#Old Cut Lab Diamond

[suzukiblu]

Ko-fi thank-you sentences for an anon; a fake cryptid and a real romantic.

“I think I’m gonna try making him a ruby and do that in a trilliant cut,” Superboy says decisively, which isn’t necessarily much progress towards “normal” friend-making but again, Clark doesn’t want to discourage either a hobby or a creative outlet for the kid. Or just literally anything that isn’t about being a superhero, even if the trilliant cut resembling the S-shield and making friends with a vigilante are only sort of “not about being a superhero”. 

Look, the kid’s six months old and was educated by ethically bankrupt scientists and absolutely exhausted grad student interns, absolutely none of whom had either normal childhoods or an interest in instilling any semblance of “normal” in their cloned Superman’s head. Clark’s not going to be picky here, he’s just gonna meet him where he’s at and go from there. 

Superboy has some unfortunate difficulties understanding the difference between celebrity attention versus genuine admiration and things like that, and also an unfortunate tendency towards causing a lot of unnecessary property damage and jumping to conclusions and temper issues, but he tries, and he clearly does think about things. There’s just a lot to figure out in the world, and he’s had to do it in speed-run mode and while being an active superhero. 

Really, Clark thinks the kid’s doing a lot better as a superhero than he would’ve done at his “age”, and he’d actually been that “age”. Superboy is frankly just about the best-case scenario that could’ve come out of a situation like Cadmus and also mercifully only seems to be minimally traumatized by the sorry excuse for a “childhood” he was provided, so . . .

“That sounds nice,” Clark says, smiling at him. “I’m sure you’ll do a good job with it.” 

“I’m gonna do a good job with it if it fucking kills me,” Superboy says, looking determined, which seems like a lot of intensity to put into making a gift for a friend, but again: six months old and educated by ethically bankrupt scientists. Clark is going to stick with the “meeting him where he’s at” approach. 

“Just do your best to start, maybe,” he says wryly, reaching over to pat the kid’s shoulder. Superboy grins at him, his expression turning pleased. 

“I will!” he says. “Wanna see some of the test ones?” 

“Sure,” Clark says, figuring Superboy will just–

Nope, no, Superboy just immediately stuck both hands into his jacket pockets and came up with two big fistfuls of a good dozen high-quality diamonds done in trilliant cuts. Very large diamonds. 

Heavens to Betsy, Clark thinks a little faintly. That is . . . that is so many diamonds for Superboy to just have in his pockets. They weren’t even zipped shut! They weren’t even buttoned! 

Superboy lays his series of diamonds all out in neat little rows on the ledge, because there are enough of them to require multiple rows, and then reaches back into his pockets for a few more, because of course there are more. Clark continues to feel vaguely faint and has absolutely no idea how to point out how much money this is. Even at lab diamond rates, this is so much money. Just–so much. 

At this point in his life Clark has seen entire planets made of diamond, mind, but he still grew up in smalltown Kansas as a farm kid, so there’s something about seeing quite this many virtually flawless ones just laid out on a Metropolis rooftop the same way he would’ve shown off his POG collection to his friends as a kid. Even the damn cuts are just shy of perfect. 

Well, at least Superboy’s enjoying his first hobby, he supposes. But also, Jesus H. Christ.

“They look good, kid,” Clark says, smiling at him encouragingly. No need to take the wind out of his sails, obviously. Though seeing them now, it does occur to him to wonder–“Where did you get the tools?” 

They must be good ones, because honestly he really wasn’t expecting results this good–or even half this good–from a six month-old teenager. Superboy could definitely ruin De Beers’s day with those.

Or their industry, again. 

. . . well, it is De Beers, so . . . 

“Oh, I don’t have any,” Superboy says, shaking his head. “I just use my TTK.” 

Clark . . . pauses, for a moment. 

Clark pauses for a long moment. 

“Tactile telekinesis can cut diamond?” he asks carefully. “This precisely?” 

“Yeah!” Superboy beams proudly at him. “Cool, right?” 

Clark looks very, very closely at the diamonds. The cuts on them are practically atom-sharp. 

Alright then, he thinks to himself even more carefully.

[slutforsilverfoxes]

Sleight of Hand

[A/N: I DID IT! I finished my Steve x reader undercover op fic, and I kind of love it??? I hope those of you who were looking forward to it enjoy it too 😈🖤 Thank you to everyone who encouraged me to write this as a full blown fic! Over 5.7k words hehe whoops]

—————

When your former mentor had contacted you about an opening at her coral reef research lab, moving from Camden to Oahu had been a no brainer. You’d packed up your life in New Jersey and been on a plane to the Aloha State within a week. Your favorite cousin, who’s truthfully more like the big brother you always wanted, had been elated to hear the news, welcoming you at the airport with open arms and two simple rules.

“Always answer the phone when I call so you don’t worry me to death,” Danny had said, holding up one finger, “and two,” he added a second, “you’re an adult and you can date anyone on this island-”

“Thank… you?”

“-but stay away from this schmuck.”

The schmuck in question had simply rolled his eyes, draped a beautiful lei around your neck, and greeted you with a warm hug. “It’s nice to finally meet you. I’m Steve.”

Your confident promise to your cousin had been broken a whopping two months later- and no, you hadn’t ignored one of his phone calls.

“Did you get me a beer?” you ask with a teasing lilt to your voice, wringing out your wet hair before dropping down onto the bench beside your boyfriend. A quick glance around reveals that Danny’s over by the shrimp truck with Kamekona, and you lean forward to steal a kiss before putting some space between yourself and your favorite brunette.

“I surely did not,” Steve sasses back and takes a swig of his ice cold beverage. “Alcohol and diving do not mix. But I did happen to get a mango smoothie from that one place down the road this pretty girl I know really likes.”

“Oh yeah?”

“Mhm,” he responds, a goofy grin spreading across his handsome face. “But, uh, she didn’t show, so I guess you can have it.”

You laugh and give him a playful shove, then let out a content hum as you pop the straw through the lid and take a grateful sip. “So good,” you moan in delight, and Steve has to bite his lip to refrain from making a comment when he spots Danny approaching the table with your regular orders.

“Hey, you.” Your cousin greets you with a kiss on the cheek before taking up residence on the bench across from you and Steve. “Why’re you sitting all the way over there, huh? You like that clown better or somethin’?”

“This guy?” you snort, taking your lunch off the tray and rifling through the napkins in search of a fork.

“Ouch.” Steve winces as if burned by your comment, and you surreptitiously squeeze his thigh beneath the table.

“So tell me about this case you’ve got,” you coax your cousin to change the subject, spearing some grilled veggies on the plastic fork’s tines and scooping up a respectable mound of rice on top.

“So there’s a diamond smuggling ring-” Danny starts, and you immediately cut him off with, “Shut up, that doesn’t happen in real life.” You turn to Steve for confirmation, but there’s no provocative arch to his eyebrow or twitching of his lips to suggest this is a joke. “Are you serious right now? BFFR, Danno.”

“I don’t- I don’t know what that means. Why are you making me feel old?”

“Be fucking for real,” you and Steve supply in unison, and you smile proudly at him. “You’re learning!”

“Between you and Gracie, I keep up, okay?”

“Oh, between my baby cousin and my daughter, you- okay, that’s excellent,” Danny proclaims, his tone indicating it’s anything but. “Anyway, they’re using poker games as a cover to uh, collect their product, shall we say.”

“There’s enough rich people on Oahu with actual diamonds?” you ask, incredulous. “And here I am working like a pleb for paper currency.”

“Word,” Steve seconds your statement, raising his beer in a toast. You clink your smoothie against it before taking another refreshing sip and asking, “So how’re you gonna catch them?”

“Well, there’s a high roller tournament on Friday night that we’re betting they’ll hit. We wanted to go in undercover and flush them out but…” Steve trails off and gazes at you thoughtfully, but Danny’s shaking his head before the words have even formed on the brunette’s lips.

“No, absolutely not. Don’t even think about it, Steve.”

“What?” You turn to him, excitement coursing through your veins at the way his eyes have lit up. “Think about it! And tell me what you’re thinking about.”

“You could go undercover with me to the tournament, help me gather some intel. Maybe we get you to confirm the diamonds are actually in their possession and-”

“No!” Danny chimes in again. “What’s the matter with you, huh? These guys have killed two people, Steve. It’s too dangerous for her.”

“First off, fuck that-”

“Language.”

With an eye roll, you amend, “Forget that. More importantly, shouldn’t Danny go undercover? You kind of suck at poker, Steve.” You feel a sharp pinch at your side and you yelp in protest, slapping at the Navy SEAL. “It’s true, you little-”

“You’re not going,” Danny says definitively. “What about Tani?”

Steve shakes his head. “Tani and Junior have already questioned two of the men involved. They’ll be made before they even get to the table.”

You cross your arms and level your cousin with a smirk. “Sounds like you need me, Danno.”

“Then I’m going with you,” he declares.

“Yeah, no, hard pass,” you backpedal. “Even as a former thespian, there’s no way I can convincingly play arm candy for you without it being weird.”

“So, it’s settled then, little Williams,” Steve says with a grin. “You and me. Friday night. The high roller table at the Ilikai Hotel.”

__________

“This whole affair is giving very much Ocean’s Thirteen,” you remark as you lean into the mirror to line your puckered lips with Devil’s Den red. “The diamond heist, the poker game… it’s all so exciting.”

“Except this isn’t Hollywood and a bullet will actually hurt,” your cousin ever so graciously reminds you, trying to tug the slit ends of your dress together and then grunting in displeasure when the action reveals more of your bare back. “You’ve gotta be kidding me with this dress, babe,” he tuts. “Why’s it so expensive if it’s missing half the fabric, huh?”

You shrug and answer with a smile, “Don’t ask me! Your buddy picked it out.”

“Oh yeah, I bet he did,” Danny grumbles under his breath. “I mean, you’d be the most beautiful woman in the room if you were wearing a paper bag, but this- this dress-”

“Danno,” you laugh, completing the finishing touches on your makeup before turning around to squeeze his shoulder. “Remember one of the first things you said to me when I stepped off the plane?”

“Don’t date Steve?” he offers hopefully with a grimace.

That ship has sailed and it’s not docking anytime soon, you think wryly. “No, you goofball,” you respond instead, “that I’m an adult. Everything’s going to be fine!”

“Alright, okay, but just- just promise me you’ll be smart tonight and play it safe.”

With three fingers held aloft, you answer solemnly, “I promise.”

“And don’t let Steve talk you into doing something stupid, okay? No honeypot insanity or trying to sneak into rooms or anything, you got it?”

You press your lips to your cousin’s cheek and then wipe away the smudged lipstick. “Relax, Danny. The man’s a former SEAL. What could possibly go wrong?”

You open the door of the en-suite bathroom with a small smirk tugging at your lips as Danny splutters on behind you in answer to your incendiary question.

As soon as your stiletto touches down on the carpeted floor of the luxury hotel room, you’re hit with an enthusiastic, “Woah, baby!”

“You like?” you ask with a grin, holding your arms out at your sides and giving Tani a spin to show off the dress.

Tani laughs appreciatively and lets out a low whistle. “You are smokin’ hot. I am looking… disrespectfully,” she concludes after pretending to mull over her word choice. She sneaks a glance over at her boss who’s trying and failing to draw his gaze away from the high slit that’s showing off a majority of your leg, then steps closer to you and drops her voice. “And I’m not the only one.” You shush your friend quickly and she ducks away from your playful smack with another peal of laughter.

“Wow,” Steve breathes out, practically sporting heart-eyes as he drinks in the black silk hugging every curve of your body. His piercing blue eyes blaze a trail of heat from the stilettos on your feet to the low bun your hair is swept into, and you feel your skin grow warm under his attention.

“You look pretty wow yourself,” you remark, appreciating the smart tux he’s donned, the perfectly tailored suit accenting every defined muscle on his powerful body. The blush on your face deepens when your gaze meets his, catching a glimpse of a hungry predator on the prowl.

“No, but you, Y/N,” Steve counters, his voice a low growl, “you just- I mean- wow.” He looks ready to pounce, and you’re positive he would forego the event in lieu of spending the evening in bed if there wasn’t a case riding on your performance tonight- and your cousin who you’re keeping your relationship a secret from less than a foot away.

Danny snaps in his face, directing the brunette’s attention to him. “Don’t you gawk at her like that. Paws off my baby cousin, you hear me? Better use the right head tonight, Steven, I swear.”

You dart your eyes over to your boyfriend and make an intentionally obscene gesture with your hands, indicating which head you’re thinking about. He covers up his laugh with a cough, then hurries to reassure his partner. “Danno, c’mon. I’m a perfect gentleman. Aren’t I, Y/N?”

“You’re an animal, is what you are,” your beloved cousin continues his tirade, answering for you. “Just remember I’m watching, huh? I’ve got eyes on all the cameras.”

“Alright, people, focus now,” Lou admonishes gently, handing you and Steve small communications devices that you fit snugly into your ear, out of plain sight. “Y’all remember the plan?”

“Stand there and look pretty. Don’t get shot at,” you dutifully list off your objectives for the op with an exaggerated waggling of your eyebrows while Steve tests the microphone tucked away in his bow tie. “As an unofficial member of Five-0 now, do I get a gun?”

“Are you insane?” Danny cries as Steve asks, genuinely, “Where would you even hide a gun in that dress?”

Unable to resist, you shoot him a coy smile and challenge, “Wouldn’t you like to know, Commander?”

“Woah.” Your cousin holds his hands up between the two of you and declares, “Flag on the play. Don’t- Don’t do that. No flirting. Get in, entice Lee to steal your fake diamonds, get out. Deal?”

“We’ve got it, Detective,” Steve huffs, bending down to adjust his ankle holster.

Junior approaches then with a gorgeous looking diamond necklace and announces, “Got our bait here, boss.”

“Excellent,” Steve says, taking the jewelry from him and motioning for you to turn around. He gathers the necklace in one hand, his fingers drifting across your shoulder and collarbone to grasp one end before he fits it snugly around your neck. The simple touch has your veins flooding with heat, but you tamp down your reaction, keenly aware of the multiple sets of eyes on the two of you. “Tight enough?” he murmurs, and you nod in response, not yet trusting your voice.

“Oh, and one more thing!” Lou reaches into his pocket and pulls out a box, opening it with a flourish to reveal one simple silver band, the other studded with diamonds. “Little extra bling for good measure.” Your cheeks flush at the sight, and you turn your face away from Steve while you slide the wedding ring onto your finger.

One glance at its mate on your boyfriend’s hand has you weak in the knees, and Tani whispers, “Girl, you are down bad.”

“Shut up,” you hiss, fighting the blush threatening to give you away. Steve approaches with one eyebrow raised in curiosity, and you clear your throat before taking the arm he’s offered to you. You tuck your hand into the crook of his elbow, pressing yourself close to him and sending a sharp look to your older cousin when you feel his eyes boring holes into the two of you. “Knock it off, Danny.”

He cups your face between his hands and pulls you closer to press a kiss to your forehead with an apologetic smile. “Be smart. Be safe. I love you. You watch her back, okay?” He directs the last comment to his best friend with all the gruffness of a father sending his daughter off to prom.

“I will, Danny,” Steve answers solemnly, squeezing your hand.

“Alright, buddy. But not too close, okay? Remember, I’m always watch-”

You pull the door shut behind you with a sigh. Steve guides you down the hallway towards the elevators, and your grip on his arm tightens at the prospect of what you’re about to do.

Steve immediately intuits your nerves and offers a soothing, “Hey, you’re okay.” He takes your left hand in his, his right hand coming to rest on the small of your back so you feel completely enveloped by his steadying presence. He lets his thumb drift back and forth across your skin, just above where the fabric drapes at the base of your spine, and your comms come crackling to life. “Higher.”

Steve shifts his hand up with a chuckle, and your cousin begrudgingly remarks, “Better.”

The moment relieves some of your tension, and you shake your head before pressing the call button for the elevator. The lavish gold doors open to reveal an already sizable group dressed to the nines and clearly heading to the big casino-sponsored event downstairs. Steve applies gentle pressure on your back to guide you into the elevator, and as you descend each floor and the crowd grows, you’re forced closer together in the corner. “You’re wearing a new perfume,” Steve comments, his lips right by your ear to avoid your conversation being picked up by his mic.

“How observant,” you reply. “My boyfriend bought it for me.”

“He has excellent taste,” he continues the charade, and you resist the urge to roll your eyes at the compliment. With the crowd in the elevator blocking the camera’s view, Steve allows his fingers to glide down your spine until they reach their intended destination, and he sucks in a sharp breath when he realizes you’re not wearing anything under your dress. You smirk to yourself but quickly lose the upper hand, forced to swallow down a gasp when the elevator doors open into the lobby and Steve brazenly palms your ass while calmly stating, “Target acquired.”

“We see him, too,” Junior affirms. “East corner of the lobby, talking to the concierge.”

“Come on, darling,” Steve croons, settling into character- or rather dropping your usual act. “Let’s go win me some more money to spend on you.”

__________

“No entry without invitation, sir.”

You crane your neck to look up at the beefy bodyguard at the entrance to the high roller section. His biceps must be the size of your head, if not bigger, he’s got at least 6 inches on Steve, and his hulking form is completely blocking your view of the room behind him.

“Honey,” you murmur, “you brought it with you, didn’t you?”

Steve gives you an easy smile and pulls a gold-plated poker chip from the breast pocket of his tux. “Of course, my love.”

“Alright, enough with the cutesy nicknames,” Danny gripes, and you’re forced to stifle a laugh at Tani admonishing him in the background. The security guard pulls back the velvet rope to let you pass, and you duck behind the curtain to cross into the high roller area.

The room is a sea of expensive suits and sparkling cocktail dresses. A thick cloud of sweet-smelling smoke has settled in the air from the Cubans lit around the room, and the distinct symphony of ice clinking in glass tumblers joins the hum of dealers murmuring at their tables.

“Why don’t you go get us a drink and I’ll find a table to join?”

“The usual?” you purr in question, running your manicured fingers across the lapel of Steve’s suit.

“That’s perfect,” he assents, squeezing your hip before releasing you to do your own recon. Then you feel his fingers lace through yours and he murmurs, “Y/N, wait.” When you turn back to Steve, he tugs you closer by your connected hands and presses his lips to yours in a kiss that has your head buzzing before a drop of alcohol has even hit your tongue. “Lee’s watching,” he whispers against your mouth by way of explanation.

“Then let’s give him something to look at,” you respond with a glint in your eye, winding your arms around his neck and pulling him in for another kiss. Steve’s left hand comes up to rest on the nape of your neck as the other caresses the diamond fitted snuggly against the hollow of your throat, making sure that it catches the light just so as you lay the groundwork for your operation tonight.

“He’s practically suffocating her,” Danny cries in the hotel room upstairs, hands raised while he stares at the two of you in disbelief. “What’d I say about ‘not too close’, huh? Animal.”

“Okay, lovebirds, get some air,” Lou chuckles over your comms. “Seems like our man Lee has his eye on the prize now.”

Junior leans over to Tani as he watches the two of you part ways on screen, tracking your path to the bar with a skeptical brow. “Is it just me, or was that… intense?”

“C’mon, Junes,” she laughs breezily. “That is theater at its finest.”

“One scotch on the rocks, and one vodka tonic that’s light on the tonic,” you place your order at the bar, absentmindedly letting your fingers drift over the diamonds as you peruse the top shelf.

“Easy there, cowgirl,” Danny coaches in your ear. You look around for the nearest mounted dome camera and make a face at it. “Real mature, kid.”

You feel a heated gaze on your back, and you turn to flash a coy smile at Mister Jason Lee, the suspected brains behind the smuggling operation, before collecting your drinks and making your way back to Steve.

“He’s interested,” you murmur in his ear as you bend down to place the glass between his hands on the table. “But we need to really hook him. Better start throwing some money around, hotshot.”

“Go ahead, baby,” Steve says animatedly, attracting the attention of the other players around the table. He makes a big show of closing his eyes and letting you bet for him, clearly unaffected by winning or losing a few hundred on your blind faith. As you lean over to push a stack of chips towards the pot, you hear an appreciative titter around the table and turn to find Steve with one eye very obviously peeking- but definitely not at what your hands are doing.

“Naughty boy,” you scold playfully, and he offers his palms in an act of mock deference.

“Can you blame the man?” one of the other players barks out through a raucous laugh, and you smile politely even though their leering eyes make your skin crawl. When you bend to retrieve your drink, Steve moves closer with a grin and whispers in your ear, “If one of them so much as breathes in your direction, I’ll break off every one of their fingers and feed them to ‘em, okay, mama?”

Acutely aware that Danny and the rest of the team are watching your every interaction, you suppress a shiver and murmur back, “Sir, yes, sir.”

Steve has mixed luck on his first few hands, but you’re sure to make a big show of celebrating each win with a kiss that has the older women in the room clutching their proverbial pearls and Lee hanging onto your every move. You toy with the necklace as a nervous habit each time Steve places his bet and let your fingers trail across his broad shoulders as he studies each hand, squeezing affectionately every now and then.

“I hate this,” Danny declares, a dismayed frown tugging at his lips as he watches you on the live CCTV footage. On the small screen, you drape your arms around Steve’s neck and press a kiss to his cheek before murmuring something in his ear that’s too quiet for the hidden mic to pick up but has Steve grinning like a fool. “I hate this. Why did I let him talk me into this? Putz.”

“Relax, Danny,” Lou attempts to soothe his ruffled feathers. “They’re doing great.”

“Hey, hey, look!” Tani calls to garner their attention. “They’ve lured Lee in. He’s about to make contact.”

“Good evening,” he opens politely, pulling out the chair next to Steve.

“Evening,” your boyfriend offers in kind.

“Do you mind if I join you for the next hand?”

“Not at all,” you purr. “Perhaps you can help break my husband’s current losing streak.”

“With a good luck charm like you on his arm?” Lee counters smoothly. “Impossible.”

“From your mouth to the cards’ ears,” you laugh airily. “Let me go get you another drink, my love,” you say to excuse yourself, running your hand down Steve’s arm to collect his glass. “Can I get you anything, Mister…?”

“Good girl,” Tani praises you quietly over your comms.

“Lee,” he supplies. “But please, call me Jason.” He raises the remaining amber liquid in his glass with a smile then says, “Perhaps when I finish this drink, I’ll have what your husband’s having. Clearly he’s got excellent taste.” The way his eyes wander across your body isn’t lost on you.

“Arrogant son of a bitch,” Lou scoffs to his fellow team members upstairs. “Not even using an alias.”

Steve notices Lee’s hungry gaze straying from his cards to appreciate your form against the backdrop of the expansive bar and remarks, “Beautiful, isn’t she?”

“Indeed,” he agrees, swirling the expensive liquor in his glass before taking a sip. “Women like that are hard to find. As rare as that diamond around her neck.”

“Laying it on thick there, buddy,” Danny comments over your comms, and you steal a glance over to the table. “Take the bait, Steve.”

“Only the finest for my girl.”

When you return to the table with your and Steve’s drinks in hand, he hooks his ankle around the chair beside him and tugs it close for you to sit by him. “Slick move, double-oh-five-oh,” you murmur appreciatively in his ear before nipping at his earlobe. He seems extra possessive now, his hand either resting on your thigh, or your hip, or the back of your neck, always maintaining some form of skin to skin contact while the other holds his cards, and you can’t help but wonder what transpired between the two men.

Leaning over, Steve presses his lips to the point where your pulse thrums along your throat and asks, “What should we bet, beautiful girl?”

“Hm?” Your gaze is hazy, more so drunk on Steve’s touch than alcohol, and the unbidden thought that you can’t wait for this guy to be in cuffs so you can take your man home crosses your mind. You run your manicured fingers down his cheek and answer coyly, “I want you to go all in.”

The two of you dutifully ignore Danny’s protesting in your ears at your overt innuendo as Steve pushes his stack of chips to the center of the table.

“A bold move,” Lee declares with a whistle.

“What’s a few thousand when I have a million on my arm, hm?” your boyfriend counters with a sly glance in your direction.

“Let’s make this a real game. I’m all in, too.”

The dealer flips over the river card, and Steve’s arm tenses beneath your fingertips. The other few players around the table toss their cards aside with a sigh, but Lee looks over at the two of you with a grin, presenting his hand- a flush- with a flourish. He stands to collect the pot but Steve holds up one finger.

“Not so fast, my friend,” he laughs, his confidence making your body grow warm. Steve lays his hand out on the table with a smug smile. “Full house. Aces over eights.”

You let out an excited squeal, genuinely delighted at such a triumphant win, and pull Steve toward you by the lapels of his jacket to mold your lips to his. He makes an appreciative noise low in the back of his throat and his hand comes up to cup your neck in an overtly possessive manner that has you melting into his embrace. You feel his fingers playing with the clasp resting at the nape of your neck, and then the necklace falls into your lap, the next phase of your ruse in full effect now.

You pull back with a gasp and pout at Steve, your eyes wide. “It broke!”

“Then I’ll buy you ten more,” he answers easily, shrugging off your concern. “Go put it upstairs and don’t give it a second thought, okay?” He presses his lips to yours once more and gives you an affectionate pat below the dip of your dress when you stand that has you blushing. You can practically feel Danny’s laser eyes through the screen where he’s watching you.

You make sure to wobble the tiniest bit when you move, steadying yourself on Steve’s shoulder with a laugh. “What was our room number, honey?”

He shares a knowing look with your mark, then jokes, “How many vodka tonics have you had, hm? How many fingers am I holding up?” He has his fist raised and you smack at his chest with an eye roll. “217, my love,” Steve supplies before taking your hand and kissing the wedding band adorning your ring finger.

You head upstairs to the empty room the team had rented for this very purpose and place the necklace in the carefully concealed safe in the cupboard. When you return to the table, you find Steve alone.

“Where’s our friend?”

“Turned in for the night after that big loss,” your boyfriend supplies, winking at you. “Shall we?”

He offers you his arm, and after collecting his winnings, the two of you make your way to the lobby to lie in wait. “You’re going to be insufferable about that win forever now, aren’t you?”

“You said I was bad at poker,” Steve reminds you.

“You still are,” you fire back. “Dumb luck one time does not a skilled player make.”

“Jeez, boss,” Junior’s voice comes crackling in over your comms. “Want some ice for that burn?”

“Would you just- would you shut up and focus on the room, please?”

After a few minutes of waiting with no sighting of Lee, you lean into Steve’s chest and ask the team, “Anything?”

“Girl, hop off the mic,” Lou admonishes you, and you jump back from Steve. “We can hear you when you talk normally. Damn.”

Leaning back in, this time you whisper, “Sorry, guys.”

“Hey, McGarrett?” Tani speaks calmly but you can hear an edge of tension to her voice. “At your 4 o’clock, there’s two guys in suits who’ve had an eye on your table all night. I thought they were watching for potential card counting but they seem to have taken an interest in you and Y/N.”

“Copy,” Steve says quietly, pulling you closer to his body in a protective move in case all hell breaks loose.

“Let’s just show them we’re not a threat,” you offer.

“You want to go back in?”

“I was thinking of a more… hands on approach.” As the clicking of Italian leather shoes on the polished floor grows closer to you, you spin Steve around and push him against the wall, crashing into him for a heated kiss. His strong hands caress your bare back for a moment before one stays put to hold you against him while the other deftly undoes the knot holding your bun, your hair cascading down to its full length so Steve can use it for better leverage. You can’t help but moan into his mouth as he kisses you like a man starved until you’re shaken from your stupor by yelling approaching the lobby.

“Hey! Five-0! Stop running, dumbass!”

Without opening your eyes or breaking your kiss, you stick your foot out at the opportune time, making contact with the ankle of your diamond thief’s leg so he goes sprawling. There’s a faint splash to your right, and when you pull away for a breath, you can see your necklace winking at you from the lobby fountain.

Danny catches up to the scene and yells, “Hands- hey! Hands!”

Lee raises his hands above his head with a sigh, but your cousin continues on, “You two! Yeah, let me see your hands, too!” You turn to find Danny’s gun aimed at the diamond smuggler, but his fiery eyes are trained on you while Tani and Junior wrestle the other two lackeys to the floor nearby. You exchange a look with Steve, then feel the warmth of his palms leave your bare skin as the two of you slowly raise your hands as well. Clearing your throat, you offer meekly, “We’re really into method acting?”

“We’ll talk about this later,” Danny growls, slapping zip ties on a defiant Lee and ratcheting them tight before hauling him to his feet.

“Hey, man, ease up,” he whines and Danny barks, “You shut up.” He continues lamenting his woes audibly as he leads the thief to the waiting squad car, grumbling, “Had enough of all of you. My baby cousin and my best friend. Christ. What am I gonna tell my aunt?”

Steve whistles low under his breath when Danny’s out of earshot, then mutters, “That could’ve gone better.”

“On the plus side,” you comment, “he still referred to you as his best friend.”

Tani shoots you a sympathetic smile when she passes by with the man she apprehended, but Junior wastes no time leaning in and playfully tutting, “Bus-ted.” Steve raises one eyebrow and he tacks on a hurried, “Sir.”

—————

With Lee and his crew stewing in interrogation and HPD clearing the scene, you’re left sitting on the couch in Steve’s office like kids who got sent to the principal for misbehaving in school. The three of you must look ridiculous from the rest of the team’s point of view- you clad in spare clothes from Steve’s wardrobe in his office that you’re positively swimming in, your 40-plus-year-old boyfriend in a full tux with his bow tie and top few buttons undone, hand pressed over his mouth to avoid saying something that will further incense your cousin, and said cousin still dressed in his shirt and tie pacing the floor in front of you with his hands flying to emphasize every point he makes.

“And you-” Danny pauses his pacing to point an accusatory finger at his best friend. “How old are you, huh?” The finger changes angles to point at you. “And how old is she?”

“Do you want me to actually answer the quest-”

“No, Steve, they’re rhetorical questions! I know how old you are, and I’ll tell you! Too old for my baby cousin, that’s how old, huh? What’s the matter with you?”

“Why don’t you let Y/N speak for herself, Danny? Gotta let her grow up, buddy, c’mon now.”

“Thank you!” you cry. “Can I say something?”

The blonde and brunette duo turns to look at you with the same infuriating, incredulous look before simultaneously deciding, “No.”

“Alright, y’know what?” You slap your hands against your thighs and stand with a huff. “You two-” You point back and forth between Steve and Danny before continuing, “You work out your little marital spat. Daniel, when you’re ready to talk to me like the adult I am, I’ll be with Tani. After I drink some water. Because I’m still buzzed.” With that, you attempt to walk out of your boyfriend’s office with your head held high but are thwarted by the door, pushing on it to no avail.

“It’s a pull-” Danny says quietly, and Steve jumps in at the same time, “Pull, babe, you gotta pull on the-”

“I got it,” you bark at them, tugging on the glass door with a grumble about architectural intuitiveness.

After a long conversation with Steve and a short interrogation with Lee and his associates, Danny finds you nursing a bottle of water in Tani’s office, as promised. She slips out as your cousin takes a seat next to you, pulling you into a hug that you allow yourself to melt into even though you mutter all the while under your breath about his overprotective nature.

“I’m sorry I made you feel like you couldn’t just tell me you were seeing Steve.”

Woah. What?

“What?” Danny laughs. “You were right. We should talk about this like adults.”

“Did I say that out loud?”

“The ‘Woah. What?’? Yeah, you did, babe, it was very much not an inside thought.”

“Excellent,” you laugh, nodding solemnly. “Well, um, thank you for that. And sorry for not coming out and just telling you.”

“Guess I made it pretty hard for you to tell me, huh? What with the two rules and-”

“Yup.”

“But everybody else knew or-”

“Tani knew, cause she’s my girl, y’know. Grace figured it out pretty quickly. Pretty sure Lou’s had a feeling since at least Thanksgiving, honestly.”

Danny sits back with a start, pulling away from your hug. “How long has this been going on?”

With a sigh, you realize it’s time to come clean. “You remember when I wanted to go on that dive with you, and you said I should take Steve since you don’t ‘do water’? Well, Steve took me to this really beautiful dive spot and we kind of made a day of it so…”

“That was like-”

“A while-”

“Like seven months ago!”

“I mean, we didn’t exactly start dating on that day- well, no, we kind of did,” you correct yourself quietly, biting your lip with a grimace, but Danny’s already halfway across the floor back to Steve’s office. Lou takes the opportunity to poke his head in to check on you and you draw out a slow, “So Lou…” He raises one eyebrow in question, and you dare to ask, “Would now be a bad time to tell Danny about Will and Grace?”

—————

Tagging you beautiful people who commented for me to finish writing this 🖤

@the-silentium @ilovewriting06 @jamie2305 @kelssssxd @cassadilasworld

[octuscle]

i'm a skinny nerd from the northeast who goes to college in Kansas i'm about 5 foot 7 tall who was on my way to  the Chemistry Lab when a pair of big burly hands grabbed me , punched me in the gut. When i came to ,i was tied to a bench with rope in the male locker room. my legs were tied to a bar below the bench and my hands two the pegs above. my mouth was coved with duct tape with a mouthguard inside my mouth. i look down to see all my clothes were gone i was wearing only a jock strap . i have never worn a jockstrap before it was so uncomfortable .i look to see my red star trek t-shirt , my jeans, my sneakers and socks & my "geeky" white briefs were are cut up on the floor. i look up to see that i was surrounded by the hairiest, most manly, most self-centered, most muscled guys on campus : The college football team. the football team was wearing gray tank tops & crimson basketball shorts. the football players were who look like normal corn fed Kansas farm boys. they were at least 6 feet 3 inches tall in height and is broad-shouldered and muscular in build .they took off their tank tops i saw they all have 6 pack abs , substantial pecs and arms are also are broad-shouldered . they pull out a gym bag with my name on it with other pairs of boxers& jockstraps& clothes such as gym shorts, tank top including a red star trek tank top , sweats,  and a table right in front of me on that table was a football uniform, The helmet, cleats, jersey, and gear .they show me the jersey with my last name. they told me i was going to become a corn fed Kansas farm boy like them i will still be a geek. they told me all the guys on campus in town even the nerds on this small Kansas college campus has a 6 pack, substantial pecs and arms& are also broad-shouldered cause even the nerds work on farms & have to join the football team & get modeling gigs so they pay for college. when they put the football uniform on me turning from a skinny geek into a geeky Kansas farm boy.

Dude, I'm sorry, but sometimes it really pays to read the fine print. Your college has a partnership with us. When you enroll, you agree to undergo a Chronivac transformation if needed. And there is no need to justify the need. The mere fact that your upper arms are too small is sufficient. So welcome to Kansas, farm boy, I'm activating your jockstraps now, let the transformation begin!

Your body starts to tremble. Your hips shake. And your cock gets rock hard. The jockstrap fits your narrow hips and tight ass like a glove. A glove that is quickly soaked in precum while the twitches spread from your cock in all directions. Your thighs become powerful and hard as boards, your belly flattens and with every twitch your six pack becomes more and more prominent. At first you react in horror. But you enjoy it more and more. You would love to jerk off. But you have no control over your arms. Instead, your growing pecs start to dance. Your calves turn into real diamonds. And then the twitches reach your neck. It quickly becomes wider than your head. Your Adam's apple protrudes prominently, your moans become deeper and deeper. And as your facial features become more and more angular and masculine, your bulging muscles spread across your shoulders towards your hands.

Bruh, that was two weeks ago now. You have quickly become accustomed to your body. The only thing that bothers you is your smooth skin. But your body hair is already starting to grow. Soon you will be in no way inferior to your bruhs. Your brain and your cock are in a constant battle to see who controls you. But you are and always will be a geek. Your brain usually wins. But mercy on the ass you fuck if your cock wins.

You're still the same in your mind. Okay, you don't remember going to the philharmonic or art museums in your youth. You played football with your buddies and cleaned your old man's stable. But you're a geek and your goal is to get a good college degree. Even without a football scholarship. Although I'm sure you'd get it. Enjoy it, geek! There are worse things than growing up to be a really big boy in Kansas.

Pic found @backwardsnapback

[raven-at-the-writing-desk]

Hey Raven, are you going to watch the upcoming new Disney movie "Wish"?

I've seen mixed reviews, but i'm lowkey excited since we get to see a new Disney villain, especially since Disney got really lame villains after all the old classic movies!

Have you seen the trailer for the movie? What are your thoughts so far?

I saw Wish with a friend recently! I'll give my thoughts on the trailers here (in case you don't want spoilers for the film itself) and put my full thoughts beneath the cut (if you're okay with spoilers).

Looks-wise, I think Disney was definitely trying to go for something more stylistic and painting-esque for this?? And while I commend the effort, it definitely doesn't look as interesting as Puss in Boots 2: The Last Wish. The humor also definitely isn't for me, it feels very "quirky" and "so relatable" (Asha reminds me of Mirabel in that sense), and other times too juvenile (like the goat butt joke). I do like the idea of the villain passing as a good guy in-universe and actually being vain and selfish, especially since the marketing is making it clear who the bad guy is rather than making it a "twist" villain scenario. Not sure if I like Magnifico himself though??? All the ads with him in it feel like Disney is trying too hard to make people thirst for him. From just the trailers, Magnifico does seem interesting and like more of a return to the traditional "villain" rather than the protagonist having to deal with an existential dread or concept.

***Spoilers for Wish beneath the cut!***

Right off the bat, my first impression is the narrative is SO ham-fisted. Within the first 5 minutes alone we're establishing so much information and in such a clunky, unnatural way. Like... Asha says hi to her friends but then they robotically have a dialogue where they overtly call each other "friends" just so it's clear to the audience (when in reality no one talks like that). It's telling instead of showing, and this happens sooo many times early in the film.

Could not for the life of me remember the friends or their names. There were just too many of them when 1 or 2 would have been just fine to move the plot along and to help Asha. (Yes, I know they're a reference to the 7 Dwarves but it's STILL not necessary to have so many just for a reference.)

Bruh, the makeup in this movie is on point. Every time there was a close up of a character, I was staring at their eye makeup (especially Asha and the queen's).

Asha as a protagonist was... fine? She feels very close to Mirabel and at times Rapunzel in her character. I didn't dislike her by any means, but she didn't reinvent what it means to be a Disney protag. Her motivations also come off as… really “out of nowhere”. We’re told she “cares too much”, but she initially only wants to save the wishes of her mom and grandpa; she randomly decides she has to free ALL wishes midmovie and that was jarring. There could have been a smoother transition. Instead, it was abrupt and Asha didn’t change in any meaningful way. Even her “I want” song was vague (what exactly is “to have something more for us than this”?) and didn’t connect well with her character.

I do really like her design though! Her freckles, earrings, and how her hair moves are my favorite details.

Valentino was not as annoying as I thought he would be. Still didn't care for his sass and brand of humor, but at least he helped out a few times.

I called it, the film is trying so hard to make Magnifico "hot" 🤡 I don't get it but okay, Mouse. I see your effort.

Loved his fit!! Very cool cloak and diamond/star motifs everywhere! His lab and study was also fun to look at.

I quite liked the moments when the queen talked to her husband and tried to smooth things over with him. “I can fix him energy”— Their relationship seemed very genuine at the start of the movie.

NOT THE WISH NEPOTISM...

If they were going for “sympathetic” with Magnifico, it didn’t work. He gave this backstory about how he was traumatized before + left as the only survivor of a great tragedy and so now he wants to use his magic to prevent that from happening to anyone else. Thing is, we only ever know about this via his word and staring at a half-burnt tapestry. We never see the event on screen, nor what was left of the tapestry. I was expecting a twist where it’s revealed that he lied all this time about his backstory and rewrote history so he could more easily manipulate the people of the kingdom he founded and live out the fantasy of being worshipped as a “good guy”. That was such a missed opportunity!!

Something else I was thinking of (this was during “This is the Thanks I get” was??? Maybe Magnifico started off genuinely good but became worn down over time as people’s wishes grew more selfish and they became ungrateful for what they had?? Then he could have become bitter and disillusioned by the behavior of his people.

Another idea is maybe Magnifico was “villainous” only in Asha’s eyes, since they don’t agree on how to best handle granting wishes. This would be more of a clash of ideologies rather than the traditional Obvious Evil vs Obvious Good that Disney is so known for, but hey, it could be a neat evolution of their storytelling from classic fairy tale roots.

This is to say that there were so many more interesting directions they could have gone with Magnifico’s motives, character, and portrayal 😭 but the second half of the movie never commits to any of these, they just blame his complete insanity and turn to the dark side on Forbidden Magic which is such a cop-out.

The trailers gave away the twist that Magnifico was the villain. It wasn’t revealed until like the second song into the movie. Would’ve worked better as an on-the-spot reveal rather than part of the marketing, in my opinion.

When they showed the wishes, the TWST fan in my was shouting, "OMG IT'S WISH UPON A STAR, THE LIMITED TIME STORY EVENT FROM THE HIT DISNEY MOBILE GACHA GAME TWISTED WONDERLAND!!!"

As Wish is Disney's anniversary film for 100 years, there were tooons of easter eggs scattered throughout. (I had fun looking for them!) Some were visual (I saw Aurora's dress, Snow White’s well, Peter's Pan's costume, Ursula's green smokey hands, Asha's robes resembling those of the Fairy Godmother, etc.) or extended imagery/scenes (Asha recreates Mulan's dinner and “Reflection" scenes), others were more overt lines of dialogue (Magnifico says the "Mirror, Mirror" lines along with others, a deer named “Bambi”, Valentino mentions an animal metropolis in reference to Zootopia, etc.).

In theory, the wish magic sounds cool but has so much that isn't explained??? And yeah, it's magic so it technically doesn't have to be. However, there are things not explained even when it is important to the plot. For example, Magnifico crushes some wishes and seems to absorb their power for himself (including the wish of Asha's MOM, so you'd think this would be important)? The consequence of this is that the wish's owners... become sad??? Okay, what are the long-term effects??? Why isn’t this fully explored?? But then later in the film we see the same people whose wishes were crushed... regenerate their wish??? So what, he has to keep reaping them??? And why are the wishes only taken at 18 years old? What if a wish changes? Ironically, the townspeople of Rosas have a scene where they question the technicalities of this wish magic. Magnifico essentially tells them to shut up, and it kinda felt like Disney was telling us to not question their lore www

It was weird that they never fully explored the ramifications of going without your wish. You’d think they’d show us people without ambition or hope (which would incentivize Asha to return their wishes), but everyone seems blissfully happy without their wishes?? The only exception is Asha’s friend that betrays her (cannot for the life of me remember his name), and that’s namely because his asshole friends keep ragging on him for it.

I thought the movie was going to go in a “you can make your own wish come true!!” direction but NOPE, turns out it’s just magic. Felt like Disney unintentionally wrote a whole movie about "wishes not coming true unless some big powerful entity allows it to come true” (Asha literally becomes the fairy godmother of Rosas at the end, making her ultimately no different than Magnifico)… ie a metaphor for how Disney owns so many properties it practically owns our childhoods www

"The power of friendship saves the day" ending 🤣 It was very Paper Mario ending-esque...

A song saving the day though?? It’s giving the Illumination Lorax film…

I was right about the humor. Too "quirky" and/or juvenile for me.

Animation was alright? Nothing awful about it, it just didn't feel as detailed or as experimental as other films with a similar style.

Songs were mid, which checks out with the recent Disney music excluding We Don't Talk About Bruno--

Some of the lyrics however were awful. “I let you live here for free and I don’t even charge you rent” is redundant. “So I throw caution to every warning sign” means you’ll show more caution than usual, not that you’ll forego caution. The correct expression is “throw caution to the wind”. Etc, etc, etc.

There was a cute after credits scene where they reveal that Asha's 100 year old grandpa (same age as Disney omg) wrote the "When You Wish Upon a Star" theme, which was sweet since his wish was "wanting to make a mark".

THE BEST PART OF THE MOVIE WAS STAR!! It was very cute (partly because it couldn't talk and just jingled and giggled, I was dreading another annoying mascot animal voice) and reminds me of my own pet… The way Star infused everything with glitter and formed unique shapes with the red twine was so fun 😭 I'M A STAR STAN, IT WAS ADORABLE AND KINDA BRATTY AND I'M LIVING FOR IT

Decent ideas, "meh" execution. Enchanted and Shrek did it better in terms of self-aware, fairy tale defying stories. It felt as though the movie was trying to deliver a profound message but got lost in the sauce of making as making Disney references possible and didn't fully commit to actually saying something meaningful. As a result, the film feels somewhat… hollow.

That one friend betraying Asha was the biggest surprise in the film but I still saw it coming 😂 I do get where he’s coming from though (being worried that his wish won’t ever come true) but it also felt like his conflict wasn’t resolved??? It might have gone better if the movie actually fully tried to push the “you can make your own wish come true” message (to reinvigorate the traitor to make his dreams a reality on his own) but they don’t 💦

Wish didn’t end up being “the wishing star’s origin story” because not once did anyone question where Star came from or why it was different from other stars (or what the significance of Magnifico blotting out the other stars was).

I think the people that would enjoy this movie are the people that are already highly invested in Disney and the nostalgia of it.

... Anyway, stan Star 🤩 (and the talking mushrooms 🍄)

[zehglitch]

The Fallen Angel

Ezephr's Backstory

— 1

Content Warnings: Human experimentation, child experimentation, kidnapping, violence, toying with people, mentions of death, mentioned abuse/starvation, mentions of children killing each other, dehumanization

Chapter 1 — The Lab

Computers beeped, vast containers full of strange liquid bubbled, and people scribbled notes. These were the only sounds taking up the research facility, the head doctor there to receive their new supplies. The firm, confident steps of the doctor created a new sound that echoed around the room, all eyes turning to him. His sharp eyes studied the line of ‘products’ they'd just finished gathering. Children. Most were babies hardly old enough to go without their mother’s milk, the majority seeming to be human. He frowned with his distaste of their samples and his eyes skipped to the others. “Humans? You couldn't get us a single dragon? Or even a demon?”

The cloaked team that had stolen the children away stared in silence, knowing better than to speak. Only a single one of them stepped forward. “Sir, we collected as many as we could from each continent. We found an elf child, as well as an angel. That is why--” The man was cut off when the doctor raised a hand for silence.

He quirked a brow. “An angel? Are you certain the parents are nowhere to be found? The last thing we need is a flock.” He wandered down the line again until he found the young angel. Brightly colored hair and the purest wings…it was perfect.

The man bowed. “It was discovered with a single angel present, a woman. They seemed to be fleeing from somewhere.”

“And the woman?”

“She has been disposed of, sir.” Silence fell upon the room, and yet the doctor grinned, reaching out and lightly touching the baby in front of him.

His smile was dark. “Well done. But not good enough. A single gold star among stones is far from the quality of many raw diamonds. The addition of the elf aside from the angel is the only reason you still have your heart.” He sent a glare their way before lightly tapping the edge of the basket. “Now then, transport the items to the nursery. Do we have a nursemaid available? Perhaps one that we can keep away from sharp objects, this time?” He scowled at his staff, watching the cowards flinch away from him with an air of satisfaction.

The cloaked group began to collect the children and followed the guidance of the other doctors and staff. “We do have a girl, sir.” One of the men who had been silent approached the doctor, dropping onto his knee. “There was a young wolf critter that saw us. We judged her wolf nature would assist in taking care of many children at once, we apologize for making a decision without prior approval.”

This made the doctor hum, then immediately strike the man, watching as just his head moved. “Making your own decision deserves punishment, but your judgement was correct. This time. Take her to the room, be certain there are enough supplies. Oh, and, go back out. Scout for the possible targets we can claim in five years.” In five years, these children would graduate from the nursery and move on to the next stage. He wasn't all that pleased with the quality this year, but it was better than not getting enough. The doctor had to pause to look at the number of children. Around twenty…and only two were useful. Despicable.

He turned away, heading to the monitors and studying the data of their current children. “Is there a test subject worth acknowledging?” From the way they all looked away, he doubted it. A frown etched his brow and he sighed, fixing his lab coat. “Very well. I suppose the one I had my eye on has also hit a lull. How disappointing.” He didn't miss how the researchers he hired shivered in unison. Rather, he found a sort of twisted pleasure in having so much sway over someone.

The doctor was a smug man at times, but that wasn't the biggest problem with him. A brilliant man that discovered a way to interfere with magiveins to create new magic and reinforce one’s physical strength. Except he experimented solely on sentient beings, never with animals. He called it animal cruelty while displaying a twisted grin and ordering children be captured instead. The man could be violent every now and then, but most of his energy went into studying his test subjects and determining if the method worked.

Then there was the pit. A child that disappointed him fighting against one he has hopes for? That man reveled in the activity. Currently, he had his eyes on the infant angel, drawing his attention away from the wraith that had begun to show promise. The wraith wasn’t improving anymore, so he no longer cared. He was watching his cloaked men transfer the products to the new room, debating if he should get involved this time as well. The test subject seemed to respond positively if they believed there was a familial relationship…perhaps he should indulge in a game.

☾︎☀︎︎☽︎

This batch of children proved to be both promising and worthless at the same time. The female critter was at least useful. Being of the canis lupus family made her capable of managing so many of them, even providing the bonus she wouldn't resort to suicide. Wolves take care of their pack after all. He was pleased with this, but the best result so far was the angel. The boy, X1, had a knack for healing incantations and he was hardly three years old--not to mention they had never taught these children spells. It was fascinating.

The elf, X4, often huddled in a corner as far from him as possible when he visited to play father. She would always have such a wide eyed stare, as if she already knew his true nature and intentions. Nothing he did convinced her he was friendly…intelligence. That was a bonus and better than the angel. So far the angel had suspicious glances, but would always move on like nothing had happened. Foolish. A habit that would become a weakness to exploit by others…it wasn't perfected yet. He had to create the perfect being.

Or else there was no reason to have targeted the dragons.

☾︎☀︎︎☽︎

No difference. The children were about to turn five and they still behaved in the same manner. Perhaps a wolf wasn't the best suited after all, she kept them too protected. No matter…they were always moved after turning five. His attention left this batch quickly with the lack of improvement, turning back to the wraith. The child was almost ten and had attacked one of the demon children in a brawl over food. They won. He was impressed, though a bit dissatisfied. Why was the demon still alive? They had to go for the kill.

He sat behind the one way glass, observing all rooms at once using the nearby camera monitors. Wrong. All of it was wrong, wrong, wrong, WRONG! The doctor tapped the table, leaning forward and resting his chin in his hand with a rather deep scowl. None of them were satisfactory. He may need to start putting them in the pit again…he had no need for the ones that lose anyway. That demon was useless to him now, no other way to put it. And yet that ridiculous wraith wouldn't kill! He growled to himself and studied the caged areas.

The children were moved to cages often when they weren't good enough for his goal. He had some that were almost adults…if they didn't show results soon, he may need to put them down. That or he could add them to his cloaked men…their gender and race be forgotten, they would simply live to obey him and gather him new subjects. At least that way they actually had a use. The man watched all of them for many hours and still came up with no answer. Very well. He would simply force a result…extreme duress could trigger a response.

Decidedly content with that idea, he searched for someone to apply it to. His eyes landed on the new batch of five year olds. They were used to the comfortable environment of that plain white room, and he never failed to notice that the elf and angel both began to behave differently if he wasn't present in the room. This group…they were young enough to have potential. All he had to do is move them to cages immediately rather than the larger room. Perfect. His grin didn't reach his eyes in the semi-dark room. His plan was set.

☾︎☀︎︎☽︎

It was difficult for the boy, pretending to not notice the creeping chill down his spine whenever ‘father’ came home. The only name he knew was X1, like the strange mark on the back of his neck. ‘Mother’ always fussed over those marks, and he knew he had one too. Why would his siblings have it, and not him? He was always extra careful to keep his wings close to himself so his brothers and sisters wouldn't hurt them again, but it didn't always work. X1 really liked his sister, X4. She was so nice to his wings and mother said she was older too. He liked having a big sister.

X1 was sitting on one of the three couches, watching his siblings play with the soft, harmless toys they were provided. He was ready to help if someone tripped again, but he was otherwise left out when others played. All they wanted to do was play with his wings and got upset if he said no. It…also felt like he thought differently than they did. His siblings were loud, messy, and went wild when father visited. Father…he didn’t like father. Father looked at them funny, it didn't feel the same as how mother did. He wasn't sure why he knew that.

He shifted, wrapping his wings around his body and sighing in thought. This was boring. Movement drew his attention and he watched his mother as she sat beside him. She was smiling. X1 just stared at her when she ruffled his hair, loosening his wings somewhat. “Well? Are you just going to watch them again today?” Idly, he wondered why his mother looked so different from them. She was covered in fur and her face was shaped different…she had a tail and funny ears too. He leaned into her touch anyway, looking around for X4.

“Mother? Why are we different?” Her hand froze momentarily before sliding again as she tried to come up with an answer.

She tilted her head curiously. “I don't think we are? We're the same.” She lightly poked his nose. “We both have a nose.” She waved her finger in front of his eyes, “We both have eyes.” Then she smiled and her hand slipped down his head to his neck, lightly tickling him. He immediately made a strangled noise and squirmed, laughing with a grin--albeit quietly. “We’re both ticklish.” She kept going until he started batting at her and other kids wanted attention too.

He slipped away when they got crowded, flapping his wings awkwardly as he stumbled. X1 had never learned how to fly yet, though his wings were still a bit too soft to fly with. He watched his mother get swarmed, tucking his wings closer to himself at the sight. That would be unpleasant to be in. A hand touched his shoulder and his wings snapped right back out with a yelp. He spun around with wide eyes to see X4 smiling at him. She didn't speak, but she did reach over and poke his nose with one of her characteristic grins.

He blinked, then tried to return a smile, shuffling his wings to keep them safe, wary of the crowd of children nearby. “Hey…” She lightly grabbed his arm, an action she’d done many times before, pulling him away to her usual corner. His wings fluttered when she yanked him to sit down with her, plopping down a tad roughly before crossing his legs. X4 gave him a questioning look and he immediately avoided her gaze. “I'm fine.” Her pointed look definitely doubted him. “It’s just…why are we here? Different? Why does father feel so scary?”

He looked at his hands, then the floor, lost in thought. Her frail hand entered his vision, tapping the floor for his attention before reaching up and setting it on his head. She was always so quiet. As far as X1 had seen, she rarely said anything. She communicated with her eyes and hand gestures. He’d heard his name once or twice from her, but he didn't really need her to speak. All he knew, is that when she gave him her gentle, calming smile, he felt safe. Mother had the same smile, but she only gave it when father visited. He didn't like that.

He hadn't moved, so of course, X4 chose to bend down and look up at him with a pout. X1 flinched back, then smiled. “I’m okay, I promise.” His worrying didn’t do them any good, their home was happy and he only had to help anyone if they fell wrong. He felt her start ruffling his hair and he closed his eyes, shuffling over so lean against his sister. She continued to pet his head, but her hand eventually slipped down to brush through his white feathers. He flexed his wings, but otherwise leaned into the contact happily.

The two of them sat there in a comfortable silence, leaving the wild crowd of their siblings as a fading noise in the background. Even though none of them knew how little they had, or how strange their life was, they felt like this was perfect. They were never hungry, they had toys and friends to play with, a family, and safety. Their mother was playing with the other children, and they both knew that, but neither wanted to move. Why would they? X1 fully relaxed against his older sister, trusting her to protect his delicate wings as he drifted off.

☾︎☀︎︎☽︎

His peace didn't last long. The last thing he knew, he'd been cuddled with his sister, the next he was being woken up by a rough voice and someone clinging to him. What he saw when opening his eyes made him freeze up, stealing his voice while filling him with a new kind of confusion. There were people in dark clothes, their faces hidden, pulling his siblings out of the room without a word. The children were shouting and screaming, his mother was pinned and had something around her mouth. Why was she making a sound he'd never heard before?

The most shocking part was how his gentle sister grabbed his head and shoved it against her chest, pinning him and trying to block his vision. Her voice came out weakly, even holding a strange note as if the language was new to her, “No…X1…” Why was she shaking? Then he finally registered pressure around his wings, causing him to automatically try and pull them free. Pain bloomed through his wings and down his spine, drawing a muffled scream out of him. What happened? Where was he? Why were these people here?

His sister only held him tighter when he tried to squirm free--he wanted to see what was wrong with his wings, but she wasn't letting him. He attempted pushing her away, but before he could, big hands grabbed him and the two were pulled apart harshly. Despite being desperate to look behind him at his wings moments before, his eyes were glued to the tearful face of his favorite sister, watching her resist the strange person even when she was put over their shoulder. He reached a hand towards her, their fingers brushing, but never close enough.

It was too late, as they were fully separated, his wings not moving, and everyone being taken. X1 struggled only briefly, then just went limp when all his movements only caused pain to flare down his back. They were walking somewhere, the walls strangely silver and very long, but the only sounds were these people’s steps and the crying of children. Eventually, he chanced moving calmly to see if he was allowed to look at his wings…and they didn’t stop him. Finding that out, he followed through with it and spared a glance.

His wings were bound by something, a rope stretching across them in just the right way that he couldn't feel it unless he tried to move them. That was better than what he thought happened, actually. As some calm settled over him, he began to process what was going on, observing his surroundings. Alright. So for some reason, all of them were being moved and their mother was still at home. Where was father? Did he do this? Probably. The young angel readjusted in the uncomfortable grip and stared at his crying sister worriedly. What now?

They group walked for a while, stopping when they reached a strange area that nearly made his feathers poof. It smelled weird, as if water went bad here…he didn't know the correct words for it. There were others here, however all of them were older than him and his siblings. Where were they? He stiffed when the dark clothed people began to toss his siblings into these things, separating everyone by a certain number in each one. He kept track of X4 closely, but stayed quiet and obedient. They only got hurt if they resisted anyway.

He yelped when he was finally thrown into one, tumbling over the rough ground and feeling his skin tear from the impact. When it finally stopped he curled into himself, but made no sound. He simply bit his lip, lay there for a minute as he waited for the strange people to leave, and listened. Everyone was getting hurt…he could feel it. They were taken from their home and their mother, but why? Maybe this was why he never felt happy when father was home, he might have done this. Worse, he was pretty sure they weren't going to free his wings.

Finally, their steps faded and it was replaced by the sounds of laughter from their new rough reality. He pushed himself up and began to use healing magic on his own wounds before truly looking around. Already, he could see those older kids messing with his siblings, the other ones visible from his own even though he couldn't possibly reach them. In his, there were…two of the other noisy siblings, and his sister. He stiffened when he realized she wasn't moving, scrambling to get to her and ignoring the older kids that were already messing with the others.

He touched her hesitantly, shaking her while activating his magic. “X4! O-open your eyes!” He was scared, his wings were cramping, and she wasn't responding. At the same time, he could see she was breathing and hear the laughter nearby over his actions. Ignoring all of them, he tried sitting beside her, lifting half her body so he could hold her safely. She was heavy to him, but he didn't even care. He just wanted to keep her away from the weird people in here with them--she didn’t deserve this. Her wounds were healing, but they were still trapped.

—

Masterpost

Backstory Master

Next Chapter

[bunniefleur]

Between Worlds: The Princess of Twisted Realms

Prologue 6 | Book 1: Chapter 1

Prologue 7

After-School Period: Private Lab—Night Raven College

Vivian sat in her dimly lit lab, her diamond-blue eyes flicking between the numerous screens before her. Teddy floated lazily at her side, his small wings fluttering as he peered curiously at the display. The air was tense with unspoken thoughts, the rhythmic hum of machinery the only sound breaking the silence.

On the central screen, the Night Raven College cafeteria buzzed with the usual after-school energy. Vivian's gaze followed Yuu, Grim, Ace, and Deuce as they made their way towards the dwarves' mine—a task they had been hastily assigned as punishment. Though Vivian knew this part of the story, her heart tightened at the thought of her best friend, Yuu, facing such dangers.

“You know you can’t intervene directly, right?” Teddy’s voice was light, but his concern was evident.

“I know,” Vivian replied, her eyes never leaving the screen. “But I can’t just sit back and watch them get hurt. There are ways to help from behind the scenes.”

Teddy let out a small sigh. “They’ve faced plenty already, and they’ll manage. But if things spiral out of control…”

Vivian’s eyes sharpened, her attention shifting to the monitor showing the entrance to the dwarves' mine, where the group was just arriving. Her fingers hovered over a control panel, ready to intervene subtly if necessary.

At the dwarves' mine, a chilling breeze blew past Yuu, Grim, Ace, and Deuce as they stood before the dark, gaping maw of the cavern. Twisted vines hung like skeletal fingers from the entrance, while rusted tools and decaying carts littered the ground, casting eerie shadows under the dim moonlight.

Deuce blinked at the entrance, his usual seriousness now laced with a hint of nervousness. “This place is... unsettling.”

Grim puffed out his chest, though his voice trembled slightly. “Pfft, it’s just an old mine. I bet there’s nothing in there but dust!”

Ace smirked, arms crossed. “Sure, Grim. We’ll see how brave you are when the ghosts show up.”

“G-Ghosts?!” Grim yelped, his ears flattening.

Yuu chuckled softly, patting Grim on the head. “We’ve come this far. We’ll just need to stick together and keep our cool.”

Ace’s eyes caught a dilapidated house near the entrance, its paint faded and chipped. He motioned toward it with a grin. “Hey, check out that old house. Bet it’s where the miners used to live. Might be worth looking inside.”

Deuce, ever practical, eyed the structure warily. “I don’t know... Seems abandoned.”

Nonetheless, they approached the house, stepping through the rusty gate that groaned loudly in protest. The front door creaked as Deuce cautiously pushed it open, revealing a dusty, dim interior. Faded curtains clung to broken windows, and small, child-sized chairs sat abandoned around a tiny table, covered in a thick layer of dust.

Grim, tail bristling, brushed past Deuce only to walk face-first into a spider web. “Argh! Spider webs!” he screeched, flailing wildly as Ace laughed at him.

“Real brave, aren’t you, Grim?” Ace teased, barely containing his amusement.

“C’mon, cut it out,” Deuce muttered, stepping inside. “Doesn’t look like anyone’s been here for years.”

“Which means there’s nothing useful,” Ace said, turning back toward the mine entrance. “Let’s get on with it. We’re wasting time.”

As the group ventured into the mine, the temperature dropped sharply, and the dim light from their magic spells barely illuminated the twisting corridors. Suddenly, the faint sound of eerie, echoing laughter filled the tunnel. Deuce stopped in his tracks, his hand reflexively reaching for his magic pen.

“Did you hear that?” he asked quietly.

From the shadows, a ghostly figure in a tattered miner’s outfit emerged, its hollow eyes glowing eerily. “Visitors...” it whispered. “It’s been so long since we’ve had visitors…”

Grim, trying and failing to hide behind Yuu, trembled. “Wh-What the heck is that?!”

Another ghost, with a malicious grin, floated closer, its voice a rasping whisper. “Come closer... Stay with us forever…”

Ace rolled his eyes but pulled out his magic pen, summoning a gust of wind that swirled through the chamber. “Enough with the haunted house routine. Let’s get rid of these guys and move on.”

Deuce, his voice steady despite the fear creeping into his chest, raised his pen, summoning a protective barrier that glowed a soft blue around the group. “Let’s focus. These are just ghosts—nothing we can’t handle.”

Grim, finally regaining his nerve, stood on his hind legs and let loose a burst of flame. “Take this, you floaty creeps!”

As the fire and wind clashed with the ghostly figures, they wavered, their forms flickering and distorting in the air. Yuu, meanwhile, had found a rusted mining pickaxe. Wielding it, he swung it in wide arcs, forcing the ghosts to retreat further into the shadows.

Ace, his smirk fading as the fight intensified, created a powerful whirlwind with his magic. “Let’s keep pushing! Deuce, cover us!”

Deuce’s barrier held strong against the ghosts' attacks, deflecting their eerie, glowing blasts. “I’ve got you! Keep the pressure on!”

Grim, caught in the heat of battle, fired another volley of flames, his bravado fully returned. “You mess with the Great Grim, you get burned!”

With one final coordinated effort, Ace’s whirlwind, Deuce’s barrier, and Grim’s fire magic combined to overwhelm the ghosts. The chamber filled with the sound of their distorted howls before they finally dissipated, their ghostly forms fading into nothing.

Ace let out a breath, wiping a bit of sweat from his brow. “Well, that was easy.”

Deuce shook his head, looking more cautious. “Don’t get cocky. That was just the start. We still have to find the magestone.”

Grim, his tail still twitching nervously, muttered, “Yeah, yeah, let’s just hurry before more of those ghost creeps show up!”

Yuu stayed quiet, his eyes narrowing as he scanned the tunnel ahead. Despite the victory, the mine still loomed ominously around them, dark and foreboding. *This isn’t over yet. There’s something worse waiting for us. I can feel it.*

Back in the lab, Teddy floated lazily, watching the screens. “Well, that went better than expected. Even Grim pulled his weight.”

Vivian nodded, though her eyes were still focused on the screen. “They did well, but this is only the beginning. The deeper they go, the more dangerous it will become.”

Teddy grinned, casting a glance at Yuu. “Yuu’s looking tense. You’d think he’d be more relaxed, knowing how things go.”

Vivian’s expression softened slightly. “Knowing what’s coming doesn’t make it any easier. If anything, it makes you more cautious.”

With a sigh, Vivian leaned back in her chair, though her gaze remained glued to the monitors. As the group pressed deeper into the mine’s depths, she prepared herself for what lay ahead.

“They’ll be fine,” Teddy reassured her, a teasing edge to his voice. “But it’s nice to know you’ve got their back... even if they don’t know it.”

Vivian allowed a small, fleeting smile to cross her lips. “I’ll always have their back.”

And with that, she refocused, watching as the group ventured deeper into the darkness.

_________________________________________________

Night: Dwarfs’ Mine—The Enchanted Forest

The entrance to the Dwarfs' Mine stood before them, an ominous void carved into the rock. The air inside was cool, damp, and thick with the scent of earth and stone. The darkness was almost suffocating, the flickering lanterns in their hands barely illuminating the narrow, winding corridor ahead.

Yuu adjusted his grip on the lantern, his brow furrowed with worry. If we can avoid that monster, we might just make it out of here without a scratch. The path ahead twisted and turned in tight, jagged curves, the stone walls pressing in on them from every side.

"Great, more ghosts." Ace’s voice cut through the tense silence, his frustration plain as he kicked a stray stone. “This place is crawling with ‘em!”

Deuce kept his gaze straight ahead, trying to keep his cool. “Complaining’s not going to help, Ace. We need to keep moving if we want to find the magestone.”

Ace shot him a sideways glare. “Oh, and when did we make you* the leader? We’re in this mess because you went all gung-ho with your dumb hero act!”

Deuce’s face flushed red. “My stunt? You’re the one who refused to clean the windows in the first place! We wouldn’t even be here if you didn’t keep getting us into trouble!”

Grim, padding along beside them, snarled. “Myah! And if you two hadn’t been bickering like old ladies, I wouldn’t have been distracted in the first place!”

Their voices echoed down the tunnel, growing louder with every word. The tension between them was palpable, each argument adding more weight to the already stifling atmosphere.

Back in the safety of her lab, Vivian leaned over an enchanted monitor, her sapphire eyes focused intently on the scene unfolding below. Shelves of gleaming magical instruments surrounded her, their faint glow reflecting the warm, golden light of the enchanted lanterns hanging from the ceiling. Teddy hovered nearby, his gaze lazily drifting between the monitors, his ears twitching with amusement.

“Well, they’re certainly keeping things lively down there,” Teddy remarked, floating closer to the screen. “Honestly, this is better than half the shows I’ve seen. Ace and Deuce are like a comedy duo that doesn’t know it yet.”

Vivian didn’t share his amusement, her expression serious as she watched her friend Yuu trying to calm down the increasingly heated argument. “Their bickering is only going to make things worse. If they don’t stop, that monster’s going to catch them for sure.”

Teddy chuckled, his voice lighthearted. “Yeah, if they don’t get eaten first. Imagine explaining that to Crowley. ‘Sorry, sir, they got turned into monster chow because they wouldn’t stop fighting.’”

Vivian’s gaze didn’t waver from the monitor, her voice quiet. “I just hope they can get out of there in one piece.”

Back in the mine, Yuu suddenly halted, a shiver running down his spine. His eyes widened as he strained to listen. “Guys… I think I just heard something.”

The group froze, their breath catching as a low, rumbling voice echoed through the cavern. The words were slow, deliberate, and filled with malice. “Stooonesss... Stooonesss aaare miiiiine...”

The ground trembled beneath their feet as the creature stepped into the dim light of their lanterns. It was a towering, hulking mass of jagged stone and shadow, its eyes glowing with a terrifying, unnatural light. Its limbs scraped against the stone walls, and the growl that rumbled from deep within it sent a chill down their spines.

Deuce’s eyes locked onto the magestone resting on a pedestal across the chamber. His heart raced. “There it is! The magestone!”

Yuu grabbed his arm urgently. “No! We need to get out of here!”

Deuce, desperate, shook his head. “But it’s right there! We need it!”

Ace, already backing toward the tunnel, wasn’t having any of it. “You can go after it if you want, but I’m not sticking around to become this thing’s dinner!”

Grim, eyes wide with fear, tugged at Yuu’s sleeve. “Myahh! Hurry! Let’s get outta here!”

Without a second thought, they bolted for the exit, the ground quaking with every step of the monster behind them. They burst out of the mine, collapsing onto the soft grass outside, gasping for air. The sky above had darkened into twilight, the stars just beginning to flicker to life, and the distant sounds of the forest seemed far away compared to the terror they had just escaped.

Grim was the first to speak, still trembling. “That… was WAY too close.”

Ace sat up with a groan, rubbing his shoulder where he’d fallen. “No one told us there’d be a giant rock monster in there!”

Deuce, panting and covered in dirt, shook his head. “That wasn’t just a ghost… That thing was something else.”

Ace shot him a glare. “Yeah? Well, whatever it was, I’m done. Let’s call it a day and head back. Expulsion sounds a lot better than dealing with that thing again.”

Deuce sprang to his feet, glaring right back. “What? Are you serious? We can’t just give up! We’ve come this far! You really want to get expelled because you’re too scared to try?”

Ace crossed his arms and smirked, his tone mocking. “Pfft. Big talk coming from someone who barely managed to throw a decent spell in there. You wanna get the magestone so bad? Be my guest.”

Deuce’s face flushed with anger. “You—!”

“Hey, hey!” Grim waved his paws in the air, trying to defuse the situation. “Let’s not fight, alright?!”

Yuu stepped forward, his patience clearly wearing thin. “Arguing isn’t going to get us anywhere. We need to think of a plan.”

Ace raised an eyebrow, still looking unimpressed. “A plan? What are you gonna do, Yuu? Pull out some genius strategy out of thin air?”

Deuce, still fuming, added, “We barely managed to keep it together in there. How are we supposed to beat that thing?”

Grim, looking between them with wide eyes, muttered, “Maybe we could just… blow it up or something?”

Deuce shook his head. “It’s not that easy, Grim. Magic doesn’t work like that. You can’t just wish for something to happen.”

Ace sighed. “Yeah, exactly. Which is why this is a total waste of time.”

Yuu turned to the group, his expression serious. “I’ve got one idea. But you all need to trust me.”

From the safety of the lab, Teddy was grinning ear to ear as he watched the scene unfold. “They’re like a bunch of kids at recess. This is pure gold.”

Vivian shook her head slightly, her gaze still fixed on Yuu. “They’re getting there. Slowly. But Yuu’s right—they need a plan, and they need to work together.”

Teddy floated back lazily, his grin never faltering. “Well, let’s see if this ‘plan’ of his is worth the wait.”

Back at the mine’s entrance, Yuu took a deep breath and began explaining his idea, the others listening intently despite their earlier bickering. For the first time that night, they began to see that the only way forward was together.

With their resolve renewed, Ace, Deuce, Grim, and Yuu prepared to face the dangers ahead. Though their path was uncertain, they knew that, for now, they were in this together.

---

Night: Dwarfs’ Mine—The Enchanted Forest

Grim's tiny body trembled, yet he puffed out his chest with false bravado, his fur bristling as he frantically waved his paws. His voice wavered, barely hiding the fear bubbling within. “H-hey! You overgrown bricak-head! I'm right here! Come and get me! MYAAAH!”

The monster’s red, glowing eyes locked onto Grim, making him freeze. Its gnarled mouth twisted into a snarl, shaking the ground with its thunderous roar. “Grrraaawrrr! BEGONE!”

Grim’s confidence wavered as the beast’s massive legs began pounding toward him, each step sending vibrations through the ground. “Yuu! He's comin'! Do somethin’!”

Yuu stood his ground, expression unshaken as the beast barreled forward. His voice cut through the creature’s roar, calm yet commanding. “That’s enough.”

The monster hesitated, its wild eyes narrowing on Yuu as it snarled in fury, “Grrruugh?! THIIIEF... STAAAAY AWAAAY! NOOO GIVE STONE! NEVAAAAAAR!”

Its huge fists swung in violent arcs, missing Yuu by inches. Grim’s fur spiked as he backed away, eyes wide. “Eep! If that thing hits us, we’re toast!”

Yuu, maintaining his composure, glanced at Grim. “We’ve got to draw it away from the mine. Come on, Grim!”

The creature’s guttural roar sent a shiver through the forest, its massive body still charging forward.

After what felt like endless dodging, Grim panted with relief. “Finally! We got it far enough from the magestones.”

Yuu’s voice snapped with urgency, signaling their moment. “Ace, Grim, now’s our chance! Do it!”

Ace grinned, his eyes narrowing as he raised his hand. “Alright! Time for a blowout!” He summoned his wind magic, whipping the air into a violent gust. “Wind Blade!”

Grim leapt forward, adding his own flair with a stream of blue flames. “And here’s some Grim-brand fireworks! HYAAAH!” The flames spiraled upward, merging with the wind to form a fiery vortex.

The monster staggered, eyes wide with shock as the inferno bore down on it. “GRRRRAGH?!” It howled, the fire searing its thick hide.

Ace smirked, his smugness on full display. “Looks like Grim’s puny flames can pack a punch with a little help!”

Grim, eyes blazing with irritation, whipped his head toward Ace. “Puny?! You better watch your mouth, you tomato-headed windbag!”

Yuu stepped forward, cutting through their squabbling. “Focus. Deuce, now!”

Deuce clenched his fist, concentrating as his magic built up. “Gotta think of the heaviest thing… something massive… like Ace’s ego. Cauldron!” He slammed his hand forward, conjuring a giant cauldron that came crashing down with an earth-shaking *thud* onto the monster’s head.

The beast groaned, dazed from the impact. “GUAAAH?!” It wobbled, disoriented, as the cauldron pinned it to the ground.

Grim's tail swayed as he hopped with glee. “We got it! Look, Yuu, the monster’s down!”

Ace, arms crossed, threw Deuce a look. “Nice job, but did you really have to crush it like you did me?”

Deuce shot him a quick smirk, still catching his breath. “Well, it worked, didn’t it?”

“Less talk, more action!” Yuu’s voice rang out as he ran toward the magestone. “Grab it, quickly!”

Grim rushed forward, hands already reaching for the magestone, only for the ground to tremble as the creature let out a monstrous roar. “MYYYY STOOOOONE!” It pushed against the weight of the cauldron with terrifying strength.

Ace's eyes went wide. “No way! It's still moving?!”

The monster’s enraged wails echoed through the mine as it struggled to stand. “GIIIIVE BAAAAACK!”

Deuce, panic creeping into his voice, yelled, “It’s too fast! We won’t make it!”

Yuu’s gaze remained sharp, formulating a plan. “If we hit it hard enough, we can stop it for good. Everyone, on my mark!”

Ace groaned, rolling his eyes, but nodded in agreement. “Alright, alright, one last hit. Don’t wet yourself, Deucey!”

Deuce shot him a glare, his resolve hardening. “I’m not scared! Let’s finish this!”

Grim, flames already sparking around his paws, let out a fierce cry. “Time for me to shine! We’ll roast this overgrown gecko!”

Just as they braced for their final attack, a shimmer of light enveloped the group. Ace, Deuce, and Grim blinked in confusion as the gentle barrier of magic surrounded them.

From her hidden spot, Vivian had decided it was time to step in—subtly. With a soft word of magic, she strengthened their defenses, giving them the boost they needed. Her eyes narrowed, observing the rising blot energy from the monster. It was spiraling out of control.

Teddy’s voice echoed gently in her mind. “Vivian, this thing’s not going down easily.”

Vivian’s gaze remained steady. “I know. But let’s see how they handle it for now.”

Grim’s flames roared hotter than before, his eyes gleaming with newfound strength. “Whoa! Where’d this power come from?! Alright, let’s finish this for real!”

Deuce, feeling the magical boost course through him, nodded. “Now’s our chance. Let’s give it everything we’ve got!”

Ace, wind swirling around him, grinned. “Here we go! Let’s blow this thing away!”

With Vivian’s magic bolstering their energy, the group unleashed a devastating final strike. Grim’s flames erupted into a towering inferno, fanned by Ace’s powerful winds. Deuce’s cauldron slammed down one more time, smashing into the monster with crushing force.

The beast let out a final, agonized roar as the combined magic overwhelmed it. Its body, weakened and broken, collapsed to the ground with a deafening crash. The blot energy surrounding it evaporated, leaving nothing but silence.

Deuce hunched over, hands braced against his knees, his breathing ragged as he tried to catch his breath. His forehead glistened with sweat, and he gasped out between breaths, “Is... is it over?”

Ace, still on edge, his eyes scanning their surroundings, slowly relaxed when nothing else jumped out at them. A smug grin tugged at the corners of his lips. "Looks like we actually pulled it off! Not too bad for a bunch of first-years, huh?"

Grim, ever the ball of confidence, puffed out his chest and raised his paw for a high-five. “Yeah, that's right! I was amazing, wasn’t I? Victory high-five, now!” He waved his paw insistently.

The trio hesitated only briefly before slapping their hands (and paw) together, their voices a cacophony of triumph. “Yeeeah!”

Yuu, standing a little off to the side, couldn’t help but chuckle at their energy. Wiping the sweat from his brow, he smiled. “Nothing like almost dying to bring people closer together, right?”

Deuce, having finally caught his breath, straightened up with a shake of his head. “Nah, I don’t think that’s what happened here…”

Ace rolled his eyes dramatically, folding his arms. “Yeah, Yuu, save the cheesy lines for storybooks. We just survived a monster fight, not a friendship seminar.”

Grim, never one to let anyone else have the last word, shot Yuu a look of mock indignation. “You guys are lucky to even *be* on my team! This whole thing? All me! If I hadn’t been there with my top-tier magic skills, we wouldn’t be celebrating squat!”

Ace groaned but, begrudgingly, nodded. “Okay, fine, I’ll admit it. We mostly won because of Yuu’s plan.”

Deuce nodded with equal sincerity, his voice steady. “Yeah, if you hadn’t kept your head and given us clear instructions, we wouldn’t have made it out of there in one piece. Now I won’t get expelled... Thank goodness.” He exhaled deeply in relief.

Yuu smiled, grateful that everyone was okay. “I'm just glad no one got hurt. Teamwork really—”

Ace cut him off with a wave of his hand. “Yeah, yeah, save the moral of the story for later, can we? I’m beat.” He stretched lazily, rubbing at his sore shoulders.

Grim’s ears perked up as his stomach growled loudly. “Speaking of beat... all that fightin’ made me hungry! Wait, what’s this?” His eyes fell on something glittering near his feet, and he stooped to pick it up.

Deuce frowned as he leaned closer, examining the strange object in Grim’s paw. “Wait... is that a magestone? But why does it look like that? It’s black as coal… I've never seen one like this.”

Grim sniffed the stone with deep curiosity, his eyes brightening. “Ooooh, it smells *good*... Like, really good!” His tail swished excitedly behind him.

Ace's face twisted in disgust, immediately sensing trouble. “Are you nuts? That thing came from the monster we just beat! You’re not seriously thinking about *eating* it, are you?!”

But Grim, completely ignoring Ace, licked his lips and let out a little cackle. “If it smells this good, it’s gotta taste even better! Must be some kind of rare monster candy.” And before anyone could stop him, Grim took a massive bite out of the stone.

“Grim, no!” Yuu shouted, lunging forward to try and grab him.

Vivian’s eyes widened in horror, the implications of what Grim had just done flashing in her mind. This was bad. Really bad.

Ace and Deuce stared in shock as Yuu grabbed Grim, shaking him frantically. “Spit it out! NOW!” Yuu demanded.

“Myaaah! Let go of me, you crazy human!” Grim squawked, his paw batting at Yuu’s hands as he reluctantly spat out the remainder of the stone.

Deuce rushed over, his voice panicked. “Grim, are you okay?!” He hovered anxiously, his hands twitching as though unsure whether to help or scold.

Ace facepalmed with a groan. “Honestly, what did you expect from eating literal monster junk, Grim?”

For a moment, Grim looked dazed, like he might be about to keel over... and then his eyes sparkled. “Ooooh, hooo... That was *amazing*!”

Ace and Deuce blinked in disbelief. “Wait... What?!”

Grim, still caught up in the euphoria, sighed dreamily. “It was like... like eating the most fragrant flowers in bloom! All delicate and sweet! A whole garden of ‘em, right in my mouth!” He twirled dramatically, looking as though he were in a state of bliss.

Ace looked horrified. “Okay, gross. Monsters seriously have the weirdest taste buds.”

Deuce, nodding in agreement, added, “Yeah... Most humans don’t eat glowing rocks off the ground, Grim.”

Yuu, meanwhile, rubbed his temples, exasperated. “Grim, don’t ever do that again. Seriously.”

Grim waved off their concerns, grinning proudly. “Pffft, you guys worry too much. I’m fine! My stomach’s made of iron!”

Ace raised an eyebrow, crossing his arms. “Let’s see if you’re still bragging after your stomach revolts later tonight.”

Deuce clapped his hands together, trying to refocus everyone. “Right! Let’s pull ourselves together and go. The sooner we get this stone out of our hands, the better.”

Grim, ever the drama king, huffed. “Myah, whatever! Just don’t forget who the real hero is!”

Yuu sighed, shaking his head. “Let’s just... go before something else happens.” He glanced warily at Grim, the worry not entirely gone from his eyes.

_________________________________________________

Night: Private Lab—Night Raven College

Vivian lingered at the window of her lab, her sapphire eyes following Yuu, Ace, Deuce, and Grim as they walked down the dimly lit path toward Night Raven College. The tension in her shoulders eased slightly as they retreated into the distance, but her expression remained serious. With a small, almost imperceptible wave of her hand, she released a subtle healing spell. The magic spread through the air like a whisper, cloaking the group in a faint glow that mended their cuts and bruises, easing their fatigue. It was a quiet gesture, unseen and unfelt, but necessary.

Teddy, floating beside her, let out a quiet sigh of relief, his tiny wings fluttering softly in the stillness. His usual mischievous grin had faded into an expression of quiet concern. "They’re tough, I’ll give ‘em that," he muttered, his gaze following the group until they disappeared from view. "But that was close."

Vivian’s lips curved slightly in response, but her smile didn’t reach her eyes. The lingering worry in her heart was clear, the weight of unspoken thoughts heavy on her mind. "Yeah... too close," she whispered, her voice barely audible. Her fingers absently traced patterns on the glass, her brow furrowed in thought.

Teddy tilted his head, his sharp eyes catching the faint tension in Vivian’s normally composed demeanor. "You’re thinking about that black stone Grim swallowed, aren’t you?" he asked, his tone unusually serious. "That wasn’t any ordinary magestone."

Vivian’s gaze darkened, her expression hardening as she recalled the ominous energy that had radiated from the stone. The light from her lab cast delicate shadows on her face, highlighting the sharp angles of her jaw as she considered the implications. "No, it wasn’t," she agreed quietly, her voice steady but troubled. "That stone was saturated with dark, forbidden magic. Grim shouldn’t have been able to consume something like that without severe consequences. The fact that he did... it’s unsettling."

Teddy hovered closer, his wings beating in slow, deliberate strokes as he thought. "And Yuu... he noticed it too, didn’t he? You could see the worry in his eyes the moment Grim bit into that thing."

Vivian nodded, her expression thoughtful as she turned toward the large crystalline screen that dominated one side of her lab. With a flick of her wrist, the screen hummed to life, displaying a swirling mass of magical data. Two distinct energy signatures appeared on the screen—one, a dense, chaotic swirl of dark magic pulsing from Grim, and the other, an almost imperceptible flicker of something faint, barely detectable, coming from Yuu.

Her sapphire eyes narrowed as she studied the readings, her sharp mind processing the implications. "This isn’t normal," she murmured, pointing to the faint speck of energy that represented Yuu. "He doesn’t have magic. By all accounts, he shouldn’t. And yet... here it is. Something ancient, something powerful, but buried so deep it’s almost impossible to detect."

Teddy’s eyes widened as he took in the data. His normally playful expression was replaced by one of deep contemplation, his small brow furrowing as he tried to understand what he was seeing. "It’s like a spark of something... something waiting to ignite," he mused quietly. "Could it be connected to the magic that brought you both here? Maybe this... flicker of power is tied to your inter-dimensional research."

Vivian’s lips pressed into a thin line, her mind racing with possibilities. "That’s what worries me," she admitted, her voice low. "This unknown magic, whatever it is, could be the key to understanding why we’re here. But if it’s tied to dark, forbidden energy like that stone... then Yuu and Grim might be in more danger than we realized."

Teddy’s usual bravado softened as he watched Vivian, his small frame almost dwarfed by the towering screens and shelves of magical equipment that filled the lab. He knew how much weight she carried—her responsibility as Crown Princess, her determination to protect those around her, and her relentless pursuit of answers. "You’re not alone in this, y’know," he said gently, his tone softer than usual. "I’m with you every step of the way. But you need to take care of yourself too."

Vivian’s eyes flickered with a brief moment of gratitude, but the resolve in her expression didn’t waver. "I appreciate that, Teddy. But I can’t afford to let my guard down now. There’s too much at stake."

Teddy sighed, his wings drooping slightly as he hovered closer. "I know, I know. But you’ve been pushing yourself hard lately. If you keep going like this, you’ll burn out before you find any answers."

Vivian’s gaze softened as she turned to look at Teddy, her expression warm despite the exhaustion that tugged at her. "You’re right," she conceded, her voice gentle. "I’ve been too focused on the bigger picture. We’ll continue the research, but for now... let’s get some rest."

Teddy’s eyes lit up with relief, his usual mischievous spark returning as he fluttered around her. "Finally! I thought I’d have to drag you back to bed myself."

Vivian chuckled softly, the sound light and almost musical, a brief reprieve from the weight she carried. "I’ll hold you to that," she teased, giving him a playful look as she started to turn away from the screen.

But before she could fully shift her focus, her gaze lingered one last time on the data swirling across the crystalline display. The faint flicker of magic tied to Yuu pulsed weakly, almost as if it was waiting—waiting for something to awaken it, to unlock its potential.

As Vivian and Teddy left the lab, the quiet hum of magical energy filled the air, a subtle reminder that the mysteries of Twisted Wonderland were far from over. And while the night’s events had unveiled new dangers, Vivian knew that the path ahead, though uncertain, would be one she faced with unwavering determination.

[caramel-catss]

botw/totk zelink headcanons

for @waroferas 🫶

they get married. first and foremost LOL. i will elaborate

after botw, zelda moves into link's house. they were already in love pre-calamity but neither realized or did anything about it. so they get to fall for each other againnnnn GAH. it just naturally progresses between them... there's only one bed, so of course they share it. of course link makes breakfast for himself and zelda. of course zelda braids link's hair and weaves flowers into it. of course link gives zelda his coat when she's cold. and then one night zelda is looking into link's eyes and they are so soft and his face is so joyful and carefree in a way she never imagined he'd ever able to be and suddenly she's brushing her hand against the scars on his chin and his breath hitches and they are so close and link leans in closer and zelda kisses him .

they make graves for the champions together

to me zelda drops the princess title, declares the castle a historical monument, and dissolves the monarchy. also to me like 90% of totk doesn't exist. so

link has no last name and zelda doesn't like hers. they create a new one for them both

the two fully embrace a domestic village life. link takes care of his and zel's horses or forages or helps out townspeople or follows zelda around or does whatever he feels up to doing. zelda starts the school and splits her time between it and working at purah's lab to research sheikah tech

zelda has a telescope and stays up late to look at the stars. link joins her. sometimes (mostly in the winter when it gets dark early) they'll invite hateno townsfolk to join them

botw took link 2-3 years, and the time between it and totk is about 5 years. when they marry, link and zelda are 23-ish? give or take a few years. being a kinda-medieval-ish world, it's probably a more normal age to marry

they get married at the heart pond. they only invite a few people; kass, riju, sidon, teba, yunobo, purah, impa & paya... close friends of theirs

link made their wedding rings by hand! got some help from the jewelry seller in gerudo town. zelda's has a silent princess shape - a topaz in the middle, and the petals made from diamond and sapphire

link has chronic migraines and zelda takes care of him. she tells him about hyrule before the calamity and helps him get his memories in order

they trade off for dinner w/ link cooking and preparing the meal and zelda cleaning the dishes

it is so so so important to zelda that they have an equal partnership, especially now that she isn't a princess and link isn't a knight. link respects this!!! it's a bit hard for him to adjust at first because of his previous relationship with zelda, but they are equals :)

sometimes they'll catch themselves falling into old habits!!! zelda sets the table in a traditional royal way without realizing. in the beginning (re: adjusting) link would subconsciously stand at attention when zelda approached him.

zelda had to learn a lot of things about life because she grew up rich!!!! link teaches her how to cook, mend + sew + wash clothing, etc... she's never done chores before and he had to re-learn them on the fly. they laugh a lot while they do this

link cuts zelda's hair short. zelda brushes link's hair as he grows it out

TOTK IS A ROLESWAPPPPPP FOAMS AT THE MOUTH TOTK ROLESWAP. GOD. only thing that makes its story bearable for me HONESTLY .

they're the kind of star-crossed lovers who are soulmates and would sacrifice themself for the other in an instant. important for totk lol

link places absolute faith in his wife when he swallows the secret stone. he knows how smart she is and know she'll find a way to help him, but even if she isn't able to... he doesn't mind. as long as this decision will help her and hyrule, he is okay with being a dragon for eternity

it's absolutely DEVASTATING for zelda when she finds out. link already lost an entire century because of her inability to save him. and now, he's lost his entire self for goddess knows how long... because she didn't catch him

zelda spends hours laying on link-as-dragon. she prunes his scales for him and memorizes his flight path

after botw, zelda passed out from exhaustion and link carried her on his horse back to hateno. after totk, link passes out from exhaustion and zelda carries him back on her horse <3

they officially adopt two cats after totk (i know they're not in either game shhhh they exist now) but link has and will bring home whatever animal is friendly to him and there are many feral animals in their backyard that link feeds

link had a very cloudy head and dissociated a lot post-botw, but after totk it got a LOOOOT worse. he'll be there one moment, and zoning out the next. over time it does get better but he's never quite the same

zelda wielded the master sword during totk and became quite a good swordsman herself. link used to sometimes go off to deal with small monster problems, and now either both of them go or just zelda if link's not feeling well

they don't use the master cycle often because it takes a lot of important materials to power it... but sometimes they'll go to hyrule field and play with it for fun

link primarily signs still. his voice was damaged from the fatal guardian hit, and the shrine of resurrection didn't fully heal it. but, when he feels safe (usually around zelda), he quietly speaks out loud. zelda, knowing why he was silent pre-calamity, can't put into words how happy it makes her

they grow old together :) after totk, they're finally allowed rest, and they live out their days as carefree village folk. both of them are the happiest they've ever been

[softquietsteadylove]

Kinda miss ice queen

So, this is not a request, but listen babe, same! So, here are some headcanons I have that I just haven't been able to fit into any particular story as of yet.

Although I guess since they're my headcanons for my au, they're kind of canon?

Thena was born into the family business as was everyone before her. They get raised and assessed and once they prove they're capable, they can take their own branch in whatever direction they want. She comes from Russian mafia business but she's the one who learned to corner the American diamond economy with both natural and lab grown diamonds to create her own competition and scarcity to control her own supply and demand.

Thena learned to use knives at an early age, and the knives grew with her. She can use other weapons, but none like a knife. She still has her little baby knives stashed away for nostalgia's sake. It freaks Kingo out that they're just sitting around somewhere in her office.

Thena's only other relationship was with a boy she used to train with. She did skating and ballet and equestrian training and he did wrestling and diving. They had two physical encounters and never spoke another word to each other. She poured one out for him when she found out he was killed.

Gil has always been a point of interest for her. She won't admit it, but ever since Ajak formed their loose community of those with 'business' in the city, she has kept tabs on the Tyrant King. She just thought it was fascinating how he commanded such a wide territory the way he did. No personal interest whatsoever. Sersi would argue that she does the same thing with Chinatown, but sure, no personal interest.

Gil has always been a little protective of Thena. It's his gentlemanly nature coming out. She would get mad at him for it, but if he heard she was getting hassled or something he would ask if she wanted to borrow his resources. She said her methods were more effective.

She maintains her Korean, which is still at an acceptable novice's level. She gets a little shy about it, though, so she doesn't really practice it at home much. Imo will encourage her, though, so they'll speak on the phone and through email in Korean. Thena is well and truly scared of her aunt/mother-in-law.

It is true that Koreans don't really consider someone an in-law; as far as Imo is considered, Thena is her daughter just as much as Gil is her son. And she approves greatly. If she needs to contact them for anything, she'll call Thena first, much to Gil's frustration.

Thena had to cut all ties with her family--business rules. There does exist a man she might call Grandfather, whom she doesn't contact except in emergencies. When Gil was shot she called him. She dealt with the Little Heiress herself, but the actual shooters were found for her by those from her old life. Cutting off the ring finger is actually an old Russian mafia practice.

Grandfather learned of the engagement and sent her the veil her mother wore for her wedding, also with the lace design that's actually a form of a family crest. After the veil was taken home the box was ordered to be burned. Kingo was even more freaked out by that.

Karun feels a lot like Thena's favourite attendant from when she was young, so even as one of her assistants, he feels very fatherly. She has a soft spot for him, and she doesn't let Gil kiss her if Karun is watching.

Thena really is sentimental. She collected up all the flower petals from Gil's failed proposal and kept them. She has some of them framed just between panes of glass very artistically. He doesn't even realise what it is for a while, but when he does he gets very sentimental and mushy over how romantic it is. She's mortified.

Thena does have a skincare routine, mostly basic cleansing and some serums maybe. She wears light makeup when she has meetings. Gil tried to replenish her stuff for her once as a sweet gesture, and while he image matched them all he was horrified to discover the price of them, as if they both aren't rich. He got her onto Korean skincare stuff because he swears it's better, and she doesn't need any of it anyway (such husband material).

Thena had her tubes tied as soon as she was age of majority. It wasn't known that she'd had her relations with the boy from her academy days, but everyone in their family gets their tubes tied to prevent complications. Her mother was an exception as the only daughter in eight generations.

Thena has more stamina than Gil. He's great at satisfying her, of course, but if they're both wound up, Thena can easily go for four rounds while Gil usually tops out at three. That's why he's gotta put on his best moves (his own words).

Even moved in together, Thena doesn't like Gil knowing too much about when her period comes and how she deals with it.

Imo has shown Thena all her baby pictures of Gil and she secretly really, really adored them. They look just like him now and it's the only time she's even remotely thought about children, even if they both can't have them. She's never spoken a word of this to Gil.

[labgrown-diamond-ring]

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The larger facets of a cushion cut diamond enhance its brilliance and create a soft, romantic glow. This cut is perfect for showcasing the diamond’s clarity and luster, making it a favorite among those who seek a ring with both visual appeal and historical significance.

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Cushion cut lab-grown diamond rings offer the perfect combination of elegance, sustainability, and meaning. Whether you choose the symbolic three-stone setting or the classic solitaire, these rings are designed to reflect your unique love story. As you prepare to take this significant step in your life, consider a cushion cut lab-grown diamond ring—an ethical, beautiful, and timeless choice that will symbolize your commitment for years to come.

[gamekids-firewolf]

The rest of the main kids... just to round out the bunch.

One again, descriptions go under the cut

Damon Asheford (he/him)

Black hair, red eyes, diamond flick nose

Casual clothes: orange suit coat, dark blue tie, white button-up, brown slacks, black shoes

5 feet 7 inches, 17 - 18 years old, beauty mark beneath his right eye

Also known as "Omen" or "Kingpin"

Pompous and a drama king. A snake in a bed of roses. Oozes charm.

Game Form: uneven red horns, crooked teeth, forked tongue, claws, red vest, orange long-sleeved button-up, single thin red wing, red fur, devil tail, hooved feet

Niculaie Vladimirescu (he/him)

Black hair tied back with a red ribbon, red eyes, angular nose

Casual clothes: long-sleeved dark blue shirt, three necklaces, dark brown trousers, black shoes

6 feet 2 inches, 17 - 18 years old, tall and lanky

Also known as "Vampire"

Withdrawn and always trying to make himself seem smaller. Quiet and doing his best despite his broken heart.

Game Form: white cape with a red tail and ribbon, white vest, white trousers. Does not have arms.

Jonathan Wallace (he/him)

Black hair in his face, black eyes, wide hook nose

Casual clothes: white lab coat, light green vest, white button-up, purple trousers, black shoes

5 feet 7 inches, 17 - 18 years old, slouches

Also known as "Hyde"

Flat expressions and surly, but also flirty and dramatic. Two-faced!

Game Form: unused (mad scientist core)

Natasha Zima (she/her)

Brown-red hair up in a ponytail, green eyes, solid nose

Casual clothes: yellow scarf, light blue sweater, pink skirt, dark blue leggings, light blue boots

5 feet 6 inches, 16 - 17 years old, hiking legs

Also known as "Royalty"

Cheerful and expressive, wears her emotions on her sleeve

Game Form: grey bat wings, grey vest, grey skirt, grey boots, grey gloves, black bodysuit, bat clip in hair and buck teeth

Aglaé Desrosier (he/they)

Frizzed brown hair, dark blue eyes, solid nise

Casual clothes: pink sweater vest, short-sleeved white button-up, dark blue jeans, pink shoes

5 feet 4 inches, 16 - 17 years old, small but powerful

Also known as "Beauty"

Flat and disinterested. Always reading. Is actually fairly shy and easily flustered.

Game Form: brown horns and fur, brown vest, rose pin, skeletal and sinewey

Vektoria Ketxiah (she/her)

Flared out black hair, black eyes, angular nose

Casual clothes: white long-sleeved shirt, white gloves, white trousers, black shoes

5 feet 7 inches, 17 - 18 years old, shadow biology

Also known as "Thief"

Either really smug or annoyed in some way. Her eyes glow white when she wants to intimidate. She does still mimic, but it's less obvious.

Game Form: white scarf that can be used as a hood, black sleeveless shirt, white gloves, black fencer pants, white boots, white mask and silver key sword can be manifested

[lapis-lights]

I'm about halfway through Falling From Grace and since it's at a whopping 23k already, I feel like it's necessary to know what a majority of you would want the chapter lengths to be so I can start splitting it up accordingly.

All I ask is just an answer on the poll. As a treat, there's another excerpt below the cut :)

Without the cardigan, the scars are on full display for anybody to see and pick through. The rosy filter falls away and you're left with the brutal reality of what you really are–that this is all temporary no matter how much you avoided returning to the truth. 

Your eyes can't seem to tear away from the view of your back, pulling all of your attention away from Leon, and you don't even notice when his reflection joins by your side in the mirror. 

"Hey," he murmurs, earning a faint flick of your eyes toward him in recognition. "None of that, okay?"

"But-"

"But nothing," he says firmly, and the words of protest die on your tongue. "C'mon. You look great."

"What's the catch?" You ask sullenly, snatching up your cardigan and throwing it over your shoulders–anything to get those reminders of shame away from your vision. "You'd never compliment me without wanting something in return."

Leon shakes his head. "Nothing. I can't compliment my not-wife whenever I want?"

That pulls a huff of a laugh from you as you roll your eyes, but you know he can probably read the reluctant amusement pulling at your painted lips. Since when did he know how to lighten up your mood so easily?

"You can compliment me when we're in public and have to convince people we're actually married," you decide, moving past him towards the door. "And yet I don't even have a ring on my finger. What a shame."

"I didn't think you were interested in material goods," he comments, opening the door.

You walk out into the hallway, waiting for him to close the door and make sure it was locked. "They say diamonds are a girl's best friend."

"I thought your best friend was that magnum you almost took my eye out with."

"...You got me there."

You don't trust Leon to get there safely without crashing the car into a pedestrian so you convince him to fork over the keys once you reach the vehicle. He only pouts minimally, but eventually gets over himself after you tease him for being the optimal passenger princess. He has a map built into the screen on his dashboard so you look up the name on the search bar and find the address. 

You put the vehicle in reverse and back out, pulling out of the parking space and navigating out into the city roads. 

Honestly, the sunset looks just as pretty as the rise was in the morning, but this blaze lasted just a tad longer. It's so bright that you have to lower the sun visor just so that it isn't intruding into your eyes. 

"I'm curious," Leon begins from your side and a spark of interest rolls in your chest. You've been doing that a lot lately, being constantly attuned to whatever he was doing at the moment and whatever he says. It's ridiculous. "How come you've never been here if it's so close to the location you left?"

You frown. "You're curious a lot."

"Sure."

"Well," you breathe in, taking the chance to switch lanes and find some small comfort in the rhythmic beat of the turn signal, "I was pretty wrapped up in work to travel too far from the lab they had me at, and vacation days were rarely given out but it was more than enough to pay the bills. My apartment was in a different direction from here in a sleepy town that was off the map."

"That sounds nice," Leon murmurs and you have to huff out a laugh at that. 

"It was when I got to go. Landlords were a bit disgruntled since I was almost never home, but they got the payment from me and that's what mattered." You think about it, missing your old place already and how you'd tried to make it your own. It's not much, but it was nice enough in case anybody came over. 

Nobody ever did.

"Is that something you see yourself having in the future?" Leon asks.

"What?"

"Like a home that's away from all this crap. You know, something…quiet. Peaceful."

"I'd like to think so," you shrug and toss him a sad sort of smile. "But, I never got to experience it for real so I wouldn't know."

He doesn't say anything after that...

[slutforsilverfoxes]

🔊 Calling my fellow McGarrett girls, gays, and theys:

A McGarrett x reader undercover op at a casino has been begging itself to be written... do I keep going with this? Excerpt below the cut 👀

When your former mentor had contacted you about an opening at her coral reef research lab, moving from Camden to Oahu had been a no brainer. You’d packed up your life in New Jersey and been on a plane to the Aloha State within a week. Your favorite cousin, who’s truthfully more like the big brother you always wanted, had been elated to hear the news, welcoming you at the airport with open arms and two simple rules.

“Always answer the phone when I call so you don’t worry me to death,” Danny had said, holding up one finger, “and two,” he added a second, “you’re an adult and you can date anyone on this island-”

“Thank… you?”

“-but stay away from this schmuck.”

The schmuck in question had simply rolled his eyes, draped a beautiful lei around your neck, and greeted you with a warm hug. “It’s nice to finally meet the famous Y/N. I’m Steve.”

Your confident promise to your cousin had been broken a whopping two months later- and no, you hadn’t ignored one of his phone calls.

“Did you get me a beer?” you ask with a teasing lilt to your voice, wringing out your wet hair before dropping down onto the bench beside your boyfriend of three months. A quick glance around reveals that Danny’s over by the shrimp truck with Kamekona, and you lean forward to steal a kiss before putting some space between yourself and your favorite brunette.

“I surely did not,” Steve sasses back and takes a swig of his ice cold beverage. “Alcohol and diving do not mix. But I did happen to get a mango smoothie from that one place down the road this pretty girl I know really likes.”

“Oh yeah?”

“Mhm,” he responds, a goofy grin spreading across his handsome face. “But, uh, she didn’t show, so I guess you can have it.”

You laugh and give him a playful shove, then let out a content hum as you pop the straw through the lid and take a grateful sip. “So good,” you moan in delight, and Steve has to bite his lip to refrain from making a comment when he spots Danny approaching the table with your regular orders.

“Hey, you.” Your cousin greets you with a kiss on the cheek before taking up residence on the bench across from you and Steve. “Why’re you sitting all the way over there, huh? You like that clown better or somethin’?”

“This guy?” you snort, taking your lunch off the tray and rifling through the napkins in search of a fork.

“Ouch.” Steve winces as if burned by your comment, and you surreptitiously squeeze his thigh beneath the table.

“So tell me about this case you’ve got,” you coax your cousin to change the subject, spearing some grilled veggies on the plastic tines and scooping up a respectable mound of rice on top.

“So there’s a diamond smuggling ring-” Danny starts, and you immediately cut him off with, “Shut up, that doesn’t happen in real life.” You turn to Steve for confirmation, but nothing about his facial expression suggests this is a joke. “Are you serious right now? BFFR, Danno.”

“I don’t- I don’t know what that means. Why are you making me feel old?”

“Be fucking for real,” you and Steve supply in unison, and you smile proudly at him. “You’re learning!”

“Between you and Gracie, I keep up, okay?”

“Oh, between my cousin and my daughter, you- okay, that’s excellent,” Danny says, his tone indicating it’s anything but. “Anyway, they’re using poker games as a cover to uh, collect their product, shall we say.”

“There’s enough rich people on Oahu with actual diamonds?” you ask, incredulous. “And here I am working like a pleb for paper currency.”

“Word,” Steve seconds your statement, raising his beer in a toast. You clink your smoothie against it before taking another refreshing sip. “So how’re you gonna catch them?”

“Well, there’s a high roller tournament on Friday night that we’re betting they’ll hit. We wanted to go in undercover and flush them out but…” Steve trails off and gazes at you thoughtfully, but Danny’s shaking his head before the next words have even formed on the brunette’s lips.

“No, absolutely not. Don’t even think about it, Steve.”

“What?” You turn to him, excitement coursing through your veins at the way his eyes have lit up. “Think about it! And tell me what you’re thinking about.”

“You could go undercover with me to the tournament, help me gather some intel. Maybe we get you to confirm the diamonds are actually in their possession and-”

“No!” Danny chimes in again. “What’s the matter with you, huh? These guys have killed two people already, Steve. It’s too dangerous for her.”

“First off, fuck that-”

“Language.”

With an eye roll, you amend, “Forget that. More importantly, shouldn’t Danny go undercover? You kind of suck at poker, Steve.” You feel a sharp pinch at your side and you yelp in protest, slapping at the SEAL. “It’s true, you little-”

“You’re not going,” Danny says definitively. “What about Tani?”

Steve shakes his head. “Tani and Junior have already questioned two of the men involved. They’ll be made before they even get to the table.”

You cross your arms and level your cousin with a smirk. “Sounds like you need me, Danno.”

“Then I’m going with you,” he declares.

“Yeah, no, hard pass,” you backpedal. “Even as a former thespian, there’s no way I can convincingly play arm candy for you without it being weird.”

“So, it’s settled then, little Williams,” Steve says with a grin. “You and me. Friday night. The high roller table at the Ilikai Hotel.”

[callumleckie2017]

Hyper-Space - The Simulation of Servitude & the Architecture of the Mega-Machine

Or

'Human' & His Guide: The Jornery through the Nine Circuits of the Divine Fractal Zones know as: Hell.

(a continuous working draft).

Fractal realities issue out of pre-rendered holographic sockets - digital orifices spewing hyber-cyber frequencies that rapidly enmesh, our Human's flesh with hair-fine liquid like razor wire that cuts into our Human's anatomy followed by a sudden pull that starts a sucking vacuum with the strength of dozen sonic booms as he just comically disappears into what would almost amount to an eye of an needle - siphoned through a split atom sized hole (or so it seemed) within nought of nano second, sqeezing him out finally from the jelly-wet and npe doubled dilated hole - as an infinite explosion of malignant echo's cast ripples of neon rainbows that flood his pores with its atomic waste, skin peeling radiation the works.

Our Human's now in -- hyper speed - fast -- for-warding in some manically mind bending metamorphosis of matter, flesh - bone, from the bottom up to tip of his cranium - as ripping sound seems to reproduces his anatomy in a ultra smooth pale yellow plastic returning him to the manikin man he wasn't. His mouth now a perfect O, his eyes: two Obsidian black pearls sucked into place.

Our Human since sucked and spat out now stands rigid in the center of square cell - four walls, ceiling and floor, all glistening with mother of pearl, his toes then his entire feet start sprouting fine fissures of gold (enrooting) circuit lines slowly branching outwards across the floor in multiple channels which had rapidly root him to the spot (before he had even attempted to move a foot) until entire floor is a perfectly engrave in the finely threaded gold circuitry system.

Hyper--speed -- each four corners of the room fracture out in hyperbolic-geometrical-fractal fissures - suddenly shoot outwards in all directions until the entire four walls are engraved in a cybernetic virus. it's once golden circuitrty is now breaking out in a spontaneous blooming of some kind of sick binary bacteria fugue its glows phosphorus: cybernetic cancerous growths.

It starts circuitrty channels start issuing out from his toenails before inverting into our Human's legs up until his anatomy is entirely enmeshed -- then within a nano second and the all but last empty vacuums of space within cell are filled with via fractals of intricately arranged geometrical lines of fine liquid diamond razor wire bites into his flesh causing four seconds of indescribable pain until they pass through entirely finally -- suddenly his mouth piece begins issuing a semi-translucent klidoscopic light filling the last of any remaining space causing a pin prick black hole in the bottom corner of the cell which then in a nano dilutes suddenly sucking at him and the fractal room into its seemingly gaping black oblivion until he emerges breaking through a pink plasm film until he emerges screaming into what was once - Mexico now - Neo-XiKo, and the year - 2510 now a vast wastelands with clusters of chemical labs grinding mutanted strains of the rotting meat of native tribesmens rotting corpses mashed together with malign vines waiting to be processed in the gas chambers. Torture chambers. Chambers and more chambers.

Opium poppies with sigils carved into the pods (an attraction tactic to harvest Need Freaks far and wide) growing wild mutated overgrown covering old abandoned crack flats and cat houses. Pumped but limp seeping milk into thousand drip drops from their oversized pods that were rapidly lapped up by the Cat people before the milk hardened (sometimes in long urine-like slashes) up like dry wax, huge pale puddles of drying gum, the junkies wait once the beasts have had there fill. Dozens of Ayahuasca fill silos circle the chemical labs where raw opium is rendered into Hydo-Fent, cooking up even more potent opioids via chemical combinations - an infinity of numbers making mouculer geometry - atoms arranged into new chemical nightmares. Never ending nightmares.

Vast gigantic Fly Agaric mushrooms droop over the wastelands their vast red caps decomposing slowly in the sun causing the speckled white spots to melt and slide off the caps like some hallucinogenic cottage cheese.

Dozens of thin crucifixes sixty metres high tower into the sickly yellow sky swaying over the crack stalls and brick factories and torture cells, like macabre satellites of wood and meat, the crucified long since stopped screaming now puretrfied sacrificed nailed high corpses now only alive via the parasites that feast off them ... while they lay in wait for hosts of crow, vultures and so on. ...The very First of the Crucified nothing lives - baked to beautiful bleach pink encrusted husks, rendered that way from the radiating rays of the atomic eye, the pulsating blood orange that is the, Sun still rising (has it never) to claim itself as the only legitimate god of the Wasteland: Helios

Our Human walks already blistering naked reborn dead - and continues into the first Circuit, his guide known simply as the Other walks beside him, imitating his every move and gesture, our Human and its doppelganger guide now begin to finish the tame tour of this first of the nine Circuits...They slowly pass in pulsations through yet another field of Opuim poppies - forever in process of Harvest, by once tortured souls who continue to slice sigils into the oversized poppy pods to siphon its "Need" (an enegry of monumental parasitic importance in this realm) it issues out an essence of smoked delirium tinged with aniseed, it rapidly forms in a sepia spirit that's nano-siphoned off for eartly dimensions, enriching the rich milkly sap that draws drips and dries rapidly under the Sun, their black blades expertly gather the fattening opium gum...as both Human and his Other (or Guide) pass through these ghosts of semptic ozone essence, an eternity passes until both come to stop at wire fence that itself is covered in handmade small straw dolls with pins covering each and everyone, also - scarlet occult sigils seem scrawled across practically across all of them - those small dolls - all made of tightly wrapped fraying string as dry as bone. Licked red. The pins too ... red with rust. A galaxy of of them spetic pricks.

At last the wire gate eerily swang open, letting them pass through as it swings back into place behind him and his guide.

To be continued..

[artzychic27]

Lab Rats AU?

The world's first bionic superhumans. They're stronger than us, faster, smarter... The next generation of the human race is...

Zoé: In my class?!

—

The students were “born” with unique powers and are kept in a top secret government facility until they were nine when Mendeleieve took custody of them

Project Sunshine- Aurore can manipulate any weather around her, cause sunny days to turn into rain in a quick second. It requires a lot of focus, and for her emotions to be kept in check unless you want Armageddon. When she was five, she nearly caused the ice age because one the scientists refused to let her rest. Also, unless you’d like to be struck by lightning, don’t test her

Project Chameleon- Mireille can turn any part of her body invisible, or even her entire body. And when she touches something with a part of her body already invisible, that object will disappear as well. This requires her to be calm, though, otherwise, she’ll “glitch” between visible and invisible. She’ll often turn invisible to get away from bullies

Project Reversion- Marc has a mild form of brainwashing and can alter anyone’s personality, control their movements, and even speak through them. A strange side effect is that his eyes turn black and white, so he wears green eye contacts

Project Unique- Cosette can shapeshift their entire body or just parts of it. They often train with Mireille during the class’ “Gym time”. However, shapeshifting leaves them exhausted, so they require a lot of rest after taking on a number of forms. If they’re just changing five or less body parts, then they only need about ten minutes of rest. Oftentimes, they’ll shapeshift as one of the bullies and do something humiliating

Project Boulder- Denise has enhanced strength and can lift things 500 times their own weight with ease. Their max lift is still unknown. Along with super strength, Denise is extremely durable that a single bullet can’t pierce their skin. Back during the “lab days” Denise would often do most of the heavy lifting, angering their siblings because a bunch of grown ass adults were having a four year old lift heavy and dangerous equipment

Project Tech- Simon has elektrokinesis and the electric power of seven Tokyos combined, but often needs to release some of that energy so he doesn’t have one of his… “Burnouts.” During the lab days, scientists would use him to power large machines that took up a lot of his energy and left him exhausted. Denise was always the one to take care of Simon during his burnouts. Oftentimes, he absorbs electricity without meaning to, making some appliances flicker on and off until they just cut off. Simon can also connect to appliances like phones and just mess around with anything on it

Project Teleport: Name is self explanatory, Ismael can teleport to any part of the world as long as he knows what that particular place looks like. This requires memory training, and he’s gotten better ever since Mendeleieve took custody of him and his siblings when they were nine. The scientists would have him teleport all over the world at a young age without memory tests, often getting him lost. Sometimes it took Simon hacking into every electric car, bus, train, and plane to get him back home safe. Over time, he learned he could teleport other people

Project Diamond: Reshma can turn her arms into sword like weapons that appear to be made of diamonds. She can control them to be any size or shape, but they always come out looking blue in color. Ever since Mendeleieve got custody, she’s learned she’s able to create shields from her forearms and even break off pieces, only for them to grow back. Each of her siblings has a piece of jewelry with her Diamond on it

Project Vocal- Jean can change their voice to mimic anyone as long as he knows what they sound like. Of course, he’s gonna use this for prank calls. Whenever one of the scientists did something he didn’t like to his siblings, Jean would sneak into an office and change his voice to someone higher up, speak into the PA system, and say a bunch of weird stuff. Or, he just calls their spouses and tells them they’re getting a divorce… Jean cares a lot for his siblings

Project Scale- Lacey can climb or walk any surface no matter how wet, slippery, or sticky. However, if something is a certain texture she doesn’t like, she will NOT touch it. Sometimes, she’ll accidentally walk on walls without looking where she’s going and will have to quickly get back down before anyone notices

Zoé Lee- Zoé was placed in Mendeleieve’s class as their was no more room in the other classrooms. Mendeleieve begrudgingly allowed this as she couldn’t deny Zoé an education without a valid excuse. Now the students have to keep their bionics under check and it goes well… Until Zoé catches them using their powers in the room beneath the basement

Zoé: …

Cosette: We were just…

Simon: Doing drugs to each other?

Zoé: … *Fainte*

So, now she has to keep their secret, or they’ll be sent back to the government lab and Mendeleieve will be arrested for letting “super weapons” near minors

Doesn’t mean they can’t have a little fun, though

Cosette: *Shapeshifted into Austin A* I’m a pretty little bitch! Someone spank me like this! *Smacks their butt* WOMP, WOMP!

Marc: *Controlling Chloé and having her slap herself in front of everyone* Why are you hitting yourself so much? Come on, Chloé, cut it out.

Zoé: *Snickers* Now make her say, *Whispers to him*

Chloé: I have horrible foot odor! Will someone give me the name of a foot odor doctor? People in the hotel complain about the smell!… And, uh… PeePee, PooPoo!

Jean: *As Damocles* Today’s lunch will be a nice heaping helping of the mayor’s sweet ass, bull tongue, and Ladybug’s eyeball! Also, I have a large posterior. Don’t know what that is? Look it up. And also, no homework for a year!

Denise: *Snickers* I can’t believe you convinced us to do this! *Lifts the entire school of their head while Mireille makes them invisible*

Civilian: The school is haunted!

Zoé: Time it just right-

Aurore: I know how to use my own powers… Now! *Summons a rain cloud to pour down on Chloé right as she walks out of the salon* Got her!

Ismael: Okay, time to send another asshole to the cornfield.

Zoé: E-excuse me?

Ismael: Yeah, there’s a cornfield maze nearby I teleport assholes like Austin A to. It takes hours for them to find their way out.

Simon: *With a plug in his mouth* Okay… Done! I’m right in Chloé’s phone!

Zoé: Thank God! Do you see the picture?

Simon: Yeah- WHOA! Not your best side.

Zoé: Please delete it!

Reshma: *While Austin Q is not looking, she turns her hand into a dagger and slashes his belt, making his pants fall down*

Lacey: Hey, wanna freak out some Catholics?

Zoé: You read my mind.

*Later*

Pastor: Out, unholy demon! LEAVE THIS CHILD!

Lacey: *Crawling on the ceiling* Come and take me, Pastor! I’m here to stay, boi!

[go-learn-esperanto]

Any crystals that you think are cool and that more people should know about?

Sorry for the late reply (I'm busy traveling) but yes!!! I don't have ground breaking totally unknown crystals for you but from my collection I will tell talk about some fun little rocks.

-

Let's start with what is arguably my favourite crystal and it's a pretty underrated one;

iolite

Yes, that's where the Violet_Iolite username comes from (it's my username almost everywhere else besides here)

I have a polished and cut iolite which surprisingly might not be the most interesting form of this mineral. Iolite, or cordierite (the actual mineral name, iolite is the name used in the gem selling business) is a stone that depending on the side it can vary from a light yellow to a purple/blue. Mine is cut in a way where the blue is always the most visible but the sides have the slightest nod to the yellow. Some of the best raw forms will change between these two colours if you turn them around.

I will say the iolite names comes from the Greek ios, violet. So yes, my Minecraft username is something like Violet violet (stone).

-

Next I will talk about fake crystals versus lab grown ones...

When I say a fake crystals I mean crystals that are sold as other ones when that's not what they are.

Lab grown gems are different in the way that they are chemically the same as natural gems found in nature. In case of diamonds for example is much better for the environment (and in some cases for the health of the miners) if you get a lab grown one. However not all gems are possible to produce in a lab, sometimes they're more expensive to produce in the lab and in cases of quartz based gems the natural gems are so common it isn't worth it.

I'm mentioning this because of the next gems I will show.

-

Moonstone and sunstone.

Moonstones and sunstones are probably the gems that are most faked (turquoise too but at least turquoise is rare).

Moonstone is a type of light coloured stone (either white, sometimes pink) which has a very pretty blue glow (occasionally it gets a yellow one too) only in certain angles. Opaline (or opalite), a man made gem, is very commonly sold as moonstone however opaline is not even close to being moonstone. Opaline is translucent in a way moonstone isn't and it doesn't have the shine moonstone has. Opaline is a type of glass which commonly has dolomite and metal to make it the colour it is. It was actually made to copy opals so I don't really know why people try calling it moonstone.

Next is sunstone! Orange or brown in colour sunstone is not that special looking. If it's high-quality it will be more translucent and it might have some touches of sparkles but it's not usually something very strong. Our fake stone this time is Goldstone. Also a man made glass goldstone is made with copper.

There's a blue version of golstone which instead of having copper it has cobalt or manganese.

I have booth types of goldstone (the blue one is my favourite)

-

One that is moderately well known but it's absolutely cool anyway:

Alexandrite

One I recommend you buy lab grown or you'll waste all the money you have. Alexandrite is super cool because depending on the type of light you shine on it the colour will change completely. My alexandrite when in LED light (the light that most lamps have nowadays) or natural light is green. When under incandescent light (old lamps) it gets completely pink. If you lived only under incandescent light you'd believe it to be a pink stone.

When under both types of light:

-

Chalcopyrite (peacock)

Similar to pyrite but softer, with copper and and can tarnish with pretty colours chalcopyrite is a pretty cool metal. Wikipedia says it is "the most abundant copper ore mineral." So the copper you have in your cables is most likely from this mineral.

Chalcopyrite is in front and the pyrite (unfocused) is in the back of the picture.

-

Bismuth

I could've actually gotten an ok priced natural bismuth but I decided that getting a bigger sized would probably be better. This one might be lab grown. I'm not sure. The lady that sold me didn't know where it was from. It is 100% heat treated either way, as heating it gives it the lovely colours it has. It is a metal and according to Wikipedia it is "both the most diamagnetic element and one of the least thermally conductive metals known."

So... The last two are actually metal and not crystal but they are cool rocks so it's fine either way.

[turtlethebean]

Introducing the OCs from my new CC AU/Fanseries: Part Hazel

For picrew links, see part Michelle.

Spoilers under cut.

Name: Hazel Oakland

Aliases:

Haze (Michelle)

Age: 34

Birthday: 19th of February 2003

Origin: New York City, USA.

Gender: Cisgender female

Pronouns: She/her

Sexuality: Pansexual

Family:

Unnamed mother

Unnamed father

Unnamed older brother

Height: 5 foot 7

Blood type: A+

Title: Lab Chief

Backstory:

Hazel was born into a wealthy family in New York. However, the bullying she suffered throughout her school years led to her seeking a more quiet life away from the busy streets of her hometown. She does still live in New York, but she lives in an apartment rather than a whole house.

At some point, she went to school with a girl named Diamond Reilly. The two were apparently close friends before an unknown incident occurred that caused them to fall out.

Songs to describe them:

Idolize by Caleb Hyles and Jonathan Young

Altitude Sickness by Lise

Beautiful from Heathers

Thumbs by Sabrina Carpenter

People You Know by Selena Gomez

Got Weird by dodie

Benzos by Grace Blue

Crooked Teeth by HwaYoun

Be Strong and Hit Stuff from RWBY

Incomplete by QueenPb

Trivia:

Hazel is actually a pretty old OC, but she was a Mary Sue, so I had to fix her. She is now a wine aunt.