#Strange Engineering

[keferon]

Two Peas in a Pod: part 2/?

*slips another piece into your mailbox*

_____________________

Jazz was still feeling a little woozy from his donation in the dark hours of the morning. Blaster had breakfast changed from the usual to something that felt more like a treat, probably a reward for his good behaviour, and to help his body recover. Fish heavy in proteins, fat, all that healthy stuff. Something that normally he would have tried to savour, but he wolfed it down from excitement. Too many questions ran through his head, and most he couldn't bring himself to voice.

The mer, the mer would pull through. Blaster told him about how he had saved their life with his blood. Praised him high and low. Because Blaster knew how Jazz felt about seeing blood, about how hard blood tests were for him, and that was only a tiny vial. Not three big bags of it. Jazz hadn't seen how much they had taken – because he had kept his eye closed until they left in a hurry –, and hearing about it made him dizzy for other reasons, but he honestly felt real proud of himself.

It was a new feeling, different from other moments of pride – like when he figured out the lock codes. Yeah, this gave him butterflies and the drive to help more.

Blaster laughed when Jazz offered that the vets could take more if the other mer needed it. His handler didn't think it would be, but he would pass it on to the vet team.

Jazz's morning checks were a little off, expected with having a little less fluids and feeling off-balance, but it was kept short and quick. Blaster told him that if he learned anything more, he'd tell him next time he came by and then hurried back down to the staff area. Blaster was needed elsewhere, understandably as there weren't many mer experts here, though he did leave Jazz his waterproof stereo if he wanted to play some of his favourites.

But, the orca mer was far too busy causing a whirlpool from the laps he was swimming. He was too excited to sit still, and embarrassment be damned he started practising old vocals. He didn't remember much of his mother tongue, and he was pretty sure that his pronunciation was off, that or had one hell of an accent. Echo-speech was even more rusty. And once he had gone over and over what he could recall, Jazz began to really worry. A few sentences and handful or so of words was all he had? Gods, I hope I can at least make a decent first impression. Blaster said they were just like me, so hopefully, that will give me some starting points.

More than he cared to count, Jazz would swim into the shallow waters of the medical bay and hope to see something through that window. But no one ever came close enough for him to hear any news of the mer. He couldn't even see anything on his radar, wherever they had done treatment, it wasn't in the hospital ward. It almost felt like he was being purposely kept in the dark.

And just when Jazz was starting to worry that things had taken a bad turn, a group of staff turned up around four pm. He wasn't able to ask any questions, or rather they refused to answer. Shooing him away as they got to work. Starting with closing the gate to the bay to 'keep him out'. Jazz could easily climb those walls, but that wasn't the point. Even if the gate window was closed, he could pick up that they were setting up the water hammock. But it wasn't until he heard the cautionary beeping of the hoist lift approaching that it dawned on him – the mer was coming. Now.

"Jazz," Blaster called, "… Jazz," he blew the training whistle and finally got his mer's attention. "Stop pacing and get over here."

"But–" Jazz looked back longingly up the wall.

"Jazz," his tone dropped to a firm one, and Jazz begrudgingly swam over to the pier. The human crouched and made sure that they held eye contact before he spoke. "I need you to promise me that you will stay in your enclosure."

He sunk a little, trying to play into his cuteness, but being far too anxious to really pull it off. "What do you mean?"

"Jazz," now warning him. Blaster knew full well that he was more than capable of getting into or out of places he shouldn't, bloody Houdini mermaid, "this is serious. Things are going well, we want to keep it that way. Which means keeping things calm and feeling safe. You're excited, I get it, we all are. But in about an hour, they'll be waking up and – from past experience seen with wild Mers – they will likely freak out. And the last thing we need is you hauling your tail over that wall and making things worse. Understand?"

The beeping was louder how and the hiss of hydraulics caused Jazz to look up. The arm of the lift was visible over the wall. They're here!

"Jazz," Blaster hopelessly called for his attention once more.

Within moments, a massive bundle was carefully raised, the staff calling out and coordinating. Jazz's gaze was fixed on the black and white fluke poking out, it was the only part of them he could see, and his heart began to race. Once they became hidden by the wall again, Jazz moved back to pacing by the gate without even thinking. Listening to people hopping into the water to unstrap the mer and call back n' forth. "Careful, careful! – Watch the head! – Someone give me a hand over here! – We're clear on this side! – Keep the head up!"

Really starting to sound like a broken record, Blaster chirped the whistle and called out to him again. The expression he wore must have been pretty pitiful because the look on Blaster's face dropped. "If I open the view port… will you promise me that you will wait, that you will stay in your enclosure?"

"I promise," he answered hastily, placing his hands on the gate, over the panel that would slide open.

"And that you will wait until everything is in the clear, till the staff come to oversee the integration. There will be no rushing things and no asking staff when we will open the gate."

"I promise," he repeated, trying not to beg.

Satisfied, Blaster pulled out his radio, "Blaster to Control; when the team is out of the Mer enclosure's medical bay, open the view port. Jazz's stress is mounting without a visual."

"Can do," came a quick reply.

Though, opening the panel was not. Several minutes went by, the hoist had cleared out, and much of the staff had returned to their other duties. Only two remained double-checking the mer's breathing and pulse. The moment that the last of them left, Jazz heard the lock disengage, and he retracted his hands as the panel shifted and began to slide open. The window was too small to get more than his hand – maybe up to his elbow if he wanted to push it – through, and sat just at water level– any movement sending water hopping to either side. But it gave him a clear view of the surface area inside.

Oh.

Oh. Jazz stopped breathing. While the mer's body was mostly supported by the fabric of the hammock, cradling them on their side, effectively hiding most of them from Jazz's angle. Propped up on a soft floating platform was the mer's head, face towards the gate. Sharp features and elegantly shaped finials, with flattering lines of their markings complimenting the peaceful expression as they slept. The butterflies from earlier came back stronger than ever, his heart thundering as words fumbled from Jazz's lips, "he's beautiful…"

_____________________

-GLC

Orca Prowl really is just-- too fucking pretty, omg, I'm living through Jazz in this moment like when I first saw your designs of him.

I'm more than happy to continue writing for you, you bring me so much joy. I screamed when I saw how much you liked it. If you have any requests you would like me to add to the story, leave it in the tags or comments ♡ I now plan to continue until the tsunami and a bit afterwards, maybe more, we'll see~

Upd: There is a next part!

Previous

Oh. MY GOD. OKAY ALRIGHT OKAY ALRIGHT OKA

I'M ABOUT TO START PACING IN CIRCLES JUST LIKE JAZZ OVER HERE KDLCNFJFLFB PL E A S E THIS IS SO GOOD. The tension?? You can fucking TASTE it IT'S SO GREAT GLC I LOVE YOU

The way it all starts at night and then you (as a reader) have all this additional time to boil in your anticipation?? So fucking great. Like you can really feel how little power Jazz has over the wholse situation. The plot is moving but he doesn't have any saying in it. Well. Yet heheh

Anyway haha. Im normal and I made some art>:D

[tiredsn0w-extrablu]

Random thoughts on how the mercs would be at cooking. Maybe. I could be coerced in pretty much any direction though.

PACA is a region of France, in the southeast, I refuse to think that Spy is from the north. :(

[starleska]

after watching The Story and the Engine, i wondered: did the Barber ever cut the gods' hair? then i thought, both the Toymaker and Maestro can change their hair at will, and Lux is balding... and then i had this stupid idea. bon appétit 😂💖

[i-dont-know-how-this-site-works]

I love all of Tom's characters, like the witchfinder general, the astral projecting mother, the milkman's son and

[noxequusart]

[amber-jinx]

We finally have something close to a Rachel Amber DLC 🔥🥹

Y'all have to check this out. The details are amazing!

No but if i see a blue haired girl with a beenie and a blond in plaid shirt driving by in a truck like the end there I'll prolly chase after them 😂

This is the development needed

Chap 2 Chap 3 here!

[bsptourist]

fy_snow_redux

created by NvC_DmN_CH

[sanepersonhere]

A walk in the Sun

[look-something-shiny-redux]

Okay but imagine them, like, playing cards on a two-person mission with a long travel time when Rutherford is like, "this is fun. We should hang out more often," and Mariner is like, "dude, what are you talking about? We hang out all the time," and Rutherford is like, "we hang out together with our other friends, but we don't really hang out with each other on our own. Got any threes?"

Mariner would freak out because "you and your friend aren't as close as you thought" isn't a problem she knows how to handle. Rutherford wouldn't pick up on why Mariner started acting so weird all of a sudden. Their shuttle would crash. There would be tender conversations about feelings. Someone write this please.

[strange-big-earner]

Today is bring your wife to work day for BLU

[bisexual-engineer-guy]

I GOT TO TRY THE BISEXUAL KEY THE VIBRBOPLEX BUG (CAUSE ITS KIND OF A STRAIGHT JEY BUT NOT STRAIGHT) AND IT LIVSS UP TO TJE HYPE LETS FICKING GO I MADE LIKE 100 CW CONTACTS ON TBIS THING

[itsnotamatterofif]

Hi @d3adg1rlwalking2372 you made the mistake of leaving the topic up to meeeee so you get angst hurt/comfort yay! Have Rusty and Hydra making up after their first fight. (Thank u for the tendersteam request those I love these fuckers so so so much)

I took some medicine about halfway through and also my nausea is woopy so it becomes a bit metaphor-y. I think it’s fun however there’s a 65% chance it’s utter bullshit :D

✨Want a stex Drabble? Send me an ask!✨

If anxiety could generate electricity, Hydra’s pretty sure he could be powering a city right now.

It took them nearly a year, but finally, they had argued. It was inevitable, between Hydra’s determination to be right, and Rusty’s stubbornness in the face of being told no, and the whole thing just developed from there. Truthfully he doesn’t even remember most of what they were arguing about; Rusty had been pushing himself too hard in training, which Hydra had tried to urge him not to do in the nicest way they could, and Rusty didn’t like that. Of course Rusty didn’t like that; why Hydra thought that pointing out his condition to him would help his argument, or why Rusty had to argue that Hydra hadn’t bothered to understand the situation, he would never know.

He’s embarrassed, honestly. And they feel awful. All he really wants to do right now is apologise, but Rusty had told him to fuck off until they were invited back in again, and the door to the shed was very clearly, distinctly, shut.

Relegated to the bench they are, then.

Minutes spring into hours, and as the sun begins to set Hydra still hasn’t thought of a speech, thought of a nice way to say he’s sorry without looking like an idiot; he doesn’t want to cry, either, that would be ridiculous, but this anger, this frustration that keeps welling up inside of them makes them want to tear his own fuel pipes out.

Their first relationship and they’ve already blown it. This year’s races haven’t even started yet, so Rusty’s going to have to start searching for a new partner soon, or-

To his left, the screeching of the shed doors, and their head whips around; he doesn’t know why they’re shocked, Rusty had to come out at some point, but whatever surprise they’re feeling it’s distinctly mirrored on Rusty’s face.

In the light from the shed, he’s beautiful, copper and brass shining in the light of the shed and outlining him like an angel.

“Hey,” Hydra says simply, awkward smile etched on his face, “fancy seeing you around here.”

Please, Starlight, don’t let them have messed this up.

“I wasn’t expecting you to still be here,” Rusty admits quietly, wide eyes softening and locking on on a piece of dust on the floor, “I thought you would have- that maybe you-“

“I wasn’t gonna’ leave,” Hydra mutters, and watches as Rusty’s fists relax - he was ready for a fight apparently, and that seems to hurt worse than any punch to the gut.

The silence of the yard haunts. Like anger it buzzes, desperate for action, desperate for words. Hydra’s mind rushes for something, for anything-

“Do- do you wanna’ come in?”

He’s gesturing in, stepping aside to provide entry, and like a marionette Hydra stands. With how long they’ve been out here, he didn’t realise how cold it had gotten, and Rusty’s shed is so warm.

With a slam the shutter is closed behind them, and as Rusty turns, hands out in front of him in invitation, Hydra thinks he’s going to explode unless he says something, anything to get this horrible twisting in his systems out.

“Hydra, I’m-“

“No, stop,” Hydra interrupts, and Rusty’s eyes widen in shock, “I- I wanted to say it first, I shouldn’t have brought it up.”

His hands retract, lax at his sides. “Yeah, you shouldn’t have.”

Shame eats at his core, their systems, each individual pipe and pump, and Rusty still won’t meet his eye.

“I’m sorry,” Hydra says forlornly. The space between them is expansive.

“It’s alright,” Rusty replies simply, and his hands reach out slightly again. All Hydra wants to do is take them in theirs, but he’s rooted to the spot.

“You’re still mad, aren’t you.”

“A little bit,” Rusty admits, and finally, finally, those gorgeous, amber eyes flick up, “but you looked really sad sitting outside on your own, and- and I was a dick back, y’know?”

“A bit,” Hydra says with a dry laugh, and he takes one step forwards, “I- I was waitin’ for you to open the door, and I was worried that if you opened the door and I was gone you would’ve thought I had left you.”

“I would’ve known you wouldn’t have left forever, idiot,” Rusty jokes, and he takes a step forward too, until they’re close enough that Hydra can lace their fingers together at their sides; he always forgets that Rusty is the perfect height for kissing on the forehead, and they shift their jaw to do so before holding back slightly.

“Please kiss me,” Rusty whispers, voice barely audible in the cacophonous silence around them, “I’m sorry for yelling at you, I- I don’t like fighting with you.”

“I don’t like it either,” Hydra mutters, before pressing their lips soundly against Rusty’s forehead; he’s not as warm as usual, fire not burning quite as brightly, but as Hydra pulls their lips away he thinks he feels a slight surge of heat, “I quite like kissing you, and I missed your handsome face.”

“Flirt.” Rusty reaches up, pressing a kiss to his cheek, and his lips are searing against Hydra’s freezing cheek. “I kept waiting for you to make a joke, and I think the reason I was still mad was ‘cause I was waiting for you to say something - too used to having you at my hip, I think.”

The fingers around his stretch and shift, until they’re holding hands completely, and something that was missing in Hydra slots back into place without him even noticing.

What he wants- he wants to kiss Rusty properly, wants to run his tongue along steel teeth and feel heat against his skin, wants to hold the world in their arms again just as Atlas once did. The distance is gone but he feels it, a crack in their tank that wasn’t there before - he knows intimately about the dangers of metal fatigue, the threat of pressurisation cycles on weak joints. Hopefully, the repair is a good enough job, a clean weld.

Lest his hull gets breached.

“You’re thinking hard,” Rusty states, and Hydra zones back in as a warm hand cups their cheek, “penny for your thoughts?”

“Only how much I want to kiss you.” The half lie feels like coal in his teeth, dusty, acrid, obtrusive.

“I’d like that.” The whisper against his skin is almost inaudible, but he can feel the movement, read Rusty’s lips through touch, and that urgent, reckless behemoth inside of them surges forward on his behalf, capturing Rusty’s lips quickly, wanting something, anything to latch onto. Teeth clash with desperation, like it's not just Hydra that needs his touch like water; he wonders, in between heaving breaths and the sensation of a tongue on his lips, if Rusty was missing this too, the feeling of Hydra in his arms, or whether he just wanted the distraction from the anger.

Atlas held up the earth. Rusty is the sun, flaring and energetic and uncontrollable, white-hot hands reaching up to scrabble at the clasps of his external tanker.

He’s a fool if they think they can understand it, understand them. But right now the joining stands strong, the rivets in the repair plate hold fast.

The weld works. Feathersoft apologies uttered against him like a prayer. The hull stays strong.

They’ll live to fight another day.

[chiefmysticmia]

wait wait wait yall stex life is strange au

pearl is max

greaseball is chloe

dinah is rachel

rusty is warren

cb or slick is nathan?? maybe??

idk this popped into my head during class i can’t tell if i’m cooking or not

[randominteresting]

It's a sperm extracting machine..

[forehead-alien]

He's so adorable!

[elbiotipo]

I don't even understand why Star Trek has to have arcs about saving the galaxy or whatever. I would not only be happy with a "planet of the week" episode series, I would be perfectly happy with watching a starship go into a star survey and discussing new additions to the Hertzsprung–Russell diagram based on new observations. That's fucking science fiction too, just people talking about weird cool stuff that you can only see with a spaceship.