#antifreeze intoxication

[tinydefector]

quietly whispers (for your consideration)

ratchet x human reader

sex pollen

Pheromones

Ratchet x human reader

Word count: 2k

Warning: smut, thigh fucking, sex pollen/ pheromone spray, #valveplug

Request and ask open, read pinned post

So what about, Cybertronians react to perfume in the way humans react to Sex pollen hehehe. I love the idea of human perfume mix with skin contact makes an almost intoxicating scent and sends Cybertronians feral when they get a hint of it. They love how it makes humans skin taste, and it over rides their interface systems.

So enjoy.

_____________

The human moves around Ratchet's medical lab looking at different vials and flasks their eyes flickering over the difference Liquids. " Hey ratchet what are all of these different vials?" They call out to the medic. Ratchet looked up from his work when he heard the human call out to him. He put down the datapad he was looking over and walked over to where the human was examining the various vials on the shelves.

"Those are different medical compounds and chemicals I use in treatments and repairs," Ratchet explained. "The colourful ones contain powerful medications and sedatives. The clear ones hold things like bonding agents or nanite solutions. Others are a mix of experimental solutions" 

He pointed to a vial with a swirling pink and purple liquid. "That one is a broad-spectrum energon healing compound I developed. It speeds cellular repair and regeneration, within Cybertronian functions." His optical ridges furrowed as he watched the human carefully look over each vial. 

"You know better than to touch anything in here, less you break something and contaminate yourself with something i can't fix" Ratchet said sternly. "Some of this equipment and chemicals could seriously harm an organic being like yourself." Despite his gruff tone, his words held more care than scolding. Biology was complex, and humans were so small and fragile compared to Cybertronians. He hoped his favourite little patient and helping hand was being careful not to endanger themselves.

"It's just fascinating is all, kinda reminds me of a mediaeval apothecary" they chuckle. "Do you ever just take samples for fun, like when you're out and about on planets?" They ask, they were always curious over what things ratchet tended to keep.

Ratchet huffed a small laugh at the comparison to a mediaeval apothecary. "Fascinating perhaps, but also dangerous if mishandled," he remarked.

He considered the human's question for a moment. While most of his samples were acquired for medical necessity, he couldn't deny a certain curiosity about other life forms and ecosystems. 

"On occasion I have collected specimens from planets we've visited, simply for observational study," Ratchet admitted.  He walked over to retrieve a data pad containing photos and analyses of plant samples from their recent away missions. "Here, let me show you some I recorded on our last stop." Ratchet enlarged the images for the human to easily see. "This radiation-resistant lichen seems to secrete a natural antifreeze. And these fungi act as natural air filters in their toxic environment." The medic's optics glinted with interest as he discussed his findings. Perhaps exploration held some appeal, even for a skeptic like himself.

They stand close to Ratchet looking over different specimens, “some of these plants look like they would make really nice perfumes'' they mumble while flicking through the different photos reading the small information bubbles around them. As the human stood near Ratchet examining the data on his specimens, something about their scent suddenly registered in his olfactory sensors. An overly sweet aroma was emanating strongly from their skin, but it was clearly not the normal scent of an unadulterated human.“perfume?forgive me, I'm not accustomed to what that is?” he asked with a raised optical ridge

Their eyes flicker to Ratchet. “It's like scented alcohol or oil we put on our skin, most times it alters our scent. We humans happen to have a big fascination with them, and have millions of different perfumes.” they explain before tilting their head in slight amusement. “I'm surprised Cybertronians don't have something similar” they reply. 

“once millennia's back cybertron did try making things like that, but due to our metallic body's it doesn't stay on us, or it tented to cause rust spots from the ones they did try and make” Ratchet explained, sensors flared as he analysed the unfamiliar composition, immediately detecting unusual chemical traces that seemed to send strange pulses through his neurocircuitry. The smell was strangely enticing yet worryingly off-kilter at the same time. He tried venting deeply to clear his nasal chamber but the scent only grew stronger. 

"What in the Allspark..." the medic muttered, not meaning for the human to hear. His optics dimmed slightly as redundant calibrations ran, trying to make sense of why the scent was affecting his processor. Ratchet crouched down and focused his sharp gaze on the human in concern. They smile up at him offering for him to examine. 

"By my scanner  it seems as if you've been contaminated with something. Are you positive these ‘perfumes’ are safe? I need to analyse your system for potential toxins." He asked while trying to figure out why the scent was having such an effect on him, it was as if his processor had thrown care to the wind. 

They let out a laugh as his optics try analysing, he moves closer taking another inhale of their scent "haha yes Ratchet, it isn't harmful, humans have been using it for hundreds of years" they state. “Ratchet are you alright?” They ask while cupping his face. 

Ratchet's sensors were in disarray as the potent scent overwhelmed his circuits. He vented heavily again, coolant failing to properly flush the heated energon now racing through his fuel lines. His optics flickered with minor instability as calibration errors cropped up across multiple systems.

Though lacking his usual gruffness. Ratchet leaned in closer, trying to pinpoint the source, but only succeeded in inhaling more of the intoxicating aroma. A rumble rose in his chassis against his better judgement. “ your scent...", he struggled to find words between fragmented logic protocols. "It's affecting my sensor net. Overloading my functions. I need to...run a full examination. Determine why this perfume is making your scent overwhelming..." 

His field pulsed with uncharacteristic confusion and static electricity. Ratchet knew he should contact someone for assistance, but found himself unable to call out in his muddled state. The human's safety was his top concern, yet he feared touching them in this condition. Some natural, impossible chemistry was at play here, and the medic had no control over his compromised systems.

As gently as his shaking grip allowed, Ratchet grasped the human in his large palm to properly scan them from close range. His detailed medical scanners searched every inch, They gasp as Ratchet glossa meets their throat, fingers shootout to grip the side of his faceplate. 

A throttled moan escaped his vocalizer against his will. That light touch from their hands nearly shorted out his already fritzing systems. vents plume in hot exhaust. His interface panel felt too hot and tight , barely clinging to integrity protocols as the pleasure centres of his processor went haywire. 

“your scent...overloading my sensory net...cannot...resist...” Ratchet calls out through groans,his grip unconsciously tightened around the small organic in his hand. His free hand scrambled for purchase on the table, denting the metal. Something primal and powerful part of him was unravelling his mental restraints, and no calibration or forced shutdown seemed able to stop it.

Their eyes go wide. "Ratchet! Are you alright do in need to get a Perceptor or first aid?" They ask as the medic leans down into their shoulder, denta nipping at the skin as his digits try removing their shirt as quickly as he physically can. They yelp as he pulls them back together with him, his lips work along their smaller frame desperate to taste the sweet flavour and scent that had taken to their skin. capturing them against his heaving chassis. His optics blazed with static and uncontrolled charge.

"No...don't leave," Ratchet growled through clenched denta. Every fibre of his being screamed for more. His panel snapping open with an echoing click, massively engorged cables twitching in the open. Coolant and lubricant poured from his interface array, drenching the human involuntarily as he grinding against them, bright glowing pink stains their pants and paints their skin in his transfluid. 

His hands trembled, barely able to restrain their desire to claim the tiny body before him. Rational thought was impossible under the onslaught of chemical signals frying his cognition. Ratchet bucked erratically against them, whole body illuminated by dancing electricity. 

"Need you... interface protocols are in-gauged, can't fight it...please,!" he pants to the human as his spike presses against their back. Blunt node swelled monstrously at its tip.

Their back arches into each grind of Ratchet's spike. “Ratchet!” They whine out. 

Their soft noises egg ratchet on, his servos move quickly, trying to discard the pants sticking to their form, he hisses out in annoyance before finally getting them off their legs, throwing them across the medical room. Twisting them around so he can see thier eyes. 

Ratchet growls eagerly spike swiftly sliding between their thighs and against their stomach. His spike is already dripping with lubricant. As he ruts against them. Each inhale of their scent has him spiralling more. 

"Is this what you want, sweetspark? My spike filling you up?" His voice is rough with lust. Gently spreading their legs wider. Watching the bright pink stick to their legs "Primus... I bet you feel amazing." 

He moves slowly pressing his spike against them, tormenting as he presses into them inch by inch. Needy moans leave their lips, hands clinging to him desperately as they roll their hips. “Ratchet!” They cry out. 

 Their stomach bulges from Ratchet's spike, the bright pink splatter across their skin nearly has ratchet overloading from the mere sensation, not to mention the intoxicating scent of their skin. Ratchet groans deeply at the sight of his spike bulging their abdomen, his engines rumbling with feral satisfaction. One hand strokes almost reverently over the taut swell.

"So stunning like this... stretched wide around me, primus so small and tight”

Slowly he draws his hips back, then thrusts forward, grinding deeply into them. setting a steady pace, rockin into the slick heat enveloping his spike. Ducking his head, he captures their shoulder between his denta, glossa flicking against the sensitive skin as he tries to lap the perfume from their skin.

Ratchet growls deeply, thrusting harder at the way they clench around his spike. The table creaks and trembles under the force of his movements but he can't bring himself to slow down. 

"Yes, just like that," he rasps. "Keep that sweet valve squeezing me. Feels so good..."

captures their cries in a heated kiss. "Want you to overload for me," Ratchet purrs. "Let me feel you come undone around my spike, sweetspark..."

His engines are roaring furiously now, spike swelling and throbbing powerfully inside their smaller body. Ratchet groans deeply as they clench around him again, the feeling of that slick heat clenching and rippling around his spike is incredible. 

"That's it love, overload for me... you feel exquisite. So good" 

The sensations quickly become too much for his own systems to bear,the feeling, scent and the pure primal heat running through his system hits hard. With a staticky shout of Julian's name, he buries himself to the hilt and overloads powerfully. His transfluid gushes hot and thick, pumping deep into their smaller form. 

His engines vent heavily as he leans over them, face pressed into their shoulder, a deep guttural moan leaves him, Shuddering with aftershocks. When he finally leans stack to take in their exhaust and truly used form their lungs desperately inhale and exhale drawing in air as if it was their life line. 

Bright pink transfluid pudding around them as Ratchet's systems finally subsided. His optics flicker on them. “ Are you alright?” he asked softly, his human companion replied with a soft whine and nod. “ Remind me not to wear my perfume out in public” the call out in shuttered words. It makes ratchet chuckle as he leans back down to them. “a wise decision” 

[reality-detective]

Let's investigate the 4 chemicals in Palestine Ohio's train derailment and their so-called slow burn operation that our government said was safe.👇

1. VINYL CHLORIDE

A chemical warfare agent in WWII ☠️

Is vinyl chloride harmful to human health?

⚠️Exposure to vinyl chloride may increase a person's risk of developing cancer. Human and animal studies show higher rates of liver, lung and several other types of cancer. Being exposed to vinyl chloride can affect a person's liver, kidney, lung, spleen, nervous system and blood.

How much vinyl chloride cause cancer?

Studies of long-term exposure in animals showed that cancer of the liver and mammary gland may increase at very low levels of vinyl chloride in the air (50 ppm). Lab animals fed low levels of vinyl chloride each day (2 mg/kg/day) during their lifetime had an increased risk of getting liver cancer.

Is vinyl chloride a hazardous waste?

⚠️Vinyl Chloride is hazardous to the environment.

2. ETHYLENE GLYCOL

What is ethylene glycol used in?

DESCRIPTION: Ethylene glycol is a useful industrial compound found in many consumer products. Examples include antifreeze, hydraulic brake fluids, some stamp pad inks, ballpoint pens, solvents, paints, plastics, films, and cosmetics.

How is ethylene glycol harmful to humans?

An overdose of ethylene glycol can damage the brain, lungs, liver, and kidneys. The poisoning causes disturbances in the body's chemistry, including metabolic acidosis (increased acids in the bloodstream and tissues). The disturbances may be severe enough to cause profound shock, organ failure, and death.

How does ethylene glycol affect the brain?

Ethylene glycol (EG) is a toxic alcohol that causes central nervous system depression and multiple metabolic abnormalities including a high anion gap metabolic acidosis (HAGMA), elevated osmolal gap (OG), and acute kidney injury. Few case reports of EG intoxication report brain MRI findings.

Is ethylene glycol a carcinogen?

🚩EPA has not classified ethylene glycol for carcinogenicity. Chronic Effects (Noncancer): The only effects were noted in a study of individuals exposed to low levels of ethylene glycol by inhalation for about a month were throat and upper respiratory tract irritation.

Is ethylene glycol monobutyl ether harmful to humans?

The substance is irritating to the eyes, skin and respiratory tract. The substance may cause effects on the central nervous system, blood, kidneys and liver. A harmful contamination of the air will be reached rather slowly on evaporation of this substance at 20°C.

3. MONOBUTYL ETHER

What is the use of monobutyl ether?

It is used as a solvent in surface coatings in paints; as a coupling agent in metal and household cleaners; as an intermediate in chemical production; and is also found in brake fluids and in printing ink.

Is butyl ether toxic?

⚠️Acute Health Effects☠️

The following acute (short-term) health effects may occur immediately or shortly after exposure to Butyl Ether: * Contact can irritate the skin and eyes. * Repeated or prolonged skin contact may cause rash. Breathing Butyl Ether can irritate the nose and throat causing coughing and wheezing.

Is ether toxic to humans?

⚠️Breathing Diethyl Ether can cause drowsiness, excitement, dizziness, vomiting, irregular breathing, and increased saliva. High exposure can cause unconsciousness and even death.

Is ether a carcinogen?

► Bis(Chloromethyl) Ether is a CARCINOGEN in humans. There may be NO safe level of exposure to a carcinogen, so all contact should be reduced to the lowest possible level.

Combustible. Above 60°C explosive vapour/air mixtures may be formed. NO open flames. Above 60°C use a closed system and ventilation.

4. ETHYLHEXYL ACRYLATE

Is ethylhexyl acrylate toxic?

Like any reactive chemical, 2-Ethylhexyl acrylate can be hazardous if not handled properly. May be harmful if swallowed. Ingestion may cause gastrointestinal irritation or ulceration. Limited dermal contact or vapour concentrations attainable at room temperature are not hazardous on single short duration exposures.

Is Ethylhexyl acrylate copolymer safe?

Although the monomers may be toxic, the levels that would be found in cosmetic formulations are not considered to present a safety risk. Accordingly, these Acrylate Copolymers are considered safe for use in cosmetic formulations when formulated to avoid irritation.

Are acrylates safe?

The International Agency of Research on Cancer as well as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have classified acrylates as a possible human carcinogen. Exposure to acrylates has been linked to skin, eye, and throat reactions [1] as well as more serious health consequences such as: Cancer.

Is ethylhexyl harmful for skin?

Ethylhexylglycerin is not safe due to its performance as a contact allergen.

Is ethyl acrylate carcinogenic?

⚠️Cancer Hazard☠️

* Ethyl Acrylate may be a CARCINOGEN in humans since it has been shown to cause stomach cancer in animals.

🚩Spoiler Alert⚠️ It's NOT safe and in fact it is highly toxic☠️

This will affect millions of people and it may flow into the Mississippi river as well. 🤔

[jamietukpahwriting]

In December 1930 James Doran acknowledged that the death rate was worsening, at least for “a certain type of person with uncontrollable appetite.” The latest holiday drink was a mixture that included the alcohol used in antifreeze formulas. The antifreeze cocktail was a favorite of rail riders, traveling laborers who liked to sneak their rides on cargo trains. They called the drink “derail” for its near-instant brand of intoxication. It killed a few of them, sure, but they were used to the effects of borderline alcohol. The rail riders admitted—or sometimes boasted—that they’d drunk Sterno on occasion, or bay rum aftershave if there was nothing else to be found.

—The Poisoner's Handbook by Deborah Blum

[lcannabis]

MARIJUANA AND ANIMALS: NOT A GOOD COMBINATION

MARIJUANA AND ANIMALS: NOT A GOOD COMBINATION

Cats, dogs, and horses are all poisoned by marijuana. Many substances are processed differently by animals than by humans, and as a result, many foods and medical marijuanas qld that are healthy for us are not safe for them. Acetaminophen, ibuprofen, raisins and grapes, macadamia nuts, chocolate, and the artificial sweetener xylitol are among them. 

THC (delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol), the psychoactive component in marijuana that causes intoxication, is hazardous to dogs. THC and CBD (cannabidiol) are the most well-known and researched cannabinoid chemicals in marijuana, however over 500 chemical compounds and 100 cannabinoids have been found in marijuana (cannabis) plants to date. THC and CBD levels might vary greatly between plants. CBD is not psychotropic and is regarded to be non-toxic or poisonous to a lesser extent. More study is being conducted to learn more about the pharmacokinetics, safety, and efficacy of CBD in dogs. However, items claiming to contain purely CBD might be tainted with THC, so utilizing CBD products for pets still carries some risk.

Marijuana-infused foods are produced with oil or butter, which is used to extract THC from plant material. As a result, these items frequently contain higher quantities of THC than plant material (buds, leaves, and stems) and are more likely to poison dogs. Furthermore, they may include chocolate or other poisonous compounds that could make an animal sick.

Because THC is hazardous to pets, animals that are inadvertently or purposely exposed to it become more than just high or stoned. They don't just have to "sleep it off." They should be examined by a veterinarian and/or given supportive care.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN THE EVENT OF THC POISONING

Owners may notice inactivity, incoordination, dilated pupils, heightened sensitivity to motion, sound, or touch, hypersalivation, and urine incontinence if their pets consume or inhale THC (even second-hand smoke can harm pets). A veterinarian checkup can detect central nervous system depression and an abnormally slow heart rate. Restlessness, hostility, slow breathing, low blood pressure, an excessively fast heart rate, and rapid, involuntary eye movements are less common symptoms. Animals can suffer seizures or become unconscious on rare occasions. Death is relatively uncommon. Depending on the amount of THC to which the animal was exposed, symptoms can linger for less than an hour or for several days.

Many of the frequent indicators of THC poisoning are similar to the signs of antifreeze poisoning, which is exceedingly dangerous, which is one of the reasons that animals exhibiting these external signs of poisoning should be referred to the veterinarian. In some circumstances, an antidote can be administered promptly, but if the antidote is not administered promptly, antifreeze poisoning is nearly always fatal without intensive care.

[petblues]

DO NOT MIX MARIJUANA WITH ANIMALS.

DO NOT MIX MARIJUANA WITH ANIMALS.

The same is true for dogs and horses, as well as cats. Many substances that are considered safe for human consumption can be harmful to animals because of their distinct metabolic pathways. Some examples are aspirin, ibuprofen, macadamia nuts, chocolate, raisins, and xylitol (an artificial sweetener).

THC (delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol), the psychoactive component in marijuana that causes intoxication in humans, is poisonous to disciplining a cat. More than 500 chemical compounds and 100 cannabinoids have been found in marijuana (cannabis) plants. However, THC and CBD (cannabidiol) are the most well-known and studied cannabinoid chemicals in marijuana. Plants can have drastically different concentrations of THC and CBD. CBD has no intoxicating effects and is often considered to be non-toxic or minimally harmful. More information on the pharmacokinetics, safety, and efficacy of CBD in pets has become available in recent studies. However, there is still some risk involved in utilizing CBD products for disciplining a cat, as even goods claiming to contain purely CBD might be tainted with THC.

Edibles containing THC derived from marijuana are often prepared by cooking the plant in fat such as oil or butter. Therefore, these items provide a larger danger of harming dogs because they typically contain more THC than plant material (buds, leaves, and stems). They may also contain chocolate or other things that could make an animal sick or cause it harm.

Animals who are exposed to THC, whether by mistake or on purpose, are not merely inebriated; they are also poisonous. They can't just go to bed and "sleep it off." A vet should be consulted for an assessment and/or palliative care.

THC POISONING SYMPTOMS: WATCH OUT FOR THESE

Inactivity, incoordination, dilated pupils, heightened sensitivity to motion, sound, or touch, hypersalivation, and urine incontinence are some of the symptoms that pet owners may observe after their animals ingest or inhale THC (even second-hand smoke can affect pets). Depressed central nervous system function and unusually slow heart rate can be detected during a veterinary examination. Anxiety, hostility, shallow breathing, low blood pressure, a racing heart rate, and rapid, involuntary eye movements are some of the less prevalent symptoms. Seizures and comas are quite unusual in animals. Rarely does anyone die. Depending on how much THC the animal was exposed to, the effects could last anywhere from a few hours to several days.

Many of the frequent indicators of THC poisoning are identical to the signs of antifreeze poisoning, which is extremely deadly, so animals exhibiting these symptoms should be taken to the doctor as soon as possible. Antifreeze poisoning is nearly always lethal if intensive treatment is not administered within the first few hours after ingestion.

[rainbow-multishipper]

What happens if you combine Lucky Charms/Fair Game (Clover x Qrow), Snowbird (Winter x Qrow), and Alchohol Poisoning (Tyrian x Qrow)? what would the ship name be?

Drunk. You get drunk. On what I won’t say.

But seriously, let’s see what we can mix up:

RWBY SHIP NAME TRIALS #121

Qrow Branwen x Winter Schnee x Clover Ebi x Tyrian Callows is

Wrong Side of the Law

Or

Running From Home

Or

Antifreeze Intoxication

(The second one was inspired by the fact that all four of these have run from something in their lives, but I think this ship is pretty neat.)

Thanks for the suggestion! Remember ask box is OPEN for Ship Summaries, Ship Trials, Headcannon Requests and Headcannon Chibis!

[kayserfleischer]

#2. Ethanol (Like the one in vodka)

Many of us know what happens when we ingest alcohol in suficient quantities (the good side and the hangover I swear I'm not drinking ever again side) but less know how alcohol can actually save a life. And I mean the Smirnoff or Absolut type of alcohol.

Triple distilled vodka is just 60% water and 40% ethanol and in cases of an intoxications with ethylene glycol (in car antifreeze) or with methanol (contained in some printer toners) you can just hang a bottle upside down an let an IV drip do its magic. The patient is sure to wake up with one of the meanest hangovers, but it lets him fully recover and seek for his next naturally ocurring hangover.

[dads-back-from-the-store]

IF YOU BELIEVE YOUR PET IS SUFFERING FROM ANTI-FREEZE POISONING

please contact a pet poison helpline, or a vet. if you believe your pet is already far into the effects of poisoning, or you can't get to a vet;

time is critical! especially with pets, after exposure to antifreeze poisoning; 3 hours after a cat is poisoned, and 8 hours after a dog is poisoned, without treatment the prognosis will be poor.

HOW TO TELL IF MY PET IS SUFFERING FROM ANTIFREEZE POISONING?

if you don't know for sure, watch out for these symptoms;

0-12 HOURS AFTER INGESTION;

(these are the symptoms for dogs, cats will not be much different but there isn't enough research on the symptoms other animals experience)

knuckling

ataxia

seizures

hyper-excitability

stupor

coma or death (in rare cases)

these symptoms can be compared to the behavior of someone under acute alcohol intoxication and will resemble drunkness. additional symptoms may include;

lack of appetite

salivation and drooling (a symptom that may more often be seen in dogs)

vomiting

drop in body temperature

increase in fluid intake and/or urination

FURTHER SYMPTOMS WILL USUALLY BE RELATED TO RAPID BREATHING OR HEART RATE. AFTER A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF TIME SYMPTOMS CAN BECOME DEADLY. FOR DOGS SPECIFICALLY PLEASE LOOK INTO THESE SYMPTOMS ONLINE; AS DIFFERENT PETS WILL HAVE DIFFERENT REACTIONS TO ANTIFREEZE POISONING AND MAY EXPERIENCE SYMPTOMS FASTER.

▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁

HERES WHAT TO DO

the first thing to do is induce vomiting!! it may be hard, but this is a very important step!! do not be afraid to make your pets throw up.

the second thing you need to do is GIVE YOUR PET ALCOHOL. your pet will be very drunk; but this is an extremely important step. the ethanol in alcoholic drinks blocks formation of ethylene glycol’s toxic metabolites (the poison in antifreeze) that lead to acidosis, kidney damage, etc.

for a dog, give them approximately 8 shots of vodka for every 4-6 hours. for a cat, give them probably about 4-5 shots. you need to be monitoring your pet during this process, as they will most likely be experiencing strong effects from the alcohol - - and you need to make sure they are safe.

HOW TO AVOID ANTIFREEZE POISONING?

to help avoid your pet being poisoned, absolutely DO NOT LEAVE ANTIFREEZE OUT!!

even if you've just spilled a small puddle on the floor, CLEAN IT UP!

the ingredients in antifreeze cause it to smell sweet; and it is no guarantee that an animal will refrain from drinking it. even a few teaspoons can be deadly to pets, so do yours' a favor and DO NOT LEAVE ANY ANTIFREEZE OUT WHATSOEVER.

[eightdoctor]

“you look bloody stupid with that haircut,” was what withnail had said when marwood came back, trembling and damp from sweat and rain.

withnail knew marwood would come back. in fact, he had already poured the man a glass of wine in a chipped mug, its ceramic glaze yellowed and peeling, the rim still stained with coffee. it had been the only cup he could extract from the fetid mass of mold and cookware and matter that lay in the sink.

withnail knew marwood would come back because he didn’t know what he would do if he didn’t. drink the wine in the mug, probably, as well as the antifreeze marwood left behind in his toolbox, and some lighter fluid—if he could scrounge some up—and maybe even gasoline if that particular cocktail hadn’t sufficiently killed him by then.

it wasn’t like withnail was dependent on marwood, because he wasn’t, thank you very much. it was more like marwood was the last thing barring withnail from drunkenly wandering into a gully of utter destitution, depression, and despondency. the man was the last thing he lived for, really, because there wasn’t much else worth this hideousness, and their earlier goodbyes had—at the time—been final.

marwood put his bag down, throwing his hat violently atop it in one swift, frustrated movement. withnail followed him with his eyes but didn’t comment.

“i poured you a drink,” he says, and smiles, and hopes he isn’t coming off as too desperate. 

marwood runs his hands through his hair, gripping at it as if he had forgotten it wasn’t long, then rubs urgently at his forehead, the shadow of his hands disguising the dark lines of his scrunched up eyes. his mouth was wrenched in a deep grimace.

withnail realizes that marwood is quite close to crying.

“stupid, stupid, stupid!” marwood says, each repetition of the word louder than the one prior. with one last exclamation, he punches the wall, then pulls back and shakes out his fist. he shouts a very colorful string of words that withnail does naught but blink at.

“part not good enough, then?” withnail asks, because he doesn’t know how to say ‘are you alright?’ like a normal fucking person, apparently.

“shut up, withnail!” marwood says, his voice thick and choked and laced with contempt. “if you must know, i—” marwood cuts off mid sentence and turns and stalks into the kitchen, his shoulders tense as he begins rummaging through the cabinet. he pulls out a napkin and dabs it on his fist, and withnail finally notices the blood smeared on the wall.

“you what?” he asks levelly. (as levelly as one can after a two bottles-and-a-half of wine, that is).

marwood sits heavily on the sofa, reaches past the mug of wine and grabs the bottle. he drinks a good portion of it before taking a breath. “nerves,” is all he offers before taking another sip. “fat lot of good they are. i got too bloody nervous and couldn’t even leave the train.”

withnail says nothing.

“the worst part is,” marwood muses, “is i don’t even fucking know why! my brain couldn’t think of anything but the part, and the future, and ‘what if i mess up?’, and the flat, and you, and i just couldn’t do it.” he rubs furiously at his eyes, which are red-rimmed for reasons, withnail suspects, other than the usual culprits of drugs and exhaustion.

withnail, selfish as he is, only focused on one particular aspect of that sentence. “me?”

marwood looks away. “it doesn’t matter,” he says gruffly.

“i believe it does, rather,” withnail comments, moving from the armchair onto the sofa on the cushion opposite marwood. marwood sips the last dregs of wine from the bottle and then stares at it, devastated by its emptiness. withnail hands him the mug.

“you bastard,” marwood replies, “you fucking bastard.”

withnail feels the beginnings of hope—hope that had been quashed and squandered when marwood left that morning—start to unfurl once again in his stomach. hope that had been sustained by elongated glances and calling each other lovey and the times when withnail would stumble intoxicated as all get-out into marwood’s bed and marwood didn’t even push him out or protest.

the truth is, withnail is loathe—and scared, quite scared—to admit, is that withnail is rather fond of marwood, in the way that is less than acceptable by a major portion of society. and there had been something in marwood’s voice when he’d said “and you” that hinted that the feeling very well may be mutual.

“i think,” withnail says, his voice slurring slightly, “i think you should tell me.”

marwood sighed and buried his face in his hands. “tell you what, withnail?” he says, voice muffled behind his palms.

“why you gave up your part for me.”

“i didn’t—“ marwood begins, then cuts himself off. “christ,” he says under his breath. there’s a moment where they’re both silent, where withnail is staring at marwood and marwood is staring at his lap, and the only sound in the apartment is from water running through the overhead pipes. the man downstairs must be taking a bath.

there’s a sharp intake of breath to withnail’s left, and he looks over to see marwood bouncing one leg incessantly, like an engine chugging along, propelled by nerves rather than steam. “fuck it,” marwood whispers, “not like it can get any worse, can it?” he says it manically — and, in withnail’s opinion, delusionally.

he’s about to state this opinion out loud when marwood turns to look at him and withnail is sufficiently shut up. his mouth closes with a click.

the thing about marwood’s eyes, withnail has realized, and realizes now, and will most definitely keep realizing from this point on, is that they’re quite beautiful in a way withnail can’t stand. they’re a pale green like sea glass, like marbles or sage, and their paleness is exacerbated by the dark rim of marwood’s eyelids, which are more often than not bloodshot. right now they shine with frustration. tears. withnail chooses not to look at them and instead stares at marwood’s lips. this is not much better.

silence settles again. fizzed with tension ready to pop like champagne. marwood pontificates on what to say next. withnail waits, his breath held fast in his throat.

and then, marwood speaks: “ah, damn it to hell.” before grabbing the lapels of withnail’s tweed coat and pulling him forward until their lips are smashed together in a way that’s so haphazard withnail thinks at first it might just be an accident they ended up like this. a few seconds pass and withnail realizes it’s quite possible marwood is just a terrible kisser.

withnail, in past moments of simultaneous self-aggrandizement and self-loathing, knew that he both would and would never know what it was like to kiss marwood—much like he knew he both would and wouldn’t be successful. it was usually difficult to pull a straight conclusion out of his drug-addled, depression-riddled, arrogance-muddled cocktail of a brain, but he’s glad to know at least one of his prophesies came true.

when they separate, withnail opens his eyes, realizing belatedly that they had closed. marwood is looking intently at him, expecting him to probably push him off the couch and storm out or something. withnail does none of these things—in fact, he does almost nothing at all.

“i’ll have you know i still think you look bloody stupid with that haircut. but do that again.”

[sylvanfreckles]

Day One: Candlelight

Welcome to the Twelve Days of Fictmas! Every day until Christmas Eve we’ll have a new story in a different fandom, just to celebrate being together at the end of a very long year.

Fandom: Detroit: Become Human

Summary: It had started as Connor’s first Christmas, but things still aren’t perfect back at the precinct and someone has set out to ruin the experience for him. Ben steps in to the rescue...after all, it’s also Connor’s first Hanukkah. 

(This is in the same universe as my other story “Critical Components”, and connects to a long story I’ve been working on for the new year)

(First attempt at writing something for Hanukkah. I grew up with just Christmas so I don’t know much about other traditions, but I would love to learn, so please feel free to comment on or correct anything I could have done better.)

* * *

The ambiance of Jimmy's Bar settled around Hank like an old, familiar coat. He'd been avoiding this place since the Revolution, seeking out android-friendly establishments instead. Not that Connor or the other androids ever came out drinking with him, but he wanted to show his support any way he could. But then he'd found out Jimmy had peeled that damn “No Androids” sign off his door three days ago (probably missing the regular business from the precinct) so Hank decided to check the place out.

It was pretty much the same as always, but Hank caught sight of a blue LED at one of the booths, as well as a few non-human drinks on the menu. It wasn't much but, hell, after the last month and a half of shit it was something.

He nursed his single beer (still had to drive home...and Connor would be right up his ass if he got behind the wheel intoxicated) and idly watched Jimmy's movements around the bar. He knew Jimmy had been pressured by the property owner to put that damn sticker on the door, so maybe it wasn't so surprising he'd torn it off the first chance he got. Android equality wasn't quite a law just yet but it seemed like only a matter of time, and there were plenty of businesses ready and willing to let old prejudices go.

Hank's phone chirruped with an incoming text and he let out a groan before tugging his phone out of his pocket. The precinct Christmas party was tonight, and Hank just wasn't feeling it. Not the non-alcoholic eggnog, not the “dirty Santa” gift exchange, not spending hours of his free time with the same assholes he got paid to be around. Now he'd forgotten to silence his phone and one of those jackasses was texting to ask where he was. Connor should have explained it.

He had his reply all planned out, but pulled up short when he saw the actual picture. He poked and prodded at his phone, pinching at the screen to zoom in, trying to decipher what he was seeing.

It was Connor's desk, and it was covered in...crap. Baby crap, specifically. There was some kind of garland that spelled out “Baby's First Christmas” draped over his monitor, and there were bibs and onesies and shit with the same kind of crap on them. Half his desk was taken up with little jars of baby food and a couple of bottles, his phone had been replaced with a cheap toy phone, and perched on the lamp was a tiny Santa hat with Connor's name embroidered on the band. A baby-sized Santa hat.

Connor didn't want to tell you but I thought you should know. Ben's taking him home.

Hank's eyes flicked up to see that Chris had sent him the messages. Well, shit, that was even worse. Chris had given Connor a gift earlier today—said Connor needed something special for his first Christmas. It wasn't tacky or childish like all this crap, just a candid photo of Connor his first day back at the DPD that Chris had put in a little brass frame. The frame just had the year engraved on it, nothing more, but apparently that was enough to set off some dipshit.

He okay? Hank typed back.

He went all Stepford and said practical jokes are an important part of team integration.

Hank swore. Practical jokes were when Tina kept changing the height of Connor's chair to see if he noticed, or when someone kept putting badly-written android erotica novels in the drawers of his desk. Not shit like this. Not lacing the station's supply of thirium with antifreeze, or destroying the clothes in his locker (the kid only owned like three things, come on), or “testing” a taser on Connor at a fucking crime scene.

But of course Connor just kept making excuses. He put on that fake smile, the one Chris and Tina started calling the Stepford after that old movie, and try to bullshit up some positive reaction. Hank was almost certain none of his people were doing the really malicious stuff—not even Gavin. He was a prick, sure, but he wouldn't screw around at an active crime scene. And Connor wasn't the only android at the station, so screwing around with the thirium supply affected a good portion of the workforce.

Hank threw back the last of his beer and tossed a couple bills on the counter before weaving his way through the rest of the crowd of customers out into the cold night. Damn. They'd been hoping things were getting better now that the android was a more familiar face around the precinct. Connor wasn't technically back on the force yet, though Hank was sure it was just a matter of time. He'd been hired on as an independent consultant, which still meant no badge and no gun but at least he was there.

He just wished the kid wasn’t facing an uphill battle just to be accepted.

Ben's car was still there when Hank pulled up. Hank felt something inside him loosen up at that—at least Connor hadn't been home alone stewing over that stupid-ass prank. He tugged his coat closed and trudged his way through the slushy snow to the door, fully expecting to find the two of them on the couch with an old movie playing on the TV.

Instead, he was met with the sound of sizzling oil and the smell of fried potatoes as soon as he opened the door.

“Okay, just flip it...just like I showed you,” Ben's voice echoed out from the kitchen.

There was a faint scraping sound, then the louder sizzle of something frying. “Good! That's perfect, Connor.”

Hank shrugged out of his coat and hung it on the peg behind the door. “Connor? Ben?”

The other man leaned his head out of the kitchen, the apron over his dark shirt splattered with flour. “Hey, Hank! Welcome home.”

“The hell's all this?” Hank asked, stopping to scratch Sumo behind the ears as he crossed the living room to get to the kitchen.

“Well, we thought it was high time to pass on a few old traditions,” Ben said, waving one hand toward Hank's table. There was a table runner laid out across the scarred wood, something deep blue with white and silver embroidery. And a nine-branched candlestick—a Menorah, Hank realized. The candle in the center was burning, as was the one on the far right side.

That's right. Ben was Jewish. So, what, they skipped the Christmas party so Ben could teach Connor about Hanukkah?

Hank settled into one of the kitchen chairs and just stared for a minute. Ben was wearing an obnoxiously colorful apron, one that was styled to look like those ugly Christmas sweaters you found everywhere. Hank knew that apron. That was what Connor had picked out to bring to the party for the gift exchange. As for Connor...he had on one of those over-sized striped hats with the big felt elf ears, plus matching slippers on his feet. The slippers had pointed toes. The pointed toes had bells.

“I'll repeat the question,” Hank said as he watched Connor stare at something in a frying pan. “What the hell is all this?”

“Ben's teaching me to make latkes,” Connor explained. He glanced over his shoulder for a moment and Hank stifled a laugh at the smear of flour on the android's chin.

“Christmas parties are overrated,” Ben announced, running a hand down the front of his apron. “I think these are ready, kiddo.”

As Connor hesitantly poked at the latkes in the frying pan while Ben held out a plate, Hank leaned back in his chair and folded his arms. “Hey, Ben, where's the dreidel?”

“Don't be stupid,” Ben called back. “We've got seven more nights, I'm not bringing out all my secrets on the first night...hang on, do you have a double boiler?”

“A what?” Hank accepted the ginger ale Connor handed him, and the plate with a single latke on it. “What the hell is that and why would I have one?” He bit into the latke, savoring the taste of crispy fried potato. Ben had invited him to a family Hanukkah dinner once, a long time ago, and his grandmother had been the one frying the latkes that night. Ben had obviously inherited her recipe.

“Well, we gotta make some gelt if you wanna play with the dreidel, Hank. It's tradition.”

Hank took a swig of ginger ale to wash down the last bite of his latke and watched Connor carefully placing more dough in the frying pan. “I thought you just spun the thing for laughs.”

Ben snorted. “That's 'cause you're an ignorant savage.”

“Damn straight!” Hank lifted his ginger ale in toast as Ben laughed. “So. What's gelt and why do I need that boiler thing?”

Connor's LED spun twice and he turned just enough to look at Ben .”Chocolate...money?”

“Okay, okay, I get the point,” Ben laughed. He patted Connor on the shoulder and dragged one of the kitchen chairs over next to him—close enough to be on hand if the android needed help cooking, but clearly settling down to tell a story. “You can buy it in stores, but my grandmother always insisted we make it at home....”

Hank rested his elbow on the table and his chin in his hand as Ben told Connor about his family and their traditions. Slowly, the peace of the room settled into him as the smell of potatoes, the sizzle of oil, and the warmth of candlelight washed away the frustration from the hazing Connor was getting at work.

They could deal with that tomorrow. Tonight they all deserved a little peace.

* * *

Master List - Day Two

[eshalott]

I LOVE how these kids are so smart that they're able to understand that they are in a parallel universe studying the sky, learning how to heal antifreeze intoxication in literally one night and to create a functional socialist society but no one ever wonder how the fuck cellphones are still working without satellites and where these really suspicious busses went

[cinaed]

Red vs Blue Episodes 16:06 & 16:07

Went on vacation so I’m a bit behind, but here are my reactions to episodes 6 and 7 of Season 16.

S16:E6 - A Pizza the Action

Of course Grif knows the ingredients for pizza but not the history of pizza, including the fact that a) Romans didn't invent pizza and b) tomatoes were brought to Europe from the Americas. Oh Grif.

How is DOC being the reasonable one here? Grif, you could invent pizza and get rich.

"By the way, being vegan while being made of meat? Kind of hypocritical." One of the funniest lines of the ep.

Grif's pizza speech is poetry. (On a Grimmons shipper note, I now want Grif to re-purpose this speech for his wedding vows because Simmons is better than pizza.)

Poor Doc just wants to actually help people.

And meanwhile poor Kai. I want all the stories of Tucker cockblocking Kai through the ages, killing famous historical figures.

And after all their attempts at sexcapades, Tucker goes home to Iris because he misses his friends. Tucker's grown up so much over the seasons, even if he's still ridiculous at times. I love him.

Kai is STONE COLD. She is sick of Tucker screwing up her time travel sex tourism! (Also the first watch through I missed the Paul Walker death joke and wow.)

Grif's slooooooow turn as Doc starts describing his gluten-free pizza is sheer perfection. You know Doc's dead in that single movement. And of course the scene cuts to Grif shooting at Doc, because he's picked up bad habits from Sarge and also because it's been a long, long, LONG couple of weeks.

Tragic Doc backstory, oh no. Even with the ending of the ep, I'm halfway convinced Deke is real, just because Doc talks about him even when he thinks Grif is asleep and has no reason to keep up the act. But also Doc not knowing CPR then, and that potentially costing Deke his life, and then becoming a medic to help people, and getting put into the Freelancer program where he mostly gets to just sit by people as they die, is a really interesting character note that has a lot of possibility. It'll be interesting to see where Joe takes Doc with this.

When unsupervised, Tucker and Kai drink antifreeze. Also Kai gets mean when she's drunk and intoxicated on antifreeze. And I love Tucker and Kai's hate relationship, also that Tucker killed Hitler and didn't remember it because they've done just that much crazy shit.

Oh Atlus. I love that he gets like a wrestling introduction. And the lens flare and J.J. Abrams joke made me laugh a lot.

Tucker's slow, "Hey, wait, should we be hallucinating the same thing?" realization. And I did have a moment of "Oh no!" before I realized Tucker and Kai are not going to die. I don't know if Donut's going to sweep in and save the day or what, but yeah, not dead.

Grif is such a fucking softie and I love it. Of course Doc's story about his brother gets Grif invested, because you know he's also missing Kai a lot. They just got reunited and then immediately separated.

Personally I don't think that's the real O'Malley, but Doc's traumatized alter ego we've seen previously, but either way, it's gonna be an interesting ride. What would O'Malley/Doc do with a time travel gun?

S16:E7: It Just Winked at Me

Knew they would be alive. Also interesting that Atlus mentioned a "firewall" -- I am still holding out that they're aliens with advanced technology claiming to be gods. Also of course Kai uses the electricity to try and get knots out of her back.

The Cyclops looks so fucking cool. I love it. That said, if they have such a great animation budget, BRING BACK JUNIOR.

Kai was just giving you shit, Tucker! And she is so done with his ego.

Hugins' voice is so adorable. Though on my first watch through my friends kept talking and I missed Hugins being like 'MURDER, MURDER FUNTIMES' holy shit. Hugins please don't murder Grif.

Poor Grif. After Season 15, no wonder he sees Huggins and assumes he's hallucinating.

Meanwhile Tucker is in over his head, until he actually has a decent idea.

Bye shiny new armor.

I love that Tucker varies between calling her K and Sister. And of course Kai missed the entire thing. And draws out the cliche conversation.

And Kai's attempt to be badass would've been amazing if she'd known that Tucker's sword can only be activated by him. It was an awesome try though!

Also I love that Kai is right, the Cyclops' weakness is his one eye, but of course Tucker also knows the monster has one ball, and their plan comes together in a hilarious way.

And then they just nope their way out of there.

Hey, the Grimmons knights again! Oh man, I cannot wait to see how Kai and Tucker handle that.

[grandmedicinehealthservices-blog]

Everything you need to know about antifreeze poisoning People who suspect that they or someone else has antifreeze poisoning should seek immediate medical care. Symptoms develop slowly, so it is important to seek help even if no symptoms are present. Early symptoms may be similar to alcohol intoxication. Learn more, including treatment and prevention, here.

[tatvachintan]

Importance of Pyridinium Salt for Acid Based Reaction Process

Pyridinium salts are an interesting class of multi-functional materials which are both molecular and polymeric in nature that exhibit liquid-crystalline and light-emitting properties. Today it is an important raw material in the chemical industry and has numerous applications. It acts as an important building block for organic compounds and also works as a versatile solvent. Before we dive deep into the importance of pyridinium salts lets know little about the history of pyridine for better understanding.

Pyridine production started in 1989 and by 1999 Europe had the biggest share of pyridine production sites worldwide. In early 2000, pyridine production significantly increased with China gaining the major market share.  And now with “TATVA CHINTAN PHARMA CHEM PVT LTD” founded in Vadodara, Gujarat, India has gradually started occupying an important place in the pyridium salt supplier market. Tatva Chintan Pharma is one of the biggest pharmaceutical companies in India.

Some Important Properties of Pyridine

Pyridine is a colourless liquid.

It has molecular formula C5H5N. Every molecule of pyridine is a six-membered ring related to the structure of benzene.

Chemically it is protonated by reaction with acids and forms a positively charged polyatomic ion called a pyridinium cation which is aromatic in nature.

Pyridines have a chemical property similar to tertiary amines.

Importance of Pyridinium Salts

Pyridine is chemically classified as aromatic amines which are used in industries like Dyes, Functional fluids (closed systems), Intermediates, Laboratory chemicals, and Solvents.  Some important applications of Pyridium salts for acid-based reaction process is listed below:

Pyridine-borane (C5H5NBH3) acts as a mild reducing agent in protic solvents. They are better than sodium borohydride because they provide more stability to protic solvents. And also improve solubility in aprotic solvents.

Pyridine-sulfur trioxide (C5H5NSO3) acts as a sulfonation agent used to convert alcohols to sulfonates. This undergoes C-O bond scission upon reduction with hydride agents.

It is used as intermediates in making insecticides, herbicides, pharmaceuticals, dyes, rubbers, and disinfectants.

Pyridine is best known as a versatile solvent. Deuterated pyridine (pyridine-d5), is a common solvent for NMR spectroscopy. It is also used as a solvent in Knoevenagel condensations.

It is a denaturant for antifreeze mixtures and is also used as a ligand in coordination chemistry sometimes.

Safety and Environmental Issues

Pyridine is toxic in nature.

It has a volatile nature and so it can be absorbed through the skin.

Acute pyridine intoxication can cause dizziness, headache, nausea, and anorexia.

[macgyvermedical]

At one point in a post a while ago you said something about treating antifreeze poisoning with alcohol? Could you expand on that please??

Sure!

[At some time of night Google just starts throwing random emergency numbers into the search results, right? This isn’t just because of my search history…?]

But anyway…

Automotive antifreeze/coolant is the (usually) florescent green liquid in a car’s radiator that prevents it from overheating in the summer or freezing in the winter. A common main ingredient in this, and what we will be talking about in this post, is a substance called Ethylene Glycol.

(Fun fact: They also make “environmentally friendly” or “pet safe” automotive antifreeze out of a substance called propylene glycol. This is also a common additive in ice creams in the US. Tasty!)

Ethylene glycol itself is not super poisonous, or at least not much more so than regular alcohol. What the human body does with it, though, can and does kill without prompt medical attention.

When ingested, ethylene glycol causes some intoxicating effects, roughly on par with drinking alcohol. This can make it difficult to identify early on in poisoning, when those around the victim (including medical professionals) may mistake life threatening ethylene glycol intoxication for less dangerous alcohol intoxication. It’s also sweet, making it potentially easier to accidentally ingest (or slip into food…).

The body recognizes ethylene glycol as an alcohol (which, technically, it is), and tries to break it down and excrete it using the same enzyme pathway it uses for, say, vodka- one that starts with the enzyme Alcohol Dehydrogenase (ADH). This pathway works well for drinking alcohol, but can end up breaking ethylene glycol down into a very toxic substance called oxalate. 

Oxalate is a problem for 3 reasons:

The process of creating it makes the blood very acidic (several acidic compounds must be produced first, causing a potentially deadly condition called metabolic acidosis)

It pulls calcium out of the blood (calcium is important for normal electrical activity in the heart)

It uses that calcium to make crystals, which can accumulate in body tissues (this is especially problematic in the kidneys, which eventually clog up and stop working)

Oxalate causes death by either metabolic acidosis, a bad heart rhythm from the low calcium levels, or by causing kidney failure (which if not caught in time can lead to high potassium levels which can also send the heart into a bad rhythm).

The treatment for ethylene glycol poisoning is to prevent oxalate (and the acidic compounds that come before it) from forming. One of the easiest ways to do this is to keep ADH busy by giving it something else to break down.

First-line treatment is giving ADH a drug called fomepizole. Fomepizole has few serious side effects and ADH loves it. If fomepizole is unavailable, however (even in hospital settings, its sometimes difficult to come by and generally expensive), another molecule, ethanol (the alcohol in alcoholic beverages), works the same way.

…But it takes more than a single drink to do this. Like, a lot more. And the side effects aren’t always fun.

In order to use drinking alcohol to prevent oxalate from forming, the person needs to drink 4ml of 20% alcohol (anything “40 proof”) per kilogram of their body weight. For someone who weighs 75kg, this would be approximately 300ml, or 6-7 shots. Then, every hour after that, they would need to drink an additional 0.4-0.7 ml/kg (approximately 1 shot) for approximately 3 days.

That’s a long three days, because unless there’s an NG tube (or way to improvise one) available, the person would have to wake up every hour to drink. Not to mention, alcohol can cause a lot of problems, the most serious of which include respiratory depression (not breathing enough) and hypoglycemia (low blood sugar levels). The person would have to be very closely monitored during this time, and breathing/blood sugar supported as necessary.

The process of using ethanol to keep ADH busy also greatly depletes vitamins B-1 and B-6. Since these are vitamins necessary to the breakdown of alcohol, lowered levels can mean a higher chance of alcohol poisoning during treatment.

R E F E R E N C E S

[Patreon] [Fiverr]

[dontshootmespence]

Passive-Aggressive Partnership

Part 1 / Part 2 / Part 3 / Part 4 / Part 5 / Part 6 @coveofmemories

Part 7

                                                             -----

“Is that so?” Rossi said, his trademarked calm, cool and collected nature taking over despite the fact that this woman was nothing like they’d ever encountered before.

Nothing but a small smirk painted the corner of her mouth. It was extremely unsettling, even for a veteran like Rossi. “I’m 32 years old. I’ve been doing this for years. No one caught on.”

“Because you were too smart,” he said. “What happened? You slip up?” The look in her eyes went from cocky to fiery in milliseconds. Despite her being different than most other unsubs they came across in many ways, in other ways, she was so stereotypical it was almost comical. After more than 30 years on the job, Rossi knew what to say and how to say it to make any unsub sing the song of their crimes. 

He could play her like a fiddle, but in this case it seemed like she wanted to be played.

“Purposefully, yes. I just got so used to doing it, I got bored. I don’t care anymore if anyone knows.” If she was 32 years old and had become a licensed nurse at 22, she could have been doing this for nearly a decade. He asked her how long, and she’d confirmed his suspicions. A decade of killing.

“It started with your mother, didn’t it? The not caring? When she died two years ago?” She only nodded her head.

“Tell me about what you’ve done. When you first started,” Rossi said. “What made you start killing?”

Despite the talk they’d had thus far, she hadn’t technically admitted anything, and given the physical evidence they had with their four victims, it would be hard to prove she was the one that killed Jennifer Valesky. But a confession would be the nail in her coffin and she seemed willing to hammer it in herself. “It started like a lot of people like me...” she said.

                                                            -----

On the opposite side of the glass, the rest of the team stared in awe. “She started as an angel of mercy,” Reid said, just as Heidi confirmed it. Apparently, she was under the delusion that she was helping people. She started in a hospital right after she graduated and would periodically “ease the suffering” as she claimed, of people that were terminally ill. 

“The first person I ever killed asked me to do it,” she said, surprising everyone outside, as well as Rossi. 

“Is that so?”

Her name was Gertrude Singer. She was terminally ill with cancer of the bone, and she didn’t have much time left. She was also in excruciating pain, so she asked Heidi to end her suffering. “I figured she wanted to die,” she said. “She was going to die. Why shouldn’t she have been allowed to end her pain? I injected an air bubble into her IV. Within the day she was gone. That’s how it started - with her and others like her. However, she was the only one that asked. When I realized I was the one who had actually taken her life...I felt this indescribable feeling, and I wanted more of it.”

“What kind of feeling?” JJ said out loud. 

Reid didn’t want to say the answer. But he knew. Sometimes he was afraid of how well he could read people. “Power.”

“It was intoxicating,” she crooned, sending shivers up Emily’s spine. Thank god Garcia wasn’t here to hear this, because she’d be screaming and running to the shower for a proper scrubbing of her body and brain. “That feeling of watching someone’s life leave them and knowing you did it? Nothing like it.”

“But something changed when your mother died, didn’t it?” Rossi asked. Normally, the team would still be trying to gather evidence at this stage, but that was because confessions weren’t so easily come by. So much about this case was different. Reid wasn’t affected by every unsub anymore, but this one was unsettling; she’d probably stay with him for a long time.

The vibrating against his skin pulled him out his head. “Something up?” JJ asked. 

“It’s Y/N,” he said. “I’ll be right back. How are you?” As he walked outside to take the call, he could hear the slithering of her voice and it made his skin crawl. 

“I’m fine. Wish we could be going on another date, but otherwise okay. You?”

Goosebumps traveled up his spine as he recalled the unsub’s words. “Our killer is a woman. An angel of death, and she’s been killing for years. She...I don’t know why she’s getting to me given all the people we’ve come into contact with, but she is.”

“I’ll try and take your mind off things when you get back,” she said.

“Is that a promise?”

“Absolutely,” she said. “I’ll let you get back to things. Stay strong...you know, stubborn. Like you normally do.”

“Oh, shut up,” he laughed as he said goodbye and hung up the phone. It was a good thing he’d taken that call, because as soon as he returned to the glass partition outside the interrogation room, her voice crawled back up his skin.

“When my mother had her appendix out she was insufferable,” Heidi started again. “She was not a nice woman and when she had to depend on others it was even worse. Nothing I did was good enough. I had been killing people who were terminal for eight years at that point, but that night, when she just wouldn’t let up...that was the first time I felt like killing, even though she would’ve been perfectly healthy.”

“So your mother is the reason you started killing healthy people rather than the terminally ill,” Rossi continued. One might say he was giving her the rope the hang herself with, but she knew exactly what she was saying. It was purely conversation at this point.

Outside the room, Spencer wished this would end, so they could go home. He needed to get out of his head. He needed to get her out of his head. “Yes,” she said. “Any drug addict will tell you that over time, you need more and more of the drug to get high. Killing was my drug, so after a while, killing people who needed it, who were in pain - that wasn’t enough. I needed more, so I started with my mother. I used antifreeze, like Jennifer Valesky.”

Well there was the confirmation they needed for one of their current victims. “Is that all you used? That and air bubbles?” Rossi wondered.

“No,” she laughed. She laughed. Reid could barely contain himself. “I used whatever I thought might go undetected until a couple weeks ago. Arsenic, cyanide, smothering, air bubbles, antifreeze...it didn’t matter. But a couple weeks ago I realize it was never going to be enough. That’s why I decided to get caught. Tell my story. And let the justice system do whatever it was going to do. Like I said, Agent Rossi. I’m tired.”

That was really all they needed to hear. “So you also killed Geraldine, Harvey and George?”

“Yes,” she said. “I’ve had enough. Because it’s never going to be enough.”

“Last question.” it was the one that everyone had on their minds. After 10 years of this, did she even know how many people she’d killed? Rossi asked her and she looked up, staring into the glass, knowing that there were people behind it. 

“Honestly, I lost count after 228. That’s when I got bored.”

                                                           -----

On the plane back, no one really said anything. What could you say about someone who had almost gleefully claimed to have taken over 200 lives? 

“So what are you doing when we get back?” Morgan asked, shaking his head to try and get Heidi’s voice out of his head. 

“Going out with Y/N,” Reid replied. “I need to not stay home and think about this. What about you?”

“Sleep.”

“Ditto,” he heard from Emily, JJ and Hotch. Rossi would probably end up staying up and having a smoke. 

After another hour, they were home and he was on his way to Y/N’s apartment. 

“Hey, stubborn,” she laughed. “You okay?”

He wasn’t, but he didn’t know why. What about her had rubbed him so the wrong way? Her smile dropped as she realized something was wrong. “Come here,” she whispered, enveloping him in her arms. “Do you want to come inside?”

Her lips grazed his as she brought him inside, shutting the door behind her. “Yes.”