#electric heater bag

[minglana]

they turned on the heating but im still freezing😭

[mockerycrow]

PACK CUDDLES (Hybrid!141 x GN!Human!Reader)

multiple characters masterlist

summary; the base’s heaters have all broken and aren’t due to be repaired for a week—it’s the middle of winter and you’re one of the few humans on base.

[WARNINGS; hybrid stuff, can be read as platonic or romantic, fluffy, sickness.]

THE BASE HEATERS decided to break at the worst possible moment—during the harshest part of the winter. They’re baseboard electric heaters that line every barracks room; the general community rooms such as the common area and the training rooms have central air and heating, but they didn’t decide to provide the barracks with the same luxury. It was never much of a problem, really. Nearly everyone on base was a hybrid of some kind, usually a bigger animal due to the needs of the military so they would produce body heat hot enough to keep them warm for the duration of when the electrical technicians would come in to fix the wiring, or replace the heaters.

Unfortunately for you, you are not a hybrid. You were born to completely human family members, and you have no hybrid genes in your chromosomes. Also unfortunately for you, you were for some reason one of the ones tasked with shoveling the pathways and roads on base—your station has no snow plows as the winters are usually mild to moderate, but this year decided to fuck you over harshly. You spent hours outside in the snow, bundled up in your warmest uniform with a winter coat, boots, gloves, hats, and even a balaclava on to keep as much warmth as possible. 

On day 2 without a heater, you woke up in the middle of the night unable to breathe through your nose. Your face is aching terribly—likely your sinuses—and it feels like you swallowed glass and gargled salt water right after. Your chest aches and you overall feel terrible, and you feel both hot and cold at the same time. Even after bundling up in your warmest hoodie and sweatpants—you slept with socks on, too—you just could not evade the sickness. Harsh coughs rack your body, your eyes tearing up as pain shoots through your chest and your throat to your ears. You groan and press your face into your pillow for a moment before you slowly kick your blankets off, pulling your hood up after sitting up.

You slip your feet into your slides and you check the time—0328. Fuck. The boys should be returning from a short mission soon. You hold in a sigh in fear of further hurting your aching throat, making your way towards your bedroom door. You grab your keys on the way out, letting your door close behind you. You squint as the hallway lights irritate your eyes, but you lay them no mind, walking down the hall to seek out the kitchen. Luckily, this base allowed basic medicines in a cabinet in the kitchen, so began your search for some cold medicine, and perhaps some sinus medicine too if you can take both at the same time.

To your sickly delight, no one seems to be awake right now—or at least hoarding the kitchen—despite many of the hybrids on base being nocturnal. You aren’t in the mood to really talk.. Not like you could, anyway. You shuffle your way to the counter with a harsh sniffle, opening the cabinet and rummaging around. You find some compatible cold and sinus medications, and you decide to grab a tea bag and the little plastic jar of honey, deciding that you want to soothe your throat. The air running through your throat makes it ache more. 

You put your forearms on the counter and arch your back, laying your head down as you wait for the electric kettle to heat up the water. At least the kitchen is warm. You holy a bit after it must be a few minutes, hearing the kettle heating up. You lift your head and see steam emitting from the opening, so you switch it off and begin to make your tea, stirring honey into the mug. You shove the pills into your mouth and swallow it down with a wince, using the tea. You sip the tea slowly until the mug is empty, so you quickly wash it out and put it in the sink to properly wash later. With your throat feeling a little better and a handful of paper towels, you head back to your room to go back to sleep.

The next time you wake up, it’s slow and uncomfortable. You’re on your back and you first feel the pain rippling through your throat with every wheezy breath you take—it’s a bit harder to breathe than before, even with the sickness—and then you notice the heat. Wait.. the heat? Isn’t the heater broken?

Your eyes flutter open, unfocused and bleary, with twinges of pain due to the dawn shining through your poor excuse of black-out curtains. Something shifts on your chest, causing you to glance down. When your eyes focus, you’re face to face with a wolf looking husky—striking blue eyes that are peering into your soul, the wolfdog’s fur being thick; white and grey, his ear twitching as he stares back at you. It takes you a moment before recognition filters through. It’s Soap!

A lazy smile spreads on your face as you pet his head between his ears, causing him to lick his snout. “Hey, Soap.” You croak. You sound absolutely dreadful. Three more heads pop out of view, making you flinch ever so slightly. “Jesus!” You hiss, looking at the other three. You’re met with a Grizzly bear, a Barbary lion and a Jaguar; Price, Ghost, and Gaz. Your bed springs croak under the weight of all of them—they broke your frame a year ago, still in the search for a frame that can handle a bunch of weight—and they shift closer to you. A low, rumbling noise comes from Ghost. There’s not much noise he truly makes in his lion form, he often is silent—except for the occasional chuff or intimidating growl—so you know the rumbling means something. 

You reach out to him with your other hand, tangling your fingers in his mane, feeling the rough texture between your fingers. His dark eyes stare at you and if you didn’t know Ghost as well as you do, you would likely be shitting yourself right now. He pushes his snout into your palm for a moment before his rough tongue peaks out and licks over your palm, making you wince from how prickly his tongue is. Ghost then lets out a huff, his breath reaching your face as you watch the Jaguar—Gaz—slink up to your face, the three of them; Gaz, Soap, and Ghost invading your personal space. No doubt that they can smell how sick you are. You think absentmindedly about when they returned from their mission. 

“I’m okay.” You say, your voice hoarse. You can’t help but wince at how you sound, but you don’t dwell on it too much when Gaz’s hard head pushes into your cheek, making you smile. “Yes, I promise.” You add on, moving your hand from Soap’s head to Gaz’s neck, your other hand still attending to Ghost’s mane. You glance over to where Price is, seeing his two little ears peering up behind Ghost. You groan dramatically and pat the spot next to yourself. “C’mon, Captain. You guys can be my heaters, I guess.” You weakly joke, earning a whine from Soap, who hasn’t moved an inch from laying on top of you. You make a noise in return, your eyes feeling heavy once again when the heat surrounding you finally becomes comfortable. “Supposed to fix ‘em soon.” You mumble, already half asleep by the time you feel Price’s nose sniff your cheek, checking in on you.

[fingertipsmp3]

I approach spiritualism the same way I approach driving. Everyone who’s less spiritual than me is a stick in the mud skeptic, everyone who’s more spiritual than me is delusional

[pomegranti]

Baby it’s cold outside…

Ft: Geto Suguru

Context: Normal AU? Reader and Geto are dating but don’t live together

Warnings: Drinking, drunk sex, cunnilingus, pretty vanilla sex, gentle Suguru, squirting, hair pulling Geto if you squint

Plot: After Geto’s Christmas party ends, you’re about to leave until the snowstorm shuts off all power, insisting you to stay, you and Geto find ways to warm each other up by the fire.

✽✽✽✽✽✽✽✽✽✽✽✽✽✽✽✽✽✽✽✽✽✽✽✽✽✽✽✽✽✽✽✽

Your boyfriend, Geto Suguru, had hosted a Christmas party for all of your mutual friends. Needless to say, it was one of the best nights you both have had in awhile. There was music, games, drinking, dancing, and more. What a perfect night, finally allowing you all to unwind. But, like all good things, the sun began to set as the winds outside grew louder, snow covering the outside, a storm seeming to form. Noticing this, many of your friends had to leave hastily to try and beat the weather, not a problem, you all had hung out all day, and it was getting quite late anyways. However, by now it was just you and Geto, just the two of you in his small house, fire crackling with the soothing music still playing.

There you both were, sitting on the couch he had while your drinks rested on the coffee table, a blazing fire shining before you as you both chatted away, laughing together while you spoke. Getting lost in the conversation, you failed to realize how time was flying, along with how the storm became increasingly bigger, finally growing rough enough to strike the electricity, causing the lights in his house to suddenly shut off, effectively snapping you both back to reality. Realizing the time, as Geto got up to try and flip the switches back on, you figured you’d better head home before the storm became unbearable. Once deeming the power to be a goner for the time being, Geto turned his head to see you gather your things, walking back over to the couch, he nudged you with his hand, an unreadable expression plastering itself onto his sharp features. “Don’t tell me you’re leaving in this weather, it’s far too cold. And besides, you’ve been drinking, it’s not safe.”

Giggling softly at his clear sign of worry, you leaned forward to plant a reassuring kiss against his cheek, giving him a hug before leaning down to grab your bag. “I’ll be fine, Suguru, honestly, I really have to get going.” Nudging him away, you stood up and made your way towards the door, only to be yanked back. Turning your head, you saw his hand gripping onto your wrist, pleading eyes practically begging you not to go. “Darling please, you’ll freeze out there. Let me convince you to stay, please?” Amused by this, you paused for a brief moment, eyebrow raising at his words. “I’m sure you can, but the heater is off anyways, it’ll get cold.” You said, hoping the excuse was enough for him to let you go, but stubborn as he is, he retaliated. “It’s fine, I know a good way to warm you up.”

“Oh, really?”

“Mhm.”

✽✽✽✽✽✽✽✽✽✽✽✽✽✽✽✽✽✽✽✽✽✽✽✽✽✽✽✽✽✽✽✽

Now an hour and more convincing later, the power was still out and it became nearly freezing without the aid of the heater, but Geto insisted that the best idea on how to stay warm was by this, with his face between your thighs as he messily ate you out. You had no idea how long he’s been at it either, he wanted to set up a makeshift bed using pillows and blankets by the fire since that was the only heat source, but when it proved to be futile, you found yourself a mess for his tongue, droplets of sweat collecting at your temples, glistening beads dripping down as you felt yet another release approach, losing count a long time ago. As for Geto, he just couldn’t get enough, with your sweet cries and the way your cunt squirted, he lapped at your clit using his tongue while he roughly fingered you, digging his fingers against your most sensitive spots before harshly sucking on the bud.

Legs clamping around his head, you dipped your head back, causing your hair to cascade down your shoulders and onto the soft blankets below, your frame illuminated by the warm fire. Clicking his tongue a few times, Geto pulled your legs apart using his hand while his gaze bored into you, leaving a rather harsh bite on your inner thigh as a warning. “Gotta keep those pretty legs open for me darling, you don’t wanna be punished on Christmas Eve, do you?” Shaking your head in disagreement, you were about to utter some shameless apology until you felt him dive his head back down, fingers now increasing their speed as he ate you out like a starved man; one would’ve guessed he hadn’t eaten in days with how desperate his tongue worked, eagerly lapping at your essence that continued to ooze from your core. Feeling your release inch closer and closer, your plush thighs began to tremble as if they were threatening to close around his head once more. Fighting the urge to do so, it seemed Geto picked up on this because he used his free hand to hold your leg in place, bruising grip only adding fuel to the flames that were about to burst within. Fingers rubbing against your walls, you were finally pushed over the edge once his index and middle finger protruded at a particular spot a couple of times as you whined loudly, clear fluids gushing out to which Geto wasted no time before licking it, wiping his face with his forearm to clean off his lips before placing a delicate kiss against the bruise he left on your leg from his grip, murmuring a small apology for the marking.

Adjusting himself so his frame was now towering over yours, he lightly tapped the head of his shaft against your entrance, placing a kiss against your lips to distract you from the subtle discomfort of his member sliding in. Hands finding themselves hooked around his neck, you couldn’t help but hold him close to try and deepen the kiss, the faint smell of alcohol lingering on his tongue as you both parted for a brief moment to catch some air until you yanked him back down, this kiss being more heated with how his tongue roamed your mouth, pressing against yours. While you were busy kissing him, he figured now was a good time to start off slow, moving his hips in languid strokes as he slowly pulled out before sharply thrusting back in, hips colliding with yours only repeat the process. Releasing his lips, the air was practically knocked out of your lungs with each thrust, moaning his name each time his aching tip kissed your cervix.

Clinging onto him as if your life depended on it, your legs wrapped around his waist to pull him closer, fingers holding onto his long, dark hair. Using one hand to wipe the sweat that previously formed on your forehead, a smirk tugged at the corners of his lips, tucking your hair behind your ear. “Looks like I managed to warm you up, just like I said. Pretty glad you didn’t leave now, huh Y/N?” Uttering incoherent words of agreement, he felt a hint of pride towards himself at your current state, what a foolish idea of yours to go home in such weather when you could just stay with him. He’d make sure to care for you properly, give you everything you’d ever want, there would be no need to return home alone when he can be by your side whenever you want.

Dark hair sticking to his forehead, he grunted softly, pace turning sloppy, while he adored both the way you feel and look, all the while your walls tightened, signaling your approaching release. Pressing his chest flat against yours, this new position allowed himself to hold onto your hips, thrusting into you at an unbelievable pace while his breath fanned against your ear. “Just one more, okay? You did so good for me when I ate your pretty pussy, now do me a favor and give me one more, cmon pretty girl I know you can do it~” Canines grazing against the shell of your ear, you couldn’t help but cry out his name even louder, voice going up an octave while he nipped at your earlobe.

“O-Okay I will..please finish inside, please Suguru....” Your words went straight to his dick, causing his pace to increase even further, head leaking pre-cum as it coated your walls, thick shaft filling you up so nicely as both of your climaxes approached. Tugging on his raven hair, your back arched up against him while you tried to silence yourself by connecting your lips once more, the familiar liquid from earlier squirting as it tainted Geto’s lower abdomen. Groaning into the kiss, it only took a few more thrusts until he came inside, white liquid oozing out as he pulled out, the rest of his release leaking onto the blankets beneath you. Releasing your lips, Geto looked down to see the mess beneath the both of you, taking a mental photo of the sight.

Releasing his waist from your grasp, you blinked up at him with glassy eyes, needless to say, you wouldn’t be going home tonight, in fact, you might not go back tomorrow either. Watching as the lights finally flickered back on, your gaze met his while you were both left a sweaty mess, getting taken aback by the way he pulled you against him, sitting upright with you on his lap. Embarrassment engulfing your features, you placed your palms on his chest while turning your head away, only to hear him snicker softly. “One more round?”

Note: Aghhh I really wanted to do a Christmas one before actual Christmas so I hurried up and wrote this one. Feel free to leave requests for anything else ^^ I’m also going to start working on part 2 of the Gojo fic later

[thestarkerisobvious]

Warmth

based on a prompt by @awesomestarker

story by @thestarkerisobvious and @mrstarksbaby

moodboard by @mrstarksbaby

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

Best.  Vacation.  Ever.

It was silly, but ever since that one year that the electricity had gone out, Peter insisted.  One entire day without electricity.  Except for the refrigerator, of course.  And the hot water heater.  But that was all.  As little device use as possible.  Even to look up information.  That’s what books were for.  During the day they would read or play chess or play card games with the tarot deck or just sit and talk in the sunlit rooms and enjoy the day.  Then, at night, sleeping, bundled up in the living room by the fireplace.  Just like they had done that first winter.

Peter shouldn’t be happy the electricity went out that one year.  Shouldn’t be thankful.  Should acknowledge, at least, some of the danger they could have been in (if it weren’t for the generator.  And the backup generator, of course…)

But he couldn’t help it.  Right now, he was glowing.  Even in the cold cabin, he was glowing.  He should at least go wrap up in the fuzzy blanket again - and he would soon - but for now he stayed where he was.

Watching the Sexiest Man Alive chop wood.

And he was.  Officially.  Voted Sexiest Man Alive.  More than once.  And Peter, now sitting in the seat closest to the window, almost shivering with the cold, couldn’t have agreed more.

He had sat there with the cup of hot cocoa Tony had made for him at his feet.  He had been sitting at the kitchen table, reading in the sunlit room.  He had found an old Llewellen book (“Charms, Spells and Formulas”) that he had bought ages ago at a used book store but never got around to reading.  He was now pouring over a chapter about “gris-gris bags” and scribbling out lists of herbs to look up.  One list to check against Tony’s fully-stocked spice rack, one to check against his collection at home, and one to check against the internet as soon as they allowed themselves back on line.

Tony had only rolled his eyes and groaned at the idea of ordering MORE spell ingredients, but didn’t interfere with the new project until he noticed Peter was shivering at the table, tucking his hands under his legs when his fingers got too cold to write.  

“Humor me,” Tony countered when Peter insisted “I’m fine!” through chattering teeth.  The next thing he knew he was sitting in the living room in front of the fire, warming his hands on a mug of hot cocoa.  

“Are these cinnamon for my protection?” Peter asked with a grin.  “Maybe,” Tony said with a sideways grin.  “Someone has to protect you from yourself.”   

Peter smiled, silently stirring in the intention.  Then noticed that Tony was rolling up his sleeves.   

“And what are you doing?”

“We need more of this,” Tony replied, kicking a pice of firewood with his boot.  “I’ll be back.”

And now here they were - Tony outside chopping firewood, Peter sitting at the couch closest to the window so he could watch.  Watch and wonder.

What was it about that man, Peter wondered, watching those powerful arms move, the iron muscles flex as Tony raised the ax above his head over and over again.  It wasn’t the muscular build, not that alone.  It couldn’t have been.  Captain America had bigger biceps, and much bigger pectorals.  And Thor, well, Thor was a god.  Who towered above all of them, making even Cap look like a short man.  There were more muscular men in Peter’s life.  And as for strength…

…Peter lay back a little in his seat by the window.  Smiling wistfully.  

The truth was, Peter was stronger than Tony.  Stronger than most of the Avengers, actually.  Possibly as strong as Captain America, although Peter never set out to prove it.  Never needed to.  He knew what he knew.  Besides, it didn’t matter.

Peter never thought much about being so strong.  Never thought about the muscles he had built up just swinging across New York City every day, or lifting vehicles off of each other in pileups.  In fact, whenever he thought about being “strong” the only thought, the only memory, that came to mind was holding a splitting ferry full of people together on his own.  He wasn’t strong, not compared to fracturing ferries, or collapsing concrete buildings, or crashing airplanes.  So he never really thought about how much stronger he was than Tony.

Oh, but in Tony’s arms at night, it felt so good to feel weak…

“Enjoying the view?” Tony asked as he brought in the first load of firewood. 

“Very much so,” Peter acknowledged.   

Tony headed outside again, closing the door firmly behind him to keep in the heat.  Peter shivered a bit, grinning to himself.  Tonight was going to be sweet.  When Tony was done chopping firewood he would probably want a shower - a good place to warm them both up, certainly - and then they would have to figure out another way to keep themselves warm.  Although maybe not.  It was barely afternoon, maybe too early in the day for that.  Peter would get up from his seat and, after finding a warm sweater, find some way of making Tony a meal.  As a reward for all this wood-chopping.  They had a whole list of dishes that could be made with the use of the battery powered hotplate or the fire  - some sandwich melts, probably..  And maybe even some hot coco.  Yes, certainly some hot cocoa.  Definitely.  As a reward for all this wood-chopping.

Peter would do that.  Get up from his chilly seat by the window and do that.  But not just yet.

Because right now, Peter just wanted to watch.

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

This has been a

production. Follow the tag #MrStarksBabyIsObvious Series to find out what ELSE we have hidden up our sleeve...

[creedslove]

Oh, Mari, help! I need a living heater in the form of Joel. It's been damn cold in my country, it's 11 degrees (it was 27 a week ago). And my furnace broke down (so my radiators are cold) and the repair guy won't come until Saturday 😭

Also, this song gave me "Heartless" vibes today: Stephen Sanchez - Until I Found You

Post outbreak!Joel Miller x f!reader

A/N: aww baby, I know this ask is a few months old now but I hope things are alright for you! We are also dealing with drastic temperature change, I mean a week ago it was more than 30° but today the max temperature is like 17° so I could definitely use Joel to keep me warm too 😭🫦

• Winters during the outbreak are possibly one of the worst and most depressing things mankind had ever faced, lacking sources of heat, electricity and basic things such as warm clothes, decent blankets and hot water, surviving that weather became one of the many other things someone would need to survive in that world

• no matter if you lived in a QZ, or if you were on the run over the long abandoned roads, winter was hard and that was the time people usually drank the most in order to keep themselves warm and numb to how bad things were

• and even if everything was terrible, you were still so lucky you had Joel, because that man would do anything he could in order to protect you from any danger and of course, from the cold weather as well

• if we are talking about the time you live in the QZ, he would use his smuggling skills in order to offer you the best he can find: jackets, coats, sweaters, blankets, booze, anything really

• and of course you will both snuggle so close in bed, it's funny how Joel is the little spoon even if he's bigger, but he can switch positions whenever you need his body sheltering you

• fucking to keep warm is also a possibility you both really enjoy

• when you guys escape the QZ, he knows nights out in the open are also cold, even if it isn't the winter, and you can't take space in your backpack to carry big, thick blankets, so you will both have to handle sleeping bags

• Joel would always make sure to find shelter and start a fire, so you can spend some time as warm and cozy as possible and of course you would both cuddle so you wouldn't lose heat

• when you get to Jackson, you can barely believe there is such a place, where you can actually have lights on, warm baths and decent, comfortable beds

• while you are both in awe, after eating a proper meal for the first time in months, you decide to share a hot shower together; you could've done it separately, but you are doing it together, because you want to have feeling of running your hands through Joel's skin, the warm water pouring over the two of you, as you both soap and shampoo each other

• then, after changing into new, clean and warm clothes, you go to bed; now there's a heating system in the house that actually works, you won't have to feel that excruciating, painful cold wind that seems to reach your bones, but you will still both hold each other at night, as if your lives depended on it, because deep inside, you know it's not just to keep warm you slept like that

• Joel buries his face into the crook of your neck and pulls you closer, his hand holding your hips and stroking your skin up and down, he's able to sleep peacefully, knowing he can finally offer you the protection you need and that you'll be safe in his arms

____

[fruityindividual]

rj lupin has to go to the corner shop.

he's out of tea bags and instant coffee and he has to pay his electric and he could rly do w a sandwich but. but he has to leave the shelter of the bus stop. he has to step out and cross the road. it's raining and he has to cross the street. inconvenience of unfathomable proportions. cos, u see, there is a large puddle just in front of the doors to the store. no avoiding it. no jumping over it. u see, rj lupin knows wht will happen. he knows this. but he has to pick up cigarettes and maybe a green drink for health and. he's afraid to glance inside the envelope inside the warm dry inside of his jacket. he's afraid to look and see how much his electric is this month. he's afraid to pay it. perhaps he should've read in the dark this last month, or remembered to shut off his water heater before wrapping himself up in his cosy bed after a warm shower and falling snuggly asleep. maybe he should've eaten more cold meals and rationed his heating and read by candlelight. he could rly go for the crunchy crisps in the blue bag, or maybe the clear fizzy drink w the green stripe, and he won't look inside the envelope until he has to present it to the quiet lady at the tell. his socks will soggily sag around his ankles as he unfolds the envelope and slides it to her, and clumsily drops his items (he chooses the crisps in the blue bag and also the cigarettes) onto the counter as he'll fumble for his coin pouch and wilting notes tucked into the limp folds of his wallet - between a photo of his boyfriend and a train ticket stub from last year - and. he'll have just enough for the electric. that's a pleasant thought.

it is fleeting.

outside the foggy doors of the store it's rly lashing now. but he's already damp, vest beneath his shirt melting cooly into his skin. he rly has nothing to loose now. he dashes out the doors, he's walking at olympic pace. his wet socks force his shoes to make impolite noises. but the rain is loud and the traffic is louder. and he's finally treading up the steps to his dark flat and he's pulling open the weeping door and shucking off his shoes and.

he's there. he tilts his dark head and appreciates remus in all his soggy sagginess - proof of his bravery, a journey well done. he's reaching out and stripping remus' clothing from his damp skin. he's turned on the water heater - dinner will be cold tonight - and remus is ushered into a warm shower, and then time-softened pyjamas, and then the scratchy sofa as his limbs take on the shape of his.

remus glances to the chipped counter of the kitchenette. his crisps are uneaten, the blue bag glossy with old rain. his cigarette carton is sopping wet, red ink bleeding into white paper - destroyed. he sighs sadly. but long fingers extend before his eyes there on the settee- the simple offering of a beautifully dry cigarette. the soft, funny quirk of his boyfriend's lips - tugging up in a boyish sort of humour, soft lines of a beautifully grown face. remus takes the offering w a gentle shake of his head, damp curls dripping down his forehead. the man beside him pats his leg and they return to their books - a novel regarding 19th century naval warfare, and also one about gardening. they read w the lights on and share the crisps, the edges of the bag ripped apart, a shiny blanket of salty crunch. his boyfriend hums and nods his head - someone's just done something brave on a wooden boat, probably. remus kisses his jaw. curiously, cautiously - like the opening of an envelope. remus likes this one better. his boyfriend snaps his book closed, hoists remus from the sofa, squeezes his hips fondly. it's time for bed. that's a pleasant thought.

[wonnieaura]

₊˚ʚ ᗢ₊˚✧ ﾟ. College essentials

Are you moving to a college dorm for the first time and don’t know what to bring? Don’t worry I got you. Here are a few things you can get yourself ready for a new chapter 🫶🏻💗🎀🌱

COLLEGE ESSENTIALS

⋆ ˚｡⋆୨ ʚɞ ୧⋆ ˚｡⋆

Bedding and Comfort

• Twin XL sheets (common dorm bed size)

• Comforter or duvet

• Pillows and pillowcases

• Mattress topper (memory foam for extra comfort)

• Throw blankets

• Decorative pillows

Storage and Organization

• Under-bed storage bins

• Closet organizers

• Hangers

• Desk organizers (for pens, notebooks, etc.)

• Drawer dividers

• Shoe rack

• Storage ottoman (can double as seating)

Kitchen and Dining

• Mini fridge

• Microwave

• Electric kettle

• Coffee maker

• Reusable water bottle

• Plates, bowls, and utensils

• Mugs and glasses

• Tupperware (for leftovers and snacks)

• Snack stash

Bathroom Essentials

• Shower caddy (for transporting toiletries)

• Shower shoes/flip-flops

• Bath towels and washcloths

• Toiletries (shampoo, conditioner, soap, toothpaste, etc.)

• Robe

• Toilet paper

• Laundry basket and detergent

• Bath mat

• Mirror

Study and Technology

• Desk lamp with adjustable brightness

• Laptop and charger

• Power strip with surge protection

• Extension cords

• USB flash drive or external hard drive

• Noise-canceling headphones

• Desk chair cushion (for added comfort)

• Notebooks, pens, and planners

Décor and Personal Touches

• Wall art or posters

• String lights or LED lights

• Rug (to make the room cozier)

• Plants (real or fake)

• Photo frames or a corkboard (to display memories)

• Command hooks (for hanging items without damaging walls)

• Curtains (if the dorm allows)

Health and Wellness

• First-aid kit

• Reusable face masks

• Hand sanitizer

• Disinfecting wipes

• Vitamin supplements

• Water filter pitcher

Miscellaneous

• Fan or space heater (depending on climate)

• Tool kit (for small repairs)

• Umbrella

• Bicycle lock (if biking to campus)

• Reusable shopping bags

• Sewing kit

[emlee81]

Joel/Ellie- Comfort

Joel is sick and Ellie takes care of him. Some minor swearing but mostly angst and fluff.

***

"Joel?" Ellie was kneeling beside him, worried sick. Joel must have eaten something bad. He'd been sick as a dog for two days straight and Ellie wasn't sure what to do. It wasn't like she had access to medicine or a doctor.

Joel groaned loudly, raising himself up and puking in an old metal bucket that Ellie had found in the house they'd taken shelter in.

Ellie moved away, going up the stairs to collect some snow from outside to use for Joel to drink. It was freezing out and Ellie hurried to return to the warm house.

Surprisingly she'd located an old space heater in one of the bedroom closets and was shocked to find that the electricity was still working. Ellie wasn't sure how long that would last but she wasn't going to question it.

She stomped down the stairs, just in time to see Joel stagger to his feet. She quickly hurried over and helped him position himself so he could pee.

As soon as Joel was ready, Ellie turned her back and pretended not to be weirded out by this. She knew Joel didn't feel good and that he had reluctantly accepted her assistance.

"I'm finished," Joel gasped out, staggering back to the old, thin mattress and collapsing upon it, hardly able to move.

Ellie took the bucket outside but not before setting the plastic pitcher filled with melting snow next to Joel and ordering him to drink something.

As soon as Ellie returned with the empty bucket, she went and rummaged around in her bag, pulling out a loaf of bread she'd stolen from a gas station just down the street and some little cups of applesauce.

"Did you steal those?" Joel asked, frowning disapprovingly at Ellie who busied herself with taking the small foil top off of one of the cups of applesauce.

"Shut up, asshole," Ellie snapped. "We need food. Especially you."

"I'm not hungry," Joel moaned. "My stomach feels like it's on a damn roller coaster."

"Joel, just try some bread. You need to eat something."

Begrudgingly Joel accepted half a slice of bread and slowly raised it to his mouth, taking a tiny bite and chewing it as if it were dried codfish.

"Thanks, by the way," Joel said gruffly.

"No need to get sentimental about it. I'm just doing what you would if it were me who was sick."

"Yeah." Joel reached for the pitcher of melting snow and took a sip. Ellie noticed that today he at least had some color to his face. The last two days he'd looked pale.

"Besides," Ellie added. "If something happens to you, I'm screwed."

Joel released a weak chuckle and it made Ellie feel better. If the old fossil was making an effort to laugh, he must be feeling somewhat better.

"Yeah. But well, I'm glad I have a semi decent nurse looking out for me."

"I tried." Joel noticed how embarrassed Ellie appeared but he knew she was secretly pleased about what he'd told her.

"You've done good, kid." Ellie couldn't stop herself from smiling.

"'Course I did. You taught me well."

Joel reached out, gently grasping one of Ellie's hands and looking her straight in the face.

"I sure did, Ellie."

[scullysexual]

You're Never Just Anything To Me (3)

@today-in-fic | ao3 | Prev. Chapter.

A look into Mulder and Scully's relationship starting from Millennium going all the way up to Requiem.

III. The Goldberg Variation.

The hot water cascades down her body from the shower. A relief from the bitter cold that awaits every other room. The space heater is waiting for her but she was starting to get tired dragging that thing from room to room. It’s fine, though, it’s just three more days. Three more days and then her heating will be fixed. Space heaters, hot drinks, electric blankets, and a shower will help her survive for three more days.

That is until the shower’s water runs cold. She’s partway through, hair soaked. She puts her hand in the water and it’s still cold. She turns the shower off, waits 30 seconds and turns it back on again. She waits for it to reheat itself. It stays cold.

Scully is shivering now, the cold biting at her exposed skin. Her shower ruined, she gives up and climbs out, wrapping the towel around her and camping as close to the space heater as possible.

…

There’s a call at 10:37pm. Mulder mutes the TV and looks at the time. It couldn’t be Scully, it was a Tuesday and she was very strict with her bedtime.

“Mulder,” he answer the phone.

“Hi.” It is Scully and Mulder sits up immediately, concern running through his body.

“Hi…Is everything okay?”

“Yeah, I’m fine.” She sounds different, there’s a stutter to her voice. I’m fine, I’m fine, I’m fine…She wasn’t fine.

“Scully, what’s going on?”

“My heating is out and so’s my hot water. I just wanted a shower to warm up. I’m cold, Mulder. Really, really cold. Freezing.”

She wasn’t in danger. He sits back, relaxing. But she was cold.

“Can I come over?” she asks quietly. “I know it’s a Tuesday, I know I said it wasn’t allowed but…I don’t think I can stay here.”

“Of course, Scully.” Why did she even feel like she needed to ask. “Bring some things, and some shower things, you can shower here.”

“Thank you.”

She’s at his front door 30 minutes later, a bag in her hand, her hair damp and curly. She looks exhausted.

“Oh Scully…” Mulder says. He reaches for her, bringing her towards him into his embrace. “How long has your heating been out?”

“Two days. I had three more days to go.”

He scoffs, shaking his head gently. “You should’ve told me. You’re staying here until it’s fixed, okay. No arguments.”

She nods against his chest.

…

The shower is amazing and the warmth afterwards is even better. She emerges from his bathroom to find him sat on the couch, the TV on low, a beer in his hand. And one presumably waiting for her on the coffee table.

“On a school night, Mulder?” she announces herself.

He turns and smiles. “Just one.” And he looks at her like she is the best thing in the world.

She loves him. So much.

“Um…thank you. For letting me stay.”

He rolls his eyes with affection. “I wasn’t gonna let you freeze to death, Scully.”

Scully scoffs, walking towards him. “Like I was going to freeze to death.” Though she doesn’t admit that’s what it felt like before she gained the courage to call him.

She sits down and Mulder opens his arms. She eyes him warily, a quick, “It’s still a work night, Mulder. The rules.”

“I remember your rules, Scully.”

Confident he wasn’t going to try anything, she picks her beer up from the coffee table and leans against his chest looking at the TV.

“What are you watching?”

“Nothing important,” he says. “What’s your thoughts on going to Chicago.”

Scully frowns. “For work or for…fun?”

He grins. “For work, unfortunately. Though, if you’re ever inclined…A man fell from a 29 story building. He survived.”

She sits up, looking at him with confusion.

“And you think that’s an X-File?” she asks.

Mulder just shrugs.

“Maybe. I think it’s worth going.”

They grow silent for a moment before Scully speaks again.

“Going somewhere for…fun,” she breaches slowly, avoiding looking at him. “Where did you have in mind?”

“Anywhere you’d like, Scully. Anywhere.”

Scully thinks wondering just where she would like to go.

“Does it have to be in America?”

“Nope.”

She smiles to herself, different locations flicking through her brain like TV channels. A whole country where nobody knows them. They don’t need to hide in apartments. They could go outside, touch each other, openly be in love.

“I’ll think about it, Mulder.”

“Just get back to me.”

…

The weekend arrives and their week of celibacy is over. Scully’s heating and hot water is fixed. Mulder’s kind of saddened by that, he liked having her in his apartment. He liked her coming home with him. They fell into a routine, one he could see them keeping if they do eventually move in together.

He stops himself for a moment. Moving in? That was the next step, wasn’t it? His chest tingles at the thought.

“Are you still joining me?”

Mulder grins, turning away from the mirror and pulling off the last of his clothes. He joins Scully in the shower. They behave themselves. They help each other wash and when the last bit of soap is rinsed from their bodies, Mulder takes her against the shower wall, the hot water spraying against his back, Scully’s lavender body soap assaulting his nostrils in all the best ways. He loves this little honeymoon period where each weekend he gets excited to see her, as if he hasn’t had the pleasure of her company all week. He tells himself he hasn’t seen her. He’s seen Agent Scully but on the weekend, he gets Dana.

They lay in her bed afterwards. Happy, warm, but a question is on his mind.

“What happens when we’re on assignment, Scully?”

“What do you mean?” she asks sleepily, rolling over so she can face him.

“At the motels and stuff. Over the weekend. Can we do this or is that Work Stuff?”

He watches her think it over, desperately wanting to say that it’s Us Stuff.

“I think…that’d be classed as Work Stuff, Mulder.”

“Oh…” So he would have to skip a weekend then. “So we can only do Us Stuff when we’re home?”

She nods. “It’s safer that way.” She kisses him gently. When she tries to pull away he chases her. In that case, he was going to make these weekend lasts forever.

[lakeeffectsnow]

Lost power during the blizzard last night and my snake's heaters are electric, and my whole house is freezing. I was using hot water bottles to keep her comfortable, but I had to go to the library to work remotely and was scared she would get too cold while I was out for the day. So I called the library and somehow got quasi-permission to bring her in while I worked to keep her warm! Pretty much a "if we don't see her, it's fine" type of situation.

So I have her in a box with air holes and some damp moss and a mini water dish. Obscured via a mesh bag, on my lap for the body heat, under the desk while I do my spreadsheet job lmao.

[mercyofmurdock]

The Ghost In Me (I)

Pairing: Simon “Ghost” Riley x Military!Reader (Callsign “Tokyo”) (Slow Burn)

Warnings: Canon Typical Violence, Canon Typical Gore, Explicit Language

Word Count: 4.0k

Summary: You are called in to assist the 141 in a very sensitive mission that requires your very specific skill set. However, you find yourself inexplicably drawn to one particular member who seems to share the same ghosts as yourself.

———

Some ghosts never leave you. They stare you down in the night, at the corner of your vision, an ever present reminder of the past you cannot change. They could be flashes of memory: people you’ve wronged, people you’ve hurt, or they could be other, more sinister apparitions.

Your ghost never took on the form of a person. It never once became corporal but you remained hyper aware of it nonetheless. The dark shape that watched you every night did just that, watch you. The manifestation of your guilt your therapist had said, the guilt of a woman who maimed without hesitation, who would pull the trigger at the slightest of opportunities. That was all part of the job; the killing, the torture, the constant fear that each mission would be your last. You knew deep down that you would never escape that dark shadow that loomed in the peripheral of your night time vision.

———

The scent of pine and snow hit you with a blast of cold air as the plane doors opened. The freezing temperatures put your senses on high alert as they crashed through any ounce of tiredness left from the journey. The shouting of orders filled the air but felt muffled as you stepped off the plane and your boots hit the compacted snow of the floor. The air felt crisp and fresh as you moved away from the petroleum fumes of the plane. Your pack felt heavy on your shoulder as you made your way off the runway and into the main base.

Snow covered TEMPER tents lined a rough gravel path through the clearing in the forest. From the insignias on the tents, you could tell multiple nationalities were represented leading to more questions than answers. Soldiers milled about, stomping their boots to regain feeling in their feet before ducking into tents or continuing about their day. You eventually came to a tent marked ‘COMMAND’ and turned inside.

The metallic tang of an electric heater hit you as you dropped your bag to the floor and rezipped the front of the tent. A few tables had been set up along the edges, piled high with a variety of screens and computers. Towards the back of the tent, a few people stood around a large table, deep in discussion. They turned to face you as you approached.

“You must be Tokyo.” A woman said as she turned to face you, her hand outstretched, “I’m Kate Laswell - I hear that you’re going to be very helpful to us in these coming months.”

“Affirmative ma’am. I was told to report directly to command as soon as I arrived to be briefed on my duties - if you’re not busy we can get started now.” You looked to the men behind her, one of them was facing away from you and the other was regarding you with a steely expression.

“You don’t beat around the bush do you? But yes we can get started. These are two of the men you’ll be working with whilst on mission. Commander Graves here joins us from the US military and Captain Price from the SAS.”

“Well I’ll be damned, Tokyo in the flesh.” The man who had been facing away now turned to look at you, a smile on his face.

“How have you been John?” You smiled back as he approached and embraced you in a hug.

“You two know eachother?” The other man, Graves questioned.

“Tokyo here got me out of a tight spot in Budapest once, delivered me some key intel that saved me and my squad. Bloody saved the mission she did.” Price laughed.

“You flatter me John, I was just doing my Job.” You turned back to face Laswell who was regarding the encounter with a bemused expression. “What do you have got me this time?”

She turned and beckoned you to the table, ontop a map of Germany and Austria placed, small pins connected major cities and military bases throughout the area.

“Two months ago, we received intel that illicit nuclear weaponry was being passed around the arms dealing circuit. We were unaware as to how operational the weapons were but as you probably know we have to take these kind of threats seriously.” She looked up at you and then motioned to Graves. “Graves and his team received intel that one of the private militia groups they had been tracking had gotten their hands on some of these nuclear material with the aim of distributing it around the country. Their entire network went dark three weeks ago along with several other groups of interest. They’re planning something big and we are brutally unprepared for the fallout of the use of these nuclear weapons.”

“Where do I come in?”

Graves stepped forward at this, turning to lean back on the table. “Two days ago my team intercepted communication that one of the high-ranking members of our militia is being transported through the black forest tomorrow. We’ll capture the asset but we’ll need you to get the information out of him. Price here said you’re our best bet.”

Price spared you a small smile before looking away. You knew that you were the best at your job, that was a given, but it was still uncomfortable to admit just how good you were.

“I can get anyone to talk. You’ll need to give me any and all information on the asset to read up on and I’d like to be in the field when we launch the assault. I’ll see if there’s anything else there I can use against him.” You looked to Graves who nodded.

“If that’s okay with your team Price? It’s your squad so it’s your call.” Price looked at Graves and nodded.

“Then it’s settled, the assault team leaves at 0900 hours tomorrow so you best use the rest of the day to do your homework. You’re bunking with Price’s team so he can show you to your tent.” Laswell motioned to Graves who stood up straight and walked over to where your bag was, hoisting it over his shoulder and motioning for you to follow.

You spared one last look at Laswell and Graves before bracing yourself to enter the winter’s cold again.

———

“If you think about it, there’s only so many ways we can piss off Graves before we get sent away.” A Scottish voice proclaimed as Price opened the tent flaps.

“Fuck off Soap, it’s just some snow get a grip.” Another, much deeper voice replied.

“Enough of that now lads, we’ve got a guest.” John shouted into the tent. You turned back from fastening the tent flaps back together and took stock of the inside.

“Tokyo, this is 141, 141 this Tokyo.” He turned to let you past and get a good look of the men inside. One man stood by the foot of a bed, his mohawk and cheeky grin immediately put you at ease. On the bed next him, a man in full tac gear and a skull mask sat up, even seated he was a hulking man and his brown eyes pierced you from behind his mask. At the other end of the tent, another man was washing his hands.

“I’m Soap but you can call me Johnny, sweetheart.” The man with the mohawk introduced himself and shook your hand. He was the Scottish voice from earlier.

“Soap.” Price sent a Soap a warning stare.

“Chill out Captain, I’m just messing about.” He smirked before sending you a wink and walking back over to what you assumed to be his bunk.

You shifted your weight from foot to foot, waiting for the other two men to introduce themselves. You had a vague idea of who the masked man in front of you was, after all the Ghost was a legend to everyone. Yet you will waited for him to speak up.

“I’m Gaz, nice to meet you - the Captain here has told us all about you.” The third man in the room said with a smile. It seemed genuine enough so you returned his friendliness with one of your own.

“All good things I hope.” You joked as you turned to face the Ghost. “And who are you?”

He didn’t reply immediately, just turned his face to look you up and down, his assessing brown eyes seemingly judging if you were a threat or not. The breath in your throat hitched slightly as you met his gaze.

“I’m Ghost.” Was all he offered before turning back to whatever it was he was doing before. You felt your shoulders deflate at his curt response.

“Well now that we’re all introduced, I’ve got to head back to Laswell. I’ll make sure the files get sent here so you can have a start on them, make yourself at home because you might be stuck here for a while.” John nodded his head almost in warning to the others before he dipped out of the tent. His exit let in the briefest of cold gusts but it was enough to make your hair stand on end.

“Welcome to the 141.” Soap called as you sunk into your bunk.

———

Your eyes blurred as you read the same line on the file again, trying to find anything that might be of use in the interrogation tomorrow. Night had fallen so you worked by one of the electric lamps in the tent, it’s constant buzz grating your ear drums.

“Have you eaten yet LT?”

You startled upright and turned to face Soap as he entered the tent. He held two MREs in his hands, one outstretched towards you. You took it with a nod before closing the file and moving to the small basin at the back of the tent.

“Thanks. I get so caught up in my work sometimes that I lose track of time completely.”

“I’m the same, I’d probably be dead by now if I didn’t have the guys out there looking out for me.” He came to stand next to you as you added water to the heat pack to make the meal, you silently offered your hand out to fill his heat pack up too and he obliged.

“They seem… nice.”

“You mean Gaz and Price seem nice.” Soap corrected as if he had read your mind. “Ghost will grow on you, don’t worry, he’s just a little cold when you first meet him. I can promise you he’s a softie under all that armor.”

“I’ve heard stories about him, the man is a legend. I mean isn’t he legally dead?” You handed Soap back his now warm MRE and gestured for him to follow you to the small table in the corner of the tent.

“Ghost is a ghost in all senses of the word. He’s a demon on the battlefield but after all he’s been through I don’t blame him. I don’t even know the half of it but what I know would be enough to drive me to the brink - I don’t know how he does it.” Soap admitted as you sat down.

“Well it will be interesting to see him in action.” You admitted as you set a timer for the MREs. “But what about you? Last time I worked with Price he was with an entirely different team. How did you end up working with him?”

“Ah, that’s a long story. But I’m sure you know all about reshuffles and that - Price actually requested the three of us for his squad so that’s how we officially came together. We’ve run a few ops before but never anything of this scale.” He leant back in his chair and rested his boots on the table. “What about you? How did you meet Price?”

You let out a long sigh, joining him in leaning back in your chair.

“I’m sure by now you’ve been informed as to what my particular skill set is. The SAS drafted me in to get some information out of a particularly stoic yet important asset. All of their interrogation techniques had failed so they called me in. It took me 17 minutes to break him and the information he gave me was pivotal to the squad being able to make it out alive.” You made eye contact with Soap who only nodded. “After that we’ve worked together on a few ops but nothing of that magnitude. I don’t usually work with the same operatives multiple times.”

“We’ll we’re more than glad to have you join the team. Just stick with us in the field tomorrow and we shouldn’t have any problems. It’ll be a walk in the park.”

The timer on your phone dinged and the two of you focused your attention on the slop in front of you.

———-

The operation was not a walk in the park.

From the second contact was made the mission was flipped on its head. The barrage of gunfire, the stink of gunpowder, the metallic taste of blood. You were pinned between Soap and Ghost, your own gun near empty and a bullet embedded deep in your arm.

“LT we need to move now!” Soap shouted as he returned gunfire to the enemies on the other side of the truck.

“If we can make it to the tree line we’ll have better cover and a better chance at an extract.” You groaned and tightened your grip on your wound. “Fuck”

“Negative, we won’t be able to get an evac if we’re in the trees. We need to clear them out in order for the heli to land.” Ghost cut in, he fired off a few more shots before reloading. “Tokyo you need to stay down and stick on me. Soap you try to regroup with Gaz and Price.”

“Roger that LT. I’ll see you two on the other side - give me some cover will you?” Soap then turned and sprinted away from the truck towards the last place Gaz had been spotted.

You let out a shout of pain as you turned to hold the back of Ghost’s tac best, earning you a quick glance from him.

“I’m fine, I’ve had worse.” You assured him as you positioned yourself to get ready to move.

“Good because you’re pivotal to this operation so I need you out of here alive.” He then grabbed your arm to place it appropriately on his vest. “Don’t let go and don’t let me lose you.”

“Affirmative sir.” You responded, looking up at the hulking man and meeting his brown eyes through the mask. He was regarding you with an odd stare which was quickly cut off by an explosion from your right.

“Fuck it, let’s move, stay tight on my six.”

He stood up and you followed, keeping close to his back. The shriek of gunfire could be heard as well as the whir of helicopter blades from above.

“Is that one of-“

The helicopter exploded above you.

“TAKE THAT YOU SLIMY BASTARDS.” The twang of Soap’s accent could be heard followed by a whoop from Gaz.

“Glad to know they’re alive at least.” You attempted to joke as you and Ghost dived behind the debris for cover.

“Don’t say anything just yet, we’ve still got to get out of this mess.” Ghost grumbled as he fired off a few more shots, “How is your arm holding up?”

You spared a glance under your blood soaked hand and then to your torso.

“I need you to apply pressure to the wound whilst I make a tourniquet.” You looked up at him expecting some response but instead he quickly complied with your order, holding your wound so you could use your free hand to free some gauze from your pack and tie it tight around the wound.

“You good to go Tokyo?” Ghost looked up at you as you finished tying the not, flexing your arm a few times to check if it was secure.

“As good as I can be.” You leant down to release your pistol from your thigh sheath and looked back at him.

Ghost nodded and grabbed your hand to position it on his back.

“Let’s get out of here. Keep tight.”

——

The rhythmic hum of the ventilation system and the consistent dripping from the ceiling had been your idea. Monotonous sounds helped break a man, forced their mind to crack and wilt under pressure. It was exactly what you needed.

“Let’s start with your son.” You slid a polaroid picture across the table. It featured a young boy, blonde haired, green eyed like his father in front of you. The picture was a telescopic shot of him playing in what seemed to be a playroom - he looked vulnerable, alone.

“What about him?” The man in front of you cooly asked. He seems oddly at ease, leant back in his chair and regarding you with his head slightly tilted.

“He goes to Hedenberg International School, am I correct? Along with your daughter, Alexandra?” You posed the question although you both knew it was a way to show off how much you knew.

“And that has to do with this interrogation, how?” The head was no longer tilted. Bingo.

“Three of my men are currently inside said school, with express orders to pull the trigger if you so much as breathe wrong.” You pulled out your first threat. When you had first started, you’d pull your cards, play them close to your chest; but now you’d learnt. Throwing them straight into the deep end threw assets off kilter, made them panic, made them more likely to cooperate.

“You’d risk the public outcry of killing two innocent children, all to get information out of me? Pathetic, you’ll have to try harder.” He snorted, but you could hear the slight panic in his voice.

Smiling, you slowly sat down in the chair opposite him. Deliberately taking your time to leaf through the folder in your hands, not replying to his taunts.

“Is that all you’ve got?” He was leaning forward now. His fatal mistake.

“Tell me where the weapons are and I won’t execute the plan.” You didn’t even look up from the file but you could feel his agitation.

“I won’t tell you anything. If you get to my children then they’ll die swift deaths. If they get to my children then they will suffer.” He was rationalizing with himself now, you could almost hear his brain tick.

Your gun was pulled and shot before he could even lean back. The bullet connected with his knee cap and you could hear it shatter. The guard behind you jolted and made a small whimpering sound.

“YOU SON OF A-“ The man screamed as his hands went to his now shattered knee. “I’ll tell you NOTHING.”

“So what about Gunther Richt. Says here that he runs your little operation.” You continued as if nothing had happened. You spared a glance up at him, a grimace was etched onto his face as his head lolled back in pain. “Gunther. Richt.”

He looked at you as you repeated the name.

“Go to hell.”

———-

The beep of the various computers in the command centre greeted you as you walked in. Laswell stood over the table whilst Graves looked on in silence, Price was nowhere to be seen.

“They’re moving the weapons through Austria at 1700 hours tomorrow. I’ve sent a list of checkpoints they’ll cross through to the data analysts to best plan a route.”

The pair jolted up as you spoke and turned to look at you. You knew you looked a state, blood stained your hands and uniform, a splatter crossed your face and your combat knife was missing from its sheath.

“And the asset?”

“I got all we needed out of him, I handed him off for disposal.”

Laswell let out a visible sigh of relief, leaning back on the table.

“How long did it take you to break him?” Graves stepped forward, he regarded you with a look of what seemed to be awe - it was off-putting.

“I was in there for just over 30 minutes. There’s nothing else he knows that will be of use to us. All of the audio recordings have been sent for redaction and are being transcribed as we speak. They’ll be sent to your tablets as soon as they are ready.”

You looked at Laswell, she simply nodded and straightened up.

“Go get yourself cleaned up lieutenant, there’s more work to be done yet. You’re dismissed.”

You bowed your head slightly at the pair before turning and walking out of the tent.

A few mumbles and stares followed you as you made your way through the camp. Everyone knew what you did, everyone knew what you had done but you’d done this a thousand times before and you weren’t about to let the states get to you now.

The 141 tent came into view and you pushed your way inside. The crew lay in various states of relaxation, bandages littered their bodies but they were alive and well.

“You look like shit LT.”

Soap pushed himself into a seated position as you entered, he had attempted to put on a smile but you could see the worry in his eyes.

“I feel like it too.”

You walked to your bunk and picked up the supplies you would need before walking to the back of the tent where a small portable shower had been hooked up behind a curtain. Soap didn’t push any further and you were glad. You wanted nothing more than to wash the day away, scrub the red off your skin, pull the dried blood from under your nails.

As you pulled off your black overlays and threw them in a bucket of water, you caught a glimpse of the black shape in your periphery. It was watching, and you watched back.

———

By the time you had left the makeshift cubicle, most of the 141 had headed to the mess tent. All that remained was Ghost on his bunk, he sat on the edge, staring forward as if waiting.

“You didn’t feel like joining them?” You gently questioned as you made your way past him.

“It gets better.” Was all he said. You threw him a quizzical look over your shoulder to find him looking up at you.

“What does?”

“The darkness, I know it follows you like it follows me. I saw it in your eyes when you walked in earlier.” You let your shoulders deflate as he continued, “Just remember that you’re on the right side of this.”

“What does yours look like?” You asked, you didn’t expect a response to such a personal question so turned back to your bunk.

“Myself.”

You whipped your head back, Ghost was standing now, much closer to you than before. From your position you suddenly were very aware of how tall he was. His broad shoulders seemed to dwarf you but you stood your ground.

“Mine just watches, I don’t know how else to describe it. It’s like a shadow of myself.” The last part came out as a whisper, you knew he had heard as his head slightly tilted.

“Interesting.” Was all he said before he walked past and exited the tent.

You let out a breath you didn’t know you had been holding.

———

A/N

A bit of a filler chapter to introduce the story today! This is going to be a SLOW burn but I hope you enjoy it as much as I enjoy writing it!

[high-ass-zombie-angel-statue]

Nothin' ever (ever) happens in this town

Feelin' low down (down), not a lot to do around here

I thought that I would go right out of my mind

Until a friend told me the news

He said, "Hey, you know that vacant lot

Right beside the gas station? Well, somebody bought it

And on that spot they're gonna build a shop

Where we can go buy bolts and screws"

Since then I've been walking on air (air)

I can barely brush my teeth or comb my hair

'Cause I'm so excited and I really don't care

I've been waiting since last June

For this day to finally arrive

I'm so happy (happy) now just to be alive

'Cause any minute now I'm gonna be inside

Well, I hope they open soon

I can't wait, (no I) I can't wait (oh when)

When are they gonna open up that door?

I'm goin' (yes I'm) goin', I'm a-goin' to the

Goin' to the (hard) ware I'm goin', really goin' to the

Goin' (hard) I'm goin' to the (hard) oh yes, I'm goin' to the

Hardware store

In my sleeping bag I camped out overnight

Right in front of the store, then as soon as it was light out

I pressed my nose right up against the glass

You know, I had to be first in line

Gonna get me a flashlight and a broom

Want a pair of pliers for every single room of my house

See those hacksaws? Very, very soon

One of them will be all mine

Guys with nametags walking down the aisles

Rows of garden hoses that go on for miles and miles

Brand new socket wrenches in a plethora of styles

All arranged alphabetically

And they're doing a promotional stunt

There's a great big purple sign out front

That says every 27th customer

Will get a ball peen hammer free

I can't wait, (no I) I can't wait (oh when)

When are they gonna open up that door?

I'm goin' (yes I'm) goin', I'm a-goin' to the

Goin' to the (hard) ware I'm goin', really goin' to the

Goin' (hard) I'm goin' to the (hard) oh yes, I'm goin' to the

Hardware store

I'm goin' (yes I'm) goin', I'm a-goin' to the

Goin' to the (hard) ware I'm goin', really goin' to the

Goin' (hard) I'm goin' to the (hard) oh yes, I'm goin' to the

Hardware store

They've got allen wrenches, gerbil feeders, toilet seats, electric heaters

Trash compactors, juice extractor, shower rods and water meters

Walkie-talkies, copper wires safety goggles, radial tires

BB pellets, rubber mallets, fans and dehumidifiers

Picture hangers, paper cutters, waffle irons, window shutters

Paint removers, window louvres, masking tape and plastic gutters

Kitchen faucets, folding tables, weather stripping, jumper cables

Hooks and tackle, grout and spackle, power foggers, spoons and ladles

Pesticides for fumigation, high-performance lubrication

Metal roofing, water proofing, multi-purpose insulation

Air compressors, brass connectors, wrecking chisels, smoke detectors

Tire guages, hamster cages, thermostats and bug deflectors

Trailer hitch demagnetizers, automatic circumcisers

Tennis rackets, angle brackets, Duracells and Energizers

Soffit panels, circuit brakers, vacuum cleaners, coffee makers

Calculators, generators, matching salt and pepper shakers

I can't wait, (no I) I can't wait (oh when)

When are they gonna open the door?

I'm goin' (yes I'm) goin', I'm a-goin' to the

Goin' to the (hard) ware I'm goin', really goin' to the

Goin' (hard) I'm goin' to the (hard) oh yes, I'm goin' to the

Hardware store

I'm goin' (yes I'm) goin', I'm a-goin' to the

Goin' to the (hard) ware I'm goin', really goin' to the

Goin' (hard) I'm goin' to the (hard) oh yes, I'm goin' to the

Hardware store

I'm goin' (yes I'm) goin', I'm a-goin' to the

Goin' to the (hard) ware I'm goin', really goin' to the

Goin' (hard) I'm goin' to the (hard) oh yes, I'm goin' to the

Hardware store

Thank you that was the ENTIRETY of weird Al’s hardware store

me omw to the hardware store

[hometoursandotherstuff]

The things people do to make a buck. Here’s a 5-room tent for rent on someone’s deck in Scottsdale, PA for $399/month.  Electric, Propane for Shower and Grill, WiFi, Porta John is inc., BUT it is priced for only 2 people (Additional charge for more people). The listing has now been taken off by Zillow, (it’s fuckin’ freezin’ in Penn. right now), and Zillow says it was placed there by a 3rd party. Zillow knows damned well this is illegal. 

It’s pretty big, but it’s seen better days. 

Notice the tear. It comes furnished with: Double pull-out bed, recliner, dining table, lounge, city water, Hot shower in separate Shower TENT on the deck,  BBQ gas grill, dinnerware, glassware, cookware, bed linens provided, blankets, and sleeping bags. Propane heater available at extra cost.

RENTERS INSURANCE REQUIRED @approximately $10.00 per month via an online policy or your car insurance agent. (Like any company would insure this thing.)

I cannot believe this. They actually rigged up a cold water sink and 2 burners (what happens when it rains?).

The eat-in kitchen. 

Here’s the dining room.

Living room with romantic fire ring thing. 

Deposit required, too- may be spread across 2-months. Owner wrote: Zillow does not have a tent option, so I selected "house." This is an elevated TENT. (That’s probably how the ad got past Zillow.) Doesn’t say anything about this river.

https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/1524-W-Pittsburgh-St-10-Scottdale-PA-15683/2061323137_zpid/

[milfweirdal]

(sawing noises) (drill noises) (hammering noises) (wrenching noises) (funky ascending then descending guitar riff) Nothing ever (ever) happens in this town, feeling low down (down) not a lot to do around here, I thought that I would go right out of my mind until a friend told me THE NEWS. He said "(hey!) You know that vacant lot? Right beside the gas station? Well, somebody bought it and on the spot they're gonna build a shop where we can go buy bolts, AND SCREWS." Since then I've been walking on air (air), I can barely brush my teeth or comb my hair 'cause I'm so excited and I really don't care, I've been waiting since LAST JUNE for this day to finally arrive, I'm so happy (happy) now just to be alive 'cause any minute now I'm gonna be inside, well, I hope they oPEN SOON. I can't wait, no, I can't wait (oh when) When are they gonna open up that door? I'm goin' (yes I'm goin) I'mma goin' to the (hard) We're really goin' to the (really gonna) (hard) (going to the) goin' to the goin' to the, (hard) oh yes (hard) I'm goin' (TO) to the HARDWARE STOOOORE! (sawing noises) (drill noises) (hammering noises) (wrenching noises) (funky ascending guitar riff) (frenetic lead guitar) In my sleeping bag I camped out overnight right in front of the store, then as soon as it was light out I pressed my nose right up against the glass - you know I had to be first IN LINE. Gonna get me a flashlight and a broom, want a pair of pliers for every single room of my house, see those hacksaws? Very, very soon, one of them will be ALL MINE. Guys with nametags walking down the aisles, rows of garden hoses that go on for miles and miles, brand new socket wrenches in a plethora of styles, all arranged alphaBETICALLY. And they're doing a promotional stunt, there's a great big purple sign out front that says every 27th customer will get a ball peen HAMMER FREE! I can't wait, no, I can't wait (oh when) When are they gonna open up that door? I'm goin' (yes I'm goin) I'mma goin' to the (hard) We're really goin' to the (really gonna) (hard) (going to the) goin' to the goin' to the, (hard) oh yes (hard) I'm goin' (HARD) to the HARDWARE STOOOORE! I'm goin' (yes I'm goin) I'mma goin' to the (hard) We're really goin' to the (really gonna) (hard) (going to the) goin' to the goin' to the, (hard) oh yes (hard) I'm goin' (HARD) to the HARDWARE STOOOORE! (short instrumental interlude) (passionate sigh) would you look at all that stuff...? They've got allen wrenches gerbil feeders toilet seats electric heaters trash compactors juice extractor shower rods and water meters walkie-talkies copper wires safety goggles radial tires BB pellets rubber mallets fans and dehumidifiers picture hangers paper cutters waffle irons window shutters paint removers window louvres masking tape and plastic gutters kitchen faucets folding tables weather stripping jumper cables hooks and tackle grout and spackle power foggers spoons and ladles pesticides for fumigation high-performance lubrication metal roofing water proofing multi-purpose insulation air compressors brass connectors wrecking chisels smoke detectors tire gauges hamster cages thermostats and bug deflectors trailer hitch demagnetizers automatic circumcisers tennis rackets angle brackets Duracells and Energizers soffit panels circuit brakers vacuum cleaners coffee makers calculators generators matching salt and pepper shakers. I can't wait, no, I can't wait (oh when) When are they gonna open up that door? (really gonna) (hard) (going to the) goin' to the goin' to the, (hard) oh yes (hard) I'm goin' (HARD) to the HARDWARE STOOOORE! I'm goin' (yes I'm goin) I'mma goin' to the (hard) We're really goin' to the (really gonna) (hard) (going to the) goin' to the goin' to the, (hard) oh yes (hard) I'm goin' (HARD) to the HARDWARE STOOOORE! (angelic chorus) (really gonna) (hard) (going to the) goin' to the goin' to the, (hard) oh yes (hard) I'm goin' (HARD) to the HAAAAARDWARE STOOOOOOOORE (sawing noises) (drill noises) (hammering noises) (wrenching noises) (funky ascending guitar riff) (even more frenetic lead guitar)

[beautiful-02-08-18]

If there’s one thing I very much like about the Running Man Animation show, its the character designs and how it oozes out of said characters. You can learn a character’s personality and even their relationships just by looking at them. I want to focus on the personality their rooms have, assuming they designed it themselves.

Liu’s room has a bunch of posters plastered on the walls to show his enthusiasm in participating in the Running Man Championship and his general upbeat attitude. His desk is also a small workshop for his inventions. Its neat and tidy except for the desk.

Gai’s room shares the same aesthetic as one would expect from a ninja. On his desk there seems to music gadgets. This is a reference to the fact that Gai’s real-life counterpart Gary, a former member of the Running Man show, makes music. The giant statue in his room is where his brothers hide. There’s also seems to be monkey bars for him and his brothers to move around.

Miyo’s room is noticeably barren compared to the others, but it makes sense as her goal was to spy on Charming Gold and any distractions must be eliminated. She has this big vase on her desk, but I don’t know what it is.

Kuga’s room has a similar style to Gai’s, but this one is more rugged. He’s room is literally his training ground, and it has little personal touch from him. Other than what seems to be paintings tucked away in the corner and a small desk with a Bars tapestry above it. Kuga has some weaponry in his room for some reason, which I found odd as we had never seen a member of the Bars tribe use weapons as far as I know. He’s pillow also seems to be made out of wood, which I just found odd. The way he positioned himself while he was sleeping suggest a rugged character from him.

Lonky’s room screams of royalty and vanity. With elegant tiles and furniture, including his very own massage chair that takes up huge amounts of electricity. There also seems to be a painting or picture of himself. The way Lonky sleeps is unimposing coming from a prince, but I like the small worldbuilding detail of his pillows, which are long to accomodate the Giraf tribe’s long necks.

Pala’s room is full various kinds of herbs and books. He is a scholar after all, and the greatest herbalist. Although, his books aren’t even in the shelves properly making his room slightly cluttered so it shows that he’s a little scatterbrained, but overall its very cozy. The way Pala sleeps is neat because he’s sleeping on his back facing forward, and since he’s a member of the Empa tribe he has horns and you can’t sleep on your sides with it. Pala is also hugging his staff since we know how its really important to him.

Popo’s room is also rather barren, other than the pillows and boxes he has in abundance. Admittingly, this has me stumped. The boxes seems to have came from the stuff he ordered, as shown when he was opening one to get a card. Although, some boxes don’t seem to had been opened and could have been done to show how Popo is materialistic, as he originally wanted fame and fortune. The pillows are possibly there to have came from his cutesy get-up, not to mention he’s sometimes acts like a spoiled child. The way he sleeps is also huddled up, a common trait among cute characters from what I’ve seen, and probably because he doesn’t want to get cold. Popo is seen using a sleeping bag and a heater because he canonically hates the cold.

I would had done Charming Gold’s room, but it feels more like a throne room than his own personal room. I did noticed the decoration style Charming Gold’s has in his place is similar to the ones he were seen in his flashbacks around 1,000+ years ago. For someone who likely killed his own tribe to near extinction, he still has the same taste.

Anyway, thank you for reading my analysis as an aspiring character designer!