably, but . . . yeah. Whatever. 

Nobody important got hurt, so it’s whatever. 

“Yeah, but the bank still got all fucked up,” he says. “I broke, like, their stupid fancy frou-frou marble floor or whatever. And, uh–some of the counters and furniture and stuff. And a couple . . . pillars, and . . . yeah. Anyway. The managers were pretty pissed.” 

Obviously. 

Superman sighs, and Superboy tries not to cringe. Like, at least not visibly, if nothing else. 

“Kid–yes, it’s better not to cause unnecessary property damage, but in an entire bank’s worth of a hostage situation, all you need to care about is keeping the people undamaged,” Superman says. “The managers were probably just rattled and lashing out at a safe target over something they felt like they could control. They wouldn’t have expected you to have worried about the floors in a situation like that if they were thinking clearly.” 

Yeah they would’ve, ‘cuz they’re used to YOU, Superboy doesn’t say, because it’d just be a stupid excuse anyway. But the stupid floor wouldn’t even have gotten scuffed if it’d been Superman in that bank, and that’s what everybody’s used to. 

But he’ll never be Superman if he can’t fucking handle even one lousy mess of a bank robbery without making stupid excuses about it. 

“I just fucked up. I’ll do better next time,” he says instead, because he doesn’t wanna come off like he is making excuses or like he can’t do the job, and Superman frowns. So like–not a great sign, that. 

“You haven’t even been doing this that long,” Superman says, still frowning. “And no reasonable person could expect you to be perfect.” 

So . . . Superman doesn’t expect him to measure up to him, Superboy translates in his head, and–like, obviously he doesn’t, but it’s still fucking embarrassing when the guy just says it like that. Just–he’ll do better next time, he tells himself. He’ll be better next time. Prove he deserves the “S” and the name “Superboy” and–and all that shit. 

But he told himself that last time he fucked up too, so clearly that’s only working out so well for him. 

“I’ll do better next time,” Superboy repeats, because he doesn’t know what else to say, and then glances back down at the street again. Everybody down there’s so tiny, and Superman’s right next to him and filling up the whole damn world, kind of, and . . . 

And Clark Kent is a real person with a real mark, and it probably looks just like the fake one Superboy’s wearing. 

But, like, that’s not even anything he’s allowed to complain about. 

He could be locked up in a lab right now. He could be a test subject or an experiment or just a dead body to be dissected and analyzed and– 

Like, that’s what he’ll be whenever he finally fucks up enough to get himself killed, obviously. But he isn’t that yet. 

So like–it’s fucking stupid and shitty, if he complains about what he’s got now. 

“Kid . . .” Superman says slowly, his frown deepening, and Superboy just feels like such a fucking waste of a not-person and hates all the weird, self-pitying thoughts that’re filling up his head right now. He’s Superboy. He’s not–he doesn’t have a reason to feel so fucking shitty about himself or . . . or whatever. 

Just because he’s not a real person and he made a mess stopping a bank robbery and he met Superman’s soulmate.

[best-testing-lab-uae]

Why Marble Testing is Essential for Construction Projects in the UAE? | +971 554747210

Marble is one of the most sought-after materials in the UAE’s construction industry. Known for its aesthetic appeal, durability, and versatility, it is widely used in flooring, cladding, countertops, and decorative elements. However, not all marble is created equal, and variations in quality can impact the longevity and safety of construction projects. This is where a Marble Testing Laboratory plays a crucial role.

In this blog, we will explore why marble testing is essential for construction projects in the UAE, the key tests conducted in Marble Testing Laboratories, and how they help ensure compliance with safety and quality standards.

1. The Role of Marble in UAE Construction

Marble has long been a preferred material for both residential and commercial buildings in the UAE. Some of the main reasons include:

Aesthetic Appeal: Marble enhances the luxury and elegance of interiors and exteriors.

Durability: High-quality marble withstands wear and tear, making it ideal for high-traffic areas.

Heat Resistance: Given the UAE’s extreme temperatures, marble is a preferred choice due to its heat-resistant properties.

Property Value Enhancement: The use of premium marble increases the value of real estate properties.

Despite these advantages, marble must undergo thorough testing to ensure that it meets construction standards and remains durable under different environmental conditions.

2. Why Marble Testing is Necessary

A. Ensuring Structural Integrity

Marble used in buildings must be able to withstand various loads and environmental conditions. Weak or defective marble can lead to:

Cracking and chipping

Water damage and mold formation

Reduced load-bearing capacity

Accelerated deterioration over time

By conducting mechanical strength tests, Marble Testing Laboratories assess whether the stone is suitable for specific construction applications.

B. Preventing Water Absorption Issues

Marble is naturally porous, and if it absorbs excessive moisture, it can:

Weaken over time

Develop stains and discoloration

Support mold and mildew growth

Lead to surface degradation

Water absorption tests help determine the porosity of marble and ensure that it is suitable for the UAE’s humid conditions.

C. Enhancing Safety in Public and Commercial Spaces

In high-traffic areas such as hotels, malls, and office buildings, marble floors must be slip-resistant to prevent accidents. Slip resistance tests are conducted to ensure compliance with safety standards, reducing the risk of slips and falls.

D. Compliance with UAE and International Standards

Construction materials, including marble, must meet stringent Dubai Municipality and international standards such as:

ASTM International (American Society for Testing and Materials)

BS (British Standards) for marble cladding and flooring

ISO 17025 for laboratory testing and calibration

Testing ensures that marble used in construction meets these regulations, preventing potential legal and safety issues.

3. Key Tests Conducted in UAE Marble Testing Laboratories

A. Physical Tests

1. Density and Porosity Test

Determines the density and compactness of the marble.

Identifies how much moisture the stone can absorb.

Helps in selecting marble suitable for outdoor and humid environments.

2. Water Absorption Test

Measures the percentage of water the marble can absorb.

Ensures durability in wet conditions, preventing early deterioration.

3. Slip Resistance Test

Assesses the frictional properties of marble surfaces.

Essential for flooring applications in public and high-traffic areas.

B. Mechanical Tests

4. Compressive Strength Test

Determines the load-bearing capacity of marble.

Critical for structural applications like columns and flooring in commercial buildings.

5. Flexural Strength Test

Assesses how marble withstands bending forces.

Important for countertops, wall panels, and flooring installations.

6. Impact Resistance Test

Evaluates marble’s ability to withstand sudden impact.

Prevents breakage in areas prone to heavy usage.

C. Chemical Tests

7. Acid Resistance Test

Determines how marble reacts to acidic substances like lemon juice and vinegar.

Essential for marble used in kitchens and outdoor applications.

8. Alkali Resistance Test

Tests marble’s resistance to alkaline cleaning agents.

Ensures the stone remains intact under maintenance conditions.

D. Durability and Weather Resistance Tests

9. Thermal Resistance Test

Simulates exposure to extreme temperatures.

Ensures marble maintains its integrity under the UAE’s intense heat.

10. Abrasion Resistance Test

Measures how well marble withstands wear over time.

Important for flooring applications in commercial and public spaces.

4. Benefits of Using a Certified Marble Testing Laboratory

A. Improved Construction Quality

By selecting tested marble, builders and developers can ensure:

Longer lifespan of marble installations

Resistance to wear and environmental damage

Aesthetic appeal that lasts

B. Cost Savings in the Long Run

Investing in quality-tested marble reduces:

Repair and replacement costs

Maintenance expenses due to staining or cracking

Liability costs due to safety hazards

C. Increased Property Value

High-quality marble enhances real estate value, making properties more attractive to buyers and investors.

D. Environmental Compliance

Marble testing ensures that the stone meets eco-friendly and sustainable construction requirements, reducing waste and environmental impact.

5. Choosing the Right Marble Testing Laboratory in the UAE

When selecting a Marble Testing Laboratory, consider the following factors:

Accreditation: Ensure the laboratory is ISO 17025 certified.

Range of Testing Services: Choose a lab that offers comprehensive physical, mechanical, and chemical testing.

Experience and Reputation: Look for a well-established lab with experience in the UAE’s construction sector.

Advanced Equipment: Modern testing equipment ensures more accurate and reliable results.

Quick Turnaround Time: A reliable laboratory provides timely reports, preventing project delays.

Conclusion

Marble is a valuable material in the UAE’s construction industry, but its quality must be tested to ensure durability, safety, and compliance with industry standards. Marble Testing Laboratories play a crucial role in identifying defects, ensuring structural integrity, and preventing costly repairs or failures.

By conducting a range of physical, mechanical, and chemical tests, these laboratories help builders, architects, and developers select the best marble for their projects. Whether for high-rise buildings, luxury homes, or commercial spaces, investing in marble testing ensures long-lasting, safe, and aesthetically superior construction materials.

[tenderwatches]

summary: jayce is a lush!!! it's a party!!

Viktor’s right knee had started protesting long ago from an extensive time standing on the polished marble floors, and he’s counting the minutes until it becomes acceptable for him to make his excuses and leave. Two hours. Jayce promised they would only endure two hours of this, but of course the time had dragged on painfully. That this grand ballroom has barely a place to sit aside from the formal dining tables and a few scant benches doesn’t help in the least.

He’s never made a habit of going to these lofty events for this precise reason, amongst others, but he’s landed himself in the great misfortune of having to stall one of the most powerful merchant clans’ pet projects. At least the columns (non-load-bearing, he notes) offer something to lean against, though doing so marks him as potentially weak in a pool full of predators.

“Viktor, it’s… wonderful to see you back.”

Boswell Holloran’s saccharine greeting has Viktor clenching his jaw, a muscle twitching near his temple. There are few things Viktor finds more distasteful than blatantly lying through one’s teeth. He does his best to tame his disgust into a thin-lipped smile, fingers cold as they grip the handle of his crutch. “How kind of you to say.”

Holloran waddles closer and leans in as if sharing a tantalising secret. “Though I confess, it’s surprising to see you here. Thought they’d keep you more… contained to the lab.”

The implication lands with less impact than Holloran intends—it isn’t as though allowing Viktor to stay in the lab hasn’t always been their plan. Jayce is their public face, their silken words, their fingers rolling golden hexes across his knuckles. He’s the smile that has captured a thousand hearts, the confidence that has opened an equal number of wallets.

“The Council expressed a desire for both of us to be here tonight.” Unfortunately, their lack of progress on the synthetic hex crystals over the past few months has earned them enough ire that the council members mandated they both appear in order to make amends. Jayce is currently engaged in one such unpleasant effort with Councillor Salo, and this is Viktor making himself available to share technical details with anyone who feigns interest. “I’m happy to oblige.” He doesn’t bother trying to sound happy.

A guffaw bursts from Holloran as he straightens up, grinning as if one of them has told a horribly funny joke. “Just as well they keep you away from any testing!”

Viktor blinks and disguises his curse as a cough. He’s had his suspicions that the nature of the ethics complaint and its delayed reversal have made their way around Piltover’s circles, but he hadn’t expected someone to make a snide reference to it at what should have been the Clan Ferros’s production opening celebration. Of course, without a viable means of stabilising and using the synthetic hex crystals, there’s not yet a need to open a facility, so the celebration has turned into something closer to a series of gladiator fights between guests who trade underhanded comments whilst trying to wheedle useful information out of their opponents.

“Viktor!”

Who at this hellish, forsaken event—

Viktor turns to see Caitlyn Kiramman with a hand in the air for his attention as she fixes him and his companion in her direct path. She approaches with such speed he’s not yet managed to collect himself enough to return her greeting, though it’s not needed. She swiftly loops her arm in his, addresses Boswell Holloran, makes their excuses in the same breath, and half-drags him to the refuge of a bench next to a large, leafy plant. “Sorry to be so forward,” she gasps, releasing him to allow him to sit. She takes the seat next to him with a sheepish smile.

“It’s alright,” he responds with a wave of dismissal. “I can appreciate a finely executed rescue for what it is.” As far as Piltover’s elite go, Caitlyn Kiramman is… redeemable. Jayce has always said she has a good heart, and Viktor recognises she has an earnest compassion that she deploys heedless of a person’s background. It reminds him of Jayce.

She cracks a grin and scans the room until her eyes land on their mutual friend, who is now trapped with Camille Ferros in addition to Salo. Caitlyn breathes a short sigh of either relief at their escape or pained sympathy at Jayce’s predicament. Maybe it’s both. “I’d try for him, too, but…” She shrugs. Their flight from Holloran has brought them nearer to Jayce, and Viktor can just make out the warm tones of his former partner’s voice if he listens for it. He concentrates on Caitlyn instead. “And Jayce can handle himself,” she continues. “You know he threw Holloran into a champagne tower last year? Or was it the year before that—”

Viktor chokes on a cough. “He what?”

“Oh, he didn’t—of course, right. He didn’t tell you.” The young woman has enough self-awareness to look a bit cowed at having let this slip, but her chagrin soon loses to her amusement. “Well, he did.”

They sit stock still for a second before making eye contact. Then, Viktor chokes again, but this time, it’s because he’s laughing. “What reason did he have to do that?”

Her smile lingers as she shifts her weight forward, heels of her palms against the edge of the bench. “I didn’t ask. I was too busy hauling him upstairs to keep Mother from making a scene in the middle of everything.” Her blue eyes sparkle at the memory. “Anyways. Didn’t think we needed to repeat that, so.” She makes a vague gesture in Viktor’s direction.

“I see.” Truthfully, he doesn’t. He makes a mental note to ask Jayce about this champagne tower incident later.

They sit for a little while, Caitlyn surveying the crowd and Viktor catching his breath before she muses, “Camille Ferros looks like a sort of… beautiful… piranha.”

His expression turns to one of cautious curiosity. No one makes any indication of having overheard Caitlyn Kiramman compare the primary intelligencer of Clan Ferros to a fish—a predator, but a fish nonetheless.

“Actually a very apt description.”

Camille is the subject of many an Undercity child’s nightmares, with her blades for legs and a smile sharpened by cutting throats. “Miss Kiramman,” he starts, sparing a glance towards Jayce and his company again before he’s satisfied they haven’t even noticed him and Caitlyn sitting metres away. “Has Jayce mentioned anything about…” He pauses to consider his phrasing, “the Undercity to you?”

She catches his caution belying a secondary meaning, and her wary expression mirrors his own. “We talked a little when he came by the other day. Why?”

“Oh, we thought you might have heard about the Ferros Clan’s latest… venture.” Viktor holds her gaze, unblinking. “Innovative group. Shame we could not crack their crystals for tonight.” She gives the smallest nod. He appreciates her grasp of subtlety, especially with the subject of discussion so close at hand. “We’ve made progress, though, should you like to come by the lab.”

“I would like that.” Caitlyn’s smile turns sharp. “Though I imagine my duties might keep me… otherwise occupied in the coming weeks.” She stands, smoothing her dress with practiced grace. “I should see if my mother has arrived, but can I get you a drink before I go? You look like you could use one.”

Viktor almost turns her down—alcohol dulls the mind, and he needs his wits about him tonight. His leg, however, throbs in time with his pulse, and even this brief rest has only shifted the pain from his back to his hip. The rest of the evening stretches endlessly before him, even with Jayce’s promise of an early departure. It’s uncertain how quickly Jayce will be able to disentangle himself from his company. Mel Medarda now approaches Jayce’s group, parting the crowd with effortless grace. “Something light,” he concedes, rubbing the bridge of his nose. “Thank you.”

Viktor spots Boswell Holloran looking their way again as Caitlyn departs, and the thought that they’ve managed to somehow retain his attention makes him especially weary. Viktor closes his eyes for what feels like the briefest of seconds before Caitlyn returns. “I asked them for a spritzer,” she says, pressing a lime-garnished glass into his hand. “But it’s always nice to have something in hand at these things.”

Her thoughtfulness catches him off-guard. He accepts the glass with a grateful nod, and the sip he takes from it proves refreshing. He’s quite parched, he realises then. It takes some self-control to not drink the whole thing down like water. “Thank you.”

She nods, her voice light but serious as she responds, “Try not to throw anyone into any champagne towers tonight—and do be careful with your… research.”

He gives her a quiet smile, and she touches his shoulder with an encouraging hand—a gesture so reminiscent of Jayce that Viktor takes another drink to dull the recognition. He’s wary of how easily he spots these traces of Jayce, how it might lead him to misplace his trust again. But given the delicate situation, there are worse allies than Caitlyn Kiramman and her Undercity ties.

The enforcer weaves through the crowd, pausing only to exchange pleasantries with exactly the right people before she disappears through a side door. Her exit goes especially unremarked, given her standing. Well played.

Viktor settles back against the wall, wincing as he shifts his weight into a position that allows him to observe both Jayce’s ongoing political theatre and the rest of the room’s carefully orchestrated chaos. The ballroom itself is a study in Piltovan excess, crystal chandeliers catching light like captured stars, its occupants dressed in clothes worth more than he might have made in a year in the Undercity.

The thought sours him, not for want of money, but because his living would have been a good one, which says more than enough about the state of the fissure folk. Maybe it’s this mood that allows him to vanish into the environment, worth no more note than the potted plant beside him. He’s grateful for the release.

After a while of nursing his drink and watching the societal battlefield before him shift and evolve, he turns his attention, once more, to his former partner. Through the crowd’s shifting currents, he catches fragments of Jayce’s careful deflections. The scientist-socialite has mastered this dance over the years—a self-deprecating laugh here, a strategic compliment there, always steering the conversation just shy of actual commitments.

“Councillor Salo raises an excellent point about production timelines,” Jayce is saying, somehow making his worried frown appear thoughtful instead. “Though of course, rushing the stabilisation process could have… unfortunate consequences.”

There’s a telling sound of metal on tile as Camille Ferros takes two steps closer. “Unfortunate for whom, exactly?”

“For everyone involved in production, naturally.” Jayce’s smile doesn’t waver. It’s a good thing Camille is wearing a long dress, or the sight of lethal blades might not make his confidence so easy. “The safety of Piltover’s workers must be our primary concern.”

Viktor recognises Jayce’s use of ‘Piltover’s workers’, despite their suspicions of a Ferros plant in the Undercity. Not only does the phrase make it appear Jayce is none the wiser to Clan Ferros’s movements, it serves as an understated reminder the citizens of the Undercity are still, technically, Piltovan. It’s clever. Of the two of them, Jayce has always been better at this game of doublespeak and sleight of hand.

But Viktor can see the subtle tells of Jayce’s growing frustration: his toothy smile, the slight bounce in his stance that speaks to his barely contained restless energy, and the way he keeps accepting drinks. Councillor Medarda has successfully joined the fray now, and Viktor is unexpectedly relieved to see her at Jayce’s side. The careful distance he observed between them when he saw them last remains. Yet even the way she positions herself, slightly behind Jayce but angled to catch his eye, speaks to years of practiced influence. When she touches Jayce’s arm, it’s a calculated gesture that reminds everyone of what she and Jayce accomplished together, changing the paradigm around the use of magic so he and Jayce could realise their Hextech dreams.

She was instrumental in their early days, spearheading the cultural shift that had Piltover embracing Hextech when the city had originally been founded as a refuge from the Rune Wars. As useful and profitable as Hextech is, Viktor doubts that it would have amassed the monumental support it had so quickly if it weren’t for her.

Mel catches Viktor assessing them from across the room. When their eyes meet, he doesn’t look away. He’s never been intimidated by Mel Medarda, which, he imagines, has frustrated her in the past. Now, something akin to recognition passes between them. Understanding. She carries a certain precarious weight; he’s seen it before in others who have needed to craft themselves into instruments that both persuade and maim.

The two of them are outsiders in Piltover. For him, topside eyes fail to see anything other than a leech affixed to Jayce’s coattails. And despite her wealth, the power, and the influence she’s cultivated, they will never accept that she truly has the city’s best interests at heart. She turns back to the conversation, deftly steering it to a close with such skill that Councillor Salo almost kisses Jayce’s hand in addition to hers when they part.

Mel has always been artful in her approach, all warm smiles exuding confidence, guiding movements like an orchestral conductor. All the while, everyone leaves satisfied, feeling they’ve drawn their own conclusions. She is weakened by neither pride nor ego to tell them otherwise. Now that he has distance from her attempts to use her skills on him, he has to respect her prowess.

Viktor watches as the small group disperses, Mel and Jayce heading towards him with her hand light but firm at Jayce’s elbow. She navigates the crowd with a practiced ease that betrays nothing, and it’s not until she releases his arm upon arrival that Viktor notices Jayce swaying slightly as he beams down at him.

“I believe this belongs to you,” Mel says in lieu of a greeting.

Viktor arches an eyebrow. “I wasn’t aware he belonged to anyone.”

“Oh, you know what I mean,” she counters with a light air that reveals her fondness, even under the exasperation in her voice. “Someone needs to see him home safely.”

“I’m right here,” Jayce protests, though he’s already leaning slightly towards Viktor on the bench. “And perfectly capable of—”

“Of course you are,” Mel interrupts, smiling as she takes Jayce’s hand. “And I’m sure Viktor agrees you’re very capable. But let him help you, for a change, hm?” She meets Viktor’s eyes; her statement stings like a barb and yet feels like a hand offered in solidarity. She bids them farewell, and Viktor watches her go, mulling over the oddity of being approached tonight by the only other two people he would consider Jayce close to.

When he turns back, Jayce has claimed the space Caitlyn once occupied, close enough that Viktor can feel heat radiating from him. His cheeks are flushed, pupils dark save for a thin ring of gold and the reflection of crystalline starlight.

“I’m so sorry,” Jayce says in a rush, running a hand through his hair. “I didn’t mean to leave you—”

“I know. You were very soundly swept away,” Viktor excuses, finishing his drink and handing it off to a passing attendant. “Besides, it gave me the opportunity to speak to Miss Kiramman.”

Jayce lights up at the mention. “Oh, good—you saw her. I meant to say ‘hi’, where’d she go?”

“She had things to take care of, I believe.” Viktor leans forward, testing his grip against his crutch. He hates these slick floors; getting up without slipping on them is always a tenuous affair. He pauses when Jayce’s large hand enters his periphery. “I can—” he starts to object, but Jayce’s unguarded expression, so close to pleading, pulls a reluctant sigh of assent from him. “Fine. Thank you.” He takes the offered hand in his free one, allowing the man to brace his other side as he rises.

Once he’s standing, Jayce seems uncertain of what to do. Viktor recalls Mel’s hand at his elbow, a subtle, steadying force. With an experimental hesitance, he offers a crooked arm to his former partner. Relief washes over the man’s face as he takes the cue, and together, they make their way from the room under the impression that, once again, Jayce Talis has to mind his feeble lab partner instead of continuing to dance the waltz of councillors, merchants, and investors.

This particular tactic has never bothered him, truthfully; it has often served as a helpful obstruction to their true dynamic. It’s always been easy to turn underestimation into opportunities. They had entertained using this tactic in the early days of Hextech but ultimately decided it was for the best Viktor stay in the lab to further their work whilst Jayce secured the means to do it.

It was a relief, at first, to have someone else to manage the public comings and goings, keeping the press up-to-date about Hextech projects and funders. After Jayce had been appointed to the Council, though, his responsibilities grew insurmountably. Viktor perhaps should have allowed the other man to lean on him then, to at least grant him an audience to his frustrations, and yet Viktor had closed Jayce off.

We didn’t have time for that nonsense, he chastises himself. The year before their estrangement had been one of their more difficult ones, fraught with health scares and roadblocks. Much like now, Viktor had known he was running out of time.

As they make their way down the hall, Viktor can see concern bleeding through Jayce’s meticulously arranged exterior despite his champagne haze. “You okay? You look…”

“Like death warmed over?” Viktor glares at the grand staircase unfolding in front of them—not a mechanised lift in sight, of course. “These spectacles are hardly ever convenient.”

Jayce winces, and Viktor catches the man’s eyes darting down to his bad leg. “We could get a carriage from the service entrance,” he suggests, the upward lilt of his voice making the offer sound like a question. “The slope is gentler there.”

“And let them gossip about how you had to demean yourself for your poor Undercity ‘assistant’? I think not.” Viktor takes a steadying breath at the top of the stairs. “Though, I wouldn’t object to taking these slowly.”

After what feels like aeons longer than it should take to descend a flight of stairs, no matter how excessive, Jayce does hail one of the city’s carriages. Viktor can’t say he’s not relieved to take the weight off his leg again, even if, once again, it means he trades one pain for another. He absently rubs his hip joint until he notices Jayce watching. It may simply be his inebriated state, but Viktor feels his cheeks and neck flushing against the evening chill. He clears his throat. “What’s this Caitlyn tells me about you tossing Boswell Holloran into a tower of champagne glasses?”

Jayce groans, letting his head fall sideways against the window with a dull thud. “She told you about that?”

“Yes, though she was rather light on the details.” Viktor rubs his thumb idly over one of the golden brackets on his crutch. “She mentioned it was at one of her family’s functions, however.”

Jayce picks his head up just enough that it thuds again when he drops back into place. “Caitlyn, why?” he laments under his breath. Viktor watches the glass fog at Jayce’s sigh. “Okay, okay. He said… things. About you. That I didn’t appreciate.”

“Is that all?” Viktor thought they were far past this—when they had first launched Hextech, they’d had to get used to all kinds of snide quips and other such uncouth behaviour. “People say things about me all the time.”

“Yeah, but he said some…” Jayce waves his hand vaguely, nearly clipping Viktor’s crutch. “Particular things. And we’d just gotten you to the hospital, and I was… I was scared.” He looks stricken at this, eyes focused on some spot past Viktor’s head.

“’Gotten me to the hospital’?” Viktor questions with narrowed eyes. Caitlyn said that this happened some time last year or the year before. The last time Jayce should have been involved in any hospital stay of his should have been well before. “What do you mean?”

Jayce clenches his mouth shut, looking one step away from slamming his head straight through the window. Viktor’s hand twitches towards him, as if he might, but he just answers, “When you… collapsed. In that Undercity factory—they sent me a message. Said you were in… a ‘clinic’, but you’ve… talked about how there’s no actual medical care down there.” He opts to look down at his hands instead of Viktor, worrying his thumb over the etched face of the rune at his wrist. “I’m sorry, it wasn’t supposed to be a secret—I just thought… you’d be mad about it.” He takes a breath before looking back up at Viktor through dark eyelashes, and the look ricochets around Viktor’s ribcage. “You’re not mad, are you? Please don’t be mad.”

Viktor wants to be mad. It’s one thing for Jayce to involve himself in the affairs of his health when they’re working together, but it’s another thing entirely for Jayce to be involved when they’re supposed to be estranged. He’s furious at himself for having such bleeding sentimentality—he knows exactly how the factory foreman had gotten Jayce’s contact information—from one of Jayce’s notebooks, where it had been tucked into his bag. Where it had been every day since he’d left Piltover. He takes a deep breath. He supposes it was his fault, in the end. “Who’s ‘we’?”

Though Viktor asks the question with resignation, Jayce seems to try to disappear into the cushion of the carriage seat. “Um, Caitlyn’s… person, Vi. And… Vi’s sister.”

The silence stretches between them. Viktor can feel a headache building behind his eyes, though whether from the evening’s strain or this revelation, he’s not sure. He doesn’t know much about Violet or her sister, but he does recall leveraging his own Undercity connections when Caitlyn had asked him (through Jayce) to search for a girl called ‘Powder’. She and Violet had scoured the Undercity for weeks, accessing records of deaths, births, and incarcerations to try and find this sister. In the end, they had turned up not ‘Powder’, but a girl called ‘Jinx’ instead.

Jayce can’t seem to take the quiet any longer. “Please don’t be mad,” he repeats. He reaches across them to place a hand on Viktor’s shoulder. His warmth seeps through, despite the layers of Viktor’s evening wear, and he finds himself leaning almost imperceptibly into it before he can stop himself. It’s been long enough since anyone has touched him with the kind of earnest feeling Jayce does, and his body betrays him with its instinctive response.

“Jayce, you cannot simply keep telling me not to be mad and expect that to work.”

“I know, I know. I don’t expect it to work. It’s just… I’m hoping.” Those deep brown eyes peer anxiously at Viktor. “So… are you mad?”

In truth, he’s not mad. He’s tired. Exhausted, even. He doesn’t have the energy to be angry about this anymore, not when it happened so long ago and not when they’ve had so much between them since then. He doesn’t relish the thought of needing rescue at the hands of practical strangers, but at least it had been Jayce behind it all along. It was exactly what he had secretly wanted, what a shameful part of himself had longed for—Jayce to find him, see him, in the many months he’d been in the Undercity. The needling embarrassment is enough to shake away most of his pride. “I’m… not mad,” he admits, though quickly adds, “not happy, either—just… not mad.” He adjusts his grip on his crutch, tearing his gaze away from that soft, pleading face and focusing on the plush interior of the carriage instead. It’s velvet, of all things—very impractical. “I suppose I’m glad to not owe some unknown Undercity entity a favour, which is what I thought had happened.” Though, perhaps that would be simpler than owing Jayce—again.

“Okay. Good.” Jayce doesn’t seem to sense his inner conflict. “I mean—I would have told you. Eventually.” Jayce puts a hand on his knee—they’re close enough in the confines of the carriage that Viktor could write it off as an accident if it weren’t for the way Jayce leans his weight into his palm. “I wish we talked more, V,” he sighs, then furrows his brows together too tightly. Viktor wants to kiss the crease away. He swallows. “Should I—I’ve been calling you ‘V’… Should I stop?” Jayce asks the question as though holding it at arm’s length.

“No.” His answer surprises both of them, but if Viktor stops to think, it shouldn’t. He hasn’t corrected Jayce or complained in the time since he’s taken to using the old nickname. Relinquishing this resentment feels like admitting to a weakness he’s been fighting since he first heard Jayce say it again. It’s been so difficult to maintain the walls he’s put up. Jayce is so close. So easy to reach out and touch.

Being in Piltover has underscored what he’s known since accepting his need to return: his health is worse than ever and declining. Some days, he feels that he’s grasping for consciousness, barely remembering why he’s holding himself apart when Jayce’s warmth is right there, offering the comfort they used to share so easily. He’s so tired of spending what little energy he has on maintaining that distance.

“I think… It is alright if you call me that.”

The smile lighting Jayce’s face makes Viktor’s eyes and nose prickle with the threat of tears. It’s the same unguarded joy in Viktor’s early memories of their first Distinguished Innovator’s competition. They’d stayed up all night fine-tuning their presentation—only to forget the last gears they needed for the apparatus. Back then, everything had been so simple, just two young scientists determined to do good in the world. Their biggest crisis had been the frantic notching of gears hours before going on stage, not the tangled web of politics, economics, and unrest they face now.

“I’m glad. I like calling you ‘V’.” Jayce’s thumb draws idle circles on his knee, and Viktor feels the ache in the joint calm. He’s not interested in pursuing whether it’s his imagination. “I miss you.”

Warmth blooms in Viktor’s chest, eliciting a sharp intake of breath. A waterfall follows—Viktor flinches at the pain that inhale causes; Jayce reaches for him in alarm; the carriage comes to a halt; and Jayce nearly falls into Viktor’s lap. “I’m alright.” Viktor grabs Jayce’s forearm to both steady and assure him. The contact sends a wave of warmth through him, dangerous in its familiarity and boldness. He swallows. “Besides, this is my stop.” He opens the carriage door to the balmy summer, hoping the night air will dispel this thing between them.

“Oh.” Jayce doesn’t move his hand from Viktor’s knee. His face is tilted up, features softly resolving in moonlight and shadow on his skin, full lips parted just so. Viktor is caught between the urge to close this distance and the equally powerful need to flee.

He manages to contain himself well enough to alight from the carriage, ignoring how his chest tightens at the loss of contact. He pauses to steady himself against his crutch, his free hand poised to close the door. “Good night, Jayce.”

“Good night, V.”

It’s only after he’s inside that he begins to replay the moment in his mind. Jayce’s face, so naked with longing—or just drunk on the evening’s champagne and flattery. His former partner has always been so physical; to be within arm’s reach is to be touched by Jayce Talis, no matter who you were.

Two years of resentment, flares of fury, and heartbreak at the mere thought of him—these past months of carefully maintained distance—all undone by those patient hands, sun-kissed golden eyes, and the idea that Jayce would take him back.

Jayce isn’t as blind to the world’s workings as he was when the committee drove Viktor out. He’s seen the evidence of that with his own eyes, can hear it in the way Jayce turns things over out loud. He questions things, challenging assumptions he once took for granted simply because they were ‘the way things were’.

Is it enough? Is any of it ever enough?

Despite these questions, despite his irritation at his own weakness, his own frivolous humanity, his knee still tingles where Jayce’s hand rested.

He hadn’t watched the carriage pull away. He tells himself it’s because he was tired, not because he knew that Jayce would still be watching the door, waiting to make sure he got inside safely. He tells himself the ache in his chest is from a night of exertion, not walking away from that suspended moment, fleeting seconds lacing them together. Tells himself that he’d only felt stress, not anticipation.

Viktor has never favoured lying, even to himself. But sometimes, lies are necessary for survival.

𓊈 first chapter | previous chapter | next chapter on AO3 𓊉

AN: yeeeee thanks for reading chapter 13, 'The Choreography of Stars' from our fic Lies We Tell Ourselves!! and thank you to folks here who have commented and reblogged previous chapters!! 💖

We're way ahead on AO3 and updating tomorrow ✨ with a chapter we are EXTREMELY excited to share with y'all like seriously i am jumping up and down tearing at my leash chewing on the furniture

[mermaidgirl30]

✨Just Breathe: The Dinosaur Diaries✨

✨Part 1: Introductions✨

Series Masterlist

A/N: One of my favorite things is writing about the first time Joel and reader meet, so this is how their story starts off 💚

Chapter Summary: It’s your first day at Sauros Corporation as a research assistant, but what you don’t know is you’ll be working under one of the hottest paleontologists that you’ve ever laid eyes on. Can you keep your wits about yourself, or will you fall fast for your smooth talking boss?

Pairing: paleontologist! Joel x fem researcher! reader

Word Count: 3k

Rating: 18+

Chapter Tags: Reader starts her first day as a research assistant, feelings, Joel being a casual flirt, Joel in a lab coat and glasses, mentions of Jurassic Park, allusions to smut, eventual smut, Joel is so broad, Jurassic Park au, science terminology I had to look up

Dividers by @saradika-graphics

Your palms sweat as you enter the intimidating glass building of Sauros Corporation. One of the biggest, most well known science businesses that specializes in paleontology. What you got your master’s in. You strive to continue on to get your PhD, but first you need to get a little work experience. So that’s why you’re here in this massive corporation that might just eat you alive. 

   Your black heels click against the polished white tile as fluorescent lights reflect off the cascading glass windows. You pull at your pressed pink dress and flex your fingers around the soft cotton as nerves rush down your body. Today was the most important day of your life. A gateway to your future, your dream job that you’ve wanted for your entire life. This was it. It was finally here. 

   When you walk up to the pearlescent marble front counter, a bubbly blonde girl smiles and stands from her office chair. “Hi there. How can I help you?”

   You show her your work ID badge that you had gotten in orientation and respond, “This is my first day here. I’m here for…”

   Her eyes brighten the moment she sees your name on the shiny badge. “Oh! You’re the new research assistant. Doctor Miller has been so eager to meet you! Your interviewer, Kylie, couldn’t stop talking about you to him. He’s already spoken so highly of you. He looked at your resume and everything,” she gushes as she comes around the bright desk and smoothes her pencil skirt down. 

   “He’s talked about me? Who is Doctor Miller?” you ask as you knit your eyebrows together and step back as she passes in front of you. You knew of Doctor Kepler, who you thought you’d be working under. But Doctor Miller? You never heard of him before, at least you don’t think.

   “He’s who you’ll be working under,” she smiles warmly as she nods her head and signals for you to follow behind as her blonde hair bounces down her shoulders. “He’s our best scientist in the department, I’m sure you’ll love him.”

   “How long has he been working here?” you ask as you pass through the lavish halls that are covered in glass framed pictures of dinosaur bones and biology cells. 

   “Over five years, he’s the best of the best. If you want to be a great scientist then he’s the perfect one to practice under. And you’re so lucky,” she beams as she looks back at you with big crimson lips.

   “Why’s that?” you laugh as the click of heels echo down the lit up halls.

   “Because,” she stops before entering the pad locked doors where only authorized personnel can get through, “he’s ridiculously good looking, but don’t tell him I said that.” She winks at you before turning to the glowing padlock.

   Just what were you getting yourself into? Doctor Miller? Was he really all she talked him up to be? And was he really impressed by your resume and talks of your interview? Guess you’d find out. 

   She scans her badge and with a click of the door, they part open as she pushes herself through the strong metal doors. Your eyes scan over the expansive lab as your breath hitches in your throat. The lab is absolutely enormous. Colorful test tubes fill various racks on the metal shelves along the cream colored walls. Microscopes line the tables that fill the center of the room. Petri dishes with different organisms in them sit in glass refrigerators, sturdy dinosaur bones sit displayed in glass cases, and expensive scientific materials cover the room. It’s all intimidating as you step through your new work space. 

   “Right over here,” she smiles as she leads you to the middle of the room where two men stand around a fluorescence microscope. 

   Your eyes peel over the tall man that adjusts the lense while he talks confidently to his coworker. You listen as his deep voice carries through the room. “There we go. Think I got it just right this time. The edges are perfect, can actually see the cementum where those tiny black dots are. Fascinatin’,” he says in awe as he adjusts the microscope lense again to get a better look. 

   You study the man in front of you, watching the way his broad shoulders shift everytime he moves his arms. The white lab coat seems to cling to large muscles. He’s so very large and tall, very tall. Standing just above six feet. And his hands. Big, thick hands of a paleontologist for sure. 

   Just when you start to get lost in his words, the girl who had brought you back into the room interrupts their conversation. She clears her voice and steps forward as platinum blonde hair swishes behind her shoulders. “Doctor Miller? Sorry to interrupt, but there’s someone here to meet you.”

   He turns quickly and adjusts his thick, rimmed glasses against his curved nose and smiles gently. You suck in a breath when you see his face, his smile, his eyes. He’s so gorgeous that you think you might fall over and knock a bunch of expensive lab equipment over. 

   He has the most beautiful chocolate brown eyes that you’ve ever seen before. His hair is tousled, curls spilling onto his forehead, dark brown with strings of grey twisting around each strand. His facial hair looks soft to the touch, salt-and-pepper scruff patching along his sharp jawline. And his smile. God, his smile. It’s so gentle and bright that it lights a fire inside your core. And he’s so broad. Strong muscles pulling against the white lab coat that clings to tanned skin. He’s the hottest scientist you’ve ever seen in your life, and you’re working under him?!

   “Oh, you must be my new research assistant, yeah?” he asks as he smiles gently and says your name, pushing himself off the metal table as he starts making his way over to you. You feel like you’re about to topple over at any moment. 

   “That’s me,” you say shyly as you push a lock of hair behind your ear, a nervous habit you wish you wouldn’t do. 

   “Well, so nice to meet you,” he drawls, a Southern accent that rings through your ears like a sweet melody that was made just for you. He sticks his arm out and opens his palm for you to take. You automatically reach out to shake his hand, your own hand shaking as you’re completely intimidated by the hot scientist that stands in front of you. 

   When he clasps his fingers over yours and squeezes, you gulp as you look up into beautiful honey glazed eyes. Eyes that you could wade in and get lost in. His hands are so big, calloused fingers grazing against yours as you feel nerves pulling at every fiber in your body. He probably does a lot with those hands. Hands of an experienced, successful, gorgeous paleontologist. 

   “It’s nice to meet you, too, Doctor Miller,” you say in a daze.

   “Jus’ Joel is fine. You don’t have to call me Doctor Miller, unless you want to,” he mutters softly. 

   “Oh okay, Joel…” you answer barely above a whisper, your palm sweating from how close he is. 

   He lets his hand linger in yours for a few seconds too long, and you swear he’s staring deep into your eyes as you see the glint of a sparkle flash in the flecks of light brown. When he releases his grip, he runs a hand slowly through his tousled, thick curls and just for that moment you wonder what it’d be like to be underneath his large body, running your own fingers through messy, soft curls…

   “I took a look at your resume the other day. I was quite impressed by what I saw.”

   Your eyes go a little wide at what he just said. “Impressed? Of me?” you ask, floored by the obvious compliment. He was impressed with you? 

   “Mhm,” he smiles as he pulls at the sleeves of his pristine lab coat, “straight A student, top of your class? And you went to the dig site in Montana to do some research last summer? Very impressive.” 

   He stares at you a moment with one eyebrow cocked up, his eyes flicking over your figure as you swear he checks you out. Your cheeks burn red as he looks so intently at you, and it’s in that moment that you don’t know how you’ll ever work with this man. He’s so distracting, all you want to do is get lost in those syrupy brown eyes. 

   “I umm... I’m not that impressive,” you say shyly as you look nervously up at him. 

   “Oh, but you are. M’sorry if you were lookin’ forward to workin’ with Doctor Kepler, but I kinda convinced him to let me take you under my wing instead. Yours was the most impressive resume of them all, and trust me when I say I read them all.”

   “Oh.” Your eyes widen and every bone in your body stiffens as you take in what he just said. He thinks you’re smart? He wanted you to work under him. Oh, fuck. “No, I… I’m sure I’ll enjoy you just as much as I would him.” Your cheeks glow red as you turn your head when you hear him chuckling under his breath. Did you really just say that out loud? Christ. 

   “C’mere. Wanna show you somethin’.” He nods his head as a tousled curl bounces against the side of his forehead, and you follow him over to the table that has the microscope all set up with a tiny fossil underneath. 

   “Go ahead,” he says with a nod to his head, asking you to look through the ocular lense. 

   You nervously walk up and dip your head down as you close one eye and focus intently on the fossil that sits beneath the lense. You take in the yellow tint of the amber, examine each particle that makes up the masterpiece of what sits beneath you, study exactly what you think it is. 

   Joel’s honeydew voice comes out deep and raspy as it stirs you to jump in your skin. “Let me pick your brain a minute. I wanna know if you can figure out what fossil that right there is,” he says as he comes to stand right beside you. 

   His hand presses against the base of the microscope, and you feel his warm breath run down the side of your neck. You can feel his body heat reverberate against yours as you start to breathe faster. Your mind is a blur as his body weight shifts against the counter, his lab coat brushing against the side of your arm as you hold tight to the tube of the microscope. It’s so hard to focus on what’s in front of you when his large, all consuming presence is right next to you. He’s not even touching you, and you’re already all worked up, and you know your thighs are sticky from sweat. What the hell is wrong with you?

   “Hmm, let me think a minute,” you say as you try to depict what sits in front of you. You squint your eye as you try to register what sits underneath the glow of the fossil. There’s a small beak-like impression as you assess dark lines that almost looks like a hummingbird.

   “It almost looks like… wait, maybe if I can get a closer look I can see,” you murmur as you continue to assess the shiny fossil. 

   “Here, let me jus’ fix this.” His large hand comes to sit on your shoulder as he pushes you carefully away from the eyepiece. His patchy scruff brushes against the side of your cheek, and you gasp at how close he is to you. You feel tension in your shoulders as you watch him adjust the dials to the right on the lense as he carefully looks through with one eye closed. 

   You watch him with bated breath, your eyes lock on his broad figure, thick fingers brushing against the crevice of the lense. You wonder what it’d feel like to be pinned underneath those strong arms, his thick fingers exploring every inch of your sweltering skin as he consumes you with the entirety of his mouth. 

   Fuck. This man is your boss, you can’t be having wet fantasies about him. He’s off limits, it can’t happen. You need to be professional, but why is it so hard to clear your clouded mind? He’s good looking, smart, nice. That does not give you the right to fantasize about him. Get a fucking grip on yourself for Christ’s sake. Enough. 

   “Ahh there we go. Go on now, take another peek.” He places his hand gently over the small of your back and pushes you forward as your breath hitches at the hand that burns through your dress and goes straight down to your skin that’s tingling from him. 

   You shake your head and get yourself composed as you lower your head and focus back on the fossil that’s waiting for you to examine. Your eyes widen as you see so much more clearly, the bright light shining straight through the yellow glow of the fossil as you can see exactly what’s in front of you now. 

   You gasp as you realize what it is. “No way! Is that an Oculudentavis? The smallest dinosaur to ever walk the planet?” You hear him chuckle and look up to see him smiling down at you. 

   “Very good,” he smiles as he gives you another once over glance, making your heart thump loudly in your chest as his honey eyes slip over you. “Now, how did you know that?” he asks curiously as he ticks his jaw and cocks an eyebrow up.

   “I read a lot,” you shrug as you bite your lower lip. His eyes drop down to your glossy lips, and it makes you burn with need. Focus. 

   “Yeah, I’m sure ya do,” he chuckles as he leans against the table and crosses his arms over his broad chest. 

   “How old is this fossil?” you ask wondrously as your eyes flick back to the ancient fossil. 

   “Over fifty million years old,” he replies as his eyes weigh carefully on you. “Y’know, it’s not really a bird like everyone suspected it to be. It’s actually a genus of a lizard.”

   “Fascinating,” you say dreamily as you lean up against the table and bump the side of your hip as your eyes train solely on him. 

   “It came from the domain Eukaryota, and the phylum it belongs to is Chordata. Funny how the Latin words revolve around a bird when really it’s a reptile. Some scientists even argue whether it was really a dinosaur or just a large lizard. But if you wanna hear my voice on the matter, I say it was a dinosaur.” He winks at you, and you feel your cheeks flush crimson again as you slip another lock of hair behind your ear and clear your throat before you decide to be a complete puddle on the floor. 

   “Think you’re right, Doctor Miller,” you respond shakily. 

   “Jus’ Joel, darlin’.”

   Darlin’? Christ, a pet name? Or maybe it was just his Southern hospitality. But whatever it was made you weak at the knees. 

   “Joel…” you repeat, letting the name slip against your tongue as you swallow all feelings of want and desire down your throat. You are not falling for your boss. 

   “Attagirl,” he smirks. 

   Fuck. 

   “So, you want to be a real paleontologist?” he asks as his eyes flicker down to yours.

   “Mhm,” you nod as you shift your weight in your heels.

   “So tell me, how do you feel about real dinosaurs?” he asks as he shifts his weight to stand in front of you, his arms still crossed tight against the fabric of the button-up green flannel underneath his lab coat. 

   “Real dinosaurs?” you question as you knit your eyebrows together and try to decipher his question. 

   “That’s right. Real dinosaurs.” He smirks and the glisten in his chocolate coated eyes are pressing into yours like he knows something you don’t, and he’s chuckling about it in front of your face. 

   “Ummm I mean, I’m in the field trying to study them. I’d say I love them?” Your answer is hesitant as you still question him. What does he mean real dinosaurs?

   “Well, guess it’s your lucky day cause your first assignment is about Stegosauruses.”

   Your eyes shift to his as yours widen just a smidge. “What’s the assignment about?” 

   “Guess you’ll find out when we get there,” he chuckles as he adjusts his glasses and moves just enough to brush his arm against yours. You step out of the danger zone and pull yourself together instead of staring down into forearms that are filled with thick, twisting veins against tanned skin. 

   “Get where?” you ask carefully as you slide your tongue against the bottom of your teeth. 

   “To Jurassic Park. Home of the dinosaurs. Real dinosaurs,” he smirks as you see trouble brewing in those dark eyes of his. He’s going to get you into trouble with those honey eyes and sly smirk, you just know it. 

   “Real dinosaurs? But they’re… they’re extinct,” you whisper as you raise your eyebrows in question.

   “Not at Jurassic Park they’re not,” he teases as he crosses his arms again. You just stare speechless at him as you get the feeling this man would never lie to you. 

   “So, how ‘bout it? My new research partner wanna go on a little adventure with me? Promise I’ll make it worth your while,” he smirks as you taste trouble on just his words alone.

   And that’s where the adventure started, right there in his gigantic lab. Right when you saw those gorgeous brown eyes. You knew. This is where it’d all begin. 

Tags: @amyispxnk @sawymredfox @burntheedges @mountainsandmayhem @littlevenicebitch69 @vivian-pascal @pedrostories @survivingandenduring @msjarvis @syd-djarin @mothandpidgeon @eugenedream @cozylittlepigeon @marvlstark @rav3n-pascal22

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[love-archer]

More to love. . .

♡ pt.1 pt.2 pt.3 (You're here!) ♡

♡.Obey me!

♡♡.TW? SFW! Pregnancy, Fem!reader, Implied couple

♡♡♡. Two years brewing in my drafts 😵‍💫

. . . A S M O D E U S !

♡ Asmodeus, the Avatar of Lust and embodiment of beauty, isn't typically associated with family life. Your fingers trace the lab report nervously. A baby. Your baby. His baby.

♡ That’s what’s whirling in your head as you stare at the lab report in the waiting room, fingers trace the laminated papers  nervously

♡ Would he accept this slowly or would he freak out? Wait, how can you tell him? Text? Drop it in a conversation randomly? Do those cute pregnancy reveal on Deviltube?

♡ The moment you decide to tell him is during a rare quiet evening in the Devildom. Asmodeus is meticulously applying his nightly skincare routine when you enter the bathroom, lab report clutched behind your back. "Darling?" His perfectly arched eyebrow raises, sensing something different in your demeanor. You slide the report onto his marble vanity, next to bottles of expensive serums and perfumes. His eyes widen, scanning the document. Silence. Then

♡ "PREGNANT?" His shriek could shatter glass. Dramatic reaction confirmed: tears sparkling like his favorite glitter eyeshadow  he launches himself into your arms. "A BABY? MY BABY? OH MY HELL!"

♡ His brothers will definitely hear this announcement. Lucifer will probably pinch the bridge of his nose. Satan would smack his door down, "Quiet down!". Mammon will immediately start calculating potential 'baby sponsorship' schemes with his modeling sessions. ♡ Asmodeus's excitement rapidly transforms into hyper-planning mode. ♡ Within days, he's calling every demon realm's top pediatric specialist. The pediatric specialists he consults aren't just doctors - they're the crème de la crème of the Devildom medical world. He has Solomon double-check their credentials and even gets Barbatos to recommend time-tested professionals who've dealt with human-demon pregnancies. ♡ He's ordering custom designer maternity wear for you (in matching sets, naturally). The maternity wardrobe he designs is EXTENSIVE. We're talking: silk robes with delicate demon realm embroidery, stretchy but luxurious dresses that "showcase your divine glow", custom pajama sets with his sigil subtly woven into the fabric, special occasion outfits for each milestone of pregnancy, even the undergarments are designer, because "comfort and style should never be compromised!"

♡ He's set into drafting elaborate nursery designs with themes ranging to "Royal Demon": Rich crimsons and blacks, with plush velvet and his signature roses to "Paradise Garden": Soft pastels with ethereal touches, butterfly motifs, and enchanted flowers that never wilt or to "Modern Devildom": Sleek lines with pops of neon, metallic accents ♡ Speaking of the nursery, with his never-ending favors to call in, he'd corner Leviathan or rather pester...

♡ "Leviiiii~ Don't you want to be the coolest uncle?" ♡ Finally, Leviathan would agree to use his brains and the cluttering materials in the ever-dim room to make a baby mobile. He'd throw ideas like Crystal flowers that catch and reflect light like anime sparkles or Something engraved with Asmodeus' mark in hot pink or one with a mirror....perhaps? ♡ From the moment pregnancy becomes real, Asmodeus persuades yoga into your monthly schedule after days with his sweet voice tugging you off the couch to pin you in his bed, cuddling and his hands rubbing your hips, his fleeting kisses on your cheek, "My darling.......Tension isn't good for either of you. Let me take care of those muscles."

♡ His idea of prenatal yoga is pure luxury - transforms his room into a private studio with scented candles, silk cushions, and ambient lighting. "Ambiance is essential for both beauty AND wellness, darling~"

♡ Always positions himself behind you during poses, hands carefully supporting your waist. "Just like that, love. Let me guide you..." His touch is surprisingly gentle, more caring than flirtatious.

♡ Gets absolutely delighted when the baby moves during sessions. "Oh! They're already developing my sense of rhythm!" He'll pause everything just to feel the movement, pressing soft kisses to your belly.

♡ Creates a special pre-natal skincare routine for you, researching safe ingredients for hours. His bathroom counter becomes divided between his products and yours, all labeled with cute heart stickers.

♡ Insists on documenting everything. Weekly photoshoots of your growing bump, decorated with flowers and silk ribbons. Has Solomon enchant a special album that captures magical 3D memories.

♡ The first time he holds the baby, his usual perfect composure completely dissolves. Tears pool at his eyes, but for once, he doesn't care. Keeps whispering "perfect, perfect, perfect" while counting those tiny fingers and toes.

❦ © love-archer 2024, all rights reserved ❦

[vykker]

People you could meet at Vykkers Labs

D.S. - Works in Fuzzle Testing. Former groundie. Talks to himself all day. Says the fuzzles understand him and that's why he's so good with them. However, he still gets mauled on the reg.

Mocha - Works on the Expresso Vendo project with Joe and Marble. Used to be a hardcore drug addict, now just a softcore one. Annoyingly chill. Intern equivalent of handsome. Likes coloring books. Sick tribals.

Sakura - Works in the Fluoride Tanks with Amy and Aqua. Anime fan, wishes he were a Magical Girl. Wears shirts cuz he gets cold. Cries easily. REALLY tough in a fight so not worth it.

Spades - Works in Accounting. Has been the assistant to Edwina the vykker since she first started working at Vykkers Labs, & enables all her worst tendencies. Incorrigible pervert. Likes to paint. First to suggest cannibalism in survival situations.

[nardo-headcanons]

Writing Scientist Characters

this post is mainly an excuse to post a certain list of lab supplies I've made for a friend and infodump about lab work. but feel free to use this as a little resource when writing characters who are scientists and/or lab nerds. who knows, maybe it'll be of use.

General thoughts

Many people think it's a stereotype that scientist or nerd characters talk using complex technical jargon. While that is true to an extent, there actually is some kind of lab jargon. It varies across different labs and fields, but one thing they have in common is that it seeks to simplify, not the other way around.

gelelectrophoresis becomes elpho

microbiology becomes mibi

deioninized water becomes aqua dist

biochemistry becomes BC

sodium hydroxide becomes NaOH

They will probably not call a glass of water "silicon dioxide and h2o".

...and more. feel free to get creative. If you're writing in any other language than English, you can throw in one or two anglicisms as well. Also, most scientists will never gatekeep their work, and in an opposite fashion, will not shut up about it unless you make them. And no, most chemists do not know the entire periodic table by heart, only the most relevant elements. (main groups and a few commonly used metals of the subgroups) When it comes to characters doing the lab work, keep in mind that there are a lot more people involved than the scientist themself. Most scientists are more occupied with paperwork and data analysis, it is the laboratory technicians and assistants that do most of the practical work. They often have more lab experience than the scientists themselves.

Things you can have your lab nerd character do instead of making random chemicals explode

writing a lab report (and losing their mind over excel)

degreasing the glass bevel stoppers

removing the permanent marker from beakers (labeling is important)

complaining about the lack of funding of [their field] research

cleaning glassware

preparing specimen for examination

googling the most basic equations for their report

checking if the glassware and utensil collections are complete

steal single use plastic pipettes from their lab

pirating expensive textbooks

A list of laboratory supplies and utensils you can have them work with

Laboratory general (chem + bio)

Erlenmayer flasks, beakers, precision scales (3 digits), glass rods, metal spoons/spatulas, screw on glass flasks (autoclave compatible) test tubes, stopcock grease, dispensers with sanitizer and hand cream, gas burners, heating plates, eppendorf pipettes, pipette tips, Peleus pipetting aids, squirting bottles, liquid and powder funnels, incubator/drying chamber, round watch glasses, magnet stirring plates.

Microbiology Autoclave, petri dishes, agar plates, innoculation loops (reusable and metal), clean bench, microscope slides, microscope, drigalski-spatula, test tubes with clamping lids

Histology

Paraffin bath, water bath, scalpels, scissors, razor blades, microtomes (rotating microtome, slide microtome and freezing microtome), histocinette, tweezers (various kinds), ocular

Biochemistry

Sequencing robots, eppendorf tubes, gelelectrophoresis chambers, centrifuge

Analytical Chemistry

Photometer, kuvettes, burettes, mass spectro meters, UV bank (for chromatogrophies), pyknometers, melting point meter, porcelain mortars, pH paper, analytical scales (4 or more digits)

Prep Chemistry

Tripod/standing material, miniature lifting platforms, spiral condenser, colon condenser, round bottom flask (three necked and y- necked), filtration material, Separating funnel

Electrical engineering

Electric generators, Soldering iron, Clamp connectors, plugin connectors, ohm’s resistors, plug in lamps, condensers, transistors, PCBs, amperemeters, voltmeters, multimeters

Mechanics

Tripod/standing material, metal hooks, metal rods, mechanical stop watches, marbles, metal springs, Newton meters, laser motion detectors

Optics

Prisma (various kinds), various glass lenses (concave, convex, biconcave, biconvex), laser pointers, optical bench, mechanical iris diaphragm, looking glasses, monochrome lamps, lamp filters

Most used chemicals

Deionized water, ethanol, NaOH, HCl, H3PO4, NaCl (+ physiological NaCl solution 0.9)

Useful websites for writing science stuff

DNA sequence generator (simple): http://www.faculty.ucr.edu/~mmaduro/random.htm

DNA, RNA and protein sequence generator: https://molbiotools.com/randomsequencegenerator.php Annealing temperature calculator: https://tmcalculator.neb.com/#!/main

Medicine name generator: https://www.fantasynamegenerators.com/medicine-names.php Anything chemistry related: https://www.wolframalpha.com/input?i=chemistry

Commonly used software:

MS Excel

Yenka

CASSY Lab

LabView

SpectraLab

LIMS

LaTex

Slack

Scientist friends, feel free to add onto this.

Have fun writing!