#and i know fire's still getting its footing back and yeah things can't get better without people staying...

[helicoprinus]

i wish vacationing to another flight didn't come with a 1500g price tag. i'm partially considering switching flights but i don't want to go through the whole deal only to find out i don't like the new one and want to go back but have to wait 6 months And scrounge up *1500* gems on top

(tags of this post veer into a personal vent about my first time being a sheet attendant, just a head's up)

[epanginer]

Was the smiley face on the left?

Portgas D Ace x Reader

Cw : OOC, angst, character death (i know i said i wont make thatch dead but....yeah.), made by impulse, i just feel sad at the time so, why not? I just feel like my grief toward him is similar to my rl grief. Gn!reader. Cringe, not proofread please spare me. My attempt to make something for the beautiful firefly, Ace.

Word counts : 1k

---

You break the pencil in your hand. A heavy sigh coming out of your mouth. It's fading. The memories of him. You keep scratching the paper beneath you until it breaks. A shape of a head. A shape of a hat. But no eyes, no lips, no accessories on the hat. You keep forgetting. How long has it been? Two years? Two and a half. His brother already making new news for the sea and the marines to deal with. But you? Stuck in whatever island this is, no crew, or any people you knew in sight. Your life has been a circle of loneliness. Hunt. Sell. Buy food. Go home. Your home isn't even a home, it's an abandoned building you found near the woods. The island itself quite civilized. But nothing grand about it.

You get up from the floor, letting the papers stepped by your bare foot. You try to remember how he looks. His orange hat. Which one has a smiley face? Left or right? Was it your right or his right?? His freckles. How much was it? You were pretty sure that the freckless on his face js concentrated on one place, was it his nose or his right cheek?

You ruffled your hair in frustation. Hair, face, hat, scent. What was it? How was it? You curse yourself for not drawing his potrait enough when you were on the ships. You curse the war for destroying the ships and you can't save the remaining portraits. You curse Ace for never stay still for more potrait. You curse every single living and non-living things in this world. You were angry, you were mad, to everything, to yourself.

You sat back down in the floor again, hair felling down around your face. Usually, Ace will come at you like this, fixing the strands of hair that's covering your face. But he's not here, isn't he? Not anymore. You can hear your stomach grumbled. At these times, Thatch always came with a plate of warm meal, but his caring hand isn't here either. None of them were. You guys were scattered after the war. Separated from one to another.

Your hands floating on top of the paper, you close your eyes again.

---

"You know, perhaps it will be better if you spent more time to play or feast with us." Ace smiled at you, who were busy, drowned in paper and ink and graphite.

"I want to make a full book of you, and all of the crew. Something to remembered, even after we long gone." You said your usual answer. It's true, you want to make a potrait of each of Whitebeard's crew and combine them in a book, each potraits accompanied by its description and even funfacts about them. He scoff, not to ridicule you,

"You also need something to be remembered about us. And you'll get it if you please come outside and join us. Pretty please?" He used his pretty eyes. Dark. Almost black. But pretty as a gemstone. Or maybe it's just you being in love with him.

---

You open your eyes. That's it. Dark eyes, obsidian like eyes. Your hands move freely in the paper, finally finding it.

---

"No, the smiley is supposed to be left." Ace move the smiley face on his hat who was broken after a fight. You were spending the night fixing it together with him on the deck, under the starts.

"Ace my beloved ....it's right. It's YOUR right."

"Well it's your left, and whoever-in-front-of-me-at-the-time left, so it's left."

---

Smiley face on OUR left, frowny face on his left.

---

"I love you." His voice trembled, althought he covered it quickly. He always been like this, playing it cool, even though he feel like he's gonna burn right now. Despite being made of fire technically.

You smiled, soft and caring, but also exploding with all the love you have for him. You were young anyway, and the love at that times always feels so amazing, euphoric.

"Ace," he lifted his head, smiling with uncertainty and anxiety in his eyes. But he, like he always do, trying to look strong and cool, like he doesn't really care about it after all, but you can see what inside. His fear, his genuine love. "Ace, I love you too."

He smiled. Not a fake one when he try to fool people that he can do everything and coming back without a scratch. But a smile so genuine, so loving, you can feel warmth coming from him ....wait a minute. He's actually on fire. You screamed and panicked, and he quickly set his fire off. You look at each other and laughed, he apologized but still laughing with you, falling to the sand of the beach together, still smiling and holding each other hands.

---

You open your eyes, you can feel tears dropping. His smile. His smile. His smile and laugh. Your hands move again, crying and cursing the marines, cursing kurohige. His potrait is done. You feel like digging a hole and burying yourself deep inside. It's him. You feel a surge of warmth spreading in your chest. It almost like he's here again with you, watching you finished an artwork and hyping you up for it. Almost.

You gave a last touch. His freckless, focused on his cheeks. Perfect. You clean your room after a long time. You go for a walk and spend your savings for a good actual food and some sweet drinks that you used to love. You go to the market and buy new papers and paint, you will use it to add some colour and soul to his potrait you left at home. And when you walk home, you feel a lot better than before. Your room is clean, his potrait hung near your working space. But the real suprise were the person who sat in the corner of your room. His back on the wall, his eyes staring at the potrait you made.

"Marco, it's been a long time." You smiled at him.

[chemdisaster]

boat boys reunion after secret life! after they both have their reunions with their allies first, of course

update: now with art

Etho sticks around for a long time, after.

Wanders around the server, avoids every site of active battle, and eventually comes to a free spot near Joel's fairground, where the grass is marked with patches of gunpowder, but the leaves ripple and his vision remains clear of dirty dark grey smoke.

He stays there a while—until his comm pings with the news that it's over and something hooked deep in his shoulders begins to let up on its unyielding pull.

He stays after that, too. Until an all-too-familiar voice comes up on his half-baked musings, complete with the usual tint of derision—with less heart behind it now, though.

"What are you doing here, Etho?"

Etho turns around, makes a point to smile despite his mask.

"Hi, Joel."

Joel sighs, walks up to stand beside him.

"You like the fairground?"

"Liked it better when it was still whole."

Joel sighs again. Taking advantage of his gaze being lost somewhere between the ferris wheel's cabins or the railings of the slide, Etho looks him over—notes both the bags under his eyes and the green streak in his hair, bright in a way he's never seen it be this far in.

"You okay?"

Joel blinks, as though surprised by the question being asked—or the person asking the question.

"Yeah, I think I am," he says after a moment of consideration, and then scowls, "Bloomin' Scott killed me again, though."

Etho has nothing to say to that. Another minute of silence passes, as the temperature around them starts to mellow out.

Out of the corner of his eye, he spots Joel glancing his way, looking almost unsure. "Are you...?" he asks and, as expected, doesn't finish the phrase.

Etho looks over at him again. Staring directly into his eyes, he nods.

"Okay," Joel says. "Okay."

Almost as though by force, his brows pitch downwards.

"Good for you," he spits then, with more venom in his voice than anyone would imagine for such a simple remark.

Suddenly, Etho understands what he's getting at—what he's been getting at the entire season.

"You still care."

"Wh—no, I don't," Joel immediately bites back—a wolf, ready to bare his hackles, even now.

"You do," Etho repeats, but it's not the accusation it could have been.

"I have the Mounders now," Joel says in response, and it's not the uncompromising rejection it once was.

Etho nods. "Yeah." He knows that's not the end of it, knows that Joel has something more to say, will always have more to say—in contrast to where his own words feel like they could never be enough.

For a moment, silence reigns and neither of them speaks. Etho shifts his weight from foot to foot, digs his hands into his pockets and flexes his thumbs. Somewhere in the unnatural stillness, the first bird chirps in the remnants of warm-blooded destruction.

"The ship burns, everything burns," Joel recites softly.

Etho nods again.

Joel looks up at him, something vulnerable in his expression never seen before.

"I'm not—I can't—" he begins, and then breaks off, pressing his palms into his forehead with a frustrated sound. He squeezes his eyes shut, and Etho waits for him—but strangely, he finds himself fine with that being the state of things for the rest of both their foreseeable futures.

"I don't—I won't burn again," Joel eventually forces out. "I'm not going to—do that. You know. It's—I'm tired of everything burning, okay? I'm just—I'm tired," he repeats, and looks over at the remains of the helter-skelter behind him. "I want to keep this. I want something I can call my own."

"You don't want to run around the server lighting things on fire with me?" Etho asks in a somewhat-joking tone, but he gets it. He does.

And he thinks Joel gets that, too.

Still, when his old soulmate grabs his hands into his own, hot and dry skin just like he remembers, when he looks up at him, a question in his eyes, a desperate plea for something that stays, something real—

Etho thinks of Cleo and Grian.

"Yeah, I don't want to burn, either, I think."

Joel relaxes, steps away, but does not release his hands. Etho takes that as his invitation to come closer, drop his head down until it leans against Joel's, and their shared warmth envelops them, not like flames licking at their ankles, but like a comforting embrace, like home.

He thinks of the Relation—charred sails and splintered wood scattered around the air like the tiny scars on his fingers.

Nothing is ever truly gone, even when it turns to ash.

[ageless-aislynn]

Day 3 (there was no post for Day 2 😉) of Project: Mass Effect 1 on Insanity!

Friends. My friends. I've cleared all of the side quests I'm planning on doing and am in the process of fighting my way through Feros. Still have Noveria and Virmire to go, then the big battle on the Citadel at the end. But still. I'm playing on Insanity and I'm continuing to progress and I'm so happy about it! 🤗🤗🤗

I also am NOT looking forward to Mass Effect 2 which is going to nerf all of my wonderful powers and be about 10k% harder but hey, let's just stay focused on fighting the Thorian and Temporarily!Evil!Shiala 'cause that's a slog on lower difficulties for me and I'm not anticipating a lot of fun. But! I've made it this far!

But for the important thing that you're probably ACTUALLY wondering about: what armor is everybody wearing? 🤔

Garrus in cutscenes continues to wear his standard armor. Probably because he's tired of GLOWING IN THE DARK in the armor I have my stealthy Archangel sniper in during gameplay...

Yeah, that's not exactly camouflage, I'm sorry to say. But it gives him the best stats so... 🤷‍♀️

Liara looks pretty good in hers, I'd say, more tanky than usual. And I'm getting used to Shep's not!N7 armor now.

I actually kinda dig the helmet with those lights!

Annnnnd, of course, then I got a set of armor with better specs so had to change it, lol! 👀🤷‍♀️😉

Don't know what the helmet's going to look like yet but at least it's back to my N7 red and black colors!

Also! If you're like me and that fight on Therum ruins (right before you go inside to rescue Liara) is a tough one for you, what with the Geth troopers and those darn jumpy Geth Stalkers (grr 🤬) and the Geth Colossus just sitting back there all murdering you on Casual and Normal? Friends. I got through it deathless on Insanity. Let Auntie Aislynn tell you how so this part of the mission will never, ever bother you again! (You may know all of this, of course, but I didn't until I was doing some research before this mission. 😉)

Oh no, the Mako can't drive through that narrow opening, guess we have to go forward on foot and face all of those Geth with just our handguns and biotic/tech powers! 😞

Heh, or you can get the Mako to roll onto its side and then wiggle wiggle wiggle thruster jet thruster jet thruster jet wiggle wiggle until you pop through to the other side! NOTE: Make sure to save right before you try this maneuver because the first time I did it, I got jammed in there and couldn't go forward, back or exit the Mako so had to revert. But it's worth the risk to get your two Mako cannons in this fight with you! (I have the actual gameplay footage so if you'd like to see this all in action, just let me know! 😉)

Jumpy Geth Stalker?

An easy kablooey! 💥

Geth Colossus? Stood there and took it straight to the face and never even fired a shot at me ether because I was out of its range or it was just so 😱SHOCKED😱 I'd gotten the Mako in here, lol! 😂😉

So definitely take that tactic if you can, my friends. It makes this part a breeze! 😎

Anyway! I've got some tough fights ahead of me but I've done better than I expected. I didn't have to do the Rogue VI mission (aka proto EDI) but I needed some targets for Tali to user her AI hacking abilities on for an achievement, so I thought I'd just go there, let the bazillion drones kill us but hopefully get some AI hacking in, revert, get some more in, etc. then just abandon the mission when I got tired of it. It's not required to advance the main mission so can be left undone.

I beat the mission. 😲Granted, we all died A LOT because those drones are SUPER AGGRESSIVE and there's not a lot of room to run. And I was focused on trying to get hits with Tali's AI hacking talent as much as possible. But still! I just kept trying and trying, took about 6 times to finally clear all the waves and we were done!

So now, wish me luck, that darn Thorian and Temp!Evil!Shiala are going to be my hardest challenge yet, I think! 😬🤞😣🤞 Love you all! 🤗💖

[purpleprincessonfyre]

Driving Miss Crazy 🚗 🔥 ❄

Liane let's her impulsive thoughts get the better of her and a certain Agent has to save her ass

Starring: Liane Felton, Cho Ji-Hoon ( @calmbeforezero )

Also features: Melissa Wallace, Mia Parker ( @ask-missparker ) and JJ ( @marvelsfavoriteuncle )

Rivals to frenemies, Fire vs Ice, Angst, Heart to heart

"Just exactly how are you this annoying? How many times have you been punched in the face because of what you say?" Ji-Hoon, thundered, gazing down at the blonde with that icy glare he seemed to have perfected for just Liane's snarky remarks and jabs.

"Oddly I think...only once? Yeah once." She replied coolly, inspecting her nails. "Are we done here? I'm going for a drive," she sighs, picking up her car keys as Ji-Hoon smirked. "With who's licence?" He replied, holding up his phone and snatching away her keys. "You know you're not allowed to drive, legally. That pink..thing in the garage may be yours but you are not qualified to drive it." He says, holding the keys out of her reach as she tried to to jump and grab them before the agent quickly froze the keys in his hand.

"No. Driving." He said sternly as her eyes changed colour, snapping. "Fine! I won't drive my own damn car! You happy?" She growled, storming off. Ji-Hoon pocketed the keys, satisfied. "Very."

Later....

"Uh Ji-Hoon?" A very panicked Melissa tapped Ji-Hoon on the shoulder, flanked by a raging JJ and an exasperated Mia. "What's happened?" He sighs, assuming its Liane's fault. "Uh so Liane disappeared and we assumed she had gone shopping or something but JJ's car is gone and the footage shows that she took it and we don't know where she's going.." Melissa says as she shows him the tracker following her phone fast. Ji-Hoon paused and watched the tracker, starting to see why they were all stressed. "But...Liane can't drive, she's a terrible driver, why is she doing this?" He asked, taking the laptop from Melissa. "We don't know but she's not slowed down and she hasn't stopped once. And we're pretty sure she doesn't know where she's going." Mia answered as JJ was pacing.

"When I catch that primadonna...for taking my car- my...car...." He breathed in a dangerous tone as Mia turned to Ji-Hoon. "Did...you say anything to her?" She asked as he sighed a little. "I told her flat out she can't drive anywhere. And I took her keys. And she said...she said 'Fine I won't drive my own...damn car,' dammit!" He muttered, standing up. "She's doing this on purpose, to make a point. A really stupid point. God...I cant-" He had barely got in the door. He'd just returned to The Tower after a long mission. And the first thing theyd done was fight and bicker. His bags were still at his feet. She had really done it this time.

"I'll go after her. That car won't run forever, JJ when did you last fill it up?" Ji-Hoon asked, making a plan. "About a week ago, so it was at half a tank I think." He replied as Ji-Hoon ran a hand through his hair, holding back a lot of rage. "I'll go after her. You track her and keep me informed, that car's gotta run out at some point. And I'll doubt she's feeding herself either.." he muttered, grabbing his jacket. "I'll get her back here in one piece, or at least try," He said as he headed out to go and save Liane's ass. Here we go again.

=======

"God why would I do this? Where am I going? Why am I so stupid?" Liane cried out, tears rolling down her cheeks as the sun was setting behind her as she kept her foot on the gas, mascara burning her eyes as the car started to sputter and choke, the speed quickly decreasing as the car's fuel gauge finally hit zero as the silent road just lay ahead, Liane had not thought this through. What had been the end goal here? She couldn't even remember at this point. She just sat there at the side of the road, crying as she heard a familiar sound coming towards her as none other than Cho Ji-Hoon flew over the car and herself before landing right by the front window, his hands on his hips, eyes icy.

"What in the actual fuck were you thinking, Felton?" Ji-Hoon asked as Liane just burst into tears, shocking Ji-Hoon's smirk off his face as he saw what a mess she was. Her makeup running down her face, her hair tangled up, and now she was slamming her head into the steering wheel which he quickly stopped her from doing. "Hey, don't do that, you might hurt yourself...seriously though Liane, why did you do this?" He asked, taking a seat in the passenger side as she turned to him. "Because I'm stupid. And impulsive. And crazy. And a fucking idiot!" She cried out, gripping the steering wheel hard as her palms got warm.

"Shit, Liane!" Ji-Hoon cried, freezing her hands immediately as she sobbed again. "Why am I like this?" She asked, as Ji-Hoon wondered if she needed an answer. "Because deep down, despite everything you still crave attention? And you can give it all you like but you can't take it so you take everything to heart and let it chip away at you until you try something crazy and potentially dangerous which ultimately thrusts you back into the spotlight for all the wrong reasons?" Ji-Hoon answered as Liane sniffed. "Since when did you become a mind reader?"

That made him chuckle. Nothing she ever said to him or ribbed him for really had an effect on him. Yeah it pissed him off once or twice but he knew her game. She wanted a reaction, something to justify her actions. And it only pissed him off so much because he knew she wasn't stupid. She was smart and had the capacity for kindness and compassion. He had seen it. Ji-Hoon sighed. "JJ is mad. Like not screaming and shouting, he's gone deathly quiet. You really disappointed a lot of people today. People who stick their necks out for you when they honestly shouldn't. You need to stop this reckless behaviour. I've been back for five goddamn minutes and you are still a thorn in my side. This needs to end. I mean it, Liane." He said firmly, looking her in the eye.

"Or one day, we might not be there to stop you. And you'll do something dangerous and stupid and...." he swallowed hard but it was the truth. "And we won't want to save your ass. We won't want to stop you doing something dangerous that could get you in big trouble or even worse, get you killed. Trust is a powerful thing, Felton. If you break it, its gonna be really hard to fix it with those guys. Especially with JJ." He finished as Liane stopped crying, closing her eyes. "It just happens, I get these stupid ideas and I can't stop, not until something gets in my way. I want to stop but my foot stayed on the gas. Fuck..." she trailed off, the warmth of her hands melting away Ji-Hoons ice as they sat there in the darkness.

"First, you apologize. Profusely, no bullshit, you give JJ a proper apology for stealing his car. Second, get your ass back to therapy, Petra will straighten you out good I guarantee it. Third, think twice or even thrice before acting on these impulses. Think four times if needs be, just don't be so quick to jump on a bandwagon when you get these ideas. Think of Belladonna, would you really want her following your example like this? Seeing you self-destruct over and over again and thinking it's okay?" Ji-Hoon asked, looking Liane in the eye.

"God no, I'd hate for her to do any of that, she's my daughter, she shouldn't have to do that for attention." Liane replied, suddenly disgusted with herself as Ji-Hoon nodded. "Exactly. So lead by example. Take responsibility for yourself. And your actions. You ready to go home now?" He asked, helping her out of the car slowly. Liane nodded, wiping her tears. "But what about the car?" She asked as Ji-Hoon wrapped his arms around Liane tight, looking skyward. "Mia's taking care of it, now hold on tight." He instructed as they took to the skies, heading home.

"JJ's going to kill me..." Liane sighed as they glided across New York. Ji-Hoon chuckled. "Nah, he's probably taking that rage out on something healthy. Like a punching bag or on the shooting range. Unlike you...why the hell did you stop going to therapy?" He asked, giving her a glance and seeing it written on her face. He sighed. "You thought because you were doing better that you didn't need it...okay no surprises there," He answered as they landed safely at The Tower. Liane just stayed silent as Ji-Hoon faced her, taking hold of her shoulders. "Go back to therapy, Liane. It's not about...fixing yourself or your past. It's about moving forward. Leaving the past behind. Sure you can feel guilty about the bad stuff but you're allowed to grow and change, Felton. We all are." He finished, walking back inside with her.

"I'm sorry for always picking on you, it was dumb and childish. And the nicknames...it was stupid." Liane finally said as Ji-Hoon gave her a half smile, grateful for the apology but not wanting her to change her habits with him. "Hey you're good. Honestly it wasn't that bad, your insults were always pretty lame. And I didn't mind them. I know how shit your brothers were, none of us are blind to that. You were their punching bag, you saw an opportunity, I became yours. A punching bag that could fully kick your ass, mind you, but it gave you an outlet. So I don't mind being your outlet. If it means you get to feel a little bit in control." He smiled, walking towards the kitchen.

"I am going to make tea for us and you are going to apologise to JJ." Ji-Hoon stated as Liane went to reply but he simply said, "Neither of those things are optional. And since I am technically your higher up, that's an order, Felton." He said briskly as Liane sighed and headed off to the training space to find JJ, bracing herself for impact as she knew he would be her toughest apology to gain forgiveness with. Ji-Hoon was right, it was time Liane Felton grew the hell up and faced the music.

Hope you enjoy! First time writing with a bit of Ji-Hoon's perspective...hope I did him justice @gcthvile and feel free to write a part two if you wish @jackiequick from JJ's perspective since you did contribute to the fact it was his car she stole.

@askstevella @ask-starrk @rickb-chaos @luna-d-marsh @wizzzardofoz @ethan-lensherr @afterhours-witheli @sci-fi-lexcon @ms-tiana-xoxo @the-x-ladiesofnyc @therealdaydreamstark @sadiesadieagentlady @spotted-ac-richards @trulysummersprivate

Tags: @jackiequick @gcthvile @blueboirick @aidanxsophxoxo

[sourcedfrom-az]

Boarding.

Jimmy Zare's Uploaded Memories (1/8)

___

I reeled back, "We're not bringing that," I said it clearly and loud.

Curly was holding up his sleeping aide, those headphones that block out noise.

"You can't work with 'em on," I added.

We were going through stuff in our lockers, stuff to throw into totes, and he looks at me dead in my face and says..

"But you're bringing your camera."

I made a rebuttal, "Why does everyone ask about the camera? It's just my thing."

"Go off," he said while he laughed, launching clothes and some hair care items into his tote.

My tote was barely filled. Neatly folded clothes, a thing of HRT cream, and my favorite mug. I had no other items that secure people had found themselves depending on. The entire thing was just necessity, as I hadn't found a hobby besides my body and a bad book - swearing I could write better than that. No need, I was there for money.

So when I was done, he was done.

(memory gap.)

At line up and the tote storage, I finally saw the crew again. Curly was doing his best to stay beside the new kid, Daisuke, while Swansea was making his way over to me. I smiled, only to frown again.

"Another damn trip, Jimbo."

"Why do you call me that?" I asked, blunt.

Swansea grinned, "Seniority."

"Okay," my hands were shoved into my Pony Express jumpsuit pockets.

"Take a joke," He scodfed, "Hell, we're a big one at this point. Look at the other ships. Shutting down, being scrapped, repurposed and without care. Now it's my job to fix it," he shook his head at some point, "I'll tell you what, there's probably a problem with this one."

"Curly already checked, a vent's collapsed," I said, "Take care of it."

Swansea had walked off when he noticed who I was staring at. Her.

She was sitting alone, reading a psych book about some foreign topic, trying her best to catch up while they were still fueling the ship. I had made my way of course, looking at her with a smile.

Anya flinched a little, like she always does, and then sighed, "Hey, Jim."

"Another trip," I crouched to her level, "Ready?"

My hands were on my knees at this point.

"I'm not sure... I did the tests Pony Express gave me and all... but I -"

"You'll do your part right," I said, "It'll be like last time. Don't mess up."

"Uhm... yeah. Thanks, Jim."

"Sure," my face was straight, "When we get everything settled, I'll make sure to help."

"..."

We didn't exchange any words while sitting beside each other after that, I just watched Curly show the new kid around.

By the time we all boarded, I had stuck to the kitchen and living room area with my head in one of Anya's books. I wasn't learning anything new, I was just reading. I knew where everyone else was, Swansea and Daisuke in Utility, Curly in the Cockpit, and Anya in Medical.

I was called to the Cockpit and I sat beside Curly.

"Navigator and co-pilot," he addressed me.

"Curly," I addressed him.

"I know you're familiar with flying," he smiled at me, "So I'm giving you control of takeoff."

"Seriously?"

"Jim, take the wheel," he chuckled and urged me on, "Come on."

"Shit," my hands had taken the wheel and I just remember feeling the fire of the engine and the ship tremble. They did our countdown...

(memory gap.)

"You look so comfortable," Curly mumbled something like that.

I remember saying, "And that's bad?"

"It's routine for me," he responded, "Its... boring after 8 years. I have hobbies, I have distractions, but being captain always comes first. Wouldn't you get stuck?"

I blinked at him, "Stuck how?"

"Stuck in the loop, I guess. Of doing it over and over?"

"Ah, I see," I clicked my tongue, "You feel like you're not going anywhere, at the top without any reason to really climb higher, right?"

"You got it," he sighed loudly, "That's why you're here, Jim. I... really wanted you by my side. I don't know, to spice things up. To uh... help you find your own footing too."

"Most of which I accomplished on my own, not with your help."

"I still recommended you," Curly made a smug look, "Just a tiny bit of credit."

"Whatever helps you sleep."

He scoffed, "Like I can get a lick of it... I should have brought those headphones."

"You literally cannot pilot with them. We're a team, like you always say. I gotta keep you in check."

Curly laughed with a pat on my shoulder, "I suppose you're right in some sense!"

"Yeah..."

[got-into-worm-by-mistake]

Interlude 3 Live Reactions

(This is me, writing reactions as I read, because why the fuck not. They're not complete, mature thoughts taken after I sit back and evaluate what I've read. Consider them as such)

The building housing the local Parahuman Response Team division didn’t really stand out. The exterior was all windows, reflective enough to mirror the mottled dark gray of the sky overhead.  Only a shield logo bearing the letters ‘P.R.T.’ marked it apart from the other buildings of downtown Brockton Bay.

Maybe it's just because I have shatterbird on the brain because I've read several versions of Slaugherhouse 9 attacks on Brockton Bay in fics recently, but like... while I get that you can't just build every building without windows out of fear of Shatterbird showing up in your city, it does seem ill-advised for the PRT to have that much window on their HQ. If Shatterbird does show up...

Those entering the lobby would find a strange juxtaposition at work.  On the one hand, you could see the various employees in suits, hurrying in and out of the building, talking in groups.  A team of four PRT officers was on standby, each stationed at a different area of the lobby, outfitted in the best equipment money could buy.  All had chain mesh and kevlar vests, helmets that covered their faces, and firearms.  The equipment differed, however, as two of them had grenade launchers hanging from straps on their shoulders with bandoliers of various specialty ammunition across their chests, including a fire extinguishing grenade, an EMP round and various stun grenades.  The other two had what appeared at first glance to be flame throwers; were they to pull the triggers, they would eject a thick, frothing spray of foam, enough to contain all but the strongest and fastest villains.

This is definitely weird compared to the last two Interludes...

In stark contrast to this, there was the gift shop that would be thick with youths when school ended, sporting a selection of action figures, posters, video games and clothing.  Four-foot tall pictures of the various Protectorate and Wards team members were placed at regular intervals around the lobby, each backed by bright colors.

Definitely really fucking incongruous, yeah.

There was a cheery tour guide waiting patiently by the front desk, smiling handsomely at anybody who happened to glance his way.  On schedule, he would introduce tourists and children to the PRT offices, the armory, the training area and the parking lot with the parahuman containment vans, showing them what it took to manage the local heroes.  For those willing to pay for the premium tour, wait up to two hours and suffer a PRT squad escort, there would be an additional stop on the tour – a glimpse of the Wards’ Headquarters.

This is a little too 'Omniscient impersonal narrator' compared to the last two Interludes.

“Director Piggot.  Ma’am,” Aegis greeted her, his voice strained.  His costume was in shreds, and was more crimson with his own blood than it was its original white.  

Given that Aegis probably gets hurt a lot, since he's not actually invulnerable, per se, why wear white when he's gonna bleed all over it?

Although he's probably still wearing Clock's uniform, isn't he?

Director Piggot didn’t look away, but one of the men standing behind her looked a touch green around the gills, “I can take you at your word.  You don’t need to stick your arm all the way through your chest to demonstrate.”

Aegis is still a teenage boy. 'Look What I Can Do!' is still a big part of the mindset.

 Maybe next time, the rest of you can talk Gallant out of inviting his girlfriend along.” The protests overlapped. “It was her sister in the bank! 

Yeah, I'm... I mean, oddly enough, Amy probably would have had a better time of things if Vicky didn't get invited, but its a tall ask to keep her back

“You’ll have to forgive me,” Piggot smiled, “The paperwork gets to be a bit much sometimes.  Maybe you know where to find the documentation from our military and science teams, for this Alternator Cannon?” “Christ, Kid,” Aegis groaned under his breath, with his ruined voice. Kid Win looked more upset about Aegis’ reaction than anything else, “I, uh.  I didn’t get it officially cleared, yet.  I just thought it would be better to use the cannon and do what I could to stop the robbery.”

Yup. Definitely the Collateral Damage Ken :rofl:

Because also like Ken, he's just not as interesting. :P

Who's POV is this scene actually from though?

Director Piggot frowned, “The amount of time and money that would require, for an event that might never occur… no.  I suppose you can keep the cannon.”

Bet she planned on conceding this so the next bit about taking out the power source, etc, is received better.

“I’m going to have nightmares,” Clockblocker groaned, as he tenderly touched the welts around his nose and mouth, “Nightmares with lots and lots of spiders.”

Valid.

As.

Fuck.

“Shadow Stalker is AWOL?” Gallant asked. “Couldn’t make it in time,” Aegis grunted, “Told her to stay put.”

Carefully keeping hidden from the readers just what Sophia is.

Gallant considered for a moment, “Could be, but my gut tells me Piggy just wants to scare him.  He needs to stop testing the limits with the people in charge, or he’s going to get in real trouble at some point.”

Isn't Gallant usually the one calling people out in fic for calling Piggot 'Piggy'?

Flanderization, probably, I guess. Gallant is still a teen.

“And I’ll hold that position for not even the rest of the summer before I graduate and pass the mantle to you,” Clockblocker smiled self deprecatingly, “No worries.  Take charge.”

Rapid turnover does seem a major flaw in 'eldest runs the show'.

“Okay guys,” Gallant said, “Before we get started, I think it’s important to make some things clear.  First off, most importantly, today was not a failure.  I’d even say that today was a win for the good guys, and we start establishing that here and now.”

Okay, that really is putting Lipstick on a Pig, Gallant.

Taken.  Stinger is some villain in California with power armor, a jetpack and homing missiles, and Pestilence is a creepy psycho in London.”

All the Good Names are Always Taken!

“Skitter?” Gallant put the name out there. There was a clatter of keys as Clockblocker checked, “It’s not taken.” “Then it’s good enough,” 

I mean, it's not the worst name out there, really. I can see why Taylor never tried to push back on it.

Following behind Armsmaster and Miss Militia was a teenage girl in an enveloping white robe.  Panacea.  She had an ID card on a cord around her neck, featuring her photo and the word ‘GUEST’ in bright blue letters. “She was kind enough to volunteer to come here and patch you guys up,” Miss Militia told the young heroes, “Can’t send you home with horrible injuries and hundreds of bug bites, can we?  That would give away the show.”

Well, that and it would just kinda suck to go home like that.

Panacea really is a huge boon to the BB PRT, Protectorate and Wards, isn't she? Makes covering identities much easier.

She shifted the position of the rocket launcher on her shoulders, and it dissolved into a blur of green-black energy.  The energy lunged and arced around her for a few brief moments, then materialized into a machine gun.  It only held that form for a few seconds before it flickered and solidified into a sniper rifle, then a harpoon gun, and  finally settled in the form of a pair of uzis, one in each of her hands.  She barely seemed to notice, beyond the automatic action of holstering the guns.

Does the gun just constantly change when she's not using it? Can Miss Militia drop the guns? Hand them to someone? How does that work?

“I- A lot happened,” Panacea hedged. “Any detail helps.” “Um.  I’m sorry,” she said, looking down at the ground, “I got smacked across the head, but my power doesn’t work on myself, and I’m not really the type to go out in costume and get into fights, so having my life threatened, I dunno.  All that… I can’t put my thoughts in order just yet.”

I mean, I get why she's not saying much. Hard to really explain without hinting around too much. "I think she's a thinker" "Why?" "because she knew shit literally no one else should know but I'm not telling you because I can't."

“But I got them anyways, and I got international attention over it.  The healer.  The girl who could cure cancer with a touch, make someone ten years younger, regrow lost limbs.  I’m forced to be a hero.  Burdened with this obligation.  I couldn’t live with myself if I didn’t use this power.  It’s such an opportunity, to save lives.” “But?” “But at the same time… I can’t cure everyone.  Even if I go to the hospital every night for two or three hours at a time, there are thousands of other hospitals I can’t visit, tens of millions of people who are terminally ill or living in a personal hell where they’re paralyzed or in constant pain.  These people don’t deserve to face that, but I can’t help them all.  I can’t help one percent of them if I put in twenty hours a day.” “You have to focus on what you can do,” Gallant told her. “Sounds easier than it is,” Panacea answered, with a touch of bitterness, “Do you understand what it means, to cure some of these people?  I feel like every second I take to myself is a second I’ve failed somehow.  For two years, it’s been this… pressure.  I lie in bed, awake at night, and I can’t sleep.  So I get up and I go to the hospital in the middle of the night.  Go to pediatrics, cure some kids.  Go to the ICU, spare some lives… and it’s all just blending together.  I can’t even remember the last few people I saved.”

Some anti-Amy people really seem to want to ignore this whole bit from her, sometimes, judging from some of the posts I've seen on r/parahumans.

God, Amy needs a hug, a break, therapy and a girlfriend, stat.

She sighed again, “The last person I really remember?  It was maybe a week ago, I was working on a kid.  He was just a toddler, an immigrant from Cairo, I think.  Ectopia Cordis.  That’s where you’re born with your heart outside your body.  I was putting everything in the right place, giving him a chance at a normal life.” “What made him so memorable?” “I resented him.  He was lying there, fast asleep, like an angel, and for just a second, I considered just leaving him.  The doctors could have finished the job, but it would have been dangerous.  He might have died if I’d left him on the table, the job half done.  I hated him.”

I'm surprised she's saying all this to Gallant, of all people. But A) She is evading the thing she really can't share (her crush on Vicky. When does that get revealed to the reader anyway?) and B) She knows Dean is too well... Gallant to actually share something like this revealed in confidence.

But also, yeah, the people who act like Amy didn't have it bad are full of shit. Doesn't excuse what she does, not even close, of course, but those haters are just insane.

“No, I hated that he would have a normal life, because I’d given up mine.  I was scared that I might intentionally make a mistake.  That I might let myself fuck up the procedure with this kid.  I could have killed him or ruined his life, but it would have eased the pressure.  Lowered expectations, you know?  Maybe it would have even lowered my own expectations for myself.  I… I was just so tired.  So exhausted.  I actually considered, for the briefest moment, abandoning a child to suffer or die.” “That sounds like more than just exhaustion,” Gallant replied, quietly. “Is this how it starts?  Is this the point I start becoming like my father, whoever he was?” Gallant let out a slow breath, “I could say no, that you’re never going to be like your father.  But I’d be lying.  Any of us, all of us, we run the risk of finding our own way down that path.  I can see the strain you’re experiencing, the stress.  I’ve seen people snap because of less.  So yeah.  It’s possible.”

I wonder if Amy feels conflicted about how much she doesn't like Dean because he is just such a genuinely good dude.

Like, I can imagine she hates all the unsolicited 'I want to help', I relate to that hard, but it is hard to hate someone who is just... that fucking nice.

I'd like to think she feels some confliction, anyway.

“Take a break.  Tell yourself it’s something you have to do, to recharge your batteries and help more people in the long run.” “I don’t think I can.”

Listen to him, Amy. For God's sake, fucking LISTEN.

*pretends she can yell hard enough that the characters can hear her*

LISTEN!

“She threatened to talk about stuff.  Stuff worse than what I just told you, I guess.  Threatened to tell me things I just don’t want to know.  Said she’d use what she knew to ruin my relationship with Victoria and the rest of my family,” Amy hugged herself. “My sister’s all I’ve got.  The only person with no expectations, who knows me as a person.  Carol never really wanted me.  Mark is clinically depressed, so as nice as he is, he’s too focused on himself to really be a dad.  My aunt and uncle are sweet, but they’ve got their own problems.  So it’s just me and Victoria.  Has been almost from the beginning.  That smug little monster threatened to tear my sister and I apart using yet another thing I didn’t want, another thing I had no control over.”

My desire to strangle Lisa grows.

Though honestly, while it would have wigged Vicky out, I doubt it would have actually made her hate you forever, or whatever, it coming out at this stage. She'd need a hot minute to come to terms with it, especially if it's revealed by Tattletale in that context, but otherwise...

But Amy is so used to hating herself that she assumes everyone else would hate her for this just as much.

“Does… does this have anything to do with the, erm, rather strong feelings you have towards me?” Panacea went still. “I’m sorry,” he hurried to say, “I shouldn’t have brought it up.” “You shouldn’t have,” she stood up and started towards the door.

So I gathered Dean does know (about the incest crush) by the time he dies, from reading on the wiki (IIRC), but does he know yet, or does he just know there's something there, but he's not sure what?

“Take care of my sister, okay?  Make her happy?” she murmured, as she hesitated in the doorway. “Goes without saying.” They rejoined the main group.

No mention of the on-again off-again element. When does that come up? Or is that just pure fanon?

But yeah, I think this scene would solidify for the coming into this blind reader the idea that Amy is a significant secondary character to this story. Like, Interlude 2 could just have been setting up the bank and showing off the darkside of the Heroes, but here, the additional focus on Amy's inner life like this - she's clearly not just a side character.

At least for the first half.

[theweaverofdreams666]

Darkness Descends - Chapter 6

"Nooooo!" Myfanwy's voice tears through the strange silence as they see The Shadow tackle the fire demon over the cliff's edge. They rush to the edge of the cliff watching the light of the burning demon get dimmer before finally extinguishing. After a few moments of shock, the three rush down the pathways and stairs as quickly as they can without plummetting from the edge.

As they reach the bottom, they frantically try to get their bearings to see where The Shadow had likely landed. A dull glow hangs over the area, barely strong enough to illuminate the churning surface of the black river next to them. The riverfront is barren, made from the same dark rock as the plateau above.

"There's no way he could have survived this," Alistair says.

"He's not dead," Myfanwy responds with a grim edge to her voice.

Alistair knows better than to argue, but if he had intended to, Sanford's deep voice alerts them. They rush to his side, and in front of them lay the shattered remains of the demon, swept ashore from the river, its fire extinguished by the black water.

"I-is it - dead?" Myfanwy asks with a shaky voice.

Sanford pushes the body with his foot. "Yeah. Not sure that thing was alive in the first place, but it's gone."

"But where is--" she can't finish the sentence.

Alistair puts his arm around her. "We'll search. If he's here, we'll find him."

They spread out in a desperate attempt to locate The Shadow's body, sure that there was no way he could have survived the fall, even less so being entangled with a burning demon. After searching along the entire riverbank they could access, they reconvene next to the demon's corpse, a dejected look on their faces. Myfanwy sobs as Alistair pulls her in to console her. A splash from the riverbank causes them to turn their heads, and they see a hand trying to grab hold of the rock. Immediately Sanford and Alistair rush over to grab the arm and pull.

The Shadow looks more dead than alive, soaking wet, parts of his robe scorched, scratches, and light burns all over his face.

"Is he-" Myfanwy starts, not allowing herself to finish the sentence again.

Alistair is crouched down next to him and nods. "He's in rough condition, but he's alive."

The Shadow weakly lifts his head and whispers, "I-I don't h-have time to d-die…" With these words, he passes out. He has no idea how much time has passed when he wakes up. He hears the roar of the river Styx. He feels the hard rock beneath his body, yet his head is not on the ground but on something soft. Just as he wonders if he is dead or alive, he tries to move, and a piercing pain sensation shoots through his head.

'I guess I'm still alive,' he thinks, happy that thinking doesn't hurt. He groans, which immediately creates a stir around him. He senses more than he hears that someone kneels down next to him.

"Can you hear me?" he hears a deep voice, full of concern.

He opens his mouth, trying to say he can, but all that comes out is a hoarse croak followed by a cough that brings back the pain in his head and side.

"Don't try to talk." The deep voice returns, and it sounds familiar. Sanford.

Carefully he opens his eyes, and the first thing he sees is a red blur. He closes and opens his eyes again, hoping that they had calibrated themselves. Slowly things come into focus, and he realizes that it is Myfanwy's hair that he sees and the softness beneath his head, her thigh.

He lifts his arm to touch her hair. The next thing he feels is a soaking wet cloth smacking his forehead.

"He's awake."

"Oh shit, sorry!" Alistair mumbles.

Despite the pain in his head, The Shadow begins to laugh, leading to more pain, but at this moment he can't help it. After a minute, he sits up against the advice of Sanford and Alistair. He feels some dizziness coming up, but he is determined not to let it take over.

"What happened? We thought you were - dead…" Myfanwy says with a shaky voice.

The Shadow carefully turns to her. "So did I. Well, I thought I was going to die but I'm not sure what happened. That-that thing is, it held on to me and I felt the flames and the heat and it just started laughing. But, but then as we hit the water, I heard it scream and even though, I don't know. I didn't feel any impact, only the water pulling me down, deeper and deeper. I'd kick and try to come back up and I did, just long enough to breathe in before it would pull me back under.

Then I saw something at the bottom. The water was pitch black, but down there, as if trying to defy the blackness, I saw it clearly, glowing…"

He begins to cough.

"What was it?"

He puts his hand into his pocket and pulls out another ring with a weak smile before he feels the dizziness take over, and he falls backward, blackness swallowing him again.

When he wakes up again, he feels strangely refreshed. He opens his eyes, and everything is quiet except for the relentless rush of the Styx. He looks around and sees Sanford sitting on a boulder near the riverbank, looking around to ensure they are alone and safe. Alistair is slumped over deeply asleep, and as he cranes his neck, he sees that Myfanwy is asleep as well, resting against the rock wall, her long red hair obscuring her face.

He sits up, and motions for Sanford to come over. The square man looks tired, exhaustion etched into his face.

“Finally!” he says.

The Shadow furrows his brow in confusion. “For how long have I been out?”

“It’s hard to say down here, but probably a good day. How do you feel?”

“Surprisingly good. I hurt everywhere, but it’s manageable.”

The big man smiles. “Good! Because we’re getting tired of this place.”

The Shadow laughs out. “Can’t blame you.” He stretches, wincing as his muscles protest against the movement. “Then I guess we should get going?”

“You literally just woke up! Are you sure?”

He nods. “Yeah, we need to get this done and get out of here.”

Sanford nods in return. “Then let’s wake up the sleeping beauties.”

The Shadow expects him to rouse them from their sleep, but instead he just yells “Wake-up time, we’re going!”

Myfanwy and Alistair startle awake and the moment she sees The Shadow up, Myfanwy runs over, embracing him in a tight hug. “I--we thought you were gone…”

Alistair and Sanford clear their throats. “Uh, hello?”

Myfanwy disengages with a nervous chuckle, her cheeks turning the colour of her hair. “Sorry…”

“So, I guess we have to get across this?” Alistair points at the black waters of the Styx.

“I’m not entirely sure if we have to get across or into it.”

The red-haired man glares at him “Into it? He must have hit his head harder than I thought.”

The Shadow can’t help but laugh. “You tell me what to make of this:

In the fifth circle's river, a soul of deep despair, Drowning in dark sorrow, aching wounds they can't repair. Lift the spirit burdened with eternal grief, Restore their hope and bring them sweet relief.

It does say ‘in the river.’”

Alistair makes a sweeping motion to encompass the full expanse of the river they can see. “This is a lot of river to be ‘in’.”

“Styx, isn’t that the river that leads to the underworld with the ferryman, Charon?”

The Shadow nods. “To Hades, yes, but I see no ferry around.”

“Th-there!” Myfanwy stammers as she points across the raging river. A figure is standing at the banks on the opposite side, clad in what appears to be a seaman’s clothing. It is holding a ferryman’s pole in its right hand as it stares across, its eyes glowing from the distance.

Out of the waters rises a skiff, bobbing in the current of the Styx. He steps into the boat and pushes across the churning waters as if traversing a still lake. After a few minutes, the skiff’s prow crunches against the riverbank, and Charon extends his hand to invite them on the shallow boat. After glancing at each other, The Shadow steps into the vessel, the others following suit.

Wordlessly, Charon pushes the skiff away from the shore, setting it out on its course across the pitch-black waters. The Shadow looks at the ferryman. He is gaunt, of indeterminable age, with sunk eyes of fire, long, tangled hair and beard. As he pushes across the river, he gives no indication of being aware of his passengers. Despite the strong currents and broiling surface, the boat remains perfectly still, as if floating above the torrent.

As they reach the other side, Charon again extends his left hand to indicate they have arrived at their destination. They step off, and before them lays a large swamp. Dead trees rise from the murk, with large pools of stagnant water. A murky sun or moon casts a pale light on the desolate landscape. Figures lie submerged in the filthy water, their bodies half-buried, lost in their own self-pity and depression. They make no effort to communicate or engage with others, embodying their refusal to participate in life's activities, their howls of lament drowning out the rush of the river.

The Shadow turns toward his companions and gives a start. Charon and his boat are nowhere to be seen, having disappeared as silently and suddenly as he had appeared. A path winds between trees’ skeletal corpses.

“I guess this is where we’ll go.”

With grim determination, he sets out, the others following close. The laments rise in cadence as they pass by the writhing figures, wading through the stagnant pools of murky water. Wherever they look, there are bodies, some almost fully submerged in water or the swampy morass, some in prone positions, wailing away sorrowfully.

They move further into the swamp, and the laments get louder and more anguished, the constant noise beginning to unnerve the quartet. In the distance, they see the pale light reflect off a larger water surface. Getting closer, it is revealed as a large pool of water, a murky brown streaked with crimson, giving it an unsettling look. In its centre kneels a large figure, bent over, its head almost touching the pool’s surface.

Its wails sound inhuman; it feels as if it itself has become sorrow and anguish. Opposed to the hundreds, if not thousands of other figures they had passed, this one reacts to their arrival. The wails stop and it raises its head. Its eyes are hollow, the face distorted in a mask of grief and sorrow. Its hollow voice reverberates with a deep-set pain that is almost palpable.

“Welcome to the end, where hope has forsaken all. Desolation and decay are all that is left for us.”

A howl of anguish follows the statement that penetrates everything.

“We have traversed four circles of hell to reach you. We were faced with darkness and decay, gluttony and hatred. We fought with demons and liches, yet we never gave up and don’t intend to give up now. You have something we are searching for.”

The laughter emanating from the bent figure sounds wrong on many levels. “I have grief, sorrow and pain. I have nothing that could be of value to you. You have wasted your time, your hopes. You belong here now.”

The Shadow seems unfazed by the figure’s words. “No, we do not belong here, nor into any other circle of hell. I am here to break a curse; the only way to do so is to fulfil the Tome of Lost Souls prophecy. And I will not fail.”

The figure remains silent as if mulling over his words. It slowly raises one arm, and the glint of gold draws their attention to it. “So you want this.”

It is a statement, not a question. The Shadow holds its eyeless gaze, unwavering.

“What will you do if I do not give it to you? Kill me?” It gives a short, harsh laugh. “Death holds no power over me. It would be a relief. But I have no hope even for death.”

The Shadow begins to wade into the pool of brackish water. The figure does not move.

“Will you take it by force? Will you be a thief to steal from those who have nothing left, even hope?”

Still advancing, he says, “No. You will give it to me.”

“Why should I?”

“What do you have to lose? You said it yourself; you have nothing left, not even hope. You know you cannot even hope for death, so what value does the ring hold? What difference to your being will it make if you have it or not?”

Behind him, he hears the whispers between his companions, the tone of their whispers indicating that they are unsure of what he is trying to do. Undeterred, he moves closer to the figure that has not moved. Finally, it speaks.

“What advantage do I have?”

“None.”

“Then why should I help you?”

“Well, actually, there might be a benefit.”

It only stares at him.

“The ring is a connection to something that caused you to be here for all eternity. Giving it up means that it will not eternally remind you of it.”

A long silence follows as he stops within an arm’s length of the figure that looms over him. He can sense the uneasiness of his companions as one swipe of the arm could spell the end of him. Yet he stands there, unwavering, keeping his eyes on the figure. He is not sure how much time has passed but suddenly, albeit slowly, the figure brings its other hand up and pulls off the ring.

“You wield a sharp tongue, stranger, but I must admit that you are giving me hope, no matter how minuscule it is in the grand scheme of things.”

The Shadow stretches out his hand, and the figure drops the ring into his palm. The Shadow bows to the figure before turning and calmly returning to his companions. Without stopping, he motions for them to follow as he circles around the pool of water, leaving the strange creature behind in silence.

Myfanwy looks back toward the figure still kneeling in silence, looking after them. “Did you really think this would work??” she asks incredulously.

The Shadow casts a sideways look at her and says lowly, “No.”

[sonicasura]

Good point. Though that just gives everyone even more reason to swear up storms. Kafka is lucky noone knows what he looks likes as a human. Even with what happens in canon, Kafka still retains his human form in my Quarter Au casue come on, even before Tiny Kafka already had a core of his own that allowed him to have both forms.

Though that also means the heart core is back and means the DF has to work out a whole new system to be able to dected Kafka cause their current ones sure as hell can't even with his new power upgrade. That heart core is just too good at hidding it all, especially when Kafka is in human form.

So how did the officer find Kafka when they finally managed to catch him? At a burger joint of course. There was at least a few squads hidding around the market, keeping themself in the shadows as they slowly monitored the place.

It was Soshiro's dad who notice that something was a odds. Yeah, its time he got a taste of Troublemakers infamous ways to cause embarrassing incidents. He managed to single for a group to follow him and slowly but surely they managed to sneak up on Kafka who was currently too busy stuffing his face in fires to notice a thing. At first.

Credits where credits are due, neither Kafka nor the officers reacted much beside going stock still as the himbo slowly turned to look at them. For a good few mintues nothing happens at all as both side don't want to make a move. Then pure chaos starts the second someone blinks and move just an inch, and soon the whole place is a mess of bullets, sword, claws, tail and what nots as Kafka becomes part cat and runs all over the place to try and avoid getting hurt or worse.

It attracts all the other officers as well, which just adds to the chaos. Kafka throws all sorts of stuff at them. From used grease to plastic utensils and even the furniture. It was a mess to say the least, with Soshiro's dad getting a few buckets worth of grease on himself and being covered in plastic warpers from head to toe. It would be funny how awkward the swordman was trying to keep his footing had it not been for what happened next.

A fire started cause one stray bullet hit where it shouldn't, a gas pipe and Kafka finds himself haulling out unconscious officers before hauling his own ass out when the building decided its better to just explode.

The report after is among the few legdendary ones to read among the future officers. Not only becasue of what happened but also due to there being one of the few with actual footage and boy is it a blast to watch for everyone. Well for those who did not actually experience it that is. Kafka got some very odd looks when he did not react the same way others those when shown the first time after he finally managed to join the DF. He had to come up with a good explaintion for that.

This of course was not the only time that year the officers had to try and capture Kafka in a food shop. Not to mention now being a juvenile meant far bigger cages and new equipment needed to catch the now much large kaiju before his mom showed up. Cause of course I forgot that Akari dies when Kafka is like 12. Which lessend the raids a good bit, but Kafka still had to do it as Akari did not have good hunting grounds to provide all that Kafka needed.

It was one of the few times Akari hated the fact they lived in a city and not in the country side. A lot more kaijus are easier to find out there.

LMFAO I imagine Kafka having to get a different phone number and email if his human identity was known to the public. We know he would be flirted on by both species. Human and kaiju.

A burger restaurant is the worst place to use a gun in my opinion. It takes one bullet to blow up the entire place. Soshiro's father definitely wouldn't like any greasy food after that particular incident.

The city definitely isn't a good kaiju hunting group. At most you would find are rats, raccoons, and possums.

[windvexer]

banishing (how to do it)

yeah this is like all UPG but it works good for me, take what you will and leave the rest behind.

if your response to this is "but most people never ever have to deal with unwanted spirit problems so you're probably wrong if you think it's a spirit! do shadow work and touch grass!" please let me invite you to just not interact with this post at all.

Don't cleanse. Like please don't, why do people do this??

"I am confident an unwanted spirit is in my home and I cleansed but nothing happened."

Okay, an unwanted guest is in your home and you did a bit of vacuuming and washing the dishes, so why are they still there??

Why WOULDN'T they be there?! It's nicer now??? It's better for them to stay?!?!?!

"I want to break up with my boyfriend so I did his laundry but he's still texting me :/"

Cleansing =/= banishing and cleansing should be saved for cleaning up after an unwanted spirit after they are banished, which again, is not accomplished by cleansing.

Stop raising wards that trap the spirit inside.

"I cleansed and put up a protection but that only made the problem worse!"

Yes you did a wash up and locked the spirit inside with you, of course it's pissed off. It's trapped.

If you feel the need for immediate protection when dealing with a spirit problem, craft an amulet that serves as a personal protection for you. NOT one that seals off the entrances to your home.

Once the spirit problem is taken care of and you are confident its presence has been removed, feel free to raise up those wards sky high.

Also, if you are heavy-handed with the warding, spirits can sometimes just get trapped inside regardless. Learn how to temporarily "switch off" wards when you need to so things can leave.

Put your fucking foot down and tell the spirit to leave.

This will solve a surprising number of unwanted spirit problems. Not all of them, and come on, please stop telling people they never need to learn actual banishing skills just because telling spirits to leave works most of the time.

But you gotta do it. And I mean you don't have to be an asshole about it. You don't have to jump right into screaming in the spirit's general direction and threatening all such harm on it.

And there's plenty of good reasons to start with this step, especially if you want to be a spirit worker, but that's neither here nor there. Just tell them to leave.

Go to an area where you think the spirit is, or go where its private and speak with the intent that the spirit will hear you.

(You may also sign or write; would generally not recommend doing this operation entirely mentally)

"Hey, Dude. I know you're here, and I want you to know that you must leave. It is no longer an option for you to stay. I request that you leave immediately, and I request that you do not come back to this place. Leave now and we part ways in peace."

Do not go belly up and beg the spirit. It benefits you to behave with authority and dignity.

DO NOT try to "soften the blow" by twisting your words into something that is no longer a demand that the spirit depart. "Hey, if it's okay with you, I'm hoping you'll leave soon, or as soon as you're able... I don't feel comfortable with you here, and I'd prefer if you went." Great, now the spirit knows how you feel. So what?

Banish the spirit (or human, or whatever).

Presumably we're at this step because the prior step ("bro, seriously just leave and never come back") did not work.

Obtain correspondences heavily associated with banishing, use them to enchant a candle, burn the candle.

Can't use a candle? Try a simmer pot.

No fire at all, including incense? Try a floor wash (test carpets to ensure there will not be staining).

Can't burn things or clean the house? Try a sigil you visualize being imprinted on all the walls of your home.

Can't visualize? Consecrate something to represent the spirit, drop it in a jar of water along with banishing correspondences, swirl it around like a whirlpool, chant about the spirit being washed away.

No waterproof containers? Consecrate something to represent the spirit, stand on the edge of your property, throw it off the edge of the property.

You get my drift -- do magic. Do magic. Do magic that banishes. Use magic specifically to banish. Not to cleanse the vibrations or whatever. Specifically magic intended to yeet a spirit.

At this point, do not try to ignore the problem or keep talking it out. Do not just try to meditate or whatever. Do magic. Do magic that banishes.

Here's a banishing spell if you need it:

Basil, cloves, red pepper

Candle (ideally, red)

Paper and ink

Small offering

Draw the planetary seal of mars and the planetary square on a piece of paper, ideally in red. Dress a candle in oil (*burning your house down is an effective way to banish a spirit but perhaps too heavy-handed; dress with care) and include either one or three dried, powdered herbal correspondences to it.

Dedicate the candle to Mars. ("Planet Mars, someone on the internet told me you'd help me if I asked - I'm asking now. I give this candle to you. It belongs to you now.")

Put the candle near the paper.

Evoke Mars. ("Planet Mars, where your symbol exists so you exist. Where your planetary square exists, so do you exist. The space has been made welcoming to you through the presence of these Martian correspondences.") The martian correspondences are the basil/cloves/peppers, btw ("I ask you to bring your attention now to me. I ask you to dwell fully in this space.")

Read the Orphic hymn to Ares if you'd like a little extra elbow grease behind your evocation.

Petition Mars. ("So please get rid of this spirit, it seriously sucks so bad.")

Offer payment. ("In exchange for this help I know you will provide, I give you this candle and also this [small offering].")

Seal the deal. No, you do not need to be able to receive psychic confirmation from a planet or whatever, but do not proceed if you feel any gut-level bad feelings or suddenly get a ton of anxiety. If that happens, be like, "Mars, buddy, never mind - I get a bad feeling about this, so I'm noping out. Thanks for listening while you did. Leave in peace."

But if you feel fine about moving ahead, just be like, "now I give you Mars this offering, and I light your candle, with full and total assuredness that this spirit will be permanently banished from my space, my life, and my home."

[Light the candle, give the offering]

Cleanse

The spirit should be gone before you put up wards

Residual ickyness can make you feel the spirit is still nearby even if its been banished

Cleanse your space and see if the symptoms of the spirit return.

If symptoms return, the spirit has not been banished.

If they don't return,

Put up wards.

Ya got haunted because ya didn't have a fence up to stop random cows from wandering into the garden of your life and trampling all your hard work. Put up the wards.

Oh, but maybe the banishment didn't work, in which case:

Mitigate symptoms.

I mean yeah, maybe try at least a few more types of magical banishing, call in a priest even. But!

Not every spirit can be banished. That's just the long and short of it.

As humans we have the capacity to intertwine our lives, intentionally or otherwise, with forces that cannot be immediately removed from our presence.

Like if the grand spirit of a forest hates all humans and you build a house in the forest, you're not going to be able to banish the forest from the forest, you feel me?

Sometimes, banishing isn't the solution.

As rare as it is, it happens. Make personal protections, use mirror or other illusory wards to hide from its attention, make reparations if possible, avoid attracting attention, and get on with your life.

[tmnt-obsessed-ace]

Imagine being Ronin Mikey in Eclipse Across Dimensions.

You lost your brothers, your father, you live in an apocalyptic police state run by the Footclan (who are why majority of your family are dead) with your sister and your niece. You want revenge against the Footclan's leader (you are also actively suicidal and constantly hear the voices of your dead family haunting you)

Then one day two mutant turtles literally fall from the sky. Both wearing orange masks (familiar orange masks, like the one you used to wear) they both fight with nunchucks (just like yours)

They are yelling the names of your dead brothers as they travel through the remains of your city, as if expecting an answer from the dead.

As soon as they two turtles see you, they full on CHARGE AT YOU AT FULL SPEED

You cannot escape them. They are FAST little fuckers. (And considering the fact that the smaller of the two threw an entire flying BUS at Foot Police...yeah you dont wanna tick him off.)

It doesnt take long for them to catch you. And then they are attached. Literally, you cant get them off of you. They are strong as hell.

You begrudingly head home (with the two turtles still clinging to you like leeches)

Once at home the duo start the rapid fire questions ("Have you seen our brothers?" "Raph is this tall and he's like a chihuahua!" "Donnie has a forehead bigger than Montana! You can't miss it!" "My Donnie has a gap tooth like Michael! Its more in the center so have you seen him?" "Leo is hurt really really badly but when I find him Im gonna wring his neck! So do you know where he is?" "Dark blue eyes? Twin katanas? Any tornados recently?") So you end up learning a few things.

One-The multiverse is real

Two-These turtles are alternate versions of YOU

Three-They are looking for alternate versions of your dead brothers.

Four-They have mystic powers

Five-Their brothers all got separated after the biggest deadliest fight of their lives to prevent an ACTUAL APOCALYPSE from happening. (Also one of their brothers, Leon, is most likely on the brink of death)

Its...a lot to take in.

These poor kids look exhausted, battered and injured (the younger one's hands are wrapped in bandages up to the elbows, his hands trembling nonstop, while the older one has an arm completely wrapped in a cast and a thick piece of gause covering most of his plastron) the least you can do is let them stay with you.

They take up residence in your home, claiming a pile of old pillows and blankets as their bed.

Neither of them leave each other's side. And considering everything they went through, you dont blame them.

The next week or so is spent searching New York for their missing brothers, because you will be damned if you'll let two versions of you experience the same pain and grief you did. You dont find the missing turtles.

And while the two turtles are terrifying to watch as they help you fight the Foot Police (despite the massive injuries the younger turtles have)

So eventually the two turtles leave, with sullen faces.

You feel bad for them, you really do. These poor kids are going through the worst time in their lives. Their family is missing, there was an attempt at Alien dominion, everyone is badly hurt. The entire world almost got destroyed. All in a day.

(The older Mikey gave you a cellphone shaped like a turtle shell. "If you find them or hear anything about them, please call us ok?" And then the two left)

You look through the phone's gallery (you dont go further than that) it was an older version with all the data already backed up. There are pictures, videos. Pictures of a family so similar to the one you lost, videos of eight turtles all having fun and beeing teenagers. It makes your heart ache. Your family used to look like that, before everything went to shit.

You can only hope that these two will be alright.

Then about a month later the two turtles return (in significantly better shape than before)

Maybe they found their brothers? Before you can ask they both look up at you with bright smiles on their faces.

You chat with them for a bit before...

"You're coming with us." The older one states. Its not a question, you dont have a choice.

Something's...off about them. (Maybe its the way their smiles looked strained, or how blank their eyes look.) Then you notice that their veins are jet black in color, visible on their skin all the way up to their cheeks. Its in their bloodshot eyes too, making the veins pitch black. It was unsettling.

You naturally back away, something clearly happened to these two since they left. The Mikeys approach, drawing their weapons. The smiles never leaving their faces.

You fight them, they move MUCH faster than before and they are so much stronger.

You don't stand a chance. Despite your decades of fighting and experience, your years of training, every single skill your worked hard to master.

It didn't matter.

For some reason these kids were whooping your ass into next Tuesday, every hit hurting more than the last.

It doesnt take long before your head is slammed into a wall, knocking you out cold.

The next time you wake you are tied to a surgical table, thick metal restraints keeping you pinned. You are in a lab of some kind, a dark lab that reeked of old blood an chemicals.

As you lay there struggling to free yourself you hear whistling that rings like bells. A tail being dragged across the floor, aow excited sounding growl mixing in with the two precious sounds. Theres also the click-clacking of high heels against the floor.

Four women enter the room. Three are wearing lab coats and appear to be mutants (The first one a ghostly white and lizard like, with long curling horns and four green eyes, she looks bored of you. Her hands have been replaced by what look like mutant wolf paws with claws long enough to slice your head clean off.

The second being shorter, a rosey pink colored salamander with matching green eyes, she looks mildly amused at your struggles. Bat wings that clearly do not belong on her body have been attached to her back, judging by the mystical looking band around her chest that probably lets her actually use the wings given the wire connecting to the back.

The third and tallest of the trio appears to be the most humanoid, she looked amphibious, with the webbed hands and the gills on her neck. Her skin was a dark blue, near black color covered in rainbow freckles, like water and motor oil. Her hair is black black smoke, wisping around like a snake. Her eyes are a bright red, framed by thin gold glasses. She has a massive burn scar on the right side of her face. She grins menacingly, her sharp pointy teeth glinting in the dim light)

The final woman is the shortest of all four, older looking with purple skin and wearing an expensive purple dress, blue coat with green fur. She moves her silver bangs out of her eyes before looking at you, a bright red gemstone on her chest practically glowing. She taps it, turning into a giant spider mutant.

"Hello my turtly boo!" She coos, having the audacity to boop you on the nose with her claw. "My havent you grown into a befuzzled behemoth! But so dull, where's the dazzle? The excitement?"

Oh jow you want to deck this giant spiser in the face.

She turns to the amphibian lady. "Dr. Bloodmoon, I expect this brute to be Battle Nexus ready by tomorrow night! Feel free to get as creative as your dimblely little heart desires, just make him more attention grabbing please. I need a new champion to replace the Shredder Beast after all."

The Shredder WHAT?

The amphibian smiles, her lizard assistants joining her with a sadistic look in their eyes. "Of course mother! I would be honored to create your newest champion. However I will need access to only the finest parts and materials. I'm assuming I can retrieve such things from the Nexus?"

The spider nods before leaving. "Do not disappoint me again, or you can go back to the disgusting little prison cell you were staying in!" Now you were left alone with the scientists.

The amphibian claps her hands. "We have much to do and so little time! Katrina, go retrieve a mamba scorpion stinger from the Nexus! As well as some Lycan claws and perhaps a few bat wings."

The white lizard nods before disappearing down the dark hallway.

"Anastasia, would you be a dear and fetch the bonesaw?"

"Yes Doctor." The pink lizard says, strutting over to a far shelf. The amphibian leans over you, watching as you struggle helplessly in your binds. Its like they get tighter the more you pull at them.

"When I get out of here-"

"You're going into the Battle Nexus Arena, and you will become the champion!" She suddenly grabs your face really tightly, her claws digging in your skin. "I am NOT going back to that prison cell, do you understand me? I am not going to sit there waiting to be executed because YOU refuse to cooperate. So you will do as I say or I will show you new levels of agony that would make you WISH you were dead! Am I CLEAR!" She hisses evilly while trying to crush your face like a stress ball.

"I already wish I was dead. So do your worst. Because I'm getting out of here and then your head will be rolling across the god damn floor." The woman looks shocked at your threat as her assistant returns.

The pink lizard holds up a large circular saw, probably twice the size of your head.

And it was literally made out of bones. Lovely.

"I want his liver." The pink lizard says, and you cant help but shudder.

The amphibian locks eyes with you. "You can have it, in fact you can have anything else you want besides the brain, heart and lungs." The lizard laughs, revving up the bonesaw.

"I was going to be nice and use a bit of anesthesia, but I much rather listen to your suffering." The bonesaw starts to be lowered to your exposed plastron. "Be sure to scream nice and loud so I can hear you over the saw ok?" You struggle harder in your restraints, trying desperately to break free.

As the saw comes closer and closer you can't help but think 'Is this it? Am I actually going to die like this? Without even avenging my family?'

You shut your eyes, bracing for whats to come.

It seems that even after all these years turtle luck is truly a bitch.

All you can do is hope the two Mikeys will somehow be ok.

The saw makes contact with your plastron and you can't help but scream.

It only gets worse from here.

[yoshinobukanemaru]

the unknown is pulling me - Chapter 1

Pairing: El Phantasmo/Original Character Rating: Explicit Tags/Warnings: pussy eating, fingering, use of shoot name Words: 1746 Links: AO3 (if you like it, consider swinging by the archive to drop a kudos!) Notes: I can't promise a regular posting schedule, but I do have quite a bit done. The original character (Liz) starts as female in the story but will transition to non-binary, using they/them pronouns. This first chapter has her still firmly in the closet. Summary: Liz isn't sure where her relationship with Riley is actually heading and the long distance thing has been getting too hard to figure out. Toying with the idea of coming out officially scares her and she doesn't want to lose the one she loves by doing so.

Liz tapped her foot impatiently. The ticket information said that he’d land at 12:30. It was almost 1 and he still hadn’t shown up yet. This long distance thing has been rough on her and the fact that she was willingly at O’Hare had to mean something. She pulled up into the pickup lane and got tempted to put the car in park. Just as she was reaching down to do so, she heard the passenger door open.

“Have I mentioned how much I hate traveling between the states and Japan?” Riley was looking at Liz, a grin across his face.

“So no hello?” Liz was slightly annoyed but knew this was on par for him. He wasn’t the type to stop and be romantic.

Riley cupped Liz’s face and pulled her in for a kiss. The pair got lost in the kiss and it was only broken up by someone knocking on the window.

Liz rolled the window down and saw the security guard standing there.

“You need to move out of the parking lane. I’m sorry.”

Liz nodded and let the guard know they’d get moving.

“I brought you a gift as well.” Liz was confused. Riley rarely brought gifts, usually slightly self-centered.

“Well you can give it to me when we get back to my place.” Liz knew that he’d be fine with waiting and was slightly concerned about what kind of gift it could be.

“Technically I got you two gifts, but one that I want you to have once we get home.”

The way he said home made Liz’s heart flutter. Usually home for him was back in Vancouver. Chicago was her home and she knew that part of why he was visiting was because of the event, but she was excited to see him nonetheless.

Riley fiddled with the music, opting to plug his phone in, and turned it to one of his playlists. The bass filled the car and out of the corner of Liz’s eye, she could see him head banging along with the music. Liz felt his hand slide along her thigh, a glint in his eye and a small smile curling up on his face. She felt him slide his fingers between her legs, rubbing on her from outside of her leggings.

“You know you’re going to pay for that right?” Liz said coyly. He tilted his head and grinned.

“Yeah, but teasing you is fun. Plus, it’ll fit the gifts I got you.”

Liz knew that whatever gifts they were, they were going to end in her getting railed senseless.

“You know, these little gifts aren’t your style” Liz fired back, afraid to know what could be in those bags.

“I figured I’d change it up a bit. Remember how you had me do that love language quiz thing? You said you like gifts.” The evil smile had returned to Riley’s face. Liz knew that these gifts had nothing to do with that quiz and everything to do with torturing her.

Liz gripped the steering wheel as she navigated traffic, finally getting off the interstate in the right suburb. She navigated to the condo she owned.

The condo always felt too big with its three bedrooms. She always had a guest room set up and her office was in the other room. It just always felt so empty. She always felt better when Riley was visiting, even if this time it was for a week only.

“You seem quiet.” Riley’s voice broke her thoughts as she pulled into her parking space. She made sure to plug her car in when they got out.

“I’m just thinking about how it never feels like a long visit when you are here.” Riley reached out and grabbed her hand, pulling her in close for a proper embrace.

“I’ll come visit for a few weeks once the G1 is over.” Liz pulled back slightly.

“Oh yeah, you’re doing that.” Riley kissed her softly.

“Yes. I’m doing that.” Riley said as he broke the kiss. Liz pulled back and he reached in the back seat and pulled out his luggage. He shut the door harder than he planned and started to follow her into the building.

Liz led the way into the building, the clunky sound of luggage wheels behind her. She thought about how one day it would be nice to not have those sounds mean that Riley was going to leave her just as quickly as he arrived.

Liz punched in the floor number on the elevator and they rode up quietly, Riley’s arm snaked around her pulling her in close. The elevator dinged and the pair quietly padded down the hall, the rumble of the luggage wheels dampened by the carpet.

They stood in front of the door to the condo and Liz quickly finessed her keys out of her pocket and opened the door. Riley filed in behind her, shutting the door behind him. The smell of vanilla filled the air, making the place feel more homey than it actually was at times.

“Picture perfect as always I see.” Riley spun around, looking at the perfectly decorated living room.

“I tidied up just for you.” Riley winked and pulled Liz in for a kiss, his hands searching and grabbing a handful of her ass as they kissed deeply in the middle of the living room. Liz felt him hardening against her, the basketball shorts not hiding a thing.

“So I should show you those gifts.” Riley pulled away, winking. He grabbed his carry on bag and tossed it on the oversized chair next to him. The bright red of his suitcase oddly matching the deep burgundy of the chair.

As Riley rummaged through the luggage he triumphantly pulled out a little black paper bag that he dumped on to the coffee table, the lacy body suit giving a great contrast to the hard wood of the table. A small box hit the table hard and Liz picked it up, noticing that it was one of those remote controlled wearable vibes.

“What’s this for?” Liz asked as she held up the toy, the bright pink item pictured on the box.

“I figured that would be fun for tomorrow night.” Riley had a devilish grin on his face.

Liz paled. They were going to a party for the two companies tomorrow night. She would be paraded around wrestlers from both New Japan and AEW. The thought of having the toy in her as she met some of her favorites got her excited.

“So I was thinking you could wear that while we’re at this event. It’d be fun.” Riley winked and pulled her in for another kiss, this time his hands undoing the snap on her pants and sliding his hand into her panties.

“Oh. That got you wet didn’t it?” Riley groaned as he slid two fingers into Liz. She started to collapse and he scooped her up, withdrawing his fingers for a second. He situated her on the couch, her ass pointed up and he slid her pants down, leaving them around her legs. He dove in with his tongue, searching for Liz’s clit, finding it and licking wide strokes along it. He slid two fingers back into her pussy and started to work them in and out while licking her clit. He felt her shudder as he sucked gently, pulling off to slide a third finger in, stretching her open.

Liz couldn’t help the moans escaping her. She didn’t expect to be fucked on the couch, but wasn’t going to complain. She moved to shift her legs and realized they were basically trapped with her pants around her knees.

“Babe. You can’t just move away. I want to get you off once before I lay down for a nap.” Liz was pretty sure Riley’s grin was back and before she knew it, he was diving back in, working his fingers in and out of her while his tongue was lapping. She cried out as her orgasm took over her body, causing her to shudder against Riley’s face. He pulled back and slid her panties and pants back up, patting her ass once they were back in place.

“Just like that. Let’s go take a nap.” Liz got herself off the couch and turned to look at Riley, who winked at her.

“Well I’m going to go clean up, you know where the bedroom is.” Liz tried to steady herself while standing up, the wobbliness from getting off still getting to her. She watched Riley grab his bags and head to the bedroom. She quickly popped into the bathroom and cleaned herself up. Realistically, she knew that he wasn’t going to want to have sex until he slept and showered. He always complained of feeling disgusting after traveling, and this was even before the pandemic. She didn’t feel comfortable using the bathroom off the bedroom because she figured taking a few minutes would draw a little bit of questioning if he could see her from the bed.

Liz splashed a bit of water on her face and started to undo her braids. They had gotten a bit messy from being thrown on to the couch and she didn’t like sleeping in them. A nap sounded good and she would take sleeping in the same bed as Riley over him not being there any day. She regretted not having a brush in the main bathroom, but opted to run the comb she found in the drawer through her hair, loosening up the little knots that had settled in. She closed her eyes and thought back to her mom combing through her hair as a kid. She put the comb down on the counter and ran her hands under the water quickly and then carded the wet hands through her hair to push it back some.

Liz turned the water off and headed to the bedroom where she saw Riley fast asleep. His low ponytail was loose and the hair tie was mostly a suggestion at this point. His hair was slightly curly and Liz had a quick moment of wishing he’d actually trim it up if he was going to keep it long.

Liz grabbed her sleep clothes off the floor and slipped into them quietly. She slid into bed and felt Riley slink his arm over her and pull her in close.

“Mmm. Love you.”

Liz grabbed his hand and squeezed gently.

“Love you too.”

[babyflash]

LOVE Wally and Linda. Hit me with what you feel their vibes are as individuals, and then as a couple bc they've got big "the whole is greater than the sum of its parts" energy.

omg hey :) YES OK i wrote something earlier today you might be interested in, i'll link it here

uhhhh gonna preemptively put this below a cut just in case!!! it'll probably get long LOL

okay let's start with wally. at his core, he's a very compassionate individual. i think he cares really openly and so deeply, and i think that has to do with the found family element of the flash fam, as well as values instilled in him by barry once he started hero work. he's also intensely curious, kind of to a fault? he can be rash and make impulsive decisions and he tries to be good, because at the end of the day he wants so bad to make his family proud. he wants iris to be proud of the kid she helped raise and wants barry to be proud of the hero he's becoming, but he's full of curiosity and energy and a need to prove himself. he's got a chip on his shoulder the size of a mountain, and he's stubborn and headstrong. i think as he grows, a lot of these traits sort of fall to the back burner. he still has his moments of impulsivity and bull-headedness, but part of it is when he got his powers. he got them so young, younger than barry was, and so they struggle to find their footing a bit when wally first gets his speed because he's like, suddenly got all this power and energy and he's a little scared and kind of angry and he's feeling so much and has no way to express that. i think wally and iris are a lot alike, moreso than wally and barry are, and that's one of my least favorite parts of the flash fanon. i think wally looks up to iris so much, he wants to be as confident and sure of himself as she is, she's this constant and caring figure in his life, his one indicator of stability, and she's his best friend, you know? that's his rock, and she's really the only person he's got for the longest time. when you're in the situation wally is (going off of the canon that his parents are not the best) everything is just like, more. like everything you feel and everything that happens to you is just so much more, and wally's sort of like this huge lightning storm and he doesn't know what to do with that. and linda meets him as he's beginning to level out, but he's still in a rocky place, and he's just. fully embraced his weirdness at this point. he's weird, that's his thing. he fidgets and people talk about him and he's too young for his grade and he knows exactly what he wants from life and kids like that are dangerous. people warn linda to stay away from the science freak until they realize she's just like him.

now moving onto miss park. you know the song "my grand plan" from the lightning thief musical? yeah her. she is annabeth chase (to an extent). linda was called silly and dumb her whole life, people told her she reached too far and had her head in the clouds. a total space cadet with delusions of grandeur. instead of tearing her down, it lit a fire in her stomach. this intense and deliberate rage she felt simmering in her chest everytime someone told her her dream was stupid. she's this empathetic person, i think. she's full of this righteous anger but it never expresses itself in violent ways. there's this quote (i can't remember where it's from) but it basically says that the biggest and most powerful act of rebellion a girl can do is to take care of herself. and so that's what linda does. she pushes herself to be better everyday, and she wears cute clothes and does her makeup and curls her hair and paints her nails because she wants to. people call her vain, they call her mean, they call her a bitch or bossy, but she isn't. she becomes this sort of spokesperson for the voiceless. she participates in protests on campus and writes scathing editorials about administration and social hierarchies in the school's newspaper and she fights for what she believes in because she cares, because she loves the world and the people in it, she wants to spread the truth and create change. she wants to spark discussion and debate and foster conversation because that's the kind of person she is! she stands up, consistently, for herself and what she believes in. she speaks her mind, she doesn't care if people call her loud or bossy because at least they're paying attention. and wally reads her work and he listens to her and he realizes that she's the kind of person he wants to be around.

because, what i think they both want more than anything is to be understood. they want people to listen to what they have to say and to care about it. linda rants about the ethics of journalism for hours, discusses philosophy and movies and current events and everything else under the sun and what wally does is different than anyone else, he listens. not only does he listen, but he asks questions and cares about the answer. because wally cares about linda, so he cares about what she has to say and what she's passionate about. wally explains physics theories in such a way that it makes sense to linda, and she never feels dumb asking him a question because (above a lot of other things in his life) he loves learning and he'll respond with such care and earnestness. at the end of the day, it's two compassionate and curious people who come together because they have this pull, this understanding of each other that they've never experienced before. they're a little snarky and a little intimidating and a lot stubborn and a hell of a lot compassionate and that's why they're so good at what they do.

[rocksandrobots]

Phantoms of the Past: Ch. 5 - Best friends, Boyfriends, and Barons Part 1

"Hey Miss Itamae! Ready for a whole new school year? Hee...hee...eeeh.... yeah, fine." Hiro gave up trying to make small talk with the lunch lady as she unceremoniously slopped meatloaf onto his plate.

Today was the first day of the fall semester and the start of Hiro's second year at SFIT.  It felt odd to him, to look back and realize just how much time had passed; how much things had changed during the previous year.

A year ago, today, he had been attending Tadashi's funeral and now he was going about his life as if everything was normal. Well, almost normal. He was also moonlighting as a superhero, adopting an out of time teenager as his new big brother, and befriending deadly robots.

Life was weird.

Of course it wasn't as if he could ignore his loss completely. He had noticed the flowers and cards placed at the foot of Tadashi's memorial over by the exhibition hall. People still remembered that his brother had died a hero. Folks that he didn't even know had left their condolences today, though most of the gifts were from Tadashi's teachers and friends.

Hiro had particularly noticed a painting Honey Lemon had left, of her, Tadashi, and the rest of their friends. He also spotted Gogo sitting out there early that morning, lighting a candle in his brother's memory. He had given her her space, choosing not to interrupt. Gogo and Tadashi had been especially close.

Hiro remembered how excited his brother had been when Gogo finally agreed to go out with him. Tadashi had hurried about their bedroom, a couple of days before the fire, fretting over where to take her on their first date. A date that they had never gotten to go on. At the time Hiro had teased him relentlessly, never passing up the chance to deflate his brother's ego. Now it was just another bittersweet memory to look back on.

Fred abruptly snapped him out of his mournful reflection. "Steve." was all he said as he grabbed Hiro by the shoulders.

"Steve? Uh, my name is Hiro, remember Fred?"

"No, no, no, Steve was the name of the ninja robot that Trina found. She said he was held in a warehouse downtown, along with all the other ninjas. Don't you see, that's our big break! We find this warehouse and then we can track down the mysterious bosu!"

Hiro wearily placed his tray down on the table and took a seat next to Wasabi.

"Fred, it's the first day of school. Can't this wait for later?"

"But-"

"Hiro's right Fred," Wasabi interrupted, "Just because you have all the time in the world to play superhero doesn't mean that we do. We still got our own lives to take care of."

Fred looked hurt at that. "I'm not playing! This is important work. We have a city to protect and this crime boss is just going to keep coming after us if we don't figure out how to stop them."  

Wasabi rolled his eyes. "Then you just go on and do that. In the meantime the rest of us have class to attend. I'm heading early to set up for my first lab."

"But labs won't open for like another hour." Hiro pointed out, confused. "They're still cleaning up from the robot attacks last week."

"Ah, he just wants to get there early so that he can see his boyfriend again." Fred complained.

"Sam's not my boyfriend. He's just a colleague, and at least I'm doing something other than obsess over superheroing." And with that Wasabi stormed off, while Fred slouched into the cafeteria chair with a huff.

"Listen, Fred, why don't you go on patrol with Minimax for a while. I'll help you track down this warehouse after school is over with." Hiro said.

"Okay," Fred reluctantly agreed, "but I'm not 'obsessing'."

"I know Fred, but the rest of us also have school to worry about. We just don't have the same amount of free time as you do."

"I know." Fred sighed before walking off.

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

"Sorry Hiro, but we're kind of busy right now." Honey Lemon regretfully informed her friends.

Fred and Hiro had met up after school as promised. Wasabi had declined to join them on their quest and so they had decided to recruit the girls instead. Though this also seemed to be a fruitless endeavor.

"Yeah, we're kind of in the middle of something." Gogo finished as she leaned back in a reclining chair and placed two cucumber slices over her eyes.

They had found the girls at a spa. Honey Lemon sat next to Gogo with curlers in her hair, and they apparently weren't the only ones out having a beauty day.

"Can't you see we're having some girl time?" Karmi asked, annoyed, as she examined her nails.

"Yeah, Hiro, go take your weird superhero hobby elsewhere?" Megan added.

"It's not weird!" Fred insisted.

"If this is supposed to be a girls only event, then why is he here?" Hiro said, pointing to Varian, who sat next to Megan.

"Uh, getting a manicure obviously." Varian rolled his eyes and then leaned over to show Carol, who was beside him, two bottles of nail polish. "Do you think I should go with the midnight blue or just stick with black?"

"Hmmm... I think either would be nice," she replied.

"Ooooh, have you tried the seaweed wrap they have here? It's great." Fred chimed in.

Hiro rolled his eyes, "Okay, so what are you two doing after this? Could you take up patrol tonight?"

"Nope." Gogo said.

"I promised my brother Carlos that I would help him move into his new dorm room. He starts at UCLA this week and Gogo's offered to drive me there. We won't be back till tomorrow morning." Honey Lemon explained.

"Okay, well, we'll just-"

"Alright, I'm ready." A voice called out, interrupting him.

Trina walked out from behind a door at the back of the spa. Her bulky gigantic metal body was gone and in its place was the frame of a young woman, dressed in a t-shirt, pants, and a cropped jacket. She looked very much the same as the day Hiro had first met her, at the bot fights. Only this time her hair had been cut and styled into a short mohawk and dyed a light purple.

"What do you guys think?" She asked as she twirled around.

Everyone shouted encouragements to her, and Varian cheekily whistled.

"You look nice, Trina." Hiro complimented.

Trina snorted and rolled her eyes. "In your dreams, Hiro." She said, leaving the teenage genius confused by what he had said wrong.

Ignoring him, Trina walked over to the rest of the girls, "Thanks for the clothes... and for everything else." She sheepishly added.

"Hey, no problem." Megan replied. "They look good on you."

"Yeah, and if you need anything else just ask." Karmi added.

"Not to mention it's always fun to have a spa day," Carol piped in. "This was a good idea Varian, thanks for inviting me along."

"Sure thing. When Trina said she wanted help with finding a new wardrobe, I figured all of you would like to go shopping too.... and also y'all know more about clothes than I do."

"Hey, Trina," Fred interjected, "that warehouse where you foun- I mean, met 'Steve', do you happen to remember where it was located?"

Trina gave Fred a frown.

"Oooh, who's Steve?" Karmi asked, happy to gossip, "Is that your boyfriend Trina?"

"No." She said, "The place you're looking for is over in Good Luck Alley, next to Louie's."

"It must've been a bad breakup." Karmi whispered into Honey Lemon's ear, she wasn't very good at keeping her voice down.

"Yeah… he kind of... broke alright." Honey Lemon nervously added, unsure what to say.

"Uh, yeah, well thanks for the tip Trina. We'll be going now, bye." Hiro said as he hurried Fred out the door. He had had enough of awkward conversations and makeovers.

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

"Fred, wouldn't it be better if we brought our robots along at least?" Hiro whispered.

"You want to sneak around an abandoned warehouse with those two?" Fred whispered back, "I love him, but Minimax doesn't know how to be quiet, like at all."

Hiro sighed, Fred had a point. Baymax also wasn't the best at stealth missions. Hiro slid into the alleyway and peered through a dirty window. He couldn't shake the sense of deja vu as he remembered how he and the robotic nurse had tracked down his missing microbots a year ago at a similar warehouse. They had both been nearly killed by Callaghan when the villain had caught them snooping around. He would prefer to avoid such a scenario again.

"It doesn't look like anyone is here." He said.

"See any ninja robots?" Fred asked as he also pushed by to get a look, pressing his nose against the glass.

"No… Fred, this may be a dead end. Trina already raided the place and no doubt this Bosu would have abandoned the hideout if it was compromised."

Fred pouted, "Maybe… Buuuut, we could always man a stake-out and find out for sure!"

"Fred, I have homework to do. Maybe some oth-"

"Oh please! Just for an hour, or two? Please, please, please? Pretty please? I'll do your homework for you."

"I don't want you doing my homework."

"Okay, chores then; I'll wash Varian's dirty socks and underwear for a… a week… no, a month! Come on, I know how much you hate doing laundry."

Hiro sighed and watched his friend crawl on his knees and beg. "Does it really mean that much to you?"

"Yeeeesss."

"Okay, and no, you don't have to do the laundry either."

Hiro turned to walk out of the alley and Fred got up and followed him.

"That's good, cause I don't actually know how to wash clothes. Usually, Heathcliff does all the laundry. Last time I tried to, I just flooded the washroom."

"Do you have any survival skills? Like at all?"

"Nope. Unless it's kicking bad guys' butts! Ooh, hey, we can host the stake-out at Louie's across the street. I'm starved."

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

Hiro and Fred took up a window booth inside the restaurant. The establishment had recovered from the police raid from a few months back and was now serving food as usual; though Hiro had already spotted the advertisement for the next upcoming 'bot fight.

A couple of hours past and they had both eaten their meals, plus dessert, along with Fred going back for seconds. Now they were both nursing a couple of cups of coffee, though Hiro's was going cold; it wasn't great coffee.

"Fred…"

"Yeah."

"It's been three hours now."

"I know."

"No one's showed up."

"Not yet."

"Look it's been… 'fun', but I'm going home now."

Hiro got up to leave but Fred grabbed him by the sleeve.

"Oh but… uhh… we haven't even tried the uh… hot dog sushi special. I hear it's really good."

Hiro leaned his head back slowly and closed his eyes in frustration. He didn't want to snap at Fred, really he didn't, but he was quickly losing his patience.

"Fred… no one is coming. Let's just call it a night and try again some other time. Okay." And with that he yanked his hand away and began to walk off.

Fred didn't follow. Instead he sat in the booth, his eyes downcast, staring blankly at nothing. It wasn't his usual pout either. It was something else. Some deeper sadness that few saw from the usually optimistic teen.

Hiro began to worry. He walked back, and stood there waiting for Fred to jump back up all excited again for his return, only he didn't.

"Fred, what's wrong?"

Fred sighed but couldn't bring himself to answer.

"Look, I know that this superhero business is important to you, so much so that you'll probably wind up making a career out of it, which is great, but the rest of us are not going to be doing this for the rest of our lives. We also have to keep up with our studies, chores, our jobs, and what little shred of a social life we have."

"That's not it… I mean yeah, it's a part of it, but that's not why I asked you to come along."

Fred finally looked Hiro in the eye and tears threatened to spill.

"I just miss my best friend, okay."

Hiro looked at him confused.

"I didn't want to say anything, cause… cause he's your brother and I didn't think you'd want to be reminded about him being gone any more than you already have… but today has just been really hard… remembering what happened… I just thought getting out and doing something fun, getting both our minds off everything, might be better than just… just being alone. You know? Especially today."

Fred didn't even have to say Tadashi's name for Hiro to know who he was talking about.

Hiro sighed and slumped back down into the booth.

"I'm sorry…. I… I guess I just… I don't know. I didn't think...."

"No… no, don't. Of course you didn't think. I mean who wants to be reminded of that. The whole idea was to not think about it. And I just ruined it all by bringing it up. Gah…. I'm so sorry."

Fred put his arms over his head and brought his knees up to his chest as if trying to make himself as physically small as he felt. Hiro just had to laugh at the sight in spite of himself.

"It's okay Fred. You're not going to upset me just by talking about Tadashi."

Fred peaked his head out from between his arms. "I'm not?"

"No. I mean he was your friend too."

"My best friend! Man, Tadashi and I, we got up to all sorts of trouble. He was always down for anything. I mean, did he tell you about the time we crashed my cousin's bar mitzvah? As in, we literally crashed. He drove the sport's car into the buffet table by mistake… We couldn't find the parking and then there was this wet patch in the parking lot and we skidded… Oh and then there was the time Mole dared us to a drag race using scooters and Tadshi had the idea to attach rockets to mine and I went flying.. I tell ya, man, Mole wouldn't live it down for a whole week after. He kept demanding a rematch, but I mean it was fair. He was using his butler to ride for him in his place."

Hiro could barely contain his laughter, "Wait… wait… you and Tadashi did all this?"

"Yeah."

"Why have I never heard of any of this before?"

"I don't know, but he's the whole reason why I got the mascot job in the first place. I knew I could never get into the school myself, but I thought we could hang out together more if I went. He's also the one that introduced me to everybody else."

"Then how did you two meet?"

"Oh at the grocery store."

Fred said this as if it was the most obvious of explanations but Hiro looked as confused as ever. So Fred continued on.

"He was there getting chewing gum and I was buying a shopping cart. Like an actual shopping cart."

"Why?"

"Yeah that's what he asked too. So I told him, 'I'm going to ride down Dead Man's Hill in one.' And he said, 'Dude, that's so rad. You're totally going to die.' And I said, 'Yeah, I know. You wanna join?' And he did. We rode all the way down from the top of Lumbar Street to the docks… and landed right in the bay. It was awesome! We screamed our heads off the whole time. It was so awesome, in fact, that we walked back to the store and bought another cart just to do it again. That was back when we were both still in high school, and we've been best buds ever since. You know… until…"

Hiro looked at Fred sadly. There so much about his brother that hadn't known about, hadn't even thought to ask. What else had Tadashi not shared with him? Probably a lot, I mean why tell your kid brother about your social life? And there's no way that he'd have brought those crazy stunts up around Aunt Cass.

"I never knew any of that… Those are some really cool stories. Thanks for sharing them."

"Really?"

"Yeah, and you know, you don't have to drag me on some superheroing mission just to hang out and talk."

Fred looked guilty at that.

"I… I know… but it's like what you and Wasabi have been saying. Everyone else has something… something to motivate them, and y'all all do all these really cool things and I'm… I'm just me. I don't really have anything but superheroing. Unless you just need someone to make a mess."

"That's not true. Fred, you're great at a lot of things. You could go to school or get a job, if you wanted to. I just thought superheroing was all you wanted."

"Hiro, I can't even do laundry without messing up. I mean all you do is throw the clothes into a machine and push a button, and yet somehow I managed to screw even that up. All I know is comic books, and superheroing, and I'm not even the best at that! What would I even go to college for? I can't… I'm not a genius. I'm not a businessman. I'm not an accountant, or an artist, or an athlete. I'm not anything. I've no talent. I'm not even good at being rich. I've never fit in with the socialite crowd."

"Fred."

"Yeah?"

"You're good at being a friend, and if I have to sit here list off everything else you're good at then we'd be here for another three hours or more. So how about we head home and tomorrow I'll show you how to work a washing machine, and you can teach me how a stake-out is supposed to really go cause we're not getting anywhere here."

"Or are we?"

"What do you mean?"

Fred was no longer looking at Hiro but past him. He pointed to the window behind Hiro, and Hiro turned around to see for himself.

An elderly gentleman, dressed in an old fashioned military outfit, complete with a monocle, was entering the warehouse. He had a giant mechanical arm and a steam boiler strapped to his back.

"Baron Von Steamer."

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

Fred and Hiro found themselves standing in the alley peering through the warehouse's dirty windows for a second time that day. They saw Baron Von Steamer stomping around inside. He seemed irritated as he grumbled to himself and knocked boxes out of the way, as if searching for something.

"What's he doing?" Fred loudly whispered.

Just then Steamer found what he was looking for, a tea cup. He poured himself a cup out of a teapot he had placed on an old fashioned stove that was hidden towards the back and then sat down on top of a crate to sip his drink.

"It must be 'tea time' for him." Hiro said dryly.

Fred narrowed his eyes, "I bet he's just hatching his next nefarious scheme. Planning on how to take us and the city down. What do you think he wants with portals?"  

Just then Steamer stood up and ruefully kicked away a busted up robot that had fallen out of a storage crate in his previous hunt for the tea cup.

"I don't think Steamer is our guy." Hiro said, "He hates modern technology, so why would he build ninja robots? Also, like you said, what would he want with portals? All he's after is your dad, and so far the Bosu hasn't gone after Boss Awesome yet."

"But they might. Remember what Roddy said? That Kensei guy used to be active during Dad's heyday but never got caught. What if, it's because Steamer had two villain identities!"

"That seems like a stretch."

"Okay, well, what if Steamer works for this Bosu? Like Sue and Sparkles?"

"That's more plausible, I guess."

Hiro turned to peer through the window again, but Streamer was gone.

'Wait, where did he go?'

"Well, well, well, what do we have here? A pair of interlopers." A curt British voice  came from behind them.

Steamer must have noticed them and snuck around the back, cutting them off.

Hiro grabbed his phone in order to call his super suit, but Von Steamer nabbed his hand and yanked him off the ground, causing him to lose hold of his phone.

Fred was just as unfortunate, as Steamer held him in a choke hold in his metal arm.

"Waaaait," Steamer said as he eyed them both up closely, peering at them through his oversized monocle, "I know you two. You're friends of Boss Awesome's baby child!"

"I am Boss Awesome's baby child!" Fred protested before Von Steamer gave him a hard squeeze with his cyborg arm. Fred wheezed in pain.

Hiro reacted quickly and kicked the steampunk baron in the shins.

Von Steamer howled in pain and dropped Hiro in surprise, though he managed to keep his grip on Fred. He also had stepped on Hiro's phone while nursing his injured leg.

Hiro ducked and ran as Steamer regained his senses and pulled out a brass gun that was connected to the boiler on his back with a hose. He pulled the trigger and scalding steam shot out. Hiro ducked again to avoid it.

As he ran out of the alley way he heard Steamer shouting after him, "Yes, run back to Boss Awesome little one. Tell his baby child I have their friend, and either he, or they, must show up to face me or else!"

Hiro spared a glace backwards and saw Baron Von Steamer dragging Fred back into the warehouse.

"Fred!"

"Hiro!" Fred called out to him before being pulled into the darkness.

Hiro panicked. What could he do? Finally, he decided that getting help was the best option. He ran as fast as his legs would carry him, fighting back his worry.

[imagines-by-a-typical-fangirl]

Unexpected Places (Pt. 07 of 11)

Pairing: Ivar the Boneless X Reader/Bjorn X Reader

Word count: 1.9 K

Summary: As a princess, you've lived in a golden cage all your life, always a piece on someone else's game. But everything changed when the Norsemen came crushing down on Wessex, like waves in a violent storm. Their king spared your life and decided to take you with him to his kingdom, in what felt more like a rescue than a kidnapping. There, you were not only confronted with a completely different culture and lifestyle, but also with two of his sons. The oldest one has his eyes set on you, but it's the youngest one, Ivar, who gets who claimed your attention since the first sight. And he seems to have an unnamed interest in you. Of course you hoped whatever that was would pass, but when unexpected feelings start to flow a different way, things begin to change.

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{Vikings Masterlist}

×

Honesty

“(Y/N), wake up.” A faint, weak murmur fills your ears. You're still under water though, floating away. “C'mon, wake up.” A sudden motion makes you bounce, a movement too abrupt to someone who's drowning. That's when you acknowledge the air filling your lungs. Not too much, but enough to bring some relief. You can't be under water. People can't breathe under water. “You won't die, hear me? Not from the cold.”

Ubbe. What's Ubbe doing here? Closing your eyes tightly, you feel like you're climbing back to the surface, back into consciousness, forcing your eyes to open. The first thing you notice is the cold, piercing, attached to your bones. Then, you realize you're being carried. “What...” You mumble, clenching your shaking hands into fists.

“There you are.” Ubbe happily says, walking fast. “We're almost there.”

“Almost where?” The lightning suddenly changes, and everything gets a little darker.

“What happened?”

“She was at the lake. The ice cracked and she fell.” Ubbe says.

“Get a warm bath to her room now!” You recognize Aslaug's voice. “Bring her close to the fire.”

The moment you're put down and feel a source of warmth, you push yourself closer, but arms hold you back. “Not that close.”

“Shit.” You curse, hands hovering above the fire. It comes back suddenly. The woods, the lake, and the ice cracking under your feet, swallowing you. How you got out, however, you have no idea, but you figure it was Ubbe. “Damn it.” You're shaking like a leaf, wishing you could sit inside the fire.

“(Y/N).” Someone calls, and when you look at your side you see Ivar and Hvitserk, both looking worried. Ivar moves faster though, dropping to the floor next to you.

“Are you alright?” He asks, hands cupping your face.

“I'm cold.” You mumble, laughing at how stupid it sounds. “I'm freezing.” Giggling, you feel as Ivar pulls you close, your body collapsing on his chest. It makes you blush, if that's even possible given how the cold has penetrated your bones. Shaking against him, you place your forehead on his neck, welcoming the warmth emanating from his skin. “Sorry, I'm soaking wet.”

“Don't worry.” He says, a hand caressing your hair. You don't know exactly what's going on, but Ivar is like a second fire right now, and you have no intention of letting go of him.

“Here,” Hvitserk mutters, and you feel a piece of fabric being laid around your shoulders.

“Alright.” Ivar fixes the blanket, rubbing your back. “You'll be fine.”

“Let's leave them,” Aslaug says in a low voice, and you notice Hvitserk and Ubbe walking away. “I'll send someone to call you when the bath it's ready.” Her voice fades away as she speaks, and then there's nothing but the low noises of the fire.

Slowly, you feel yourself warming up, the shakings finally surrendering as you sink more and more into Ivar. You don't want to think about what this means, so you barely move, not wanting whatever this is to end just yet. You almost died today. Drowned, frozen, whatever. But you did think that was the end of it. And life has so much to offer, you'd hate to lose all of its endless possibilities. Death will come one day, but first, you want to live.

“What happened?” Ivar asks, his voice barely a whisper.

“I didn't know I was at that lake, I just... I wasn't really paying attention then I heard a cracking noise.” Taking a deep breath, you remove some hair attached to your face. “Then it broke right under me and the water was so damn cold.”

“(Y/N),” Aslaug calls, and, hesitantly, you move away from Ivar, sitting up straight. “Come take your bath. You need to warm up.”

“Alright.” Nodding, you glance at Ivar before pushing yourself up.

The bath is a blessing, and you couldn't be more thankful. The warm water cleans the ice that fixated itself on your bones, and you relax in the tub. Aslaug, of course, wants to know exactly why you ended up on the frozen lake, and you have no choice but to tell her what you heard. But you beg her not to speak to Bjorn about it. You can deal with your own problems, and you don't want to make their already delicate relationship worse.

After you're clean and warmed up, she allows you to leave the bath and get dressed. You're eager to leave this episode behind and never again you'll set foot on frozen water. As you leave your room with Aslaug, her maids left to drag the tub away, you meet Hvitserk coming from the opposite direction.

“Ice lady.” He says, smiling.

“I'll leave you two to talk and go find my husband,” Aslaug mutters, and you sigh to know she will be speaking to him about Bjorn.

“How about not calling me that?” You tell Hvitserk, crossing your arms. “I almost died.”

“But you didn't.”

“Hvitserk just...” Complaining it quite useless. He'll probably only make it worse. “Fine then, call me what you like.”

“It looks like I won this battle then.” Raising an eyebrow, he gives the girls passing by a glance. “What was that, by the way?”

“What was what?” Running a hand through your hair, you still have a threat of hope he might be talking about anything else.

“Really? Do you expect me to ignore you and Ivar hugging like that?”

“I don't know what that was.” Shrugging your shoulders, you sigh. “But I'm willing to find out. It's better than think too much and end up with wrong conclusions.”

“Ivar is in his room, in case you want to know,” Hvitserk says in a low voice, walking closer and giving you a glance that always makes you want to punch his jaw. “And he was very worried about you.” And he walks away, leaving you there like an idiot.

“You're putting some effort into ruining this friendship, aren't you?” Rolling your eyes, you turn on your heels and start making the way to Ivar's room, walking fast and eventually leaving Hvitserk behind.

You were feeling brave until you're at Ivar's door. Then you wonder if this is a good idea. Some things are better left alone, and Ivar is a complicated person. But still, you can't bring yourself to walk away, so you knock three times, not sure if you want him to answer. But you hear footsteps, and seconds after the door is pushed open. It still takes you by surprise how tall he is, and those blue eyes still send shivers down your spine.

“I left my necklace here.” You mutter, feeling a little stupid. “Earrings, bracelets...”

Silently, Ivar moves aside, giving you space to walk in, so that's what you do. “They're where you left them.” He mutters, but gestures at the table he has set near the fire. Following his gesture, you sit down, hands hovering over the fire. “Ubbe said he saw you wandering through the woods.” He starts, settling down on the chair across the fire. “He called, but you didn't listen.”

“Yeah, I was just... Trying to run from my own thoughts, I think.”

“What happened?” The question is the same as earlier, but it means something entirely different. This isn't about the ice cracking, it's about what led you into that situation. Raising your eyes from the flames, you find Ivar's intense stare as he leans forward, the fire illuminating his features.

Taking a deep breath, you decide to tell him. “I heard Bjorn and your father talking and when I caught my name I decided to know what was that about and... Bjorn said something about a prophecy that says he'll marry a princess and guess what? He thinks I'm the princess.” A humorless laugh escapes your lips.

“Bjorn wants to marry you?” He states, cupping his hands together, anger taking over this expression.

“I don't care what Bjorn wants, only about what I want and I surely don't want him.” It sounds mean, like you despise the man. “I won't be told what to do, not here, not anywhere else, I'm done with being just a piece on somebody else's game.”

A smile creeps through Ivar's lips, and the anger slowly fades. “That's good to know.”

“And... Ragnar said he kept me alive because he promised my father.” Looking down at your hands, you decide to share this with him as well. “That if I didn't get used to Kattegat he'd just send me anywhere. He wasn't thinking about any prophecy.”

“So you're not into Bjorn?” Ivar asks, and you stand up, rolling your eyes.

“I wouldn't have fallen into a frozen lake if I was.” Running a hand through your hair, you tell yourself not to keep bringing that up. The talking or the lake incident. Both things are better if forgotten. “I thought it made things obvious.”

“I've been seen women falling for Bjorn since I can remember.” Ivar says, resting the clutch on his lap. “Some had him, some were left with a broken heart. The older he gets, more women chase after him. Can you blame me for thinking you would be one of those?”

Turning to look at him with both hands on your hips, you chose to be honest. As honest as you can, because there are things you don't understand, things you can't put into words. “In the boat, sailing here, for a moment I thought Bjorn was... I don't know, he was being nice to me. But it didn't take long for things to... Change.” The moment you saw Ivar for the very first time, something went off... Or on, inside you. You don't know what, but suddenly Bjorn was already on second plan. But you're not bold enough to tell him that. “Then he knocked me down with a shield, made my mare bolt up a slope, and now the lake... It wasn't directly his fault but I didn't like him talking about me like I'm just a thing that he thinks belongs to him just because someone else said so.” You get angrier with every word, as the memory of everything he said comes back. Moving to the table, you grab a cup and pour some drink for yourself, taking long sips. “I'll belong to whoever I chose, and only if he wants to belong to me as well.” You only realize what you said when you can't take it back anymore. Taking a deep breath, you drink what's left before putting the cup down. “Sorry, I needed to give vent to my anger.”

“That's alright.” Ivar stands up, slowly making his way over you. “It's good to know you won't bow down. You're more Viking than some people I know.”

“More Viking? Please, I can't even hold a sword properly.” You're about to move away when Ivar's hand comes to your waist, holding you as he did on the day you almost fainted because of the head injury. It clouds your mind immediately, and when you turn back at him, your faces are only a few inches away.

“You can still learn if you want and if you don't...” His hand moves away, coming to caress your cheek instead. His fingertips are cold, but they leave a trail of fire on your skin. “I'll still admire your bravery, Christian princess.”

The way he says it makes you smile. For the first time, it doesn't come out as an insult, or in a sarcastic way. Could Ivar accept you, despite the differences between your worlds? Right now, it feels like he can.

×

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[all-about-seggs]

The Game of Three-

Rating : 18+, Explicit

Word count : ~ 3K

Pairing : Geto Suguru x female reader x Mahito

Warnings : Mirror sex, dub con, gaslighting ( kind of, like I wanted to add it but not sure if I did it right), Fingering, Cunnilingus, degradation (slight), voyeurism, choking, threesome near the end.

A/n: When describing Suguru's place I totally went into weeb mode and used traditional Japanese terms but I tried to define them to the best of my abilities so y'all won't get confused and I put the link of their pictures in their name as well, so you can check them out if you want.

The red clouds above you parted to reveal the cerulean blue sky, painting the engawa in front of you in its hues. Giving a quick look over to the now clean surface beneath your feet, you made your way to the supply closet to put the mop back.

It's been a few uneventful months since you got employed as one of the only two maids in the entire manor. It was fairly big, atleast for just one person, and minimally decorated so it wasn't that hard to keep the entire place clean even with the two of you. The other maid was a nice old lady who showed you the way around the place and how to do what when you were just starting out.

The manor was quite, most of the time, even with your boss's guests staying over for a couple of days, the place lacked any sort of liveliness much less talking. Just a few more hours until your evening shift is over, you mused to yourself roaming around the garden to feed the pond's fish their dinner as the sun began its descent. Mindlessly, you kept looking around the area until one of the rooms caught your eye. On your right you saw the silhouette of your employer through the thin Shoji door that coverd his room.

Having finished bathing, you saw his toned mascular arms slipping out of his thin bath yukata that contrasted to the one he usually donned, his elegant movements accentuated by the growing darkness the evening provided. His daily outfit was nothing if not modest, covering his body from head to toe, leaving everything to the imagination but right now the delicious shape of his body was on full display, making it harder for you to move.

It wasn't until his form moved closer to the door, that you realised how badly your current actions could effect the job you were given. Just the thought of yourself getting fired after being considered a peeping tom made your breath quicken and not in a good way. The panic surging through your veins momentarily turned your mind blank, making you stumble until the heel of your foot slipped on one of the algae coated rocks. Clenching your butt cheeks you braced yourself for the impact but the efforts proved pointless as the considerably shallow pond's bottom made full contact with your body.

Pain aside, the cold water of the pond was what added most to your immobility until you heard footsteps heading towards you. Looking up from your seated position, the tall figure of your boss, maybe ex boss, loomed over you. He extended one elegant hand towards you.

" Are you okay.....?", His soft tone carried nothing but gentleness but being a mess, both physically and mentally, it took you sometime to process what he had said. Hesitation was clear in your actions as you meekly let him pull you up. His grip on your arm was firm and with how easily he pulled you out of the pond showed his Zephyr-like nature had a brute strength underneath. Threads of wet, black hair covering the sides of his well sculpted face, reached all the way to his mid- back. His usual heavy garb was replaced with a single, cotten yukata which were damp in every places his hair touched.

"Y/n...... Was it?, Can you stand", putting both his hands on your shoulders he peered at your face, you still for a moment, too fascinated by his slitted eyes to look away. This was the first time you two had a real conversation so you forced yourself to speak,

" Oh...umm, I'm sorry! I didn't payed attention to the slippery rocks and fell,.....but I'm okay! So..... Yeah... thank you", it was difficult to keep your voice steady, not wanting to reveal your obviously perverted BUT unintentional peeping. Yup. That's what you kep telling yourself although his secretive smile told you that your poor lie didn't make the cut.

" I see, so tell me y/n dear.....", His hands on your shoulders gripped them a little tighter as he leaned down until his face was right in front of yours, " where exactly were you paying attention to?", The question was simple, nor did it had any threatening undertones but your throat still felt clogged. It was too embarrassing, telling your boss that you were shamelessly ogling at his silhouette changing clothes. One second, two seconds, a lot of seconds passed with you playing dumb until you heard a soft sigh.

" Alright...... If you don't want to tell me, I'll let it go........for now", emphasizing the now, he took your cold hands in his warmer ones, leading you inside his room. You were still drenched, hesitating to climb on the perfectly dry floor of his room,

"It's okay..... I'll go ask for a change of clothes so you sit here, better than the outside right?," Smiling, he disappeared down the hall. The whether wasn't cold, so you didn't have to worry about getting sick but you still reeked of fish and algae, making a change of cloths a better option. You could chid yourself for it but looking at the things in his room can't be considered peeping so you turned around from your sitting position, taking in your surroundings.

His room was relatively normal, just like rest of the manor, the furnishing was minimal, a low chabudai with a few soft looking zabuton around it, a wooden cupboard, the slightly elevated tokonoma on the right side of the room had a full body sized mirror, along with a couple of other tiny decoratives. Nothing stood out with everything in place, your boss sure had simple tastes, you thought to yourself when the door slided again, when the owner of the room itself entered.

He was empty handed , earning a questioning look from you, " it's gonna take a few more minutes to find women's clothing, I hope you don't mind, for the time being....", He walked over to cupboard, producing a towel out of it.

" Use this to dry yourself", handing you the towel he kneeled beside you, he was being so nice, you hadn't expected him to be so kind but you gratefully accepted it. When you began drying your hair, you felt his eyes on yourself, pointed and unnerving. You gulped, feeling like he could see right through your head, just waiting for you to fess up on your own. You were lost in your thoughts when his voice suddenly filled the room.

"You know.....y/n, when you desire something.....", His fingers made their way to your collar, playfully stroking your neck," you should let yourself have it", his last words were nothing but a whisper against your ear as he placed himself right behind your seated form. His upper half of the robe already wet, stuck to his body, defining each and every cut of his muscles. He was somewhere between lean and mascular, his beautiful face giving him just the right amount of sensuality. You weren't naive enough to be oblivious to his suggestive tone.

It was weird to you, perplexing even as to why a clearly well to do, good looking guy would not only make a move on his maid but a maid who smelled like she just popped out of a can of tuna fish. His deep, even breaths stroked your ear as he waited for you to answer.

" I really wasn't thinking about....... 'This'", you pulled his hands wrapped around your shoulders away, to prove your point. You thought he'd be upset but his face only lit up by your rejection.

" Is this embarrassment I see y/n? Because it's not cute", he rose on his knees, looking down at you he gently added, " the mundane world would feel much better if you indulged yourself a bit more you know, even if those indulgences are only of....."

" Sexual nature", his sharp eyes slited as his lips curled into a wicked grin. Impossible to read, his actions did nothing but lure you in a honey coverd poisonous trap. It was obvious with the way his hands started massaging your arms, right where it hurt from your previous fall, blowing softly in your ear. They was all just tricks to make you fall just so he could shame you from above but you'd be damned if it didn't got you all hot and bothered. He grazed his hand across your blouse sticking to your bust, your nipples hardened with the slightest touch. The reactions your body gave were no lies and therefore couldn't be hidden. He pressed your bodies closer until you sat snugly against his torso. You closed your eyes, still unable to decide whether or not you want to let him have his way and deal with all the risks that would soon follow after.

The front of wet your shirt was completely open by now, reveling the garment underneath. Suguru's hands trailed up and down your thighs as he hiked your long skirt higher until it pooled around your hips sticking to the sides. He hooked his left hand under your left knee, doing the same with your right side, he pulled your legs apart, with the mirror in front, you and the man behind you had a full view of your damp panties.

" See that? This is what you want. To be exposed by me. Just the thought of spreading yourself open in front me have you this wet y/n...... Are you sure you weren't waiting for this moment all along?", His voice had a mix of mockery and eroticism in it, his words only adding to the fire burning in the middle of your core. With his right hand, he grabbed the thin strap of your panties at the side of your hips and tore them off until the shredded garment was left dangling on one of your hip. The air in the room, made contact with you now naked pussy but what made you shiver was the mirror in front of you. Suguru held both of your legs as far apart as possible, his face, now lacking all the warmth it had just a few minutes ago. When you tried to squeeze your eyes shut he pinched your inner thighs hard, making you cry out in a mix of pain and pleasure.

" Keep looking y/n, I'm proving it to you, just how much you're body is begging for me. And I won't stop until you've said so yourself, so keep. Your eyes. Open.," The darkness of his tone was accentuated with the look in his eyes. The fingers of his right hand made their way to your cunt, with two of them he spread your dripping lips apart, reveling the tiny swollen bud that was screaming for attention. You felt it too, the need for release spreading in your body but voicing it meant your defeat so you held your breath, letting the self assured guy behind you continue his ministrations.

" Why can't you be honest just like your needy cunt?", He cooed against your throat as he rubbed your nether lips with his digits, coating them in your slick. He didn't touch your clit, if you were going to be a brat then he's bringing his A game too. Making you beg was his only motive now, his eyes met yours, the mirror in front of you showing every nook and cranny of your privates and by now you're sure Suguru has memorised all of it. The ache between your legs was getting worse as he kept on sliding his fingers up and down your folds but never touching the rest of your sex. You knew what would make him do it but after the prolonged defiance you're not sure how to put it into words.

" Whats wrong y/n, are you ready bow to your filthy desires?, Getting off on my fingers is going to be a lot better than yours right?", Damn his rude ass remarks but they were true, the last few months have been very long and dry for you, day in and day out all work, maybe that's why you're giving in so easily, what he promised was as tantalizing as his actions, that's why you were so horny, easily aroused even.

"Right..... You're .... right, so do it.....master", you broke out, the last of your self control shredding itself as you let your voice flow out just as much as your cunt, your juices.

" Finally gave in huh?, It would've been so much easier if you'd just admitted to being my slut from the start, but oh well, this is also good", his thick fingers slipped in you with ease as he wrapped his left hand around your throat, making you look straight at the mirror. You were a mess, a totally different kind of mess you previously were, in addition to your already damp hair, your eyes were glazed with lust, the corners of your lips moist with your drool that threatened to spill out, your clothes were disheveled and tattered, you were disheveled in general and barely recognisable.

" Now look at yourself closely, how your face twists when I make you cum, how you look when you're begging to me like a real slave," his fingers picked up a brutal pace, going in and out of you relentlessly, his thumb roughly massaging your throbbing clit, sending shivers up your spine. You could clearly see your drool covered face turning hotter by the second, pussy dripping from your buliding orgasm on the tatami mats below it, your moans coming out in broken whimpers as Suguru's hand tighten around your throat, eyes rolling back for a second, you cum around his fingers hard.

" Do you see that ? How disgusting she looks right now?", Turning his gaze to the left he called out to his accomplice in crimes, " Mahito", the other man, with an amicable smile on his peculiar face stared at, not where you lied on the floor, but at your pitiful form that appeared in the mirror.

" I just dropped by to give you the clothes you asked for the young lady earlier," his talked merrily, not minding the scandalous sight in front of him one bit," but it appears that you aren't going to be needing them for a while", throwing the cloths aside he sat on your left side. Suguru kept his eyes on the mirror, loosening his hand around your neck he let you breath, mind still hazy.

" You're free to join in, if you have the time. But I'll have to warn you though, she's a persistent one, it took me a while to break her as well", Suguru smirked, pulling his fingers out of your abused hole making an exaggerated show of bringing his cum smeared fingers to your face, as if prove his victory.

" I don't mind a challenge every once in a while Geto kun, I'm not bad at 'this' myself, but to make sure, why don't you keep sitting, after all it's been a while since touched a living human", Still a bit delirious, it took you a few more seconds than usual to process the change in your situation or what he meant by living just now or touching even. The man named Mahito kneeled in between your still parted thighs, you thought it was strange that your brains last and probably rotting cells decided to focus on his eyes. They were heterochromatic, it gave his already scared face a haunting quality.

The fact that you were sandwiched between two men soon left your mind as Mahito started sucking on your still sensitive clit, your legs instinctively clamping if it's weren't for Suguru holding them apart. The man behind you weren't entirely evil though as he rubbed soothing circles on the soft inner flesh of your aching thighs, his touch only heightning the touch of the man between them.

Mahito licked your juices as if they were made to be feasted upon, slurping on them lewdly, the V of his fore and middle finger seperated your pussy for more access, he grazed his teeth lightly across your clit, fighting the urge to bit it down. You didn't have any energy at this point to put up a show of defiance so you kept moaning, the sight of the man lying flat on his stomach along with his face hidden in between your legs was urging you to cum, but the abrupt thrusting of Suguru's fingers in your mouth cut them off.

" If you're mouth is available enough to scream for just anyone who makes you cum then you truly do have the makings of a whore.", His words were nothing more than a possessive hiss against you throat, long fingers grazing your tonsils as he pushes them deeper. You gag a little, the fingers in you mouth kept you from reacting to the man who worked your pussy until it throbbed against his face.

Mahito turned his heterochromatic eyes towards your face, it seemed like someone was keeping you from your release, he sucked on your clit again adding two fingers in your streched out cunt. He moved both his tongue and digits in similar motions, causing a surge pleasure wash down your senses, with just a few quick pumps of his fingers, your juices gushed on his face as your moans get stifled by the fingers in your mouth.

" That wasn't so bad right?", Mahito pushed himself up as he asked his partner in crime, something about his tone was awfully cocky, making Suguru's face scrunched up in a haughty smirk as he added,

" Indeed, you sure know your way around the human's body Mahito kun, but maybe a little less egar to please attitude would do better. Can't let our toy think we're just here for catering to her needs now can we?", His voice loaded with provocative innuendos sounded nothing but gentle but the other man knew better.

" Hooo?, Is that a challenge for round two, then?", He met Suguru's goading with a playful and assured tone. Both of them stared each other, neither of the males backing down they both turned their eyes at your spent body, and you know even without having to look, that it was going to be a long night.